31:04complètement unphased by Emily's mutant form
31:07She's acting as if we're all old friends
31:10I see right through her
31:11They keep my mouth shut
31:13Before long, four women are gathered inside my room
31:16Emily, Madison, Claire, and Savannah
31:19Madison is the only one with a defined job
31:22Claire is the doctor
31:23And Emily is my strongest weapon
31:26Savannah, on the other hand, is a wild card
31:29I lift the lid off the cooking pot
31:31The rich aroma of steaming meat and vegetables
31:34Instantly fills the room
31:36Every single one of them swallows hard
31:38I dish out servings for myself and Emily first
31:41Followed by Madison
31:42Even though she's starving
31:44Claire makes sure to say thank you before taking a bite
31:47Suddenly, the system panel glows in front of me
31:50Target, Dr. Claire Whitman
31:52Identity, campus doctor
31:53Affection level, 50
31:54Handhold reward, medical kit and medical manual
31:58I smile
31:59Rescuing her was definitely the right move
32:03I hire Claire on the spot
32:07You'll get a bowl of meat and vegetables every day
32:09In return, you'll handle all our medical needs
32:13Claire agrees without a second thought
32:15Next, I check Savania's panel
32:17Target, Savina Cole
32:19Identity, socialite
32:20Affection level, 10
32:21Handhold reward, one vehicle
32:23First kiss reward, 100 square foot house module
32:26Ultimate bond reward, 1,000 square foot house module
32:30My interest in Savina instantly spikes
32:32A vehicle means mobility
32:34While house modules mean expansion
32:37Savina might be dangerous
32:38But her rewards are pure gold
32:40After checking with the system in my head
32:42I learned that the vehicle can be customized into anything
32:45From a standard sedan or sports car
32:47To a heavy duty off-road truck
32:49Or even a military tank
32:52That 100 square foot module isn't bad either
32:55It would instantly double the size of my shelter
32:57Turns out, this lady actually has some real value after all
33:02Noticing the shift in my glaze
33:03Savina runs a hand through her hair
33:05Is there any chance I could work for you too?
33:07Madison gets goosebumps just listening to Savina
33:09Disgusted to her core
33:11But she doesn't think Savina's seductive act will work on me
33:13As far as she knows
33:15I only take in people who are useful to me
33:17To her absolute shock
33:18I nod
33:20Sure
33:21You'll get the same pay as the other two
33:24Madison's eyes snap wide open
33:25What on earth can Savina even do
33:27To deserve the same treatment as her?
33:28As Savina takes the bowl from my hands
33:30Her fingers deliberately brush against mine
33:33My next plan is to leave Oasis Camp
33:35Anyone who wants to leave with me
33:37Come along
33:39My sudden announcement catches everyone completely off guard
33:44I deliberately keep the system's role
33:46In building a camp to myself
33:47But Savina is smart enough to know
33:49That staying with Ryan will lead nowhere
33:53I'm coming with you
33:55That decision quickly draws a crowd outside
33:57Some survivors sneer at us
33:59While the others stare with raw jealousy
34:02Where the hell do they think they're going?
34:05Are they crazy enough to step outside?
34:08Good riddance
34:09I was sick of looking at them anyway
34:12Ryan suddenly steps out of the crowd
34:14Blocking my path
34:16Where are you going?
34:18Out
34:20You can leave
34:21But Dr. Whitman stays
34:22We need a medic
34:24Ryan knows how valuable a doctor is in the apocalypse
34:27Claire lowers her head
34:28Feeling heavily pressured
34:31I step right between them
34:32It's her choice
34:35Claire looks at the people who ignored her
34:37When the mutants attacked
34:38Then at me
34:39Her savior
34:41I'm going with him
34:43Me too
34:45I don't bother wasting another second on Ryan
34:47I turn and walk away
34:49With the ladies following closely behind
34:52Furious
34:52Ryan makes a move to block us
34:54But Emily steps forward and flashes her claws
35:00Recognizing her strength all too well
35:01He backs down with bitter frustration
35:06I lead Emily, Madison, Claire and Savannah
35:09Out past the camp's perimeter
35:12For Savannah
35:13This is her very first time
35:14Stepping outside since the outbreak
35:17She constantly scans our surroundings
35:19Visibly on edge
35:20Our path is clear
35:22Save for a few scattered mutant corpses
35:25Littering the sand
35:27When we arrive at the secluded clearing
35:30I had swept earlier
35:31I stop
35:33Savannah instantly panics
35:35Why are we stopping here?
