Stepping into his apartment, Jake tossed his bags aside, the two landing next to the couch. As he made his way to his bedroom, he changed out of his bloodied clothing, tossing them into a corner. Stepping into his room, he made his way towards his closet before pulling out some clothes. Now dressed in a gray tracksuit, he made his way into the living room before tossing himself onto the couch. As he landed in the weathered seats, he grabbed his bag before placing it on the coffee table. Rummaging through the bag, he took out the Ruler Core before setting it onto the coffee table.

  ‘I should be able to make use of it,’ he thought as he tossed it between his hands. While he could sell it alongside the other remaining materials, the reward he got was enough for now. He could also go around and deal with some Dens here and there, which wouldn’t be as difficult. They're smaller than a Dungeon, but can still pull in a decent amount of wealth.

  He could find a smith to turn it into an item. Yet, it would take time for them to make something useful. Not only that, he would have to pay for any materials he couldn't bring in himself. That would need money that he currently lacked. As he weighed his options, a low growl cut through the silence. As it died down, he turned his gaze towards the kitchen.

  Now that he thought about it, there should be some food in the fridge.

  Putting his M-Cell into his pocket, he got up from the couch before making his way to the kitchen. Stopping in front of the fridge, he opened it, only to pause at what he saw. Containers of various meals filled the refrigerator, enough to last him weeks. Taking out one of the containers, he cracked it open, revealing a mix of seared meat and cooked rice.

  ‘Now all I need is a microwave.’

  Looking around the kitchen, he found what he was looking for. An old microwave sat nearby, the design a mix of steel and wood furnishings. He walked over to where it sat, opening it before setting the container of food inside. Closing the microwave, he set the timer before stepping back, the low hum filling the silence. As he watched the timer tick down, he took out his device as he began to look through it. He might as well pass the time.

  Searching through his phone, one of the apps caught his attention. Pressing it, he watched as the app opened up, revealing what looked to be forums. As he scrolled through the forum, he scrolled through the various threads. Some were simple, with users talking about their daily activities and minor events. Others were more focused, from monster hunting to that of weapon maintenance.

  As he read through the forum, a sudden beeping sound cut through the air, bringing him out of his thoughts. He set his device on the counter before turning his attention back to the microwave. Stepping forward, he opened the microwave before taking out the heated food.

  Grabbing a spoon out from one of the drawers, he sat down on a stool before he began to eat. As he dug into his food, he noted that it was rather good. While not the greatest, it was rather good. The meat was well-seared, with it seeming to melt with each bite. The rice, infused with various spices, worked well with the savory taste of minced meat.

  Finishing the last of the meal, he got up from his seat before tossing his bowl into the sink. Grabbing his M-Cell, he made his way back to the living room before tossing himself back onto the couch. As he went back to scrolling through the forums, something caught his eye that gave him pause.

  | Would it be a good idea to put my child under Remaking?

  He has heard of Remaking before, if only in passing. A procedure often used to enhance the recipient's capabilities. While not a major benefit, it was often used to cut down on training. Turning his gaze to the Ruler Core, he weighed the option in his mind. Both Magos and Ruler Cores are vital for Remaking, serving as the basis for a multitude of things. Not only are they used for the creation of Aether Hearts, but they are a base for a multitude of tools and Augments.

  'I should also be able to get the Skill Shard made into an Augment,’ he thought as he turned his gaze to his bag. While he could sell the Shard, it would be better for him to have it implanted. He could also get some extra gear in the process, allowing him to go hunting more often and get more resources.

  Exiting out of the app, he pressed what seemed to be a mapping app. He scrolled through the categories, eventually stopping at one that read 'Augments'. Pressing it, a list of places popped up, a small mark appearing for each one. Looking through the listed locations, he paused as his eyes landed on one of the stores. It was a small one, seeming to look more like a mix of a convenience store and clinic from its pictures.

  ' 'Pop And Tonic', huh? It's close by, and seems to have respect in the area as well.'

  It seemed like a good choice for him. Not only would it be a good way to gather supplies, he could use it to get new implants done without much questioning.

  Marking the location, he got up from the couch before grabbing the Ruler Core and tossing it into his bag. Slinging the bag over his shoulder, he grabbed his things before making his way out. Once he stepped onto the street, he pulled out his M-Cell before following the path given. As he made his way through the half-awake neighborhood, he found it to be rather different than what he knew.

  People began to make their way out of the buildings they were in, spilling onto the sidewalk. Some were in uniforms, carrying bags and backpacks. Others had on more casual wear, idly chatting with those around them. As he looked around him, everyone seemed energized. Even the air itself seemed charged, the feeling of it dancing against his exposed skin.

  Strange.

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  Pushing the thought aside, he continued on the path to his destination. As he continued on the path given, he found himself standing in front of the store in question. It was larger than what the photos had shown, but not by much. The signage was rather simple, but worked well enough with the general look. It simply looked like a store one would enter on the way to somewhere else.

  Walking into the building, he stepped into what looked like a pharmacy. The aisles were carrying a variety of medical items. Some aisles carried simple items like bandages and antivenom. Others carried more advanced equipment, such as curse treatment and triage kits. It was rather empty as well, the only other person being what looked to be an employee. Walking through the aisles, he began pocketing a few of the shelved items. He could come back to pay for things later, since he wasn’t registering on anything. Right now, yet, he would take advantage of it. Once he was finished skimming through the shelves, he made his way over to the register. As he closed the distance, he was able to get a closer look at the man.

