The tunnel ahead was dark.
The bag was light.
That was the strangest part.
Ren had carried weight long enough to trust it.
Ammo had weight.
Tools had weight.
Food had weight.
The damaged anchor module had weight.
Now all of it sat inside his bag like it had fallen into a room bigger than the tunnel around him.
Nothing pulled on his shoulder.
Nothing shifted when he moved.
Nothing clinked.
The bag looked normal.
Sato moved first.
“Keep moving.” Her voice stayed low.
Rifle forward.
MP5 close.
Handgun tucked away with the new suppressor fixed to it.
She looked more like a soldier than a police officer now.
Ren did not say that.
Sato would hate it.
Shizuka stayed on his left, axe in hand.
The axe had blood along the edge.
It was useful but the wrong fit for her.
Ren kept seeing the katana listing in the back of his mind.
— [ITEM] KATANA — — USER COMPATIBILITY: SHIZUKA HIGH — — UPGRADE SLOTS: 3 — Not now.
But soon.
Yuki moved ahead, checking corners, pipes, vents, doors, and Ren.
Mostly Ren.
Amamiya walked behind her with his handgun in both hands.
“I miss when tunnels only smelled bad.” Yuki glanced back.
“You spend a lot of time in tunnels?” “No.” “Then how do you miss it?” Before Amamiya can reply, Sato raised one hand Everyone stopped.
The covered pedestrian tunnel dipped under the road, then opened toward a narrow service lane on the other side.
Old lights ran along the ceiling, but only one still worked.
It buzzed above them, weak and yellow.
The walls were damp.
The floor had footprints.
Too many.
Ren looked down.
The system opened.
— MAP MAKING ACTIVE — — TUNNEL ROUTE: TEMPORARY — — HUMAN FOOTPRINTS: MULTIPLE — — CREATURE TRACKS: LOW — — SHIRAKAWA PURSUIT: DELAYED — — UNKNOWN THIRD SIGNAL: TRACKING — — SAFE WINDOW: PARTIAL — Safe window.
Ren’s eyes moved to the bag.
The XChange flickered.
— SAFE WINDOW DETECTED — — [SYSTEM] DISASSEMBLY: AVAILABLE — — CREDIT BALANCE: 237 — — COST: 25 CREDITS — — FUNCTION: PARTS EXTRACTION — — FUNCTION: BLUEPRINT RECORDING — — FUNCTION: MATERIAL SORTING — — FUNCTION: CREDIT CONVERSION — — REQUIREMENT: ITEM STORED IN SPATIAL WAREHOUSE — Ren stopped for half a step.
Shizuka noticed.
“What?” “Shop.” Her eyes moved to the bag.
“What kind?” “Breakdown.” Sato looked back.
“Breakdown?” Ren pushed his hand into the bag.
To anyone watching, he looked like he was checking supplies.
Inside the bag, space opened around his fingers.
Rope.
Ammo.
Bottles.
Tools.
The wrapped anchor module.
A thought confirmed the purchase.
— PURCHASE CONFIRMED — — SYSTEM PURCHASED: DISASSEMBLY — — COST: -25 — — CREDIT BALANCE: 212 — The warehouse changed.
Not outside.
Inside.
Every stored item gained weight in another way.
Not physical weight.
Value.
Parts.
Blueprint.
Material.
Possible use.
The broken flashlight became screws, lens, battery contact, cheap wire.
The cracked powerbank became casing, cell pack, circuit board.
The damaged anchor module stayed dark.
The system opened.
— [SYSTEM] DISASSEMBLY ACTIVE — — STORED ITEM ANALYSIS ENABLED — — PARTS EXTRACTION ENABLED — — BLUEPRINT RECORDING ENABLED — — MATERIAL SORTING ENABLED — — CREDIT CONVERSION ENABLED — — WARNING: ANCHOR-RELATED ITEMS MAY PRODUCE CORRUPTED OUTPUT — Ren pulled his hand out.
Sato watched him.
“You did something.” “Yes.” “What?” “Made the bag more useful.” Amamiya stared at the bag.
“It can hold as much as half a warehouse.” “That is why.” Yuki’s eyes shone.
