The world burned first. Then came the bugs.
Jax was a convict on death row, dragged across the scorching sands of the Frozen Wastes to be executed. His crime? Trying to survive. His fate? To be eaten alive by the relentless insect swarm.
But seconds before the end, the world shifted.
[System Initialized: God-Tier Architect] [Welcome, User. Let’s build.]
Armed with the ability to construct automated Sentry Towers, impenetrable Bastions, and resource-generating Extraction Wells, Jax turns his execution ground into a fortress.
He claims Sector 33—the infamous “Dead Man’s Maw”—a canyon choke point overrun by Sandworms and Winged Ravagers. To the rest of the survivors in Redrock Bastion, it’s a suicide mission. To Jax, it’s the perfect kill box.
With a gentle giant named Barney as his shield and a cunning scavenger named Silas as his eyes, Jax will do more than just survive the apocalypse.
He’s going to redesign it.
What to expect:
Hardcore Tower Defense: Turrets, walls, traps, and strategic layouts.
Base Building: Progress from a single shelter to a sprawling fortress city.
LitRPG Progression: Stats, tech trees, resource management (Cores/Energy), and system shops.
Wasteland Survival: Scavenging, heat management, and fighting off cutthroat raiders.
Loyal Companions: No solo play. A strong bond between the MC and his team.
The world burned first. Then came the bugs.
Jax was a convict on death row, dragged across the scorching sands of the Frozen Wastes to be executed. His crime? Trying to survive. His fate? To be eaten alive by the relentless insect swarm.
But seconds before the end, the world shifted.
[System Initialized: God-Tier Architect] [Welcome, User. Let’s build.]
Armed with the ability to construct automated Sentry Towers, impenetrable Bastions, and resource-generating Extraction Wells, Jax turns his execution ground into a fortress.
He claims Sector 33—the infamous “Dead Man’s Maw”—a canyon choke point overrun by Sandworms and Winged Ravagers. To the rest of the survivors in Redrock Bastion, it’s a suicide mission. To Jax, it’s the perfect kill box.
With a gentle giant named Barney as his shield and a cunning scavenger named Silas as his eyes, Jax will do more than just survive the apocalypse.
He’s going to redesign it.
What to expect:
Hardcore Tower Defense: Turrets, walls, traps, and strategic layouts.
Base Building: Progress from a single shelter to a sprawling fortress city.
LitRPG Progression: Stats, tech trees, resource management (Cores/Energy), and system shops.
Wasteland Survival: Scavenging, heat management, and fighting off cutthroat raiders.
Loyal Companions: No solo play. A strong bond between the MC and his team.
Blue Year 2022. Desertification claimed over eighty percent of the Blue Star’s soil. The world turned to dust. Blue Year 2027. Stellar radiation bombarded the atmosphere. Global temperatures skyrocketed, triggering a mass extinction event. From the parched earth emerged a drought-resistant terror: mutated insectoids. They swarmed the planet, and the human population collapsed. Blue Year […]
The line of prisoners ground to a halt just outside the pavilion. Jax stood in the scorching heat, his brow deeply furrowed. Inside the shaded structure, several cavalrymen lounged on benches, swigging cool well water. They wore smug, complacent expressions as they boasted to the old man and the young boy serving them. “Ahem!” Butch
The nine o’clock bell hadn’t even tolled, but the city defense soldiers at the main gate of The Sprawl were already nodding off. “Old Lü, how long until we lock up?” “Ten minutes.” “Ugh, forget it. Let’s close early. Drinks are on me at the club tonight.” “Heh! You serious? Then what are we waiting
Jax felt his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. This wasn’t a lone straggler anymore; the desert floor was boiling with movement. Through the gloom, he counted at least a dozen yellow carapaces reflecting the weak light from the walls. A swarm. “Think. Think!” Jax scanned his surroundings, desperation clawing at his
Jax didn’t sleep. The threat of a second wave of Sandworms kept his adrenaline spiking, so he sat beneath the looming shadow of the Wall, using the faint light from the Sentry Towers to plan his next move. He pulled up the System interface to review the construction requirements for the Bastion. [Bastion Construction Rules]
The meal was free, and the restaurant Chief even threw in two extra dishes. It was insect meat, of course, but the preparation was surprisingly decent—savory, spicy, and filling. Before they left, the Chief handed Jax a stack of dirty bills totaling one thousand Credits. He made it clear: if Jax had more meat, he
With the addition of Jax and Barney, the Dire Wolves’ roster had swelled to seven members. However, they were still three bodies short of the landlord’s mandatory ten-person minimum. Gareth scratched his head, looking anxiously at Jax. “Hey, Jax, my friend. How about you wait here for a bit? I’ll go wrangle up three more
When Jax arrived at the recruitment square, he spotted Gareth immediately. The man looked like he was drowning. Sweat matted his hair, and despite his frantic efforts—waving flyers, shouting pitches—he hadn’t managed to sign a single soul. ” Sigh… Looks like we’re sleeping in the trash heap again tonight.” Gareth collapsed into his folding chair,
The drama on his very first day at The Dire Wolves’ headquarters left a bad taste in the air, but Jax didn’t lose any sleep over it. To him, Gareth and his crew were nothing more than a means to an end. If Jax hadn’t needed a roof over his head last night, he wouldn’t
“Dead Man’s Maw…” Jax muttered the name, his eyes tracking the dark, rust-colored stains on the canyon rocks. It wasn’t rust. It was dried blood—layers of it. He instantly understood why the local mercenaries avoided this sector like the plague. “Guess the name isn’t just for show,” he murmured. “This place screams danger.” Despite the
Jax frowned at the glowing mission panel, his eyes drifting to the penalty clause. “EXP? Does this thing work like a game character?” A quick scan of the help menu confirmed his suspicion. Killing monsters yielded Experience Points. EXP leveled up his [Builder Class], which in turn unlocked higher-tier blueprints. The system wasn’t just a
The notification of the Sandworm’s death brought a wave of relief that washed over Jax, settling the nerves that had been frayed since sunset. “Not bad,” he muttered, impressed. “This Sentry Tower hits harder than the scrap piles they use back in The Sprawl.” The only downside was the suffocating blackness surrounding them. Without a
The dry, rhythmic scratching from below the platform was driving Jax insane. It sounded like a thousand stiff bristles brushing against stone. Scritch. Scratch. Scritch. Knowing that sound came from the countless, chitinous legs of Sandworms scrabbling for purchase on the cliff face made his skin crawl. “Why are there so many of them?” Jax
With the massacre complete, the adrenaline faded, leaving Jax with time on his hands. Back on the safety of the platform, he pulled up his interface to inspect the loot from the System. [Item: Tier 1 Barricade] [Stats: Attack 0, Height 5, Integrity 300] [Quantity: 10] “Finally got some defenses,” Jax muttered, rubbing his chin.
