[LUIS MENDOZA - LEVEL 3]
Luis had barely walked a mile from the Pillar of Challenge when the underbrush rustled. A dozen spears suddenly pointed at him from all directions, their tips glinting in the fading sunlight.
"Hold it right there, stranger," a voice called. A man stepped forward—a Host, judging by the faint glow in his eyes. "We saw that light show back there. You responsible for that?"
Luis slowly raised his hands. "Yeah. I activated a Pillar of Challenge."
Zyx (grinning): "Ooooh, we're getting mugged! Should I start drafting your obituary?"
The Host leader narrowed his eyes—then suddenly froze. "Wait. You look… familiar." He stepped closer, studying Luis's face. "Is your name Luis?"
Luis blinked. "How the hell do you know that?"
The man's stern expression cracked into a grin. "Because I'd recognize that 'what did I do wrong now' face anywhere. It's me—Rico! We used to steal mangoes from Old Man Dazo's orchard!"
Luis's jaw dropped. "Rico?! The same Rico who set his own pants on fire trying to impress girls with firecrackers?"
Rico groaned. "Oh come on, you remember that?!" He turned to his spear-wielding companions. "Stand down, idiots! This is the guy I told you about—the one who moved to the city!"
The villagers lowered their weapons, murmuring in surprise.
Zyx (dryly): "Wow. Emotional reunion. Can we skip to the part where they feed us?"
Luis's hometown wasn't just surviving—it was thriving.
Wooden barricades reinforced with metal scraps lined the streets. Watchtowers stood at key points, manned by armed villagers. Even the air smelled cleaner—herbs and smoke instead of blood and rot.
"How?" Luis breathed.
Rico clapped him on the back. "Pure damn luck. Ten Hosts spawned here when the Royale began. Ten! In a village of 800 people!" He pointed to a group training in the square. "We taught the others how to fight. Now even regular folks can take down Level 1-2 monsters."
Luis's chest tightened. "And… my parents' old house?"
Rico's smile faded. "Ah. After the accident, the Valdez family moved in. But hey—" He gestured to a small, empty cottage. "This place is yours if you want it."
Luis nodded, forcing a smile. "Thanks. I just need to rest."
Level 3 Unlocks
Inside the cottage, Luis collapsed onto the bed and pulled up his status screen.
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: FORTRESS ENGINEER]
Construct defensive structures (turrets, walls, traps)
Cost: Varies by blueprint
Current Blueprints:
Iron Sentry Turret (3,000 Souls)
Reinforced Palisade (5,000 Souls)
??? (Locked)
Zyx (peering over his shoulder): "Oh great. Now you're playing minecraft in the apocalypse."
Luis ignored him, scrolling further—then froze.
[SOUL ESSENCE: 16,420]
"Holy shit," he muttered. "I didn't even realize I'd collected this much."
Zyx (grinning): "Time to test that Re-Creation skill, eh?"
Luis took a deep breath and activated it.
The air crackled as a humanoid figure materialized—a sleek, mechanical construct with glowing blue joints and a featureless faceplate. It knelt before Luis.
"How may I serve you, Master?" its voice echoed, synthetic yet oddly calm.
Luis gaped. "Uh. Can you… kill monsters?"
"Affirmative. Current combat capacity: Levels 1-3. Higher threats require upgrades."
Zyx (circling the robot): "Huh. Not bad. Though I was hoping for something with flamethrowers."
Luis rubbed his temples. "Okay, here's the deal—patrol the village perimeter. Kill any monsters you see, but avoid anything stronger than you. Got it?"
The construct bowed. "Directive accepted." It strode out the door, its movements eerily smooth.
Zyx (watching it go): "Well. Now you've got a pet toaster. What's next, a white picket fence?"
Luis flopped onto the bed, exhaustion finally hitting him. "Shut up and let me sleep."
As his eyes closed, one thought lingered:
Tomorrow, I'm building a damn turret.