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 Raven, the same woman Jax had encountered during his forced conscription into The Vanguard. The scent of roses he had caught in the hallway earlier had unmistakably trailed from her. “Do you know her?” the stylist asked,

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, Julian also knew not to waste any more time. So the following progress became very

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

Chapter 181: A New Partner A flicker of triumph lit up Jax’s face. He immediately began scouring the room, his eyes darting into every corner. Sure enough, his search of the trash bins yielded results. He pulled out empty instant noodle packets, vacuum-sealed bags that once held dried fruit, biscuit wrappers, and even a disposable

Chapter 182: That Damned Jax “Connecting these cables is a job for a specialist,” Volt stated flatly. “I’ll handle it, but I have one condition: you protect me the entire time.” Jax nodded without hesitation. The request was more than reasonable. He knew just how critical this man was to their mission; protecting him was

Chapter 183: Field Test “This is the spot. Let’s get to it,” Vance urged, practically vibrating with impatience. “Right,” Jax replied calmly. “We’ll keep the tower low. We need the bugs to be able to reach it.” Nods of understanding went around the group as they followed Jax up to the third floor. The location

Chapter 184: Luring the Parasitic Silkworm “Perfect,” Jax said, his eyes gleaming as he surveyed the scorched kill zone. “The Defense Tower cuts through Tier 5 bugs like paper.” Standing nearby, Volt pulled off his heavy gloves and approached. “I pushed the plant’s output to the redline before I came over,” the engineer said, his

Chapter 185: Scorched Earth The meal was standard field-rations for Jax and his crew—stewed rice and canned protein—but for Vance, Volt, and their haggard survivors, it was a banquet. The men sat on the concrete roof, clutching washbasin-sized bowls and shoveling food into their mouths with frantic, desperate speed. They ate like starving wolves, unconcerned

Chapter 186: Summoning the Swarm In an instant, the soaring, ninety-foot pillar of fire startled the adult Parasitic Silkworm on the rooftop. From the moment they had entered the sector, Jax hadn’t seen the beast twitch a single muscle. Now, it was moving. “Holy crap,” Vance breathed, standing beside Jax as the heat washed over

Chapter 187: I Want to Follow You Down the street, the insectoid creatures began to stir. One by one, they crawled from the shadows, their numbers swelling until they formed a single, horrifying mass. A living tide of chitin and legs began to sweep toward their building. Vance’s heart seized in his chest. “Damn it

Chapter 188: Luring the Parasitic Silkworm Volt’s despair vanished, replaced by an overwhelming surge of relief. “Really? You’re offering me a slot? In The Sprawl?” “Yes,” Jax said, his tone pragmatic. “But not today. I need you to hold the nuclear plant and keep the grid operational. I’m going to need your expertise to integrate

Chapter 189: Hunting the Tier 7 Parasitic Silkworm Lightning from the High-Energy Defense Tower lashed out, striking the Parasitic Silkworm with relentless, mechanical precision. Every time the high-voltage bolts slammed into the beast’s carapace, a violent shower of plasma and burning scales erupted. It looked like the creature had strapped a barrage of heavy fireworks

Chapter 190: Clearing the Board With the Tier 7 Parasitic Silkworm—the colony’s central command node—reduced to ash, the Insect Swarm below instantly lost all cohesion. The tide of chitin and mandibles that had been battering the Defense Towers suddenly stopped. Without the overarching will of the hive mind, the individual bugs were aimless, wandering in

Chapter 191: Upgrading to Senior Architect At Jax’s direction, Vance and his team began transporting the High-Energy Electric Tower into the Tianhai Building. The advance was agonizingly slow, each step taken with extreme caution. Though the insect eggs could be crushed underfoot, they posed a lethal threat. A single egg burrowing into your flesh was

Chapter 192: Mind Catcher A sense of satisfaction washed over Jax as the upgrade completed. Finally, he thought. But no new skills this time. A flicker of disappointment. He wondered when the next one would come. His gaze fell upon his storage warehouse, where a single Active Skill Gacha Card lay waiting. He pulled it

Chapter 193 – Entering the Iron Mountain Range Sitting in the transport, Jax noticed that the Proficient rating of his Mind Catcher skill had inexplicably spiked by over ten points. How strange, he mused, a flicker of genuine confusion crossing his face. Did a single Dune Stalker really yield that much experience? He didn’t dwell

Chapter 194: Phantoms in the Night After a long trek, Jax and his men finally located Sawyer’s camp. But the camp was deserted. The tents were still full of supplies, but Sawyer and his people were gone. A knot of unease tightened in Jax’s gut. “What’s the situation?” The Tracker ducked into the main tent

Chapter 195: Controlling Insect Monsters Jax laid out his plan. Heavy silence fell over the tent, painting the crew’s faces with undeniable dread. Elena’s grip tightened on her weapon, her expression grave. “Going alone is suicide,” she said. “I’m coming with you.” Jax shook his head. “No. This requires a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. You’re

Chapter 196: Rescuing Sawyer Crouched near the cave entrance, a smug grin spread across Jax’s face. The last few minutes had been mentally draining, but the payoff was worth it. He’d finally cracked the code for leveling up his Mind Catcher. *Heh. So that’s how it works,* he mused. *Five proficiency points for a successful

Chapter 197: Insect Swarm Eruption Jax quickly ordered his men to haul Sawyer to a secure location for medical care. The Augmentation Serum had pulled the man back from the brink of death, but recovery would take time. Glancing at the horrific grid of lacerations covering Sawyer’s body, Jax knew the scars would be permanent.

