The New Companion and the Gear Plan

Yanaki looked at the automaton awaiting her command, and without a moment's hesitation, she chose "Yes."

There was no thread of spiritual light. Instead, a command line appeared on Yanaki's system interface: [Establishing Link Protocol... Synchronizing Cognitive Matrix...]. A stream of blue data, like a river of code, flowed from the interface into the automaton.

Yanaki felt a new connection form in her mind. It wasn't warm like the one with Elara, nor resilient like the one with Sylva. It was cold, logical, and incredibly clear. She could "see" the automaton's status: power level at 87%, weapon systems ready, all joints functioning perfectly.

[Link Protocol established!]

[You have obtained your third familiar!]

[Name: Model 7 Guard Automaton (Requires naming)]

[Species: Automaton (Mechanical)]

[Level: 12]

[Description: A standard security automaton, equipped with a power mace and a light energy shield. Absolutely loyal to "The Creator" who repaired it.]

[Note: Mechanical-type familiars do not receive buffs from spiritual titles or skills. They do not level up conventionally but must be upgraded by replacing and improving components.]

This note was critically important. It completely reshaped how she would develop her strength on this floor.

"I will call you Volt," Yanaki said. The name alluded to both the sparks that had saved it and its power mace weapon.

[Familiar has been named: Volt.]

"Stand up. Report status," Yanaki commanded.

Volt stood straight, its joints moving smoothly, no longer showing any signs of damage. Its blue eyes looked at Yanaki. "Power: 87%. Locomotion systems: 100%. Weaponry: Power mace online, energy shield online. Awaiting orders, Creator."

Her party now had four members. Yanaki (Commander), Elara (Scout/Support), Sylva (Main Tank), and Volt (Off-tank/Melee Damage).

With a new ally and new insights into Aethelgard, Yanaki's plan became clearer. The main quest was to find 3 [Ancient Energy Cores]. "Seizing" them from other players was too dangerous right now. Her only path was to "craft" them.

But to craft an "Ancient" item, she needed "Ancient" blueprints and materials. Those certainly couldn't be found in the safe zones. Before she could even think about that, she needed to get stronger, get better equipment for herself, and upgrade Volt. She needed money, she needed components.

Yanaki made her decision. She would become a "Scrap Hunter."

She led her party to a flea market where players and local artificers sold all sorts of things. She used the few Copper Cogs she had left to buy a basic repair kit for Volt and a few pieces of scrap metal with the intention of making herself a simple breastplate.

She needed a place to start her hunt. "Elara, can you do some reconnaissance? Eavesdrop and see where other Scrap Hunters usually go to find good components."

As a spirit, Elara could easily drift about unnoticed, listening to conversations and rumors in the city. A short while later, she returned with information.

"Abandoned Mine #7," Elara reported. "It's an old mining operation that was shut down due to a mass malfunction of its automatons. It's said to be very dangerous, full of rogue auto-drills, but it's also a source of high-quality copper and raw energy crystals."

A clear objective.

Yanaki led her party to an industrial sector of the city where a giant elevator station was located. This elevator didn't go up, but down, leading to the lower, darker, and more dangerous levels of Aethelgard.

They stepped onto the rusty metal floor of the elevator. Elara and Sylva looked down into the deep abyss below, where clouds of steam and industrial smoke obscured the view; both felt uneasy. In contrast, Volt stood firm, its blue eyes showing no emotion, but Yanaki could feel a sense of "readiness" through their link.

She looked back at her party, a strange mix of past and future, of nature and machine. A spirit of memory, a guardian of trees, and an automaton of logic. Somehow, she had linked the seemingly impossible.

CLANG... RUMBLE!

The elevator began its plunge into the darkness. The adventure of a Scrap Hunter had now, truly, begun.