“So, uh, is there a way to like… visit each other in the real world? Using the Net?” Jessica asks Ethan, her voice casual, but I can tell she’s fishing for something.

Ethan’s smug grin appears faster than usual. “Oh, yeah. That’s easy. Just grant each other permission through the System to the exit door in each other’s bases.”

“Well, ain't that just peachy,” Jessica says, rolling her eyes. “Greg, you cool with that?”

I pause, wondering if my room is even presentable. Spoiler: it’s not. But my parents are out working, and she probably doesn’t want us to meet at her house; otherwise, she would not have asked me... Unless I am overthinking it, but it doesn’t hurt to offer.

I speak up, my voice coming out way too quickly. “My parents are out working, so… we could meet at my place. No interruptions.”

Jessica raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Look at you, inviting me over like it’s a casual thing.”

I shrug like it’s nothing, but inside I’m mentally running through the state of my room. Please don’t let it be too embarrassing…

✦ . ⁺──────────·☽◯☾·──────────⁺ . ✦

A few minutes later, we’re standing in the middle of my disaster of a bedroom. I didn’t think it was this bad before, but with my new senses ramped up from leveling, it’s like the mess has been cranked to eleven. Half-finished Lego sets, comic books splayed across the floor, some puzzles I never got around to completing—all strewn around like a tornado came through. Nothing gross, just cluttered, but still… embarrassing.

“Uh… yeah, welcome to the chaos. I was gonna clean, but, you know, System stuff.”

Jessica just waves it off, a grin on her face. “Dude, you’re good. I’ve seen worse.” She plops down onto my bed with a heavy thud, kicks her shoes off, and stretches out like she owns the place. “Ah, feels good to be horizontal.”

I let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of my neck.

She cracks one eye open. “I’m dead on my feet. How are you still standing?”

“Leveled up, put points into Body, helps with stamina. You should get some sleep, though. I can let you crash here.”

Jessica groans but shakes her head, eyes closing again. “Nah, those points in Mind got my mind’s too wired. Can’t shut it off. Besides, we’ve still got stuff to talk about. Like that fight today.”

I sit on the edge of the bed, trying not to focus on how close she is. “Yeah… about that. We definitely need better coordination and gotta stop winging it. We were almost toast back there.”

“You’re right. My animatronics were getting torn apart faster than I could replace them. But you were surprisingly solid out there.”

“Solid?” I raise an eyebrow. “I was getting thrown around like a rag doll half the time.”

“Well, you managed to hold your ground. When you finally remembered to use your shield.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, feeling a bit sheepish. “Not exactly a master tactician.”

She laughs, her voice a bit hoarse. “Maybe not. But you’re not half bad for a beginner. You’ve got potential.”

“Half-bad?” I raise an eyebrow. “I think I prefer ‘competent’ or ‘heroic,’ thanks.”

She laughs, the sound a little hoarse from the exhaustion. “Alright, hero. You did good. But maybe don’t forget that you have a shield.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault the System mainly downloaded information about how to use my war hammer,” I complain.

She lets out a snort, “Is it weird that I want to go fight again? I thought I’d hate it, but now... I’m kinda addicted.”

“Well, the System’s got its hooks in deep. The rush every time I assign a stat point or level up... it’s like a high that’s hard to resist. Maybe that’s why I felt like throttling Ethan for telling me to put points into Mind and reducing the buzz.”

“Amen to that thought.” Jessica stretches her arms over her head. “Do you ever wonder why we care so much about our bases? It’s irrational how much we care about it.”

“Well, it can become a good source of income, a passion project and...”

I try hard to think of reasons why the pizzeria feels like it’s my life’s prized possession. Why I so desperately need it to be successful, consequences be damned.

“Our main source of income is killing monsters, and it is far better. Plus, it’s best to focus our effects on killing monsters and our survivability. Yet, every time, thoughts drift to the Net. It’s always about the factory.”

Denial rises up in me, but I force myself to think logically: Is the pizzeria important to me? Yes. Am I spending a realistic amount of focus on it?… Yes… Maybe?

“Damn the System. You are right. Now I am going to analyze every thought I have.”

“Do what I do. Just don’t think about it.” Jessica says, before changing the topic.

“Gee, thanks,” I mutter, but I’m smiling now despite the lingering suspicions. “Besides, I wanted to thank you for snapping me out of my hesitance at the start. I was about ready to bolt.”

Jessica’s eyes flutter open, and she gives me a genuine smile. “Well, you’re welcome. Didn’t think you’d need a pep talk from me.”

“Neither did I, but it worked,” I say, feeling a bit of warmth in my chest. It’s weird how much easier it is to talk to her compared to our first awkward conversation. There’s something about surviving a fight together that seems to fast-track that bond.

“But seriously, you were incredible out there. The way you managed those animatronics kept them in the fight, even when things were falling apart... I was impressed.”

