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 camp still smelled like burnt metal and blood. The Black Ravagers had been defeated, their leader, a brute named Carter Vance, lay bound at our feet. He was still unconscious, his breathing ragged from the beating I gave him the night before.

The survivors who had suffered under their rule—some of them barely more than skin and bone—stood at a distance, watching me.

The wind cut through the ruins of their once-hostile camp, rattling against the broken barricades and smoldering wreckage. Snowflakes drifted through the air, coating the blood-soaked ground like a cruel mockery of peace.

Then, Carter groaned and stirred. His one good eye flickered open, filled with a mix of rage and realization.

"You should've killed me," he spat, blood trickling down his lip.

Maybe. But I needed answers first.

I crouched down, meeting his glare. "Why were you stockpiling weapons? Who are you working for?"

He smirked, despite his broken nose and swollen face. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

[Interrogation Opportunity Detected]

Rewards: Enhanced Tactical Mapping & Reinforced Perimeter Tech

My fingers tightened around my knife. The system was right—this wasn't just about wiping out a gang of thugs. There was something bigger brewing.

Ray Walker, standing beside me, crossed his arms. "He's stalling. We should just end this now."

Daniel shifted uneasily. "Killing him won't help us understand what's coming."

The crowd murmured, survivors exchanging tense glances. Some wanted justice. Others just wanted an end to the violence.

I stood up, exhaling. "We don't kill for revenge. Not today."

Ray's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Instead, I turned to the survivors, addressing them directly. "You're free now. But freedom without security means nothing. You have two choices—come with us, or take your chances alone."

The answer was almost instantaneous.

"We'll go with you," a woman—Anna, one of their former prisoners—said. Her voice was shaky but firm. "You took down the monsters. We trust you."

One by one, heads nodded. They weren't fighters. But they were people, and that meant something.

I turned back to Carter. "You're coming with us too."

His one eye widened. "You think I'll join your little cult?"

I smiled coldly. "No. But you're going to tell me everything you know. One way or another."

He tried to laugh, but his injured ribs made him choke instead.

Ray still looked unconvinced, but he gave me a short nod. "We move out at first light."

Daniel sighed in relief. "And here I thought you were about to execute him on the spot."

Because deep down, I wasn't sure if I had made the right call.

Reward Unlocked: Enhanced Tactical Mapping & Reinforced Perimeter Tech

A digital map flickered across my vision—an upgraded blueprint of our facility, highlighting defensive weak points and new reinforcement options.

As the group prepared to move out, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

Would you have spared Carter, or would you have ended him on the spot? What do you think he knows?

Also, how should James use the new Enhanced Tactical Mapping reward? Should he focus on offense or defense first?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Chapter 42 – A Leader’s Burden