“I knew it.” Shizuka stepped slightly in front of Ren.
“You know nothing.” Yuki smiled.
“I know he is amazing.” “No.” Yuki lifted one finger.
“Eight.” Ren closed his eyes once.
“That was not for you.” “It reached me.” Sato stared at Yuki.
“You can keep track of that during pursuit?” “It keeps morale high.” “It keeps my blood pressure high.” “Same thing?” “No.” A crash echoed behind them.
Far.
Hostel direction.
Sato turned at once.
Not gunfire.
Not dogs.
Something heavier breaking through wood or metal.
The system opened.
— SHIRAKAWA SEARCH TEAM ENTERED HOSTEL — — MODULE TRACE: SUPPRESSED — — SPATIAL WAREHOUSE TRACE: NONE — — PURSUIT DELAY: 01:48 — Ren started moving.
“Time to move fast.” No one asked.
They left the tunnel and entered the service lane.
The sky had turned pale grey.
Morning without warmth.
Buildings pressed in on both sides.
A laundromat sat to the left.
A shuttered bathhouse to the right.
Ahead, the lane split toward a small shopping street and a back road running beside the canal.
The system drew lines.
Red on the main road.
Grey through the shopping street.
Yellow near the canal.
Black below the street.
Ren hated the black most.
— ROUTE OPTIONS — — MAIN ROAD: HIGH RISK — — CANAL BACK ROAD: CREATURE ACTIVITY — — SHOPPING STREET: SUPPLY VALUE MODERATE — — RECOMMENDATION: SHOPPING STREET — Ren pointed.
“Shopping street.” Sato scanned ahead.
“Why?” “Supplies.” Yuki smiled.
“Finally.
Shopping.” Amamiya looked at the empty road.
“This is the saddest shopping trip.” They moved into the shopping street.
Most shutters were down.
Some had been forced open.
A bakery had smoke stains on the door.
A pharmacy sign hung cracked.
A fishing shop had broken glass across the entrance.
A narrow second-floor sign read KIRYU MARTIAL SUPPLY.
Ren stopped.
Shizuka stopped because he did.
The sign was faded.
Training gear.
Wooden swords.
Protective armor.
Maybe decorative blades.
Maybe nothing.
The katana listing pulsed once in his mind.
Sato followed his gaze.
“Why are we stopping?” Ren pointed at the upstairs sign.
“Supplies.” Amamiya looked up.
“Martial supply?
You want a wooden sword?” “Maybe something better.” Yuki turned slowly toward him.
“For who?” Shizuka did not answer.
She already knew.
Sato looked down the street.
“If it is locked, we leave.” Yuki smiled.
“If it is locked, we enter faster.” The stairs up sat beside a closed tailor shop.
Metal gate.
Old padlock.
Physical.
Yuki crouched before Amamiya reached it.
“My lock.” Amamiya looked offended.
“It is a gate.” “My gate.” “You cannot claim everything as yours.” “I touched it first.” Sato said, “Open it.” Yuki opened it in six seconds.
Amamiya looked away.
“I let her.” “No one asked,” Yuki said.
They went up.
The shop door at the top had a cracked glass panel and a second lock.
Yuki handled these too.
Inside, the air smelled of dust, leather, and old sweat.
Training gear lined the walls.
Shinai.
Bokken.
Kendo armor.
White uniforms sealed in plastic.
A display case sat behind the counter.
Broken.
Empty.
Shizuka walked in slowly.
For the first time in a while, her face changed.
Not soft.
Not happy.
Focused.
The system opened.
— LOCATION: MARTIAL SUPPLY STORE — — RESOURCE VALUE: MODERATE — — WEAPON VALUE: POSSIBLE — — PARTY MEMBER RESPONSE: SHIZUKA — — COMPATIBILITY ENVIRONMENT: HIGH — Ren moved behind the counter.
Empty display case.
Cheap souvenirs gone.
No real blade.
Of course.
Yuki opened drawers.
“Receipts.
String.
Stamps.
Old candy.” Amamiya checked a cabinet at the back.
“Protective gear.” Sato watched the stairs.
“Hurry.” Shizuka picked up a bokken.
