End of the Second Round: Resetting the Upper Limits of the Comprehensive Ranking!

"I am Zheng Xingxing, sir."The old mage spoke with a smile, carefully maintaining his posture and demeanor. Every movement of his—graceful and dignified—exuded a nobility that surpassed even the Western aristocratic wizards in their magical worlds. Yet, his name... it didn't quite match the aura of grandeur he projected."Zheng... Xingxing?"Mike blinked, momentarily stunned, before he simply fell silent.He was tempted to comment that it was a lovely name, but worried it might come off as sarcasm. It was probably better to stay quiet and just accept it.It seemed the old man noticed Mike's hesitation. He smiled nonchalantly and adjusted his wizard's hat with a slight wave of his hand, speaking in a soft voice, "Respectable sir, my name may seem a little unconventional.""But names are given by one's parents. I've never seen anything wrong with mine; in fact, it perfectly matches my identity as a Star Mage."Zheng Xingxing's lips were always curled in a gentle smile. His refined mannerisms, graceful movements, and dignified demeanor were so captivating that it was impossible not to be impressed."I didn't say anything!"Mike quickly waved his hand, eager to change the subject. He pointed at the thin membrane overhead. "Master Zheng, what's that above us?"In Chinese culture, it was common to address someone with notable expertise in their field as "Master," and Mike thought it appropriate to use it in this case, given Zheng Xingxing's mastery of magic."It's a magic phenomenon that Star Guards often summon when they land in unfamiliar regions. It's part of the profession's habit."As Zheng Xingxing explained, he subtly raised his wand and drew a delicate circle in the air, gently tapping it.Mike couldn't help but think of the Harry Potter films. The small wand in Zheng Xingxing's hand was like a conductor's baton—graceful and effortlessly commanding.With a soft tap, a faint, transparent ripple spread across the air, and the thin membrane above them vanished. The hot, oppressive air rushed back into the space, and the distant sounds of the crowd became clearer.In that moment, Mike truly appreciated the magic at play.It was undeniably impressive."That's amazing! Very powerful!"Mike gave a thumbs-up in admiration, though he didn't fully understand what had just happened. It didn't stop him from complimenting Zheng Xingxing."Sir, you summoned us for an important task, didn't you?"Zheng Xingxing asked with a smile. "We will be fully loyal to you and serve your will.""Not just yet. But in a couple of days, there might be new problems to face."Mike smiled, motioning for Lin Yue to step forward. "Let me introduce you. This is my personal bodyguard. She'll guide you through everything here.""Of course, there won't be much time to settle in. In two days, we'll have to prepare for the next disaster."Mike reminded them. After Zheng Xingxing politely greeted Lin Yue, he responded, "The Star Guards are always ready for any situation. We will solve all of your problems, sir.""I hope so."Mike nodded. The magicians' attitudes were commendable, but he wasn't sure if they would be useful in the upcoming third round of the apocalypse.After seeing Lin Yue lead the mage battalion away, Mike quickly returned to his room.Recruiting a new battalion was a major boost in strength, but smooth development wasn't only about military power—internal management was just as crucial.In the following two days, Mike worked tirelessly on managing the two cities, drafting various policies, and giving instructions to prepare for the third round of the apocalypse.Though he wasn't able to cover every detail, the major directives were solid, and the think tanks of the command center filled in the gaps.Mike wasn't expecting any grand prize from the talent rewards, as he'd learned that there were certain limits to these rewards. Major prizes were rare and didn't appear frequently.The next day, the talent reward came in the form of an A-level Magic Crystal Ball, which could enhance the collective magical recovery rate—a valuable asset for magic users, though of little use to ordinary people beyond a minor mental boost.Without hesitation, Mike allocated the crystal ball to the Star Guards' mages as a military asset."It seems my talent rewards still follow some hidden mechanism—only when I possess a certain large mechanism, do I get items and effects tied to that field."Mike reflected on the two months he'd spent testing his talents, gaining some insights into how they worked."But right now, the important thing isn't the magic field rewards—it's tomorrow's third-round apocalypse."Mike gazed out the window, sensing the tension in the air.The Jinling Command Center had already issued the third-round apocalypse warning under Mike's name, along with policies for personnel adjustments and disaster preparedness.But even with all the preparations, no one could shake the anxiety. After all, each round of the apocalypse brought unknown variables, and who could be certain that the preparations made today would suffice for tomorrow's challenges?Mike could imagine that this tension wasn't confined to Jinling and Xinchang—cities and survivors around the world were likely feeling the same nervous anticipation.Time moved forward, indifferent to human will, and the transition between apocalyptic cycles arrived once again.At noon on the third day, Mike sat in the shelter, just like everyone else. Lin Yue and Jiang Xiaoci sat quietly beside him.Jiang Xiaoci calmly sipped her fragrant tea, occasionally whispering to Lin Yue with a gentle smile. In contrast, Mike's face was tense, the stress obvious.Originally, Jiang Xiaoci had intended to travel to Xinchang during this critical time, to hold the fort there and stabilize the newly acquired territory.But Mike refused.He couldn't afford to let someone as vital as Jiang Xiaoci leave his side without knowing what the third-round apocalypse would bring.He'd rather lose all of Xinchang than lose Jiang Xiaoci.Mike's decision extended to the top survivors as well. He had them return to their shelters for the time being.For the entire day, both cities ceased all operations, waiting in silence for the third-round apocalypse.As everyone held their breath, the long-awaited collective information prompt suddenly appeared before them.Mike saw the prompt, and his eyes quickly scanned through the dense information.[Second Round Apocalypse - Plague of Cannibal Fungi! Ending Soon!][Congratulations to all surviving survivors! The Survivor Settlement Rewards are about to begin!]After the global announcement, every survivor received their second-round survival reward.Mike quickly glanced at the details, his eyes flashing.[Shelter Status: You still have a shelter, no shelter rewards triggered!][Survival Points Accumulation Check: You have accumulated over 10,000 points, earning the first-tier rewards! You have accumulated over 100,000 points, earning the second-tier rewards!][First-tier Rewards]: Automatically credited to the shelter's storage space; contains random items of (C-B) grade—talents, items, skills, and more.[Second-tier Rewards]: Automatically credited to the shelter's storage space; contains random items of (B-A) grade—talents, items, skills, and more.[Leaderboard Check: You hold 12 first-place rankings in the regional boards.][Exclusive Reward for Regional Rank 1: Automatically credited to the shelter's storage space; contains random items of (B-A) grade—specific categories of rewards.][Comprehensive Survival Performance Rating: SS Rank.][Comments: Not only did you survive the second round of the apocalypse, but you also led the survivors in your city to safety. Your outstanding performance has made you the new hope of the apocalypse. The adoration of the people is your greatest testament.][Congratulations! You have received an SS-grade random reward!]Mike froze for a moment. The SS rating had caught his attention.He had some experience with the apocalypse settlement process. Rewards primarily came from leaderboard rankings, survival points, and comprehensive ratings.The first two rewards were predictable and stable, but the last one—the comprehensive rating—was what truly interested him. It was harder to gauge, and it seemed to be tied to how well one performed in the apocalypse.The SS rank, however...Mike felt his excitement build. If he received an SS-level talent, the possibilities were unimaginable.