The morning sun rose over Wolf Fortress, spreading golden light across the damaged walls.
The fortress had survived its first monster siege, but the victory had come at a cost. Several defensive structures had been destroyed, soldiers had suffered injuries, and the medical station was almost out of supplies.
Destiny stood on the command center's balcony, staring at the distant city.
The Military System's blue interface floated before his eyes.
[HOST: DESTINY]
[CLASS: MILITARY COMMANDER]
[RANK: SECOND LIEUTENANT]
[LEVEL: 7]
[STRENGTH: 15]
[AGILITY: 19]
[VITALITY: 13]
[INTELLIGENCE: 12]
[MILITARY POINTS: 8,700]
[SOLDIERS: 10/50]
[BASE: WOLF FORTRESS - LEVEL 1]
[AVAILABLE MISSIONS: 2]
Destiny frowned at his status.
Although he had defeated the Ironback Behemoth, the battle had consumed a significant amount of their resources. He needed more soldiers, better equipment, and a stronger base.
"At this rate, we won't survive another monster wave," he muttered.
A knock sounded behind him.
"Lieutenant Destiny, we have a problem."
Destiny turned.
Captain Marcus Anderson stood in the doorway, his military uniform covered in dust.
"What happened, Captain?"
"We received reports from a settlement about fifteen kilometers from here. A group of awakened individuals has been attacking survivors and stealing their supplies."
Destiny's expression hardened.
"How many people are involved?"
"Approximately forty. Their leader is an awakened individual with Blood Manipulation. The survivors say he has already killed several people."
A system notification appeared.
[NEW MISSION: DEAL WITH THE HOSTILE AWAKENED]
[OBJECTIVES:
- Locate the hostile settlement.
- Neutralize the threat.
- Protect innocent survivors.
- Recruit or eliminate the hostile leader.]
[REWARDS:
- 2,000 MILITARY POINTS
- 1 AWAKENED RECRUITMENT TICKET
- 1 RANDOM SKILL]
Destiny studied the mission.
"Captain, how many soldiers can you spare?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Very few. The military is stretched thin. We are protecting several evacuation routes, and the monsters are becoming more organized."
Destiny nodded.
"Then I'll handle it with my own squad."
***
An hour later, Destiny stood outside Wolf Fortress with four soldiers.
Daniel, Michael, Naomi, and Brian had been selected for the operation.
Daniel carried his rifle over his shoulder. Michael adjusted the straps of his combat vest, while Naomi studied a map on a tablet.
Brian was unusually quiet.
"Are we really going to fight forty awakened survivors?" he asked.
"We don't know if all forty are awakened," Destiny replied. "But we do know their leader is dangerous. Our mission is to stop him without harming innocent people."
Naomi looked up from the tablet.
"According to the latest reports, they are occupying an abandoned shopping complex. They have barricaded the entrances and placed guards on the roof."
"Any signs of monsters nearby?" Destiny asked.
"None confirmed."
"Then we'll approach carefully."
The squad moved through the ruined streets.
Abandoned vehicles blocked the roads. Broken windows covered the pavements, and the smell of smoke lingered in the air.
After nearly forty minutes, they reached the shopping complex.
Several armed men stood behind a barricade made from overturned cars.
"Stop right there!" one of them shouted.
Destiny raised his hands.
"We're not here to attack you. We want to speak with your leader."
The guard laughed.
"Everyone wants to speak with Kane. What makes you special?"
"Tell him Destiny is here."
The guard hesitated when he noticed the military uniforms.
He disappeared inside the building.
A few minutes later, the main entrance opened.
A tall young man stepped outside. He had dark hair, sharp eyes, and a black jacket stained with dried blood.
His name was Kane.
[HOSTILE AWAKENED DETECTED]
[NAME: KANE]
[ABILITY: BLOOD MANIPULATION]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]
Kane examined Destiny from head to toe.
"So you're the little commander people have been talking about?"
Destiny remained calm.
"You're attacking civilians and stealing their supplies. I want you to stop."
Kane smiled.
"And what if I refuse?"
"Then I'll stop you."
The smile vanished from Kane's face.
"You're either brave or stupid."
Kane raised his hand.
Blood from a nearby injured guard lifted into the air, twisting into several sharp tendrils.
Daniel immediately raised his rifle.
"Destiny!"
"Hold your fire!" Destiny ordered.
Kane flicked his fingers.
The blood tendrils shot forward.
Destiny activated Combat Prediction.
The world seemed to slow as the system calculated the incoming attacks. He pushed Daniel aside and moved away from the first tendril. The second struck the ground where he had been standing.
