System & Solutions

[Successful Loading] [Initiator: Dan] [Level 0]

[Occupation: Scavenger]

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[Skill: None]

Dan instinctively covered his head, his gaze fixated on a series of projections resembling an antiquated monitor before him. It felt like he had stumbled upon augmented reality technology. Meanwhile, Anna, terrified by his reaction, began to pat his face gently. "Dad? Are you okay? Please don't scare me!"

Feeling the warmth of Anna's small hand, Dan's pain miraculously vanished. A glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes. This was the escape system—a revelation that his resurrection was no mere accident but the work of someone, a chance for a new beginning.

Now reborn, despite the desolate wasteland surrounding him, Dan resolved to live his life to the fullest. He refused to view this situation as hopeless. In this lawless, unrestricted land, he sensed an opportunity to achieve things that had been beyond his reach before.

With a comforting pat on Anna's head, Dan reassured her, "It's okay, sweetheart. Daddy's just pondering a solution. Don't worry, let Daddy think of a way to find food so you can have a full meal."

"Okay…" Although the little one agreed, her eyes still held a hint of worry.

Dan, however, had little time to spare for comforting Anna. Right now, his priority was overcoming their current predicament and harnessing the potential of this mysterious system. He clandestinely queried within himself, "What can I do now?"

[Answer: Complete the upgrade task. Upon completion, you will receive a blind box reward and unlock a new function to assist in your work. Do you wish to proceed with the upgrade task? Current upgrade task 1: Unlock level 1 permission to activate the exploration function.]

"Map? Exploration?" Dan instantly recognized the benefits of having map exploration capabilities. With a map, he could comprehend the terrain around him, avoiding aimless wandering that often led to danger. The map would enable him to mark areas he had searched, maximizing efficiency and saving time.

Moreover, having a map meant having a godlike perspective—an invaluable asset in this perilous world. It was an essential aid he must obtain. "Alright! I accept the mission!"

[Upgrade task: Please collect 10 liters of fuel, 10 meters of rags, and 10 pieces of firewood. Upon completion, you will receive 10 torch props and unlock the map function.]

Dan nodded eagerly, taking on the task with determination. Suddenly, as if jolted by electricity, he twitched involuntarily, startling Anna. Her eyes filled with concern, for her father had never displayed such strange behavior before. This newfound oddity intensified her worry; after all, Dan was her last pillar of support. If something were to happen to him, she would truly be left defenseless.

"Grumbling…"

Once again, Anna's stomach growled, a stark reminder of their dire situation. Without a moment's hesitation, Dan stood up. "Wait here, I'll go out and find something."

However, Anna grabbed his hand, her grip urgent. "Dad, a looter was here just yesterday. It's dangerous outside!"

Seeing the fear in his daughter's eyes, Dan squatted down, gently caressing her face. "Sweetheart, I won't go far. I'll stay nearby. Just wait for me here."

Assured by her father's promise not to venture too distant, Anna reluctantly agreed to stay put. The grim reality was that their meager supplies had been exhausted. Dan had no choice but to complete the task swiftly. Failure meant certain death for both him and Anna.

Dan resolutely climbed out of the oil storage tank, gazing at the unfamiliar wilderness before him. In his heart, he muttered a silent vow, "I won't succumb to starvation in this life, just as I didn't in my previous one."

Cautiously, he surveyed the surroundings, careful not to make any noise that might attract danger lurking in the wasteland wilderness. Contrary to what one might expect, the wasteland was not a barren desert but a place teeming with lush vegetation. The nuclear radiation hadn't annihilated the plants; instead, it had spurred their growth, making them denser and larger than anything Dan had known.

Particularly noteworthy were the spore plants, where a single mushroom could grow into a towering ancient tree. Despite their grandeur, these fungal organisms harbored deadly infections that could prove fatal, and no one in the wasteland possessed the means to treat them.

Taking a deep breath, Dan moved cautiously, his footsteps quiet to avoid alerting any potential threats. As he ventured further, he discovered numerous oil tanks in the vicinity.

Carefully, he searched the area and found several rags scattered on the ground. Originally used to wrap pipes, most had weathered and degraded over time. Dan managed to find a few with a surface layer of grease cloth, indicating they were relatively intact.

His hands oily from handling the cloth, he scoured the surroundings for firewood. After what felt like an eternity, he gathered ten pieces and climbed atop a heavily rusted iron can. The task was underway, the urgency of their survival pressing down on his shoulders.

[Ten liters of fuel, ten pieces of firewood, and thirty meters of rags have been acquired as task items and cannot be retained after completion. Understand?]

Dan was momentarily taken aback, then swiftly agreed without much contemplation.

[Task submission in progress. Please wait.]

Dan didn't dwell on it; these items wouldn't be of immediate use to them. He decided to see what would unfold after completing the mission.

In an instant, his body lit up which scared him, and ten pre-made torches materialized on the ground nearby! Dan glanced around, hoping that the 'glowing' was not visible to the eyes of others.

