Chapter 002: There Really Are Two Girls, One Big and One Small

"Is there truly a God in this world?!"

When Cyrus Greene pressed the enter key, the computer screen transformed into a space-time vortex that enveloped him. When he finally regained his footing, he stood on a quiet street. Though all the street signs and markers were in English, surprisingly, despite his poor English abilities, he could understand everything perfectly.

"Murdock Avenue, 200th Street." Cyrus Greene glanced around, skeptically pondering: "Is this really New York? It doesn't seem like it! Shouldn't New York be an incredibly bustling metropolis? With endless streams of traffic and towering skyscrapers everywhere? Yet these buildings are merely two or three stories tall, looking no different from an ordinary small town."

The buildings surrounding Cyrus Greene appeared both ordinary and extraordinary simultaneously. The street was lined with rows of detached villas, with nearly every household having one or two vehicles parked in front. The time appeared to be around six or seven in the evening, just before nightfall, and if this truly marked the beginning of the 'Wasteland' movie, it should be August.

Stay calm, stay calm, accept what has come!

Cyrus Greene took continuous deep breaths, yet his heart couldn't help but flutter with anxiety. Anyone would be bewildered after being mysteriously transported to a completely unfamiliar environment.

Biting his lip to maintain clarity of mind, Cyrus Greene discovered a note had appeared in his hand. The note read: "Young man, here are your transmigration benefits for living in the wasteland world. First, you have been bestowed with 'Language Mastery' - you can now effortlessly understand, speak, read, and write all current languages.

Secondly, your age has reverted to eighteen. I have granted you a healthy, robust body possessing unlimited potential, enabling you to handle the various harsh conditions you will inevitably face.

Finally, this world will progress according to the 'Wasteland' movie you've watched. However, I hope you understand that movies are not reality. The more changes you make to this world, the more events - both those that occurred and those that didn't occur in the movie - will be altered by your actions.

One additional hint: to survive in this world destined for destruction, you must continuously enhance your capabilities. There are numerous items in this world that can strengthen you - seek them out."

After Cyrus Greene finished reading, the note transformed into sparkling golden dust, forming an impressive signature - "The Merciful God." Then the golden particles dispersed once more, scattering into the wind.

Cyrus Greene smiled bitterly, thinking to himself: I seem to have stumbled into serious trouble! Despite the peaceful street scene now, in three days when all government institutions maintaining social order vanish, New York will instantly transform into a hellish city drenched in blood and violence.

And that wasn't even the worst of it. Three months later, when winter arrives, the violence will intensify. City residents will become desperately frenzied in their struggle for survival supplies. Eventually, human-made nuclear and biochemical weapons will devastate this world. That's when true horror will unfold.

What should I do now? Find an escape route immediately! Only by fleeing to some remote backwater might I survive.

Wait, I need to gather food and water first, otherwise starving to death while escaping would be too tragic.

Wait again, food and water alone won't suffice! I need a vehicle too - how far can I get on just two legs?

Hold on once more, having food, water, and a car isn't enough - I need weapons. In a society without restraints, thugs and villains will be everywhere, and without means of self-defense, I'll suffer greatly.

Yet another wait, even with all supplies ready, I still need reliable companions! Even tigers have moments when they must sleep - how can one person survive alone in this chaotic world? Not just the issue of lonely nights being unsolvable, I wouldn't make it half a mile before getting ambushed.

One final wait, I came here to change my fate, I can't just think about escaping! Hiding away like a coward serves no purpose.

Amidst his thousand racing thoughts, Cyrus Greene grasped one certainty - he should join a powerful, order-maintaining group, as this would provide the greatest chance of survival with minimal hardship. Just as he stood there frowning with concern, he heard someone greeting him: "Hi, Victor, what are you doing standing here in a daze?"

A beautiful girl carrying a large paper bag approached Cyrus Greene. Judging by the food and daily necessities in the bag, she had clearly just returned from the supermarket.

Angelina Lawrence, a genius girl nicknamed Angie, fifteen years old, one hundred and sixty-seven centimeters tall, weighing fifty-seven kilograms, with chestnut hair, blue eyes, and a C-cup. Western girls truly developed remarkably well!

