Chapter 3: Home Renovation

In the bitterly cold world, the only place that brings warmth to David is his home. Although it was once deceitfully taken from him, it remains his safe haven. To survive better in this world, David knows his home must be improved.

Upon receiving a message in his mind, he rushes to the door. "Home renovation at designated areas! I choose the door!" The information in his mind tells him that this type of renovation is specific yet comprehensive. Since it's about a specific part, he can't simply renovate the entire house at once.

He has three chances for renovation. Besides the door, he decides to improve... "The wall! The window!" Once he confirms his choices, the room transforms. The door, initially a security door, becomes even more robust, and importantly, its handle disappears. David had worried about losing his keys, but now, with no lock or handle, this concern vanishes.

A 3D model of his house appears in his mind, along with details about the renovated door. It's much stronger than before and no longer requires any tool to open. Just a thought from David is enough to operate it.

Besides the door, the walls of the house become incredibly sturdy, resistant even to bombs, and the upgraded walls now feature thermal insulation. This pairs well with the windows' upgrade. After being targeted by 'robbers,' many things, including several windows, were lost from David's home. But now, the windows are not only repaired but also upgraded to bulletproof glass with thermal and sound insulation.

The three renovations immensely upgrade David's home, transforming it into a safe house. When he gets another chance to renovate, he plans to upgrade the electrical system to restore some power. This would make life more comfortable, even in this harsh world.

Despite the cold, the house feels much warmer than before, aided by his temperature-regulating clothes. The extreme cold outside is now bearable. Looking around the empty room, David feels the need for furniture, likely taken for warmth by his unkind neighbors.

He wishes for furniture in his daily sign-ins. But for now, it's time to eat. He materializes a Michelin-star meal, surprisingly accompanied by a dining table – a much-needed addition.

Sitting down, David indulges in truffle bread, prawns, steak, and abalone. Such eating would have seemed sloppy in the past, but desperation changes perspectives. While chocolate had saved his life, it's the lavish meal that truly satisfies his hunger.

As he eats, David contemplates his next steps. The world has changed drastically; it's been over a month since it was engulfed in ice, with no rescue in sight. It seems the government is either incapacitated or has abandoned them. Emeraldon, his city in the south with a developed economy, faces a disaster – its nuclear power plant.

The plant, once a boon to the city, now poses a catastrophic threat. With the lack of professional maintenance, the backup generators for cooling water have failed. The continuously heating nuclear waste eventually caused a fire and a massive explosion, leading to widespread radioactive contamination.

While David and others are far from the plant and stay indoors, the radiation poses little immediate threat. But the deafening explosion was heard by many. The continuity of power and internet seen in post-apocalyptic novels is unrealistic. Just days after the onset of extreme cold, the city faced a complete power outage, followed by the loss of the internet about twenty days later.

With the loss of communication, the order within buildings collapsed. People had believed in the government's ability to handle the crisis, even after the nuclear plant disaster. But now, survival depends on individual efforts.

The outside world is a frozen wasteland, further threatened by nuclear radiation and massive hailstones. Humanity's existence hangs in the balance. David resolves to focus on his own survival.

With his ability to sign in daily for resources, he can survive in his room indefinitely. The outside world can fend for itself; he has no intention of leaving his sanctuary.

After a satisfying burp, David looks at the leftover food. He'd rather throw it out the window than share it with others. Holding a handgun, he caresses it, determined to defend his food if necessary.

He then materializes a power bank to charge his phone and connects it to three floating surveillance devices. Approaching the door, he uses his mind to open a crack and sends the devices outside to monitor his surroundings.