Chapter 198: A Shame They Don’t Go to School Jax had already seized the board. Drake’s frantic orders sank like stones in an ocean of panic, utterly useless. With their fallback cave sealed off by Jax’s brutal crossfire, survival overrode loyalty. No one dared to counterattack. The Outpost collapsed into a chaotic meat grinder of

Chapter 199: Chaos Within the City At this moment, atop the Wall enclosing the mining sector, a frantic scramble was underway. Men hauled heavy ammunition, crates of arrows, artillery shells, and boxes packed with glowing Energy Shards toward the Defense Towers. Facing annihilation, the sector’s meager defensive force was bleeding its reserves dry. Every mine

Chapter 200: Do You Still Have a Way? Jax turned to the huddled survivors inside the limestone cave. “I’m going out there,” Jax stated flatly. “Those idiots don’t know how to cross-layer their Defense Towers. If this keeps up, the swarm will wipe them out in the first wave. If the whole camp dies, we

Chapter 201: Assisting in Defense In the end, Commander Flint overruled his furious officers and ordered the gates opened for Jax. At that moment, the Wall was already buckling. The automated Defense Towers were misfiring or completely out of sync, their impact negligible against the sheer volume of the horde. Tier 1 and Tier 2

Chapter 202: Mutiny “Sir Jax, you… you can’t be serious,” Commander Flint stammered, his face ashen. “If we strip every Defense Tower off the Wall, we’re abandoning the men up there to die!” Flint stared at Jax, a profound sense of dread settling in his gut. He didn’t know if this man from The Sprawl

Chapter 203: Persuading the Crowd Watching the mutiny unfold before his eyes, Jax couldn’t help but let out a slow, cynical sigh. If these terrified, blood-drunk soldiers actually took control of the city, the entire sector was doomed. The Insect Swarm would slaughter them all. And if they all died, Jax thought, a flicker of

Chapter 204: Leave It to Fate? Jax let the silence stretch, his cold, calculating gaze sweeping over the crowd of mutinous soldiers. The fury that had driven them to the brink of treason was gone, replaced by a profound, trembling awe. The veteran soldier who had led the uprising stood at the very front. His

Chapter 205: Taunting the Crowd Commander Flint stared at Jax, completely baffled by the man’s twisted logic. “But… if you tell them the Wall is going to fall and they’re all going to die,” Flint whispered frantically, “aren’t you afraid they’ll riot? Or just give up?” Jax didn’t even blink. “Afraid? I’m not afraid. They

Chapter 206: Double Insurance By noon, the soldiers bleeding on the Wall were hanging on by a thread. The Tier 1 and Tier 2 fodder had done their job, exhausting the defenders. Now, massive, heavily armored Tier 3 and Tier 4 shock troops were joining the assault, crashing against the stone barricades. With their ammunition

Chapter 207: The Appearance of the Tier 7 Dune-Centipede Commander Flint’s heart was hammering against his ribs. He stood in the tactical room, his hands trembling slightly as he held his binoculars to his eyes. He still couldn’t entirely shake the feeling that trusting Jax was a massive gamble. “Why are there still so many

Chapter 208: Drawing Fire “They’re charging!” the spotter on the Wall screamed, his voice cracking with terror. The shout ripped through the fragile, exhausted relief that had settled over the refugees in the plaza. They had been desperately trying to convince themselves that the Insect Swarm was broken, that the nightmare was over. But the

Chapter 209: Annihilating the Insect Swarm When the first Defense Tower collapsed into a pile of smoking rubble beneath the Tier 7 Dune-Centipede’s massive mandibles, Jax realized just how catastrophic the situation had become. “Damn it,” Jax cursed under his breath, his mind racing. “This thing’s intelligence is off the charts. The standard aggro logic

Chapter 210: Rescuing Companions The Insect Swarm was completely eradicated. Not a single monster remained twitching in the wasteland. The entire mining sector erupted into wild, exhausted jubilation. Civilians poured out of their shallow hiding spots, spilling into the blood-soaked streets to frantically dig Cores out of the mountains of chitin. Jax didn’t stay to

Chapter 211: Wanting to Establish a Tier 2 City Jax laid out his blueprint with cold, mechanical precision. Commander Flint stared at him, his eyes bulging as if Jax had just suggested they walk naked into an Insect Swarm. Flint had dealt with his fair share of grifters and tyrants out in the wastes, but

Chapter 212: Mission Commander Flint returned to Jax’s office shortly after, shaking his head in sheer disbelief. A distinct trace of envy colored his expression. “I’ll be damned,” Flint muttered, dropping into a chair. “I pitched your plan—that you were going to help us build this place up and officially apply for independent city status

Chapter 213: My Brother is an Awakened Commander Flint looked at Jax, a trace of confusion tightening his face. “You… what do you need?” “Just giving you a heads-up,” Jax said briskly, grabbing his tactical jacket. “The groundwork here is laid. I need to return to The Sprawl immediately to initiate the primary phase of

Chapter 214: Returning to the City Jax had zero intention of wasting another second in this quarry. He stood up, dusting off his jacket, and cast a cold glance at the groaning thugs. “Get back to whatever rock you crawled out from. If I catch you rats sniffing around my territory again, I won’t leave

Chapter 215: The Starving People in the City The butler’s tearful, desperate summary painted a grim picture. Redrock Bastion wasn’t just starving them; they were systematically eradicating the food chain. To ensure The Sprawl withered and died, the Bastion had deployed their elite Awakened Guilds. These kill-squads scoured the perimeter, violently exterminating every wandering insect

