Chapter 4

 A Fight for Survival

Camille's fingers tightened around the Shock Dagger, its energy crackling along the blade. The moment the weapon had formed in her hands, she felt the power humming beneath her skin. This was her chance.

She crouched behind a rusted conveyor belt as Darius and his crew stormed into the factory, their footsteps was echoing against the concrete floor.

"She couldn't have gone far," the woman with metallic claws—Selene—snapped, her eyes scanning the darkness. "Check every damn corner."

Camille's pulse pounded. Think. Fast.

Her system flickered.

[Blueprint Analysis Activated]

The room layout materialized in her vision.

She traced possible escape routes, weak structures, even makeshift weapons within reach. A rusted pipe. Loose wiring. A broken control panel.

Then—Darius' weak spot.

Her gaze locked onto his combat vest, worn and scuffed. His left shoulder strap was nearly torn. A direct hit there could cripple his movement.

This was her moment.

She pressed her back against the conveyor belt, waiting until—

Now!

She lunged.

The Shock Dagger crackled as she slammed it into Darius' weak spot.

Electricity surged through his body.

He let out a strangled roar, collapsing to one knee as the current sent violent tremors through his limbs.

One down.

Selene whirled, her claws gleaming. "You little—"

Camille rolled aside just as the claws raked through the air, slicing into metal where she had been standing a second ago. Sparks flew.

She barely had time to react before Amber-eyes was on her.

His speed enhancement sent him forward in a blur. He grabbed Camille by the collar, slamming her against a worktable with bone-rattling force.

Pain exploded through her ribs.

"Thought you could steal from us?" he growled, his grip tightening.

Camille gasped, kicking out desperately.

Her boot connected with his knee.

He stumbled—just enough.

She drove her dagger into his forearm.

Electricity ripped through his body.

Amber-eyes screamed, convulsing before collapsing to the ground, twitching violently.

Camille rolled away, chest heaving.

Two down.

Selene snarled, crouching low. Her claws extended.

"You shouldn't have messed with us," she hissed.

Camille raised the Shock Dagger, fingers slick with sweat.

She needed a new plan—fast.

Selene struck first, her claws slashing through the air like razors.

Camille barely dodged, twisting away as the claws carved deep gashes into the worktable behind her.

Too fast. Too strong.

Camille had seconds before Selene cornered her completely.

Her mind raced.

The factory's roof was already unstable. If she could bring it down—

Her eyes flicked toward a support beam, barely holding up the crumbling structure.

A plan formed.

Camille ran toward it.

Selene lunged after her.

At the last second, Camille ducked and threw her Shock Dagger—not at Selene, but at the rusted beam.

The electric pulse surged through the weakened metal.

A loud CRACK split the air.

The beam gave way.

The ceiling collapsed.

Selene's eyes widened—too late.

The debris crashed down, burying her under rubble.

A cloud of dust and ash swallowed the room.

Camille stumbled back, coughing violently. The factory trembled.

She had to get out.

Darius was still down. Amber-eyes was unconscious. Selene was trapped.

Camille ran.

She sprinted through the wreckage, dodging falling debris. She reached the rusted emergency exit, shoving it open with her last bit of strength.

Cold air rushed against her burning lungs as she staggered into the open streets.

She didn't stop running.

Didn't look back.

Not until Havenbrook's ruined lights swallowed the factory behind her.

Camille collapsed against a crumbling brick wall, her body screaming in pain.

Her system pinged.

[Combat Analysis Complete]

[Enemies Defeated: 3]

[XP Gained: 500]

She exhaled shakily.

For the first time since the world fell apart—

She had won.

But she couldn't celebrate yet.

The Energy Core was still in her pack.

She had the blueprint. The materials.

Now, she just had to build something that could change everything.

Camille pushed herself up.

This is only the beginning.

She wasn't just surviving anymore.

She is fighting back.