Reborn in The Legendary Mechanic

After the Gorins, I headed for the nearest complex, a huge building that belonged to the Sigma-Frax Corporation. Their war machines were known for their versatility and reliability, but I knew that this company had a reputation flaw: they liked to experiment, creating things that couldn't be mass-marketed.

The Sigma-Frax room appeared to be full of moving holograms. Miniature models of drones, tanks, and walking mechs spun through the air as if mocking their deadly nature.

- Welcome! - came the loud voice of a woman in a uniform with a corporate emblem. She held out her hand. - Caris, special orders manager.

- Show me everything you've got, - I cut her off, staring blankly at her smile.

She wasn't surprised. As if reading my mind, Caris led me into a closed section. There were vehicles that couldn't be seen at the usual shows.

A Centaur-25 walking tank with a laser suppression system. It was massive, its legs covered with nanoplates capable of deflecting any kinetic attack. Next was a line of reconnaissance drones capable of operating hundreds of kilometers from the base. And in the corner, hidden in the shadows, stood a mech with streamlined armor.

- That's the MK-III Ghost. The prototype. Completely invisible on all known radars. Destroys targets before they're spotted.

I studied the tech, then nodded.

- I'll take everything, including the prototypes.

- Anything else?

- If you have experimental models not listed in the catalogs, add them to the order.

She hesitated, but after getting a signal from her tablet, she remained silent.

Next stop, the Farando Corp complex. Things were different here. The corporation specialized in mobile combat platforms. Huge halls were filled with moving exhibits. Robots rolled on tracks, demonstrating firing capabilities.

- This is our advanced assault drone of the Punisher series. Its laser module allows it to melt armor, and its built-in self-renewal system makes it virtually indestructible.

I lingered in front of it for a moment. It was all useful, but I realized: without adaptation and integration, such machines would not be able to match my ambitions.

- I'll take it. And add to that your line of mobile artillery platforms.

My application was accepted without too many questions.

My last visit in the upper levels is to the pavilion of the Ark of the Seven Paws, a corporation known for its experiments with integrating biology and technology.

I saw things here that would make most visitors freeze in disgust or horror. Semi-biological machines with organic components. Drones with a neural network inside, powered by synthetic blood.

- These are our combat platforms, designed to merge with the operator, - the consultant explained, pointing to a booth with a demonstration of a machine whose 'nerves' were connected to a human. - The operator feels the machine as if it were his own body.

- I'm not looking for symbiosis, - I interrupted him. - I'm looking for autonomy. And anything that can be used to create new forms.

In response, I was shown a collection of samples: organic reactors, hybrid tissues, nerve signal integration devices.

- I'll take them all. Bag it up and take it to the warehouse.

Leaving the sterile pavilions of the upper levels, I headed downstairs. The gravlift that was carrying me began to slowly change atmosphere. The light was fading and the air became heavy, filled with the smell of metal, dirt, and sweat.

The lower levels seemed like a completely different world. There were no ostentatious storefronts or flashy displays here. Techniques were sold right in the warehouse or hangar, where salesmen lazily shifted dirty parts.

In one of the stalls, I came across the mangled remains of an old walking mech. Its hull was shredded, and inside it I could still see traces of charred wires.

- How much for this? - I asked, pointing to the pile of metal.

- It's junk, - the seller replied, but I saw his look change when he realized I was serious.

I bought the mech, along with several crates of broken parts. They were only wreckage, but I knew that one day they could be turned into weapons.

"Temporal Spectrum Lab". The building looked incongruous against the slums. Sharp angles covered with flashing lights and a shimmering energy shield that cut off the noise of the streets. I stepped inside.

I was greeted not by a human, but by an AI in the form of a drifting spherical drone. Its voice sounded cold:

- You have three minutes to choose.

I didn't need more. In one of the exhibit halls lay a gravity-altering microgenerator, a tiny device encased in a transparent case. I ran my fingers over the protective layer, feeling a faint vibration.

- Unstable, but useful, - came a voice from somewhere above.

It was the manager, a tall man with mechanical lenses instead of eyes.

