" Ace, come here " Derek swallowed the bitterness in his heart and called the Assistant Bot.

" Master ", it responded, going down on one knee

" Excellent", Derek said in his heart, satisfied with its address, then with a straight face, he handed the blueprints for the power plant and the greenhouse system.

" Can you replicate the structures on the blueprints? " Derek asked.

The bot did not answer immediately, but it scanned the blueprint sheets, its blue android eyes beeping.

" Yes, master, these structures can be replicated", it answered.

" How long will it take? "

" Master, it will take two days and an hour "

" Excellent ", Derek said, then pointed to the crates. "These are the two core modules needed for the two structures to function. Have them installed as soon as the corresponding structures are installed "

Ace turned its glowing gaze to the vast open space of the wrecked city terrain around them. A silence fell. Then—

"Understood, Master. Where should the facilities be built?

"...Right." Derek paused. He hadn't thought that far ahead. He had no coordinates and no idea if building a greenhouse near a mana reactor was an A+ survival move or a recipe for plant-based explosions.

He could feel Yvalna's stare stabbing into his back

With practised nonchalance, Derek pulled out the full base blueprint and handed it over.

"Match the layout with what you scanned. Pick a location that fits perfectly. You're the assistant—assist."

"Very well, Master," Ace said, already calculating, fixing things he hadn't even noticed were broken.

Derek folded his arms like a boss who had a plan all along, pretending not to hear Yvalna chuckle behind him.

Ace eyes beeped, and the other drones beeped to life. They went over and carried off the crates and followed the Commander Bot.

Derek had no idea where they were going to build it, but he did not bother to ask. " Ah, how relaxing when you have an efficient subordinate, not like someone I know ", Derek said aloud, hoping Yvalna would hear.

However, she made no effort to respond. Derek's lips curled up in disdain.

"Alright, fly me back to the shelter. I need to check on Maya."

"Hmph... Walk yourself. I was summoned to fight, not to be your personal aircraft," Yvalna snapped. Then, without warning, she leapt into the air, wind wings bursting from her back, and with a thunderous boom, she rocketed skyward, vanishing into the clouds and Derek's rising frustration.

"...Damn it." He stood there blinking, the wind from her takeoff ruffling his coat. If he hadn't just burned through all his Credits, he'd have dropped every last one on a flying skill. Even a janky one. At this point, he'd settle for a hoverboard with attitude.

After gazing into the distance for a while, He made a call. Andrew's voice came from the other end.

" Sir, you called me "

Derek's brow rose in surprise, then he remembered. After giving them the mana stones, of course, their attitude towards him would change.

"First, get your squad to the Paleview College Shelter. You've got thirty minutes. Also, if you spot a bunch of sleek drones led by an android? Don't be a hero. Let them do their thing."

Derek ended the call before the guy could even blink, let alone reply.

He stepped onto the rooftop edge, cracked his neck, and muttered, "Can't fly like Superman… but landing like the Hulk works just fine."

And then he jumped into the sky.

__________________

Paleview City College Shelter:

Derek landed on the roof of one of the buildings and then climbed down. When he finally found Maya in the secluded court, he was shocked to see that she could already shoot Ice spikes.

" Isn't this talent too exaggerated?... She is not going to outlevel me, is she? "

When Maya saw him, she stopped and ran to him, excitedly, " Sister Yvalna taught me some new tricks, impressive, right? "

" Sister Yvalna? " Derek thought, then he saw her sitting in the corner, her eyes gazing into the distance.

" I did not think she was that good of a teacher" Derek thought, " She seems like someone with a story. Should I ask her about her previous world?"

Just then, Derek's communicator pinged, and Andrew's voice came through.

" We've arrived, Sir "

" Okay "

Derek replied and turned to Maya and Yvalana, "Let's go "

" Where? "

" Your training ", Derek replied with a faint smile.

The rumble of engines broke the eerie stillness as three military SUVs emerged from the cracked asphalt roads and pulled up to the shelter gates. Dust clouds swirled around the wheels as the vehicles halted in formation, their matte-black surfaces reflecting the amber hue of the setting sun. Doors opened with mechanical precision, and the Genesis Squad disembarked—armoured, alert, and ready for battle.

Derek stood near the entrance, arms folded, his expression unreadable. Maya stood to his left, practically buzzing with nervous energy, while Yvalna leaned casually against a shattered concrete pillar, her presence quiet and imposing.

Andrew was the first to approach, his team fanning out behind him with practised discipline. He saluted with a sharp nod.

"Reporting as ordered, sir."

Derek returned the gesture, his tone calm but firm. "Good. We've got work to do. Several mutated beasts remain hidden throughout the city. Our job is to find and eliminate every last one of them."

Andrew's gaze drifted briefly to Maya and Yvalna. "And the two behind you?"

"They're new awakeners," Derek replied without hesitation. "They'll be joining us for the sweep. Watch their backs, but don't coddle them. They can handle themselves."

Maya puffed out her chest slightly at the praise, while Yvalna said nothing, merely offering a faint, enigmatic smile.

Andrew gave a short nod. "Understood."

"Gear up. Move in five."

The first SUV rolled forward, headlights slicing through the dusk.In its shadow, Derek stood still.The city still had monsters.

But now... it had hunters

The convoy of matte-black SUVs rolled out of the safe zone, engines growling as they navigated the cratered streets. Their tires crunched over broken glass and scorched earth, a quiet reminder of how far civilization had fallen.

Derek stepped out of the lead vehicle, the wind tugging at his coat as he surveyed the desolate cityscape. Gutted buildings loomed around them like skeletal giants, and the sky overhead was painted with grey clouds that threatened rain—or worse.

A/N :

Thanks for all the previous monthly tickets ad recommendation tickets, if you are liking this book so far, then do well to send them coming.

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