The morning was cold, but there was no rain. The sky, covered with gray clouds, seemed to remain silent out of respect.
The central courtyard of the base was full. Men, women, children, and the elderly all gathered around the new Memorial Monolith.
It was a massive black stone, hand-carved by the base's own residents, where the names of the ten fallen heroes shone in golden letters.
After surviving the 24-hour siege, the base was left exhausted. Ten more lives had been lost. Although the number was far fewer than the fifty lost during the last great horde, every loss was a wound.
A new section was added to the Memorial Monolith with the names of the fallen. There was silence, embraces, and tears.
Rob stepped onto the small platform in front of the Monolith. His face, though tired, held a powerful serenity.
Victoria, standing beside him, held Amélie in her arms, while Matthew stood tall with a maturity beyond his years.
Rob took a deep breath and began to speak.
• "Today, we gather not just to mourn, but to honor," he said, his voice clear and vibrant, echoing to the farthest corners of the plaza. "Each name carved into this stone is a testament of courage. Of love. Of sacrifice."
The crowd held its breath.
• "They did not die in vain. Thanks to them, we are here today. Thanks to them, we'll be here tomorrow. And we will not forget. Ever."
Victoria, her voice emotional but steady, added:
• "They are our foundation. Our family. Our reason to keep fighting. Let's honor their memory by living with courage, by loving and protecting one another."
Soft sobs rose among the people.
A solemn silence enveloped the plaza as each person placed a flower in front of the Monolith.
The Reconstruction
When the ceremony ended, there were no grand speeches or forced applause.
There was action.
The bodies of the fallen mutant beasts were carefully stripped. Crystals, durable bones, thick hides, and organs with special properties were extracted. The entire base understood that, despite the pain, this trial had brought vital resources that could help them survive for the next two or three years.
The inhabitants of the base threw themselves into reconstruction with renewed energy.
Walls were repaired, watchtowers reinforced, debris cleared.
Sorrow mixed with determination. Every hammer blow, every stone laid, was a silent promise: we will keep going.
Matthew organized the younger ones for light tasks.
Victoria, alongside the healers, tended to the wounded and coordinated the distribution of supplies.
Rob, sweaty and quiet, worked shoulder to shoulder with the others, not as a leader, but as one more among the bastion.
Apolo and Maya, towering and vigilant, stayed near the children, protecting them like true guardians.
At sunset, when the work briefly paused, Rob stood alone before the Monolith.
His gaze lingered on the engraved names.
He thought of each of them. Of their laughter, their shattered dreams, their final moments of courage.
A lump rose in his throat, but he didn't cry.
He silently swore that their deaths would not be in vain.
He swore he would do everything in his power to protect the living and honor the fallen.
Tomorrow, the Great Gathering would begin. He would search for survivors. Bring them together. Offer them a home.
Because that's what the fallen deserved: for life to go on.
For humanity to be reborn.
As he looked toward the horizon, Rob reflected:
"With every stone laid, with every wound healed, Rob felt the silent promise come alive once more: not just to endure... but to rebuild hope."
Organizing the Expedition
Days after the ceremony, Rob called a meeting in the center of the base.
"Today we begin the next step," he said, his voice firm yet hopeful. "We will go out and find the survivors. Those who still resist. Those who still dream of a future."
The residents were divided into four groups:
• Rescue Team: led by Alan.
• Defense Team: led by Marlon.
• Medical Team: coordinated by Victoria.
• Logistics Team: headed by Marcelo and other young talents.
Rob himself would lead the vanguard team.
Each group was equipped with weapons, medical supplies, survival tools, and short-range communication devices.
Morale was high. Everyone understood they were part of something bigger than themselves: the rebuilding of hope.
The Departure
Before leaving, Rob gathered everyone in the central plaza.
"We may not always succeed," he said, meeting each gaze, "but we will try. Because where there is life, there is hope."
A restrained ovation, full of emotion, rose from the crowd.
And so, they set off.
Their first routes took them to nearby towns where they believed survivors might still be found.
The roads were devastated—broken highways, ghost towns, mutated forests.
But the spirit of the expedition members was unshakable.
The First Rescue
In a small town called San Ignacio, they found their first group of survivors.
Thirty people—starving, frightened, but alive.