[COMBAT PREDICTION ACTIVATED]
Destiny drew his combat knife and charged.
Kane's eyes widened.
"Fast!"
Blood formed a shield around Kane's arm. Destiny's knife struck it, sending droplets scattering across the ground.
Kane retaliated with a blood spear.
Destiny twisted aside, but the spear grazed his shoulder.
[WARNING: MINOR INJURY DETECTED]
Destiny gritted his teeth.
Kane was stronger than an ordinary human, and his ability gave him control over the battlefield.
"Tactical Analysis!"
[TACTICAL ANALYSIS ACTIVATED]
[OPPONENT: KANE]
[ABILITY: BLOOD MANIPULATION]
[WEAKNESS: HIGH BLOOD CONTROL REQUIRES CONCENTRATION]
[TACTICAL SUGGESTION: DISRUPT HIS FOCUS AND CLOSE THE DISTANCE]
Destiny understood.
He threw a small piece of broken concrete toward Kane's face.
Kane instinctively raised a blood shield.
At that moment, Destiny activated Power Burst and rushed forward.
Kane attempted to form another spear, but Destiny was already within striking distance.
Their weapons collided.
Kane was pushed backward.
"What kind of ability is that?"
Destiny didn't answer.
He activated Soldier's Will.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: SOLDIER'S WILL]
[ALL ATTRIBUTES INCREASED BY 100%]
[DURATION: 30 SECONDS]
A surge of strength rushed through Destiny's body.
He struck Kane's blood shield repeatedly, forcing him to retreat.
Kane roared and gathered the blood around him into a massive blade.
But Destiny had already noticed his breathing becoming heavier.
His concentration was weakening.
Destiny feinted to the left, then struck Kane's wrist with the handle of his knife.
Kane's blood weapon collapsed.
Before he could recover, Destiny swept his legs from beneath him and pinned him to the ground.
"Enough!"
Kane struggled, but Destiny held him down.
"Kill me, then!" Kane spat.
Destiny shook his head.
"I'm not here to kill you. I'm giving you a choice."
Kane stared at him.
"Join my military unit. Follow my orders, protect civilians, and fight the monsters threatening humanity. Or remain here and continue living as a criminal."
Kane laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to take orders from a teenager?"
"I expect you to understand that the world has changed. You can either help humanity survive or become another reason people die."
For several seconds, Kane remained silent.
Then he looked toward the complex.
Behind him, several frightened survivors watched from the entrance.
Kane slowly lowered his head.
"Fine. I'll join."
[MISSION OBJECTIVE COMPLETED]
[HOSTILE LEADER SUBDUED]
[AWAKENED RECRUITMENT UNLOCKED]
[NEW SOLDIER RECRUITED: KANE]
[RANK: PRIVATE]
[ABILITY: BLOOD MANIPULATION]
[CURRENT SOLDIERS: 11]
[REWARD RECEIVED: 500 MILITARY POINTS]
[AWAKENED RECRUITMENT TICKET ACQUIRED]
Destiny released him and stood.
"Your first order is to return every stolen supply to the survivors."
Kane nodded reluctantly.
***
By the time Destiny's squad returned to Wolf Fortress, the sun was beginning to set.
Isaac, the fortress's technical specialist, hurried toward Destiny.
"Lieutenant! We've made progress with the monster cores."
Destiny followed him into the research room.
Several glowing cores sat inside a metal container. Wires connected the container to a collection of electronic devices.
"We believe these cores contain a form of energy that can be converted into electricity," Isaac explained. "If we can stabilize the process, the fortress could produce its own power."
"How long will it take?"
"At least two hours for the first experiment. We still need electronic components and more cores for a proper generator."
The system displayed a notification.
[RESEARCH PROJECT UNLOCKED: MONSTER CORE ENERGY CONVERSION]
[REQUIRED:
- 3 MONSTER CORES
- ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
- 1,000 MILITARY POINTS]
Destiny approved the project.
A moment later, Naomi entered the room.
"Commander, we've received a distress signal."
"From where?"
"Warri General Hospital. There are approximately one hundred and fifty survivors trapped inside. Monsters have surrounded the building."
Destiny looked at the map.
The hospital was several kilometers away.
"How many monsters?"
"Unknown. The signal keeps breaking."
Destiny clenched his fist.
"Prepare the rescue team. We're leaving at first light."
He turned toward the window.
The world was falling apart, but he had made his decision.
He would build an army capable of protecting humanity.
And every survivor he rescued would bring that future one step closer.