Chapter 309: The Status Crystal and the Construction
"Miniature pulse mine for only 1 RP? You’re all mine!" Kai exclaimed as he saw the first item.
Of course, it was cheaper compared to the previous pulse mines because of its limited range, but Kai was already satisfied with this.
He immediately purchased them all, leaving him with only 60 Points.
Then, he continued checking the other items. If he spent more, he probably had to complete more Guild Missions to get a few more Reputation Points, but he didn’t mind.
He needed to rebuild his base since he had no idea when the floating cities would act up again.
[ Muscle Fiber Enhancer ] [ 10/10 ]
[ Cost: 3 RP ]
[ Effect: A single‑use injectable serum that temporarily strengthens muscle fibers. Increases Strength and Endurance by 25% for 30 minutes. ]
[ Note: Overuse may cause muscle tearing and fatigue. ]
[ High‑Jump Boots ] [ 5/5 ]
[ Cost: 3 RP ]
[ Effect: Mystical boots with movement amplifiers. Allows the wearer to leap up to 6 meters vertically or 10 meters horizontally. ]
[ Note: Spirit Points must be paid after each use. ]
[ Nightly Vitality Tonic ] [ 15/15 ]
[ Cost: 3 RP ]
[ Effect: A rare tonic designed to restore and enhance natural vitality. Permanently improves reproductive health, stamina, and overall physical vigor regardless of age or prior damage. ]
They were all quite interesting...
’Nightly, huh...’
Kai chuckled as he knew exactly about its real purpose.
Anyway, it wasn’t the most important item just yet.
[ Spirit Pill ] [ 5/5 ]
[ Cost: 100 RP ] [ Effect: A rare alchemical pill that permanently increases the user’s maximum Spirit Points by 100 ]
[ Note: Extremely rare. Only compatible with survivors who have stable constitutions. Risk of rejection if consumed recklessly. ]
"What?" Kai was shocked to see the item being sold.
It was a permanent increase, and it wasn’t a measly ten points, it was a hundred points!
That would give him a huge advantage. After all, he could cast several more Gene Skills with that much.
***
In the meantime, Tomas wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked at their new shelter, the Codebreakers Shelter...
The sun was high up in the red sky as he hauled another slab of stone into place.
His arms ached, but his Iron Skin passive skill made the strain bearable.
Even at Level 0, it gave him resilience that others lacked... Thanks to that, cuts from sharp rock barely scratched him, bruises faded quickly, and the blunt force of heavy lifting didn’t cripple his muscles the way it did for the younger survivors.
Weeks ago, when the Status Crystal revealed his level and skill, Tomas had felt a surge of pride. He was actually Level 5, and it wasn’t extraordinary compared to the Guild’s elites, but for someone who barely gotten a reward of Golden Liquid before, it meant that he had some talent.
Then, during the siege of the Fangs and the B‑Rank Sentinels, he had stood at the front, firing grenade launchers at close range.
The explosions rattled his bones, but Iron Skin kept him steady. Without it, he might have been torn apart.
Now, though, since he hadn’t checked his status in weeks, he wondered if his mastery had improved, if Iron Skin had grown tougher, or if another skill had awakened.
The thought lingered as he worked, but for now, orders were orders.
Nadia had assigned him to wall construction, and Tomas knew his strength was needed here.
The wall itself was ambitious.
They weren’t covering the entire town... that would take months that they didn’t have.
Instead, the Guild had decided to fortify one‑quarter of the settlement and inaugurated the Codebreakers Shelter.
The plan was to build a two‑meter‑thick stone wall around this section, reinforced with steel beams scavenged from collapsed warehouses.
Tomas grunted as he lifted another block, setting it into place beside Enzo’s team.
Looking around, everyone was busy.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
He heard the pounding of hammers.
Scrape! Scrape! Scrape!
There was also the grinding of stone against stone.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Finally, there was the ringing sound of steel rods being driven into the foundation.
Dozens of survivors worked side by side.
Their hands were already blistered from labor, but thanks to their warm food and some potions, they were able to work efficiently...
Some carried timber, others mixed mortar, while the stronger ones, like Tomas, hauled stone. The wall was rising slowly, but it was at a steady pace.