Tested the weight.
Set it down.
Picked up another.
Set it down.
Nothing.
Ren looked at the staff door.
A keypad sat beside it, screen dead.
Amamiya smiled without meaning to.
“My turn.” Yuki leaned against the counter.
“Do not embarrass yourself.” He opened the panel under the keypad and pulled two wires.
“Child.” The lock clicked.
Yuki looked at Ren.
“He needs praises.” Ren said, “You did well.” Amamiya looked pleased.
Yuki clicked her tongue.
“Fine.
Uncle gets one point.” “No one wants your points.” “You say that because you have none.” The back room was smaller.
Shelves.
Boxes.
A safe.
A framed photo of an old man in kendo gear.
Sato saw the safe.
“No time.” Yuki and Amamiya both looked offended.
Ren ignored the safe and checked the shelves.
A long cloth bag lay behind a stack of old uniforms.
Dust covered it.
Forgotten.
Or hidden.
The system opened before he touched it.
— ITEM DETECTED — — [ITEM] KATANA — — CONDITION: GOOD — — USER COMPATIBILITY: SHIZUKA HIGH — — UPGRADE SLOTS: 3 — — CURRENT SLOT STATUS: EMPTY — Ren stared.
The XChange listing pulsed again.
Not purchase.
Recognition.
Then another line appeared.
— XCHANGE ITEM MATCH AVAILABLE — — REGISTRATION / STABILIZATION AVAILABLE — — COST: 30 CREDITS — — EFFECT: ITEM STABILITY — — EFFECT: UPGRADE SLOT ACTIVATION — That was better.
He did not need to pull one from nowhere.
He found one.
The system only made it better than old steel.
Ren took the cloth bag.
It had real weight.
Normal weight.
Good.
He brought it out.
Shizuka turned.
Her eyes locked on it.
Ren held it toward her.
“Found this.” Yuki’s mouth opened.
Then shut.
For once, she did not joke.
Shizuka took the cloth bag.
Her fingers moved carefully.
She unwrapped it.
The katana inside was simple.
Dark handle.
Plain guard.
No decoration.
Not a display piece.
A weapon someone had hidden.
Shizuka’s face stayed still, but her hand changed.
The axe had been something she used.
This was something she understood.
Ren looked at the XChange.
Not buying the blade.
Registering it.
A thought confirmed.
— PURCHASE CONFIRMED — — ITEM REGISTERED: KATANA — — STABILIZATION COMPLETE — — COST: -30 — — CREDIT BALANCE: 182 — — UPGRADE SLOTS: 3 — — CURRENT SLOT STATUS: EMPTY — — OWNER COMPATIBILITY: SHIZUKA HIGH — The blade did not glow.
But Ren saw a faint line settle along the edge.
Stability.
Durability.
Future.
Shizuka drew the blade a few inches.
The sound was soft.
Clean.
Her breathing changed.
The system opened.
— PARTY MEMBER: SHIZUKA — — CURRENT WEAPON: KATANA — — WEAPON COMPATIBILITY: HIGH — — [SKILL] KENDO: 5/5 — — [SKILL] BLADED WEAPON [TWO HAND]: 4/5 — — STYLE STABILITY: IMPROVED — Yuki leaned forward.
“Wow.” Shizuka looked at her.
Yuki smiled.
“I was going to say it suits you.” “Then say less.” Yuki nodded.
“Less.” Sato looked at Ren.
“You found that fast.” “It was in the back.” “That part I believe.” Sato did not press.
She watched.
Like always now.
Amamiya found two arm guards, a roll of cloth wrap, and a small maintenance kit for blades.
He held them up.
“Useful?” Shizuka took the maintenance kit.
“Yes.” Ren pushed the rest into his bag.
The warehouse swallowed them.
No weight.
No sound.
Yuki saw it again.
Her face lit up.
Ren looked at her.
“No.” “Nine.” “You did not ask anything.” “I was going to.” Sato said, “Stop looking at the bag.” Yuki smiled.
“I am looking at the owner.” Shizuka’s hand shifted on the katana.
Yuki stepped back.
“Respectfully.” A shout came from the street below.
Not Shirakawa.
A man.
