My Post-Apocalyptic Shelter Levels Up Infinitely! Chapter 5
Previously on My Post-Apocalyptic Shelter Levels Up Infinitely!...
As the sun ascended and the moon retreated, a familiar cycle marked the transition.
Upon college graduation, the weight of parental, familial, and societal expectations often compelled individuals to deviate from living solely for themselves.
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The conformity of modern society seemed to press down, molding unique personalities into similar forms, making everyone a cog in the intricate machinery of the world, day by day.
Gazing out from a panoramic window, amidst the relentless march of technological advancement, Su Mo sometimes felt a profound sense of detachment, even from the reality he inhabited.
Following a recent transmigration, despite the overwhelming struggle for survival, Su Mo savored the rare pleasure of waking naturally, a feeling long absent from his life.
He awoke in darkness, greeted by a system notification.
[Doomsday Calendar, January 2nd.]
[Though initially disoriented in this strange new world, your success in constructing a shelter is commendable. (Survival Points +5)]
[You've enhanced your water extraction device, ensuring a daily supply. (Survival Points +5)]
[A rudimentary yet comfortable bed has been fabricated, significantly boosting your morale in this post-apocalyptic landscape. (Survival Points +5)]
[A basic set of furniture has been assembled. (Survival Points +1)]
[Your sustenance… is adequate. (Survival Points +1)]
[Analyzing host's survival environment. Survival points evaluation underway. 11 survival points acquired today.]
…
Final tally indicates a total gain of 73 survival points for today!
Remaining Survival Points: 103!
103 points!
A spark ignited in Su Mo's eyes. Having allocated 75 survival points yesterday to expand the well water extractor, his reserves had climbed back to 103 points once more.
“It appears that completing more tasks daily yields greater survival points. Even a passive existence seems to grant around a dozen points consistently.”
A sigh of relief escaped Su Mo.
He harbored a fear that the Doomsday Survival System might impose perilous missions, akin to those in novels he'd read on Earth, risking his life if he failed.
Worse still, it might compel him into morally compromising situations or cliché plot devices involving betrayal and sudden awakenings.
“I must prioritize upgrading the lighting and ventilation within my base today; otherwise, I risk succumbing to the darkness before starvation claims me.”
With the wooden door secured, the interior of the base was plunged into near-total blackness, save for a faint sliver of light filtering through a door seam.
Guided by instinct, Su Mo gripped his wooden spear, using it like a tactile cane as he ascended the stairs. Reaching the top, he unlatched and opened the shelter's wooden door.
The morning sun streamed in through the opening, carrying with it a crisp chill.
After allowing his eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness, Su Mo cautiously peered through the door's gaps, ensuring no immediate threats lurked outside before fully opening it.
As the wooden door swung wide, the stagnant air within the subterranean shelter began to circulate.
The wooden planks he had positioned as a barrier before the shelter entrance remained undisturbed, indicating no assaults from mutated creatures.
After drawing a breath of fresh air, Su Mo retreated back into his shelter.
His first stop was the well. Hoisting the bucket, Su Mo collected the water that had accumulated overnight.
[Record]: 920ml of water obtained.
[Record]: Current water reserves stand at 970ml.
The surplus collected overnight and this morning was substantial, yet he still required a bit more to acquire the monster illustration handbook.
Under typical conditions, an individual consumes approximately 20-30ml per sip.
Seated on his wooden chair, Su Mo took three measured sips of the collected water.
Savoring the refreshing sweetness, Su Mo accessed the trading interface.
For the time being, his priority was maintaining the minimum daily water requirement for survival, with plans to trade any excess.
His early-game advantage hinged entirely on leveraging his water resources for essential supplies.
The trade listings presented more options today compared to the previous day. Upon navigating to the collection panel, Su Mo’s spirits soared.
For reasons unknown, the monster illustration handbook offered by the seller 'Faith', which had cost 1L of water yesterday, was now priced 300ml lower, requiring only 700ml.
Similarly, a listed pear had seen its price drop from 100ml to a mere 50ml of water.
“What a bargain!”
Elated, Su Mo placed 800ml of water into his inventory and promptly purchased the monster illustration handbook along with two pears.
The transaction light blazed, and the water vanished from his inventory, replaced by a monster illustration handbook and two pears. Su Mo brought the handbook and pears out, placing them on the table. He first picked up a pear, about the size of his fist, and took a bite. Instantly, its sweet aroma filled his mouth. Though the pear's water content wasn't even close to 50ml, it could satisfy his hunger and provided vitamins. To be able to eat a pear in this desolate, post-apocalyptic world felt like an incredible dream. Yet, as Su Mo savored the pear, he was completely oblivious to the heated debate erupting on the World Channel, sparked by his extravagant purchase. “Old Faith’s illustration handbook just went to auction. That’s 700ml of water! Holy hell, that’s a real tycoon!” “Seems like Su Mo was the buyer? He sold 200ml yesterday and now 700ml today. Does he have an excess of water, or what?” “Hey Su Mo, can you spare a word? How did you manage to extract water? Everyone, let’s gather ten thousand signatures to request his strategy (1/10000).” “Signatures (2/10000)” “I still have some food! Su Mo, are you interested? I’m practically dying of thirst here!” “If I’m not mistaken, he must have found a water source. Sigh, what incredible luck.” … A lively discussion was underway among the survivors. In merely a day, Su Mo’s name had been firmly etched into the minds of many. While others desperately tried to double their meager 1ml of water, he had the audacity to spend 700ml on a 'useless' illustration handbook, offering little practical value in these early stages. Meanwhile, Su Mo, having finished the pear and the last of his beef sandwich from the previous night, picked up the handbook. [Prompt]: Do you wish to utilize the monster illustration handbook? Once activated, it cannot be traded. “Yes.” As soon as Su Mo spoke, a new function labeled “Illustration” appeared at the bottom of the four existing options on his game panel. Su Mo clicked on it. A concise list materialized before him. … [Dead Leaf Snake] [Green-headed Turtle] [Mutant Hawk] … Selecting “Dead Leaf Snake” and choosing to With a firm resolve and a palpable sense of impending danger, Su Mo abandoned his material-gathering expeditions. He retreated to his shelter, securing the entrance and igniting a torch. Seated, he retrieved his wooden spear, laying it upon the table. Su Mo focused his attention intently on the weapon. [Wooden Spear]: A newly crafted wooden spear. Its offensive capabilities are questionable. It is ill-advised to rely on this as your primary survival tool. First upgrade path: Enhance the general composition and refine the spearhead's cutting edge. Costs 5 Survival Points. