Global Awakening: Infinite Gift Pack System-Chapter 52: Unexpected Move

’This...’

Terrence clenched his fist. He was nervous right now...

’Is this really a safe place?’

He wasn’t exactly sure about the extent of his Talent. His Pathfinder could certainly help him intuitively find a safe place, but it was not omnipotent... Perhaps the safety he felt was just for a few days, hours, or even minutes.

Then, as he heard Kai trying to calm everyone, he couldn’t help but feel more worried since he might just be telling this to avoid making everyone panic.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the spider-like artillery would continue their bombardment until the garbage field was flattened.

Boom!

The bombardment rattled the shelter again, and more dust started falling from the ceiling.

’It’s getting stronger...’ Terrence thought as he also noticed that the residents or survivors here would flinch at every blast. Without a doubt, their nerves had already stretched thin.

Then, as Terrence was considering what to do next, four figures stepped forward from the crowd of survivors and approached the Shelter Leader, Kai.

"Hmm?"

Kai recognized them vaguely, two Boiler Room Operators with their darkened gloves and two from the Sanitation Crew who had dirty orange helmet on.

One of the Operators spoke as he looked at Kai.

"Leader... there’s no other choice. We’ll create a diversion."

The second Operator added quickly. "We’ll run in different directions and draw their fire. Give us smoke grenades and guns, we’ll make enough noise to pull the artillery away from here."

Kai’s eyes narrowed as he didn’t expect this kind of volunteers...

He had only been in Haven‑45 for a few days, barely enough time to learn names. He didn’t know these men and women well, but he knew their work kept the shelter alive. To send them out was to send them to their deaths.

"There must be another way," Kai muttered as he considered their other options... "I can’t just let you throw your lives away." He added.

But the woman from the Sanitation Crew stepped forward...

"Leader, if we stay here, we’ll all die. If we go out, maybe we can buy you time... or maybe we can also survive. But if we do nothing, Haven‑45 will collapse. I can’t let that happen!"

Her partner clenched his fists, before turning to her and held her hands.

"We’ve seen the shells tearing the surface apart. If they lock onto us, it’s over. Let us go. At least then, we’ll have a chance to change the outcome."

The Operators nodded in agreement. There was desperation burning in their eyes. "We’re not soldiers, but we can run fast. We can make noise, so just give us the tools. Smoke grenades, guns... anything. If we’re lucky, we’ll live long enough to escape..."

Around them, murmurs spread. Some survivors shook their heads, unwilling to sacrifice more lives. Others looked away, unable to meet the eyes of the four volunteers.

Terrence, on the other hand, was torn between admiration and dread. This was surely a tough decision.

Soon, Aurora whispered beside him. "They’ll die out there..."

Jonas nodded. "Maybe they’ll save us that way." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Kai had to pause for a moment. He had taken command of Haven‑45 only days ago, and already the weight of leadership felt too heavy...

Right now, he couldn’t afford to lose people, but he couldn’t ignore their determination either. Although he might have other plans, it was also not a guarantee.

Boom!

The artillery thundered again, rattling the shelter...

Finally, Kai exhaled sharply.

"Fine. Take what you need. But listen... stay alive as long as you can. Don’t throw yourselves away. If you manage to escape, take these canned goods. Survive until rescue comes. Don’t waste your chance."

Everything happened so quickly...

The four accepted the weapons, smoke grenades, and supplies that they could carry to the point that they wouldn’t hinder their movements.

Soon, they slipped out through different entrances, vanishing into the chaos above.

In the underground chamber, survivors crowded around the periscopes, watching anxiously.

They were anticipating whether these four would actually succeed or not.

Just like that, they waited for the noise, the smoke, the distraction that would draw the artillery away.

But what they saw instead froze their blood.

The four didn’t fire their guns.

They didn’t shout or make noise. Instead, they hurled their smoke grenades directly above the shelter’s location, as if marking it as a target.

"Impossible..." Russel, who had known the four for several years, whispered. His face was pale in shock.

Through the periscopes, they saw the four figures darting swiftly toward the sewers, disappearing into the shadows. They hadn’t gone to draw fire, they had gone to escape!

Kai’s fists tightened, his voice breaking with fury. "They betrayed us..."

Boom!

The ground shook violently as shells detonated closer!

At this point, the concussions were already rattling the walls.

More dust poured from the ceiling, and soon, they noticed some cracks spreading across the walls.

Claire’s eyes widened in horror. "They... they wanted us to be destroyed!"

Ralph then slammed his fist against the wall, rage boiling in his chest. "Cowards! They used us as bait!"

Terrence also felt worried... Even without Spirit Points to reactivate his talent, he could somehow tell that Haven‑45 was no longer safe.

However, Kai hadn’t given up just yet.

The betrayal had left them exposed, and the artillery was focusing on their location.

Still, he had prepared several contingency plans for the Mech Siege.

From collapsing the tunnels, creating fire traps, raining with bullets, and others... But now only one remained viable. Plan D.

It was the most desperate measure, destroying their entrances and escaping through the hidden underground route.

Few knew of it... Ralph, Victor, Claire, Russel, Augustine, and a handful of others.

The Elder, the previous leader, had once tried to kill Kai and his group by detonating explosives in his chamber. At first, it seemed like a desperate act of vengeance for his sons.

He killed himself and destroyed the room, even if the blast hadn’t damaged the shelter much. But Kai had always been suspicious of this move.

He ordered the chamber cleared, and the truth was revealed... Apparently, the Elder had been hiding an escape route.

Needless to say, only those involved in uncovering it knew of its existence. After all, Kai didn’t want it to be revealed unless necessary.

"Forget about the traitors. Proceed with Plan D..." Kai commanded, just as he noticed the areas the four traitors had fled into were now swarming with Sentinels.