Chapter 216: Upgrading to a Tier 5 Bastion Hearing the system prompt confirm the upgrade initiation, Jax let out a long breath. Now, all he had to do was wait out the construction timer. Several hours later, the sharp, mechanical chime rang out in his mind again. [Ding. Congratulations to the User. Upgrade to Tier

Chapter 217: Luring the Monsters Liu Hu stared at Jax, utterly dumbfounded. “City Lord, what are you planning? There are hundreds of thousands of insect monsters out there!” A faint, cynical smile tugged at the corner of Jax’s mouth. “Aren’t you all starving? I’m going to fetch us some food.” Old Qin blanched. “What? A

Chapter 218: Shut the Gates and Slaughter the Swarm Dawn bled through the horizon. Governor Niu stirred in his plush, oversized bed, cracking his eyes open to check the bedside clock. “Morning already?” he muttered, stretching his arms. He grabbed a silk robe from a nearby chair, draping it over his shoulders as he moved

Chapter 219: Leaving Nothing Behind Liu Hu stared at Jax, his jaw practically hitting the floor. “City Lord… you’re not joking, are you?” Jax met his gaze with deadpan sincerity. “Do I look like I’m joking? Get it done. And keep your mouth shut. Understood?” Liu Hu swallowed hard, his expression hardening. “Understood, City Lord.

Chapter 220: The Lazy Insect Monsters Jax’s crew moved with absolute precision, their faith in his command absolute. Without a moment’s hesitation, they executed his orders to the letter. Slowly but surely, the skeletal frames of the Defense Towers began to rise against the wasteland sky. Positioned exactly to his blueprints, the towers formed a

Chapter 221: A Futile Effort The word “oasis” hung heavy in the air. A profound shock rippled through Jax’s eyes. To the denizens of the wasteland, “oasis” was an incredibly familiar concept, yet an utterly alien reality. Having lived their entire lives marooned in a hellscape of endless, suffocating yellow sand and jagged rock, their

Chapter 222: SR-Rank Defense Tower Jax returned to the temporary Outpost and delivered the grim, fabricated report. “The escarpment was a dead end. No oasis,” Jax lied smoothly, masking his expression. “Just a dense concentration of Tier 4s.” The expedition squad collectively groaned, their faces sagging with profound disappointment. Elder Qin let out a heavy,

Chapter 223: The Art of the Vanishing Health Bar Jax’s mind raced as he stared down into the subterranean abyss. The description of the Vulcan Gatling Tower specifically mentioned “armor degradation.” That implied a fundamental shift in the tactical landscape. “System,” Jax muttered, his eyes narrowing. “Are you telling me all hostile entities now operate

Chapter 224: This is Truly Leaving the Beginner Village A trace of genuine shock flickered in Jax’s eyes. He never expected the Vulcan Gatling Tower to be this brutally efficient. It was vaporizing Tier 1 insect monsters with a single armor-piercing round. Even the heavily plated Tier 2 beasts were obliterated after absorbing a maximum

Chapter 225: Covering Fire The Vulcan Gatling Tower didn’t hesitate. Once locked onto the Earthshaker Bug, the rotary barrels blurred, desperately spewing a concentrated tongue of armor-piercing flame. The air was filled with a continuous, metallic shriek that Jax found deeply soothing. Through his AR overlay, Jax watched the Earthshaker Bug’s massive, purplish-black health bar

Chapter 226: Hunting the Earthshaker Bug Jax watched with cold detachment as the Silver-Tier Earthshaker Bug finally succumbed to the relentless barrage. Its massive, armored bulk shuddered, momentum bleeding away until it collapsed into the dust. The monstrosity had been pulverized, its carapace shredded into a leaking, unrecognizable sieve of shattered chitin and gore. [Ding.

Chapter 227: Cipher’s Speculation Cipher lowered his optics, convinced his eyes were playing tricks on him. “What the hell is going on?” he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. “They’re eating rations right beneath the drop zone of an Insect Swarm? Any sane survivor would sweep the perimeter and evac immediately. Why are they setting

Chapter 228: Are You Sick? That night, Jax ordered the convoy to halt and establish a temporary perimeter. The grueling journey had taken its toll on the rigs; blown gaskets and busted axles were becoming a liability, threatening to stall their momentum in hostile territory. A full maintenance rotation was mandatory. He picked a flat,

Chapter 229: The New City A deep, mechanical rumble echoed through the valley, vibrating against the sheer cliffs. Moments later, a massive industrial crane, stretching over ten meters across, descended from the darkness of the Wall. Standing on the heavy steel platform were Commander Flint and Sawyer. Sawyer’s face lit up with relief the moment

Chapter 230: Assigning Tasks With Commander Flint officially folding his territory into Jax’s domain, a massive logistical hurdle had been cleared. Originally, Flint had built his settlement right on the edge of the mining zone to maintain autonomy. But now that he had bent the knee, maintaining two separate municipal centers was inefficient. Fortunately, Jax’s

Chapter 231: Conversation Jax’s expression hardened as he processed Sawyer’s warning. He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the metal workbench, his mind rapidly running through tactical scenarios. “Understood,” Jax finally said, his voice dropping to a low, commanding register. “Keep this conversation buried. Don’t breathe a word about my plans for the towers yet. I’m

