The wastelands were harsher than Hayden remembered. The blistering wind tore at his jacket, and the barren expanse seemed to stretch endlessly. But for the first time, he wasn’t consumed by despair. The warmth of the Codex pulsed in his chest, a reminder of the newfound power coursing through him.

“First objective: survive,” the Codex’s voice chimed in his mind, calm and unwavering.

“Survive? Easy for you to say,” Hayden muttered, scanning the horizon.

“A scavenger camp lies 1.2 miles northwest. Supplies and information can be obtained there.”

The interface flickered, marking a glowing waypoint in the distance. Hayden set off, his steps steadier than they should have been after days of exhaustion. He felt lighter, faster, stronger—every part of him enhanced in ways he couldn’t yet fully comprehend.

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As he approached the camp, he noticed the makeshift structures cobbled together from scrap metal and broken tech. The scavengers were a ragtag group, their faces hardened by years of survival in the wastes. Hayden kept his head low as he entered, aware that outsiders weren’t always welcome.

“What do you want, drifter?” a grizzled man with a cybernetic arm growled, stepping into his path.

“Supplies,” Hayden said, his voice steady. “And a way back to Neo-Erebus.”

The man laughed bitterly. “You don’t just walk back to the city, boy. Not without something to offer.”

Hayden’s eyes flicked to the man’s arm, which was sparking faintly at the joint. “Your augment’s malfunctioning,” he said. “I can fix it.”

The scavenger raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “And how’s a kid like you gonna fix this? You some kind of engineer?”

Hayden smiled faintly. He wasn’t, but the Codex was.

“Initiate Repair Assistance,” the Codex prompted.

“Let me see it,” Hayden said confidently.

The scavenger hesitated, then held out his arm. Hayden placed his hands on the joint, and the Codex’s warmth spread through his fingertips. A schematic appeared in his vision, highlighting the faulty connections. With precise movements, he adjusted the components, the Codex guiding him every step of the way.

“There,” Hayden said, stepping back.

The man flexed his arm, his eyes widening as the sparks vanished. “Well, I’ll be damned. Looks like you’re useful after all.”

He gestured toward the center of the camp. “Talk to our leader. If anyone can get you back to the city, it’s her.”