Global Awakening: Infinite Gift Pack System-Chapter 77: Blocked

In Haven-45, Mila had never imagined herself leading people. She was the head of the sanitation crew, someone who spent most of her days keeping the underground base livable.

Her small team was tasked with scrubbing walls, disposing of waste, and making sure disease didn’t spread among the survivors. But after Kai and most of the fighters left to secure a new base, leadership fell to her.

Among the group left behind were two nurses, two cooks, three sanitation workers, including herself, one scout, and one boiler room operator.

None of them were soldiers. None of them had the strength to fight off another siege, but they were all equipped with a revolver.

Haven‑45 had already been battered by bombardments during the Mech Siege, and its walls were cracked and its tunnels were unstable. Every day, Mila worried that the ceiling might collapse while they slept.

Still, she kept them together.

She organized shifts, nurses helped organize the scavenged materials, cooks rationed what food Kai left for them, and the sanitation crew kept the underground air breathable. The boiler operator made sure the generators didn’t fail. Mila herself walked the halls constantly, speaking to each of them, reminding them that Kai had promised to return with good news.

After all, she noticed that some of them were already thinking that they had been abadoned after a day of not getting news!

Indeed, since the first day passed in silence and there was no word from Kai, they felt a little concerned.

Then, the second day dragged on, and fear gnawed at them. Some started arguing that maybe Kai and the others had been wiped out. Mila silenced those doubts quickly. "He will return," she said firmly.

"We just have to hold on."

Although she was also worried, she couldn’t just show it to them.

***

On the third day, just as despair was beginning to settle in, the sound of engines echoed faintly above ground.

At first, everyone thought it was another mech patrol and they had to stay silent and wait for them to leave.

Of course, panic spread, since Sentinels weren’t something they could defeat with mere revolvers!

However, Mila herself stood at the entrance with her sanitation crew, ready to defend with whatever tools they had if they were somehow discovered.

But then a familiar voice was heard above ground!

"Hey! It’s me! Augustine! Open the tunnel!"

As soon as they heard this, Mila’s eyes lit up, and she immediately opened the tunnel’s entrance to take a look!

Everyone was so happy after confirming that they were all doing fine!

Behind Augustine were five other Survivors who had left with them to conquer another shelter. And more than that, they weren’t alone. Two armored vehicles were waiting nearby!

The survivors froze in shock.

"So that’s the noise. But... what is this?" one of the nurses whispered.

Mila was also confused and asked a similar question. "Armored vehicles... here?"

Augustine raised his hand. "We did it. Kai is a great commander. We secured the mechanical army base. We brought these back!"

Russel, one of the scouts, couldn’t contain his pride. He patted the side of one of the vehicles and continued. "Yes... We found them in the AI army base we conquered. They’re tough and built for war. With these, we can move supplies, people, and anything we need. We’re not trapped anymore."

The group erupted in murmurs of disbelief.

The cooks stared at the vehicles as if they were treasures.

The boiler operator shook his head in awe.

Even the nurses, usually reserved, smiled at the sight of their transportation!

After all, it looked really safe to be inside one of these things!

Mila stepped forward and continued. "With these... we can finally leave, right?"

"That’s right!" Augustine said as he looked at Mila’s eyes. They had been in this shelter for many years, and although it had served its purpose well, it was already time for them to replace it.

Just like that, Mila and the rest immediately began organizing the preparations.

"We can’t leave anything important behind," she told the group.

"Yes... That’s why we brought the vehicles. Pack everything we can carry. Food, tools, medical supplies, and the plants."

The peanut plants were their lifeline if Kai could no longer magically provide resources.

It may be hardy but nutritious, and capable of growing even in poor soil. They had been carefully cultivated in Haven‑45 over the years after all.

Next came the scavenged parts, broken pieces of Sentinels and Hounds that had been collected after battles. Even damaged, they were valuable.

Victor had taught them that these parts could be dismantled for materials or even rebuilt into weapons. So Mila ordered them to be loaded into the vehicles.

The cooks then packed what remained of the rations Kai had provided before leaving. Instant noodle packs, canned goods, and sealed water containers were stacked carefully.

It didn’t end there since even the tents were rolled up, ready to be carried. Blankets, sleeping bags, and makeshift bedding were gathered.

The boiler operator also insisted on bringing spare fuel and tools. "If the generators fail in the new base, we’ll need these," he explained.

Piece by piece, the survivors carried their lives out of Haven‑45.

As the armored vehicles were loaded, the survivors couldn’t help but marvel at them.

One of the nurses touched the side of a vehicle. "I never thought I’d see something like this again. It feels... safe."

The scout Augustine grinned. "Safe and powerful. These things can carry six or more Sentinels at once. Now they’ll carry us."

Mila listened, her heart swelling with relief. For days, she had carried the burden of keeping the group alive in a collapsing base. Now, finally, there was a way out.

She then looked at the tunnel of their base...

"This is it. We’re leaving Haven‑45. We’ll join Kai and the others in the new base. We’ll survive."

Tears welled in some eyes as they heard this... Still, as soon as the journey began, they thought that they would safely arrive in their new shelter.

However, not even halfway there, they already attracted the attention of other survivors who had heard the armored vehicles passing through the uneven road.

"Russel! Someone’s blocking our path!"