The scrap field drifted in silent rotation.
Broken warships.
Shattered stations.
Twisted hull fragments suspended in eternal orbit.
Daniel stood on a stabilized platform of compressed metal.
No sky.
No sun.
No horizon.
"…Okay," he muttered. "I officially live in a junkyard."
Snow appeared beside him in faint blue light.
"Correction: You reside in a high-density post-conflict resource field."
"…That's the most positive way to say trash I've ever heard."
The system panel unfolded.
Clean.
Minimal.
Cold.
▣ SYSTEM PANEL – SPACE L.O.R.D Identity
Name: Daniel StormAge: 21Title: Provisional System LordDomain: Closed Scrap Sector 01Galactic Detection: MaskedCivilization Tier: 0
Personal Status
Level: 1Body Strength Tier: 0Adversity Engine: DormantNeural Stability: Stable
Command Authority
Authority Tier: 0Max Personnel: 1Fleet Capacity: 0Departments: Locked
Production Overview
Refinement Efficiency: 14%Energy Reserve: 0.02%Facilities: None
Daniel folded his arms.
"So I'm poor. Noted."
Snow tilted her head slightly.
"You possess potential."
"That's system language for 'broke.'"
As if responding to his thoughts, a new icon flickered in the panel.
▣ INVENTORY
1 item available.
Daniel blinked.
"…Inventory?"
He opened it.
A sealed metallic cube floated inside the holographic display.
Simple.
Unmarked.
Beside it:
▣ BEGINNER PROTOCOL PACKAGEAuthorization: Supreme Being
Daniel stared.
"…So cosmic god did give me a starter pack."
"Beginner assistance confirmed."
"Alright. Let's see if this is disappointment or miracle."
He activated it.
The cube dissolved into light.
Multiple data streams flooded his interface.
The panel updated.
▣ BEGINNER PROTOCOL PACKAGE – CONTENTS
• Core Command Node (Dormant)• 300 Autonomous Construction Drones• Nutrient Synthesizer Unit (Sustainable Supply)• Portable Fabrication Module• 3 Strategic Summon Cards• 3 Incomplete Corvette-Class Blueprints• Hidden Domain Stability Buff (Passive – 100 Days)
Daniel went quiet.
"…Okay."
He looked at Snow.
"This is… reasonable."
"The Supreme Being appears to favor structural acceleration rather than direct domination."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Good."
The 300 construction drones activated around him.
Small.
Efficient.
Floating quietly.
Not an army.
But not nothing.
He deployed the Core Command Node.
The scrap beneath them shifted.
Metal restructured.
Panels unfolded.
Within minutes, a compact command structure formed.
Not majestic.
But real.
Interior systems activated.
Low-level power hum.
Daniel stepped inside.
Artificial gravity stabilized.
Screens lit up.
Snow integrated with the central console.
"Command Node online. Administrative interface unlocked."
The system panel expanded again.
▣ ADMINISTRATION
Departments Available:
• Production (Level 1)• Logistics (Level 1)
Other Departments: Locked
Daniel smirked.
"See? We're not starting from zero."
"Correct. You are starting from foundation."
He activated the Nutrient Synthesizer.
A quiet unit began generating stable rations.
Food problem solved — for now.
Then he looked at the 3 Strategic Summon Cards.
He didn't activate them.
"…Too early."
Snow responded approvingly.
"Resource conservation increases long-term survivability."
He walked back outside.
The scrap field rotated endlessly.
No enemies.
No explosions.
Just potential.
He opened the Production interface.
The incomplete Corvette blueprint appeared.
Skeleton framework.
Missing core.
Missing armor plating.
Missing reactor integration.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Alright."
He turned toward the drifting wreckage.
"Let's turn trash into infrastructure."
The 300 drones spread outward like a swarm of metallic insects.
Scrap began to move.
Slowly.
Methodically.
For the first time, the junkyard was changing.
And far beyond the invisible boundary of this closed system—
The galaxy continued, unaware.
For now.