“Help!
Help me!” Sato moved to the window.
Ren followed.
Below, a police officer ran into the shopping street with a broken baton in one hand and a bleeding civilian behind him.
Two mutated dogs chased them from the canal side.
The officer wore no white band.
No Shirakawa patch.
No black armor.
The system opened.
— HUMAN GROUP DETECTED — — POLICE OFFICER:INJURED — — CIVILIAN: INJURED — — HOSTILES: CANINE MUTATION 2 — — CREDIT VALUE: MODERATE — — INTERVENTION VALUE: HIGH — Sato was already moving.
Ren grabbed his bag.
“Move.” Amamiya groaned.
“We were inside for just one minute.” Yuki smiled.
“There is no rest.” They ran down the stairs.
The officer below swung his broken baton at the first dog and missed.
The dog hit him in the chest and drove him into a shutter.
The civilian fell.
The second dog went for him.
Ren reached the street first.
Crowbar low.
Dagger ready.
Shizuka came beside him with the katana still in the sheath.
Sato moved past them, rifle up.
“Get down!” The officer dropped by instinct.
Sato fired once.
The shot hit the dog going for the civilian.
The 5.56 round punched through the skull and slammed it into the pavement.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 12 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 190 — The first dog turned from the officer.
Shizuka stepped in.
Not with the axe.
With the katana.
One draw.
One cut.
Clean.
The dog’s front leg opened at the joint.
It collapsed before it understood why.
Ren finished it with the dagger through the neck.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 3 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 198 — The street went quiet.
The officer pushed himself against the shutter, one hand pressed to his ribs.
The injured civilian coughed on the ground.
The system opened.
— SHIRAKAWA PURSUIT: DELAYED — — CREATURE MOVEMENT: APPROACHING — — SAFE WINDOW: SHORT — Then it opened again.
— HUMAN SCAN ACTIVE — — SUBJECT: POLICE OFFICER — — WHITE BAND: NOT DETECTED — — SHIRAKAWA LINK: NOT DETECTED — — ANCHOR TRACE: NOT DETECTED — — STATUS: CLEAN — Ren looked at Sato.
“Clean.” Sato’s eyes moved to him.
“You sure?” “Yes.” She looked at the officer.
“Name.” The officer blinked.
“Mizuno.
Mizuno Daiki.” Sato lowered the rifle slightly.
“Mizuno?” His face changed.
Relief first.
Then fear.
“Sato?” “You are alive.” “So are you.” “Barely.” The system pulsed again.
— CREATURE MOVEMENT: APPROACHING — — SAFE WINDOW: SHORT — Ren looked at Sato.
“We have to move now.” Sato looked at Mizuno.
“Any white band?” “No.” “Any Shirakawa orders?” “No.” “Any order to hand over civilians?” Mizuno spat blood to the side.
“They shot my captain.” Sato’s face went cold.
Ren looked at Mizuno.
“Can you walk?” “Yes.” “Then walk.” Yuki leaned near Ren.
“Collecting police now?” Ren looked at her.
“No.” She smiled.
“Ten.” Shizuka’s katana shifted one inch.
Yuki moved back.
“Still not spending yet.” Amamiya helped the injured civilian up.
“Does everyone we meet has to bleed?” Sato said, “Recently, yes.” Mizuno looked at the group.
“Where are you going?” Ren looked at the map.
The shopping street ahead split again.
One path toward the canal.
One toward a small shrine road.
One toward the south market district.
All bad.
The system opened.
— ROUTE SEARCH ACTIVE — — SOUTH MARKET DISTRICT: SUPPLY VALUE HIGH — — CREATURE DENSITY: MODERATE — — SHIRAKAWA PRESENCE: LOW TO MODERATE — — ABANDONED CHECKPOINT: POSSIBLE — — RECOMMENDATION: SCAVENGE / TRANSIT — Ren looked south.
Supplies.
Weapons.
Maybe a vehicle.
The bag could carry it now.
That changed everything.
“We move through the market.” Sato checked her rifle.
“For supplies?” “For everything.” The south market district had been blocked off by Shirakawa once.
That was obvious from the first barricade.
Concrete dividers.
