Rael stood silently in the heart of his fortress, the cold steel floor beneath his boots humming faintly with the subtle pulse of the ancient technology buried deep within its foundations. Outside, the Nirvana Forest stretched endlessly, shadows twisting and stretching under the eerie crimson glow of the blood moon rising overhead. The air was thick with tension, the distant howls of wild beasts carrying on the wind like a warning.
His gaze was fixed on the small device cradled carefully in his hands—a compact, nondescript cube, etched with fine circuits that pulsed faintly with blue light. This device was his lifeline, his guide, and the key to unlocking the extraordinary power granted to him by the system that had awakened inside him moments ago.
He swallowed hard and whispered, "Activate."
The cube flared to life, bathing the room in a soft azure light as a translucent holographic interface bloomed before his eyes, filled with lines of flowing data and cryptic icons.
System Interface — Sovereign RaelCore Stability: OptimalAvailable Beast Cores: 1Mechanical Components: 15 unitsElemental Crystals: 2 unitsFortress Status: Standard ModeAbilities Unlocked: Summon Mechanized Beast, Fortress Artillery Conversion
A calm, yet precise voice resonated softly inside Rael's mind.
"Greetings, Sovereign Rael. I am Assistant Core Aegis, your AI companion. Your primary task is to synthesize your first mechanized beast by integrating the Beast Core harvested from your fallen prey with mechanical components and elemental crystals."
Rael's heart pounded fiercely. Only hours ago, he had ventured into the dense forest, hunting the vicious creatures that roamed under the blood moon's ominous gaze. His hands still bore faint stains from the struggle, and inside a sealed vial lay the pulsating core he had extracted—a condensed essence of life, raw and untamed.
Now, standing before the assembly platform embedded in the fortress floor, he arranged the components meticulously: the Beast Core rested at the center, flanked by mechanical parts—gears, servos, and skeletal plates scavenged from old ruins. Two elemental crystals hovered nearby, faintly glowing with latent energy.
"Begin synthesis," he commanded, swallowing the tremor in his throat.
Slowly, as if animated by an unseen force, the mechanical components began to move, magnetically aligning and clicking together. The elemental crystals' energy seeped into the structure, infusing it with a faint aura that shimmered along the metal surface like veins of lightning.
The Beast Core pulsed steadily, synchronizing with the mechanics, and before long, a quadrupedal figure emerged—a perfect fusion of living energy and cold engineering. It stood roughly the size of a wolf, its metal frame sleek and angular, designed for swift movement and resilience. Its eyes—two glowing blue orbs—flickered to life, scanning the room with an uncanny intelligence.
A low, mechanical growl resonated from the creature's throat. It was alive.
"This is Iron Fang," Rael breathed, awe and a cautious hope mingling in his voice. "My first mechanized beast."
The AI responded crisply. "Designation: Iron Fang. Status: Active. Combat parameters initialized. Aggression Level: 65%. Defensive Shield: 80%. Mobility: 50%. Ready for commands."
Rael crouched, extending a hand. Iron Fang lowered its head in response, a sign of obedience, its eyes locking onto his with unwavering focus.
The fortress around him trembled faintly, as if sensing the change. Deep within the walls, mechanisms stirred, preparing for the impending battle. He knew the forest outside was no ordinary wilderness—tonight, the beast tide would come.
A surge of anxiety threatened to overwhelm him. He was no great warrior—not yet. His strength was raw and untested. But he had no choice.
"If this fortress falls tonight," Rael thought grimly, "there will be no tomorrow."
Yet beneath the fear, a fierce resolve burned. This mechanized beast, born from the heart of a wild creature and tempered with technology, was his first step toward survival. And survival was everything.
A new notification blinked on the interface.
Warning: Blood Moon Event Activated. Wild beasts' strength increased by 300%. Non-darkness-type fortress units will suffer attack penalties.
The distant roars grew louder, more frantic. The beast tide was approaching.
Rael's fingers danced over the holographic controls.
"Activate Artillery Conversion Mode," he ordered, voice steady.
The fortress responded instantly. Heavy plates slid across walls, weapon turrets emerged from hidden compartments, and defensive cannons hummed to life. The cold steel giant transformed from a quiet refuge into a bristling fortress of war, ready to face the monstrous onslaught.
Iron Fang growled once more and positioned itself at the forefront.
Rael's heart pounded in rhythm with the fortress's awakening.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered. "Together, we will rise."
Outside, the first shadows of the beast tide crept closer, their eyes gleaming with primal hunger under the blood moon's sinister glow.
And the era of mechanized dominion had begun.