Jax leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched the man hyperventilate. The panic rolling off the stranger was palpable, but Jax felt nothing but cool detachment. “So, you’re with War-Tower Aegis,” Jax said flatly. “You guys have a functional Defense Tower. Why are you running around the wasteland begging for help?” The man swallowed
It took over an hour to trek back to Sector 33. On the way, Jax had debated making a detour to Outpost 15. It was a major supply hub, only a few kilometers from Butch’s territory in Sector 17. Tracking the man down would be easy enough. But logic won out over vengeance. First, he
With the second Sentry Tower now operational, the relentless assault from the Winged Ravagers finally began to break. The sheer volume of fire forced the swarm back, giving the base a moment to breathe. Jax patrolled the perimeter, a Torch held high in one hand. Barney lumbered behind him, gripping two backup Torches like giant
Jax’s mind raced as his toe brushed the rough surface of the stone. The gunman was close—less than two meters away. The stench of stale tobacco drifted off the man, mixing with the sharp tang of unwashed sweat. He crouched in the shadow of the boulder, his Rifle stock pressed against his shoulder, barrel scanning
Jax drove his boot into Old Four’s chest, sending the man sprawling into the dirt. Before the raider could scramble away, Jax was on him, binding his wrists and ankles with brutal efficiency. “Stay still,” Jax warned, his voice low and dangerous. “Unless you want a bullet in your skull.” He didn’t wait for an
Another day broke over the wasteland, the harsh sun chasing away the shadows of a night that had felt endless. Jax sat amidst the dissipating smoke of the bonfire, tallying his gains. The night had been chaotic, but profitable. He now held one hundred and thirty Tier 1 Cores in his inventory. It was a
Silas stared at Jax, his jaw practically unhinged. “You… say that again? You want to buy Sector 33?” Jax adjusted the strap of his rifle, shrugging. “At least make it my private territory for a while. Do you know how? A long-term lease works too.” The more Silas looked at Jax, the more he felt
Jax paused, studying the earnest look on Silas’s face. The man wasn’t joking. “Oh?” Jax kept his voice low, his interest piqued. “You have a plan? Let’s hear it.” Silas didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he locked eyes with Jax, his expression calculating. “I can tell you, but there has to be something in it for
Jax’s request to buy the land hung in the cool air of the tent. The official sat there, stunned, blinking slowly as his brain rebooted. Finally, he shook his head. “Buying isn’t an option, kid. All land here belongs to Redrock Bastion. You can rent, but you can’t own.” “Fair enough,” Jax said, leaning back.
As more Sandworms crested the ramparts, a cold pit formed in Jax’s stomach. The situation was spiraling out of control. “Why are there so many of them?” he muttered, swinging his hammer to crush a climbing insect. “This difficulty spike is insane. It’s way beyond what a Tier 1 base should be handling.” He spared
Stepping through the threshold of The Vault was like stepping into a void. There were no shelves, no counters, no walls. There was only suffocating, absolute darkness. Suspended in the center of this boundless nightmare was a single, lonely oil lamp, its flame casting a pathetic halo of light barely the size of a human
It wasn’t until noon that Barney finally groaned and opened his eyes, waking from his healing slumber. By then, Silas had already finished scrubbing the battlefield clean. “Total haul is one hundred and thirty Cores,” Silas reported, wiping sweat from his bare chest. “There were over two hundred carcasses nearby, plus the ones you killed
Jax made his way to an elevated platform sitting opposite the main base. It was still within the hundred-meter influence range of the fortress—the perfect sweet spot. Nestled in a corner of the terrain, he found exactly what he was looking for: a location suitable for a Tier 1 Extraction Well. He confirmed the coordinates
By the evening of the sixth day, the grinding came to a halt. The mission was over. Jax stood at the edge of the platform, looking down at the slaughter. The ground below was carpeted in the twisted, chitinous husks of Sandworms. A faint smile touched his lips—it wasn’t just a pile of corpses; it
Kaleb and his sister, Annie, stood off to the side, silent. They watched Jax with a look that bordered on reverence. Annie gently tugged on her brother’s sleeve. “Kaleb, look. They actually came back alive. They must be really strong.” Kaleb nodded slowly. “Yeah. Strong.” He didn’t want to admit it. In this guild, he
For Gareth, this was a first. He had never faced such a brazen usurpation of his authority before. He stood frozen, the pouch of Cores heavy in his hand. The Dire Wolves might be a joke of a guild—small, under-equipped, and barely surviving—but it was his guild. Or at least, it had been. Gareth looked
Three days later, Silas returned from Redrock Bastion in one piece. He didn’t come back alone. Trailing him was an envoy from the Helios Syndicate—the very organization Jax intended to secure as his heavy-hitting backer. To ensure the meeting went smoothly, Jax had gritted his teeth and burned through a significant pile of resources to
Sawyer was clearly an old hand at this game. He didn’t even open the pouch to check the contents. He simply weighed it in his palm, felt the density of the Cores, and let a satisfied smile curl his lips. “Alright then,” he announced, sliding the pouch into his coat. “Let’s eat.” The atmosphere at
Gareth and Viper drew the short straw: corpse disposal. The valley floor was littered with the mangled remains of the previous night’s siege. Some of the Sandworm carcasses had already begun to putrefy in the desert heat, filling the air with a stench that made the eyes water. They had to be dragged away and
As the tide of Sandworms receded into the darkness, the adrenaline crash hit the team like a physical blow. Gareth slid down the wall, his chest heaving, wearing the shell-shocked expression of a man who had just cheated death. “That… that was too close,” Gareth wheezed. “I thought we were done for.” “My god,” Kaleb
Jax couldn’t help but glance one last time at the darkened icon of The Vault hovering in his peripheral vision. “No,” he muttered to himself. “The inventory in The Vault is too unpredictable. Unless the specific components I need appear, spending Cores on a manual refresh is just gambling. And the house always wins.” Jax
The scavengers of Outpost 15 watched the interaction with cynical eyes. To them, the world was a zero-sum game of masters and slaves. They saw The Sprawl’s residents as bottom-feeders, and any connection to Redrock Bastion was viewed through a lens of suspicion. In their minds, Jax wasn’t a partner; he was just another running
As soon as Jax announced his departure, Gareth’s expression twisted into one of sheer panic. “Hold on, you’re going into the mountains? That place is a death trap! There’s a reason they call it Mount Sepulcher—nobody knows how many corpses are buried in there. Even the Iron Spear Syndicate wouldn’t dare march in without a
Kaleb’s hands were shaking so violently that the rifle barrel vibrated in his grip. Cold sweat traced icy rivulets down his spine, soaking his shirt and stinging his eyes. He couldn’t steady the sights. The crosshairs danced wildly over the target. He bit the tip of his tongue until he tasted copper, forcing his finger
Jax glanced at the two Sentry Towers flanking him, then checked his inventory. A single Energy Shard remained. A cold wave of realization washed over him—the distinct, chilling sensation of having narrowly cheated death. “We almost didn’t make it,” he muttered, the adrenaline fading into exhaustion. “If they hadn’t retreated when they did, we would
Under the harsh glare of the floodlights, the desert floor seemed to move. A dense, chittering carpet of Sandworms was rolling toward the base. Jax didn’t waste a second. He jammed a glowing Energy Shard into the Howitzer Turret’s ammunition hopper. [System Alert] Energy Critical. Please insert additional Energy Shards. Jax stared at the sleek
Before the team could process his words, Jax had already swung over the edge and was rappelling down the rope. Barnaby let out a panicked cry, rushing to the edge. Jax landed in the dust, looking up and waving. “Stay put, Barney! I’ll be back before you know it!” The others stared in stunned silence.
