The Return and the Secret of the Proto-Core

The elevator ride up offered a completely different feeling. On the way down, Aethelgard looked like a threatening mechanical labyrinth. Now, returning with an inventory full of spoils and a completed objective, Yanaki looked at the pipes and gears with a different eye. She saw potential, she saw resources, she saw opportunities to grow stronger.

They returned to the bustling sector of the city. On their way back to the Great Workshop, they passed a group of players wearing outfits with the crest of a compass and gear – members of the Gear Guild. They looked at Yanaki's party, especially Sylva and Volt, with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. "Another pack of savages from the Steam Guild," one of them muttered, just loud enough for Yanaki to hear. The rivalry between the two factions was evident in every little detail.

Yanaki paid them no mind. She had a more important goal.

They arrived at Valerius's laboratory. In contrast to the chaos outside, the place was still clean and quiet. The high-rank artificer was pacing back and forth impatiently. When he saw Yanaki walk in, and especially the gently glowing crystal sphere in her hand, his eyes lit up with a feverish passion.

"You did it! Unbelievable, you actually did it!" Valerius exclaimed, carefully taking the [Cognitive Controller Model-0] with both hands, cradling it like a treasure.

[Quest "Ancient Theory" has been updated.]

New Objective: Assist Artificer Valerius in crafting the Proto-Energy Core.

"Quickly, child, over here!" Valerius led Yanaki to a high-tech crafting station in the center of his lab. "We are at the final, most crucial step."

He placed the Controller into a slot in the center of a complex machine. "My theory suggests that the Ancient Energy Cores were not purely mechanical. They possessed a form of nascent consciousness, a 'soul' capable of self-regulation and adaptation. That is what lies within this controller."

He looked directly at Yanaki, his eyes filled with meaning. "But to 'awaken' it in a new body, we need a 'spark of life'. I have tried with every power source the Guild has, from high-pressure steam to pure electricity, but all have failed. I need something else... I need a portion of the energy from your Covenants. The energy that binds you and your familiars—that is the closest thing to 'life' we have."

Yanaki was stunned. Her unique skill, the one she thought would be useless on this floor, was the final key.

"What do I need to do?"

"Place your hands on this housing," Valerius said, pointing to a cube of metal and crystal where the Controller was now housed. "And call upon your companions."

Yanaki complied. She placed her hands on the cold crystal housing. She closed her eyes, focusing on her bonds. From Elara, a silver thread of memory flowed out. From Sylva, a green thread of natural life. And from Volt, a blue thread of machine logic.

Three streams of energy with completely different natures flowed through Yanaki, blended together, and were channeled into the crystal housing.

Inside, the [Cognitive Controller Model-0] sphere began to vibrate violently. It absorbed the three streams of energy. The white light within it gradually shifted into a fantastical color, a mix of silver, green, and blue.

Valerius held his breath, monitoring the stats on his screen. "Stable! The energy is stabilizing! Unbelievable!"

After a few tense minutes, the light converged, and a complete, smaller but stable and powerful energy core now lay still within the crystal housing. It wasn't just a machine; it seemed to have a heartbeat of its own.

[You have successfully assisted in the crafting of [Proto-Energy Core - Covenant Model (A-Rank)]!]

[Quest "Ancient Theory" has been COMPLETED!]

[You have been rewarded with: [Schematic: Proto-Energy Core], a large amount of EXP, 500 Guild Contribution Points.]

[Your [Mechanical Crafting] skill has been unlocked and leveled up significantly due to this unique practical experience.]

Valerius let out a loud laugh, a laugh of pure satisfaction. "You're not just a mechanic, kid. You're a 'Crafter of Life'! The combination of your technology and covenant magic... it could change everything!"

He handed Yanaki a copy of the schematic. She now had the formula.

"This is just the Proto-type," Valerius said, having returned to his calm, scholarly demeanor. "To craft a true Ancient Energy Core, you will need even rarer materials. And information about them... can likely only be found in the Brass Library of the Gear Guild."

Yanaki clenched the schematic. She had one of the three pieces for her main quest. The path was clearer than ever. She needed to climb higher in the ranks of the Steam Guild, to gain enough power and influence to be able to step confidently into her rival's territory and find the final secrets.

The Gear Race had truly begun, and Yanaki, with her unique abilities, was no longer just a participant. She had become a prime contender.