“Sweet, merciful god…”
I stumbled upon the beauty in a bombed-out shell of an old garage, tucked away in a corner like a forgotten treasure. Damn, she was beautiful.
She was like someone had taken a Honda, mixed it with a crotch rocket, and sprinkled some sleek, alien tech on top—the kind of thing you'd see on the poster of some cheesy sci-fi action flick. This was the kind of motorcycle that I always dreamed of owning one day. Her streamlined design had curves in all the right places, making her look fast even while it was standing still. Every inch of her just screamed speed.
My mouth watered at the thought of tearing through the city streets on this beast. The only problem was that it looked like she had been through hell and back. There were scorch marks on the side, scratches all over, and a couple of pieces were straight-up missing. But damn, did I want to ride her.
A notification popped up on my Interface, and I couldn't help but grin.
New Player Quest: Need A Ride? This quest is only available for new Players. Acquire parts to fix the motorcycle. Motor 0/1 Fuel Converter 0/1 Stabilizer 0/1 Control Module 0/1 Fusion Cell 0/1
Completion Reward: Skill - Motorcycle Riding, Skill - Basic Mechanics Experience Reward: 400
Seemed like the System had read my mind. All I had to do was find the missing parts and put this beauty back together. Challenge accepted.
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I found myself stalking the ruins of an old mechanic's shop, the kind of place that looked like it had once been full of life. Now, it was just a twisted, rusting mess of metal and shattered glass. I stepped inside, my boots crunching on the debris beneath my feet, and surveyed the wreckage.
It didn't take long to spot a motor that might do the trick. It was sitting atop a mangled workbench, half-covered in a grimy cloth. I reached for it, but stopped short when a low growl echoed through the shop.
Riftspawn. Dammit. I barely had time to react before a pack of snarling, four-legged monstrosities burst out from behind the rows of rusted shelves, their eyes hungry and teeth bared. I didn't have time for this. I needed that motor.
I leapt to the side as one of them charged, its snapping jaws missing me by inches. My heart hammered in my chest as I rolled, coming up in a crouch, SMG in hand. I fired off a burst of shots, the sound echoing in the enclosed space, and the lead beast yelped and fell, blood spraying from its wounds. But there were more, and they weren't backing down.
Another lunged at me, and I used my Shadow Grasp to send tendrils of darkness to bind its legs, sending it crashing into the floor. I finished it off with a well-placed shot to the skull. Two down, but the others circled, waiting for an opening.
As one darted in, I activated my Shadow Wall, the barrier of darkness springing up to absorb the impact of its attack. I counterattacked, using my Shadow Launch to propel myself at the creature, combat baton swinging. The satisfying crunch of bones breaking beneath my strike told me I'd hit my mark.
Attack Critical Hit. You deal 58 damage (54 Kinetic, 4 Electromagnetic)
With the pack leader dead, the rest hesitated, giving me a moment to breathe. I could see the fear in their eyes, but also the hunger. These Riftspawn were desperate, and desperate creatures were dangerous. I couldn't afford to let my guard down.
The remaining two attacked in unison. I dodged one, but the other's teeth sank into my arm, sharp pain flaring as it tore through my flesh.
You've taken 21 Kinetic damage
Gritting my teeth, I activated my Shadow Spike Trap beneath the beast, and it yelped as the shadowy spikes impaled it, stunning it just long enough for me to put a bullet through its head.
The last one was smarter, backing away as it realized it was outmatched. But it wouldn't escape. I used my Shadow Sense to anticipate its movements, and as it turned to flee, I aimed my SMG and fired. It dropped with a thud, lifeless.
You gained 40 Experience Points
Panting, I stumbled back to the workbench and grabbed the motor, my arm throbbing with pain.
“One piece down, four to go. Now how am I gonna drag this heavy-ass thing back to the bike?”
It took a few minutes rummaging through the other rooms until I found a push-cart dolly still relatively intact.
“Good enough.”
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I pushed deeper into the city after I dropped off the motor at the garage.
The Interface directed me towards an abandoned tech store, the shattered remains of holographic displays and rusted drones littering the ground like a graveyard of failed innovation.
The fuel converter was nestled among the wreckage, its casing cracked but intact. As I reached for it, I noticed the floor tiles around it seemed off. My gut twisted, telling me something was wrong. I stepped back, studying the scene more carefully. The tiles were slightly raised, the grime around them disturbed. A trap. Clever.
No time for second thoughts—I needed that fuel converter. I activated my Shadow Manipulation, feeling the subtle shifts in the darkness around me, searching for any indication of the trap's mechanism. There—a thin wire, nearly invisible, running from the raised tiles to a nearby wall.
