The moment Adrian saw the notification flash across his vision, every other thought in his mind vanished. He didn’t hesitate.
"Visit Factory," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the quiet.
As usual, the world around him began to fade away. The familiar sights of the capsule melted into a blur, and in an instant, he found himself standing once again on the soft, green grass of the Factory.
He tilted his head back and gazed up at the sky. It was the same as always swirling with vibrant colors in endless patterns.
But this time, something felt... off.
Adrian paused, his brow furrowing as he tried to pinpoint the difference.
Maybe it was the grass beneath his feet... it seemed more real. Or perhaps it was the cool breeze that swept across his face, tugging lightly at his hair and sending a shiver down his spine.
He could feel every bit of it, crisp and alive. Then it hit him, a sudden realization that made his breath catch.
This wasn’t like the other times, when his mind alone seemed to travel here while his body stayed behind. No, this was something more.
"I think I got transported within the Factory," he murmured to himself.
The weight of that thought settled heavily on him. If he was truly here, body and all, it changed everything.
He could already imagine himself abusing this, slipping away into the Factory whenever the outside world grew too chaotic for him.
It was a perfect escape. His mind buzzed with possibilities, but he needed to be sure. Straightening up, he asked.
"Is it my consciousness here in the Factory, or something more?"
He waited, hoping for the familiar voice of the Tech Core to answer from within. And then it came, the System responded as if it had been waiting for his question.
[Upon the Factory upgrade, you no longer need to leave your body behind. Your physical form is now transported here alongside your consciousness.]
Adrian’s eyes widened slightly, though he kept his expression controlled. Before he could fully process the implications, the System continued.
[I will now list the additional perks unlocked with the Factory Upgrade.]
He stood still, listening intently as the information unfolded before him.
[System Factory Upgrade Perks]
[Cooldown Time Reduced to 1 hour]
[Access Time: 3 hours → 4 hours]
[Production Lines: 2 → 3]
[New Features Unlocked!]
>> Holographic Design Studio
[Description: This feature allows you to visualize your inventions as detailed holograms before building them. You can design, adjust, and test your creations in virtual form, seeing every angle and detail come to life.]
>> Simulation Chamber
[Description: Upload your own memories or tap into the System’s vast database to create simulations. Practice combat, simulate opponents to study or fight, test new items, or step into entirely different worlds. You control the scenario, and death here has no real consequences.]
[New Upgrade Tracks Available!]
[Description: Unlock to find out. Strongly advised to unlock.]
[Description: Enables the Factory to automatically craft pills and potions based on your prototypes.]
When the System’s messages faded, Adrian exhaled slowly.
He reached out with a thought, retracting the sleek, metallic Power Suit that clung to his body.
It dissolved away seamlessly, leaving him standing in his regular clothes, the cool air brushing against his skin.
To say he was shocked would be putting it lightly... he was floored!
Upgrading the Factory was one of the best choice he ever made, and he felt some regret that he hadn’t done so sooner.
Curious, he pulled up the cost for the next upgrade, Level 3. The number glared back at him:
Adrian winced at the sight. That was a fortune, far beyond anything he could hope to gather anytime soon.
Still, he wasn’t discouraged. The current upgrade was more than enough for now, and while the next level felt out of reach, he tucked the idea into the back of his mind.
"That’s for the near future," he muttered to himself, already plotting his next steps.
With three lines running at once, his [Inventions] would roll out faster than ever, and when he returned to trade them, he would have more than enough. Which equalled more daily TP.
But what really set Adrian’s pulse racing were the new features.
The Holographic Design Studio was a game-changer. He could picture it now: sketching out an idea, watching it take shape as a glowing hologram, tweaking every gear and wire until it was perfect, all before lifting a single tool.
It would save him time, materials, and countless headaches.
Then there was the Simulation Chamber. That one made his imagination run wild, as Adrian could only think about all the ways he could use it.
The new upgrade tracks interested him as well, and he was already considering which one to go for.
For now, though, he wanted to dive in, and to explore every corner of this upgraded Factory and see what it could really do.
He pulled up the upgrade options again, just to double-check.
[System Factory Upgrade Options]
>> Extend Access Time (4 hours → 5 hours)
>> Quadruple Production Lines
Adrian blinked. The prices hadn’t budged. Not a single TP higher!
A grin spread across his face. This upgrade kept getting better. He felt a rush of excitement, itching to roam the Factory and test everything.
But as he stood there, his mind drifted to something else that might matter more.
He was safe here. Truly safe.
"After all, my body’s in the Factory now," he thought, letting the realization sink in. "I’m not sure it’s even possible for anyone to get into this place."
So he asked again, his voice calm but firm, "Can I assimilate now?"
Silence followed. One second stretched into two, then three. Five seconds ticked by, and Adrian’s brow furrowed slightly. Then, finally, the System spoke.
[Yes. Would you like to commence assimilation?]