Victor froze as Atom approached the dismantled wreckage.
However, the A‑Grade Sentinel’s movents weren’t too aggressive, so they weren’t too worried.
Victor and the others just simply cleared the path.
Of course, Kai could order Atom to stop, but he was curious what it was about to do and just let it be.
Soon, they learned the truth.
Without hesitation, Atom reached into the pile of alloy fragnts and lifted a black tal sphere that Victor previously set aside.
It was no larger than a clenched fist. Its surface was smooth, and there were no signs of energy coming out of it. It seed just like a normal tal ball.
Then, Kai’s eyes widened. "What the...?"
Before anyone could react, Atom’s chest plate split open with a hiss of hidden gears. A hatch revealed a cavity lined with faint circuitry inside...
Then, Atom placed the sphere inside, and the hatch sealed shut with a tallic click!
Thud!
Kai was stunned as he didn’t know that Atom would have such a hidden function.
"What the f—just happened?"
"Did this thing consu the black ball just now?"
"I thought it was just so balance weight or scrap!"
Victor was also unsure since, after inspecting the black ball, he knew that it shouldn’t have any special effects.
"Right... If it’s important, why didn’t those Augnted Humans take it? Maybe... maybe only ch units know what it is?"
He also considered that his Talent wasn’t high enough to actually know its true value.
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
Atom, as always, remained silent. No change in its posture, no surge of power, no glow from its fra. It simply stood there, as if nothing unusual had occurred.
Kai’s curiosity gnawed at him. He ordered Atom to open its chest again to take out the black ball, but it didn’t move...
So, he decided to order Atom to perform basic drills like push-ups, standing still, and jumping. The Sentinel obeyed all of them flawlessly, its movents unchanged. No sign of malfunction, no sign of enhancent.
Kai exhaled slowly. "Alright... whatever that was, it’s not hurting him. We’ll just continue."
With that in mind, Kai ordered Atom to return to its station.
Just like that, Atom returned to his usual position, silent and watchful, as if the black sphere had never existed.
***
The next day, Kai was still waiting for the others to process the rolls of fabric he had purchased. Apparently, he asked the others to make so comfortable clothes that they could wear every day.
For now, he stepped outside to clear his thoughts.
The air was cooler in the outdoor garden, where Aurora was kneeling in the soil.
Her Plant Enthusiast Talent had allowed her to identify and nurture various plants scavenged from the outside...
At this ti, rows of green sprouts had already been planted across the patch, though most were still fragile, barely surviving in the harsh environnt.
Aurora wiped sweat from her brow, smiling faintly as she adjusted a stem.
"It’s not much yet, right? But it’s sothing."
"That’s true..."
Kai crouched beside her, scanning the rows. Herbs, wild grass, and a few edible shoots. But the only truly valuable plant was the one Aurora had carefully fenced off... a small but thriving chili plant.
Its red pods were already there... This plant was definitely a rare burst of color in the bleak garden.
Aurora touched one gently. "I plan to use most of my Spirit Points taking care of this one... I hope it can spice up our als. Maybe even trade value later."
Kai nodded at this.
He wasn’t exactly sure how Aurora’s talent worked, but he knew that spices could beco really valuable.
"That’s fine... Just make sure we have so leafy food as well." Kai replied. After all, his Food Gift Pack would only give them preserved foods.
"Of course, I will listen to you, Sir Shelter Leader!" Aurora replied, which made Kai choke as he didn’t expect to be called with that title.
***
The following days passed in a blur of labor and planning. With the Ascendant wreckage secured, Kai directed everyone to focus on stabilizing New Haven‑45.
The cracked walls were patched with scavenged alloy, debris was cleared from the halls, and the survivors finally began to feel like they were living in a shelter rather than a ruin.
Victor worked tirelessly, sketching ideas for how to repurpose the salvaged plating into reinforced barricades or weapons.
Jonas and Wallace led teams to clean the periter, while Aurora tended the fragile sprouts in the garden.
Of course, there were also a few people who would be scouting outside from ti to ti...
At this point, even small comforts mattered.
When Kai had ordered rolls of fabric to be processed into everyday clothes, it only took them four days to get everyone a new set of clothes and even so extras.
Of course, the survivors welcod the change from ragged Survivor Gear and Camouflage Suit.
Still, the countdown to the event weighed heavily on them. The Global Event was only days away. The Field Tyrant Hunt would begin soon, and every survivor knew what that ant...
There would be boss-class ch units patrolling the areas, forcing shelters to either fight or flee.
Kai gathered his team nightly, reviewing strategies they could use. They discussed scouting nearby zones for a generator, debating whether to risk venturing into abandoned industrial sites.
After all, a working power source could an lights, and heating.
Despite the risks, preparations continued.
Weapons were sharpened, food supplies rationed, and Atom was tested repeatedly to ensure its systems were stable.
By the ninth day, New Haven‑45 felt stronger than ever.
Kai allowed himself a rare mont of quiet, sitting in his quarters as the night deepened. Tomorrow, the Field Tyrant Hunt would begin!
’We’re ready. As ready as we’ll ever be.’
But just as he closed his eyes, a soft knock echoed against his door.
Kai frowned. Few dared disturb him at this hour. "Co in," he said.
The door opened, and two figures stepped inside. Sera and Althea.
They weren’t dressed for battle or patrol. Instead, they wore comfortable clothes, loose and casual, the kind rarely seen in the harsh world outside.
The sight made Kai freeze.
For a mont, silence hung in the room. The two won exchanged a glance, then closed the door behind them.
Kai’s pulse quickened. ’What are they doing here... tonight of all nights?’
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