The Forge was no longer just a stronghold—it was a fortress, a sanctuary forged from sweat, ingenuity, and sheer determination. The group understood that surviving the apocalypse meant more than just defending themselves; it meant creating a foundation for the future, no matter how grim that future seemed.

The walls surrounding The Forge were now a towering structure of salvaged vehicles, reinforced concrete, and jagged metal spikes. It wasn’t just a barrier; it was a statement: this is our ground, and nothing will take it.

Rows of sharpened steel poles jutted outward from the base of the wall, angled to impale any creature that tried to scale it.

Dakota installed an electrified mesh around the wall, powered by core fragments Mason had modified. The fence crackled faintly, a visible deterrent to anything foolish enough to approach.

Hidden nozzles, salvaged from industrial plants, were rigged to spray bursts of flame when motion detectors were triggered. They’d tested it on smaller creatures—leaving only charred remains behind.

The group had expanded beneath The Forge, creating a subterranean haven that could withstand the apocalypse’s worst.

Reinforced steel bunkers were stocked with long-term supplies—water, food, weapons, and medical kits. Each room was designed to be sealed airtight if the surface became compromised.

Mason and Dakota constructed tunnels leading to various hidden exits, giving the group multiple routes to flee if The Forge was overrun.

The farmland behind The Forge had flourished, an oasis of life in a dying world.

Mason designed a system that diluted core energy into the irrigation lines, accelerating the growth of hardy crops like potatoes, carrots, and greens. The plants thrived, their colors unnaturally vibrant.

Chickens and rabbits, housed in fortified pens, showed increased vitality and resistance to disease when exposed to small, controlled doses of core energy.

The farmland became a testament to their ingenuity, a symbol that life could endure—even thrive—against all odds.

For Ethan, none of this progress erased the weight of his nightmares. Each night, he was haunted by vivid images of betrayal, blood, and burning rage. The faces of the council members who had orchestrated his downfall loomed over him, their sneers etched into his mind. And above all, there was Jack—the man who had driven the knife into his back, figuratively and literally.

One night, after waking from yet another nightmare drenched in sweat, Ethan made his decision. The steelworks he’d seen in his dreams matched the skyline of the industrial district. Jack was there—he could feel it.

At dawn, Ethan packed his gear in silence. His energy blade gleamed as he strapped it to his side, its modified core pulsing faintly. He added grenades, core-powered throwing knives, and rations for several days.

Dakota caught him as he prepared to leave. “You’re not telling me where you’re going, are you?” he said, leaning on his crowbar.

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“No,” Ethan replied, his tone clipped.

“This isn’t just another run,” Dakota pressed. “You’re going after someone.”

Ethan paused, his jaw tight. “This is personal.”

Dakota’s expression darkened. “You’re not invincible, Ethan. Whatever this is, you don’t have to do it alone.”

“I do,” Ethan said, his voice cold. “This ends with me.”

The steelworks loomed like a blackened skeleton against the crimson sky, its towering smokestacks belching faint plumes of sulfuric gas. The air was thick with decay and the acrid tang of metal. Ethan moved silently through the crumbling yard, his senses on high alert.

He entered the main building, the shattered glass crunching beneath his boots. The cavernous space was dim, lit only by the flickering glow of fissures cutting through the floor.

“Jack!” Ethan’s voice rang out, echoing off the rusted machinery. “Come out and face me!”

The silence was broken by slow, deliberate clapping. Jack emerged from the shadows, his face twisted in a smirk. He was older, leaner, and carried an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance.

“Well, well,” Jack said, descending a rusted staircase. “The golden boy finally found me. Took you long enough.”

Ethan’s grip tightened on his blade. “You know why I’m here.”

Jack laughed. “To finish what you started? Or to cry about how I outplayed you? Either way, I’m impressed you made it this far.”

Jack moved first, his serrated blade glowing faintly with stolen core energy. He lunged at Ethan with deadly precision, aiming for his throat. Ethan sidestepped, their blades clashing with a sharp clang. Sparks flew as Jack twisted, delivering a kick that sent Ethan stumbling.

“You’re predictable,” Jack sneered, pressing the attack.

Ethan blocked the next strike, his muscles straining as he pushed Jack back. He countered with a sweeping kick, knocking Jack off balance. Ethan followed with a slash aimed at Jack’s chest, but Jack rolled away, his blade slicing across Ethan’s arm. Blood sprayed onto the floor.

“You’ve gotten better,” Jack said, grinning. “But I’m still better.”

The fight became a brutal dance of precision and power. Ethan’s movements were fueled by rage and determination, while Jack’s were sharp and calculated. Blood splattered the walls as each landed punishing blows. Jack’s blade tore into Ethan’s side, while Ethan’s energy blade left a scorched gash across Jack’s shoulder.

Ethan finally gained the upper hand, disarming Jack with a savage strike that sent his blade clattering across the floor. Jack staggered back, clutching his bleeding side as Ethan advanced.

“You’re not getting out of this alive,” Ethan said, his voice low and icy. “But before you die, you’re going to tell me everything.”

Jack laughed through the pain. “What makes you think I’ll talk?”

Ethan didn’t respond. He drove his blade into Jack’s thigh, the energy searing flesh and bone. Jack screamed, his voice echoing through the steelworks.

“Who else betrayed me?” Ethan demanded, twisting the blade.

Jack gasped, his face pale. “You think you were so special? The council wanted you gone! They all did!”

“Names,” Ethan snarled, pulling the blade free and driving it into Jack’s other leg.

“Marcus... Elena... Kade!” Jack cried, blood pouring from his wounds. “They were all in on it! They voted you out, Ethan! They wanted you dead!”

Ethan’s eyes blazed with fury. “And you were their errand boy.”

Jack coughed, blood dripping from his mouth. “You’ll never stop them... They’re stronger than you... smarter than you.”

Ethan leaned in close, his voice a deadly whisper. “I don’t need to be smarter. I just need to kill every last one of them.”

With a final strike, Ethan drove his blade through Jack’s chest, pinning him to the floor. Jack’s body convulsed before falling still, his eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling.

Ethan stood over Jack’s corpse, blood dripping from his blade. The air was heavy with the stench of death, and his body ached from the fight. He wiped his face, his expression hard as stone.

“This is just the beginning,” he muttered.

He turned and walked out of the steelworks, leaving Jack’s body to rot in the crimson glow.

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Time Until Cataclysm: 28 Days, 6 Hours, 15 Minutes.