The next morning, Jax was dragged from sleep by the rhythmic clang-scrape-clang of industry. He cracked an eye open. Aside from Barnaby, who was still sawing logs and drooling into his pillow, the rest of the team was already up and grinding. They hadn’t waited for orders. They had simply gotten to work. The division
Gareth stared at the glowing crystals in his hands, dumbfounded. He looked up at Jax, his expression a mixture of confusion and wariness. “Uh… what is this? Why are you giving me Cores? You already gave me two Tier 2s earlier.” Jax cleared his throat. “Just hold onto them. We need to talk.” Suspicion clouded
Before the first light of dawn could pierce the gloom, the rhythmic clang-clang-clang of metal striking stone shattered Jax’s sleep. He groaned, rubbing the grit from his eyes, and dragged himself out of his bedroll to investigate the racket. Down in the mining pit across from the platform, two shadows were moving with feverish intensity.
Jax sat quietly in the booth by the window, his gaze fixed on the street corner opposite the ice cream shop. Butch and Viper were still there, heads close together in conspiracy. Every few seconds, Butch’s eyes would flick toward the window, locking onto Jax with a cold, predatory gleam. “What are those two plotting?”
Jax never expected to be snatched off the road in broad daylight. As they marched him toward the settlement, his mind raced, fixation locking onto the Sentry Tower back at the base. He hadn’t had time to replenish the Energy Shards. If he didn’t make it back before nightfall, the fortress would be defenseless against
Jax checked the magazine. Three rounds left. He didn’t waste them on a parting shot, nor did he waste energy giving chase to the fleeing thugs. His priority had shifted. The skirmish had escalated into a kill, and in the wasteland, bodies brought bureaucracy. His only play now was to reach the Helios Syndicate contact
Boss Lin didn’t miss a beat. He stared Director Quinn dead in the eye and nodded. “He’s right. He’s already Vanguard property. You don’t have the authority to touch him.” Director Quinn hesitated, the confidence draining from his posture. He snapped his fingers at his assistant. “Run a check. See if Jax is in the
Lennox sighed, the words dying on his lips. He shook his head, resigning himself to the situation. “Fine. If your mind is made up, we do it your way. But I’ll get word to the Helios family immediately. We’ll get you out of there as soon as possible. Just… don’t die before then.” Jax felt
Pike slammed the transport door shut, sealing Jax inside, before climbing into the chase vehicle. As the convoy groaned into motion, a sound pierced through the rumble of engines—a raw, heart-wrenching wail, like a child watching their world collapse. Jax looked back through the slats. Lennox was straining against the weight of a two-meter giant,
The recruits huddled inside the transport, oblivious to the drama unfolding behind them. Murmurs of confusion rippled through the truck bed. “Why is there another truck tailing us? What’s their game?” “Maybe they’re tagging along to Mount Sepulcher? Are they out of their minds?” “Probably just using us as bait. We flush out the bugs,
At the bark of a command, soldiers swarmed the transport truck. Rifles raised, they swept their muzzles over the recruits huddled in the back, fingers resting heavy on triggers. The message was clear: move or die. One soldier stepped forward, keys jingling, and unlocked the heavy chains securing the tailgate. Captain Sterling strode into view,
Hearing the woman’s remark, Captain Sterling couldn’t help but glance back toward the front line. He watched as Jax wound up for a brutal swing, obliterating a fourth Rodent-Maw Creeper in a spray of ichor. A flicker of genuine shock passed through Sterling’s eyes. “Is it possible… is the kid an Awakened?” Pike, standing beside
Jax stood by the truck, eyeing the man in front of him. “Heh.” The man frowned. Even though Jax’s smile seemed bright enough, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being insulted. In the distance, the flamboyant woman finally stepped out of the lead vehicle. She had drawn the long blade at her waist
The convoy rumbled forward for another half hour before grinding to a halt at a confusing junction. Several soldiers hopped out of the lead vehicle, scratching their heads as they stared at the web of paths ahead. Sterling’s off-road vehicle cruised to the front and idled. “What’s the hold-up?” Sterling barked, leaning out the window.
Sterling stood by the rear vehicle, murmuring final instructions to Butch. Before he turned to leave, his gaze drifted to Jax sitting in the back of the truck. A faint, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of Sterling’s mouth—the look of a man who was already counting a dead body. Jax saw it. He cursed
The chittering of the Rodent-Maw Creepers grew louder, a tidal wave of noise crashing against the canyon walls. Jax pushed his senses to the limit, his perception stretching to cover every shifting shadow and scuttling claw. He walked forward, the heavy iron hammer dragging through the dust behind him, carving a deep furrow in the
By the time Jax reached the perimeter of Sector 33, the clock had ticked past nine in the evening. The wasteland was draped in heavy shadows, broken only by the flickering glow of a kerosene lamp near the valley entrance. Under that solitary light, Gareth and the others were busy sweeping the battlefield, clearing away
Before the first gray light of dawn could bleed into the sky, Jax had already kicked everyone awake. Groggily rubbing the sleep from their eyes, the team stumbled out of the Bastion, shivering in the morning chill. Jax stood by the cold remnants of the campfire, his breath misting in the air. “Wake up,” Jax
Jax stared up at the crumpled piece of paper in his hand, reading the bold text printed beneath the grim sketches of their faces. [WANTED NOTICE] [CRIMES:] Assassination of Redrock Bastion Officers. Annihilation of an Iron Spear Syndicate Squad. [DATE:] Wasteland Year 11, July 23rd. [STATUS:] Kill on Sight. [REWARD:] 500,000 Credits (Per Head). [ISSUED
Chapter 61: Bounty Protocol System Jax stared at the pile of rubble that used to be their dry-stacked stone wall. There was no defeat in his eyes, only the cold calculation of an engineer running a stress test. His theory was confirmed: conventional materials were useless against the wasteland’s fauna. The Sandworms had smashed through
Chapter 62: This Time, There Really Aren’t Any More The silence on the ramparts was heavy, but it wasn’t the silence of fear. It was the silence of confusion. The team stood frozen, staring into the darkness. They were conditioned for desperate, bloody struggles against the Insectoids. The first wave had been tense, but this
Chapter 63: You’ve All Gone Soft Dawn broke over Mount Sepulcher, shrouded in a veil of gray mist. A fine, chilling drizzle drifted down from the leaden sky, pattering against the concrete walls of the fortress. Jax woke to the sound of the rain. He stretched, his joints popping, and moved to the reinforced window.
