"Uno..." a soft voice called out, pulling Uno from the depths of his restless slumber. As he opened his eyes, he found himself kneeling before the shelter, greeted by the morning sunlight that streamed into his weary gaze. Blinking away the remnants of a turbulent night, Uno looked up, his heart skipping a beat.
"Mike!" he exclaimed, the name escaping his lips with a mixture of surprise and hope. However, as Uno's eyes focused, the figure standing before him wasn't Mike. The person introduced himself, "It's me, Hex, Mike's nephew. Do you remember me?"
The shock subsided, replaced by a mix of emotions. Uno's gaze locked onto Hex, his expression filled with a blend of relief, surprise, and a hint of sorrow.
Memories of Mike flooded his mind, making the reality of their situation more poignant. "Hex... yes, I remember," Uno replied, his voice soft, filled with the echoes of past events.
The sudden urgency jolted Uno from the reverie. A survivor raced toward him, breathless, delivering grim news—aliens were approaching their temporary camp.
In an instant, Uno sprang into action. "Spread out, take positions!" he commanded, his voice firm but edged with urgency.
Uno coordinated the defense, positioning the armed survivors at vantage points while strategically using cover. He gestured and directed, his voice cutting through the tension-filled air, urging everyone to remain vigilant.
"Watch your angles, keep your aim steady!" Uno shouted, his voice resonating across the camp. "We can't let them breach our perimeter. Take your shots only when you're sure."
He divided the group, assigning roles and encouraging those less familiar with weapons to focus on basic cover and support. Despite the chaos, Uno's commands were clear, his presence giving the others a semblance of structure and direction amid the imminent threat.
"Prepare for their approach, but don't fire until they're in range," Uno instructed, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. "Remember, we've got to make each shot count."
The survivors, though frightened, followed Uno's directives, readying themselves for the impending clash with the advancing alien force. They waited anxiously, bracing for the fight that lay ahead.
As the aliens emerged on the horizon, Uno's command echoed through the makeshift defense line. "Fire at will!" The air filled with the thunderous noise of gunfire.
Uno's group acted swiftly, their shots coordinated and unrelenting. They strategically targeted the aliens, preventing them from advancing.
When the need to reload arose, the rear lines, consisting of children, older survivors, and those preparing backup, launched a series of improvised explosives toward the alien front. The bombs exploded in a cacophony of chaos, creating a temporary barrier and disorienting the alien advance.
The relentless shooting resumed immediately after the explosions, the survivors reloading their weapons swiftly, firing rounds after rounds. The combined effort of shooting and explosive barrages created chaos that pushed the aliens back momentarily.
Applauding Uno's leadership, the survivors stood together in a coordinated defense. However, amidst the chaos, a few blasters from the aliens managed to pinpoint some survivors, forcing Uno's group to readjust their strategy.
The aliens seemed to anticipate their moves, evading the attacks and gaining ground.
Realizing the need for a change in tactics, Uno swiftly commanded a retreat to their makeshift shelter, rallying his people to defend from within. They barricaded themselves and prepared for another wave of assault.
As the aliens closed in, Uno urged everyone to hold their positions, bracing for the imminent attack. Amidst the chaos, Uno maintained his calm, directing his people to take cover and return fire whenever possible.
With the aliens looming beneath the damaged structures, Uno gestured discreetly to his team hiding among the rubble. They swiftly planted charges at the crucial structural points of the crumbling buildings, their every move stealthily executed. As the explosives detonated, the pillars gave way, triggering a domino effect.
Chunks of debris and rubble thundered down upon the aliens below, burying them under the weight of the collapsing structures. The ground quaked with the impact, and clouds of dust and debris filled the air.
The once-standing structures now lay in ruins, covering the alien forces under piles of broken concrete and steel. Uno's team cautiously emerged from their hiding spots, surveying the aftermath of their strategic demolition.
The area now a chaotic scene of devastation, debris scattered across the ground, but the alien forces were incapacitated under the fallen structures.
