4 days later...

22nd September, Year 714 A.G.

A convoy of 3 tall trucks pulled up in Canyon Hub.

3 towering heavy-duty military-grade black trucks- each one of them absurdly tall and armored like moving fortresses rolled through the outer industrial gate of the city in perfect formation. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Their surfaces were pitch-black like night, preventing anyone outside from seeing what was inside with matte plating that were broken only by thin seams of dim, electric-blue circuity that pulsed like a slow heartbeat.

On their bodies was the proud emblem of the Freegrid Collective, this was why they were not stopped at the gate.

The first truck led with deliberate authority, its reinforced grille pushing aside drifting fog and neon haze into the city. Its tires that were taller than a person crushed debris without a sound beyond a low, bone-deep rumble of its engine.

The second followed at a measured distance, identical but somehow more ominous, its side panels bristling with recessed compartments that were closed.

The third lagged behind like a silent but rugged escort.

It was raining in Canyon Hub as the rain fell in thin, slanted lines, catching neon and turning the air into a glowing curtain.

The pedestrians on the elevated walkways slowed down, then stopped entirely, curious as they tracked the vehicles with interest.

Everyone knew what these trucks were, these were the D22 Heavy Trucks of the Freegrid Collective that were in charge of transporting heavy duty and confidential goods that were too cumbersome to transport by air.

As the convoy entered the central district, the ambient noise shifted as music from street vendors dulled. The occasional conversations also dropped to whispers.

Throughout, the trucks never sped up, they never slowed down either.

They maintained uniform speed and velocity.

And finally, they took a byline into a street and drove into the underground garage of one of the most prominent skyscrapers in the central district.

...

VROOM...

When the 3 heavy-duty trucks finally arrived in front of him and revved their engines, announcing their arrival loudly, Leon could not help but look at them and grin. He gave the drivers a thumbs up.

This was the result of his work for the past 4 days.

Unlike every other Mechanist in the world, Leon was the only D Rank Mechanist with the ability to work in 2 places at the same time.

This was why while he focused on upgrading the Doom Rover v0.1s in his possession, turning them into more lethal war machines while also dabbling in other tiny side projects, back in the fringe of the Wastes, with his ADE and with Butler’s supervision, the ChronoSystem focused only on constructing new Doom Rover v0.1s for the past 4 days.

He had the luxury to do this because with more than 100 million Neo Credits lying in his account, he was no longer in debt and had the luxury to focus on himself and his needs now.

Clamped inside these 3 heavy-duty transport trucks were 40 new Doom Rover v0.1s!

They were the new boys in Leon’s collection.

Personally as a D Rank Mechanist, Leon needed just approximately 3 hours now to construct a complete Doom Rover v0.1.

The ChronoSystem needed even lesser time to do the same.

So by working with his ADE, creating a Doom Rover v0.1 every hour in his shelter, 8 per day, the ChronoSystem managed to construct 40 in 5 days.

This was ridiculous efficiency but unlike other automated systems and machines in the world that may suffer from wear and tear or overload, the ChronoSystem never suffered from overload.

It was Leon’s personal ’Glitch’.

Putting aside the dozens of Doom Rover v0.2s that now comprised his mechanical army, he already had over a dozen Doom Rover v0.1s earlier.

And now with the addition of 40, he now had over 50 of them!

This was money! But these days after killing Dhruv Laden, money was no longer Leon’s problem.

Leon stood for a few minutes just admiring the result of all the effort that he’d been putting in for the past days and weeks.

"It was all worth it". He grinned.

After paying the 3 drivers the fee that was agreed upon, he sent them away with the Freegrid military trucks and finally, Leon did something that he’d been holding himself back from doing for days.

He finally decided to use the Snooping function of the ChronoSystem to properly observe the changes to his constructs.

DING!

~----~

[Snooping Tool utilized!]

