Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Apocalypse Hoarder: Kabanata 551 - Kabanata 560

The explosion outside the bunker roared like a volcano. Fire shot into the sky, and even from a distance the blast tightened the gut.The entire bunker shook. The tremor nearly knocked Cyrus off his feet. He braced himself and forced his balance back under control.He had not expected that.The pocket dimension had failed to contain the overinflated surge. It vented part of the pressure outward, and the release triggered an external detonation.The result came at a cost. For the moment, he could not open the pocket dimension again.He felt his ability draining away, siphoned off to repair the fractured gateway. Most of the explosive force had converted into raw energy and remained sealed inside the pocket dimension. That would prove useful later.Smoke rolled thick outside.Cyrus drew a slow breath. After steadying himself, he checked the bunker's condition.Fine cracks spidered across the exterior glass. They were not deep, though several stretched for inches.He took out his

Cyrus reassured them. "No need to worry. The underground defenses are stronger than the two surface levels. They cannot threaten this place anytime soon."He paused. "I'm guessing they're almost out of explosives. The attacks should stop for now. When they come back for another round, I already know how to deal with them."The calm smile on his face eased their worries.He did not mention his pocket dimension. His ability was a secret. Unless absolutely necessary, he would not reveal it to anyone.He remained underground for a long time. No second blast came, and no rifle fire followed. That confirmed they had run out of explosives.The West Ridge Base lay more than 30 miles away. Even if they left immediately to resupply, hauling more than 2,000 pounds of explosives back would take most of a day.Cyrus sat on the couch in the living room and monitored the feeds while Scarlett prepared food to replenish his strength. His ability drew energy from calories. With the Dimensional Gat

Knowing the danger there, Kenneth still insisted on coming. His resolve warmed Cyrus more than he expected."Kenneth, I appreciate it. But don't come yet. Soldiers are watching the area. If you show up, you'll clash with them. Even a strong man can't fight off a pack of wolves. They have numbers, weapons, and several Awakened men. I don't want you walking into danger."Kenneth did not back down. "You saved my life. The stable life I have now is because of you. I can't sit back while you're under threat. Besides, I spent years in the army. I've seen real battle."He gave a rough laugh. "I'm not bragging, but I've been to war. These kids don't scare me."Cyrus considered his words before replying. "All right. For now, I'm safe, and they can't break in. But I may launch a counterattack later. Wait for my signal. When I need you, I'll call. You can strike as a surprise piece. How does that sound?"Kenneth agreed. "Fine. I'll wait. But if anything happens, tell me right away. Don't tre

Just before dawn, when the sky barely began to lighten, Buttercup's sharp cry jolted Cyrus awake.He snapped his eyes open and rose from the couch at once. For the past few days, he had slept fully dressed and ready for anything.He checked the monitors. Movement flickered across the low ridge."So you want to strike while I'm asleep," he muttered. "Clever."In the early hours, people slept most deeply. Florian intended to exploit that window. Whether it worked or not, the attempt made sense.Cyrus headed upstairs at once.Bundling 1,000 pounds of explosives was not quick work. One mistake could turn a dozen men to ash in an instant.The demolition team moved with extreme caution.Each man carried 100 pounds at a time. They unloaded the packs, assembled the bundle, inserted detonators, and set the timer."We better nail the throw," Florian said lightly to Damian. "If you miss, I'll be running back for more explosives again."Damian laughed. "Relax, Commander. Back in the mili

The soldiers, unaware of what was happening, were swallowed in an instant by temperatures that soared into the thousands of degrees.Combat uniforms, body armor, and weapons offered no protection, and under that intense heat everything burned. Skin and flesh charred in a heartbeat as the flames swept outward.The Special Forces soldiers lying in ambush at the base of the ridge were nearly wiped out.From a distance, Cyrus watched the inferno bloom. The effect exceeded even his expectations. A smile spread across his face despite himself. He had only meant to release the stored energy to knock the bomb off course and protect his bunker.Judging by the result, he had eliminated a significant portion of their forces."Modern weapons really are something," he murmured. "I just use them better."He had released only part of the stored energy. The 1,000 pounds of TNT still accounted for most of the destruction. The success of this test meant he could repeat the tactic. Unless they were