I traced the wire's path, finding it connected to a series of rusted pipes overhead. They seemed to be filled with some kind of noxious gas, judging by the faint hiss that filled the air. One wrong move and I'd be choking on toxic fume. Not the way I wanted to go out.
My gaze flicked back to the fuel converter, then up to the pipes. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to do. I activated my Shadow Manipulation, focusing on the wire. I needed to be precise, gentle—any sudden movements and I'd trigger the trap.
Slowly and carefully, I used the tendrils of darkness to lift the wire, creating a gap just wide enough for me to slip through. The air felt heavy and tense as I held the wire in place, my muscles taut with the strain of keeping the trap from springing.
With the wire held aloft, I crawled towards the fuel converter, sweat beading on my brow as I moved inch by agonizing inch. I reached the cell, my hand trembling as I picked it up.
"Gotcha." I had it. Now, I just had to get out. Easier said than done.
I inched back, retracing my steps, my breaths shallow and measured. I could feel the wire quivering in my grasp, eager to snap back into place. Just a little further.
Finally, I cleared the last tile, exhaling a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. I carefully released the wire, letting it settle back into place without triggering the trap. I stood, the fuel converter safely tucked into my backpack.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Two down, three to go. The Interface chimed, and I set off, determined to find the next piece.
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The next piece I needed to find was the stabilizer, something that sounded like it would be important if I wanted to stay upright while riding. The Interface directed me to an abandoned garage, a few blocks away in the opposite direction. I couldn't help but pick up the pace, excited to get this bike on the road.
The garage looked like it had seen better days, its doors barely hanging on their hinges and its windows clouded with dust. But that didn't matter to me; all I cared about was finding that stabilizer. I slipped inside, ducking under the half-collapsed door and surveying the scene.
There were tools and parts scattered everywhere, a veritable treasure trove for someone like me. I glanced at the Interface for a reminder of what I was looking for—a small, flat, crescent-shaped piece of metal with a series of holes drilled into it. With that image in mind, I started digging through the piles of junk, tossing aside anything that didn't match the description.
After a good ten minutes of searching, I found it: the stabilizer. It was wedged between a rusty toolbox and a pile of old tires, but there it was, just waiting for me to snatch it up. I wiped the grime from its surface, revealing the gleaming metal beneath.
"Three down," I murmured to myself, tucking the stabilizer into my bag. "Almost there."
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The next part was the control module, the brain of the bike. The Interface led me to an abandoned office building, its once-glassy facade now a jagged, crumbling mess. I slipped inside, treading carefully through the debris-strewn halls.
I reached a dusty, disheveled office with a massive desk that had seen better days. A shattered computer monitor lay on the floor, its screen a spiderweb of cracks. I spotted the control module on a nearby shelf, half-buried beneath a pile of paperwork. It was a sleek black box, adorned with an array of buttons and switches.
As I took a step towards the control module, the floor beneath me gave way, revealing a pit filled with sharp, rusted spikes. I barely managed to leap back in time.
So, this place was trapped. I gritted my teeth, focusing on the task at hand. I wasn't about to let some ancient booby traps keep me from my prize.
Carefully, I tested each step before I took it. Progress was slow, but I couldn't afford to make a mistake. A false step could easily be my last.
I approached a narrow doorway, feeling a sudden chill as I neared it. My breath fogged in the air, and I could see a faint shimmering on the other side of the threshold. It looked like some kind of energy field, cold enough to freeze anything that touched it.
"Man, isn't that a bit much?" I frowned, pondering my options. I could try to force my way through, but the risk of injury was high.
Instead, I turned to my Umbrakinesis. If I could manipulate the shadows, maybe I could create a bridge of darkness to bypass the deadly barrier. I focused on the shadows around me, feeling the familiar surge of power as my abilities flared to life.
I willed the shadows to stretch and weave, forming a solid platform that floated above the freezing energy field. The bridge was narrow and unstable, but it was my best chance. Taking a deep breath, I stepped onto the shadow bridge, feeling it wobble beneath my feet as I inched my way across.
"I hope this holds." Sweat beaded on my brow as I carefully treaded, but eventually, I made it to the other side. I let out a shaky breath, my relief palpable, then reached out and grabbed the control module, my fingers trembling slightly as I held it.
With the control module in hand, I ventured out into the city once more. The Interface directed me towards the last part: the fusion cell. Based on the quest detail, it was the heart of the bike that would keep it running on the Ley Line energy.
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The location was a derelict warehouse, its walls adorned with faded graffiti and its entrance hidden behind a mass of overgrown weeds.
I stepped inside, squinting into the gloom. The place was vast, its high ceiling swallowed by darkness. I could make out rows of rusting shelves, laden with decaying boxes and long-forgotten machinery. Somewhere in here was the fusion cell. It should look like a small, spindle-shaped object with sockets and plugs on each end.
