The morning sun bled across the horizon, casting golden light over the waves as Kane stood on the island's shoreline. His mind was sharp, his body humming with the lingering strength of his profession awakening. Now was no longer the time to simply defend. It was time to expand, search, and reclaim.
The drone formations hovered in precise silence above him, two groups breaking apart like disciplined soldiers awaiting command.
"From today," Kane's voice carried with iron steadiness, "we move beyond this island. Survival is no longer enough—we'll search, we'll rescue, and we'll claim what's left of this world."
Behind him, Lena, Maya, Reina, and the others listened closely.
He raised his hand and began splitting the forces.
Team Alpha – Survivor Search
Objective: Sweep nearby coastlines and inland villages for survivors.
Composition: 2 drone groups (Assault + Scout focus).
Personnel: Lena, Maya, and 20 trained fighters.
Orders: Provide support fire, secure civilians, radio for extraction.
Team Beta – Naval Depot Raid
Objective: Investigate Harrowgate Naval Depot, assess usable ships, and locate potential submarines.
Composition: 2 drone groups (Missile + Heavy Assault).
Personnel: Kane, Reina, 15 fighters, and engineers.
Orders: Secure depot perimeter, recover naval assets, retrieve resources.
Kane's gaze hardened. "Alpha will move quietly. Survivors come first—they are our future strength. Beta moves with me. The naval depot is a gamble, but if we find ships… or even a submarine… then the seas will no longer be our cage."
Reina smiled faintly, clutching her mechanical toys that had now grown into monstrous war puppets. "Finally, something fun."
Lena adjusted her rifle and nodded. "We'll bring back anyone left breathing."
Maya grinned, sharp as ever. "And put down whatever isn't."
The drones flared with recognition signals as Kane transmitted the orders. Within seconds, their formations shifted, two distinct task forces peeling away in different directions.
Kane glanced once more at the map displayed on the portable console. Harrowgate Naval Depot was marked in crimson—it would not be unguarded. Mutants, or worse, could already be nesting there.
He breathed deeply, his Warlord aura radiating faintly across the fighters around him, sharpening their resolve.
"Let's move."
The first great expedition of his command had begun.
The roar of the boat's engine died as Kane and Beta team reached the massive, rust-stained silhouette of the Harrowgate Naval Depot. The sea breeze carried a foul stench—not of salt and rot, but of blood, oil, and something far worse.
Drones spread out in formation, cameras transmitting live feeds of shifting shadows among the abandoned warships. Kane narrowed his eyes. Mutants. And not the same ones they had fought earlier.
They came shambling first—misshapen figures, their human forms fused grotesquely with one another. Arms merged into jagged clubs of bone, torsos welded at odd angles, mouths screaming in chorus. Their eyes glowed faintly red, driven by instinct and hunger.
"System…" Kane muttered, watching the data scroll across his interface.
[New Mutant Type Detected – Fused Aberration]• Origin: Multiple humans forcibly fused during corruption.• Strength: High endurance, unstable strength.• Weakness: Central core exposed at the chest.• Drop Rate: Increased experience, system coins, rare material – [Fused Biomass].
"Perfect," Kane growled, eyes sharp. "All drones—engage."
The drones screamed overhead, unleashing missiles and bursts of heavy gunfire. Explosions tore through the fused monsters, each kill releasing surges of experience and coins. Notifications flooded Kane's interface:
[+250 EXP | +120 Coins | Material Obtained: Fused Biomass][+210 EXP | +98 Coins | Material Obtained: Hardened Bone Shards]
The fighters joined in, rifles blazing, while Kane himself leveled his modified weaponry to tear through the larger mutants. Each fused abomination that fell released valuable crafting materials, perfect for drone upgrades and future engineering projects.
By the time the depot's outer yard was secured, the ground was littered with corpses, and Kane's coin balance had surged.
They pressed deeper into the depot. There, looming like titans over the ruined docks, sat two aircraft carriers—their steel hulls battered but intact. Beside them, half-submerged in shadow, was a sleek attack submarine.
The system chimed in Kane's ear:
[Naval Assets Detected]
• Status: Compatible with System Enhancement.
• Ammunition & Energy Source: Unlimited (System Integrated).
• Function: Fully Restored.
Kane smirked. "Perfect."
He turned to the engineers, their faces pale with awe. "Take the carriers and the submarine back to the island. They're ours now. Move out with the escort fighters."
The engineers saluted, rushing aboard the vessels as drones circled overhead in protective formations. Soon, the deep rumble of awakened engines echoed across the waves—the impossible sight of the three great machines leaving port under Kane's flag.
Kane, Reina, and two remaining fighters stayed behind. The naval depot was vast, and there was still a chance of survivors. They combed through bunkers, shattered offices, and underground barracks, the silence oppressive.
Then they found them.
Two figures slumped against a wall, drenched in blood, breaths shallow and ragged. Their uniforms were torn, their bodies mutilated beyond repair. One of the women weakly raised her hand as they entered.
"P… please…" she gasped, eyes swimming with desperation. "Our sisters… they're… still alive… in the college… near the city library…"
Kane's jaw tightened. He instinctively stepped forward, but Reina was at his side, her bright eyes wide. He knelt, gently turning her face away and covering her eyes with his hand. "Don't look, Reina. Some things you don't need to see."
Her small voice trembled. "Are they… dying?"
"…Yes," Kane admitted quietly. "And we can't save them."
The dying survivor choked, blood flecking her lips. "Please… save… them…"
The light faded from her eyes before Kane could answer. Her companion slumped silently beside her, gone.
Reina's toys shifted restlessly, towering giants radiating silent anger. Kane exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stand. "We'll find them. I swear it."
