CHAPTER 78: MATERIALIZE ITEM

Kael shook his head. "No, he said the system’s been acting weird lately. Some of the cameras are offline, especially around the eastern side. He’s still checking on it..."

Theo’s eyes narrowed slightly. "The eastern side, huh?"

Kael glanced at him. "You think it’s something?"

"I don’t know yet," Theo murmured, his voice thoughtful. "But if there’s a breach and no footage... we can’t rule anything out."

"We’ll check it together later. Just to be sure."

Kael agreed with a quiet, "Alright."

After Kael left the dining area, Theo leaned back in his seat, his fingers lightly tapping on the table. Something had been nagging at him ever since his last mutation burst.

"Dark System Online."

He hadn’t had time to think about it earlier, but now that things had quieted down, he decided to ask.

"System," he said quietly, his voice low. "What does ’Dark System Online’ mean?"

There was a long silence.

Then-

[System Query Received: "Dark System Online"]

Processing...

...

[Ding!] System Notice: Accessing Classified Protocols

"Darkness often blooms where survival demands more than virtue. Access remains... conditional."

...

[System Status: Incomplete Access]

Further information is currently locked.

Unlock conditions: Unknown.

System Suggestion: Proceed with caution. Some doors, once opened, cannot be closed.

Theo stared at the message, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Conditional access?" he muttered under his breath. "And what’s that supposed to mean... ’more than virtue’?"

The message blinked away before he could ask again. He leaned back, unsettled. Whatever this "Dark System" was, it wasn’t just another power upgrade. It sounded deeper. Riskier.

His hand curled unconsciously into a fist.

"Guess I’ll find out... eventually."

He let out a heavy sigh before opening his stats.

[Rank: Evolved]

[Mutation Level: 5]

[HP: 163 / 200]

[MP/EP: 109 / 200]

[Core Stats]

Strength: 100 / 200

Agility: 100 / 200

Intelligence: 119 / 200

Endurance: 119 / 200

Perception: 79 / 200

[EXP: 48,600]

[Wealth]: 7,120 Gold Coins

His stats had increased by around twenty percent. He also gained a significant amount of EXP and gold coins from the last encounter.

Then he started checking on his abilities and mutation powers.

[Core Abilities: System-integrated powers]

Enhanced Physique - Lv. 3

Adaptive Healing - Lv. 2

Kinetic Pulse - Lv. 3

Energy Shield - Lv. 2

Observer’s Insight - Lv. 2

Meteorite Active Core: Ability & Power Extraction

[Mutation Powers: Variant Paths]

Pyreflame Variant: Ember Step, Pyre Lure, Pyre Burst, Ignite Form

Stealthborn Variant: Shadow Step, Silent Strike, Predator Reflex

Stoneborn Variant: Granite Skin, Immovable Stance, Seismic Counter

Aerogale Variant: Wind Veil, Aero Dash, Gale Fangs

Frostborn Variant: Frost Mantle, Cryo Spike Field, Frozen Veins

Ravager Stride Variant: Predator Rush, Blood Tempo

Maulhide Variant: Bonebreaker Frame, Spinal Volley

Voltgeist Variant: Flash Step, Chain Shock, EMP Pulse

[Dark System - Classified Subsystem]

(Status: Incomplete Integration Detected)

Ironblood Mutation Path - Phase 1: Unbreakable Form

Iron Vein Protocol

[Accessing deeper layers... Restrictions detected.]

"Seriously, this Dark System is creeping me out," Theo muttered.

He tried to remember what exactly happened at the warehouse. The atmosphere had shifted - subtly at first, like the world itself had held its breath. That’s when it appeared:

[Dark System Online]

No prompt. No command. It just activated.

’Had it always been there, hidden beneath the surface?’

He rubbed his temple, muttering, "Did I trigger it... or did it choose me?"

Suddenly, the system responded but not with clarity.

[System Response: Unclassified Query Detected]

[Dark System Status: Active]

[Condition: In Accordance]

[Access Level: Insufficient for Full Disclosure]

[Continue Evolution.]

Theo blinked. "What the hell is ’in accordance’ supposed to mean?"

The words gave him no answers, only more questions.

’Was it a secondary system? An infection? Or something waiting to be unlocked further?’

Whatever the Dark System was, it didn’t feel like part of the original design. And yet, it was now a part of him.

"I should check the inventory," Theo muttered, remembering the basic loot crates he received during the last purge. He opened the inventory menu and navigated straight to the section labeled Basic Loot Crates. A quick tap revealed the contents:

Camouflage Gear x1

Combat Energy Vial x1

Antidote Vial x1

EMP Pulse Grenade x1

Tracker Nullifier Chip x1

Invisibility Potion x1

Tactical Reinforced Jacket

Legguard Tactical Pants

Dustrunner Shoes

Skin Suit - Gen 1 Prototype

Theo tapped on the Skin Suit - Gen 1 Prototype from the inventory list, eyes narrowing in thought.

