Apocalypse Architect: A Tower Defense LitRPG

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 exorbitantly priced; the real luxury was the fuel. Everyone wanted to drive, but few possessed the channels to keep a tank full.

As Jax navigated the dusty streets of Outpost 15, he could practically feel the weight of envious gazes burning into the chassis from every direction.

“With all these supplies you’ve bought… are you planning to stay in Sector 33 for the long haul?” Elena asked, turning her gaze from the passing ruins to Jax.

“That’s the plan,” Jax replied, his hands steady on the wheel. “We didn’t have the Credits before, but now we do. Naturally, it’s time to improve our quality of life.”

Elena frowned slightly. “I’ve heard it’s incredibly dangerous outside the Bastion’s walls. The Black Rain has only just stopped, and everyone says the Insect Swarm is on the verge of erupting. Are you sure you’re not worried?”

Jax shook his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Of course I’m worried. But compared to rotting away in the comfort of Redrock Bastion, we have to make a move. This Insect Swarm isn’t just a crisis, Elena. It’s an opportunity. If we play our cards right, the harvest will far outweigh the risk.”

Elena studied his profile. He felt… different. The man sitting beside her wasn’t the same person she had known before.

“You’ve changed,” she murmured. “You feel different than you used to.”

Jax glanced at her while steering with one hand. “Haha! People grow, don’t they?”

“Tch. I’d be a fool to believe that’s all it is,” Elena scoffed, though a warmth bloomed in her chest.

Living with the old Jax had been a lesson in despair—days spent barely scraping by, stealing moments of survival rather than actually living. Hearing him speak with such ambition and confidence stirred something in her. Perhaps this guy really had evolved overnight.

After fifteen minutes of navigating the rugged terrain, the pickup truck rumbled up to the valley entrance of Sector 33.

The area had been transformed. It was meticulously organized; piles of Sandworms and Rodent-Maw Creeper carcasses were stacked neatly in the hollows on either side. In the sun-drenched clearings, stacks of damp timber were drying out.

Before they even reached the core of the Outpost, the rhythmic clang, clang, clang of metal striking stone echoed through the air.

“Hmm? Is there someone else in the Outpost?” Jax muttered.

From the passenger seat, Elena squinted ahead. “I see people working over there.”

As the truck rolled to a halt near the platform, three figures came sprinting over—Gareth, flanked by Silas and Kaleb. They gripped their pickaxes tightly, eyes wide with tension as they stared at the approaching vehicle.

When the engine cut and the dust settled, Kaleb pointed excitedly. “It’s the Boss! The Boss is back!”

Gareth and Silas let out audible sighs of relief, their shoulders slumping as the tension left their bodies.

The doors opened. Jax stepped out, followed by Elena. The three men hurried forward to greet them.

“Boss, you’re okay!” Gareth said, though his sentence trailed off. His eyes had drifted, locking onto the stunning woman standing beside Jax. He blinked, clearly struck dumb.

Silas nudged past him, beaming. “Boss, is this the Miss Tang you mentioned?”

Jax nodded. “That’s right. Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Elena, Barnaby’s sister.”

He gestured to the trio. “Elena, meet the crew. This is Gareth, Guild Leader of The Dire Wolves. And these are his members, Silas and Kaleb.”

Elena offered a polite nod. “Hello.”

Gareth turned a deep shade of crimson as Elena acknowledged him. For a lovelorn old bachelor like him, her presence was overwhelming.

Noticing Gareth’s wandering eyes, Jax let out a sharp, deliberate cough. Ahem.

Gareth jolted, realizing his impropriety, and quickly averted his gaze, staring intently at his boots.

“Where’s Barnaby?” Jax asked.

Kaleb pointed toward the rear of the Outpost. “Barney’s in the back, chopping wood.”

Following his finger, Elena spotted a tall, broad-shouldered young man standing frozen in the distance, axe in hand. He looked dazed, staring blankly at the new arrivals.

Elena’s lips parted, but no sound came out. Tears welled up instantly, spilling over her cheeks.

“Barney!”

Recognizing her, Barnaby let out a loud wail, dropping his axe and sprinting toward her with the unbridled emotion of a child. He crashed into her, wrapping her in a bone-crushing hug, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Wuwuwu! Sister! I missed you so much!”

Elena hugged him back just as fiercely, tears streaming down her face. “I’m here, Barney. I’m here. Sister is back.”

