Seven days had passed since Kane had sealed the deal with Morris Industrial Projects and entrusted Rico with the liquidation of his precious haul. The island, once wild and untouched, was beginning to feel the slow stirrings of transformation under the relentless pulse of machinery and human effort.
The morning sun spilled golden light across the water as Kane stood on the rocky shoreline, his eyes scanning the island's changing silhouette. The dense forest was retreating, making way for clearings where sturdy greenhouses now rose in neat rows, their glass panels catching the light like jewels. A skeletal framework of solar arrays and wind turbines peppered the ridges, promising a future humming with renewable energy.
The air smelled of sawdust, fresh earth, and the faint tang of salt. Distant shouts and the rhythmic thud of machinery marked the pulse of life being forged here.
Inside a prefabricated workshop, Kane crouched beside the workbenches, inspecting the first batch of drones rolling off assembly lines. Small yet formidable, these machines were the first fruits of his vision—a fleet designed for scouting, defense, and swift response.
He ran his fingers over the matte black chassis of a scout drone, its compact sensors gleaming under fluorescent light.
"They're progressing faster than I expected," Kane murmured, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "We'll need more. Combat types next: sniper, gunner, missile launcher. All ready before the deadline."
At the mountain house, life moved quietly but intensely. Lena and Mara continued to manage supplies and prepare logistics, still unaware of Kane's unique storage ability or the true scale of the island project. Kane guarded these secrets closely, revealing only as much as necessary.
Meanwhile, Reina's powers had blossomed in unexpected ways. Her toys—once simple trinkets animated by flickers of her energy—were now far more vibrant. They moved with purpose, mimicking her subtle gestures, learning to cooperate. A small army of wooden soldiers, stuffed animals, and plastic figures swarmed around her playroom, their tiny eyes sparkling with an eerie semblance of life.
Kane watched from the doorway, a mixture of awe and cautious concern in his gaze.
"Reina," he said softly, kneeling beside her, "do you feel stronger? Can you control them better?"
The two-year-old smiled, her words simple but filled with wonder. "Toys… move. Help! Like me!"
Reina's power to animate and direct these toys was no longer mere play; it was evolving into a delicate, living force. Kane realized her range had increased — the toys could now store small amounts of supplies in his Infinite Storage remotely, a fledgling but vital link in their growing network.
As the sun dipped low behind the mountains, Kane returned to his island base. The foreman approached, a hard smile tugging at his lips.
"Greenhouses are nearly up. Fish farm tanks should be ready for water cycling tomorrow. Power systems are on schedule," he reported.
Kane nodded, the weight of responsibility pressing heavier with every update.
"Good. Keep the crews focused. I want no setbacks."
The island was no longer just a dream. It was becoming a fortress.
But as the days slipped by, Kane felt the growing tension ripple through the city and beyond. News reports hinted at rising unrest, food shortages, and strange illnesses spreading quietly but surely.
The apocalypse was drawing closer.
And Kane knew that when the world fell, only those prepared to adapt and fight would survive.