Survival Guide in the Age of Cataclysm

Chapter 1 Shelter

"This taste... ugh..."

The pale-faced, black-haired youth knelt on the ground, one hand supporting himself on the ground, the other covering his mouth and nose, with a white, viscous fluid oozing from between his fingers.

"Why on earth is this thing so popular...?"

Xu Yang glanced at the packaging on the ground with a pained expression, and several lines of text appeared in his field of vision—

[Protein Diet - Basic Version (Empty)]

[S·H Company's crowdfunding campaign has produced a phenomenal protein bar; eating three a day would probably ensure that the average person would never starve...]

[Note: This is awesome, I've lived another day!]

Another day has passed...

Xu Yang, however, looked troubled.

You can't blame him, after all, he never left the option of time travel in his life.

Yes, he traveled through time.

Just a few days ago, he was a promising college student on Earth, having reached the age of "knowing one's destiny" at the tender age of twenty, and was well aware that he might face unemployment after graduation. But he hadn't yet reached the point where he would have to swallow something indescribable just to survive.

However, on a night that seemed like any other, there was no hangover, nor any good luck.

He simply lay down on his bed in the dormitory.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in this dark shelter. Besides the unknown world, all that awaited him was—

Several lines of text on a black background appeared in Xu Yang's field of vision.

[Task: Food is the most important thing for people (Completed)]

[Description: In a time of catastrophe, food is the only hard currency among survivors. You wouldn't mind if money smelled bad, would you? Now, a protein ration is lying in your emergency jacket. As the first lesson in survival, eat it.]

The shelters are always crammed with this stuff; it probably smells a little better than excrement, maybe?

[Reward: Energy Storage Module Type I, Free Attribute Points * 0.5 (Already Issued)]

A black chip the size of a mobile phone appeared in his hand.

"guide."

Xu Yang silently recited in his heart.

[Survival Guide in the Age of Cataclysm]

【Strength: 3】

[Agility: 4]

【Perception: 3】

[Rationality: 3]

【Biohazard Slot (5): None】

[Skills: None]

Available attribute points: 0.5

Current task: None

[Comment: Someone like you, cannon fodder, wouldn't even survive three lines in a novel!]

He habitually ignored certain evaluations, and the thing in front of him called "Survival Guide in the Cataclysmic Era" was some kind soul who had given him a cheat code.

With the exploration function and the reward system for posting tasks, Xu Yang vaguely felt a sense of confidence to survive in this unfamiliar world...

Returning to the rewards of this mission, let's set aside the attribute points for now—their use is obvious. As for the other one—

Xu Yang looked at the black chip in his hand.

Energy Storage Module Type I

[Energy storage biochemical plug-in can add 100 points of biochemical energy to the recipient. The recipient needs at least one energy storage module to use energy-consuming biochemical plug-ins. At the same time, it still needs to provide at least one energy-supplying biochemical plug-in to charge it.]

[Note: Do you know what it means to not consume biohazard slots? Energy storage modules are the coolest!]

……

"Install?"

Xu Yang said something to the chip.

Nothing happened. Perhaps some condition is required for installation?

He tucked the chip into his jacket, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains, letting in light and brightening the otherwise dark room.

In the distance stretched an endless, desolate wilderness, while nearby lay a loose forest, the shelter situated at the edge of the woodland.

So far, everything is normal—if you ignore the edge of the sun in the sky, it's so red it looks like it's dripping blood.

In a physical sense.

On the lower part of the sun's outline, a drop of blood-red liquid is gathering and hanging.

It looked as if it was about to fall, giving off an ominous feeling.

Xu Yang had no idea what that thing was.

From the very beginning of his journey, he had intended to investigate, but since the liquid seemed to be one with the sun, he could not obtain the corresponding information separately. He could only use the [Guide] to view the entire sun, and the result he obtained was exactly the same as now.

That wasn't the sun at all.

Parasitic Seed

【#@￥%%*&%~￥《*￥$^……】

The information interface was full of gibberish, with nothing useful to be seen, not even a note. The only word was "parasite," indicating that it was probably not a good thing.

He turned his gaze away and glanced at the other side of the window, where in a dark corner, there was a blocky computer that looked like it came from the last century.

[Shelter Computer]

[A specialized computer designed specifically for shelters, robust and durable, with many entertainment features removed, retaining only essential functions.]

[Note: The most important thing for a designer is to understand design. You're calling this huge brick a computer!]

On the computer screen, lines of green screen are scrolling by, repeating almost the same content.

"Signal connection to the refugee center is being established (97.3%)"

……

"Signal connection to the refugee center is being established (97.3%)"

"Signal connection to the refugee center is being established (97.4%)"

He woke up in the basement of the shelter two days ago. After going upstairs, the thing turned on automatically. Xu Yang didn't even find where the switch was; in fact, it didn't even have a keyboard.

Perhaps it's some kind of cutting-edge technology?

Lines of green text on the screen reflected a chilling light, shining on Xu Yang's expressionless face.

That's even more terrifying.

In just two days, without social media, in a completely unfamiliar and eerie environment, and with absolutely terrible food...

Although Xu Yang's will wouldn't collapse in such a short time, it's impossible to say that it would have no impact at all.

Now, he just hopes to get in touch with others as soon as possible, even just to talk to them would be fine.

……

[...99.9%]

[...99.9%]

The sky outside darkened, and through the windowpane, there was no moon. The "sun" had gone out, leaving a dark void, indistinct and completely blending into the night sky.

Xu Yang stared at the screen until the progress bar was full.

Ding!

The computer made a slight buzzing sound, and then the entire screen went black.

Two whole days of waiting!

Xu Yang's eyes widened, and he raised his hand in preparation for physical repair.

"Your mom—"

The pitch-black screen suddenly flickered, then lit up completely, with lines of green text rapidly updating.

[Connection failed to establish, searching for available nodes...]

……

No available nodes, attempting to update the log...

[Log update successful! Read?]

A selection box appeared in the center of the screen. Xu Yang subconsciously looked at the side of the computer and realized that the computer did not even have a keyboard. He then reached out and tried to tap on the screen.

A diary-like record appeared on the computer.

The professor's experiment was a success. We have found a way to completely shut down the space portal. Survivors, no matter when you see this message, you no longer need to go to the refugee center. We are about to close it down.

At the end of the log is a real-time map of your location. If we succeed, a directional symbol will be generated on the map. Go there; that is humanity's new home.

[Load attachments?]

Xu Yang was taken aback for a moment.

Space tunnels, new homes—these words don't suggest a pleasant world setting.

He opened the map attachment.

A map composed almost entirely of ASCII characters appeared in the center of the screen, with two rows of explanations of the symbols on either side.

However, Xu Yang's first attention was not to the standard symbols, but to a bunch of flashing moving red dots and a directional arrow.

The latter should be the direction of humanity's new home mentioned in the log, but what is the former?

Xu Yang compared the text on the side of the map line by line until he finally found the red dot symbol.

Four words were written on the back—

High-energy organisms.