Seeing the emotional reunion, Jax signaled the others to give them space. He walked a few paces away, the three men following.

“Alright, let’s get down to business,” Jax said, his tone shifting to professional. “Report on the work situation.”

Gareth nodded, digging into his pockets. He pulled out a heavy sack of glowing crystals. “This is what I’ve mined recently, Boss. 110 Energy Shards.”

Silas, unwilling to be outdone, produced an iron box from his jacket. He popped the lid to reveal a shimmering pile. “I dug up 135!”

Jax nodded, satisfied. “Mm. Not bad.”

Then, Kaleb stepped forward with a calm expression. He held up a cloth bag that clattered heavily as he moved. When he opened it, the sheer volume of light spilling out made the others blink.

“Good lord,” Silas muttered. “Did you get all those?”

Kaleb nodded. “Yeah. Mined them myself. 300 total.”

Silas and Gareth looked at him with a mix of envy and disbelief.

“Didn’t you say you only got 40 yesterday?” Gareth asked.

“Oh,” Kaleb shrugged. “That was just for yesterday. This is the total.”

Gareth turned to Jax, looking panicked. “Boss, listen, we really haven’t been slacking off! I swear!”

“Yeah, please believe us!” Silas added.

Jax chuckled, waving a hand to calm them. “I know. I’m aware of how the mechanics work.”

He knew the yield of the Energy Shards wasn’t strictly linear. A Tier 1 Extraction Well had a hard cap—a maximum daily output of 50 shards. Even if a miner lived inside the well 24/7, they couldn’t squeeze out more than that.

Jax ran the numbers in his head. In the few days he had been gone, the trio’s proficiency had clearly spiked. Initially, they were scraping by with 10 or 15 shards a day. Now, Gareth and Silas were hitting 20-plus, and Kaleb—whose proficiency was rising fastest—was consistently hitting nearly 40 a day solo.

“Relax,” Jax said. “The Extraction Well caps at 50 shards a day. You’re hitting the limit of what the current infrastructure allows. But don’t worry—once we expand, you’ll each get your own Extraction Well to manage.”

The anxiety on Gareth and Silas’s faces vanished, replaced by pure joy.

“So that’s it!” Gareth exclaimed. “I was wondering why the yield wouldn’t go up no matter how hard I dug!”

“If we get our own wells…” Silas’s eyes lit up. “Our output will skyrocket!”

Jax seized the moment. “Exactly. And moving forward, your pay will be performance-based. I’ve negotiated a deal with a buyer in Redrock Bastion. They’ll be coming to purchase the shards directly.”

The three men leaned in, hooked. “Someone is buying them? For real?”

“Yes,” Jax confirmed. “I’ll be opening a second Extraction Well soon. Any surplus Energy Shards you mine daily will be tracked, and you’ll receive dividends at the end of every month.”

The promise of profit hung in the air like a sweet scent.

“Boss, you serious? Reward for mining?”

“How much is the Reward?”

“Do we have to hit the 50 cap every day to qualify?”

Seeing the greed—the good kind of motivation—spark in their eyes, Jax smiled. “It’s a plan in motion, so don’t get too ahead of yourselves. But yes, keep mining as fast as you can. The more stock we have when the buyer arrives, the better.”

“No problem! We guarantee to complete the task!” Gareth saluted, practically vibrating with energy.

“Boss, when do we start? I can’t wait!” Silas added.

Jax shook his head with a wry smile. They had drilled straight into the ‘eye of money,’ obsessed with the promise of wealth. But he couldn’t blame them. For people at the bottom of the food chain, the dream of Credits was the only thing that kept them going. He had painted a big, delicious pie for them, and they were ready to feast.

“One more thing,” Jax said, his expression sobering. “What’s the status on the insect activity at night?”

Gareth pulled out a tattered notebook. “Actually, sightings are down. Compared to before, the number of insects appearing at night has dropped by more than half.”

Jax’s eyes narrowed. “Just as I thought. The calm before the storm.”

“Exactly. We need to prepare, and fast.”

Jax turned his gaze toward the platform, looking at the solitary defenses standing guard.

3 Defense Towers.

It wasn’t enough. Not even close.

He rubbed his chin, his mind racing. He needed to locate the Refined Iron and Stardust Stone deposits immediately. Once he secured those resources, he could mass-produce Defense Towers. Only then would they stand a chance against the coming tide.