The cold wind howled through the ruined cityscape as I surveyed the scattered survivors gathered in the makeshift camp. We had come far, but it wasn't enough. Not yet. The System had laid out a challenge—if I could grow our numbers to 100, I'd receive an arsenal powerful enough to shift the balance. One hundred rifles. Twenty thousand rounds of ammunition. A machine gun. The thought of it sent a surge of adrenaline through me.
Ray stood beside me, arms crossed. "We're at seventy-four. Twenty-six more, and we unlock enough firepower to make the UNO think twice before stepping into our territory."
I nodded, scanning the faces of those around us. Some were hardened fighters, others were scared civilians who had nowhere else to turn. But they were all part of something now. A resistance. A future.
Vivian approached, her expression grim. "We're hearing whispers. Some of the smaller groups are on the fence about joining. They're afraid."
"They should be," I muttered. "The UNO is about to start tightening the noose. If they don't pick a side, they'll be crushed."
"We need to move now," Ray said. "Before the UNO sweeps through and forces them into submission."
I exhaled sharply. This wasn't just about numbers. It was about trust. If I forced them, I'd be no better than the UNO. I needed them to choose this fight.
---
The Recruitment Drive
We split into three teams. Ray led a group toward an outpost of former police officers, men and women who still clung to a sense of law and order. Vivian took another squad to a camp of scavengers, offering security in exchange for loyalty. And I went toward a ragtag band of survivors on the outskirts of the ruins.
The trek was brutal. The cold was relentless, gnawing at exposed skin. But as we reached the camp, it was clear they had it worse. Thin blankets, dwindling food supplies, and exhausted faces. They were barely surviving.
A man in his forties, gaunt but standing firm, stepped forward. "What do you want?"
"Your survival," I said plainly. "The UNO is coming. They're taking groups like yours and stripping them of everything. Food. Freedom. If you don't stand with us, you'll stand alone. And that's a death sentence."
The man eyed me warily. "And how do I know you're not just another warlord looking for cannon fodder?"
I reached into my pack and pulled out a sealed ration pack. "Because I'm offering more than just words. Food. Protection. A chance to fight back. We don't just want you to survive. We want you to live."
Murmurs spread through the camp. Hunger made people desperate, but hope made them dangerous.
The man exhaled slowly, then nodded. "We're in."
One more group. One step closer.
---
UNO's Shadow Looms
As we returned to base, Mason intercepted me, his face pale. "We've got a problem. UNO patrols have increased. They're cracking down hard on anyone resisting their authority."
I clenched my fists. "Where?"
"Near the scavenger camp. Vivian's group."
I didn't wait. Within minutes, we were on the move, pushing through the frozen streets. The sound of distant gunfire set my pulse racing. When we arrived, the camp was in chaos. UNO soldiers were torching supplies, rounding up survivors.
Vivian was pinned behind cover, exchanging fire with a squad of heavily armed enforcers.
I didn't hesitate. My rifle barked, dropping a soldier before he could react. Ray's team flanked them, forcing them into a retreat. The survivors, once afraid, saw the shift in battle and fought back with whatever they had—knives, makeshift weapons, sheer desperation.
Within minutes, it was over.
Vivian wiped blood from her forehead, panting. "They didn't come to negotiate. They came to take."
I turned to the survivors. "This is what happens when you stay on the sidelines. The UNO won't let you live in peace. You either fight with us or die alone."
This time, there was no hesitation. They joined.
---
System Reward: Firepower Unleashed
As we regrouped at base, the System's voice rang in my head.
[Objective Complete: 100 members recruited. Reward unlocked.]
A new crate materialized in a secured storage room. Inside, gleaming weapons lined the racks—100 rifles, 20,000 rounds of ammunition, and a mounted machine gun.
Ray whistled. "This changes everything."
Vivian ran a hand over the weapons. "We can finally hit them where it hurts."
I took a deep breath. This wasn't just about defense anymore. We were building an army.
And the war was just beginning.