The heavy gates creaked open as Max stepped outside the shelter, with Atom following closely behind.The Reaper’s black armor looked completely different from before, so new and refined that several people did not recognize it at first.“Trust me… That’s an Evolved Atom!” Max could only say as the others stared at the Reaper with a mixture of curiosity and caution.“Awesome…”“That looks beautiful.”“I want to have one as well. Wait… Are you going to hunt outside, Sir Max?” one of the guards asked.“We’re just going to spar. I don’t think it’s appropriate to use the training grounds,” Max replied.Once the residents heard that Max and Atom were about to spar, curiosity spread quickly. Even the escorts of the Merchant Caravan became interested. They were preparing to leave the shelter soon, so a fight between Max and an evolved S-Grade Reaper was certainly better entertainment than standing around.Within moments, several survivors had gathered along the ramparts above and leaned over

While everyone did their best to accumulate more Survivor Medals, the Global Notification finally appeared.Every Foreign Survivor across the continent received the same message.“Ahh! Just three hours left. I only gathered 12 Survivor Medals.”“Shit… Why are C-Grade Energy Cores only worth 0.10 Points each anyway?!”“Three hours… I still need at least 20 more. What am I supposed to offer the Gene Trader now?”The World Chat became increasingly noisy as survivors rushed to find anything they could exchange for more points.[ Joseph: Hey, don’t panic. Remember, rare resources convert better. If you have a whole A.I. Unit like Spyder, Tyrant, and even their Gunships, you’ll earn better. With Unique items, the rate jumps significantly. ][ Eliza: Easy for you to say! I only have scraps from the mines. The Gene Trader barely gave me anything for them. ][ Aya: You should’ve joined our Codebreakers Guild. Almost all members of the Codebreakers already have their tokens secured. ][ Lesley:

Max tilted his head slightly as he met the eyes of the men surrounding him.Their hands were still gripping his shoulders, but Max did not move.Then one of his titles activated.[ Title: Strongest One ][ Effect: Increases all base attributes (Strength, Agility, Endurance, Perception) by +5%. ][ Passive Effect: Intimidation aura triggered against lower-ranked human enemies. ]His higher Physique Rating had already made it impossible for them to force him anywhere. Now, without Max consciously doing anything, a faint pressure began to spread from his body.It was almost impossible to see or explain, yet the men felt it immediately.The atmosphere around them seemed to grow colder.Their confidence began to disappear.The hands gripping Max’s shoulders loosened, and the men exchanged uncertain looks as they tried to understand what had suddenly changed.A moment ago, they had only been interested in his unusual suit.Now, they could feel something else.His presence carried the weight

The crowd roared in response.Everyone had been curious about the Black Market Auction from the moment they entered the arena. None of them knew what kind of items would appear.Would they be similar to the goods sold outside, or would the Auction offer something far better?Whatever the answer, everyone wanted to find out. Survivors checked their remaining Survivor Medals and prepared themselves.Without delay, the auctioneer raised her hand.The first item appeared on the enormous display screens hovering above the arena.[ Item: Third-Eye Injector ][ Description: A Gene Mutation serum that guarantees the mutation of a Third Eye. Grants the user the ability of Energy Detection that perceives Spirit flows, hidden power sources, and illusions. ]The woman smiled when she saw the crowd’s reaction.“To welcome you all, the first item is a set of twelve Third-Eye Injectors. A single mutation serum guarantees the awakening of a Third Eye with almost zero negative effects. With it, you wi

The Auction Realm had thousands of visitors, yet the place remained surprisingly organized. Guards patrolled the streets while the Survivors themselves made an effort to follow the rules. After all, nobody wanted to be removed from this mysterious realm after finally earning a chance to enter.More than ten hours had passed since the auction began, but the market was still overflowing with activity. Bridges glowed faintly above the streets, stalls stretched in endless rows, and Survivors continued bargaining with merchants, each hoping to turn their limited Survivor Medals into something useful.Aya, Riyah, and Marissa moved through the crowd together. Their full black gear covered them from head to toe, leaving none of their faces exposed. Wherever they went, people naturally turned to look.Survivors nudged one another and whispered among themselves. The three women looked striking in their matching outfits, especially with their physiques clearly outlined beneath the fitted gear. T