Max was focused on the rifles of the Reapers. His team used various baits within the smoke to make them waste their rifle energy. As soon as he noticed the light in the rifles dimming, he knew it was time. They’re empty. "Charge!" As soon as he gave the command, his team of six Survivors moved closer to overwhelm the Reapers with their guns. There was also a group of five more people led by Rene, who was busy reloading revolvers and waiting for their chance. They had already learned from the previous battle, so Max had created a small team assigned specifically to reload the guns. Meanwhile, the Reapers lowered their weapons, switching to melee. Their arms extended as blades snapped out from hidden compartments. "Now it’s our turn," Max muttered as he raised his revolver, firing point‑blank into a Reaper’s optic. Since they were no longer hiding in the smoke, they could finally focus on shooting from a distance. Clang! Clang! Clang! This time, their shots were more ac

The reason why Max wanted to know more about their past was simple... They lacked information. The existence of a nearby shelter, the surrounding territories, the location of the A.I. Army’s base, the talent they possess, and even random things about this world that could be helpful... All of these were vital to understanding their situation. They knew too little about their enemies and their surroundings. After all, they needed to find a method to deal with each type of Mechanical Soldier. The Reapers no longer seemed invincible after learning the limitations of their sensors, their rifles, and their turning rate. Surely, the Hounds, Swarmers, and other Mechanical Soldiers must have weaknesses they could exploit if they wanted to survive the three days, or even just the remaining hours, of the Mech Siege. ’But not even five hours passed from the Mech Siege... The difficulty will definitely increase as time passes. We have no time to rest.’ Max thought as he checked his curre

The survivors were stunned as the latest notifications appeared before their eyes. Jett’s hands trembled as he held up the first glowing orb. "This... W-we did it!!" he exclaimed, though his grip was careful, unsure how fragile it might be. Ryan and Xander quickly joined him, prying open the other two fallen Reapers. Within minutes, three identical cores had been gathered, each one radiating a steady glow of blue light.. For a moment, no one spoke. Then Ryan broke into a grin. At this point, his voice was shaking with excitement. "We finally found it... the way forward! This is how we break past Level 5!" Xander laughed, unable to contain his relief. "I thought we’d be stuck here for days. I even wondered if the Mech Siege’s reward would be the breakthrough method. But now... now we can actually level up." He clutched the empty Plasma Rifle tightly, silently thankful for the weapon that had made this Jetty possible. Jett’s pale face also lit up with pride. "I knew salvaging

Max ultimately accepted the Passive Skill he had received. Whether it was useful immediately or not did not change the fact that Bio-Adaptive Constitution was an incredible ability. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how valuable it could become in the future. If humanity survived long enough to develop advanced implants, cybernetic replacements, or genetic enhancements, his body would be ready for them. He would not have to worry about rejection, complications, or the possibility of his own body turning against foreign modifications. The skill practically guaranteed compatibility with whatever changes lay ahead. “Damn…” Max muttered quietly. Even now, he was still trying to fully grasp what he had gained. Sure, it would not help him destroy Mechanical Soldiers today. It would not make him stronger in the middle of the current siege. But not every reward needed to provide immediate results. Some abilities were investments, tools that revealed their true value

Frank felt the cost the moment Pathfinder activated. A wave of weakness spread through his body as thirty Spirit Points disappeared at once. It felt as though something had been pulled straight out of his bones. His legs wobbled slightly, and even with adrenaline keeping him upright, a heavy fatigue settled into his limbs. “Tsk… this is way too much…” He checked his status with a tight frown. [ Spirit: 4/54 ] The number alone made his expression darken. Compared to people like Max and the other survivors who had access to Gene Serums and better resources, Frank was effectively starting from the bottom. Inside The Container, the strongest assets always came first. Gene Serums, enhancement materials, rare rewards, everything had been funneled toward the Augmented Humans who defended the shelter. Frank understood the logic behind it. It was the rational choice in a place like this. But the result was simple. His own progress had been painfully slow. He had begun with fifty