It was a brief respite from the relentless assaults they had faced. Amid the debris and chaos, Uno's team took a moment to regroup and catch their breaths.
With the chaos ensuing from the destruction, Uno swiftly directed his team to seize the moment and retreat. "Move out! Now!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the pandemonium.
His people, though exhausted, responded to his call without hesitation. They dashed away from the scene, maneuvering through the wreckage and debris as fast as they could, guided by Uno's guidance.
Amidst the clamor and dust, Uno kept a vigilant eye on his team, ensuring everyone was accounted for, urging them forward toward safety. The retreat was swift yet careful, every step taken with urgency and precision to avoid any further confrontation or ambush.
Uno positioned his team strategically, ready to act swiftly upon any sighting of the aliens. The tension was palpable as they scanned the surroundings, anticipating any sign of movement, and some treated the wounded.
He then instructed one of his scouts to cautiously advance and gather information about the situation ahead. The scout moved with precision, navigating through the rubble and remains of the shattered cityscape.
Uno maintained his vigilance, observing every direction for potential threats. His thoughts were focused on the safety of his team, ready to retreat immediately if the situation seemed even slightly precarious.
As they waited for the scout's return, Uno's mind raced with contingency plans, prepared for any outcome, determined to safeguard his people at all costs. They stood in the eerie silence of the devastated city, an anxious anticipation hanging over them as they awaited news from the scout.
A few moments passed, and the scout's back reporting the successful elimination of the alien threat, Uno's strategic mind was already at work. He directed his team to encircle the area cautiously, maintaining their positions while staying vigilant for any lingering danger.
Understanding the possibility of an ambush or sniper attack, Uno chose a prudent approach. He selected a few of his scouts to conduct a comprehensive survey of the surroundings from a safe distance. This precaution aimed to avoid any unforeseen threats that might still linger in the aftermath of the confrontation.
After Uno confirmed that all of his people were in their position, he led a small team toward the alien remains to salvage their weaponry, he urged caution among his people.
Moving between the rubble, they remained vigilant, wary of any hidden threats that might still linger. Uno's eyes scanned the area constantly, ensuring they were not taken by surprise.
His instructions were clear: salvage the alien weapons but remain on high alert. Any surviving aliens were to be dealt with immediately. The tension in the air was palpable as they navigated the wreckage.
After salvaging what they can, Uno immediately commands his people to fall back. One of the survivors brings Uno an unfamiliar device, the language is not understood by any of them, Uno makes a gesture and opens his status tab as Hex used to teach him;
Name: Uno
Class: Trustee
Title: -
Level: 9
STR | Strength: 700
DEX | Dexterity: 700
MND | Mind: 1,200
INT | Intelligence: 6,200
ARC | Arcane: 200
Alien Skull Available: 8,000
The first time he knew about the upgrading system, he recalled his earlier allocation of a portion of his skull points following his separation from Hex's group.
He glanced at the remaining points, and a surprising increase caught his attention, as he had not killed any of the aliens this time.
This revelation led Uno to theorize that skull points weren't solely acquired through direct killings. He suspected that influencing others or indirectly causing the aliens to meet their demise might also yield these points.
In his heart, Uno wished he could share this newfound insight with Hex's group, hoping it could benefit them in some way.
With this revelation, he then allocated all his remaining skull points to further enhance his Intelligence stat, and suddenly a notification appeared;
Intelligence Books of Administrator Art Unlocked.
Even though the language remained foreign, as his Intelligence stat increased, Uno explained to his people that it was some kind of map device, and inside the device was the location of the alien nearby base.
With this new information at hand, Uno was already planning his group's destination. Yet, amid his thoughts about the upcoming journey, his mind lingered on Hex's group safety.
Uno held a profound care for Hex that echoed the bond he had with Mike. "Wherever you are, Hex, I hope you're safe," he whispered into the air, sending his heartfelt wishes for Hex's well-being.