[Name: Bulwark MK.II Titan Frame]

[Classification: Mechanist – ADE-Reactive Mech]

Rank: D

Manufacturer: Field Engineer Leon Ardent

Power Source: ADE Condenser Cell

Interface: Neural impulse driver (spinal plug link)

[NEW! SECONDARY WEAPON SYSTEMS:]

[4. R9 Energy Shield.]

>Energy shield defense system.

[5. Aegis-V Modulator Energy Shield.]

>Energy shield defense system.

...

The sight of the first thread of notifications alone made Leon smile, it was the visual representation of his work.

With the combination of both the R9 energy shield and the Aegis-V modulator shield inside a single machine, defense was no longer the weak point of the mech suit. Now, it was one of its strong points.

This was because combining a stackable and enduring energy shield like the R9 with a heavy-duty and sturdy energy shield like the Aegis-V creates a horrible combination that no enemy should face, it was the perfect blend of defensive endurance + performance.

...

[Name: Sentry-IV Autocannon Drone]

[Classification: Mechanist – ADE-Reactive Drone]

Rank: D

Height: 2.6 meters.

Width: 1.8 meters.

Ammo Capacity: 3,000 – 6,000 rounds.

Operational Time: 6 – 10 hours.

Manufacturer: Field Engineer Leon Ardent

Power Source: ADE Condenser Cell

[NEW! DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS:]

[4. R9 Energy Shields]

>Energy shield defense system.

[5. Aegis-V Modulator Energy Shield]

>Energy shield defense system.

[NEW! ANTI-NETRUNNER SYSTEM:]

[1. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[Name: Zerphyr-7 Stealth Reconnaissance UAV]

[Classification: Mechanist – ADE-Reactive Aircraft]

Rank: D

Manufacturer: Field Engineer Leon Ardent

Power Source: ADE Condenser Cell

[NEW! ANTI-NETRUNNER SYSTEM:]

[1. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[Name: Doom Rover v0.2]

[Classification: Skirmisher Class]

Rank: D

Manufacturer: Field Engineer Leon Ardent

Power Source: ADE Condenser Cell

[NEW! KEY SYSTEMS:]

[5. Defense System]

>Aegis-V Modulator energy shield.

[6. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[Classification: Tank Class]

[NEW! KEY SYSTEMS:]

[3. Defense System]

>Aegis-V Modulator energy shield.

[5. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[Classification: Scout Class]

[NEW! KEY SYSTEMS:]

[6. Defense System]

>Aegis-V Modulator energy shield.

[7. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[Classification: Melee Class]

[NEW! KEY SYSTEMS:]

[5. Defense System]

>Aegis-V Modulator energy shield.

[6. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[Classification: Beast-Type Class]

[NEW! KEY SYSTEMS:]

[6. Defense System]

>Aegis-V Modulator energy shield.

[7. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[Name: Doom Rover v0.1]

Rank: D

Manufacturer: Field Engineer Leon Ardent

Power Source: ADE Condenser Cell

[NEW! KEY SYSTEMS:]

[10. Full Body: Aegis-V Modulator Energy Shield.]

[12. NS-99 "Blackout" Signal Dampener]

>NetRunner and psionic attack suppression system.

...

[ChronoSystem Remark: The mark of a great Mechanist is riches.]

~----~

Leon briefly focused on the remark of the ChronoSystem and chuckled. "You’re damn right about that".

He exhaled, thinking about everything that’s been happening in the past few days. Before he knew it, he lost himself in his thoughts till he was interrupted by the beeping sound of his smartphone.

BEEP!

{NEW! Unread message from Lt. Colonel Umar Farouq!}

Leon clicked the message open.

It was a simple and straightforward message- {"Everything is set on my end, and my contacts are in place. I’ll be coming to Canyon Hub this evening to meet the team."}

{"Tomorrow, we move."}

Leon exhaled again and looked up at the ceiling of the subterranean workshop, then he stood up and returned to his hotel room.

A few minutes later, he left Canyon Hub on the Zerphyr-7.