Blake watched his stamina bar approach full again as he leaned back against the cabin wall, a half-empty mug of soup from the canteen cooling beside him. His muscles ached from hauling salvage, but the protein and nutrients were already working their magic.

"Ready to go over those skill increases?" Chimera's avatar shimmered into view, perching cross-legged on his desk. "There aren't many, but I imagine you'll have some questions."

Blake nodded, letting his eyes drift closed as he accessed his status screen. The familiar blue interface overlaid his vision, presenting a neat list of updates:

[You have increased your mastery with Battlewright! Experience earned.]

[You have increased your mastery with Warden's Insight! New tier: Apprentice. Experience earned.]

[You have increased your mastery with Unfettered Stride! New tier: Apprentice. Experience earned.]

"How many mastery tiers are there?" Blake took a sip of the cooling soup. The rich broth helped ease his fatigue.

"Nine total." Chimera's avatar shifted, uncrossing its legs. "Amateur marks the beginning, followed by Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Journeyman, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, and finally Sage."

Blake scrolled back through his notifications. "I started at Novice though, skipped Amateur entirely."

"Class skills begin at Novice tier, generally. A benefit of your choice to become a Roadwarden." Chimera's form flickered.

"Well I'm glad to see things progressing. The mobility boost saved our lives back there," Blake acknowledged. "Though the mana drain is noticeable."

"That will improve with progression and better gear." Chimera's avatar gestured, bringing up a holographic display of intricate armor designs. "Which brings us to the fun part. Want to see what I can do with that crystalline lattice?"

Blake leaned forward, studying the shifting blueprints with interest. The design looked sleek and functional - plates that flowed like liquid metal while maintaining solid protection. No unnecessary flourishes or decorative elements.

"The lattice forms the core structure," Chimera explained, highlighting specific sections. "It's self-repairing and adapts to impacts. The power couplings we salvaged will let me create an energy distribution network throughout the suit. That means active shields and enhanced mobility."

The hologram shifted, showing layers of interconnected systems. "The quantum buffers prevent power surges and allow for smooth energy flow. I can use that to amplify your movement abilities or redirect power to reinforce specific areas under attack."

Blake watched as the design cycled through various configurations. "How long to fabricate?"

"That depends how much mana we can devote to creating the appropriate bio-mass. Having the lattice as a blueprint is good, but there's not enough material here for the whole suit…" Chimera drifted off, remaining silent for the next few seconds before continuing. "Maybe three days for a complete—if basic—combat suit. Advanced features would obviously take longer."

"What's the priority order?"

"Protection first," Chimera's avatar moved through the hologram, highlighting key areas. "Chest, vital organs, head. Then, mobility enhancements for arms and legs. Finally, the integrated systems - shields, sensors, weapon interfaces."

The design rotated, showing how the plates would interconnect. "The lattice structure means damage won't compromise the entire suit. Even if a section is destroyed, the rest maintains functionality. Self-repair capabilities kick in once the immediate threat passes."

"What's the catch?" he asked. "This seems too good to be true."

"Resources and time," Chimera admitted. "Growing this kind of armor requires significant bio-mass. I'll need to consume more materials to maintain it. Plus, the integration process isn't instant. You'll need time to adapt every time we alter the bond."

Blake nodded, having expected something along those lines. "And the power requirements?"

"That's actually not as bad as you might think." Chimera brought up an energy flow diagram. "The lattice is incredibly efficient. Once it's properly calibrated, the suit mainly draws power during active enhancement or repair cycles. Baseline operation costs are minimal."

"What about maintenance?"

"The self-repair handles most issues. You'll need to feed me appropriate materials periodically to maintain the bio-mass levels." Chimera's avatar grinned.

Blake chuckled despite himself. "Right. Just normal car maintenance. Nothing weird about that at all."

"Hey, at least you don't have to worry about changing my fluids," Chimera quipped back. "Now, let me show you the weapon integration possibilities..."

The discussion continued as they delved into the technical details. Blake's military experience let him ask increasingly specific questions about combat applications, while Chimera's enthusiasm for the project led to detailed explanations of the underlying systems.