[Skin Suit - Gen 1 Prototype]

Type: Full-Body Armor (Advanced Undersuit)

Description: Designed to bond with the user’s physiology and adapt to their movement and energy signature. Thin as cloth, but reinforced with high-density fibers tougher than steel in key impact zones. Automatically adjusts to the wearer’s body size and shape, offering skin-tight comfort and zero movement restriction.

[Materialize Item: Skin Suit - Gen 1 Prototype?]

This item will appear in the physical world and cannot be stored back unless placed in a storage node.

[Proceed? YES / NO]

Theo hovered his finger over the YES option, but hesitated.

His thoughts went to Kael. The guy had a useful power, Meteor Mist, but lacked proper protection. That suit... it would be perfect for him. Light, non-restrictive, durable.

’It’ll fit him better. He’ll need it more than I do,’ Theo thought, weighing the risks of red zones and Kael’s lack of gear.

He exhaled. "Yeah. I’ll give it to him."

Then, without another thought, he pressed [YES].

A faint shimmer pulsed in the air next to him, and the Skin Suit - Gen 1 Prototype neatly folded itself as it materialized on the table, sleek, dark, and deceptively thin.

Theo picked up the Skin Suit and stepped outside, the afternoon sun casting a golden hue over the training yard. Laughter echoed as Max and Lilia darted around, weaving through imaginary enemies with sticks in hand like swords.

"Careful, soldier," Theo called out as Max nearly collided with a wooden post. The boy yelped, then grinned sheepishly.

Max spotted what Theo was holding and rushed over with wide eyes. "What’s that?" he asked, nose almost pressed to the sleek material. "It looks cool."

"This?" Theo raised the suit slightly. "It’s for Kael."

Max’s shoulders drooped, and he let out a dramatic sigh. "Lucky him..." the twelve year old boy mumbled, poking the edge of the fabric. "Can I have a suit like that too someday?"

Theo smirked, ruffling his hair. "Train hard, Max. Soon, I’ll assess how well you can defend yourself. Impress me, and you might just earn one."

Max beamed. "I knew it! I’ve been practicing, Big Bro! I even have a surprise for you. Me and Lilia-"

"Max!" Lilia called from across the yard, hands on her hips and a frown on her face. The boy froze.

Lilia quickly straightened her posture and flashed Theo a sweet, innocent smile. "Good afternoon, Theo."

Theo raised an eyebrow, amused. "Good afternoon, Lilia."

Then she turned to Max, whisper-hissing, "I told you we’re not ready! We have to perfect it first. We can’t show him if it’s not perfect!"

Max groaned. "But we’re so close..."

"I’ll look forward to it," Theo said, hiding a smile as he watched the two argue like seasoned teammates.

Kael, who had been tossing a soft ball with one of the younger kids nearby, finally noticed Theo standing there. He jogged over, brushing dirt from his palms.

"Hey. What’s going on?"

Theo held out the Skin Suit. "This. I think it’ll fit you perfectly."

Kael blinked, hesitant. "Wait... this is for me?"

Theo nodded. "Full-body adaptive suit. Bonds to your body, adjusts to your movement and energy. Light but reinforced. I checked the specs. It’s ideal for someone with your ability."

Kael reached out and took the suit carefully, as if it might crumble in his hands. "I... don’t know what to say."

"Just wear it when we head out," Theo replied casually. "You’ll need the protection."

Kael nodded slowly, his eyes scanning the material with something between awe and determination. "Thank you, Theo. Really."

Theo gave him a nod, then glanced back at the kids, who were now arguing over who got to be the team leader in their next practice.

"Better get strong fast," Theo said with a small grin. "Or those two will surpass you before you even try that suit on," he jested.

Kael laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Noted."

Then Theo let out a deep, heavy sigh as he watched the children now under his care and protection.

These children should be playing most of the time. Well, Aries ensured they had ample playtime, but at the same time, they were undergoing training at a young age. They simply couldn’t allow them to be naive about what was happening in the world.

The training was for their own good. After all, Theo wasn’t sure how long they could protect them. It wasn’t as if he was with them twenty-four seven, so it was safer that they would at least know how to defend themselves at a young age.

He was pulled from his stupor when Andres approached him with a worried expression. "Theo, you must see this," he whispered in his ear, causing Theo to frown. He could tell that it was nothing good just from the way Andres spoke to him, deliberately ensuring no one else would overhear.