The morning mist hadn't even cleared when the ground trembled.
[Alert: Incoming Monster Tide Detected – Type: Hybrid Horde][Estimated Force: 112+ Creatures | Threat Class: Tier 3–4 Majority][Forecasted Danger Rating: High]
Ethan stood atop the eastern tower, armored coat rustling in the sharp wind. He tightened his grip on the binoculars.
"They're earlier than projected," Sima muttered behind him, data flickering across her tablet. "We've got two minutes before the first wave hits the perimeter."
"Then let's give them a welcome," Ethan said grimly. "All stations to battle mode!"
Below, Shelter staff scattered into motion. Reinforced gates clanked down. The new ballistic turret rotated with a mechanical hiss as Milo and Jun adjusted its firing spread.
[Defensive Status Updated: Turret Systems Active | Auto-Fire Protocol ON]
Aria loaded her rifle with a fresh clip, limping slightly from her injury the day before. She caught Ethan's glance from across the wall.
"I can still shoot," she said.
"I know," he replied. "Just… aim from the rear this time."
A light moment. A subtle shift. Her eyes lingered just a second longer than usual.
From the treeline, gnashing beast-hounds covered in scarred bone plates charged with low snarls. Behind them, insectoid Drudges scuttled on broken legs.
[Combat Start]
Ethan raised his rifle. "Focus fire!"
The eastern turret spat explosive shells.
➤ Scarback (x1) defeated | +3 SC | Loot: Hardened Bone Shard➤ Crawler Drudge (x1) defeated | +2 SC | Loot: Resin Claw Fragment
Kenji, holding the flank, activated a timed electric snare.
ZAP! – Six Drudges dropped at once.
➤ Crawler Drudge (x6) defeated | +12 SC | Loot: Resin Claws x3, Fungal Core x2
Aria's rifle cracked again and again.
➤ Scarback (x2) defeated | +6 SC | Loot: Bone Shards x2, Mutant Tendon
Wave One cleared in eight minutes.
Shrieking, quadrupedal canines with ember-colored manes emerged. Their jaws dripped with heated saliva that sizzled upon contact with the ground.
"Heat-resistant armor up!" Ethan barked.
WHOOSH! – One Flame Howler exploded near the barricade. Milo deflected the blast with his reinforced shield.
➤ Flame Howler (x1) defeated | +5 SC | Loot: Ember Gland, Fire-Touched Hide
Rei hurled an acid pod into the densest cluster.
➤ Flame Howlers (x3) defeated | +15 SC | Loot: Charred Bone, Mutant Cinder
Suddenly—
[Emergency Ping: Western Subsector Breach]
A shock pulse hit the inner wall.
"They're burrowing under!" Jun gasped. "New type incoming!"
At that precise moment, floodlights snapped on.
"MAKE WAY!"
Lira charged in leading a group of older survivors and teens—makeshift armor on, improvised weapons gripped tightly.
Kenji blinked. "What the hell—?"
"They're armed and trained," Lira said breathlessly. "We hold the inner wall."
Ethan's Survivor Diary – New EntryLira: Led emergency defense. Morale boost to all age groups. Registered as critical leadership role in fallback scenarios.
Kenji looked around and, with a silent nod, handed Lira a radio.
"I'm covering the power station."
Kenji disappeared into the utility corridor, hammer ready.
From the earth itself, three snakelike horrors exploded into the courtyard, followed by towering humanoid beasts with backs covered in sharpened bone whips.
Ethan activated the ballistic turret's special function: piercing charge burst.
BOOM!
➤ Gore Serpent (x1) defeated | +8 SC | Loot: Acid Fang, Core Membrane
➤ Spine Lasher (x1) defeated | +10 SC | Loot: Whiplash Bone, Cracked Heartstone
Milo and Jun covered the southern breach while Aria, bleeding again, dropped two serpents with pinpoint headshots.
➤ Gore Serpents (x2) defeated | +16 SC | Loot: Serpent Skin, Venom Core
Wave Boss: Twinflame Gorehound
Its howl fractured glass.
Glowing with a dual-colored aura—blue frost and red flame—the final monster charged straight through the barricade.
"Hit it with everything!" Ethan roared.
He dove forward, launching a detonation mine directly under its chest.
The explosion crippled its balance.
Aria lined up the final shot.
BANG!
[Boss Defeated: Twinflame Gorehound]+40 Shelter CreditsLoot: Dual Core Shard, Fire-Ice Fang, Apex HideSpecial Drop: [Blueprint – Energy Turret: Ember-Class] (LOCKED)
System Message:You have acquired a high-grade blueprint. Requires Shelter Engineering Level 3 to unlock.
Post-Battle Summary:
Total SC Earned Today: +145 SCCreatures Eliminated: 87Injuries: 4 minor, 1 major (Aria – Stabilized)System Notes:• Shelter Morale +17• Food Preserved via Emergency Fermentation (Credit: Rei)• Utility Systems Maintained under pressure (Credit: Kenji)• Defense Coordination Boosted (Credit: Lira)
Ethan exhaled under the silver dawn, blood splashed across his coat.
They were battered.
But they were standing.
And behind the fractured barricades, the Shelter endured.