As they left the depot's inner chambers, Kane's system chimed again.
[Skill Points Available: 3]
[Upgrade Recommendations Available]
Kane didn't hesitate.
1 Skill Point: Upgraded [Drone Deployment] – Maneuverability and Attack Power +5%.
1 Skill Point: Purchased [Shockwave Burst] – A defensive skill generating concussive force around the user.
1 Skill Point: Purchased [Enhanced Command Link] – Expands effective control range of drones, improves group synchronization.
[Skill Upgrade Complete]
[Drone Deployment upgraded – Tactical Maneuvering Efficiency increased.]
[New Skills Acquired: Shockwave Burst | Enhanced Command Link]
Kane clenched his fists, feeling the power surging through his system. "With this… nothing will stop us."
He looked at Reina, then at the two fighters. "We move. The college is near the city library. If those twins are alive, we'll find them."
The drones overhead shifted formation, shadows cutting across the ruined depot. Kane's orders carried on the wind, sharp as steel.
The hunt for survivors—and vengeance—had only just begun.
The island's barrier shimmered faintly in the distance as Kane's boat cut across the water, its hull gliding smooth under the drone escort. Reina leaned against him, exhausted from the day's ordeal, her toys marching silently along the deck in their reduced forms, standing guard even in the girl's sleepiness.
The two fighters sat opposite Kane, quiet, their minds heavy with the sight of the dying women back at the naval depot. They said nothing, but their silence spoke louder than words.
As they finally docked, Kane exhaled a breath of relief. The familiar rocky shoreline, the watchtowers, and the hum of drones stationed above gave him comfort. They had made it back.
But before Kane could step onto the pier, a distant roar of another boat engine echoed across the waves. Kane's head snapped toward the horizon, drones instantly shifting into attack-ready formation.
"Another vessel?" one fighter muttered, hand tightening around his weapon.
The boat drew closer, and Kane recognized the faces aboard. Relief softened his hardened gaze.
"Lena… Maya."
The second boat slid into port alongside theirs. Lena stood tall at the bow, rifle in hand, while Maya waved with her usual calm smile. Behind them, ten weary but alive survivors sat huddled together, their expressions a mix of fear and disbelief at the sanctuary before them.
Kane stepped off his boat, Reina clutching his sleeve as she peeked curiously at the newcomers. "They found people…" she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.
Lena hopped down, boots hitting the pier with a solid thud. "We swept the coastline east of the city. Found them hiding in a collapsed storehouse. Took some fighting, but we brought them out."
Maya followed, her face bright but tired. "Ten survivors. Two are injured, but stable. They'll live."
Kane's sharp gaze shifted behind them—twenty fighters stood on the boat, armored, disciplined, and strong. His lips curled into a small smirk. They looked different. Sharper. Stronger. The unmistakable glow of the system shimmered faintly around them.
"Report," Kane ordered.
One of the fighters stepped forward, saluting. "Commander, while en route, we all received profession quests. Twenty of us, all at once. The system said our paths are linked to who we are, what we've been through… and what we can become."
Another fighter spoke, voice trembling with excitement. "Ten of the quests… they aren't combat-based. They're tied to what we lived through. My family ran farms—I was given a quest for [Agricultural Overseer]. Another one here, he worked with machines—his quest is [Forge Engineer]."
Kane's brows rose. That confirmed it. The system didn't just hand out professions at random. It shaped them from the core of a person's life, their skills, and their struggles.
"Good," Kane said firmly, scanning the group. "That means the system is giving us what we need. Specialists. Builders. Farmers. Fighters. All roles that will keep us alive."
Maya crossed her arms, her smile fading into a serious expression. "And the other ten? All fighters. All their quests are combat-related. Raiders, Snipers, Shieldbearers. It's like the system itself is dividing us into what we'll need most."
Lena added, "But it won't be easy. Each profession quest is… personal. Some require them to face their own fears. Others demand real battles to prove their worth."
Kane nodded slowly. "Then they'll complete them. One way or another."
The ten survivors were guided off the boat, their eyes wide as they took in the fortified island. Reina broke away from Kane and darted forward, tugging at one girl's hand—a girl about her age. For the first time in hours, Reina laughed as the children began to play together on the dock.
The specialists—Selene, Amara, Ivy, and Nadia—rushed to greet the new arrivals, offering water and guiding them toward the housing quarters. Relief swept through the air like a cool breeze, lightening the tension if only for a moment.
Kane allowed himself a small breath. This… this was the kind of victory they needed. Not just weapons. Not just ships. People. Hope.
The system chimed again for all who had returned from the expedition:
[Profession Quests Assigned – Pending Completion]• Professions will grant additional stat growth, unique skills, and enhanced survival traits.• Professions are tied to personal struggle and history. Completion is mandatory to unlock progression beyond Level 10.
The fighters buzzed with anticipation, murmuring about their quests. Some looked confident, others pale with dread at the trials ahead. But all of them understood one thing: the path forward was no longer just survival. It was growth.
Kane stood tall, voice carrying over the group. "Listen well. Professions aren't a gift. They're a responsibility. Complete your quests, earn your strength. This island will survive because every single one of us pulls their weight."
The fighters straightened at his words, nodding firmly.
Reina tugged at Kane's sleeve again, her wide eyes bright as she pointed to the survivors' children now laughing with her toys. "See, Brother? We saved them. We can save more too."
Kane's expression softened, just for her. "Yes, Reina. We will."
He turned his eyes back toward the dark horizon, where the city loomed like a sleeping beast. The naval carriers were theirs. The submarine was theirs. Survivors had been rescued. Professions had been unlocked.
But the real war had only just begun.