Chapter 26

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows against the rough stone walls of the vault. Felix was already settled on the makeshift bedroll of the furs from the wolves, his breathing even as he drifted off to sleep. We’d made the decision to camp here for the night, to rest up and regain our strength before returning to Galene at first light. There was no telling what awaited us back at the camp, but one thing was certain—we needed to be at our best if we had any hope of taking it back.

I glanced at the crumpled metal form of Byte, laid out beside me. The fight with the Lurker had nearly destroyed him, and I hadn’t had the time or materials to repair him properly until now. But with the spoils from the dungeon—spider parts, Mimic plating, and even some of the enchanted metal from the traps—I finally had everything I needed to rebuild him.

“Okay, little guy,” I murmured, stretching my hands and flexing my fingers. “Let’s get you back in action.”

I activated [Arc Weld], the energy humming through my hands as I laid out the pieces on the ground in front of me. Byte’s core, the small glowing orb that held his essence, pulsed faintly beside the scattered metal scraps. He was still with me, still functioning on some level, but his body was a shell, completely useless in its current state.

“Don’t worry, Byte. I’m going to make you stronger than ever,” I whispered, running my fingers along his battered frame. It felt almost ceremonial as I began dismantling what remained of his original body, carefully removing the damaged components and setting aside the few parts I could salvage. His sleek, spherical shape had served him well, but I needed something more robust now—something that could withstand the challenges we faced.

I worked methodically, my hands moving with purpose as I assembled the larger frame. The legs were the first addition. Using the sturdy metal from the Mimic’s remains along with the metal from the legs of the spider queen, I fashioned four strong, articulated limbs, each one ending in a crystalline clawed foot capable of gripping any terrain. I attached the new legs to Byte’s core, welding them into place and testing their mobility.

Byte’s new legs moved fluidly, almost gracefully. “Looks like I’m getting the hang of this,” I murmured, smiling at the small success. The mimic metal was surprisingly easy to work with, pliant under the Arc Weld but solidifying into a near-impenetrable surface once cooled. With four legs, Byte’s new shape was starting to take form—a feline silhouette, sleek and agile.

Next, I turned my attention to his body, using sturdy carapaces of the Mechweaver spiders to create a flexible yet protective shell I attached them to the mechanical spinal column. The metal segments interlocked like scales, offering coverage and freedom of movement. His new body was bigger, roughly the size of a bobcat. As I worked, I felt my mana draining, the constant use of [Arc Weld] taxing my reserves, I chugged a mana potion and pushed through. Savoring the cool flavor as it quenched my thirst.

“Almost there,” I whispered, sweat beading on my forehead. The final touch was his head—a sleek, predatory shape inspired by a feline’s angular features. I incorporated some of the venom glands from the spiders into his ears, hollowing out small compartments that could store and release the paralyzing toxin at will. The ears could retract or extend, appearing like sharp points when active, and lying flat when at rest.

His signature bite too, was back. The mimic’s jagged teeth provided the perfect replacement for any of Bytes damaged teeth; their serrated edges capable of delivering a vicious bite. I fitted the teeth into his mechanized jaw, connecting it to Byte’s central core with a series of delicate wires and gears. Here I also attached the mechweaver queens power core and the shadowfang wolf’s power core. My hope was additional power and strength to upgrade Byte even further.

With one final surge of mana, I fused the head to the body and stepped back, examining my work. Byte’s new form gleamed in the firelight—a metal beast, sleek and deadly. I pushed mana into Byte waking him up. His eyes flickered to life, a soft, familiar blue glow emanating from within.

“Byte, can you hear me, buddy?” I asked softly, my voice barely more than a whisper in the quiet of the vault.

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The newly rebuilt bot’s eyes brightened, and he lifted his head, testing the movement of his new body. His four legs shifted, the joints moving smoothly as he took a tentative step forward, his metal paws clicking softly against the stone floor.

Byte let out a soft whirr of excitement, and for a moment, it almost sounded like a purr. I laughed quietly, relief and pride swelling in my chest. “You’re back, buddy. And you look incredible.”

