Spoilers ahead for the first boss, his attacks and the rewards for defeating him.
The Residential District is the first full campaign district. Here you'll see how movement, combat XP, temporary upgrades and supplies fit together. Fill the zone meter and defeat Hobo Dad to open the Construction Site.
Filling the zone meter
Defeating enemies adds points to the zone meter. The target is 500 points. Enemies have different point values, so you don't need to defeat 500 of them.
Combat XP is counted separately. Earning enough XP gives you a temporary upgrade choice. Check for unspent points: gaining the level doesn't apply an upgrade on its own. Don't enter a tight crowd just to grab nearby loot. Keep a way out before you dash in.
The shop accepts resources you've collected during the run. Check your health and supplies ahead of the next dense fight, since filling the meter won't give you a long break. Crystals you pick up go to the permanent profile, while ordinary run supplies are temporary.
When the boss appears
Once the meter is full, a warning appears. The boss arrives a short time later. This starts the main encounter. Move into open space and watch the direction he approaches from.
Hobo Dad has a melee strike, a ground slam and a bottle throw. Watch his windups and the danger areas. On a first attempt, step away as he prepares to strike and attack during the opening afterwards. At range, watch for the bottle.
Move far enough to clear the marked attack area. As you retreat, leave room for the next move too. A narrow space by an obstacle can leave you trapped when the following attack starts.
Victory and the next attempt
Winning awards 5 crystals and opens the Construction Site. If the attempt ends in defeat, crystals you already picked up stay in your profile. You can spend them on permanent upgrades before trying again.
There is no required combat level for victory and no need to lose a run first. If you do lose, identify what happened. If the crowd cut off your escape, change your route. If you missed a windup or ran out of healing, plan the next approach around that moment.