The Survival Game Begins

Welcome to the Apocalypse Survival Game. As you can see, you have been transported to an unfamiliar place.Your only objective is survival. To increase your chances, remember these key rules:

1. Disasters will occur in cycles. Every seven days, all survivors will receive a warning before the next event.

2. Do not hastily place your shelter. Finding an optimal location can significantly boost your survival prospects.

3. The wild holds both danger and opportunity. You may find valuable resources, but beware of mutated creatures. Defeating them might bring unexpected rewards.

4. Gather as many survival resources as possible. This is the key to staying alive.

5. Once placed, your shelter cannot be moved. You may choose between an above-ground or underground shelter upon first placement.

6. Encountering others? Congratulations. You may choose to form alliances, trade, or... plunder their hard-earned supplies.

7. Focus to open your game panel. More functions await your discovery.

8. Do not worry about children or the elderly. They will be introduced much later, and family members will have a higher chance of being placed together. Good luck!

A vast and endless wasteland stretched before him.

Liam frowned as he stared at the survival handbook in his hands.

The small black text on the first page seemed to shimmer slightly, and when he flipped to the next, a blinding light burst forth.

When the radiance faded, the book had vanished—replaced by a glowing, ancient-looking tortoiseshell.

"An apocalypse survival game, huh?"

A deep blue screen hovered before him, shifting slightly with his gaze. Liam quickly processed the situation.

November 30, 2021.

No one had expected that the long-dormant Mayan prophecy would finally strike, ten years late.

The sun erupted with massive solar flares. A colossal asteroid hurtled toward Earth.

Liam had watched as flames rained down from the sky—before everything went black.

When he woke, he found himself here.

[Shelter Selection]

Above-ground: 120-square-meter wooden cabin. Minimal disaster resistance, high development potential.

Underground: 100-square-meter pit, 4 meters deep. Low disaster resistance, poor development potential.

Holding the tortoiseshell up, two dark lines of text shimmered into existence before his eyes.

Liam glanced around at the desolate wilderness. Dismissing the idea of immediately placing his shelter, he recalled the earlier instructions and focused his mind.

A game panel materialized before him.

The interface was reminiscent of video games, featuring multiple tabs:

[Chat] [Trade] [Crafting] [Inventory]...

In the upper-right corner, an icon displayed the number of days remaining.

[Time Until Next Disaster: 5 Days]

[Upcoming Disaster (Beginner Protection Phase): Acid Rain]

"Five days until an acid rain storm? Good thing I didn't rush to place my shelter."

Liam's expression darkened. He turned to the chat function, curiosity piqued.

The screen split into two options:

[World Channel] and [Regional Channel]

He tapped into the World Channel first.

"Wasn't I in a bunker? How did I end up in this hellscape?"

"There's a lion near me! HELP! It's staring at me!"

"The world has ended. Hahaha! We're all going to die!"

"Do you all have only one shelter placement, too?"

Lines of frantic messages scrolled rapidly.

Liam noticed a small horn icon next to the chat button, accompanied by a 1.

[Horn System: In the early game, players can send only one message per day in the World Channel. Each successful disaster survival increases this daily limit. For unrestricted chat, use the Regional Channel.]

"So they're limiting group coordination… or perhaps preventing large-scale national alliances?"

Liam narrowed his eyes.

Given what he had observed, it seemed everyone had started in the wilderness with identical conditions—a single shelter option and nothing else.

"One message per day per person... Even governments would struggle to coordinate under these restrictions. And who knows how vast this world really is?"

Exiting the World Channel, he switched to Regional Chat.

It resembled a group chat with a maximum of 1,000 members. Each participant's avatar was a real-life photo, with their name and height displayed beside it.

"Is this wasteland the only terrain? Does anyone have water nearby? I'm dying of thirst!"

"DO NOT choose the underground shelter! It's a trap! No lighting, no ventilation, no drainage. If acid rain comes, it'll be a grave!"

"Guys, don't give up. Open the crafting menu! Minecraft players, rejoice—priority one: build on high ground!"

"Anyone forming a team? My coordinates are…"

After silently observing for a few minutes and collecting useful intel, Ethan closed the chat.

The game had already culled children and the elderly, leaving only able-bodied adults.

Apart from a few who were utterly helpless, most had quickly adapted and begun taking action.

Still, some had made reckless mistakes—placing their shelters prematurely, trapping themselves in bad locations.

Next, Liam checked the Trade function.

The platform allowed direct bartering between players.

Rules: All trades are freely negotiated. Players may also gift items to specific individuals.

A separate Auction System existed, without transaction fees.

"Open the crafting menu," Liam muttered.

The interface shifted.

[Wood Plank: 0/1 Wood]

[Wooden Box: 0/4 Wood]

[Charcoal: 0/1 Wood + Fire Source]

[Basic Shovel: 0/2 Wood, 0/2 Iron]

Dozens of fundamental survival items appeared, each requiring specific materials.

Clearly, gathering resources and crafting were essential to survival.

Turning to his Inventory, Ethan stored the glowing tortoiseshell and retrieved it with a mere thought.

"I need to choose my shelter location soon."

The sun now hung directly overhead. A sense of urgency settled in.

He scanned the terrain.

An endless plain, dotted with waist-high shrubs. Sparse grasses carpeted the ground, making it less barren.

No rivers. No lakes.

"A high ground placement it is, then."

Moving cautiously, he examined the landforms, searching for the ideal spot.

Finally, he found a modest sand dune.

Holding up the tortoiseshell, the shelter options reappeared.

Above-ground or underground?

Above-ground promised growth potential—eventual expansion into a settlement.

Underground offered better safety—natural protection against wild beasts and harsh weather.

Yet, the looming acid rain posed a serious risk.

"Development is crucial... but safety first."

Liam made his decision.

"I choose... underground."

A crimson light erupted from the tortoiseshell as it leapt from his grasp, embedding itself into the earth.

As the terrain shifted and the entrance to his underground refuge emerged, a notification appeared.

[Congratulations! Your underground shelter has been established. Would you like to bind to the Apocalypse Survival System?]