- With this device you can change gravity within a local field. In skillful hands it will be a weapon, in inept hands it will be a disaster.

I bought a generator and moved on.

"The Rusty Mechanisms" flea market was built right under a massive chimney. The vapors escaping from it created a kind of "mystical" effect around it. There were no stores here, just tents littered with junk. I wandered between the rows until I saw an old man with an implant instead of a jaw.

- Are you interested in battle hulks? - He asked, barely glancing at me.

On the ground in front of him lay the massive hulk of an automaton. Its hull looked like the remains of an ancient monster, and parts of the mechanisms still glowed faintly.

- Working? - I asked.

- If you find a way to repair the core, it will come to life. It's unique. They don't make them like this anymore.

The strangest purchase on the market was a biomechanical construct that looked like a mixture of a human body and a machine. On its shoulders were generators that emitted holograms of strange patterns. The seller, a man with a scarred face, explained that this thing was found in a forbidden zone.

- It only activates if you're clever enough, - he said, looking at me with interest. 

I took it, along with two other pieces.

At one corner I noticed a sign, a large crystal split in two. Inside, I was greeted by a woman with metal claws instead of fingers.

- Energy crystals, - she said, nodding at a booth where dozens of stones shimmered.

- What are they for?

- They absorb energy. Some are enough to power machines, others redistribute it to destroy everything around them.

I picked out a dozen of the largest and most mysterious specimens.

"The Forbidden Singularity" warehouse was a shop hidden in a huge hangar. The salesman, a crooked man with a skull covered in metal prosthetics, led me in.

- 'This is the one you'll be interested in.

On the wall hung a massive biomechanical construct with augmentations implanted in it. 

- Is it alive? - I asked.

- In a way, - he answered.

I took everything that seemed useful, including a partially functioning fabricator-assembler, ancient energy modules, and mysterious pieces of machinery I had yet to study.

I reached the bottom by late afternoon. Here, on the dirtiest and most forgotten levels, the faintly glowing lamps only emphasized the ugly atmosphere of the area. The entrance to the

"Technomasters' Guild" was a crudely welded door, covered with deep furrows from the guns. Inside, however, I was greeted by a technological paradise.

On the walls were illuminated display cases, behind which shone dozens of artifacts. In the center of the room was a holographic table displaying a huge mechanism, possibly a battle mech. The smell of machine oil hung in the air, mixed with the ozone left by the energy devices.

- What are you looking for, traveler? - spoke a massive merchant standing at one of the display cases. His head gleamed under the neon light, and his body seemed carved from metal.

I stepped closer, looking over the exhibits.

On the display case was a small disk, barely larger than the palm of my hand, with a crystal core surrounded by a spiral of wires. When I picked it up, the device vibrated slightly, and lights flashed around me. For a split second, I felt the space around me bend.

- Technology for instantaneous movement, - the salesman explained, showing me how to attach it to my wrist. - The range is up to ten meters, but that's about the limit of stability. It's invaluable in combat.

I turned on the disk, and the interface appeared before my eyes. "Select a point." For a moment I was on the other side of the room, then back again. A simple movement, and its potentialities already flashed in my mind.

- I'll take it, - I said briefly, handing him the money chip.

The next thing that caught my eye was a small cylindrical object with a smooth body made of dark metal. Lines of energy shone on its surface, forming a barely discernible pattern of a protective field.

- This is your fortress on the battlefield, - the merchant said with a clear respect in his voice as he opened the display case. - You turn it on, and a shield activates around you. It will hold off kinetic attacks, lasers, even heavy artillery strikes.

I activated the device. The space around me blinked, and I found myself surrounded by a dome of shimmering blue hues. It was quiet inside, as if the world outside the protective field had ceased to exist.

- The shield doesn't last longer than three minutes, - the salesman warned, "but in that time you can save your life or take the initiative. 

Without thinking, I added it to my shopping list.

The merchant led me to a massive stand in the far corner. Here lay specimens of weapons that looked like those from the arsenal of a dying civilization. Among them I noticed a massive device that looked like a mixture of a flamethrower and an energy cutter. Its surface was covered with many dents and battle scars, but in the center of the device still shone an energy source that exuded dangerous heat. And I knew what it was.