35:37There's literally nothing out here
35:39Madison glances from the ground up to my face
35:42A sudden realization washing over her
35:46I tap open the system panel
35:49Claim shelter reward
35:51Blueprint detected
35:52Construct according to design?
35:54Yes
35:57The air in front of us begins to warp
35:59Metal beams
36:00Reinforced walls
36:02Piping and armor
36:03Paneling materialize out of thin air
36:05The sight leaves everyone jaw-dropped in absolute shock
36:09Madison recognizes it instantly
36:10The building is the exact structure from her designs
36:15She looks at me in shock
36:17About to say something
36:18But I cut her off
36:20Don't ask questions
36:22All you need to know
36:24Is that I can keep you alive
36:26Savina clings to my arm
36:28Savina clings to my arm
36:28Practically ready to throw herself at me
36:30I stride up to the shelter's titanium alloy door
36:32With an electronic fingerprint scanner beside it
36:35I register my own print
36:37Then program one for Emily as well
36:39As for Madison and Claire
36:40They'll get access
36:41Once their affection levels hit 60
36:44Savina's way too sneaky and calculating
36:46She won't get access until she hits at least 80
36:51The heavy titanium door slides open
36:54And I lead the crew inside
36:58The shelter isn't huge
37:00But it has everything
37:01Titanium alloy doors
37:02A living area
37:03Three bedrooms
37:04A bathroom
37:04A storage room
37:05Full furnishings
37:06A diesel generator
37:07And full refrigeration
37:10To people who have been sleeping
37:12In the dirt and sand
37:13This place is absolute paradise
37:16Madison runs her hands
37:18Over the walls in awe
37:19It's identical to my blueprint
37:22Savina dashes into the bathroom
37:23And turns the faucet
37:24The moment clean water gushes out
37:27She bursts into tears
37:28It's real water
37:30It's actually water
37:31Claire opens the storage room
37:33And stares wide-eyed at the cooling units
37:35Like she's just found a hospital
37:38A full storage unit with refrigeration
37:40This is incredible
37:41I take in their reactions
37:43But I know full well
37:44That this is only the beginning
37:45As long as I keep increasing
37:47Their affection levels
37:48This shelter can expand
37:50Upgrade
37:51And defend itself
37:52Emily stands quietly by my side as usual
37:54Her eyes scanning the room
37:57Savina speaks up first
37:59We should figure out the room arrangements
38:02Ethan gets his own room, obviously
38:04I'll share with Madison
38:06And Dr. Whitman can bunk with Emily
38:08Madison snaps back and instantly
38:10Why would I share with you?
38:14Before we even settle in
38:16Madison and Savannah are already going at it
38:18Savannah wants comfort
38:19Madison wants space
38:20And Claire just wants a bed
38:22Emily, staring at the last remaining bedroom
38:24Speaks up with a single word
38:27Sleep
38:28I raise my voice to shut them down
38:30Before the situation escalates
38:31Enough
38:31We'll split it the way Savannah suggested
38:35Madison looks betrayed
38:38Savannah wears a smug grin
38:39And Claire is too exhausted to care
38:47Emily grabs my sleeve
38:48And pulls me towards the final bedroom
38:50I try to pull back
38:52But there's a strange intensity in her eyes
38:54That's hard to refuse
38:56I've been operating on edge for days
39:00A real bed sounds like paradise right now
39:04The second I crash onto the mattress
39:07Emily curls up beside me like a quiet little animal
39:10Listening to my heartbeat
39:13For the first time since the apocalypse
39:16I sink into a deep sleep
39:18Back at Oasis Camp
39:20A survivor spots the shelter through a window
39:22And rushes to report it to Ryan
39:27Staring out across the dunes
39:29Ryan can't believe his eyes
39:32Where the hell did that building come from?