Jessica shrugs, but there’s a faint flush creeping up her neck. “Well, I did make them. Plus, they’re not as complicated as people think; it’s a bit hard going at first as you have to give them every single order. But they will learn, and since one of them survived, I should be able to at least transfer some of that learned knowledge into the next batch. But thanks, I guess.”

“Still,” I add, “I wouldn’t have made it without you. Especially with how many times I, uh… you know, died.”

She perks up at that; her curiosity piqued. “Yeah, about that. You died twice, right? What was that like? I haven’t died yet, so I’m kinda curious.”

I hesitate, glancing away. “It’s weird. Really weird. Everything just... stops. You don’t feel pain or anything, just a complete void. Like floating in nothingness. Then there’s a snap, and you’re back, good as new, but the memory of how you died stays with you. It’s… unsettling, to say the least.”

Jessica frowns, her brow furrowed in thought. “Huh. I’ve heard people describe it like that, but it still sounds freaky as hell. I mean, I know I’ll probably die at some point, but I’m not exactly looking forward to it.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” I say with a wry grin. “But hey, you didn’t die today, and that’s something. You were a force out there, Jess. Seriously.”

She snorts, waving off the compliment, but I can tell she’s pleased. “Don’t go getting all soft on me, Greg. I was just doing my job. And I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, either.”

We sit in a comfortable silence for a few moments before she suddenly breaks it. “Hey, I was thinking. You want some of my animatronics in your pizzeria? They’d be dumb as rocks at first, but they can adapt and learn. Scare the crap outta your guests and earn me some credits on the side.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I blink, my brain scrambling to catch up. “Wait, seriously? That’d be awesome. I’ve lost a few bots thanks to the glitches I added to the game. But, get this—what if there’s this random event where all the lights go out, and the animatronics turn homicidal? Patrons have to hide until the power kicks back on. Creepy, right?”

Jessica’s eyes snap open, and she sits up fast, grinning like I just told her the best news ever. “Oh, hell yes! And each one could have its own personality. One’s the silent stalker, another’s overly friendly. Endless possibilities.”

I’m nodding, already thinking of how to incorporate it. “Exactly. We could have so much fun with this.” Then, because I’m not dumb, I add, “How much would it cost me for each one, though? Gotta pay you back somehow.”

Jessica waves her hand dismissively. “Forget it. I’ll make a decent chunk of credits from the System anyway. Consider it an investment.”

I frown. “But you already spent a lot of credits saving my ass back there. You sacrificed your animatronics, and you even gave me that one credit.”

She shrugs, her expression hardening a little. “That was me being selfish. I’m investing in you because I need someone who can keep me alive.”

Without saying a word, I open my interface and send her five credits. Her eyes widen as the notification pops up.

“Gregory, what the hell—” She looks at me like I just insulted her.

“‘Just being selfish and investing in you to protect my own interests.’”

She rolls her eyes but lets it go with a sigh. “You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?”

“Yeah, well, it’s a talent.”

I quickly change the subject, trying to keep things light. “Anyway, check this out. My control panel for the base? It’s set up like a horror game in the pizzeria.”

“Wait what! Why is your control panel so much cooler than mine?” Jessica says, her eyes lighting up as she hops off the bed and heads over to my desk.

“Oh yeah, you gotta see it. All the controls are tied to a survival horror setup—flickering lights, jump scares, the works.”

Jessica’s face lights up in awe as she inspects my rig. “Damn, this setup is way better than mine.”

“What kind of rig do you have?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Uh, let’s just say it’s a second-hand... maybe third-hand deal.” She glances at me, catching my raised eyebrow. “What? I make it work.”

“You do,” I say carefully, “but I’m curious now. Spill the details.”

Jessica hesitates, then visibly contemplates something before sitting back down in my chair, her face suddenly serious. “Okay, but you gotta promise me something—you can’t start looking at me differently after this.”

“Sure,” I reply, even though I’m not sure what I’m promising.

Jessica leans back and sighs. “Long story short… my family had money problems. Big ones. Medical debt. My little sister…” Her voice wavers slightly, but she powers through. “She didn’t make it. Anyway, that left us with nothing, and I started working, doing whatever I could to help. The Net? It’s kinda my way out, you know?”

Her words hit me harder than I expect. She’s never shared this much before. I nod, unsure of what to say but trying to show I’m listening. “That’s rough, Jess.”

She shrugs, but there’s a tension there. “It is what it is. I’m not looking for pity. Just figured you should know. That’s why I’m obsessed with the Net. A way for me to give my family a new start if I reach Tier 2. Maybe even escape for a bit.”

I nod, finally understanding the weight she’s been carrying. “Makes sense. And for what it’s worth, I don’t see you any differently. If anything, you’re more of a badass than I thought.”

I don’t push her any further. Rather than responding, I simply sit with the weight of what she is said. There’s depth there—pain she’s buried deep, but it still drives her every move. As she stares off into the distance, lost in thought and silent, I decide to speak once more.

“Thanks for telling me,” I say quietly. And for the first time since I’ve known her, she gives me a small, genuine smile.

