After the brutal battle, Adolf and Nourredine were hospitalized for a full week of recovery.
During his coma, Adolf had a strange dream — he stood in the middle of a green garden, watching a figure walk away from him.
Adolf ran after the figure, calling out — but suddenly, it disappeared, transforming into a giant monster that swallowed him whole.
Adolf jolted awake, gasping.
Standing before him was Nilüfer, sternly warning him not to perform any heavy work for at least a month.
He heeded her advice, and shortly afterward, Nourredine was discharged as well.
Wasting no time, Adolf began inspecting his shelters and compounds.
To his shock, two of his major compounds had declared independence.
He knew immediately: this was the time when strength mattered most.
He summoned Ethan Blake and ordered him to enforce a mandatory conscription across all loyal settlements, to build a mighty army capable of crushing rebellions and defending their territories.
Ethan Blake — who saw Adolf as a mentor and hero — executed the command with zeal.
He successfully recruited *40,000 soldiers*, fully armed with advanced weapons manufactured by Sam's powerhouse company — a tech empire employing *1,000 staff* and *400 scientists and innovators*.
Leading the massive army himself, Ethan first marched towards the nearest rebellious compound.
They stormed in without warning; the guards, stunned by the overwhelming force, offered little to no resistance.
Ethan captured the rebels, the guards, and anyone supporting the rebellion — all were sent back to the main shelter for trial.
He continued his purge across the settlements until he reached the hideout of *Lilith Moore* — the exiled leader of the original rebellion.
Upon investigation, it was uncovered that Lilith had masterminded the latest waves of uprisings.
Ethan convened an immediate military tribunal, charging her with "high treason and collusion with hostile forces," and ordered her transfer to the main shelter for sentencing.
But the greatest shock came when they searched her quarters —
they discovered a small creature, a miniature version of the monsters that Kim had previously reported seeing
Note:
- The First Compound: Led by Adolf – The Main Shelter
- The Second Compound: Led by Kim Soohye – Eastern Bastion
- The Third Compound: Led by Xiang Li – Finlay Outpost
- The Fourth Compound: Unknown leader – The Shadows Haven
- The Fifth Compound: Led by Reese Carter – Scholars' Hold