They had taken shelter in the basement of an old church, bravely protecting one another.
When they saw Rob and his group arrive, some fell to their knees, crying.
"Are you real?" a trembling woman asked.
"Yes," Rob replied with a warm smile. "We're here to take you home."
The emotion was overwhelming.
Food and first aid were distributed, and makeshift transport was arranged for the injured.
The Difficulties
Not everything went smoothly.
On the way back, they were ambushed by small packs of mutant beasts.
It wasn't anything they couldn't handle, but it was a brutal reminder that danger was never far.
When they returned to the base, the survivors were welcomed as heroes.
Hugs, tears, laughter.
For the first time in a long while, some could sleep without fear.
Matthew helped distribute blankets. Amélie, in Victoria's arms, laughed joyfully.
Apolo and Maya kept watch, ever the faithful guardians.
Rob, watching the scene, felt a mix of pride and sorrow.
He knew that each life saved was a victory.
But he also knew that thousands more were still out there—waiting to be rescued… or already lost forever.
Toward the Forgotten Lands
The base had proven itself a solid refuge, but Rob knew he couldn't stay enclosed forever.
With the first rescues completed, it was time to go further—into the most devastated zones.
Improvised maps marked razed towns, ghost cities, and mountain areas where survivors might remain.
It was a dangerous mission, but necessary.
Rob, Alan, Marlon, and a team of thirty warriors prepared to depart.
Apolo and Maya, now formidable beasts, led the vanguard.
Encounters with Horror
It didn't take long to find devastation.
Charred houses. Rusted vehicles. Corpses of both beasts and humans.
At an old rural school, they found a group of twenty survivors: children, elderly, and some young adults.
They trembled in fear, malnourished, their eyes empty.
With the patience of a father and the strength of a leader, Rob approached.
"Easy," he said, lowering his weapon. "We're here to help you."
Silent tears ran down faces marked by trauma.
Evacuation was organized immediately.
But things wouldn't remain simple for long.
The Human Threat
On the way back, Alan discovered crude but deadly traps: covered pits, wire snares, camouflaged spikes.
They were made by humans—looters.
Soon, their fears were confirmed.
A group of about fifteen looters, dangerously armed with improvised weapons, blocked the road.
Rob raised his fist, stopping the group.
"What do we do?" Marlon asked, tense.
Rob closed his eyes for a moment. He remembered the principles he had sworn to uphold: protect life, but never let darkness grow.
"I'll give them a chance," he said.
He stepped forward alone, without raising his weapon.
"Surrender!" he shouted. "You don't have to die. There's another way."
For a moment, there was silence.
Some looters hesitated. But others, blinded by desperation, attacked.
Rob didn't falter.
The battle was short, brutal, and precise.
Without losing innocent lives, the hostiles were neutralized.
Some surrendered and were taken captive. Rob offered them redemption: work and survival at the base, under strict rules.
Most accepted, crushed by their own despair.
The Return
The journey back was even harder.
A small horde of mutant beasts, drawn by the noise of the fight, ambushed them in a canyon.
Marlon and Alan coordinated the defense masterfully.
Rob, at the front, fought like an unleashed storm.
Apolo and Maya protected the children, fighting with supernatural ferocity.
After an exhausting hour, they managed to repel the attack.
There were injuries, but no deaths.
When the base saw them return—dragging the wounded but bringing back new survivors—a spontaneous ovation erupted.
Tears, hugs, renewed vows.
Rob smiled, exhausted but fulfilled.
The Expansion
Over the following year, Rob and several teams traveled across much of the country to rescue the few remaining Chilean survivors:
• Viña del Mar and Valparaíso: Practically destroyed by tsunamis and earthquakes. A few survivors were hiding in underground tunnels. They were rescued and brought to the bastion.
• Concepción and Valdivia: Completely wiped out. The silence said it all. There were no signs of life. Rob mourned the south.
• La Serena and Copiapó: Organized resistance. Small communities kept order. They agreed to join the bastion.
• Antofagasta: A human hell. A group of lunatics had enslaved the rest using their abilities. Rob led a rescue operation and executed the slavers. It was one of the toughest battles since the bastion's founding.
This event left a deep mark on Rob and his allies.
They understood that threats wouldn't always come from outside.
Evil could also be born within the human heart.