Chapter 232: The Game When Elder Qin finally forced the words “Defense Tower” from his lips, a slow, calculated smile touched the corner of Jax’s mouth. He leaned back, masking his amusement with a look of mild surprise. “Oh? What’s the issue with the Defense Towers, Elder Qin?” Qin hesitated, carefully weighing his words. “The

Chapter 233: Drawing a Big Picture Seeing the sheer confusion warring on Elder Qin’s face, Jax couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. “Relax,” Jax said, tapping the table. “It’s exactly what you’re thinking.” Now it was Qin’s turn to be utterly derailed. He wasn’t sure if his terrifying conclusion was correct, but Jax

Chapter 234: Governor Niu is Coming For the next few days, Jax visited the laboratory daily to check on the progress of the experiments. Sawyer’s team had now disassembled the core device of the Thunderstrike Tower and replicated a core device, which was currently in the testing phase. There were still some minor issues that

Chapter 235: My Name is Cipher Cipher waited for the sweeping arc of the industrial searchlight to pass before dropping from the massive boulder. He plummeted over ten meters, his black tactical robe snapping in the wind, and landed silently in the dirt. He absorbed the kinetic energy perfectly, rolling with the agility of a

Chapter 236: You Are the Savior Hearing Cipher’s dire warning, the color drained slightly from Jax’s face. No way, Jax thought, studying Cipher intently. Does this guy have a System too? But Cipher’s expression remained completely neutral, as if he were discussing the weather rather than an apocalyptic scenario. “Are you absolutely certain about this

Chapter 237: The City Lord Has Fled Under the heavy cover of night, a convoy of three armored off-road vehicles tore out of the Iron Mountain Outpost, heading north. But their route was bizarre. Instead of taking the relatively smooth, paved arterial roads that cut through the valley, the convoy immediately veered off into the

Chapter 238: Countermeasure Cipher was a tightly coiled spring of tension. He stood on the mountain ridge, running the tactical calculus through his mind one last time. The tracks didn’t lie. Jax’s convoy had definitely broken northwest toward North Port. They had a massive head start. Even if Cipher mobilized his fastest pursuit interceptors, catching

Chapter 239: I Am Here to Help You All industrial activity within Iron Mountain ground to a violent halt. Thousands of workers and guards stared up at the massive Wall in stunned silence. Standing on the parapet was a squad of unfamiliar, heavily armed men in black tactical gear. Kneeling before them, stripped of their

Chapter 240: The Break Governor Niu craned his neck, his eyes locking onto the colossal Defense Tower looming over the Wall. A rare flicker of genuine shock cracked his hardened expression. Beside him, the elites of Redrock Bastion followed his gaze in stunned silence. None of them had ever witnessed a Defense Tower radiating such

Chapter 241: Encounter on the Road to North Port Jax’s convoy crossed the territorial borders of North Port. Almost immediately, the harsh, baking heat of the wasteland began to recede, replaced by a biting chill. The desolate dunes of the Gobi gave way to scattered patches of resilient vegetation. Jax watched through the reinforced window

Chapter 242: The Threat of the Mutated Insect Swarm Jax stepped out of his heavily armored off-road vehicle and strode toward the dilapidated bus. Inside the rusted cabin, the captain and the driver stared at him in muted shock. In the brutal era of the Apocalypse, a towering, muscular physique was the ultimate display of

Chapter 243: Chaos in North Port Jax’s intuition was spot on. Silas returned from the checkpoint empty-handed, but the intel he brought back was a goldmine of grim reality. While the surrounding refugees traded rumors, Silas had tapped into concrete data. “Ten days ago, a massive Insect Swarm hit the Wall,” Silas reported, his voice

Chapter 244: The Tentacled Monster in the City Following Jax’s tactical assessment, the convoy navigated to an elevated, defensible position on a hillside overlooking North Port. They weren’t the only ones seeking high ground. Several other caravans had already established temporary camps to wait out the chaos. The societal divide among the refugees was stark

Chapter 245: Going the Opposite Way Through the lens of his binoculars, the chaos consuming North Port possessed a grim, mechanical order. The tentacled behemoth was turning entire city blocks into pulverized rubble, yet the military’s counterattack was terrifyingly methodical. Dozens of heavy tactical transports roared through the crumbling avenues, towing massive, ten-meter-tall mobile Defense

Chapter 246: New Mission, New Monster The shivering refugees watched Jax’s squad with a mix of awe and horror as they marched away from the safe zone. “Are they actually heading for the Wall?” someone muttered in disbelief. “North Port is a meat grinder right now. That’s suicide!” “I heard they’re trying to secure an

Chapter 247: The Advanced City Without a second thought, Jax accepted the mission. The digital blueprints for the three temporary Defense Towers instantly materialized in his system inventory. Although he only had one of each, Jax knew this was a scenario built on tactical precision, not numerical superiority. A thousand poorly placed towers would accomplish

Chapter 248: Captured Jax and Elena moved deeper into the city’s commercial and residential rings. It was a ghost town. Every door was deadbolted, and the storefronts were shuttered tight. The massive holographic billboards that usually bathed the skyscrapers in neon were powered down, standing like monolithic black slates against the darkening sky. They covered

Chapter 249: Role Reversal Before the handcuffs could lock, the air pressure in the street plummeted. A massive shadow eclipsed the dying light. A colossal tentacle whipped toward them from the city center. Jax realized his long-distance calculations had been severely flawed—only up close could he comprehend the sheer, terrifying scale of the aberration. The