She was the daughter in the movie's family of three, vivacious and energetic, harboring immense curiosity about everything. She attended a public middle school, maintained excellent academic performance, and was a self-reliant, diligent student - truly an exemplary American student!

Limited by her family's financial circumstances, Angie couldn't shop, travel, or spend like upper-class girls, so she channeled her energy into creating various extraordinary devices, which later helped her father overcome numerous challenges after the great catastrophe.

"Hi! Good evening, Angie." Cyrus Greene attempted to return the greeting. But after this opening, he found himself at a loss for words, and could only randomly ask, "Um..., why did you call me 'Victor'? Is that my name?"

Upon hearing Cyrus Greene's question, Angie's beautiful eyes immediately curved into crescent moons. Her laughter rang out clear and bright, instantly putting people at ease. "Victor, we've known each other for many years, of course I know your name."

"Really? We've known each other that long! So my name is Victor now." Cyrus Greene scratched his head, realizing he seemed to possess a background identity in this world. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Sorry, I was a bit confused just now, to be precise, I'm lost - I can't find my house."

Hahaha..., this sent Angie into even louder laughter, completely unable to contain herself. Behind her, a shapely woman approached, also greeting Cyrus Greene: "Hi... Victor, what are you chatting about with Angie? What's making my precious daughter laugh so happily?"

Rachel Connor, who took the surname Lawrence after marriage, thirty-two years old, one hundred and seventy-five centimeters tall, weighing sixty-two kilograms, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and an F-cup. She was the wife and mother in the Lawrence family, a devout Catholic.

This housewife dedicated herself entirely to managing the household, possessed excellent culinary skills, and delighted in tending to flowers and plants. Her personality was gentle yet resilient. However, when angered, she would wield a shotgun and unleash furious blasts at enemies' heads - she had rescued her husband from enemy encirclement several times.

"Hi, Mrs. Lawrence." Cyrus Greene realized he was meeting key characters from the movie, "I..."

Cyrus Greene couldn't find words to explain his current confused state - it was truly too embarrassing. However, the matron smiled warmly and said, "You can call me Rachel. Being called Mrs. Lawrence makes me feel too old."

"Heh heh heh..." Cyrus Greene laughed self-deprecatingly.

But Angie proceeded to expose Cyrus Greene's predicament, exclaiming: "Mom, Victor says he's lost. Oh my god, I really can't believe he actually said he's lost!"

"Is that so? Who gets lost right in front of their own house?" Rachel Connor gazed at Cyrus Greene with amusement, her expression carrying a hint of playfulness, as if watching an entertaining performance.

Own house? Cyrus Greene looked left and right, but he genuinely had no idea where his house was. Moreover, his thoroughly bewildered expression appeared so foolish that it sent both mother and daughter into fits of hearty laughter.

"What's happening here? I could hear your joyful voices from far away. To be honest, my head is spinning after working all day, but hearing your laughter makes my heart feel light too." A voice called from down the street as the Lawrence family's patriarch finally made his appearance.

David Lawrence, the great hero who saves the world, was a handsome older man exuding masculine charm. In the movie's perfect ending, it was he who overcame countless obstacles to save numerous lives.

He was thirty-seven years old, one hundred and eighty-seven centimeters tall, had been his college football team's quarterback, and had gotten the still-in-high-school Rachel Connor pregnant on their first date. He had served in the U.S. 75th Ranger Regiment, and his life motto in the movie was 'Press forward, never retreat.'

Indeed, this was the typical hero archetype shaped by Hollywood blockbusters.

David was now an insurance broker, but his annual income didn't exceed sixty thousand dollars. Moreover, as the family's sole breadwinner, he barely managed to keep everyone fed in this money pit called New York. This man possessed considerable military expertise and maintained several firearms and substantial ammunition at home.

When riots broke out in the movie, this man showed no hesitation in shooting and killing the criminals who attempted to rob him. It was precisely because of this that the Lawrence family managed to survive through the first three months of the great catastrophe. Standing before him, Cyrus Greene felt his complete inadequacy in combat ability - clearly, the task of saving the world wasn't something just anyone could accomplish.

Now that all three main characters of the family had appeared, the wheels of history had begun their slow rotation. But Cyrus Greene felt somewhat bitter inside, thinking to himself: In three days, New York would transform into hell on earth. The wheels of history turning was one thing, but please don't crush me to death beneath them!