The server room was dark, save for the faint blue glow of the System screen and the emergency lights flickering in the hallway outside. The creature was still out there, its heavy, multi-jointed limbs scraping against the steel door. The reinforced door held, but the sound was unnerving.
Elias needed to move. The Server Room Fortification was a temporary shelter, not a permanent base.
He pulled up the [Blueprint Generation] interface again. This time, the structure type was "Escape Route."
[Blueprint Generation (Lvl 1)]
Input Parameters:
1. Structure Type: Escape Route
2. Destination: (Input coordinates or description)
3. Material: (Select from Available Materials)
"Destination: Ground Floor, Secure Exit. Material: Office Furniture and Structural Steel."
The System whirred, calculating the most efficient path from the 40th floor to the ground, utilizing the limited materials he had.
[Blueprint Generated: Emergency Descent (Tier 1)]
Required Materials:
• Structural Steel: 10 units
• Office Furniture (Mixed): 30 units
• System Energy (SE): 25
Function: Creates a series of reinforced anchor points and a temporary, load-bearing descent line utilizing existing infrastructure.
Note: Requires manual installation and high physical dexterity.
Elias frowned. 25 SE was a significant chunk of his remaining 85. But escape was paramount.
"Execute Blueprint," he commanded.
The System deducted the SE and the materials. A new, complex blueprint overlay appeared on his screen, showing him a sequence of steps:
1. Anchor Point 1: Fortify the window frame using Structural Steel.
2. Descent Line: Utilize the strongest network cables (now reinforced by the System) as a temporary line.
3. Distraction Trap: Create a noise-emitting device near the door to draw the creature's attention away from the window.
He moved quickly. First, the window. He located a sturdy section of the steel window frame. The System highlighted the exact points where the 10 units of Structural Steel were to be applied. He placed his hands on the frame, and the familiar warm flow of System Energy surged out. The frame visibly hardened, the metal turning a dull, almost black color.
[Anchor Point 1 Fortification Complete.]
Structural Integrity: +20%
System Energy (SE): 60/100
Next, the descent line. He found the thickest bundle of network cables running into the server racks. He placed his hand on them, and the System Energy flowed again, transforming the plastic-coated copper wires into a surprisingly strong, rope-like cable. It was still thin, but the System's reinforcement made it load-bearing.
Finally, the distraction. He had 90 units of Office Furniture left. He used 10 units to create a simple Noise Emitter.
[Blueprint Generated: Noise Emitter (Tier 1)]
Required Materials:
• Office Furniture (Mixed): 10 units
• System Energy (SE): 5
Function: Creates a small, battery-powered device that emits a high-pitched, irritating sound.
He placed the Emitter near the door and activated it. A piercing, electronic shriek immediately filled the server room.
The creature outside reacted instantly. The scraping on the door stopped, replaced by a furious, guttural roar. The *thump* against the door intensified, as the creature focused its rage on the source of the noise.
Elias didn't wait. He smashed the window with a fire extinguisher, the reinforced frame holding firm. Cold, chaotic air rushed into the room. He secured the newly reinforced network cable to the anchor point, took a deep breath, and swung himself out onto the 40th floor of the skyscraper.
Below him, Neo-Chicago was a tapestry of destruction and blue light. Above him, the creature was still trying to tear down the server room door.
He began his descent, the reinforced cable biting into his gloved hands. He was an architect, and he was building his way down. The first step of his ascent had begun with a descent.