Chapter 41 – Preemptive Strike
The wind howled through the frozen wasteland as I crouched near the facility's outer perimeter, eyes locked on the distant campfires flickering in the night. The Black Ravagers were getting comfortable, probably thinking they had time to regroup after their last failed ambush. They were wrong.
Tonight, we struck first.
My system pulsed with a notification.
[New Task: Eliminate the Immediate Threat]
Objective: Disrupt and weaken the Black Ravagers before they attack again.
Reward: Tactical Drone Deployment (Prototype) + System Upgrade Progress
A tactical drone. That could change everything. But first, we had work to do.
I turned to Ray Walker, who was kneeling beside me, scanning the enemy camp through binoculars. The former military captain had a grim look. "They've set up a decent perimeter, but they're undisciplined. Sloppy. Guards are lazy, rotations irregular."
"Exactly what we need," I muttered.
Daniel was on my other side, gripping his rifle tight. His injuries had mostly healed, but the last fight had left scars. Both physical and mental. "So, what's the plan?" he asked, voice low.
I exhaled, steadying my thoughts. "We don't go in loud. We go in smart."
---
Phase One – Sabotage
Moving through the frozen terrain was second nature now. Snow crunched beneath our boots as we closed in on the camp's outskirts. The Black Ravagers had rigged up makeshift barricades, but they were more for show than real defense.
I pulled a small disruptor device from my pack—a tool I had scavenged and modified. This little thing would fry their short-range radios and mess with their flashlights.
With a quick tap, I activated it.
System Activation: Localized Disruptor Engaged
Enemy communications compromised. Visibility reduced.
Almost instantly, the nearest guard cursed, smacking his now-static radio. Another fumbled with his flickering flashlight. Confusion spread through their ranks.
We moved in.
Ray and I took the left flank, moving silently between the stacked crates. Daniel and two others from our group covered the right.
One by one, we neutralized guards—silent, efficient. Knives over guns. No wasted noise. Their numbers were dropping before they even realized they were under attack.
---
Phase Two – Exploiting Chaos
Then, it was time for the real attack.
I reached into my dimensional storage, retrieving two EMP grenades. If I made it look like a freak power surge, they'd be too disoriented to respond properly.
I lobbed the first grenade toward their generator shack. The second went into the middle of their supply tents.
BOOM.
The generator short-circuited, throwing the entire camp into darkness. Sparks flew.
Shouts erupted as confusion turned to panic.
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" someone screamed.
I clicked my radio. "Go."
Gunfire erupted from Daniel's side, controlled bursts taking out stragglers.
Ray's rifle cracked beside me, dropping a Ravager who had scrambled for cover.
The Black Ravagers weren't soldiers. They weren't trained for this.
But then—
A flare shot into the sky, casting a blood-red glow over the battlefield. A warning.
Their leader, a brute of a man with a scar across his jaw, stepped into the firelight, wielding a modified shotgun. His presence alone stopped some of his men from breaking completely.
"You think you can take us down?" he bellowed. "Come and fight, cowards!"
I narrowed my eyes. If they wanted a real fight… I'd give them one.
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Phase Three – Finishing the Fight
I signaled to Daniel and Ray—we needed to end this fast.
Ray lined up a shot, but before he could pull the trigger, the leader yanked a nearby Ravager in front of him. The bullet hit the poor bastard instead.
Clever. But I was done playing games.
I activated my enhanced reflex mode, feeling the world slow slightly. My vision sharpened, tracking his movements as he leveled his shotgun at Ray.
No time to think.
I surged forward, drawing my knife in a swift motion.
System Boost: Combat Precision (Active for 10 seconds)
The leader fired—but I was already moving.
The blast tore through empty air as I twisted around him, slashing deep across his leg.
He roared, staggering. I grabbed his wrist, twisting hard until the shotgun clattered to the ground.
"Not so tough now," I muttered.
With one final motion, I slammed my knee into his face. He crumpled.
The rest of his men? They ran.
The Black Ravagers were done.
---
Aftermath & System Rewards
Silence fell over the battlefield, save for the crackling of distant fires.
Daniel exhaled shakily, lowering his weapon. Ray stepped forward, nudging the leader's unconscious form with his boot. "What do we do with him?"
I looked down at the man who had once terrorized survivors on this island.
System Notification:
Task Completed: Eliminate the Immediate Threat
Reward Unlocked: Tactical Drone Deployment (Prototype) + System Upgrade Progress 20%
I took a deep breath. "We'll decide in the morning."
For now, we had won. But survival? That fight never ended.
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How would you have handled this battle? Would you have taken the fight to them or waited for another attack?
This marks a turning point—James isn't just surviving anymore. He's taking control.
Also, what do you think about the Tactical Drone reward? How should James use it? Let me know in the comments!