The Scavenger Drone didn't wait for an invitation. With a hydraulic hiss, its metallic claws tore through the window frame, spraying shards of glass across Kai's cramped apartment.
Red light washed over the room as the drone's optical sensor locked onto Kai's chest.
[WARNING: HOSTILE UNIT DETECTED]
[ANALYZING THREAT LEVEL... LOW]
"Low?" Kai hissed, scrambling back until his shoulders hit the cold brick wall. "It has a plasma cutter for a hand!"
Suddenly, the world slowed down. The neon rain outside seemed to freeze in mid-air. The blue screen flickered, and a new prompt burned into his vision.
[EMERGENCY PROTOCOL ACTIVATED]
[TEMPORARY SKILL GRANTED: SYSTEM PERCEPTION (LVL 1)]
Suddenly, the drone wasn't just a machine anymore. Kai saw glowing red lines running through its chassis—weak points. A flickering node behind its main sensor was pulsing like a heartbeat.
[DIRECTIVE: STRIKE THE CORE]
Adrenaline, sharp and electric, surged through Kai's veins. He didn't think; he moved. As the drone lunged, Kai dove forward, sliding on the oil-slicked floor. He grabbed a heavy metal wrench from his workbench and swung it with everything he had, straight into the flickering node.
CRACK.
Blue sparks exploded. The drone groaned, its red light fading into a dull grey before it collapsed into a heap of junk.
[MISSION ACCOMPLISHED]
[REWARD: 50 XP]
[LEVEL UP! CURRENT LEVEL: 1]
Kai gasped for air, his heart drumming against his ribs. He looked at his hands; they were glowing with a faint blue aura. The City System wasn't just a glitch. It was a weapon.