Chapter 64: The Swarm Arrives Jax ran the numbers in his head. Three hundred Rodent-Maw Creepers. Based on the destruction caused by the previous wave, his current layout of Barricades was insufficient. It was statistically impossible to wipe out a swarm of that magnitude before they breached the final line of defense. “I need more
Chapter 65: Still Alive? The rain hammered down, turning the world into a blur of gray noise and violence. Jax and his team stood at the lip of the platform, locked in a brutal rhythm of defense. The Rodent-Maw Creepers scrambled up the slick rock face, desperate and screeching, only to be met with steel
Chapter 66: Upgrading to Tier 2 Sentry Tower Gareth’s miraculous recovery boosted morale, but it also served as a sobering lesson. No one was stupid enough to stand in the Black Rain again. The allure of Awakening was strong, but the fear of a meaningless, fever-wracked death was stronger. That night, Jax hit a resource
Chapter 67: Encountering the Spiked Dune Lord Again Without hesitation, Jax charged toward the breach where the Sandworm wave had first erupted. “Move! Get to the valley exit!” he barked over the comms. Silas, Gareth, and Kaleb didn’t need telling twice. They scrambled toward the designated fallback point, boots splashing through the mud. As Jax
Chapter 68: Tier 2 Howitzer Turret Jax threw a glance over his shoulder. The darkness of the valley remained undisturbed. The Spiked Dune Lord hadn’t followed. He let out a ragged breath, the tension leaving his body in a rush. He slumped forward, hands bracing against his knees as he gulped down the humid, ozone-rich
Chapter 69: The Tier 3 Acid-Web Arachnid Early Sunday morning, under a sky heavy with gray clouds, Silas finished a meager breakfast of ration bars and adjusted his pack. It was time for his rotation back to The Sprawl. He gave a grim nod of farewell to the group and set off toward the wasteland.
Chapter 70: A Formidable Threat Jax checked the System notification one last time. There was no mistake. It was a Tier 3 monster: the Acid-Web Arachnid. “Move,” he ordered. The team scrambled to their quarters, stashing their newfound wealth before rushing to the armory. They emerged moments later, weapons gripped in white-knuckled hands, faces pale
Chapter 71: The Self-Destruct Sequence Watching the colossal Acid-Web Arachnid close the distance, Jax felt a cold knot of fear tighten in his stomach. The psychological pressure of facing a Tier 3 insectoid was crushing. If he waited until it breached the perimeter to detonate, the resulting swarm of spiderlings would flood the base instantly.
Chapter 72: Tar Pit Trap For the first time in days, Jax slept like a corpse in a morgue. No nightmares, no system alerts, no sudden ambushes. The silence was absolute. When he finally dragged his eyelids open, the light filtering into the bunker told him he had lost half the day. “Noon already?” His
Chapter 73: Return to Outpost 15 Jax didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He cut straight to the tactical assessment. “The Spiked Dune Lord,” Jax pressed, his eyes narrowing. “Did you get intel on it? How is Redrock Bastion reacting?” Silas nodded grimly, wiping rain from his face. “That’s the main issue. The entire leadership at
Chapter 74: The Blueprint System Jax tuned out the street gossip. He had no time to correct rumors about his godhood. He located a convoy, rented a battered off-road vehicle, and gunned it toward The Sprawl. When he arrived, the city looked less like a refuge and more like a fortress in the making. Construction
Chapter 75: Eliminating the Test Subject Sawyer led the way across the wet pavement to a reinforced three-story concrete block adjacent to the main hall. When they reached the second-floor observation deck, Sawyer briefed the team. The reaction was immediate and hostile. “Supervisor, you can’t be serious,” a lead researcher snapped, gesturing wildly at the
Chapter 76: Looking Down on Someone The lab technicians stood paralyzed, their faces masks of utter bewilderment. They watched Jax wipe arachnid ichor from his hammer, unable to comprehend what had just happened. A “rookie” had walked in, declared he knew more than their entire department, and then proved it by dismantling a Tier 3
Chapter 77: Blueprint System Ability Jax moved in silence, his boots crunching rhythmically on the gravel as he followed Vance toward the inner sanctum of the R&D facility. But as they reached the checkpoint, a hand shot out, blocking his path. The squad leader, a man with grease-stained fatigues and a sneer etched into his
Chapter 78: Garbage Blueprint Dr. Aris spun around, his lab coat whipping behind him as he glared at Jax. “Excuse me? Did you just say my design is full of holes?” Jax didn’t flinch. He glanced at the schematic for the [Tier 2 Penetrator Ballista] spread across the table and nodded. “I did. Anyone with
Chapter 79: The Human Printer The black rain continued to hammer the city, drumming a relentless, toxic rhythm against the armored glass. Jax stepped back into the warmth of Sawyer’s villa, peeling off his heavy slicker. Acidic runoff pooled around his combat boots, staining the expensive rug. Sawyer looked up from the sofa, relief instantly
Chapter 80: The Penetrator Ballista Dr. Aris surveyed the cowering technicians with a sneer, his chest puffed out like a peacock in a scrap yard. “Hmph! Let this be a lesson to the lot of you,” Aris spat, adjusting his pristine white coat which looked laughably out of place amidst the grime of the workshop.
Chapter 81: Misfire Director Kaine stood there, holding the velvet marker, his expression one of utter bewilderment. “What is this?” His assistant leaned in, keeping his voice low. “It’s Aris again. Another one of his ‘games’. I’m getting sick of his antics.” Kaine sighed, his grip tightening on the ball. “Of course. The man doesn’t
Chapter 82: Crisis of Identity Sawyer’s update on the disaster at the testing grounds was met with a faint, cynical smile from Jax. Jax sliced into his steak, the knife gliding through the meat with surgical precision. He didn’t need a status report to know Dr. Aris’s so-called “Defense Tower” was doomed to fail. He
Chapter 83: Coming to Plead for Help Sawyer hesitated, the color draining from his face as the butler’s suggestion hung in the air. “You want me to go to the Boss? My brother?” Sawyer scoffed, shaking his head violently. “Absolutely not. You know the Eldest Scion and I have been at each other’s throats for
Chapter 84: The Apology Sawyer wasn’t about to let his own guests poach talent right from under his nose. He had caught the subtle implication in Jax’s earlier deflection—that Jax viewed himself merely as an independent contractor, a simple Awakened with no heavy strings attached. Sawyer needed to change that dynamic, and fast. “Ahem! Jax,”
Chapter 85: I’m Back Jax nodded, a satisfied glint in his eyes. “Done,” he said, setting his teacup down with a sharp clink. “Since you’re so eager to learn, I can help you. But fair warning: my consultation fee isn’t cheap. I have a… specific request.” Director Kaine leaned forward, smelling blood in the water.