Chapter 250: Escape from the Underground Parking Lot After a tense, calculated negotiation in the pitch-black garage, Captain Gu Changqing finally folded. The terms were absolute: Gu and his entire squad surrendered their biometric identity tokens and their remaining rations to Jax. With the leverage secured, Jax hoisted his tactical backpack over his shoulder and

Chapter 251: Command Center Although they had successfully infiltrated the outer security perimeter of the military police garrison, breaching the actual command center was a different beast entirely. Jax scanned the bustling corridors. The garrison was operating at maximum capacity. Most of the heavy combat units had already been deployed to the breach zones, but

Chapter 252: Taking a Hostage After a tense, thirty-minute descent through over a dozen heavily fortified checkpoints, the squad finally breached the core of North Port. The central command center was a sprawling, subterranean bunker. Multi-tiered gantries ringed the perimeter, patrolled by elite guards. High above the tactical floor, suspended in massive diagnostic cradles, sat

Chapter 253: Public Lecture The high-ranking general, his uniform immaculate despite the crisis, let out a dismissive, aggravated grunt. Jax ignored him completely. He leaned over the massive, glowing holographic sand table and scanned the tactical markers. “I need a proxy for the mutant,” Jax ordered, snapping his fingers. “If you don’t have a digital

Chapter 254: Still Fell Short in the End Jax nodded lightly. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly sensed a hint of danger. As he was about to warn the others, a violent explosion suddenly erupted from above their heads. Following the intense shockwave, stars flashed before his eyes, and the others behind

Chapter 255: The City Lord in Danger Inside the Command Center’s monitoring division, the junior staffer was still glued to his console. Suddenly, his eyes caught movement on a localized feed flagged as a high-security zone. He spotted several familiar figures stepping into the frame. His breath hitched. Without a word, he maximized the video

Chapter 256: Your Vehicle is Commandeered The woman sitting in the passenger seat of the armored truck shrieked in absolute terror. The young girl in the back seat wailed, burying her face in her hands. The little boy, however, stood his ground. He leveled his bright plastic water gun at Jax’s face and frantically squeezed

Chapter 257: The Mysterious Man Liu Wenyuan’s face flushed with high spirits. He raised his crystal goblet of vintage red wine, gesturing toward Jax across the sprawling banquet table. “Brother Jax, your tactical deployment today successfully diverted a catastrophic threat from this sector. You are contractually obligated to accept this first toast. With this glass,

Chapter 258: Killing the Tentacle Monster Jax gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing. He had a profound suspicion that the man who had just authorized the Defense Tower strike was absolutely not a simple figure. While he lacked the specific information to identify the man’s background, the ability to unilaterally command the central artillery

Chapter 259: The City Lord’s Thoughts Liu Wenyuan’s face flushed with genuine pleasure. He raised his crystal wine glass toward Jax, the rich red liquid catching the chandelier’s light. “Brother Jax,” Liu said, his voice carrying the warm cadence of a seasoned diplomat. “Your actions today saved this entire city from total collapse. You must

Chapter 260: The Child is Entrusted to You Jax stared at Liu Wenyuan, his brow furrowed in deep confusion. He couldn’t understand the man’s logic. After a heavy moment of silence, Jax finally spoke. “Actually, North Port’s current situation is quite stable. Why are you thinking of taking independent control? What benefit does it bring

Chapter 260: The Stolen Formula The next few weeks were a blur of rapid industrial expansion for Jax. While the new assembly lines hummed with unprecedented efficiency, a different sector was growing restless. The elite agronomy researchers from North Port, tasked with establishing the new planting zones, were bombarding Jax with daily demands. They were

Chapter 261: Encounter with Governor Niu Hearing Jax’s exasperated outburst, Liu Wenyuan threw his head back and unleashed a booming, highly satisfied laugh. “His physical integrity is entirely dependent on his own RNG! It has absolutely nothing to do with you! Brother Jax, you gave me your word. You must subject him to absolute, brutal

Chapter 262: So It’s You Jax ran a rapid geopolitical calculation. Sky City was now officially classified as a Tier 2 settlement, putting it on the exact same bureaucratic footing as Redrock Bastion. Furthermore, as a newly certified city, Sky City was currently operating within a highly lucrative ‘Grace Period.’ During this operational window, any

Chapter 263: Going Home Seeing Captain Hu’s reaction, Leo let out a sigh of relief. He recognized these City Guard captains. Whenever his family’s estate needed repairs or miscellaneous tasks, these captains were always eager to assist, hoping to curry favor. Captain Hu, in particular, was notorious for his sycophancy, often bowing and scraping before

Chapter 264: We’ll Launch a Counterattack Too Jax turned his head toward Sawyer and Old Qin behind him, wanting to know exactly what had happened. Old Qin and Sawyer exchanged a glance, then both burst into loud laughter. Then, Old Qin stepped forward and recounted everything that had happened earlier in detail. “That’s the whole

Chapter 265: The Issue of City Construction The crowd was still in turmoil, clearly unable to accept the fact that Jax intended to deal with Governor Niu. After all, based on their understanding, for Jax to take on Governor Niu was an almost impossible task. First, Governor Niu’s city housed an Awakened Guild. It was

Chapter 266: Let Me Handle the Traitor Over the following days, Jax buried himself in the logistical nightmare of managing the city’s internal affairs. Meanwhile, the researchers from the Grain Cultivation Research Institute were rapidly losing their patience. They harassed him daily, demanding to know when they would finally depart for The Sprawl. Despite the