- It's an ancient melta, - he said proudly. - It can burn through any armor, turn a tank into vapor in a few seconds. The energy source is stable, but it takes time to recharge. 

I ran my fingers over the scars on the hull. The gun seemed to be both an instrument of destruction and a testament to ancient history.

- Who used it? - I asked, looking into his eyes.

- Legends run rampant. Some say it's a remnant of machine warfare, others say it was used against those who couldn't be killed with conventional weapons. But you know that even the most advanced civilizations no longer produce such weapons.

I lifted the weapon, feeling its weight. Its power was almost tangible.

- I'm sure I want it.

We agreed on a price, and soon all three purchases were in my possession. The merchant walked me to the exit, adding lastly:

- With toys like these, you could change the course of any war.

I didn't answer him. I was already thinking about how to use it all.

I went deeper into the lower levels and found myself in a hall that was more like a vault of secrets. Its doors rattled open, as if protesting against outsiders. In the center of the room stood a mechanism that looked like a massive pyramid with a shimmering surface, surrounded by cables and energy stabilizers.

Instead of a merchant, I was greeted by a massive droid with a human face covered in a web of cracks. His voice was low, like the rumble of a distant explosion.

- Welcome to the Vault of Annihilation. Are you interested in the MX-02 Omni Generator?

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the pyramid.

- Tell me what it is.

The droid stepped closer, its metal legs making thudding noises.

- It's a molecular fission field generator. It creates a barrier that erases any matter that crosses its boundaries. People, mechanisms, it turns everything into nothing. The field covers an area up to a 20-meter radius. The only warning: use with caution.

He handed me a tablet that showed a recording of the test. The field activated, and everything that fell inside - weapons, armored vehicles, even pieces of buildings - instantly disappeared as if they'd never existed.

- Price? - I asked.

- A million and a half. And that's a low price to pay for absolute annihilation.

I ran my hand over the body of the pyramid, feeling a faint warmth.

- I'll take it.

The droid activated the mechanism, and soon the pyramid was sent to my warehouse.

Next, I made my way to the trading shop hidden between two massive turbines. Inside, the air was saturated with the smell of burnt plastic and cinders, and the dim light came only from the devices in operation.

Behind the counter stood a short figure, wrapped in rags from under which shiny metal limbs were visible. Her voice was hoarse and barely audible:

- I see you've come for more than just a look.

I nodded silently, examining the wares. A small cylinder with a shimmering golden-blue surface stood out among them.

- This is a contour shield, - the figure said. - Unlike the usual spherical models, it fits snugly around the body, following the contours of the wearer. The field is many times more powerful than standard ones, even plasma blasts and artillery.

- What is the power? - I asked, picking up the device.

The figure shrugged, but spoke with obvious pleasure:

- For your body, absolute protection. It will work faster than you can be attacked. But there's one thing: it consumes a tremendous amount of energy. Not every battery can withstand its prolonged activation.

I turned the device on, and a shimmering protective film instantly appeared on my body. I clenched my hand into a fist, and the shield synchronously repeated the movement, giving the impression of a second, invulnerable skin.

- Not bad stuff, - I said, holding out a credit chip.

The figure nodded, taking the money, and handed me a package with instructions.

- If you encounter anything that runs through this, you're already dead.

- Thanks for the reassuring thought, - I grinned, taking the purchase.

I went down into one of the darkest and most musty hangars on the lower level. There were no bright signs, and the only light was flickering lamps hanging from rusty beams. A massive droid with battle dodgers stood at the door, its lenses watching my every move.

Inside, the air smelled of oil, metal, and something faintly rotting. The hangar was more like a car graveyard. There were half-destroyed hulks of assault rifles, piles of cables and mangled panels. In the middle of all this chaos stood the salesman, a massive man with a shaved head and a right hand replaced by a mechanical claw. He examined me carefully before he spoke.

- You look like a man who knows what he's looking for.

- Perhaps. What have you got?

