Global Awakening: Infinite Gift Pack System-Chapter 70: The One Missing

Kai, Wallace, and Claire slowly moved forward as they didn’t want to make too much noise...

As they passed through the opened gate and entered the perimeter of the compound, their goggles revealed rows of frozen Sentinels, standing like statues.

Some of them had also collapsed entirely...

Still, there was one thing that Kai noticed. These Sentinels are already in bad condition. They have rusted armors, and even their rifles weren’t even the Plasma Rifles or any advanced ones!

They were just normal rifles, and this was a huge discovery in itself.

’This is perfect...’ Kai mused.

However, the other two had different worries right now.

"It’s like they all died at once. They’re not going to move suddenly if we get closer, right?" Claire whispered.

Kai helplessly smiled at that since he also had no idea.

"We’ll know if we try to get closer. But I’m sure they’re already drained. The blackout hit harder than we thought. Their reserves didn’t last."

Wallace scanned the area... There were a few buildings that they must check... One of them should be the warehouse with captive humans if they were still alive.

As for the main building and the other one on the right, they were only for the A.I. Army, so they had no clue just yet.

"I don’t hear any movements from those areas as well... So the base is empty? Just like that?" Wallace frowned. He felt that this was too easy, and it was quite unsettling.

It felt like they were missing something.

Kai shook his head. "Empty doesn’t mean safe. We’ll sweep it carefully."

"Got it..."

Then, they moved deeper into the compound, passing silent watchtowers and abandoned barracks.

The central courtyard was also quite empty, but soon, they focused on the massive doors to the command building.

It slightly opened with an emergency light flickering faintly inside. It was quite impressive that it was still providing some light.

Kai raised a hand, signaling for silence. He stepped forward, with his pistol on hand...

He wanted to see if his Keen Senses would probe something but there was nothing...

The base was dead.

Kai exhaled slowly. "It’s clear," he said at last.

"The blackout worked better than we thought. The Sentinels are finished."

Wallace shook his head in disbelief. "So... it’s ours? Just like that?"

Kai paused...

"Not yet. We’ll secure it first. Then we’ll call the others in."

Claire glanced around uneasily. "It feels too easy. Like we’re walking into a trap."

Kai nodded. "Maybe. But if this base really is empty, then it’s the biggest victory we’ve had yet. And we can’t let that mind‑controller take it from us."

Just like that, more than thirty minutes immediately passed.

***

Outside, the twenty-nine survivors waited anxiously.

However, since there was no signal for help, gunshots, or any noise, Ralph dared not disobey Kai’s order to hold position.

Thankfully, after a few more minutes, they noticed some movements and confirmed that the three were all doing fine!

Then, when Kai, Wallace, and Claire returned with the news, disbelief rippled through the group... 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"No guards?" Russel asked. "None at all?"

Kai nodded firmly. "None. The blackout crippled them faster than expected. The base is dead. We tried to check, and we found at least a hundred frozen Sentinels inside... We haven’t completed the exploration yet, but it should be faster if we all work together. We’ll sweep every building and every corridor faster..."

The survivors exchanged glances. Their fear had already turned into excitement. The A.I. base, once a fortress of two hundred Sentinels, now lay open before them.

This was unbelievable!

***

Then, as Kai was about to order them to sweep the A.I. Base with them, he noticed that someone was missing...

She had been with them when they left Haven‑45, one of the thirty-two who volunteered to fight. But now, as the survivors regrouped in the courtyard, her spot was empty.

Kai frowned.

’Did she actually--’ He couldn’t help but frown at her decision to leave.

After all, he knew how dangerous it was out there, and he may never see her again. Still, Samantha was already an adult and could decide for herself.

He then asked Ralph and the others, but they just confirmed that they didn’t Samantha leave as well.

"Let’s forget about her then." Kai muttered as the strike team moved, sweeping the compound building by building.

For a moment, it felt like victory. They found various tools, repair items, and others that could help them rebuild the shelter.

But then Kai’s instincts screamed. His Keen Senses picked up faint vibrations... There was no heavy thrum of machines, but the irregular rhythm of footsteps.

"Hold formation," Kai ordered as he confirmed the existence of enemies.

The survivors froze, scanning the perimeter outside... At first, the night‑vision goggles revealed only shadows. Then, figures began to emerge from the darkness beyond the compound walls.

Humans.

They moved slowly, and their faces were blank. Some carried blades, others scavenged rifles.

In the meantime, Russel’s clenched his fist as he realized what was going on.

"Mind‑controlled..."

Indeed, the mind‑controller had actually arrived this early!

Then Ralph shouted. There was panic in his voice. "Kai! Look!"

From the advancing line, a familiar figure stepped forward.

Samantha.

She had once begged for supplies to search for her boyfriend, but now, she was a puppet herself, stripped of her will, and was turned into a weapon against them.

"You’re too hasty..." Kai whispered.

He had no choice but to kill her now, or maybe find the one who cast the mind-control spell on her, and that seemed more difficult.

Kai sighed. He then watched and confirmed that her movements were rigid, and her eyes had already become lifeless. Her face was devoid of emotion, but still, she clutched a blade in her hand, probably as her weapon...

"She’s one of them now." Kai muttered again and shook his head. That woman was truly a problem from the start!

It also wouldn’t be surprising if Samantha had already revealed their movements, talents, and other information to whoever was controlling her right now!