Chapter 86: Your Money Isn’t Enough Inside the laboratory, the hum of machinery was the only sound as Jax worked. His hands moved with a surgeon’s precision, bypassing redundant circuits and re-routing the energy flow of the Penetrater Ballista. Dr. Aris watched, his mouth slightly agape. He had been shocked by Jax repeatedly today, but
Chapter 87: A Taste of the High Life The next morning, Jax woke before the sun had even fully breached the horizon. He couldn’t help it—he was wired. Today was the day he returned to Redrock Bastion, not as a refugee, but as a conqueror. Restless, and with hours to kill before their scheduled departure,
Chapter 88: The Fierce Auctioneer The man blocking Jax’s path wasn’t a bouncer. He was in his early thirties, dressed in a suit that cost more than most people in the Outer City earned in a lifetime. A gold badge on his lapel caught the neon light: Client Relations Manager. “You work here?” Jax asked,
Chapter 89: Slipping Through Jax palmed the stolen keycard and swiped it against the reader. The lock clicked with a mechanical thunk, and he slipped into the staff locker room. The air inside was stale, heavy with the scent of cheap detergent and exhaustion. A few employees slumped on benches, heads in hands, radiating the
Chapter 90: A Reluctant Dinner Date Jax sat captive in the makeup chair, subjected to the ruthless ministrations of the stylist. When he was finally allowed to stand, he checked his reflection. The scruffy survivor look was gone, replaced by a sharp, clean-cut image that screamed “high society.” He ran a hand through his styled
Chapter 91: Wither Serum A melodious tune drifted from beyond the heavy velvet curtains of the stage. Backstage, Hazel glanced at Jax, grinding her teeth in visible frustration. If not for Julian—that persistent, sticky leech of a man—she wouldn’t have bothered inviting Jax to dinner at all. The entire evening had been a tactical maneuver
Chapter 92: Blue Ice at the Auction House That figure in the audience was not just anyone. It was Blue Ice, the same woman Zhou Quan had encountered during his forced conscription into the Dare-to-Die Squad. The scent of roses he had caught in the hallway earlier had unmistakably trailed from her. “Do you know
Chapter 93: The Strange Auction Item Jax released his grip on Julian’s wrist. The moment his hand fell away, a look of venomous resentment flashed through Julian’s eyes. Jax knew the man wouldn’t let this go, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Their paths weren’t likely to cross much in the future. Jax’s destiny
Chapter 94:Encountering Raven Jax ignored the fop’s indignant whining and strode toward the corner,leaving the others to head for the eighth-floor lounge. As he walked,his eyes scanned the surroundings,taking in every detail.The eighth floor was essentially a service level for the VIP suites on the ninth,its corridors lined with luxurious private rooms that screamed exclusivity.
Chapter 95: You Must Help Me “Forget it,” Jax interrupted immediately. “If it’s a secret, keep it to yourself.” Raven chuckled. “What’s this? Not even a little curious?” “Curiosity gets people killed. I don’t want to be dragged into your mess.” “Hahaha! You’re actually quite funny,” Raven laughed. She reached out and flipped the switch
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a wall of armored chests. Several security guards immediately locked their eyes on Jax. “I thought I made myself clear,” the Guard Captain snarled, his face twisted in annoyance. “This floor is under temporary lockdown. Why the hell are you back?” He waved a hand dismissively, signaling two of
Chapter 97: Creating Chaos The scions of the various minor families seated around Zhou Quan began to chatter, pointing at the stage with feverish excitement plastered across their faces. “Holy hell! She really lives up to the S-Grade title. Look at those specs—absolutely flawless! If I took her back, she could probably survive dozens of
Chapter 98: I Bid Fifty Seeing Elena finally stir, Jax exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived. Elena’s eyes snapped open. Despite her precarious position, she glared ferociously at the sea of leering faces surrounding the stage. “You… let me go… I want to go
Chapter 99: Pitching the Wall Winning the bid for Elena was the easy part; paying for her was where the real danger lay. Jax sat motionless in his seat, acutely aware that he couldn’t leave the auction hall just yet. He didn’t have fifty Tier 3 Cores on him, nor did he have the Credits.
Chapter 100: I’ll Help You to the End The subsequent auction items were basically not very interesting. Everyone’s interest wasn’t as high as before, each one seemingly waiting for the auction to end. Seeing everyone’s reaction, as the secondary auctioneer, Fang Qian also knew not to waste any more time. So the following progress became
Chapter 101: The Noose Tightens A collective realization swept through the auction hall. The dynamic between Jax and Hazel had shifted into something far more intimate than a simple business arrangement. Julian’s mask of composure cracked. His facial muscles twitched, jaw working silently as he struggled to find words. A bitter, hollow ache spread through
Chapter 102: I Advise You to Let Me Go Every technician in the observation deck pressed forward, their eyes glued to the scene unfolding within the laboratory’s containment zone. Victor gripped the railing, his knuckles white as he stared down into the testing arena. Two enclosures had been erected on the laboratory floor. The one
Chapter 103: Apologize to Me The guards shoved Jax forward, the heavy iron shackles around his wrists and ankles clanking with every step. They dragged him toward the exit, treating him like common trash. Just as they reached the elevator bank, a soft chime announced an arrival. The polished steel doors slid open to reveal
Chapter 104: I Will Avenge You “When are we leaving? When can I see Barney? Is he okay?” Elena paced the room, her anxiety palpable. Despite being rescued, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the club was a deathtrap, and her desperation to see her younger brother was mounting by the second. Jax stepped in
Chapter 105: Forced Employment Victor blinked, clearly caught off guard by Jax’s curveball. He hesitated, his gaze shifting uncertainly toward Hazel. “This… this business barely has any profit margins as it is! If we add Miss Hazel into the mix, isn’t that a bit too…” Jax waved a hand dismissively, cutting him off. “Chief Victor,
Chapter 106: A Bit of a Mess Hazel was utterly speechless. First, she had inexplicably become Jax’s assistant. Then, she had inexplicably accepted his mission. Now, to top it all off, she had somehow morphed into his personal chauffeur. “Jax, do you not have a single bone of chivalry in your body? You’re really making
Chapter 107 Street Racing Jax scanned the area, expecting to see Hazel and Elena waiting, but the hall was empty. “Damn it,” he muttered, scratching his head. “Did they actually ditch me? Who leaves their savior hanging like this? That’s cold.” He was genuinely annoyed. Just as he was about to pull out his comms,
Chapter 108: Return to Sector 33 The vehicle was a fresh acquisition, secured through Sawyer’s extensive network back in Redrock Bastion. It was a compact, five-seater pickup truck—a machine that allowed them to truly hold their heads high among the myriad of small-time guilds struggling in the wasteland. In this era, the truck itself wasn’t
Chapter 109: This Time, There Are Two Once the debriefing was over, Jax instructed the crew to unload the supplies from the pickup truck onto the platform. With the addition of a new member, the living arrangements required a bit more thought than before. The fortress wasn’t exactly overflowing with spare quarters, so the only
Chapter 110: Tar Pit Trap Jax sprinted, his lungs burning. It was a race against time. Every second wasted was a second the arachnids drew closer. He reached the base of the third Wall and immediately pulled up his interface, selecting a location he had scouted hours ago. He slammed his finger on the [Build]
Chapter 111: Assigning Tasks Jax scrolled up the holographic interface, his eyes scanning the intricate web of the tech tree. While the branch for the Tier 2 Bastion was fully illuminated, several nodes remained dim. “I’ve unlocked everything available,” Jax muttered, rubbing his chin. “But I haven’t built them all yet. I’m still missing one
Chapter 112: Heading to the Mining Area Jax stared at the documents in his hand, a look of genuine astonishment crossing his face. “Damn,” he muttered, flipping through the pages. “Two days. You managed to sort all this out in just two days? I didn’t realize you were this efficient.” Hazel shot him a sharp,
Chapter 113: Acquisitions and Expansions The mine owner was practically tripping over himself to lead the way, his eagerness palpable as he guided them toward the pit. Jax couldn’t tell how much of the man’s sales pitch was hot air, but Hazel was a different story. Her sharp eyes scanned the operation, effortlessly piercing through
Chapter 114: This Is Your Boss Hazel noted Jax’s instructions with a curt nod, her pen scratching quickly against her pocket notebook. After answering a few final logistical questions, she snapped the book shut and climbed into her vehicle, leaving Jax alone with his thoughts. He watched the dust settle, his mind already churning through
Chapter 115: The Selection A ripple of confusion tore through the gathered crowd as Hazel finished her introduction. Hundreds of eyes shifted to Jax, their skepticism palpable. To these hardened laborers, Jax looked far too young to be a Boss. “That kid? He’s barely out of diapers,” one worker muttered, his voice rough with grit.