  Looking to be in his thirties, the best way to describe what Jake saw was ‘disheveled’. Dressed in an old lab coat, his hair was unkempt, with bags resting under his eyes. A pair of old glasses rested on his forehead, the lens foggy.

  Leaning over the counter, Jake snapped his fingers in front of the man's face, only to get no response. Tilting his head, he flicked the man’s forehead, watching as the man’s snoring continued unabated.

  ‘Pretty heavy sleeper,’ Jake thought. Rolling his wrist, he then slammed his fist into the counter, causing the employee to jump.

  Scrambling to his feet, the employee's eyes darting around. Leaning over the counter, he then smacked the employee, the sound cutting through the air.

  “Ah! Son of a bitch!” the employee shouted, holding his cheek. His head snapped in Jake's direction, confusion and anger in his eyes. “What was that for, you flaming ass?!”

  Good, he can register in the employee's mind now.

  "Needed to grab your attention,” Jake answered, giving a light shrug. At his statement, the employee’s face turned from anger to that of confusion. He could see why; doing what he did to get someone’s attention sounded insane. But if it works, then he’s not one to care.

  “Well, you got it, then,” the employee grumbled as he continued to rub his cheek. Once his face seemed to have recovered enough, he turned to face him, a small scowl on his face. “So, what do you want?”

  "I want both a Remaking and implants installed," Jake stated. At his request, the employee’s face shifted, his brow furrowing. Leaning forward, the man's amber eyes dug into his body, akin to that of spikes.

  “And why should I do that?” the employee challenged, an edge to his voice, “Give me a single reason why I should play along with what you want.”

  At his remark, Jake silently pulled the Ruler core out of his bag before setting it on the counter. He watched as the man furrowed his brow, eyes switching between him and the Core. Taking the core, the employee looked it over, furrowing his brow. Letting out a small grunt, he grabbed the Shards before putting them and the core into his pockets.

  "Alright then, follow me," he said before stepping out from behind the counter. Following behind, the two of them made their way to a side door. Opening the door, it revealed a staircase leading down into a basement. Going down the flight of stairs, they stepped into what looked like a workshop. Advanced machinery lined the walls, each one seeming to hum with life. A large chair sat in the room’s center, akin to ones in a dental office.

  "You can put your stuff over there," the employee stated as he pointed to a nearby shelf, “Best for you to be shirtless, also.”

  ‘Makes sense,’ Jake thought before putting his items into the storage shelves. Taking off his track jacket and shirt, he tossed them next to his stuff before making his way over to the chair. Sitting down in the plush seat, he turned his attention to the employee.

  Jake watched as the man took the Core out of his pocket before setting it down in some type of device. As the machine whirred to life, he then took the Skill Shards before making his way to another machine. Setting the Shards into another device, the machine came alive, whirring akin to that of a fan. Once both machines were humming, he grabbed an item off the table before turning to face him.

  “Alright, I'm gonna put you under for a bit,” the employee said, raising up what looked to be an injector. Feeling a hand grip his head, Jake closed his eyes as his head was jerked to the side. A sharp feeling pierced into his neck, akin to that of a pinch. As the feeling faded away, he felt a weight press onto his mind. The world around him became muffled, as if he was underwater. As each second passed, he felt his body become weightless. There was no up or down, no right or left. There was nothing.

  As he felt himself float through the darkness, he felt a warmth wrap around his body. It dug into his body before suddenly roaring to life. It rushed through his body, ripping through bone and muscle alike. As the blazing heat roared through his body, he felt something...click into his body. As it happened, the heat began to die down, a sharp chill creeping in its absence. Yet, it felt familiar somehow. Like it was something he had all his life.

  As the chill began to fade, Jake's eyes began to crack open. He was still in the chair, surrounded by the same machinery he had seen when he entered. The employee, as if alerted by his movements, turned from the screens to face him.

  “Hey, you doing alright, kid?” the employee questioned, his brow furrowed. "Any issues with headaches, nausea, stuff like that?"

  Shaking his head, Jake sat up before looking himself over. Flexing his body, he felt a strength course him. A heat lingered under his skin, the feeling of his blood pulsing through him faint, but noticeable. His body felt lighter, each movement he took like that of an oiled engine. As he continued to look himself over, he noticed something. What looked like tattoos covered one of his forearms, stopping at the very edge of his wrist. The design was simple, nothing more than a few geometric designs connected together. Yet, as he looked over the design, he felt a faint heat from the tattoo. The air seemed to almost shimmer around it, as if his arm was a campfire.

  Strange, but not something abnormal.

  "Here, take this," the employee said, handing him both a water bottle and a card. “It's a gym owned by someone I know. Help you get used to your new body.”

  “…I'll check it out,” Jake said, putting the card in his pocket. Getting up from the chair, he made his way over to the lockers. Putting on his clothes, he slung his bag over his shoulder before making his way out of the store. Once he was out onto the street, he made his way to a nearby bench before pulling out the card. The design was simple, the wording looking to be like the one used for categorizing cargo.

  |Open Fist Gym|

  'Odd name,' Jake thought, tilting his head. Pushing his thoughts aside, he brought out his Harcell before looking the place up. As it turned out, the place wasn't that far off, only being a few minutes walk from where he stood. Even while a bit further from his apartment, it was still a rather short walk. Putting the card into his pocket, he made his way towards where the gym was located. He had nothing else to do, so he might as well check it out.