Hours passed as they refined the design. Blake insisted on prioritizing reliability over raw power, while Chimera pushed for more integrated enhancement features. They eventually reached a compromise that satisfied both perspectives.

Eventually, Blake started to wane, feeling the weight of fatigue settling into his bones. The day's events had taken their toll, and even with his enhanced attributes, his body needed rest.

"Start with the basics," he said, finishing the last of his now-cold soup. "We can worry about upgrades once we see how it performs in the field."

"Fair enough." Chimera's avatar flickered slightly. "I'll begin fabrication tonight. The first components should be ready for testing by morning."

Blake set his empty mug aside and rolled his shoulder, testing the lingering soreness. The muscle strain had faded to a dull ache - his vitality already accelerating the healing process.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"And the storage issue?" Blake gestured to his cramped quarters. "Where exactly are we keeping all this?"

"The lattice is incredibly compact when inactive," Chimera assured him. "The whole suit can collapse down to about the size of a backpack. It'll expand when needed."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"

"Well, there might be some dramatic transforming sequences involved," Chimera admitted. "But I promise to keep the light show to a minimum."

"Appreciate that," Blake said dryly.

He studied the final design specs again, noting how each component worked together as part of a greater whole. The system was elegant in its complexity - layers of protection and enhancement working in harmony.

"One last question," Blake said, still processing possibilities. "How adaptable is this? Can we modify it for different situations?"

"Absolutely," Chimera's avatar brightened. "The lattice structure means we can reconfigure on the fly. Need extra armor? We can shift resources to reinforce specific areas. Want more speed? We can streamline the plates for better mobility."

The hologram demonstrated various configurations - assault mode, stealth mode, and even environmental protection for hostile conditions.

"Think of it—well, me—as a second skin that adapts to your needs," Chimera continued. "The more we practice, the better I'll become at anticipating and responding to different situations."

Blake nodded, satisfied with the explanation. His military experience had taught him the value of flexible equipment - being able to adapt to changing circumstances often meant the difference between success and failure.

"Alright," he said, closing the holographic display. "Let's do this by the numbers. Start fabrication on the basic components and we'll work our way up."

"Already on it," Chimera replied. "The first pieces should be ready for testing when you wake up. Just try not to get into any more fights before then, okay?"

Blake's lips twitched in a slight smile. "No promises. This place seems to attract trouble."

"Then we'd better make sure you're properly equipped!" Chimera said. Her avatar began to fade. "Get some rest, Blake. I'll need you recovering mana so I can siphon it for fabrication."

Blake watched the hologram disappear, leaving his quarters feeling oddly empty. The day's events played through his mind - the fight with the scout, the desperate scavenging run, the close calls with the search parties. It wasn't that strange a day for him in the field on paper. In practice, it was… Well, he felt like some damned super-soldier. It was strange but certainly not unwelcome.

On that thought, Blake settled down into his cot to get some rest. After all, his new super-suit needed all the mana he could give it.

----------------------------------------

MARA

The rusted hull of Eland's ship shrank behind Mara as she slipped through the debris field, carefully choosing each footstep to minimize noise. Her chest still buzzed with a mix of hope and fear after their conversation. A cultivator. An actual cultivator offering aid against Rax. It felt too good to be true, which meant she needed to move quickly before reality found a way to crush this opportunity.

The rough fabric of her scarf caught the grit-laden wind as she ducked between two fallen cargo containers. The familiar weight of her salvage knife pressed against her hip - a comfort, even if it would be useless against Rax's enhanced warriors. Dawn painted the scrapyard in shades of amber and rust, perfect conditions for observing without being seen.

As she approached Clan territory Mara checked her mana reserves - pathetically low as always, but still enough to enhance her hearing. She'd never managed proper cultivation, but years of scraping by had taught her a few tricks. She channeled a whisper of energy to her ears, letting the ambient sounds of the junkyard sharpen into distinct patterns.

Voices carried on the wind - two of Rax's guards complaining about their patrol route. Their boots crunched through loose debris about fifty meters to her right. Mara pressed herself against the container's weathered surface, counting their footsteps. One-two-three-four... pause. One-two-three-four... pause.

