[LUIS MENDOZA - LEVEL 3]
[GLOBAL HOST POPULATION: 965,926][LUIS MENDOZA – LEVEL 3 (0% Progress to Next Level)]
Luis had barely walked a mile from the Pillar when the brush beside the trail rustled—then came the glint of steel. A dozen spears aimed straight at him, their points catching what little sunlight remained.
"Don't move," a voice ordered.
A man stepped out from the trees. He was clearly a Host—the faint luminescence in his eyes gave him away. "We saw that light earlier. You the one who caused it?"
Luis slowly lifted his hands. "Yeah. That was me. Activated a Pillar."
Zyx hovered in the air behind him, grinning like it was all a game. "Ooooh, getting mugged already? Want me to start drafting your farewell message?"
The leader squinted, suddenly pausing mid-step. "Wait a second… I know that face." He walked closer, eyes narrowing. "Luis? Luis Mendoza?"
Luis blinked. "Uh… how the hell do you know my name?"
The man broke into a wide grin. "No way. It's me! Rico! We used to raid Old Man Dazo's orchard for mangoes, remember?"
Luis stared. "Rico? You mean the Rico who lit his pants on fire showing off with firecrackers?"
Rico winced. "Seriously? That's the first memory you pull out?" He turned, waving to the others. "Put the weapons down, guys—this idiot's the one I told you about. Moved to the city, remember?"
The spears lowered as confused murmurs spread through the group.
Zyx floated lazily behind Luis. "Touching. Really. Can we skip to the part where someone feeds us now?"
Homecoming
Luis hadn't expected much—but the village was thriving.
Barricades lined the dirt paths, reinforced with salvaged metal and scavenged tech. Watchtowers stood on the corners like silent guardians. Smoke curled from chimneys. Herbs hung in bunches from porches. The air smelled… clean.
"How is this place still standing?" Luis asked, voice low.
Rico beamed. "Sheer dumb luck. When the Royale started, ten Hosts spawned here. Ten. In a village of 800? We taught everyone how to fight. Now even the bakers know how to handle Level 1s."
Luis's chest tightened. "My parents' place…?"
Rico's smile faltered. "Ah. After the accident, the Valdez family moved in. But hey—" He pointed to a small house tucked beside the well. "That one's yours if you want it. Empty since winter."
Luis nodded slowly. "Thanks. I just need to lie down."
Level 3 Unlocks
Inside the quiet little cottage, Luis dropped onto the bed and pulled open his status screen.
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: FORTRESS ENGINEER]Construct defensive structures (turrets, barriers, traps).Cost: varies by blueprint
Available Blueprints:• Iron Sentry Turret – 3,000 Souls• Reinforced Palisade – 5,000 Souls• ??? – Locked
Zyx leaned over his shoulder like an annoying older brother. "Oh great. You're playing base-builder now? Minecraft but make it apocalyptic."
Luis ignored him—then stopped, eyes widening.
[SOUL ESSENCE: 16,420]
"Holy crap," he breathed. "When did I even earn all that?"
Zyx smirked. "Time to burn some of it. Let's see what that Re-Creation skill does."
Luis inhaled and triggered the ability.
The room pulsed. The air bent, shimmered—and then, from nothing, a humanoid construct formed. Sleek, silver limbs. Glowing blue joints. A blank, featureless face.
It knelt without a word.
"How may I serve you, Master?" Its voice was calm, synthetic but not cold.
Luis hesitated. "Can you… fight monsters?"
"Affirmative. Combat capacity: Levels 1 through 3. Stronger threats will require enhancements."
Zyx floated in circles around it. "Cool. I was hoping for flamethrowers, but I'll take it."
Luis rubbed his temples. "Okay. Patrol the perimeter. Eliminate low-level threats. Avoid anything that looks like it might flatten you."
The construct nodded once. "Directive acknowledged." Then it turned and walked out, each step precise and soundless.
Zyx watched it go. "So... you've got a robot now. All we need next is a garden and a dog."
Luis fell back on the bed, finally allowing exhaustion to wash over him.
"Shut up," he muttered. "Let me sleep."
As darkness took him, one thought echoed in his mind:
Tomorrow, I'm building that damn turret.