The dawn broke cold and quiet, casting pale light through the forest canopy. But within the Shelter, there was no peace.
Ethan stood in front of the war table, where a digital map shimmered with motion. The markers were red this time — moving fast.
"They're coming again," Sima whispered, her voice taut. "Stronger. They've learned from yesterday."
The console beeped with synchronized pings. Unmanned drones from the perimeter confirmed dense movement to the northeast and southeast quadrants. Aria adjusted her gloves, stepping back from the wall display.
"Rei, your nest is on the southeastern ridge again. Don't miss," she said.
"I won't," Rei answered curtly, checking her rifle.
"Jun," Ethan turned, "mines and spike traps — I want the lower slopes littered with them. And Kenji, reinforce the east gate. Double weld the hinge."
Kenji grunted and jogged off.
There was no sense of panic in the air anymore. Only grim efficiency.
Even the elderly survivors were engaged — the simple but critical tasks of refilling water containers, stitching minor injuries, organizing food rations. A group of teenagers carefully distributed extra ammo clips, supervised by Lena.
And Ethan… he had a few SC left from yesterday. He accessed the Shelter console in his wristpad.
SC Available: 83- Upgrade: Turret AI Protocol (Precision Mode) – 25 SC- Upgrade: Wall Reinforcement – 20 SC- Upgrade: Sensor Ping Booster – 15 SC
He confirmed all three.
[System Update: Turret AI Protocol Upgraded. Precision targeting enabled.][Wall durability +40%. Sensor range extended by 25%. Total SC Remaining: 23]
Outside, the Shelter hummed. Metal moved. Energy pulsed. And in that moment, Ethan felt the quiet stir of pride — they had turned this place from a tomb into a home worth defending.
The first shriek tore through the forest like a blade. Every head in the Shelter turned to the sound. The treetops shuddered — and then they came.
Six razorclaws tore out of the northeast treeline, sprinting at full speed.
"Targets inbound!" Rei's voice crackled in Ethan's earpiece.
Before Ethan could respond, the upgraded northeast turret snapped into motion, its barrel glowing with new blue light. With surgical bursts, it cut down the first two razorclaws mid-charge.
[System Message: 2x Razorclaws eliminated. +4 SC earned.]
The third beast tried to dodge — too slow. Rei's shot pierced its skull.
[System Message: Razorclaw eliminated. +2 SC earned.]
The fourth made it to the perimeter, leaping—
Kenji was already there, steel rod extended. The impact sent them both tumbling, but only one got up.
[System Message: Razorclaw slain. +2 SC earned.]
A grenade exploded at the western fence — Jun's work. Two more beasts flew apart in wet pieces.
[System Message: 2x Razorclaws neutralized. +4 SC earned.]
Then the tide thickened.
New beasts emerged — larger, faster, armored. Spineskulkers.
"Watch their sides!" Ethan barked. "They'll flank!"
One spineskulker charged the minefield. The explosion didn't stop it — only staggered. Ethan activated his manual turret override and poured fire into the cracks of its armor. The core flashed. It fell.
[System Message: Spineskulker defeated. +7 SC earned.]
Another tore through a secondary fence. Aria slid across the gravel and unloaded a shell into its face. Bone and blood erupted.
[System Message: Spineskulker down. +7 SC earned.]
The last of the trio got close — too close. An older survivor tripped while escaping. The beast lunged—
Lena, wielding nothing but a hot metal pipe, struck its jaw sideways. That gave Ethan the window. He stabbed the plasma blade through the back of its neck.
[System Message: Spineskulker slain. +7 SC earned.]
"You okay?" he asked Lena.
"Not really," she panted, "but thanks."
Then came the howls.
From the trees leapt the Acid Howlers — sleek, sinewy beasts with glands throbbing at their throats. The first one opened its jaw and launched a stream of sizzling acid — it hit the side turret, melting through metal.
Rei fired first. The shot hit the howler's acid gland mid-spurt. It exploded on its own face.
[System Message: Acid Howler neutralized. +7 SC earned.]
The second sprinted toward Aria's tower. She switched to burst-fire mode and rained down rounds, slicing through its joints.
[System Message: Acid Howler killed. +7 SC earned.]
The third one tried to flank, dodging fire like a ghost. Jun tossed a shrapnel grenade near its feet. It danced aside — but not fast enough. One of Aria's bullets found its ribs, and Ethan finished it with a bolt from his sidearm.
[System Message: Acid Howler defeated. +7 SC earned.]
The battlefield was chaos. Yet in that chaos — the Shelter stood unbroken.
And then the earth shook.
The final wave came — just one. A behemoth.
Blood-Tusker Alpha.
The beast smashed through the southeast tree line, tusks glowing with red energy veins. Its hide shimmered with natural plating, nearly bulletproof. Each step cracked the earth.
"Full focus! South line!" Ethan yelled.
The Shelter trembled. The turrets fired — barely denting it.
Ethan accessed the SC menu mid-run.
[25 SC spent. Turret Penetration Rounds Enabled.]
The upgraded turrets hissed and released two sonic blasts that staggered the Alpha.
Rei landed a shot in its flank. Aria targeted its front leg. Kenji raced forward, using a distraction drone.
The beast bucked, swiping, screaming.
"Now!" Ethan shouted and sprinted into position.
Kenji tossed him the detonation lance. With all his strength, Ethan jammed it under the tusker's jaw and triggered the charge.
A thunderclap — and the beast collapsed.
Silence.
Then came the ping.
[System Message: Blood-Tusker Alpha defeated. +45 SC earned.][Special Reward Unlocked: Missile Launcher Blueprint Acquired.]
The battlefield steamed. Ash and blood painted the walls. But every survivor was alive.
Ethan stared at the reward screen, heart still hammering.
Blueprint Acquired: Missile Launcher (Defensive Deployment)
SC Remaining: 49
"Missiles…" Kenji muttered, limping over. "You serious?"
"We're getting stronger," Ethan said quietly. "And we'll need every bit of it."
He turned to the Shelter beyond, seeing it in a new light — not a haven, but a fortress. And this? This was only the second day.