A huge thank you to Toby_Morris_3701, Kallindar730, Carlos_Tagle, DaoistViMmg1, Luc12, Aaron_Guamam, and Lucy_Ashiya for the Golden Tickets! Your support truly means a lot and keeps me motivated to continue writing and improving the story.

++++((((^\^))))++++

Vikram stared at the floating items, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. These rewards were far beyond anything he had expected.

Especially the Water Core and Life Core, it will help him in evolving the Healer and Water Mage.

Luna stood quietly beside him, watching everything with calm golden eyes. The Plant Army also remained motionless, awaiting his next command.

But Vikram was still waiting for the others’ rewards.

And soon another notification appeared in his mind.

[Congratulations, Host, for defeating a large number of Vampires with the assistance of your Plants Team.]

[Rewards Obtained:]

[Plant Essence +100,000]

[High Growth Acceleration ×10]

[Vine Sniper Tower ×10]

[Plant Core ×4]

[Guardian Seed Pendant ×1]

Seeing the reward Vikram nodded with satisfaction. He already knew that Plant Core will help him evolve Guardian and Warrior Druid.

Only the different reward was the Guardian Seed Pendant, which details were shown to him.

[Guardian Seed Pendant ×1 (Golden - Legendary) — A sacred pendant containing the condensed essence of the Treehouse Core.]

Core Functions:

• Passive regeneration aura for the wearer and his allies.

• One-time full revival (once per month).

Core Traits:

• Increases affinity with all plant things.

• Grants minor nature resistance.

Special Functions:

• Emergency Root Shield (creates temporary defensive domain)

• Core Resonance (boosts all Plant Army abilities by 50% for 5 minutes)

Description: A priceless treasure that symbolizes the true bond between Vikram and the ancient Treehouse. Its value cannot be measured.

[Bound to Vikram]

Seeing this item used, Vikram can’t describe his happiness. This item was, although only Legendary, but its use was not less than the Mythic item.

Especially the revival abilities, and it was once every month. With these things appearing, now even death is nothing to worry about.

He then also looked towards the Treehouse Core, which he had gained in the Vampire Ruin, and it was the most important thing for him.

He looked at the description.

After examining all the new rewards, Vikram’s gaze finally turned to the most important treasure he had obtained inside the Vampire Ruin, the Treehouse Core.

A small, radiant emerald-green crystal floated above his palm, pulsing with gentle, ancient energy. The moment he focused on it, a detailed system window appeared before his eyes.

---

Treehouse Core (Golden - Legendary)

The crystallized heart of the ancient underground Treehouse. This is the true essence and origin of the Treehouse lineage. Absorbing and refining it grants complete ownership and authority over the Treehouse System.

Core Functions:

• Permanently upgrade the Treehouse.

• Upgrades the Treehouse Core itself to its next stage.

• Greatly strengthens all Plant Army summons.

• Expands and stabilizes the personal Summoning Domain.

Core Traits:

• Complete Authority: Full control over the Treehouse’s internal space and functions.

• Growth Catalyst: The Treehouse and its Core can now evolve together with the user’s strength.

• Life Link: The Treehouse Core is now bound to Vikram’s soul, it cannot be stolen or destroyed unless he dies.

Effects Upon Integration:

• The Treehouse will be reconstructed and upgraded into a far more powerful form (mobile, dimensional, and defensive capabilities will be significantly enhanced).

• Treehouse Core Stage 2 Unlocked — New features and higher energy capacity will be available.

• All Plant-type summons gain +50% overall power, with potential for further evolution

• Unlocks hidden Treehouse functions (Spatial Storage, Healing Sanctuary, Defense Fortress Mode, etc.)

Special Functions:

• Treehouse Relocation: Can now relocate the Treehouse at different places with sufficient Plant Essence.

• Core Resonance: Temporarily boosts all plant-based abilities by 100% for 10 minutes (cooldown: 24 hours).

• Origin Rebirth: Once every 30 days, can revive a destroyed Plant summon at the cost of heavy Plant Essence.

Description: The Treehouse Core is the most valuable and important treasure Vikram has acquired so far. It represents the culmination of the ancient Treehouse’s long wait. By fully integrating this Core, both the Treehouse and the Treehouse Core will undergo a complete upgrade, evolving into a much stronger and more versatile existence. This single item will become the foundation of Vikram’s future power.

---

Seeing all the rewards and Treehouse Core Vikram was satisfied, he was also a little confused, how Luna from the ruin appeared here. Can others also appear?

But this was not the time for all of the questions, he was already so tired.

Then he happily took one last look at the Hospital.