Chapter 116: Mission Complete Jax led the convoy of new recruits to the first excavation site, a rugged scar in the earth known for its potential Refined Iron deposits. He stopped at the edge of the pit and turned to the fifty laborers. “Let me introduce you to your direct superior,” Jax announced, gesturing to
Chapter 117: On the Eve of the Swarm With the Refined Iron and Stardust Stone mines fully operational, the heavy weight on Jax’s shoulders began to lift. His days fell into a disciplined rhythm. Aside from his two nightly routine missions, his time was consumed by waiting and harvesting. Every day, he visited the mining
Chapter 118 On-Site Recruitment Raven gazed out the window, her interest in the view waning as quickly as it had arrived. With a bored sigh, she pulled the heavy curtains shut, sealing the room in dimness. It was only then that Jax took stock of the aftermath. The suite was littered with corpses. “We need
Chapter 119: The Insect Swarm Arrives The recruitment drive was swift. As for the exorbitant wage of one Tier 3 Core per day that Jax had promised, he could actually afford it—for now. Between the daily dividends from Sawyer’s operations and the haul from Victor’s side, Jax was pulling in over a dozen Tier 3
Chapter 120: Materials Gathered The recruits in the back of the truck finally realized that the anomaly on the horizon was no weather phenomenon. “Look at that… that’s not a sandstorm!” one of them shouted, pointing a trembling finger. “Yeah! We’ve seen sandstorms before. This moves differently! Could it be…” “Holy shit! Look closely! That’s
Chapter 121: Tier 3 Fortress Construction The moment Jax arrived at Sector 33, the rhythmic, thunderous boom of [Howitzer Turrets] greeted him. He scanned the perimeter. No insectoids had breached the defensive line; the swarm was effectively pinned down beyond the kill zone. “Excellent. The defense holds.” Relief washed over him. He steered his vehicle
Chapter 122: Nine Mines Jax turned his attention to the newly upgraded resource node, pulling up its statistics interface. [Tier 2 Energy Shards Extraction Well] [Daily Output: 200 Energy Shards] [Upgrade Requirement: 1,000 Shards Mined (Current Progress: 0/1,000)] “A thousand shards to hit the next tier,” Jax muttered, running the numbers. “With the increased output,
Chapter 123: Champion’s Altar Fear sat heavy on the accelerator. Jax pushed the vehicle to its limit, the tires tearing through the loose gravel as he sped toward Sector 33. His mind was a loop of worst-case scenarios: a Tier 3 breach, a slaughtered crew, a smoking crater where his Bastion used to be. He
Chapter 124: The First Hero is Born Elena stepped forward, her face flushed with excitement. “Hehe! Finally! Let’s see what I’m made of!” Jax activated the scanner on the altar. [Subject: Elena (Tang Youya)] Bio-Score: 70 Burst Capability: 150 Loyalty: 93 Status: Eligible for Altar Awakening. Jax met her eager gaze and nodded. “Alright. It’s
Chapter 125: A Useless Hero? It was time for the debut. Every eye on the platform was fixed on Elena. She stood at the edge of the rampart, shouldering the sleek, silver [Soul Collector Rifle]. She took a deep breath, sighting down the barrel at a snarling [Rodent-Maw Creeper] in the distance. “One shot,” she
Chapter 126: Power Leveling A realization struck Jax like a bolt of lightning. “The Sprawl!” he thought, a grin spreading across his face. “The city is completely surrounded by the Insect Swarm. It’s not a tragedy; it’s a high-density mob spawner. It’s the perfect grinding spot.” He nudged Elena, who was still examining her new
Chapter 127: The Reinforcements Are Just Two People? The Insect Swarm’s assault on The Sprawl was relentless, grinding the city’s defenses down to dust. Sawyer had already petitioned the major families, begging them to deploy their private militias to hold the line. But the aristocracy was playing a different game. They hoarded their strength, refusing
Chapter 128: The Perfect Synergy of Frost and Tar Minutes later, the construction light faded, revealing a structure of crystalline beauty standing stark against the desert heat. The [Cryo-Tower] loomed over the ramparts, a spire of deep blue frost-metal. Icicles hung from its chassis, defying the scorching temperatures of the wasteland. Just standing near it,
Chapter 129: I Don’t Collaborate with Dead Men After a quick breakfast, Elena dragged Jax back to the outskirts of The Sprawl to resume her power-leveling session. But as soon as they parked the truck near the dunes, the hair on the back of Jax’s neck stood up. “Something’s off,” Jax muttered, scanning the horizon.
Chapter 130: The Will “Haha! An eight-hour cooldown? That’s manageable.” Jax was incredibly satisfied with the [Holo-Decoy] upgrade. He quickly scanned his post-promotion stats. Aside from the standardization of his physical attributes and the acquisition of a Skill Point, the system remained largely unchanged. “Back to the grind,” Jax said, signaling Elena. They fell into
Chapter 131: Industrial Expansion Jax and Elena spent the entire day grinding in the wasteland before returning to the mining outpost just as dinner was being served. Hazel, efficient as ever, was waiting for them. She handed over the stockpiled resources from the last two days—a heavy sack clinking with Stardust Stone and Refined Iron.
Chapter 132: The Technique Factory “Vehicle approaching!” Barnaby shouted, pointing toward the valley entrance. The team on the platform watched as the pickup truck rumbled into the compound. Jax and Elena hopped out, looking dusty but triumphant. “Status report?” Jax asked, his eyes scanning the defenses. Gareth stepped forward, wiping grease from his hands. “Solid,
Chapter 133: The City Burns The Sprawl had descended into total anarchy. Shops that weren’t boarded up were smashed open, their contents looted or burned. Corpses lined the gutters of the main thoroughfares, ignored by the desperate mobs roaming the streets. The major families remained silent, sealed behind the high walls of the Core District.
