Inside the workshop, Nano and Lumina stood over the workbench as two drones hovered nearby, projecting holograms of blueprint ideas. Lumina tilted her head, intrigued by the design of a mechanized crossbow trap.
"What's that one do?" she asked, pointing.
"Auto-defensive turret. Great for perimeter security—fires small bolts if anything sketchy walks into range," Nano explained. "I'm thinking we start setting up a safe zone around the base."
"Smart. Especially with the animals out here…"
"Speaking of," he turned toward her, "what kind of wild creatures actually live in this world? I mean, aside from the boar that tried to flatten me."
Lumina gave a small laugh, but her tone turned thoughtful.
"We have normal ones, like cows, chickens, goats… But there are dangerous ones too—Minotaurs, Dire Wolves, Thunder Elk. Some beasts are smart, aggressive. Territorial. Others are corrupted by dark mana. They don't stop hunting."
Nano raised an eyebrow.
"So, like fantasy wildlife with a rage mode. Noted."
"Exactly. Some areas are safer than others. There's a river valley that's quiet, but the dark woods to the east… that place eats travelers alive."
"Good to know. We'll scout slowly—get a list of safe spots for food gathering. Then we won't have to risk getting gored every time we want breakfast."
Lumina smiled.
"Sounds like a plan."
They were just about to step outside when a sharp voice cut through the forest air like a blade.
"THERE SHE IS!!!"
Lumina froze.
Her eyes widened. Her ears twitched, catching the sound of approaching footsteps—fast, heavy, and getting closer.
"No…" she whispered, backing up.
Nano turned quickly, eyes locking onto movement past the trees—figures in cloaks, armed with blades and thick armor.
"Who are these guys?" Nano asked, narrowing his eyes.
Lumina grabbed his arm.
"The ones who chased me… they're slavers. I thought I lost them."
The men burst into view at the tree line. One pointed directly at her.
"Stop her! Don't let the elf escape again!"
"You've gotta be kidding me," Nano growled.
He immediately stepped in front of Lumina, one hand raised.
"Drones—defense mode!"
The drones activated with a loud click, shifting into their combat configurations and floating protectively in front of them.
"Nano, we have to run!" Lumina said, grabbing his hand.
"No… we fight if we have to," he said, his eyes glowing faintly as he whispered,
"Build… Arc Pistol."
A sleek weapon materialized in his hand with a crackle of energy.
The men stopped just short of the clearing, hesitating at the sight of the drones and the strange weapon aimed their way.
"I don't know who you are, stranger," the lead slaver snarled, "but she's property. Turn her over and no one gets hurt."
Nano's jaw tightened.
"Yeah… not happening."
Lumina stood behind him, trembling—but this time, she wasn't running.
The slavers stepped forward, blades drawn, their expressions twisted in entitlement and arrogance.
"She's not yours," the leader snapped. "She belongs to the noble house of Varen. She's registered property."
"Registered my ass," Nano shot back, stepping further between them and Lumina. "She stays with me."
The men laughed.
"And who the hell are you to say anything?" one sneered, resting a heavy broadsword on his shoulder. "You look like some washed-up traveler with fancy toys."
Nano's eyes narrowed.
"She doesn't belong to anyone. She's not a tool. Not a slave. She's a free woman. Try to lay a hand on her—I dare you."
Behind him, Lumina's eyes widened. She felt her chest tighten—not with fear, but something far deeper.
No one had ever said that for her before.
No one had ever stood up for her like she mattered.
"He… really means it."
The slavers didn't care.
"Kill the guy," the leader ordered. "Bring the girl back alive—broken's fine."
The first slaver lunged, and Nano's voice rang out—calm, powerful.
"BUILD! Power Staff!"
A pulse of blue light erupted in his hand. A long, sleek weapon formed instantly—metal shaft reinforced with glowing tech-runes, with a crystal core humming with energy at the top.
The staff's head crackled, releasing arcs of static lightning.
"Back. Off."
The nearest slaver didn't listen—he charged.
Nano raised the Power Staff and slammed it into the ground.
CRACK-BOOM!
A shockwave of electric energy burst outward, knocking the attacker off his feet and flinging him into a tree with a scream.
The others froze.
"One more step," Nano said coldly, "and you'll find out what else I can build."
Behind him, Lumina stepped forward—still shaken, but fierce.
"I'm not going back," she said. "You'll have to drag my corpse."
Nano glanced at her, then back at the slavers.
"Not happening," he added. "Because I'm not letting anyone lay a finger on her."
The men hesitated.
Even they could tell—this wasn't some random guy.
This was something different.
The slavers gritted their teeth, the moment of hesitation passing as they rallied again.
"Enough of this," the leader growled. "Kill him. Grab the elf."
Two of them charged.
Nano's eyes blazed.
"DRONES—ATTACK!!"
At his command, the hovering units immediately lit up, shifting into their combat mode—panels shifting, weapons deploying from compartments under their wings.
"Target confirmed. Engaging."
The first drone fired a pulse blast, hitting one of the slavers square in the chest and sending him flying backward with a grunt, armor sparking and smoking. Another drone zipped overhead, launching a mini flash grenade, blinding the second attacker mid-swing.
"AAAGH! My eyes—!"
Nano didn't let up.
He swung the Power Staff, striking the ground again. A bolt of crackling energy surged forward in a wave, arcing over the grass and slamming into the third attacker's legs. The man collapsed, twitching as his muscles spasmed from the electricity.
"How the hell is he doing this?!" one slaver shouted, trying to crawl behind cover.
"We're not prepared for this kind of magic!"
"It's not magic," Nano growled. "It's tech. And I warned you."
Behind him, Lumina raised her hand, a wall of fire erupting just behind the fleeing slaver, cutting off their escape. Her eyes were sharp now—steady.
"You came for me like I'm just a thing. You made a mistake."
The slavers, bruised, burned, and rattled, began to retreat, dragging their wounded as they stumbled back into the trees.
"You haven't heard the last of this!" the leader spat. "The nobles will know what you did!"
Nano stepped forward, staff still crackling.
"Good. Let them come."
Silence fell as the last of them disappeared into the brush.
The drones returned to hover calmly at his side, weapons retracting with a soft click.
Lumina stared at him, chest heaving, adrenaline still rushing through her veins.
Then she ran forward—and hugged him tightly.
"You… you didn't have to do that," she whispered.
"Yeah, I did," he said softly, wrapping an arm around her. "Because no one owns you, Lumina. Not anymore."