“Don’t get used to it, Greg.”

✦ . ⁺──────────·☽◯☾·──────────⁺ . ✦

We spend some time tweaking the control panel and ordering the animatronics from Jessica’s interface, discussing potential upgrades and routines. As we fiddle with the mechanics of assigning tasks and prepping the rogue animatronic event, the room settles into a calm rhythm.

“So, what’s your control panel like?” I ask, glancing over as Jessica sprawls back on my bed, clearly exhausted.

She yawns, stretching. “Nothing fancy, really. It’s like a glorified Excel sheet, with an interface for controlling my animatronics and adding custom routines.”

“How do you upgrade them, then?”

“Most of the software side is taken care of by the System. The factory can create the core of the animatronics from the blueprints I input, and then I spend some credits to create the AI. But what I get is pretty bare-bones—just the internal wiring and exposed components, like you saw today. If I want to improve them, I have to manufacture upgrades myself, like adding metal coverings or custom features.”

“So, you’re telling me you can turn a naked robot skeleton into a fully armored, battle-ready animatronic?”

“Pretty much.” She grins, enjoying my growing curiosity. “The more I level up, the better materials I can work with, use better off-the-shelf parts. And I can integrate their learned behaviors into new models, making each generation smarter.”

I let out a low whistle. “That’s intense. You’re one step away from building sentient robots.”

“Exactly. That’s why noone wanted to ally with me, and the Mallard Machinists want us gone. My creations are a threat to their monopoly on advanced robotics.”

Her words remind me of the upcoming duel, and I wince. “I’d almost forgotten about the duel. How are we going to handle that?”

Jessica shrugs, rolling onto her side to face me. “Honestly? After today’s fight, I think we stand a chance. We just need to strategize. With better coordination and some upgrades, we could pull it off.”

I raise an eyebrow, still skeptical. “Against someone who’s probably going to be Tier 1 by then? You sure about that?”

“Well, I do have an idea to swing things in your favor.”

“Oh?”

“Well, if the rules allow you to bring any equipment to the fight, then you can take a swarm of my animatronics with you,” Jessica says, her eyes glinting with mischief.

I sit up straighter, intrigued by the idea. "Wait, seriously? That’d give me a huge advantage. But... what’s the catch?"

Jessica shrugs, her usual smirk creeping back. "No catch, just strategy. They’re technically my creations, but if I program them under your control for the fight, it’s legit. You’re the one using them as equipment."

“That could work, but I need to check the duel rules to be sure.”

A quick scan of the duel rules later, I’m practically buzzing with excitement. “So, the rules on equipment say that any gear or tools used in the duel must be created by someone who is of lower or equal tier to the opponent’s tier at the time the challenge was issued. The total market value of the equipment can’t exceed 10 credits if the lowest tier between the duelists at the time of the challenge is Tier 0.”

Jessica grins, her mind clearly already spinning with ideas. “Perfect. I can make sure the animatronics are valued under that limit. The trick will be finding the right balance of power without going over the cap.”

“This could actually work. If I have a swarm of animatronics at my side, it’ll be like having a mini army. Even if the other guy’s Tier 1, they won’t expect that kind of firepower from a Tier 0.”

“Exactly,” Jessica says, sitting up and slapping her hands together. “We’ll have to play it smart. I can outfit them with basic combat capabilities—nothing too fancy, but enough to overwhelm your opponent with sheer numbers.”

I nod, already picturing the swarm of animatronics tearing through the battlefield. “And if we coordinate their movements with my war hammer and shield, we could keep the enemy on the defensive the entire time.”

Jessica flashes me a grin, her confidence contagious. “See? Now you’re thinking like a tactician.

“What if Afton also uses a similar tactic? We can expect his allies to give him pretty advanced robots.”

“Well, the restriction on the equipment being made by Tier 0’s will make sure that the robots will be pretty dumb. Like how my animatronics were at the beginning of the fight. But now I can keep on making them smarter with every fight until the day of the duel.”

“So, the longer we have, the better they’ll be?" I ask, already imagining the potential upgrades. "Do we have enough time to get them to a decent level?”

Jessica nods confidently. “Yeah, we have a few days. I’ll make sure they’re combat-ready—at least smarter than the junk Afton’s likely to bring.”

I lean back, smiling at the thought. This could actually work. Afton might be underestimating us, thinking we’re just a couple of newbies. But if we play our cards right, we could surprise him.

“So, what’s the next step?” I ask, already eager to get started.

Jessica grins, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Next step? We train. We test. And we make sure those bots can follow commands like pros.”

“And I’ll need to work on my own skills. My shield game needs serious improvement.”

She laughs. “Yeah, don’t forget about that. Can’t have you getting squashed every time we fight.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be ready. Besides, it’s about time I started pulling my weight, right?”

“You’d better. No more dying on me.”

“Deal,” I say, holding out my hand.

She rolls her eyes but shakes it anyway. “We’ve got this, Greg. Afton’s not gonna know what hit him.