Global Awakening: Infinite Gift Pack System-Chapter 84: The Augmented Humans

"A map?" Kai repeated, as he didn’t expect to get such a promising item

"Yes! It’s not a complete map, but you’ll have a general idea of your location. The terrain and the surrounding shelters as well." Santiago explained.

"Map, huh... I’m not really interested." Kai replied as he recalled that there should also be a map in the workshop before.

Seeing Kai’s uninterested expression, they soon realized that he was a tough opponent and it would be difficult for them to bleed him out of his resources.

Realizing that, Diego could only proceed with the previous plan. He tapped the jammer lightly, as he decided to explain it further...

"It has a range of about two hundred meters, enough to cover your shelter’s perimeter or a small battlefield. Once activated, it can disrupt AI communications for roughly fifteen minutes before it overheats. That window is often the difference between reinforcements arriving or not."

However, Kai still shook his head. "Nah... I think that 40 canned goods and 50 instant noodle pack is quite enough."

Santiago then added... "That’s too low... This jammer runs on a compact energy cell, the kind you can recharge with scavenged cores but hard to find. Anyway, one cell gives you three uses before it burns out. We brought a spare, but even without it, the device is efficient. It doesn’t drain power like the larger military jammers."

Kai smiled as he noticed that they were just trying hard and being greedy. Perhaps, this thing wasn’t even that rare at all.

’It’s difficult to trust people...’ Kai mused. He knew that he wouldn’t just accept the price they gave.

"And yet, you came here to trade, not to leave empty-handed. If you ask for everything, you’ll get nothing. Fifty canned goods and fifty noodles... that’s fair."

Santiago frowned. "Too low."

Kai smiled. "Alright. You win! Fifty canned goods... and sixty noodles. Final offer. You know as well as I do that food is precious nowadays. Are you still going to negotiate?"

The merchants exchanged a long look.

Finally, Diego sighed and gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. Sixty and sixty. The jammer is yours."

"Fifty and Sixty..." Kai repeated.

"Alright... Let’s go with that." Santiago finally said.

Relief spread through the hall as the first transaction was finally made.

Victor grinned, already imagining how to integrate the device into their defenses.

As Kai accepted the deal, he finally turned and asked.

"Now... tell me more about the AI Army. You said you could share information... What exactly do you know about their rebellion?"

"I know a lot of things. Hmm... How about the instigator of this A.I. Rebellion, the Anima Civilization? Are you aware of it?"

Kai froze. He certainly heard something quite similar from the previous head of the Haven-45 before he took his own life.

"Tell me more about it."

Just like that, Kai and the others heard the truth about this apocalypse...

Still, they have many questions in their minds.

They wanted to ask more about the other enemy units, like the Spyder and Field Tyrant.

However, the ground suddenly trembled beneath their feet. At first, it was subtle... just a faint vibration that made the curtains sway. But within seconds, the tremor grew into a violent quake that rattled the walls of New Haven‑45.

Even dust fell from the ceiling, and several survivors cried out in alarm.

"Earthquake?!" Wallace shouted, bracing himself against the wall.

Kai frowned at this since his Keen Senses was telling otherwise.

’No... this isn’t natural.’

Before anyone could recover, a deafening explosion echoed from the distance. Then another.

Boom! Boom!

The rumble of collapsing structures carried across the land and it was actually followed by flashes of light that lit up the horizon.

The hall erupted in commotion. Survivors rushed to the windows, straining to see what was happening outside.

Victor immediately shared what he knew.

"Those aren’t just explosions... that’s a battle!"

Indeed, far beyond the shelter’s perimeter, figures clashed... There were five warriors moving with inhuman speed, and their bodies were glowing faintly with energy. Each strike they delivered actually shook the earth...

It didn’t end there since each leap from the five carried them across impossible distances!

Diego and Santiago froze, their expressions shifted from calm merchants to speechless observers

"Augmented Humans..." Santiago whispered, almost reverently. "They’re here."

Kai turned to him and felt a little bit excited. "Augmented Humans?"

Although he already knew about their existence, he might as well get some new and free information from the woman!

Diego’s voice trembled. "Yes. Augmented Humans. They’re not like us. They’re humans who underwent underground, high-grade Gene Enhancements. Basically, they’re legends among survivors. We respect them deeply... they’re the pinnacle of human evolution."

Just like that, the survivors stared in awe as the five Augmented Humans fought against the enemy.

Boom!

From the smoke emerged another human-sized machine, unlike any Kai had ever seen.

Its frame was shiny. It was reinforced with black alloy, and its eyes were crimson light. Every step it took sent shockwaves through the ground.

Then, Diego’s face went pale. "No... it can’t be."

"What is that thing?" Claire demanded, gripping her weapon tightly.

Diego’s voice cracked as he shouted, "Why is an Ascendant Unit here?! They should be in the central continent!"

The survivors exchanged confused glances.

Ascendant?

They had no idea what the term meant, but judging by Diego’s horror, it was something far beyond the Sentinels or Tyrants they had faced.

Soon, they watched as the five Augmented Humans charged at the Ascendant Unit. Even their movements blurred as they unleashed everything they had.

Energy blasts lit up the sky while blades clashed against their armor or shield! Just like that, shockwaves rippled across the battlefield.

Yet the Ascendant barely retreated!

It raised one of its arms, releasing a beam of destructive energy that carved a trench into the earth!

Boom!

"What the-- This is dangerous. He might lure the enemy here!" Aurora clutched her basket and worriedly looked at the battle...

Kai’s mind raced.

’If it comes this way, New Haven‑45 won’t stand a chance.’