Black warning tape.
A guard booth with shattered windows.
Two burned cars.
One black electric utility van parked crooked across the curb.
No active guards.
No voices.
Bad sign.
The system opened.
— ABANDONED SHIRAKAWA CHECKPOINT DETECTED — — HUMAN PRESENCE: 0 — — CREATURE PRESENCE: 6 — — SUPPLY VALUE: HIGH — — VEHICLE VALUE: MODERATE — — RECOMMENDATION: SCAVENGE WITH CAUTION — Mizuno swallowed.
“They controlled this road yesterday.” Sato looked at him.
“How many?” “Ten.
Maybe twelve.” “Where are they?” He looked at the blood smeared under the guard booth.
“Not here anymore.” Ren crouched near the first divider.
The system spread across the checkpoint.
— SUPPLIES DETECTED — — AMMUNITION CACHE: 2 — — MEDICAL POUCH: 1 — — TOOLBOX: 1 — — RADIO BATTERY: 3 — — WEAPON MARKER: 2 — — VEHICLE: ELECTRIC UTILITY VAN — — TRACKER: ACTIVE — Yuki looked at the van.
“Ride?” Sato looked at the street.
“Trap?” Ren said, “Both are until we check.” Amamiya pointed at the van.
“Electric.” Ren nodded.
“Quiet.” Yuki smiled.
“I like quiet stealing.” Sato raised the rifle.
“We clear first.” The first ant came from behind the guard booth.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Not dogs.
Good.
Hard shells.
Long legs.
Mandibles opening and closing.
The system opened.
— EVOLVED ANT GROUP DETECTED — — COUNT: 6 — — CREDIT VALUE: HIGH — — RECOMMENDATION: FORMATION COMBAT — Ren moved.
“Sato, rifle.
Shizuka, left.
Mizuno, keep the civilian behind the divider.
Amamiya, rear.
Yuki, any chance you get.” Mizuno looked at him.
“You giving orders?” Sato answered before Ren did.
“Listen.” That settled it.
The first ant rushed.
Sato fired.
The rifle cracked once.
The round hit the joint and staggered it.
Shizuka moved in.
Katana low.
Step.
Cut.
The blade opened the weakened joint cleanly.
Ren struck the underside with the crowbar.
Sato fired again.
The ant dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 9 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 220 — The second ant climbed over the divider.
Yuki threw a broken helmet into its line of sight.
It snapped at the distraction.
Amamiya fired twice.
Both shots hit the shell.
No effect.
He cursed.
“Make your shot count please.” Sato fired into the underside when the ant lifted.
It dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 13 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 242 — Two ants came at once.
Ren stepped back.
Not forward.
Let them enter the lane.
Let Sato see.
Let Shizuka cut.
The system opened.
— GROUP FORMATION STABLE — — PARTY COMBAT LINK: IMPROVING — — SHIZUKA WEAPON COMPATIBILITY: HIGH — — SATO RIFLE EFFECTIVENESS: HIGH — One ant tried to climb the van.
The other rushed for Ren.
Shizuka intercepted the rushing one.
Her katana flashed.
Not wide.
Not dramatic.
Precise.
One leg opened.
Then another.
Ren drove the dagger under the jaw, twisted, and stepped aside.
Sato finished it with one shot.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 4 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 264 — The one on the van slammed its jaws into the side panel.
Metal bent.
The van rocked.
Amamiya shouted, “It is eating our future car.” “Then stop it,” Sato snapped.
Yuki moved under the van’s side mirror and kicked a loose metal rod toward Ren.
“Use this.” Ren caught it.
Not a weapon.
A lever.
He jammed it into the ant’s leg joint and pulled.
The leg opened enough.
Sato fired.
The ant fell from the van and hit the road.
Shizuka cut the exposed underside.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 7 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 286 — The last two were larger.
Harder shell.
Darker.
One had rifle rounds lodged in its side from an earlier fight.
The system opened.
— HARD-SHELL VARIANT DETECTED — — COUNT: 2 — — CREDIT VALUE: HIGH — — RECOMMENDED TARGETS: JOINTS / UNDERSIDE — Sato checked her rifle.
