Global Awakening: Infinite Gift Pack System

Meanwhile, the swamp village, what Angelo and his men now called Haven‑28, had been eerily quiet after the Global Event. The fog had thickened over the settlement, protecting them from outside interference, but it didn’t matter right now...

Angelo stood at the edge of their makeshift graveyard, staring at the rows of markers jutting from the mud.

Seventeen of his people had fallen during the seven‑day ordeal. The fog that cloaked their settlement had not been enough to protect them from the unending sweeps of Drones, Hunters, Swarmers, Hounds, and Dominion units.

The graves were simple.

Wooden planks carved from scavenged debris marked some with names, while others were left blank because no one could remember them.

In the chaos of battle, identities had been lost. Angelo sighed as he counted them again...

Seventeen.

A huge chunk of their strength was gone.

During the event, the swamp had slowed the Hounds since their mechanical limbs struggled in the waste.

But the drones and swarmers had no such weakness. They flew above the fog, scanning without issues.

The Dominion units had been the worst. Those alien‑like vessels carrying Bomber Swarmers were terrifying...

Each time they rained destruction from the skies, someone died. Even their traps, sharpened stakes, hidden pits, and crude barricades, had been little more than a delay.

"I need more Serums and Energy Cores..." Angelo muttered as he looked at the salvaged enemy units piled nearby.

Most of them were Hunters.

These units had been terrifying in their own right. With two mechanical tentacles sprouting from their backs, they moved swiftly, climbing walls, leaping barricades, and dragging survivors into the dark.

Angelo still remembered the screams when one of his men was snatched and torn apart before they could intervene.

Yet despite the losses, they had survived thanks to their fuel reserves and the grit of their elite members with special Gene Skills.

"All your sacrifices made us stronger... We will never forget your contribution," Angelo whispered, before he turned back toward the village.

The forty‑two people who remained were hardened survivors now.

Angelo’s "elite" crew had fought tooth and nail, and the System had rewarded them.

They unlocked new Gene Skills... abilities that sharpened reflexes, strengthened endurance, and heightened senses.

Furthermore, they had scavenged better iron plating from fallen Dominion units, reforging them into blades and armor.

And most importantly, they had looted eighteen Plasma Rifles.

The rifles came from an Impulse Ship they had managed to shoot down with their catapult.

It had been sheer luck... Apparently, the ship was transporting weapons elsewhere, and they crippled it enough to salvage the cargo.

Most rifles had five shots left, the lowest only two. None of them possessed the skill to recharge the weapons with Energy Cores, but Angelo wasn’t concerned. The rifles were trump cards, reserved for emergencies. For now, their crossbows, metal bolts, and the catapult would suffice.

"Alright, everyone... back to work!" Angelo ordered before he glanced at the small house with two Survivors in it...

Well, those two consumed Mutagenic Gene Enhancement Serums after the event ended, and apparently, they were undergoing transformation or mutation!

None of them had an idea if they would grow two heads, two pupils, or whatever mutation it was, but they were all looking forward to that...

For now, that had to wait...

Looking around, the settlement was actually small.

Aside from the original buildings and defensive lines, they had patched houses.

Still, the fog concealed their shortcomings from outsiders, so even if their houses weren’t heavily protected, it was fine for now...

"Guys... Do not disturb the two mutating Survivors. Stay clear." Angelo reminded himself as he walked around.

Soon, he met Jasmine, who was handling their food provisions.

Well, food was scarce. They rationed themselves to one meal per day, supplemented by a snack at night... usually dried leaves boiled into bitter tea.

The swamp provided some edible plants, but not enough to sustain them...

***

A few hours later, inside the largest shack, Angelo’s elite crews gathered.

They were the ones who had fought beside him during the event, the ones who had earned new Gene Skills.

One had developed enhanced vision, able to spot A.I. Units through the fog. Another had gained a skill that hardened his skin against shrapnel.

Angelo himself had unlocked a sharpshooter’s skill, allowing him to fire with high precision.

They sat around a crude table, as they needed to discuss their future...

"We lost too many," one muttered.

"Seventeen... we need to recruit new people. But our food resources must be improved first," another added bitterly.

Angelo nodded. "Food is the key. Without it, we can’t grow stronger. Even with crops planted, it will take months before they’re useful."

The men exchanged glances. They all knew scavenging wasn’t enough anymore. Their plan had to change.

"Sooner or later, we’ll have to loot that place..." Angelo said grimly.

They paused after hearing this... Everyone knew what he meant.

The previous A.I. base that had become a human shelter was the perfect target.

"They have fields of crops," Angelo continued.

"If we take that place, we’ll be set for life. No more rationing scraps, no more bitter tea. Real food and steady supplies."

James, one of his elites, leaned forward. "Then we equip all our Plasma Rifles. If we strike hard and fast, we can overwhelm them."

Angelo nodded... "They survived the event too. They’ll be stronger now, maybe even stronger than us. But they don’t have numbers. They must have suffered losses. If we hit them before they recover, we can win."

The room fell silent. The plan was dangerous, but hunger made men reckless.

Just then, the door burst open. A scout rushed in, breathless.

"We have company!"

The lieutenants stiffened with their hands reaching for weapons.

Angelo rose slowly, as he carried his Plasma Rifle...

"Company?" he repeated.

The scout nodded frantically. "Movement outside the fog. Not machines... humans."

Angelo’s lips curled into a thin smile. "Humans, huh? Then maybe fate has delivered our first opportunity."

Then, at the same time, another messenger came!

Apparently, the two Survivors in the safe house had already completed their mutation, and everyone was shocked by their appearance!