Chapter 1: Welcome to "The Matrix Survival Game

[Welcome to "The Matrix Survival Game"]

[Each matrix is comprised of several rooms with random contents, containing both resources and dangers.]

[Each matrix starts with 1000 players. Don't worry, the matrix is big, giving you ample space to explore freely.]

[Every player starts with the same resources: Basic Concentrated Nutrient Liquid*2, Clean Drinking Water 500ml*2, Capsule Residence*1, Identity Card*1.]

[Capsule Residence cannot be destroyed; it is your only trustworthy item, so do not abandon it.]

[Identity Card is used to explore the matrix. Swipe at the door to enter the next room; each player can explore 10 new rooms per day.]

[Note: Once a new room is chosen, you cannot cancel it after swiping the card, and you cannot go back after entering a new room!]

[Note: There is no friendly team mode between players, and you can attack each other freely. Whether to team up and explore together or to go solo through the matrix is entirely up to you.]

[In the spirit of humanitarianism, all players under 16 and over 50 will be removed from the Matrix Realm and properly relocated.]

[Now, begin your journey in the matrix!]

The light screen in front of him kept flickering. It wasn't until the subtitles gradually disappeared that Li Zheng came back to his senses.

"Matrix game world?"

Is it a crossover?

Li Zheng rubbed his temples.

From his memory, he only recalled a blinding white light flashing by, and everyone falling like harvested wheat in rows amidst the light.

When he woke up, he had arrived here.

"It shouldn't be a crossover. Or perhaps... even if it is, it's a massive crossover throughout the world, so I am not the 'chosen one' from novels, not free to mess around."

Li Zheng didn't rush into the so-called matrix exploration but first examined his surroundings.

He was currently in a room about three meters in length, width, and height.

Having lived in a thirty-square-meter studio apartment, all he felt at that moment was narrow and cramped.

"Anyone with claustrophobia would probably be going mad by now."

The room seemed made of metal, with a very technological feel, and a low-wattage bulb on top was the only source of light.

The floor was also metal plates, and not far from his feet were two bottles of water, a card, and two roughly Red Bull-sized opaque cans.

Apart from that, there was nothing else.

"So this is the so-called capsule residence I'm in now?"

Li Zheng jumped around in the room, looked around, and pouted in dissatisfaction: "It's really quite simple, isn't it? No wonder this place is the 'only trustable' item, apart from the door, there's not even a window."

He picked up the Identity Card, stuffed it into his inner pocket, and patted all over his body.

Sure enough, all pockets were empty, even his usual lighter was gone.

"This really is fair..."

Li Zheng didn't mind. After all, the lighter was for lighting others' cigarettes; he didn't smoke himself.

He picked up a bottle of water, and immediately a prompt appeared on the panel:

[A bottle of clean water, can be safely consumed, can also be decomposed into: Water 500ml, Plastic Bottle*1]

"..."

Li Zheng was silent for a moment, then quipped, "Why decompose, can't I just pour it out and get these materials the same way?"

He picked up the Red Bull-sized can:

[Basic Concentrated Nutrient Liquid, the energy in one can equals an ordinary person's lunch, very sweet, might have some other unknown effects. Can also be decomposed into: Nutrient Liquid 330ml, Aluminum Can*1]

The same decomposition mechanism as the drinking water.

"Alright then... I was about to go out to eat before this happened, now I can try how effective it is."

"Pop."

He pried open the pull tab and drank the nutrient liquid in one go.

The cloyingly sweet taste left Li Zheng unwilling to have another can anytime soon, making him almost suspect that the taste was meant to sustain a meal.

He looked at the aluminum can in his hand:

[An empty aluminum can, can be used for holding other items, or you can crush it flat to vent. Cannot be decomposed, perhaps collect more to melt into raw materials.]

In other words, a single aluminum can = trash.

Casually throwing it into the corner of the residence, Li Zheng picked up a water bottle and took a small sip to rinse his mouth, easing the sweetness, and opened the regional chat channel.

The chat channel is divided into World Channel and Regional Channel

Matrix Channel: 0000879, current remaining people: 1000, horn number: 1/1 (horn is a world channel chat tool, refreshing one daily, players please cautiously decide the horn's usage.)

A brief notice flashed by, Li Zheng swallowed the rinse water, thinking the system was hinting that the horn might have other uses besides chatting.

No one spoke in the World Channel; at the start, there was only one horn; no one was willing to waste it on idle chatter, so Li Zheng opened the Regional Channel he was in.

(Regional Channel Chat Hall, only players from this channel can see messages, no speech limit, does not consume horn.)

"Matrix game? What's going on? Who brought me here?"

"Who knows? Maybe it's aliens. By the way, is Xiao Xuan here? I'm Jiao Mei."

"Jiao Mei? I think you're a flirty pig, aren't you?"

"Hahaha~ You ants, all tremble under the future king's feet!"

"Did the one upstairs get shocked, and their brain broke?"

"Probably!"

"+1."

"..."

"Hmph, you stupid ants, I am the reincarnation of the great God of Darkness, this crossing is my people's ceremony to welcome the holy return, your blood will eventually become embellishments under the divine throne!"

"Oh, so this little matrix game isn't a challenge for the great God of Darkness? Excuse me, God of Darkness, how many rooms have you reached?"