I walked down the narrow aisles, alert for any sign of danger. My footfalls echoed in the silence, the only sound in this forgotten place. I spotted the fusion cell nestled between a stack of cracked plastic crates and a grimy, broken-down forklift.
I reached for it, my fingers inches from the smooth surface when a sudden grinding noise echoed through the warehouse.
The floor beneath me began to tremble, and I stumbled back, just as a massive, rusted claw burst through the concrete.
As the wall collapsed, a was a huge, hulking machine that reminded me of an old-fashioned 80s-era giant robot barreled in. The enormous claw was attached to a long, segmented arm, its joints creaking and whirring as it reached for me.
I dove out of the way, the claw smashing into the spot where I'd been standing.
"Okay, don't get hit by that. Got it!" Adrenaline coursed through my veins. I knew I had to be smart about this. No way in hell that I could take down a machine like that head-on.
Instead, I focused on my Umbrakinesis, summoning a barrage of Shadow Spikes underneath to pelt the metal behemoth. The spikes peppered the machine's exterior, leaving dents and scrapes but not doing any real damage.
Cursing under my breath, I scrambled away from the relentless claw. Need a new plan. My eyes flicked to the warehouse's support beams, an idea forming in my mind. If I could bring this place down, maybe I could crush the machine beneath the rubble.
I sent a surge of shadow energy towards one of the support beams, my Shadow Launch ability sending it toppling into the next. A chain reaction began, the warehouse groaning and creaking as the structure began to give way.
I sprinted towards the fusion cell, snatching it up and darting for the exit as the ceiling collapsed around me. Dust and debris filled the air, choking my lungs as I burst out into the daylight, the warehouse collapsing behind me in a cacophony of destruction.
I glanced down at the fusion cell in my hand, its surface unmarred and gleaming.
“Got the last piece. The quest should be done then.”
The Interface chimed, announcing the completion of the quest and the System rewarded me with the new skills I'd earned: Motorcycle Riding and Basic Mechanics.
A rush of knowledge flooded my mind, filling in the gaps in my understanding. I knew how to ride this beast, how to push it to its limits, and how to maintain it.
"Nice. Finally feeling like Neo."
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When I reached the motorcycle, I didn't waste any time.
“Alright, got a lot of work to do.” I knelt down, examining the exposed guts of the motorcycle.
I started with the motor, the heaviest and most cumbersome of the parts. Using my newfound mechanical skills, I carefully attached it to the bike's frame, the metal groaning as it settled into place. I double-checked the connections, making sure everything was secure and properly aligned.
Next came the fuel converter. It was a small, unassuming device, but it played a crucial role in the bike's operation. I connected it to the motor, feeling the satisfying click as the parts locked together. I then attached the fuel line, carefully threading it through the bike's frame and connecting it to the converter.
Next, I installed the fusion cell, securing it into a snug compartment beneath the seat. The cell began to hum, its energy already flowing into the bike's systems, eager to propel it forward.
With the motor and fuel system in place, it was time to install the control module. I approached this part with a mix of excitement and trepidation—one wrong move, and the bike would be nothing more than a very expensive paperweight.
I opened the control panel, my fingers deftly connecting the module to the bike's intricate network of wires and circuits. The Interface guided me, its knowledge flowing through me like a wellspring of information. As I connected the final wire, I felt a surge of energy pass through the bike, its systems coming to life with a soft hum.
I slid the stabilizer into place, feeling it click securely into position. A jolt of electricity seemed to run through the bike, and I knew I'd done it.
Finally, I attached the plasma injector, carefully aligning it with the engine. I tightened the last bolt and stepped back, the bike now complete and ready for action.
I swung a leg over the seat, feeling the smooth, cool metal beneath me. Gripping the handlebars, I revved the engine, the bike's throaty growl echoing through the empty streets. I could feel the power coursing through it. Even though it didn't run on gas, something within it was making all that beautiful noise—and I was all for it.
The bike's Interface lit up, a holographic display projecting before my eyes. It showed my speed, remaining energy, and a map of the nearby Ley Lines.
"Alright, babe. Let's see what you've got." I took a deep breath and twisted the throttle. The bike surged forward, its wheels gripping the cracked asphalt as I accelerated down the street. The wind whipped past me, my heart racing in time with the engine.
I leaned into a turn, the bike responding to my every move. It was as if we were one—I was Knight and this was my Kitt. Just need to eventually get it to talk to me.
We flew down the streets, weaving through abandoned cars and leaping over fallen debris.
"Hell yeah!"
I pushed the bike faster, the city blurring around me as I raced towards the horizon. I think it was time to finally leave this Server.
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[https://i.ibb.co/Qrm9frR/connor-bike.png]