He grinned, gesturing for us to follow him. We approached two massive hulks that stood out from the rest of the scrap metal. The first resembled a giant spider: eight thick limbs covered in battle damage, the body massive and menacing, with an open mechanism in the center. The second was much smaller, but its shape was fearsome: a bipedal humanoid tank with reinforced armor and a closed cockpit.

- These machines don't work, = the salesman began, - but their mechanisms are still unique.

He pointed to the spider tank.

- This is a true biological terror machine. In battle, it absorbed any organic material, turning it into fuel. The battlefields were its feast table. Hundreds of bodies could keep it running for days.

- Why is he here? - I asked, examining the machinery.

The salesman spread his hands.

- The machine was damaged during some battle, its core destroyed. And the remains were just dumped right on top of us, on the lower levels. But if you have the technology to rebuild it... It's gonna be a scary thing.

I shifted my gaze to the second machine.

- And this one?

His tone became more serious, almost respectful.

- It's a combat suit for the mortally wounded. The pilot is placed inside, and the system plugs into him, replacing all his organs. Even if all that's left of the man is his head, the machine will ensure his survival.

- What's the catch?

- Once a person is inside, they stay there forever. The machine removes everything unnecessary: limbs, organs, anything not needed for control. It's not just a tank, it's the last incarnation of a soldier. There is no way to survive, but inside he will become part of the machine, immune to pain, fatigue, and fear.

I stared at the massive hull of the sarcophagus, imagining what it would be like to be trapped inside. A grim and frightening concept, but incredibly useful in my plans.

- How much for both?

The seller hummed, clearly appreciating my interest.

- Three million for both. No discounts.

I didn't haggle. After all, such finds were worth every enas spent, and I had a limitless budget. The hulks were loaded onto a platform and sent to the warehouse, where Eridian had already begun analyzing my previous acquisitions.

***

The dim light of the lanterns gave way to total darkness. I walked deeper and deeper until the darkness of the lower levels of the hive consumed me. Every step echoed, as if the walls of these endless corridors wanted to whisper their secrets to me. There were no bright advertisements here, no music from the stalls. Only rustles, creaks, and the occasional sounds of machinery reminded me that life, though barely thawing, still existed.

Finally, I found myself in front of a narrow passage hidden behind an old cargo terminal. It looked abandoned, with rusted panels and a dilapidated sign that barely contained the word "Artifacts".

Inside, it was different. The spacious hall was drowned in semi-darkness, illuminated by the flickering light of a few lamps. It didn't smell of machinery or oil like other places. The air was heavy, impregnated with something ancient and almost tangible.

In the middle of the hall stood display cases. Each one contained something unique: daggers adorned with precious crystals, massive helmets with unknown emblems, strange spheres spinning smoothly in the air. But it all paled in comparison to what I saw in the far corner.

On a massive stand of black metal lay a sword. Its scabbard, smooth as if polished to a shine, but radiating a sense of heaviness. They were sheathed in chains that seemed to hold back something that could break free and destroy everything around it.

The black lines on the scabbards absorbed the light, as if they didn't want to be looked at. I took a step closer, and a strange sensation pierced me. It was as if the air had become denser and gravity stronger.

- Can you feel it? - The voice sounded unexpectedly close.

I turned my head. The salesman was standing in front of me. His face was hidden by a hood, and his figure was like a silhouette made of shadows.

- What is it? - I asked, not taking my eyes off the sheath.

- It's a sword, - he said, with a faint note of fear. - But not the kind mortals are capable of making. Its origin is unknown. Its essence is a mystery. But its power is absolute.

- What does this blade do? - I asked.

- Anything you wish. Slice through reality? Turn your enemies to dust? Or perhaps create something new? This sword can do anything. But the price. - the salesman's voice became muffled, as if coming from far away. 

- How much? - I asked.

The seller shook his head.

- Money means nothing here. This blade will bind you to yourself. It will become part of you, and you will become part of it. Your ambition will be its fuel, but don't waver. One false move and he will destroy you.

I stepped closer, and the chains on the scabbard trembled faintly. They seemed alive. 