Chapter 134: The Spiked Dune Lord Seeing the tension tightening Jax’s jaw, Elena and Raven immediately dropped their petty rivalry. “Is this the choke point you mentioned?” Elena asked, her voice hushed. She scanned the canyon walls with curiosity. So far, the expedition had been underwhelming—just a few straggling Sandworms and Rodent-Maw Creepers that posed
Chapter 135: Shaking Off the Spiked Dune Lord The ground shook beneath their feet as rocks tumbled from the canyon walls. “Don’t tell me that larva’s mother just came home,” Elena whispered, staring at the collapsing cliff face. Jax grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “Stop looking! That thing is at least Tier 5. Curiosity
Chapter 136: Divided We Fall The Spiked Dune Lord lunged, its maw gaping wide less than ten meters from Jax. A wave of putrid, ammonia-laced breath washed over him. “Now!” Jax triggered his skill. [Holo-Decoy] materialized instantly, a shimmering duplicate of himself standing defiantly in the monster’s path. SPLAT! A volley of neon-green acid erupted
Chapter 137: You Will Regret This “You’re actually going to cooperate with the Iron Spear Syndicate?” Elena asked, incredulous. “After what they did?” Jax nodded, his expression grim. “Not just them. I’m going to cooperate with the entire leadership of The Sprawl.” “The whole city?” Raven blinked. “How?” “It’s a simple trade,” Jax explained, watching
Chapter 138: Seeking Shelter with Sawyer Jax led the three women back to his villa, keeping his expression calm despite the chaos around them. But when he saw the state of his home, his composure cracked. The front door was smashed in. The windows were shattered. Inside, it looked like a bomb had gone off.
Chapter 139: Infiltrating the Family Lab Armed with the map and defense data, Jax immediately began formulating a strategy for The Sprawl. His primary tactic relied on aggression management. His own Bastion walls had a unique property: they were practically invisible to the swarm unless provoked, causing the monsters to prioritize other targets. If the
Chapter 140: Jax is Still Important “You want Dr. Aris?” the guard captain asked, scratching his chin. He looked at his men, who all shook their heads. “Young Master, your timing is terrible. Dr. Aris already evacuated to Redrock Bastion.” Sawyer froze. “What? Evacuated? I saw him two days ago. Why wasn’t I informed?” “It
Chapter 141: Cooperation Sawyer looked at the car and felt it was very familiar. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was indeed Director Quinn, the leading figure of several families, sitting inside. Hearing someone call him from outside, Quinn turned his head and saw Sawyer. The wrinkles on his aged face immediately smoothed out.
Chapter 142: Bring Me Some Food The Insect Swarm’s assault grew more ferocious by the hour. The addition of the Spiked Dune Lords—even just the juvenile ones—had turned the city’s outer walls into paper. Sawyer’s villa had transformed into a makeshift command center. In the study, Jax stared at a mountain of paperwork. Every report
Chapter 143: The Swarm Diversion Plan The room exploded into outrage at Jax’s request for food. “Dinner?” a patriarch screamed, his face turning purple. “The city is burning, and you want dinner?” “We brought you here to save us, not to cater to your appetite!” “Do you know how many sectors have fallen while you
Chapter 144: The First Step of Resistance The transformation of The Sprawl began in earnest. Factions that had been at each other’s throats were now unified by the singular purpose of survival—and Jax’s iron-fisted coordination. Sawyer burst into Jax’s office, his face flushed with excitement. “It’s done,” Sawyer announced. “The civilian representatives are on board.
Chapter 145: Assassination Operation Over the next two days, the transformation of The Sprawl continued at a breakneck pace. Jax had nearly depleted his stockpile of Energy Shards, infusing them into the mortar of the newly reinforced walls. The city was now a maze of defensive choke points. “It’s done,” Sawyer announced, walking into the
Chapter 146: The Plan Accelerates The car sped away from the core district, leaving the villa and the dead assassins behind. Jax sat in the passenger seat, his mind racing. “Who wants me dead?” he muttered, rubbing his chin. “The families here are stingy, but they aren’t stupid. Killing the only person with a defense
Chapter 147: Detonation The sun had set, plunging The Sprawl into darkness. In the slum district, Jax and his team stood on the roof of a reinforced shelter, looking out toward the distant city walls. “Five hours until midnight,” Elena whispered, checking her watch. “Are we really going to blow the perimeter?” Jax nodded, his
Chapter 148: Into the Swarm The explosion that shattered the walls of The Sprawl sent tremors through the earth that could be felt dozens of kilometers away. In Redrock Bastion, the shockwave rattled the windows of the central command tower. Governor Niu stood at the window of his high-rise office, binoculars pressed to his eyes.
Chapter 149: The Bait The moment Zhou Quan stepped onto the main thoroughfare, the insect swarm reacted. It was as if a dinner bell had rung. The energy-infused walls had masked the scent of humanity, leaving the bugs confused and sluggish. But Zhou Quan was exposed, raw, and deliciously alive. The tide of chitin turned.
Chapter 150: Herding the Swarm Panic seized the Redrock forces trapped in the Core District. “We’re surrounded!” a guard screamed, firing blindly into the chittering mass below. “There’s no way out!” “Should we surrender?” another stammered. “Maybe if we beg Jax…” “Idiot!” the captain roared. “Surrender means death! We represent Redrock Bastion! Hold the line!”
Chapter 151: Upgraded Elena Elena nodded sharply. Raising the Soul Collector Rifle, she laid down a relentless stream of suppressing fire against the distant Spiked Dune Lords. The rhythmic thump-thump-thump of her rifle blended with the chaotic symphony of the battlefield. Nearby Sentry Towers, heavy artillery emplacements, and an array of Defense Towers unleashed a
Chapter 152: The Insect Swarm Changes Course The siege dragged on relentlessly. By 9:00 PM, the second wave of the Insect Swarm crashed against the perimeter, just two kilometers outside The Sprawl. Finally, the core zone’s defenses buckled under the sheer mass of the swarm. “Run! Move it! If we don’t run now, we’re dead!”