Chapter 267: Heaven’s Punishment Special Forces The moment the corrupt lab technician was dragged into the pitch-black depths of the interrogation block, his psychological defenses completely shattered. His eyes locked onto the rusted, blood-stained torture implements lining the concrete corridor. His legs violently buckled, his knees knocking together in a rapid, uncontrollable staccato. A hot

Chapter 268: Assembly Line Factory Late that night, Cipher, flanked by a few of his newly recruited operatives, breached the high-security holding cell in North Port. He didn’t bother with advanced interrogation techniques. A rapid-fire barrage of tactical explanations, laced with heavy, highly implied threats and strategic bribes, was enough to permanently break the corrupt

Chapter 269: Twenty-Seven vs. One Hundred Thirty-Two Initially, Jax hadn’t intended to broadcast the live assembly stress-test to the general demographic. The architectural complexity of a Defense Tower was staggering. The sheer volume of micro-components required a massive, multi-cycle assembly protocol. A single, optimized build could easily burn an entire solar day. Jax had originally

Chapter 270: The Arrogant White-Collar Workers Hearing Jax’s words, the R&D Deputy Leader’s face flushed with embarrassment. “City Lord, you may not be aware, but our laboratory typically requires a team of over 100 personnel to assemble a Defense Tower.” As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding lab technicians nodded in agreement, offering explanations.

Chapter 271: Practice Makes Perfect Sawyer gave a stiff nod before pivoting toward the group of researchers still loitering, debating how to divide the labor. “The City Lord is losing his patience,” Sawyer barked, his voice laced with an edge of suppressed fury. “Have you still not decided on a basic assembly protocol?” The researchers

Chapter 272: An Inevitable Victory Clang! A worker in blue overalls slammed his hammer against the copper gong. The sound acted as a catalyst, igniting a sudden, thunderous roar of cheers from the crowd. The laborers in blue were ecstatic, their faces flushed with a mix of disbelief and raw triumph. They had done it.

Chapter 273: Has Leo Gone Wayward? Dinner had concluded, but as Jax returned to his quarters, the gears in his mind refused to stop turning. The assembly line was a triumph, yet it had birthed a new, more pressing dilemma: what, exactly, should they be mass-producing? A strategic vacuum sat at the heart of his

Chapter 274: The Price of Belonging As soon as the name was uttered, the other youths nearby froze, looks of sheer astonishment washing over their faces. The puzzle pieces clicked into place; they finally understood why Leo always seemed to have an endless supply of high-quality goods. “No wonder…” one whispered, eyes wide. “No wonder

Chapter 275: The Shadows of the Skulls Gang The guard knew this rabbit hole went deep, and the implications could be catastrophic. Shifting uneasily, he spoke with hushed urgency. “To be honest, City Lord, my knowledge of The Skulls Gang is limited to what I see on the surface. But once you step into the

Chapter 276: The Mining Engineer The Skulls Gang possessed a survival instinct that was even sharper than Jax had anticipated. Just as Jax prepared to dismantle them, the syndicate “turtled up,” severing all ties and ceasing every visible operation. During dinner, Leo returned with a dejected expression, his shoulders slumped as he reported the results

Chapter 277: Upgrading the Miners Hearing the foreman’s announcement, smiles broke out across the miners’ soot-stained faces. They had been toiling in the dark for hours. Although no one knew why the assembly bell had rung, past experience dictated that sudden gatherings usually meant bonus distributions or other good news. At the very least, being

Chapter 278: The Blockade Begins Jax let out a weary sigh. There was never enough time in the day. “We’ll have to resume this afternoon. Let’s aim to get everything locked down by tonight.” Kaleb crouched down, lowering his voice near Jax’s ear. “Boss, what’s the endgame here?” “To upgrade the system, I need a

Chapter 279: The Meat Market Crashes The assistant gave a curt nod and resumed his post. Meanwhile, deep within Redrock Bastion. The proprietors of the city’s top restaurants had gathered in a private room to discuss a mounting crisis. A heavyset man at the head of the table fanned himself nervously before slamming it down

Chapter 280: Continuing to Squeeze the Market Cipher and his subordinates widened their eyes in disbelief. They simply couldn’t fathom that insect meat, the wasteland’s ultimate symbol of cheap protein, had surpassed the price of real poultry and livestock. “What? Are you saying the city administration just opened fifteen separate grain distribution centers to counter

Chapter 281: Nothing At All Hearing this, Jax froze. He couldn’t believe his subordinate was actually pitching this ridiculous idea to him. “Damn it, you really have too much time on your hands. Why are you meddling in my marital status? Just focus on your own job! And why bring this up out of the

Chapter 282: The Honeytrap Leo scratched his head sheepishly, pointing a finger at Jax. “Uncle Jax came up with all these strategies. I’m just parroting them!” “Oh, no wonder. Perfect. In that case, we’ll start drawing up the operational plans immediately. Leave this to us; we guarantee a flawless execution.” Jax gave a curt nod,

Chapter 283: The Grain Returns Silas knew that the moment Manager Zhu spoke again, his stance was already clear; pushing the issue further would only be a waste of breath. He dropped the subject, smoothly steering the conversation toward local city gossip and tales of the outside world—topics practically tailor-made to capture the woman’s interest.