"Hmph, this ridiculous game of ants is nothing to me; today I shall conquer this world and be crowned king!"

One minute later.

Current region remaining people: 999

"..."

"God of Darkness? Where is the great God of Darkness?"

"Pfft, didn't you see the count went down by one? Guess he's done for."

"Hope he's alright."

"The one above is always a little late with hope, only comes out when it's over."

"..."

Li Zheng closed the interface speechlessly.

At the start of the game, everyone at least has enough for two meals, so most people are watching, hoping someone will start the game first, then they can gather intel from the sidelines.

However, Li Zheng knows that this situation will change by tomorrow at the latest.

By then, hunger will force these opportunists to take the first step.

Afterwards, the entire Matrix Game might undergo a massive purge.

Just like that overconfident teenager earlier.

As for whether players who successfully explore the next room will share their experiences?

Li Zheng thinks it's highly unlikely.

He certainly wouldn't.

Apart from the chat hall, there's also a trading hall on the panel.

Li Zheng opened it and looked around, it was completely empty.

"I should start exploring; constantly shrinking back isn't the way to go."

Li Zheng opened the room door, stepped out, and stood on the ground.

"Hmm?"

Li Zheng was surprised to find that outside the capsule residence was an enormous underground cavern, with a few scattered rocks on the ground.

Looking back, he found a button beside the door of the capsule residence and pressed it gently.

"Boom!"

The capsule residence instantly collapsed into the size of a capsule.

He picked it up, thought for a moment, and the capsule residence disappeared.

With a flick of his wrist, the capsule appeared; he pressed it hard and threw it out.

"Boom!"

After a puff of smoke, the square-shaped capsule residence appeared before him.

"Hmm, there's a delay of about two to three seconds from taking out the capsule to setting up the residence. If I encounter danger in the future, I might be able to use the invincible feature of the capsule residence."

It's uncertain whether the capsule can be taken out during combat.

Li Zheng returned the residence to capsule form and stored it in his exclusive capsule space, then officially began examining the cavern.

The cave ceiling was high, over five meters, covered with glowing moss, so visibility wasn't affected.

Each of the four walls in the four directions had a metallic door with a technological feel, obviously leading to the next room, with the key being the players' Identity Cards.

It's worth mentioning that there were also doors on both the ceiling and the floor, so Li Zheng actually had six directions to choose from.

"Going up is out of the question, without tools, it's impossible to climb."

"As for going down, who knows how tall the space below is; if I get injured, no one will come to save me."

Since the choice can't be changed after selecting a passage, Li Zheng's first choice had to be made with utmost caution.

Among the remaining four directions, Li Zheng scrutinized each door and ultimately found that every door was identical, giving no clue to what lay behind.

Just when Li Zheng was about to randomly select a door to enter, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear:

[Random Treasure Chest draw today, please hold on...]

[Draw successful, Treasure Chest quality: Silver, would you like to claim it now?]

"What… does this mean?"

Li Zheng looked around and confirmed there were no sound devices in the cavern, so he was sure it wasn't some NPC trying to spook him.

"Claim...?"

Thud.

A tentative thought passed through his mind, and a silver-white treasure chest appeared out of thin air, landing in front of Li Zheng.

"This... there's even a feature like this!?"

Glancing at the chat hall, Li Zheng confirmed no one had mentioned a similar topic, and he was sure...

This treasure chest might be his exclusive cheat!

"Let's open it and see!"

Excitedly, Li Zheng squatted down, grabbed the clasp on the treasure chest, and gently exerted force, lifting the lid.

[Obtained: Silver Blueprint "Ordinary Detection Goggles" *1]

[Obtained: Power Core Type I *1]

[Obtained: Components *15]

[Obtained: Iron Ingot *10]

[Obtained: Copper Ingot *5]

Reaching into the treasure chest, Li Zheng felt elated as he watched the list of items before him.

The items in this cheat are actually recognized by the Matrix Game!

In the Matrix Game, players can store all obtained items directly into their capsule residence, even in capsule form, from where they can retrieve needed items.

Once the items were taken out, the treasure chest slowly became transparent and eventually disappeared as if it had never existed.

"Wow~ Is this black technology?"

With a thought, a USB drive appeared in his hand, leaving Li Zheng momentarily stunned.

"Is this the blueprint?"

[Silver-Level Blueprint of "Ordinary Detection Goggles," Disposable Prop.

Can create a detection-type goggles prop, materials required: Iron *2, Components *5, any Level Power Core *1]

[Disposable blueprints cannot be learned; if the player has sufficient materials, would you like to craft?]

So what are you waiting for?

"Craft!"

Three seconds later, the USB drive disappeared, replaced by a monocle resembling a scouter from Dragon Ball.

[Ordinary Detection Goggles, Silver Level prop, unique item, can be upgraded.

Able to detect basic information on materials, items, creatures, players, and more.

The higher the prop's level, the more detailed the information detected.

Upgrade materials required: Technology Core *1, B25 Level Manganese Steel 300g, Power Core Type III *1, Components *30.]

Securing the goggles over his ear and pressing the side button, the goggles started working in no time.

Through the goggles, Li Zheng looked at the previously randomly chosen door, and the goggles directly displayed two large words:

Danger!