“I’m running low.” Ren looked at the checkpoint.
Ammo cache.
Too far.
Ants first.
“AP?” Sato switched to her last magazine.
“Last one.” The first hard-shell ant charged through the guard booth.
Glass and wood burst outward.
Sato fired into the front joint.
The AP round punched deeper than standard.
The ant stumbled.
Shizuka cut.
The katana sparked once against shell, then bit into the softer joint.
Ren aimed for the side and got too close.
The ant’s leg hit his shoulder and spun him into the divider.
Pain flashed white.
Shizuka’s voice cut through it.
“Ren!” Yuki moved.
She did not attack the ant.
She grabbed Ren’s bag strap and pulled him just in time to see the ant jaws snapped at where his leg had been.
Sato fired into the underside.
The ant dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 2 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +30 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 316 — Yuki crouched beside Ren.
“You owe me.” Ren pushed himself up.
“No.” Her smile returned.
“Eleven.” Shizuka appeared beside them.
Yuki let go of the bag strap at once.
“I saved him.” Shizuka’s face stayed cold.
“I saw.” “Does that mean I get the right to live?” “For now.” The last ant struck the van again.
The rear tire lifted.
The electric motor housing groaned.
Ren saw the vehicle value drop in the system.
— VEHICLE DAMAGE RISK: HIGH — — RECOMMENDATION: ELIMINATE HOSTILE — Sato fired.
Click.
Empty.
She switched to the MP5.
“Dammit.” Mizuno appeared beside the divider and threw a full magazine toward Sato.
“5.56!” Sato caught it.
Loaded.
Fired.
The ant turned toward him.
Mizuno froze.
Ren moved.
Toward the ammo crate near the booth.
He kicked it open.
Inside, two magazines, a compact rifle, loose rounds, and mixed ammunition boxes lay under torn cloth.
Ren grabbed the compact rifle and pushed it into the warehouse.
Then the magazines.
Then the loose rounds.
Then the boxes.
He did not check every caliber.
Not now.
It doesn’t matter what bullet type they can use.
Only the blueprints mattered.
The system opened.
— ITEM STORED — — [ITEM] COMPACT RIFLE — — CONDITION: USABLE — — BLUEPRINT RECORDING AVAILABLE — — USER SKILL: RIFLE HANDLING 1/5 — — AMMUNITION STORED — — 5.56MM STANDARD — — 5.56MM AP — — 7.62MM UNKNOWN — — 12 GAUGE SHELLS — — COMPATIBLE WEAPON CHECK: PARTIAL — — DISASSEMBLY VALUE: HIGH — Ren grabbed one 5.56 magazine and tossed it to Sato.
She loaded faster than he expected.
Then fired into the ant as it reared.
Shizuka went low.
Katana through the damaged leg.
Ren hit the underside with the crowbar.
Sato fired three times.
The ant collapsed.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 8 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +30 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 346 — The checkpoint went quiet.
No one moved while the dust settles.
Then Amamiya said, “I hate ants more than dogs now.” Yuki looked at him.
“You change sides fast.” “I follow facts.” Ren looked around the checkpoint.
Old-world junk was not junk anymore.
Broken tools meant parts.
Wrong bullets meant blueprints.
Damaged weapons meant weapon parts.
If it fit in the warehouse, he took it.
He moved quickly.
A broken rifle.
Two cracked radios.
Radio batteries.
A toolbox.
Armor plates.
A half-bent suppressor.
Loose cables.
An unopened medical pouch.
A flashlight with a cracked lens.
A small box of screws.
Three magazines in a caliber he did not know.
All of it vanished into the bag without weight.
The system marked each one.
— SPATIAL WAREHOUSE LOAD UPDATED — — DAMAGED WEAPON STORED — — ELECTRONIC SCRAP STORED — — TOOL MATERIALS STORED — — AMMUNITION BLUEPRINT VALUE: HIGH — — DISASSEMBLY TARGETS AVAILABLE — — CREDIT CONVERSION AVAILABLE AFTER DISASSEMBLY — Sato watched him stuffing the bag.
“You are taking broken things now?” “For parts.” “For what?” “Later.” Yuki smiled.