Chapter 153: Successfully Completing the Mission Jax stood atop the Wall, watching the plume of dust kick up into the night sky. A heavy breath escaped his lungs. “Now, we see if the bait holds.” Everyone in The Sprawl crowded the parapets, their eyes locked on the horde. Drawn by the roaring engines of the
Chapter 154: Returning to the Fortress As the heavy rolling shutter clattered upward, the four of them stood frozen in shock. Lurking in the shadows was an absolute behemoth of a vehicle. It was a heavily modified, six-wheeled off-road truck, sitting over three meters tall and painted in a matte black finish with faded flag
Chapter 155: Upgrading Buildings The heavy, guttural roar of a massive engine echoed through the valley entrance. Gareth and the others instantly grabbed their weapons, their bodies going rigid with tension. Over the past few days, sleep had been a luxury. They had spent every waking moment terrified that the Insect Swarm would crest the
Chapter 156: Raven Leaves With the primary defenses handled, the only structures left to upgrade were the Walls and his various mining outposts. Fortunately, upgrading the Walls wasn’t a massive resource drain, especially since all of his current perimeter fencing was only Tier 1. He pulled up the Bastion interface to check the requirements. [Upgrade
Chapter 157: Redrock Bastion Besieged Jax inspected the heavy sacks of ore, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. “How are you holding up out here, Kaleb?” Kaleb opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to complain. Living out in the wasteland was a nightmare. His crew of miners spent every waking second on a knife’s edge, their
Chapter 158: The Pitiful Victor Victor squirmed in his plush leather seat, sweat beading on his forehead. He was absolutely terrified that Governor Niu was about to publicly execute him. Everything Victor had built—his staggering wealth, his meteoric rise from a mid-tier merchant to a patriarch of the core circle—was built directly on the back
Chapter 159: Glorious Return Home Director Qin glanced down the dim corridor toward the heavy steel door where Victor was currently confined. “This Victor… he claims he’s an official envoy looking for Jax,” Qin mused, stroking his beard. “He’s obviously carrying terms from Governor Niu. Do you think we should let him see Jax?” Sawyer
Chapter 160: The Uninspiring Election Following Sawyer’s armored rover, the group finally crossed into The Sprawl. The outer Wall had been fully erected. Though the concrete was still curing, giving off a sharp, dusty scent, the towering barricade gave the settlement an imposing, fortified aesthetic. The moniker ‘Chaos City’ hardly seemed fitting anymore. Thanks to
Chapter 161: The Divide Between Rich and Poor The sham of an election was bad enough, but Elena’s relentless teasing on the walk back was pushing Jax to his absolute limit. “Hahaha! A ‘fair and just election,’ they said!” Elena giggled, her eyes dancing with mischief as she trailed beside him. “I didn’t realize there
Chapter 162: Victor’s Realization In the end, Jax slid into the passenger seat of Sawyer’s vehicle, heading toward the impromptu prison holding Victor. The location was an unassuming concrete house, but the heavy security gave it away. Dozens of Awakened paced the perimeter, their expressions tight with the fear that their high-profile captive might slip
Chapter 163: Redrock Bastion’s Revenge The moment Victor dragged himself back through the gates of Redrock Bastion, eyes were watching. Word of his return reached Governor Niu before Victor even had time to wash the wasteland dust from his clothes. When Niu realized his envoy hadn’t immediately come to report, a flicker of cold displeasure
Chapter 164: The Sprawl Renovation Plan Jax spent the next few days locked in his office, meticulously drafting the next phase of his master plan for The Sprawl. His primary objective was to dismantle the volatile wealth gap between the city’s elites and the civilian class. While he couldn’t exactly order the nobles to empty
Chapter 165: Transforming the City The sheer scale of The Sprawl’s renovation meant that the initial phase was entirely bottlenecked by one thing: resources. Without raw materials, the grand plan to upgrade a thousand Defense Towers was nothing more than ink on a blueprint. Jax spent the next few days locked in his office, obsessing
Chapter 166: The Busy City Lord Time flew by—at least, that’s how Jax felt. His days were consumed by an endless, grueling grind of administrative work, a far cry from the leisurely life of luxury he had envisioned. While he had delegated the day-to-day operations of The Sprawl to his subordinates, the city’s grand renovation
Chapter 167: Upgrading to a Tier 4 Bastion The heavily armored transport tore across the wasteland, finally grinding to a halt within the familiar boundaries of Sector 33. The preparatory work was already finished. Gareth and his crew had been thorough; the scorched earth was entirely cleared of insect carcasses, and the Bastion’s interior had
Chapter 168: A New Plan The entire crew stared at Jax, their jaws practically hitting the dirt. They looked from the empty crater back to their Boss, completely bewildered by the impossible technique he had just pulled. “Where are our Defense Towers?” Elena demanded, her voice tight with panic. “Where’s the Bastion? Did the upgrade
Chapter 169: Departing for The Lost Cities Three days later, the expeditionary force was locked and loaded. Money talks, especially in the wasteland. By offering exorbitant wages and premium hazard pay, Jax had successfully recruited one thousand able-bodied miners in record time. The vast majority of them had never held a pickaxe in their lives,
Chapter 170: The Bandits of The Lost Cities At Jax’s command, the massive convoy surged forward. The deafening roar of hundreds of heavy diesel engines echoed off the skeletal remains of the ruined metropolis. Jax rode in the passenger seat of the lead scout vehicle, his eyes wide with fascination as they pushed deeper into
Chapter 171: Make Your Move Tension hung thick in the air, pulling the standoff taut like a piano wire. Both sides gripped their weapons, knuckles white against cold metal. A single misfire, a single twitch of a finger, and the entire street would instantly erupt into a bloodbath. Jax stood his ground, his expression maddeningly
Chapter 172: Cooperation The scout stared at Jax, utterly speechless. He had dealt with stubborn warlords and desperate survivors before, but he had never encountered anyone quite like this. Jax was a tough nut to crack—a rolling stone that gathered no moss and seemingly refused to listen to reason. The intelligence he held was top-secret,
Chapter 173: Parasitic Silkworm Zhao Chen nodded, then led Jax and the others toward the core area of The Forgotten City. Jax pointed to the spiked road and asked, “Did you install these to prevent Insect Swarm attacks?” Zhao Chen nodded: “Yes! The Insect Swarms attack our outpost periodically, so we had no choice but
Chapter 174: A Business Proposition? Jax pulled up the System interface to inspect the item’s details. [Temporary Building Card: Constructs one Temporary Defense Tower. Duration: 20 hours.] [Price: 1,000 Tier 4 Cores.] Seeing the price tag, Jax practically choked. “What the hell is this?” he muttered, staring at the holographic text. “A thousand Tier 4
Chapter 175: The Power Plant Vance led the group toward the rear of the compound, stopping before a heavily reinforced warehouse. The blast doors were already open. Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Armed guards watched like hawks as laborers pushed carts laden with shimmering Cores out of the darkness. When Jax stepped inside, his eyes
Chapter 176: The Parasitic Silkworms Vance fell silent, weighing the insanity of the request against the potential payoff. Finally, he made a decision. “Fine! I’ll see this through to the end. I’ll help you.” He turned sharply to his guide. “Get ready. We’re heading to the nuclear plant.” The guide’s jaw dropped, color draining from
Chapter 177: Occupying the Observation Point The sudden appearance of the infested corpse put the entire team on high alert. In The Forgotten City, there were many things that kept a seasoned scavenger like Vance awake at night, but the Parasitic Silkworm was in a league of its own. Other monsters were simply efficient killers.
Chapter 178: A New Path Jax remained silent, his gaze locked on the nuclear power plant’s perimeter. Beyond the towering concrete Wall, a dense, writhing Insect Swarm scoured the grounds. It wasn’t just an infestation; it was a nursery. Almost every monster shambling through the courtyard was riddled with pulsing green pustules. Occasionally, a bloated
Chapter 179: Successful Return Jax took a deep breath, his gaze locked on the distant maintenance building. He was several hundred meters out, barely able to make out the figures of his team. Elena stood at the edge of the safe zone, her face tight with tension, the Soul Collector Rifle pulled tight against her
Chapter 180: Entering the Nuclear Power Plant Dressed in the bulky, yellow high-voltage insulation suits, the team looked like a squad of hazmat troopers from a bygone era. Despite the heavy gear, there was an undeniable tension in their posture—a mix of fear and adrenaline as they prepared to step into the heart of the
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