Then, without stopping, he takes out the newly rewarded Van.

And without hesitation he climbed on it, while Healy started the Van, and started returning towards his territory.

Vikram had not yet collected resources from other buildings in the Hospital, such as the patient building and office building.

However, with the light pillar already triggered, he estimated that the entire area was clearly visible, so he had no time to continue collecting.

Moreover, now he also didn’t care about these small things. During the previous visit to Zombie Ruin, Vikram has thought of creating a good defence and gathering the people, so after visiting the Vampire Ruin, this time he wants to create the rules, and for this, he needs to rule all the territory around himself.

Midway, Vikram, using his vision far superior to ordinary people, noticed several two-wheeled vehicles heading towards the Hospital.

He even saw several teams of Survivors approaching the Hospital on foot.

Outside the Hospital.

As Vikram expected, he had just left when a large crowd gathered outside the Hospital again not long after.

Only, unlike the cannon fodder attracted by the Brown Wood Shelter before, these Survivors attracted by the light pillar were clearly a level stronger.

"Hmph, I’ve long heard that such light pillars represent the appearance of a great opportunity."

"Now, Happy has finally caught up."

"This time, I am determined to get the best materials inside."

The speaker was a short-statured Survivor, who was now holding a giant axe high, his face full of confidence.

"Pfft, some bumpkin from who knows where, still saying he’s determined to get the best materials inside."

"As long as a light pillar appears at a resource point, it means the most important items inside have already been taken away. He doesn’t even know this and is still spouting nonsense."

"What an uncultured country bumpkin."

A survivor next to him, dressed cleanly and neatly, looking like he had a good quality of life, immediately rolled his eyes and scorned the former.

This immediately enraged the Survivor who had just spoken, "What the hell did you say? Say it again if you dare, believe it or not, I’ll chop you, you dead transvestite, right now?"

This Survivor, being called a transvestite, also became furious and was about to deal with the annoying trash in front of him.

But then he heard rustling sounds all around...

—

While Vikram was going towards his Territory. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Suddenly!

A sharp arc of light pierced through layers of black fog, striking the earth.

"Boom!"

Accompanied by an earth-shattering explosion, the black fog-shrouded outside was instantly illuminated.

It was a bolt of lightning, as thick as a fist, descending from the sky.

In an instant, the crooked figures of zombies hiding in the fog were revealed.

Before the many zombies could react, one was struck directly, its body instantly charred black, and then it fell to the ground, motionless.

If it were just a single bolt of lightning, it wouldn’t be much.

Compared to the dangers of the Wasteland World, it was merely a storm in a teacup.

But it seemed that the previous lightning strike had set things off; above the black fog, within the dome of the sky, thunder suddenly began to rumble and surge in the clouds.

Muffled roars emerged from a thousand meters high.

Immediately after, accompanied by one deafening sound after another, streaks of colorful light poured down!

Directly facing the zombie-infested ground.

"Rumble!"

For a time, a huge and prolonged noise continued endlessly.

No matter which corner of the Wasteland World, lightning strikes fell equally on each.

One bolt of lightning even struck directly outside the wall of Vikram’s home.

Strangely, these lightning bolts seemed to have a target, each strike directly hitting a zombie.

When the perspective shifted back to the zombie first struck by lightning,

At some unknown point, its figure had long since vanished.

Only a patch of scorched earth and something resembling burnt skin remained.

Vikram has stopped his vehicle, the incessant thunder made him frown deeply.

It wasn’t until a lightning bolt, almost sounding in his ear, struck in front of him.

"Hoo... hoo." His chest heaved violently for a while before Vikram slowly recovered some of his senses from the startled state.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Why is this thunder endless?"

Vikram massaged his shoulders, which were a bit sore from not sleeping well.

It was strange to say, ever since the black fog began, the Wasteland had not seen a single rain or heavy snow.

Let alone thunder.

This inexplicable thunderstorm was clearly not right.

Vikram didn’t know what happened, when a familiar mechanical voice entered his head.

[Congratulations to the remaining one billion Survivors for passing through the third phase of the black fog.]

[The fourth phase of the black fog officially begins.]

[Please note, the toxicity of the black fog will increase to 40% from now on, and visibility in areas covered by the black fog will decrease by 80%.]

[Good news, for some unknown reason, the number of zombies has not increased this time, but the hidden dangers need to be discovered by each of you.]

[Given the sharp decrease in the number of Survivors again, the land in sparsely populated areas of the Wasteland World has shrunk again.]

[Victory over the black fog is in sight, keep up the good work, Survivors.]