[Task completed. Congratulations on reaching Level 1.] 

[Level 1] [Permission Enabled] [Function Options Enabled] [Upgradable] [Acceptable Tasks: 1] [Random Blind Box: 1]

This time, there was an additional function option!

Eagerly, Dan clicked on the function options and was pleasantly surprised to find a new choice!

[Explore]

Upon activating the exploration function, Dan marveled as a detailed area map appeared in his mind, resembling an electronic map with labels. However, the map's coverage extended only within a ten-kilometer radius, leaving the rest of the area in darkness.

Being a modern person, Dan naturally understood the value of such satellite mapping technology. He zoomed in on the map and quickly located their position. Soon enough, he pinpointed a square stone platform indicated on the map, marked with symbols of a knife and fork.

"Fantastic, this must be a food marker."

The map proved incredibly useful, enabling Dan to scout for nearby resources. Yet, his anticipation heightened for the impending reward.

After clicking on the blind box, a prompt appeared:

[Would you like to open the blind box? The reward is random. With this permission active, you can receive a blind box reward once a week. The current permission grants one Blind Box per week.]

"Every week?" Dan's joy knew no bounds. He hastily confirmed, "Open the blind box!"

[System Reward: Primary Gene Enhancer*1] [Can only be used once by adults; the second time is invalid. Use or not?]

"Only for adults? Just one effect? Use it!"

Upon agreement, a mysterious black light appeared in his hand, conjuring a small bottle containing a bright green liquid. Without hesitation, Dan drank the potion.

Reading the prompt from the system, Dan felt a noticeable reduction in his hunger and a surge in energy. He flexed his muscles, realizing his physical fitness had vastly improved. While not reaching superhero levels, he was undeniably stronger than before. It seemed the enhancer was indeed effective. Eager to experience more benefits, Dan readily accepted the next task.

[Survive for 30 days and establish a secure haven. Safety factor must reach 100. Upon completion, unlock the level 2 privilege upgrade task.]

Another 30 days to upgrade and establish a safe dwelling. But what did the safety factor entail? Dan didn't dare to rest, hastily clambering back into the oil tank. Surprisingly, he found the climb significantly easier than before; he practically jumped up, effortlessly grabbing the railing and flipping over. Such agility was unimaginable in his past life.

…

Upon Dad's return, Anna looked at Dan with hopeful eyes and inquired, "Dad? Are you back?"

Though she didn't voice her question about food outright, her eyes overflowed with anticipation.

Dan affectionately patted her little head and replied, "Yes, my dear. Let's go. Dad will take you to a safer place with food and shelter."

"Are we leaving here?" Anna asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Yes, it's too dangerous here. We can't stay any longer. Dad will find a better place for us," Dan reassured her.

Equipped with tools and carrying the ten torches, Dan carefully guided Anna, sneaking through the backyard's tall grass. Venturing into the wilderness was perilous; radiation had turned even insects into vicious predators, with large mosquitoes capable of draining a person dry. Not to mention the mutant beasts roaming the area!

Luckily, their destination wasn't far, just up the slope at the back of the mountain. After a while of walking, they finally arrived.

After walking for a while, Dan and Anna arrived at the stone platform, located on a mountain, its existence shrouded in secrecy due to the thick surrounding vegetation. With newfound physical strength, Dan swiftly dug into the ground. In the past, it would have taken him until tomorrow to create a hole this deep, but now, in just ten minutes, he had successfully excavated a sizable pit.

Following the instructions on the map, he unearthed a small vent after some digging. Peering inside, he noticed that the vent seemed to have suffered damage, possibly from an explosion during evacuation. Without hesitation, Dan cautiously entered the opening, and it was easier for Anna, given her smaller size, to follow suit.

Upon entering, darkness surrounded them. Sliding down a slope of soil, Dan observed the extensive collapse in the upper layers of the bunker. Though the space was not vast, the walls remained robust. Illuminating the area with a torch, Dan noticed a small opening in the soil leading to the interior. Bending down, he inserted the torch and glimpsed a metal safety gate.

"Look, there's a door here!" Dan pointed excitedly at the discovery.

Wide-eyed and worried, Anna asked, "Dad, are there monsters inside?"

"Don't worry, there won't be any here," Dan reassured his daughter, smiling as he made his way inside.

He carefully placed the torch down, revealing a slightly ajar door. With all his strength, Dan pulled the door, the sound of creaking hinges filling the air. The door swung open, revealing an interior resembling a bunker. This space seemed to be an internal defense bunker, complete with two machine gun firing ports and card slots. On the ground, Dan spotted a metal cover, beneath which lay a hole.

Indeed, the system proved reliable.

And Dan while proving himself to be still in disbelief of his situation, found himself thankful for this miraculous power that came with him in this nightmare… or maybe… a second chance.

His eyes suppressed a tear as he watched the frail Anna shudder at the smallest breeze.