He padded over to me, his movements fluid and cat-like, and nudged my hand with his new, sleeker head. I reached down, running my fingers along his smooth, segmented body, marveling at the craftsmanship and the potential for his new abilities.

“Let’s see what you can do,” I murmured, accessing Byte’s new parameters through my HUD. His stats had improved significantly, the upgrades enhancing his strength, speed, and agility. But it was his new abilities that caught my attention. Before he hadn’t had abilities per se, I just a vague idea of things Byte could do.

Venomous Strike: Deliver a potent paralytic venom when engaged in close combat, capable of incapacitating enemies or inflicting severe status effects.

Steel Pounce: Leap long distances and land with force, dealing significant damage and disrupting opponents.

Adaptive Camouflage 2.0: Blend more seamlessly into surroundings, using upgraded body to mask appearance and heat signature.

Discharge: Releases a burst of electrical energy in a 5-foot radius, stunning nearby enemies and causing them to seize up, interrupting their movements and actions.

“Looks like we’re both getting stronger, huh?” I whispered, reaching out to scratch behind one of his new ears. Byte’s eyes flickered again, and I could have sworn his metallic tail gave a faint wag of satisfaction.

The fire crackled softly beside us, the heat seeping into my sore muscles. I settled back, my gaze lingering on the now-larger Byte as he padded around the camp, testing his new body with tentative grace. He activated Adaptive Camouflage and blipped away in an instant. I looked around and couldn’t see him anywhere. Satisfied I turned off adaptive camouflage and was surprised to see him inches from my face. I jumped slightly a huge satisfied grin overtaking me.

“You’re ready. Tomorrow, we go back,” I murmured, watching the flames dance. Byte’s eyes met mine, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me. We were going to win.

With Byte restored and Felix resting peacefully nearby, I let the exhaustion of the day finally overtake me. Tomorrow was going to be a battle—but for now, we were together, and we were strong. We had what we needed to take back our home.

I closed my eyes, leaning against the stone wall. The weight of the Harmonic Nexus around my neck was a comforting reminder of how far we’d come. I pulled out my own fur and laid my head down on it.

“Goodnight, Byte,” I whispered, my voice barely carrying over the crackling fire.

Byte let out a soft beep in response, his eyes glowing softly in the dim light. I smiled, allowing myself to finally drift into a light, vigilant sleep while Byte kept watch.

Tomorrow, we’d face whatever was waiting for us at Galene. There was no way we’d lose.

**

As I blinked the sleep from my eyes, the dim light of the workshop illuminated the array of vials and jars cluttering the alchemy table. Felix’s brow furrowed in concentration as he carefully mixed ingredients, a hint of frustration creeping into his furrowed expression.

“What are you working on?” I asked, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep clinging to my mind.

He glanced up, exhaling sharply. “Trying to brew some healing and mana potions, but it’s not going smoothly.” His hands trembled slightly as he poured a vivid green liquid into a small vial. A puff of black smoke exploded from the vial. “The last batch turned out to be total duds.”

I stepped closer, peering at the array of bubbling concoctions. The earthy scent mingled with something faintly chemical, but it was far from pleasant. “What happened?”

“Too much of the flowering herb, and the mana potions turned into a sticky mess,” he explained, gesturing to a jar of sludge in the corner. “And the healing ones—well, let’s just say they did more harm than good.” He shrugged, a mix of disappointment and determination in his eyes.

“Do you need help?” I asked, sensing his frustration.

He fully looked up now. “No, we better get packed up and get back to Galene. I’ll have plenty of time to practice once we return. But speaking of practice holy crap Maura. You’ve outdone yourself.”

I stretched taking half a beat to remember what he’d been talking about and then began looking around for Byte. “What? Oh! Where is he?” I asked a disappointed panic bubbling up my throat when I didn’t see him.

Felix smiled, “He went out for breakfast.”

Right on cue Byte returned. In his mouth he carried a rabbit. His blue LED eyes looked towards me and he gave his new tail a wag.

“Dang. Good job buddy.” I called out.

We spent the next hour filling our stomachs and making a plan. It was about a three hour walk back to Galene. An hour out we would call John and finalize the last of the details.