When my fingers touched the hilt of the sword, the world around me dissolved, as if it could not bear the presence of what I held. Darkness flashed like an exploding star, and I was plunged into an abyss of visions of horror and incomprehensible majesty.

The first thing I saw was the hall. Gigantic, endless, with a ceiling lost in a shroud of darkness. Smoke slowly settled through the air, thick with the odor of ozone and burning meat. It was almost alive, shrinking into spirals and clouds, as if something was pushing it away, squeezing it out of the center of this nightmare. The floor was dotted with twisted shadows that squirmed like distorted souls. There was a hum in the air, low and pervasive, a vibration that seemed to emanate from existence itself.

And then it came. A figure emerged from the mist, dazzling in its alien majesty. Its form was barely perceptible, like a vision, yet its solidity was felt with every fiber of my being. The huge body, shimmering as if the stars of the night sky encased themselves in metal, moved, gliding like a shadow across the void.

It didn't just stand, it was present, its form filling reality, making it break under its pressure. The huge figure shimmered in the dim light, its body forged from something so alien it was painful to look at. The metallic sheen mingled with the viscous darkness that flowed from its form as if it were alive. His eyes-two blinding green fires, pure, evil-looked right through me, and I felt my heart stop beating.

An aura of destruction emanated from him, so dense that the space around him was breaking. The floor cracked under his weight, splintering like ice under the feet of a heavy beast. But he did not touch the ground. He floated, as if the weight of the world meant nothing to him.

And then I saw the sword. Not in his hand, no. The sword hung in the air, as if its existence was so alien to this world that even its wielder could not hold it directly.

The blade, covered in a strange light, flickered on the edge of reality, as if it were everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Runes glowing a sickly green light girdled its surface, pulsing green, burning my gaze like a thousand needles, their rhythmic flickering like a heartbeat. Every line, every symbol on the blade whispered words that could not be understood, but that made my hair stand on end.

The silhouette raised a hand, exposing it from beneath the mantle, if you could call it a mantle. It was more like a billowing cloud of emptiness that flowed over his form. As his fingers, metallic and claw-like, approached the sword, it trembled, as if responding to a call.

In that instant, I felt it-an immense hunger. The sword thirsted, demanded. Not blood, not lives. It wanted everything. To devour, to dissolve, to erase from reality. And it wanted me.

And that's when I realized. I saw myself. 

The vision changed suddenly. I was now standing in the middle of the battlefield. I was the one standing there, towering like a monument of destruction. It was me striding, leaving behind me cracks in the stone and shattering the very fabric of existence. The sword hanging in the air reached for me as if it were a part of my body, long lost but now reclaimed.

I raised my hand in the vision, and the blade lowered obediently into my palm. In that instant, I felt him merge with me. His hunger, his thirst became mine. I saw myself destroying worlds, sweeping away armies, wiping stars from the sky.

But that wasn't all. I saw faces - the faces of those I did not yet know, but those who trusted me. They were screaming, and their cries echoed in my head. Yet I felt no guilt. On the contrary, there was a strange, primal sense of triumph inside me, as if all this destruction was inevitable and I was just the instrument of its realization.

Then emptiness.

Silence.

I stand alone, on my knees, blade clenched in my hand, and there is nothing around me.

No world, no stars, no life. Just me and this instrument of the end.

When I came to my senses, I realized that I was standing, clutching the sword in my hands like a drowning man clutching a life preserver. The salesman looked at me silently from under his hood.

- You saw what you wanted to see. Or perhaps what the sword wanted to show you, - he said.

I shifted my gaze to the scabbard in my hands. Black and chain-linked, it looked like a coffin for something that shouldn't exist. Something alien stirred inside me, as if the shadow the blade cast had a will of its own.

- What is his name? - I asked, not quite sure why I was doing it.

The merchant stood still for a moment, then, fading into the shadows as if dissolving into the air itself, he whispered:

- Drach'nyen.

The sound of the name sliced through my consciousness. I looked into the shadow where the merchant had just stood, but he was gone.

I picked up my sword scabbard, feeling the metal inside it warming as if responding to my choice.

- I accept the terms, - I said, placing the sword on my back.