The new tower was eerily quiet. Unlike the chaos of their previous building, this one seemed untouched by the initial wave of the Ascendant Era. The lights were off, the air conditioning silent, and the only sound was the soft *thud* of their footsteps on the carpeted floor.
"Vance, where are we going?" Kevin whispered, his energy blade still flickering nervously in his hand.
"We're going to the executive penthouse," Elias replied, checking the floor plan on his System. "Highest floor, most secure, and likely the best view for planning."
They took the emergency stairs, Elias leading the way, his eyes constantly scanning the environment. He wasn't looking for monsters; he was looking for materials. Every water fountain, every marble column, every discarded computer monitor was a potential resource.
They reached the 60th floor penthouse. The door was heavy, solid wood, but the lock was a simple electronic mechanism.
"Door Bypass," Elias muttered, executing the Blueprint he had used before. SE: 19.5/100.
The door clicked open. The penthouse was a sprawling, luxurious space with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of Neo-Chicago. The city was burning. Blue, ethereal light mixed with the angry orange glow of fires.
Elias walked straight to the center of the room and pulled up his System screen.
"Kevin, your job is to stand guard at the door. Don't let anything in. My job is to build our first Base."
He accessed the [Blueprint Generation] interface.
[Blueprint Generation (Lvl 1)]
Input Parameters:
1. Structure Type: Base
2. Size: Penthouse Suite (1000 sq. meters)
3. Material: Reinforced Concrete, Structural Steel, Glass (Double-Pane)
The System whirred, and a complex, multi-layered Blueprint appeared.
[Blueprint Generated: Tier 1 Secure Outpost]
Required Materials:
• Reinforced Concrete: 100 units
• Structural Steel: 50 units
• Glass (Double-Pane): 20 units
• Office Furniture (Mixed): 50 units
• System Energy (SE): 50
Time to Construct: 30 minutes (Manual Application)
Function: Fortifies all entry points, reinforces load-bearing walls, and creates a basic, self-sustaining water filtration system.
Note: Upon completion, this structure will be recognized as a Tier 1 Base by the System.
Elias frowned. 50 SE. That would drain his remaining energy and leave him completely vulnerable for the next few hours until the regeneration kicked in. But the reward was immense: a Tier 1 Base.
He checked his inventory. He had enough materials, thanks to Kevin's smashing.
"Kevin, I need you to harvest every piece of furniture in this room. Smash it. I need the raw materials."
Kevin looked at the expensive Italian leather sofas and mahogany tables, then at Elias's determined face. He shrugged and raised his energy blade. "My pleasure, Vance."
While Kevin began his destructive harvest, Elias started the construction. He executed the Blueprint, and the System overlay covered the entire penthouse in a glowing blue grid. He moved from wall to wall, placing his hands on the load-bearing structures.
The System Energy flowed out of him in a torrent. He felt a deep, dizzying exhaustion, but the sight of the walls subtly hardening, the windows thickening, and the door frame fusing with the concrete was intoxicating.
The final application was the water filtration system. He placed his hand on the kitchen sink. The System consumed the required materials, and the sink glowed blue for a moment. When the light faded, a small, almost invisible filter was integrated into the faucet.
[Tier 1 Secure Outpost Complete.]
Structural Integrity: +25%
Passive Skill [Structural Integrity (Lvl 1)] Applied: Total +26% Durability.
System Energy (SE): -30.5/100 (Regeneration commencing: 1 SE/hr + 10 SE/hr Base Bonus)
New Skill Acquired: Base Management (Lvl 1)
Elias stumbled back, leaning against a newly reinforced wall. He was completely drained, his SE deep in the negative. But he had done it. He had built his first Base.
He looked out the window at the burning city. He was no longer a refugee. He was the Architect of his own destiny. The game had just changed.