He paused for a moment and took a break by leaning against the half‑finished barrier. From here, he could see the outline of the town... broken streets, shattered buildings, the temporary tents, and the Modified Sentinels patrolling.
Well, these X-Series of Sentinels weren’t that capable of complex tasks just yet.
They were only good at combat, but definitely not at tasks involving construction. They’d cause more trouble.
Nonetheless, beyond the perimeter, the wilderness stretched. They had no idea if there would be another attack, so they had to hurry with their work.
Tomas then whispered a prayer... "Please, let the Advanced Barrier Generator activate soon..."
That device was their true hope. Once powered, it would project a barrier field over the walls, amplifying their strength and repelling assaults.
Without it, the stone wall was only a first line of defense. Against another wave of B‑Rank Sentinels, or worse, it might not be enough.
Still, Tomas kept working.
Each stone was important, and they were hoping that it would be completed within a week, or at the very least, if they didn’t run out of stone.
Clank... Clank... Clank...
Nearby, Tomas heard the sound of mechanical joints and realized that Renji’s androids were carrying beams...
Unlike the X-Series of Sentinels, these ones were more adept at controlling their strength and balance. They could also receive complicated instructions, allowing them to be helpful in construction.
At this time, Tomas noticed how Nadia supervised from the scaffolding... She was still as beautiful as well.
Then, he saw Steven and Juno inspecting the firing positions along the wall.
They seemed to be making sure that they could defend properly... Everyone had a role.
Tomas’s role was simple... use his strength.
As soon as he rested for a bit, he finally got back to work...
As the sun dipped lower, shadows stretched across the construction site.
The wall was already waist‑high in some places, nearly complete in others. Tomas felt his muscles burn, but he kept going, stone after stone, beam after beam.
Later on, he heard that they could use the Status Crystal again. It would be available for 50 people. He had to line up after this.
He imagined the Status Crystal glowing again, showing him not just Level 5, but perhaps Level 6. Maybe Iron Skin had reached Level 1, granting him resistance to blades or even bullets.
The thought made him smile faintly.
’Hehe... Maybe I can request a Gene Skill Crystal or something...’
"Hey, Tomas! What are you doing?" Henry called from the scaffolding. "We need another load on the west side. Think you can manage?"
Tomas nodded, hefting another slab onto his shoulder. "On it."
The weight pressed down, but his body held firm.
Iron Skin absorbed the strain, and his muscles refused to give in.
He trudged across the site, setting the stone into place with a grunt...
"I can do this... The dinner will be super tasty later."
Just like that, the wall rose higher.
The Guild’s shelter grew stronger and soon, the work for the day was over...
It was already eight in the evening, but none of them minded it at all.
Now, it was time for dinner!
***
Dinner that evening was a welcome relief after the long hours of construction.
Mila, the shelter’s chef, had taken charge of the warehouse supplies and transformed the scattered rations into something hearty and comforting...
From vacuum‑sealed packs, she prepared steaming bowls of instant soup, adding some vegetables and a touch of protein concentrate to thicken the broth.
Canned goods were opened and simmered together with some beans, corn, and meat chunks, creating a stew that smelled far richer than its humble ingredients.
On another stove, she boiled instant noodles, mixing them with mayonnaise and canned tuna to make a creamy, filling dish.
Granola bars were crumbled into bowls alongside dried fruits and nuts, turning them into a sweet dessert.
Coffee sachets and tea bags were brewed in large kettles as well. Of course, for those who don’t drink coffee, fruit juice packs were chilled in basins of cold water, ready to refresh the exhausted workers.
By the time the food was laid out, the survivors gathered eagerly...
Mila also moved among them, making sure everyone had enough.
"Thanks for the meal!"
Tomas ate quickly, savoring the warmth of the soup and the crunch of nuts. Soon, he felt renewed. When the meal ended, he stood and stretched, then made his way across the open field.
There, a tent had been set up, and inside it was the Status Crystal that everyone could use!
It was only available for 50 people, so he didn’t want to be late.
As soon as he got closer, he soon heard some exclamations inside!
"Whooo! Amer! You got a new Gene Skill?! Awesome!"
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