Rakesh_Kumar_3235

The world is dying—storms rage, the ground cracks, and civilization is in ruins. Survival is uncertain, but Dr. James isn’t just another desperate survivor. He has a Technology System—one that grants him blueprints, tools, and knowledge far beyond human understanding.

Stranded on an island, he builds in secret while the world tears itself apart. Rival survivors fight for power, governments scramble for control, but James?

He’s preparing for something they’d never expect.

Because survival isn’t his true goal.

And when the time comes, the world will realize too late—he was never meant to stay.

Doomday Engineer

The fire crackled softly in the corner of the facility, casting flickering shadows across the reinforced walls. Snow fell in a steady rhythm outside, muffling the distant howls of the creatures lurking beyond. For the first time in weeks, there was a sense of stillness.

Daniel sat against the wall, cleaning his rifle in slow, deliberate motions. His face was unreadable, but his mind was elsewhere.

I noticed it the moment we stopped moving.

"Spit it out," I said, tossing him a protein bar. "You've had that look since we left the depot."

He caught it but didn't open it. Instead, he let out a low chuckle. "That obvious?"

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, finally, he exhaled.

"I wasn't always… this," he said, gesturing to himself. "Before all this, I was a doctor."

That caught me off guard. "A doctor?"

"Yeah." He leaned his head back against the wall. "Field medic, actually. Military-trained. Spent years patching up guys who were barely holding themselves together."

I frowned. "Then why the hell didn't you say anything sooner? I could've used a medic weeks ago."

Daniel laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Because I wasn't a good one."

I didn't press, but I could tell he was working through something.

He sighed. "Back during the first wave of the disasters, I was stationed at a military base. We thought we were safe. High walls, weapons, trained soldiers. But when the creatures came…" His grip tightened on the rifle. "They didn't just kill us. They broke us."

He swallowed. "I had a choice—stay and die with my squad or run. I ran."

Survival wasn't clean. Everyone carried something.

"You still patch people up?" I asked.

Daniel hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."

"Then you're still a medic," I said simply.

He let out a breath, shaking his head. "You really don't do guilt, do you?"

Silence stretched between us before he finally opened the protein bar and took a bite.

The greenhouse was a success. We had food, water, and defenses. But if we wanted to do more than just survive, we needed people.

Fighting alone would only get me so far.

The system had already been tracking movement across the island, tagging potential survivors. Most were scattered, isolated, and running out of options.

Some would be dangerous. Others just desperate.

But if I could form a group—a real community—we'd have a shot at something more.

New Mission Assigned: Establish a Survivor Network

Task 1: Locate and recruit potential survivors (0/5)

Task 2: Secure a long-term shelter for expansion

Task 3: Establish leadership and operational roles

Reward: Advanced Resource Scanner & Tactical Defense Module

I checked the map. The closest survivor was three miles south, near the remains of a collapsed radio tower. If they were still alive, they'd be desperate.

I stood, grabbing my rifle and backpack.

Daniel looked up. "Where are you going?"

His eyebrows lifted. "Just like that?"

I smirked. "Yeah. Just like that."

For the first time since I met him, he smiled.

Chapter 18: Shadows of the Past