"Welcome to the Third Affiliate."
Lux stopped dead in his tracks, staring up at the massive structure. The building rose so high it cut through the neon haze, sleek metal and glass stretching into the clouds.
"Wooow," Lux breathed, his eyes wide. "This building is huge!"
Reven, walking beside him, closed her eyes and smirked with pride.
"Yeah, yeah. We've got enough funding to make it this huge."
Lux pointed suddenly. "Hooo… there are kids here too."
Reven froze mid-step.
"Kids? … Kids?!" She opened one eye, then both, her voice rising. "Why the hell would kids be here?! This is the Third Affiliate, a place for Achievers, not for kids, you idiot."
She turned to him with her eyes narrowed as if to say you get it now, right?
But Lux wasn't listening. He was already crouched on the ground, smiling, talking to two little kids in identical school uniforms.
Reven rubbed her eyes.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
Lux looked up at her. The kids looked up too. For a second, all three pairs of eyes met. Reven's jaw dropped.
"What are you little brats doing here?!" she yelled. Then her voice cracked into a sharp gasp. "And why the hell do you have a cigarette in your hand?!"
One of the kids puffed out his cheeks and shouted, "Look! A big penguin flying!"
Both Lux and Reven instinctively looked up, scanning the bright sky.
Lux squinted. "Uh… where's the penguin?"
When he looked back down, both kids were already sprinting away into the crowds.
Lux scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"So… do we chase them?"
Reven sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Forget it. Let's go inside before I lose my mind."
---
They approached the main entrance—towering crystal-clear glass doors with golden circuit patterns etched across them. Lux grabbed the handle and pushed. Nothing. He pushed again with all his strength, grunting, "Why… won't… this… door… open?!"
Reven stepped up beside him, grabbed the handle—
—and pulled.
The door slid open effortlessly.
Lux froze, cheeks reddening. "Oh… uh… right. Pull, not push."
He quickly stepped inside after her, trying to look casual.
---
The interior took his breath away. The reception hall stretched out like a futuristic cathedral, holographic displays floating in midair, drones zipping above their heads carrying files and parcels. Transparent elevators hummed along the walls, carrying people to floors higher than Lux could count.
Lux whispered, "Is this… the main hall?"
Reven didn't even look back. "Nope. This is just the reception. Most people come here to file cases or report missions."
Lux followed her quietly, eyes darting to every glowing panel and buzzing drone. Reven glanced over her shoulder.
"By the way, what do you know about bio‑tech?"
Lux straightened. "Oh, yeah, I know! Bio‑tech weapons or items—they're made for us. Stuff we can use in combat."
Reven nodded. "Correct. But here's the thing—bio‑tech can't be randomly chosen. They're designed for you specifically, based on your Achiever power."
Lux's brow furrowed. "Wait… but you said you have enhancement powers. You're not an alchemist. And your weapon… it doesn't even match your power."
Reven folded her arms, grinning.
"Yeah, my weapon doesn't match my power. I made it myself. You can do that too, if you're stubborn enough… but it won't be as effective. And you'll have to train way harder just to handle it. Doesn't mean I don't use my power—I just… channel it in my own way."
Lux scratched his head. "Then… how do they even know what to build, or how to design it?"
Reven groaned, rubbing her eyes. "How are you this dumb?"
Lux blinked. "What do you mean?"
Reven pointed toward a sleek holographic scanning machine stationed nearby. People were stepping in one at a time, stepping out as holographic projections of weapons flashed above them.
"We've been standing here for almost ten minutes. You've seen at least eight or nine people go through that machine. It scans their bodies, their cores, their power signatures… then it generates their bio‑tech designs."
Lux's jaw dropped. "Ohhh… I thought it was scanning for amputations."
SMACK.
Reven slapped him on the butt as she shoved him toward the scanner.
"Go. Inside."
"Ow!" Lux yelped, rubbing his backside. "You didn't have to slap that hard… that actually hurts."
Reven snorted. "Stop whining and stand still."
---
Lux stepped inside the scanner. Light swept over him from head to toe, a hum filling the air as streams of data scrolled across the display.
"Scanning…" a robotic voice intoned.
Two minutes passed. Three.
Reven tilted her head. "Huh. It's taking longer than usual…"
Lux shifted nervously. "Is… that normal?"
Before she could answer, the voice spoke again.
"Scan complete."
The machine's projection flickered to life, displaying a sequence of glowing weapon designs: blades, rifles, gauntlets, shields… then suddenly, the holograms began to glitch. Each weapon image dissolved before finishing.
Lux stepped out, still rubbing his butt. "So… what weapon do I get?"
The machine beeped once more. The glowing projections froze—and then disappeared completely, leaving only static.
Lux scratched his head again. "Wait… does that mean… I don't get anything?"
The scanner spoke one final time, its voice almost hesitant:
"Weapon… undetermined."
Reven with a confident smirk . '' I know it would happen''