39:35By the time I wake up
39:37It's already evening
39:38For a second
39:39I forget that the world had ever ended
39:41Half dazed
39:43I feel a hand
39:44Sliding into my pants
39:47Snapping me awake instantly
39:50I open my eyes
39:51To find Emily taking matters into her own hands
39:54Her eyes burning with unsatisfied desire
39:58Do mutants even have sex drives?
40:03What are you doing?
40:04Emily blinks innocently
40:05Her expression completely blank
40:08I pinch her cheek gently
40:10Don't play dumb
40:11I know you understand me
40:14She stares at me for a beat
40:15Before finally squeezing out a word
40:18What?
40:19My blood runs hot
40:22I roll over
40:23And pin her onto the mattress
40:25The surveillance system isn't fully installed yet
40:31But the shelter's internal cameras pick up movement near the can
40:37Through the monitor
40:38We catch Ryan's scouts watching us from a distance
40:42At that moment
40:43Grit wraps sharply against the shelter's metallic outer shell
40:48Claire frowns at the screen
40:49Ripples sweep across the surface of the sand wings
40:53Like waves on water
40:55As the sky suddenly turns
40:57A sickly, murky yellow
41:00What is that?
41:02I know exactly what it is
41:03They're the warning signs of an approaching sandstorm
41:11The apocalyptic storm is hitting earlier than expected
41:17A haze of dust settles over Oasis camp
41:20For us inside the shelter
41:22It's just an early warning
41:23For the survivors back at the camp
41:26It's a slow death sentence
41:30From my experience
41:32A storm wall of this scale moves fast
41:35By the third day
41:37Stepping outside will mean getting buried alive in the sand and suffocated
41:42I can't just sit around
41:45And wait for it to hit
41:49What's in stock on the black market?
41:51Madison rattles off the list
41:52Food, meds, goggles, air filter cartridges
41:55Tools, batteries, fuel, and basic supplies
41:59The black market is our lifeline for materials
42:02I make the call on the spot
42:04We're making a run for it
42:07Not right now, though
42:11We'll head out after lunch
42:13The next day
42:14I call Savannah and Claire into the living area
42:18Gear up
42:20You two are coming with Emily and me
42:22Savannah's expression falls instantly
42:26Do I really have to go outside?
42:28I give her a dead band glare
42:32My shelter doesn't keep freeloaders
42:36Swallowing her complaints
42:38Savannah zips up her protective gear
42:41Outside, sand hits our faces like a spray of razor blades
42:46Despite being bundled up in layers
42:48Savannah and Claire shiver violently in the cold wind
42:52Maybe we should head back
42:54You'll be fine once we get in the vehicle
42:57Savannah freezes
43:00Vehicle?
43:01I point towards the side of the shelter
43:04A heavy truck sits parked against the wall like an armored beast
43:08Its tires stand taller than a person's waist
43:12Savannah's jaw drops to the ground
43:15Where in the world did you get that?
43:17I flash a mysterious smirk
43:19I got it from you
43:21Her handhold reward had unlocked a vehicle
43:24And I picked the safest option
43:26A heavy truck
43:27Built to crush rough terrain
43:28Haul massive loads
43:30And plow through mutant swarms
43:33With a few system upgrades down the line
43:36This thing could easily turn into a tank
43:38Emily scrambles up first
43:40Followed by Claire
43:41Who's still in complete shock
43:43Savannah stares at the truck
43:45As if realizing her value for the very first time
43:48I turn the ignition
43:49And the engine roars to life
43:51The black market scavenging run is officially underway
43:54The two major factions in the apocalypse
43:57Ryan's and mine
43:58Are about to clash over the black market resources
44:03The winner will take all