Chapter 284: Attack from Within and Without Even for the ruler of an entire city, the sheer resource drain was agonizing. Sky City’s massive footprint meant that building a proper defense grid required thousands of Defense Towers, or hundreds at the absolute bare minimum. Constructing an array of that magnitude demanded a staggering amount of

Chapter 285: Experiment Within the City The massive square sat in eerie silence. Every eye locked onto the distant structure coated in pitch-black paint—a Defense Tower christened “Ironwood.” Governor Niu had chosen the name for a reason: its offensive capabilities were laughably weak, but its defensive countermeasures were undeniably absolute. It was the perfect bastion

Chapter 286: Elena’s Imagined Rival At the messenger’s words, a look of pure shock flashed across Cipher’s face. He quickly followed the man to the back of the transport truck. When the heavy tarp was pulled back, a metal crate—roughly a yard long and half a yard wide—was revealed. The iron crate looked incredibly dense.

Chapter 287: Turmoil Within the City Eighteen miles north of Redrock Bastion, deep within the jagged terrain of Bone-Grave Ridge. Cipher gripped a peculiarly shaped rifle, a trace of surprise bleeding into his expression as he watched the distant insect monsters blindly swarm toward his bullet’s impact zone. “Damn, what just happened? The swarm is

Chapter 288: Governor Niu’s Suspicions Governor Niu was practically vibrating with rage. He snatched a porcelain vase from a nearby decorative stand and hurled it to the floor, shattering it into powder. “Bastard! Absolute bastard! Someone dares to pull this kind of stunt right under my nose! Does he have a death wish? Does he

Chapter 289: Redrock Bastion in Chaos Governor Niu was overwhelmed, pacing like a caged beast as he waited for Boss Storm to drag the pastry shop’s shadow backer into the light. Hours bled by, marked only by the escalating activation of the outer Defense Towers. A continuous, deafening bombardment echoed across the wasteland, rattling skulls

Chapter 290: The New City Lord of Redrock Bastion Governor Niu’s apocalyptic retaliation left everyone paralyzed with horror. He had slaughtered his own people. These were unarmed civilians—men and women who had dragged themselves to his gates to beg for food and relief. And Niu had pulverized them with his own two hands. The sheer

Chapter 291: Continued Erosion In this era, women were treated like little more than commodities. Beyond being traded back and forth like cargo by the men in power, they held no significant standing. That was exactly why Elena had fought so desperately to increase her strength, clawing her way out of that grim predicament. Looking

Chapter 292: No Chance to Turn the Tables? Silas immediately nodded his agreement. After dictating a few final mission parameters, Jax hung up the phone. Staring at the map on the table, his eyes locked onto the red circle drawn around Redrock Bastion. A faint smile crept onto Jax’s lips. “Haha, the city of my

Chapter 293: Governor Niu’s Final Plan Speeding along behind the butler, Boss Storm arrived at the Governor’s estate. He sensed the butler acting unusually tense during the ride, so he leaned in and muttered. “What’s the deal? You haven’t said a word the entire way. Did something happen?” The butler hesitated. “The Governor isn’t in

Chapter 294: The Assassin Silas beamed, a picture of perfect corporate hospitality. He looked at the refugee representatives sitting across from him and spoke in a smooth, assuring tone. “Gentlemen, there’s no need for such grim faces. Look at the squalor you’ve been forced to endure, and look at the prosperity we offer. Why rot

Chapter 295: A Narrow Escape Jax’s brow fururrowed as he processed the assassin’s words. “You came here to kill me? Don’t you realize you’re never walking out of this place alive?” Storm let out a dark, jagged chuckle. “I never planned on leaving. I came here to die—now shut up and bleed!” Cold fury surged

Chapter 296: Unmasking the Gambit Liu Wenyuan’s voice was heavy with unease. After hearing Jax’s deduction, an ominous chill settled over him. If Governor Niu had arrived at North Port alone, he was either desperate or incredibly dangerous. What was the man relying on? Did he intend to assassinate Liu personally to seize control of

Chapter 297: Starting the Investigation with the Butler The late hour did nothing to deter the Special Forces team. In fact, they thrived in the pitch-black conditions of a night operation. Moving like phantoms through the gloom, they advanced steadily down the length of the tunnel. With only a single flickering bulb every few dozen

Chapter 298: I Promise to Help You Hearing the woman’s resolute voice, Elena immediately sensed something was amiss. After a brief moment of contemplation, she spoke. “Sister, what if his hand was forced? I don’t know the exact history between you two, but my intuition tells me something else is at play. Did he leave

Chapter 299: Negotiating as a Third Wheel Silence stretched from within the estate for a long moment. The captain of the city defense force frowned, coughing once as he prepared to call out again. But just as he cleared his throat, a calm voice finally echoed from the shadows inside. “Let them in. Tell them

Chapter 300: Renaming to Phoenix City Upon hearing Elena’s words, the butler couldn’t help but laugh heartily. Seeing his reaction, Elena immediately felt her patience wearing thin. “Care to share the joke? I laid out the terms clearly. Do you think my price is too low?” The butler shook his head slightly. “No, it’s not

Chapter 301: Power Crisis in North Port The words struck Jax’s chest like a sledgehammer. Could something really have gone wrong? He gripped the receiver tighter. “You said Liu Wenyuan is missing. How long has he been gone?” “He left at dawn and hasn’t been seen since.” A cold knot formed in Jax’s stomach. He

Chapter 302: The Situation Has Changed Sawyer ultimately gave a heavy nod. He knew Jax had to leave. The Chief was riding out to protect his territory and the woman who held it. There was no alternative. And Sawyer knew he had to shoulder the immense weight left behind. As Jax’s right hand, it was

Chapter 303: Redrock Bastion Crisis The abrupt end to Jax’s call left Elena wide awake, the lingering silence in her quarters thick with an unspoken threat. A primal instinct warned her that a storm was brewing. Any hope of sleep vanished. She swiftly threw on her combat gear, stepping over to the heavy glass window.