Rob's Reflection
That night, sitting in front of the Memorial Monolith, Rob thought about everything that had happened.
Saving lives was hard.
It required sacrifice, faith, and pain.
But giving up...
Giving up was not an option.
He looked at the stars once more and made a silent vow:
"I will protect this hope... no matter the cost."
Consolidating the Bastion
With the arrival of new survivors and the stabilization of resources collected after the great battle, Rob knew it was time to strengthen the base even further.
He called a general assembly in the central plaza.
"Today, we are not just a refuge," he said, his voice ringing clear. "We are a bastion of hope. To survive long-term, we must grow, adapt, and build a new society."
Under Rob's guidance, new divisions were created:
• Defense: led by Marlon, with his shield ability and protective instinct.
• Logistics and Distribution: Marcelo, efficient and precise.
• Agriculture and Production: Carla became the pillar of self-sustainability.
• Education: Pully, with firmness and love, trained the new generations.
• Support: Victoria was in charge of guiding and assisting those with support-type abilities.
• Research and Development: Alan, increasingly skilled, elevated the bastion's technology and defense.
Each division received its mission, and both new and veteran inhabitants accepted their roles enthusiastically.
Even the children had training programs adapted to their age.
The bastion was growing into a real society.
The Welcome
That afternoon, Rob organized a simple ceremony.
In the center of the plaza, in front of the Memorial Monolith, the new residents were called one by one and given a blue cloth bracelet: a symbol of belonging and hope.
"From today onward," Rob said, "you are not just survivors. You are builders of the future."
Applause, smiles, tears.
A community born from adversity, reinforced by hope.
Family Moment
That night, under a starry sky, Rob finally found a moment to spend with his family. He shared a quiet dinner with Victoria, Matthew, and Amélie.
Scenes of Matthew playing with Amélie, Victoria cooking while Rob sharpened his sword, and the family stargazing together offered a break from the constant tension.
Amélie, babbling clearer words each day, drew laughter from her parents.
Matthew, growing stronger by the day, proudly shared how he helped train the younger kids.
Victoria, leaning on Rob's shoulder, whispered:
"Thank you... for not giving up."
Rob kissed her forehead.
"Thank you... for being my strength."
Apolo and Maya, after feeding on the meat and crystals of powerful beasts, had grown to over two meters tall. Both had reached C rank and developed abilities: Apolo wielded darkness, Maya wielded light.
During a children's defense drill, Apolo executed a shadow-based infiltration tactic, and Maya emitted a blinding flash of light.
They evacuated the mock group of children flawlessly.
From then on, they were recognized as strategic guardians, not just pets.
They laughed. They played. They dreamed.
The Training
The next day, Rob launched a training program for the new recruits.
Basic exercises, self-defense techniques, survival tactics.
Not everyone would be a warrior, but everyone would learn how to protect themselves.
Even children, in age-appropriate ways, began to develop discipline and responsibility.
Alan, Victoria, and Marlon became pillars of the training process, each teaching from their own experience.
The New Mission
After confirming that the communication systems were still functioning intermittently, Rob recorded a message to broadcast across the networks:
"We are not just surviving here—we are rebuilding. If you are in Chile, if you're still alive, come. You will have a home here. If you have the will to live, we will give you hope."
The video went viral across the few active survivor channels.
Dozens of people arrived in the following weeks.
A week later, while Rob reviewed reports one night, the Survival System sent a notification:
"New Mission Activated! Special Mission: Continental Exploration – Phase 1: South America. Preparation required. Estimated time: 6 months."
Rob's heart pounded.
It was no longer just about Chile.
He had to expand across the continent, locate other bastions, and unite the surviving remnants of humanity.
The Chilean bastion was ready.
So was Rob.
The world needed him.
It was time to carry hope beyond Chile's borders.
Final Reflection
That early morning, Rob climbed the outer wall.
The cool wind brushed against his face as the first ray of sunlight appeared on the horizon.
He thought of his friends, his loved ones, all those who believed in him.
He knew the road ahead would be dangerous and uncertain.
But he also knew something deeper:
As long as his heart kept beating, humanity would still have a chance.
Rob clenched his fist and smiled.
The New Horizon was just beginning.
(End of Chapter 18. Preparing for the grand opening of Chapter 19: "The Promise of the Survivors")