Deejay stood at the front of the lobby as the survivors slowly gathered their bearings.
Dust-stained faces, trembling hands, and tired eyes filled the space, but when they finally looked at him, confusion replaced fear.
They hadn't expected this.
The one who saved them wasn't a soldier, nor some hardened veteran. He was young—around their age, maybe a little older. Tall, well-built, and unmistakably handsome. His posture was relaxed, his expression calm, almost gentle.
A few of the students stared harder than the rest.
"…No way," one of them whispered.
Another leaned closer, eyes widening.
"That's him. I swear that's Deejay Vergara."
"The streamer?" someone else asked under their breath.
"The FPS guy," the student replied quickly.
"The one who always tops global rankings."
Murmurs spread quietly through the group, disbelief mixing with relief.
Deejay noticed but didn't react to it. Instead, he smiled—easy, unforced—and raised a hand slightly.
"Alright," he said, voice steady and clear.
"You're safe here. Take a breath."
The lobby grew quieter.
"This building has been cleared," Deejay continued. "No zombies inside. The doors and windows are reinforced, and drones are guarding the perimeter. As long as you follow the rules, nothing's getting in."
A man near the back swallowed hard. "You… you did all this?"
Deejay nodded. "I did. And I'll keep doing what I can to secure this place and help more survivors."
That was enough.
Some people bowed their heads. Others covered their faces. A woman suddenly dropped to her knees, shoulders shaking as sobs broke free.
"Thank you," she cried. "I thought we were dead… I was already losing hope..."
Another followed. Then another.
Deejay moved forward immediately. "Hey, no—don't do that."
He gently helped them back to their feet, his tone firm but kind. "You don't owe me anything. You survived. That's what matters."
The crying didn't stop immediately, but it softened. Gratitude remained, raw and overwhelming, yet no longer desperate.
Once things settled, Deejay spoke again.
"There are a few rules," he said. "Listen carefully."
The survivors straightened instinctively.
"First, the 27th and 28th floors are off-limits. Those are my private floors. Don't go there. Don't ask about them."
No one argued. Several nodded immediately.
"Second," he continued, "you're free to choose any rooms you want. The building is empty. That said, I strongly suggest staying on higher floors. They're safer and easier to defend."
A middle-aged man raised his hand slightly. "We'll listen. Whatever you say."
Deejay nodded. "Good."
With that, the tension eased further. Groups began organizing themselves naturally—friends sticking together, strangers offering help. People moved carefully, claiming rooms, checking doors, settling in.
Before long, the lobby was no longer a place of fear. It felt… lived in.
Satisfied, Deejay returned to his room.
Once inside, he sat down and exhaled slowly.
"System," he said, "are there ways to maintain electricity and clean water long-term?"
"Confirmed," Aegis Prime replied.
"Advanced autonomous power and water purification systems are available."
Two items appeared on the screen.
One was a compact fusion-based generator capable of powering the entire building indefinitely. The other was a high-efficiency water purification core that could process contaminated water into safe drinking supply continuously.
The price made him pause.
50,000 Gold Coins each.
"…As expected," Deejay muttered. He closed the panel without hesitation. "Not yet. I'll save more Gold coins for now."
Blackouts were coming. He knew that. But rushing now would leave him empty-handed later.
Before he could think further, a familiar sound echoed.
DING!
A quest panel appeared.
[NEW QUEST ISSUED]
Quest Name: Pillar of Hope
Objective: Rescue and gather 500 survivors
Time Limit:3 Days
Failure Penalty: None
Rewards:
Gold Coins x150,000
Advanced Defense Blueprint Set
High-Tier Drone Expansion Module
System Reputation: Major Increase
Deejay stared at the numbers.
Five hundred.
That wasn't just rescue anymore. That was scale.
He closed the panel slowly and leaned back, fingers tapping against the armrest.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Then I need to think bigger."
He opened another interface.
"System," he said, "what else do I need to reinforce this building?"
The response came instantly.
Aegis Prime listed recommendations in precise detail—external barricade modules, automated turret placements, internal motion sensors, emergency lighting systems, reinforced stairwell locks, and structural stabilization units designed to withstand prolonged siege conditions.
Each suggestion made sense.
Each one was expensive.
Deejay listened carefully, committing everything to memory.