She pulled a worn dataslate from her pack, fingers dancing across its cracked screen as she noted the patrol timing. The device was ancient tech, salvaged from a merchant ship years ago, but it still worked well enough day-to-day. As she listened, two more pairs of guards passed through her range, each following similar patterns.

"Clockwork," Mara whispered to herself, adding their routes to her growing map. "You're so predictable, Rax."

The rising sun forced her to move deeper into shadow. She crawled through a narrow gap between containers, ignoring the way rough metal snagged at her clothes. The passage opened into a small hollow created by collapsed hull plates - one of many hidden spots she'd mapped over the years. From here, she could observe three different patrol routes while remaining completely hidden.

Mara settled in to watch, counting minutes between guard changes and noting which warriors showed signs of fatigue or distraction. Most of Rax's men moved with the enhanced grace of minor cultivation, but their attention wandered. They'd grown too comfortable in their routines.

Her dataslate chirped softly - a message from Korrn. The old scrapper had been one of her first converts to the resistance, and his network of contacts proved invaluable. The message was brief: "Meeting arranged. Usual spot. Two hours."

Perfect. Mara added a few final notes about guard positions before starting her careful journey through the debris field. The "usual spot" was an abandoned processing facility on the edge of Rax's territory - close enough to track his operations, but far enough to avoid casual patrols.

Movement caught her eye - a flash of metal in the growing light. Mara froze, every muscle tensing as one of Rax's warriors passed barely ten meters from her position. The woman had a cybernetic eye that glowed faintly as she scanned the area, but her organic eye was half-closed with boredom. Another weakness to exploit.

***

The processing facility's broken spires rose before her, casting long shadows across the rust-stained ground. Mara circled the building twice, checking for unwanted observers before approaching the hidden entrance - a maintenance hatch that looked welded shut but actually swung open silently on well-oiled hinges.

Inside, the facility's cavernous main floor lay empty except for ancient processing equipment. Mara's footsteps echoed slightly despite her care, but she knew the sound wouldn't carry outside. She made her way to the overseer's office, climbing the metal stairs with practiced ease.

Korrn waited inside, his weathered face creasing into a smile as she entered. "You're early."

"Lot to discuss," Mara said, pulling her dataslate out. "How many can you gather?"

"Dozen, maybe more." Korrn's cybernetic hand tapped a rhythmic pattern on the desk - an old nervous habit. "Word's spreading about yesterday's gathering. People are angry."

"Good." Mara activated her slate's holographic display, showing the patrol routes she'd mapped. "Rax's just pulled half his forces to chase salvage. We need to move while he's distracted."

"Risky," Korrn observed, but his organic eye gleamed with interest. "What's changed?"

Mara hesitated, weighing how much to reveal. "We have... support. Someone with real power who's willing to help."

"The outsiders?" Korrn leaned forward. "The ones who crashed?"

"Yes." Mara met his gaze steadily. "One's a cultivator. A real one, not just some hopped up junkyard dog like Rax's boys. And his companion..." She trailed off, remembering Blake's fluid movement during their brief meeting. "I'm not sure about him. He's something else entirely—but definitely capable."

Korrn whistled softly. "Good news. That'll get people's attention. When can they make contact again?"

"Soon. But first, we need to gather our own strength." Mara highlighted several points on her map. "I've found gaps in Rax's patrol routes. Small ones, but enough to move supplies through if we're careful. We need weapons, medical supplies, anything that could help in a fight."

"I know some people," Korrn said slowly. "Good scrappers who've lost family to Rax's 'examples.' They'll help, especially if they think we have a real chance."

"Start contacting them discreetly," Mara instructed, "and tell them to be ready to move within the next few days. We'll begin shifting supplies soon, and I want everyone prepared before Rax returns with his forces."

Korrn nodded, already pulling out his own communicator—a crude but effective radio-wave device, but one with sufficient encryption to be reliable. "Watch yourself," he warned as she turned to leave. "Rax's pet cyborg has been asking questions about you."

Mara's hand unconsciously touched the scar on her neck - a souvenir from her last encounter with Rax's enhanced enforcer. "Let him ask. We'll be ready this time."