The Shelter

"Do you wish to bind?"

The mechanical voice repeated the question, pulling Liam from his thoughts. His heart pounded as he realized what was happening. He barely hesitated before responding,

"Yes."

A soft hum resonated through the ground as a series of translucent green lines spread outward from beneath his feet. They expanded in every direction, stretching to the limits of the eye before retracting back toward him, their return marked by a slow but steady progress indicator.

[Binding in progress... 0.1%... 0.2%...]

Taking advantage of the waiting time, Liam pulled open the wooden door and peered inside. The entrance led downward, a crude set of steps carved from packed earth spiraling into the darkness below. With careful steps, he descended, silently counting as he went.

Fifteen steps.

As he reached the last one, the space around him suddenly expanded, revealing a wide underground chamber. Faint sunlight filtered down from above, barely illuminating the crude walls reinforced with wooden planks. The ceiling, also lined with wood, gave the underground refuge a semblance of stability.

Liam let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"I made the right choice."

There had been advantages to picking an above-ground shelter—it would have allowed for quicker development and access to resources. But this... this was security. Building an underground refuge required specialized knowledge and tools, things that he would have struggled to gather in the early days. Without the right structural integrity, an underground shelter could easily collapse, becoming nothing more than an early grave.

The progress bar in his peripheral vision crept forward.

[10%... 15%...]

Liam leaned against the wall, considering his next move. The first disaster was a mere five days away—acid rain. If he wanted to survive, he needed a plan. His shelter needed upgrades. He needed water. He needed supplies.

The binding process continued, a soft glow pulsating around him. He opened his game interface, navigating through the menu options. His fingers hovered over the 'Trade' tab, but he hesitated. Most of the items up for trade required something in return. And right now, he had nothing.

A flicker of light signaled the finalization of the process.

[Binding complete.]

[Congratulations! You have successfully bound to the Apocalypse Survival System.]

[First-time binding reward: +100 Survival Points.]

[Evaluating living conditions... Daily Survival Points awarded: +5.]

[Total Survival Points available: 105.]

Liam's mind raced as information flooded in. Unlike the game interface, which all survivors seemed to have, this system was unique to him. It evaluated his environment, rewarded him for actions that improved his chances, and—most importantly—offered an upgrade function.

He navigated to his shelter's status:

[Personal Shelter]

Owner: Liam Carter

Space: 100㎡ (Ceiling Height: 4.2m)

Structural Integrity: 100%

Facilities: None

Description: A crude underground shelter with minimal protection. While it provides safety from immediate threats, it lacks basic survival necessities. Without upgrades, it is little more than an unmarked grave in the making.

His gaze shifted to the only notable feature of his shelter—the door.

[Shelter Door]

Effect: Minor defense against intruders and radiation.

Upgrade Path 1: Reinforce thickness, improve durability, minor fire and water resistance. (Cost: 10 SP)

Upgrade Path 2: Replace with a stone door for increased durability and protection. (Cost: 60 SP)

Evaluation: Surely, you don't plan on surviving the apocalypse behind a wooden door?

Liam's lips twitched in amusement. Even the system had a sense of sarcasm.

The upgrade function was a game-changer. Not only could he use Survival Points directly, but if he provided materials, the cost could be reduced significantly. For example, upgrading his door to stone would typically require 60 SP. However, if he could supply 10 units of stone and 2 units of wood, the cost would drop to just 5 SP.

A slow grin spread across his face.

This was his edge.

Unlike the countless others struggling to survive with just the basic game mechanics, he had the ability to fast-track his progress. With careful planning, he could turn this barren shelter into something far greater.

He clenched his fist, determination flooding his veins.

"Before my family arrives, I will build a shelter strong enough to protect them."

His first step? Securing resources.

Liam climbed back up the steps, emerging into the harsh sunlight. His parched throat burned, but he ignored the discomfort. Survival came first. With steady hands, he grabbed a sturdy-looking branch, testing its flexibility before breaking it off with a sharp snap. The interface responded instantly.

[Wood +1]

Encouraged, he turned his attention to the ground, searching for solid stones. Every piece of material mattered.

[Stone +1]

The world had changed. But as Liam looked out over the vast, barren landscape, he knew one thing for certain—

He would not just survive.

He would thrive.