“He collects trash like treasure.” Ren looked at her.
“Trash is useful too.” “That sounded cool.” “No.” “Twelve.” Shizuka’s katana shifted.
Yuki stepped back.
“Still saving them.” Sato checked the van.
“Still working?” Ren looked at it.
The system opened.
— VEHICLE DETECTED — — TYPE: ELECTRIC UTILITY VAN — — OWNER: SHIRAKAWA PMC — — BATTERY: 48% — — MOTOR STATUS: FUNCTIONAL — — BODY DAMAGE: MODERATE — — TRACKER: ACTIVE — — LOCK STATUS: CLOSED — — NOISE PROFILE: LOW — — RECOMMENDATION: BYPASS / SUPPRESS TRACKER — Yuki crouched at the driver door.
“Locked.” Amamiya crouched near the dash through the broken side window.
“Electronic lock.” Yuki pointed at him.
“Your lock.” Amamiya looked proud for one second.
Then the van beeped.
A small red light blinked near the rear panel.
Ren saw it from where he stood.
The system opened.
— TRACKER DETECTED — — SIGNAL TYPE: SHIRAKAWA ENCRYPTED BEACON — — LOCATION: REAR PANEL — — TRANSMISSION STATUS: ACTIVE — — VISUAL LOCK: STABLE — — SYSTEM INTERFERENCE AVAILABLE — — REQUIREMENT: FOCUS — — ESTIMATED TIME: 00:18 — Ren stared at the red light.
The system did not only show the tracker anymore.
This time, it reached.
— SIGNAL SUPPRESSION ACTIVE — — TRACKER LOOP CREATED — — FALSE LOCATION BROADCAST: LAST KNOWN POSITION — — WARNING: REMOTE CHECK MAY DETECT FAILURE LATER — The red light blinked twice.
Then steadied.
Then died.
Ren exhaled.
Sato looked from the van to him.
“You did that.” “I looked at it.” “That is not an answer.” “It is the only one I have right now.” Yuki whispered, “Awesome.” Shizuka glanced at her.
Yuki raised both hands.
“Really awesome.” The XChange opened.
— NEW [SKILL] AVAILABLE — — [SKILL] VEHICLE BYPASS: 35 CREDITS — — EFFECT: VEHICLE ENTRY / START ASSIST / BASIC TRACKER HANDLING — — CURRENT CREDIT BALANCE: 346 — Ren bought it.
No hesitation.
— PURCHASE CONFIRMED — — SKILL PURCHASED: VEHICLE BYPASS — — COST: -35 — — CREDIT BALANCE: 311 — Knowledge flashed.
Vehicle doors.
Silent entry.
Dashboard warnings.
Ignition logic.
Electric locks.
Battery checks.
Tracker behavior.
What not to touch.
What the warning lights meant.
It felt like a day of dirty lessons.
It lasted one second.
Ren blinked.
Amamiya stared at the lock.
“I think I can open it.” Ren looked at the door.
“Press that panel.
Then pull.” Amamiya did.
The lock clicked.
He stared.
“I knew that.” Yuki smiled.
“Sure, uncle.” Sato opened the side door.
Inside were black crates, straps, two helmets, a folded stretcher, and empty weapon racks.
Ren pushed everything useful into the warehouse.
The system marked it.
— SUPPLY ACQUIRED — — RADIO BATTERY: 3 — — MEDICAL POUCH: 1 — — TOOLBOX: 1 — — 5.56 MAGAZINE: 4 — — 9MM MAGAZINE: 3 — — 5.56 AP MAGAZINE: 1 — — RATION PACK: 6 — — COMPACT RIFLE: 1 — — HANDGUN: 1 — — ARMOR PLATE: 2 — — DAMAGED SUPPRESSOR: 1 — — MIXED AMMUNITION: STORED — Ren took the handgun.
Not for pride.
For need.
The system opened.