Chapter 304: The Flaw Hearing the shouts from downstairs, the butler’s face drained of color. He had no idea what was happening, but a sinking feeling in his gut told him Team One and Team Three were involved. He peeked out of the room; the door was ajar, though it offered no real protection now.

Chapter 305: Pursuers Meanwhile. The road stretching between Sky City and Redrock Bastion had seen some of its most treacherous sections repaired. However, the sheer length of the highway made a full restoration practically impossible. They lacked a dedicated maintenance crew, and their so-called repairs amounted to little more than packing dirt over the worst

Chapter 306: Crisis Blood-red headlights pierced the darkness in the rearview mirror. Jax’s eyes narrowed. North Port’s forces were already on their tail, and it was entirely possible that Governor Niu himself was leading the convoy. Just as Jax prepared to wrench the steering wheel and peel away, a smaller pickup truck came tearing out

Chapter 307: A Devastating Defeat Redrock Bastion. Flames of war raged within the city walls, painting a picture of utter chaos beneath the climbing sun. The temperature steadily climbed. The men manning the Wall baked beneath the scorching rays, yet a cruel excitement gleamed in their eyes. “Energy Shards! Scrape together every last Energy Shard

Chapter 308: I Gave You a Chance, But You Wasted It Jax gently stroked Elena’s back, offering a reassuring smile. “It’s alright. I’m here now. Everything is going to be fine.” The heavy convoy rumbled to a halt behind them, rapidly assembling into a tight formation. Jax fixed his gaze on the imposing, steel-clad silhouette

Chapter 309: A Formidable Insect Beast Hearing this, a flicker of astonishment crossed Elena’s face. “That’s just speculation. What if you set up the trap and they bypass it entirely?” A confident smirk tugged at the corner of Jax’s mouth. “That’s exactly what they’re counting on. They assume we’re struggling to survive against this Insect

Chapter 310: Confrontation Watching the Mutated Abyss-Beast mercilessly tear into its own flesh, Elena frowned in deep confusion. “What exactly is going on? Why is it attacking itself?” Jax threw an arm around her shoulder with easy camaraderie, pointing first at the bleeding monster, then shifting his finger toward the gleaming tower nearby. “That’s an

Chapter 311: The Double Cross Cipher immediately signaled his subordinates to go on high alert. Adrenaline surging, the team members crouched low and tracked Cipher’s gaze. Sure enough, over a dozen figures materialized along the ruined highway, pedaling battered bicycles in jagged, faltering bursts. But muscle-powered bicycles were no match for the raw roar of

Chapter 312: The Laser Tower At that moment, Elena felt utterly hollowed out. She wanted to scream, to weep, but she was too numb. She had let her thirst for vengeance blind her, and now she had dragged her elite team into a death trap. She had no idea how she was going to face

Chapter 313: Negotiations Break Down Governor Niu’s motorcade halted on the barren plains outside Redrock Bastion. From their vantage point, the situation inside the city was clear. Redrock Bastion remained an imposing fortress, its perimeter heavily guarded by towering Apocalypse Defense Towers that loomed like silent sentinels over the stronghold. Governor Niu raised his binoculars,

Chapter 314: Exhausting All Means Meanwhile, Governor Niu retreated into his fortified bunker, a venomous glare burning in his eyes. His subordinates exchanged nervous glances, entirely at a loss for how to soothe his boiling rage. After all, the man standing before them was no longer the petty lord of Redrock Bastion. He wielded immense

Chapter 315: Taking Redrock Bastion Jax simply couldn’t believe Governor Niu had been underhanded enough to send assassins. It was utterly despicable. Unable to win in a fair fight, the man had resorted to dirty tricks. Jax hadn’t even dispatched his own killers yet, but since the enemy had come knocking, he found slaughtering them

Chapter 316: Architect Store Opens Elena stood frozen on the stage, overwhelmed by the sea of expectant faces below. The crowd’s eyes bore into her, waiting. She fidgeted, her thumb digging nervously into her palm. Every word of her meticulously prepared speech had evaporated. Jax watched the silence stretch. Suppressing a sigh, he nudged her

Chapter 317: The Outdated Industrial Team That night, Jax pulled out a weathered notebook he had kept from his early days as a Chief. Its pages were crammed with the harsh lessons of governing a settlement. It essentially mirrored the administrative blueprint of Sky City, a rigid but proven system. Sourcing a competent cabinet of

Chapter 318: The Little Genius Gao Jiayue Startled by the sudden noise, the boy jerked, accidentally pressing his back against something searing hot. He winced, his face twisting into a comical grimace. Spotting this, Jax hurried over. “Are you alright? I heard a commotion.” As Jax stepped into the light, the boy finally recognized the

Chapter 319: Liu Wenyuan’s City Lord Crisis After returning to his residence, Jax was filled with joy because he had found a direction for the future, no longer needing to look at the faces of those unwilling old scholars who simply couldn’t understand his meaning. Jax felt that if he entrusted such important matters to

Chapter 320: Confirming the Relationship Over the next few days. Jax stopped worrying about whether those old academic pedants could adapt to his methods. He had his own team now, and the reality of the situation was clear. Forcing the old guard to change their ways would simply take too long. Rather than wasting precious