Building My Empire in the Frozen Apocalypse (Riley Carter) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Into the Wild

“Nice.”

+35 Free Coins

Riley patted the sled with satisfaction. With this thing, she could haul back four or five logs at a time–no more endless back–and–forth trips like an ant hauling crumbs.

**********

The morning hours went to logging, same as always.

It served two purposes: stockpiling fuel and testing the limits of her upgraded body.

“Ha!”

The axe bit into wood. Chips flew.

The strength increase was immediately noticeable. Where it used to take over ten tree, leaving her winded and exhausted, now–with the right angle–just seven or pine

ce thick as her arm crashing down.

to

drop a single

Les brought a

a

Add the boost from the “Pioneer’s Wristguard“, and her logging efficiency was honestly kind of ridiculous.

By noon, Riley looked back at the sled piled high with logs like a small mountain. A deep sense of satisfaction settled in her chest.

“Thirteen trees total.”

She dragged the heavy load through the snow, the sled runners carving deep tracks behind her. Her steps stayed steady.

Back at camp, she recycled everything.

“Acquired: Common Wood x78(Note: Yield multiplier affected by wristguard and tool quality. Current rate: 1:6)”

“Seventy–eight units. Plus what I had stockpiled, wood’s easily over a hundred now.”

Riley wiped a faint sheen of sweat from her forehead.

“Wood’s not the priority anymore. It’s crates. Food. Rare materials.”

Lunch was once again the soul–crushing “bread and juice” special.

Riley chewed mechanically, reminiscing about the taste of that Beef Stew MRE.

After eating, she rested for half an hour inside the warm cabin, recovering her stamina.

One in the afternoon.

The warmest part of the day. Best light, too.

DO

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Chapter 12 Into the Wild

Riley geared up: heavy coat, snow boots, goggles, cut–resistant gloves.

Two light hand axes hung from her belt. She carried the claw hammer in her right hand.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

+35 Free Coins

She took a deep breath of frigid air, pushed open the camp gate, and headed in the opposite direction from the woods–toward the vast, untouched white expanse beyond.

The moment she left the campfire’s protective radius, the cold slammed into her like a wave.

Her gear had decent insulation, especially that +5 thermal base layer pulling its weight. But the pervasive, bone–deep wind still kept her on edge.

The system helpfully displayed a “Distance from Camp: 160ft” marker in the corner of her vision. As long as she didn’t wander too far, a faint blue arrow pointed the way home.

That alone cut the risk of getting lost by a lot.

Riley trudged through the deep snow, her boots sinking and pulling free with every step.

As far as she could see? White. Just white.

Occasionally, a few black rocks jutted out, or the skeletal remains of long–dead twisted trees stood lonely against the wind.

The utter isolation–being the only living soul in this frozen void–would probably send someone with weaker nerves running back before they’d made it half a mile.

Riley stayed alert as she walked, scanning constantly.

Looking for crates, yeah. But also watching for wildlife.

Those channel stories about people getting “mauled by wolves” or “torn apart by a bear” were constant reminders. This wasn’t a nature hike. This was a hunting ground.

Twenty minutes of walking. Maybe five or six hundred yards from camp.

Still nothing.

No crates. No signs of anything.

“Maybe my luck’s just garbage?” Riley frowned, discouraged.

Just as she was about to change direction, her gaze snagged on something about fifty yards ahead, behind a small snowdrift.

There… was that a different color?

Not snow–white. Not rock–black.

C

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20:11 Mon, May 4

Chapter 12 Into the Wild

Brownish–yellow. Like wood grain.

Riley’s heart skipped. She tightened her grip on the hand axe, dropped low, and crept closer.

As the distance closed, the shape came into focus.

A crate.

A weathered wooden crate, half–buried in the snow.

“Finally!”

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