— USER WEAPON STATUS UPDATED — — [SKILL] HANDGUN HANDLING: 1/5 — — [SKILL] RIFLE HANDLING: 1/5 — — SKILL STAR UPGRADE AVAILABLE — — SELECT SKILL TO IMPROVE — — [SKILL] HANDGUN HANDLING: 1/5 — — NEXT STAR COST: 25 CREDITS — — [SKILL] RIFLE HANDLING: 1/5 — — NEXT STAR COST: 25 CREDITS — — [SKILL] BLADED WEAPON [ONE HAND]: 2/5 — — NEXT STAR COST: 40 CREDITS — Ren stared.
Buying skill stars.
That was new.
The system was not only selling whole skills now.
It was letting him improve what he had.
The XChange expanded again.
— LOCKED [SYSTEM] — — [SYSTEM] PHOTOSYNTHETIC CHARGING — — [SYSTEM] KINETIC CHARGING — — [SYSTEM] WIND CHARGING — Ren stared at the charging options for one second.
Sunlight.
Walking.
Wind.
Ridiculous.
Maybe useful later.
Not now.
Power still existed.
The van had battery.
He closed the list.
Sato checked the road.
“Can we drive?” Ren looked at the van.
The system opened.
— VEHICLE STATUS — — ENTRY: BYPASSED — — TRACKER: LOOPED — — BATTERY: 48% — — MOTOR: FUNCTIONAL — — RANGE: LIMITED — — NOISE PROFILE: LOW — — RECOMMENDATION: TEMPORARY USE — “Yes.” Amamiya stared.
“You know how to start it too?” Ren looked at him.
“Knew enough.” “That is not comforting.” “It better start or we have to run.” “That is less comforting.” Mizuno helped the injured civilian into the back.
Sato took the passenger seat.
Amamiya climbed into the rear with the supplies.
Yuki slid in beside Ren before Shizuka could stop her.
Shizuka grabbed Yuki by the back of her jacket and moved her one seat away.
Yuki smiled.
“There is assigned seating now?” “Yes,” Shizuka said.
Ren sat behind the wheel.
The van hummed awake.
Quiet.
Low.
No engine growl.
No fuel smell.
Just a faint electric whine.
Perfect.
Sato looked through the windshield.
“South?” Ren looked at the map.
The route opened.
Not safe.
Open.
“South.” The van rolled forward.
Slow at first.
Then smoother.
They passed the checkpoint.
Passed the dead ants.
Passed the black tape.
Ren glanced once at the rear mirror.
The unknown third signal knocked below the road.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Even through the van floor, Ren felt it.
The system opened.
— UNKNOWN THIRD SIGNAL: TRACKING — — VEHICLE MOTION DETECTED — — SIGNAL INTEREST: INCREASING — — TRACE SUPPRESSION: PARTIAL — Then another line appeared.
— I WILL KEEP IT QUIET — It vanished.
— CORRECTION — — SYSTEM SUPPRESSION ACTIVE — Ren gripped the wheel.
The system was getting better.
Faster.
More direct.
Maybe too fast.
Yuki leaned from the back seat.
“You look like the van talked to you.” Ren looked at the road.
“No.” Yuki smiled.
“Thirteen.” Shizuka’s katana shifted across her lap.
Yuki sat back.
“Still not spending.” Sato looked at the road ahead.
“Everyone shut up.” For once, they did.
The electric van moved south in near silence.
The bag sat beside Ren’s foot.
Light.
Too light.
Inside it, the damaged anchor module waited to be broken down.
So did broken guns, wrong bullets, cracked electronics, dead radios, and enough scrap to build a factory.
The katana rested across Shizuka’s lap.
Sato had a rifle.
Ren had a gun now.
Yuki had thirteen kiss points and no shame.
Amamiya had a toolbox and complaints.
Mizuno watched the road like a man who had survived the wrong day.
The system opened one last time.
— CREDIT GAIN: +238 — — CURRENT CREDIT BALANCE: 311 — — SPATIAL WAREHOUSE LOAD: 21% — — DISASSEMBLY TARGETS AVAILABLE — — BLUEPRINT RECORDING AVAILABLE — — NEXT SAFE WINDOW REQUIRED — Ren looked ahead.
The south road bent under a pale morning sky.
For the first time since the hotel, they were not only running.
They were moving with supplies.
With weapons.
With wheels.
That made them stronger.
It also made them worth chasing.
Chapter 22 ~ End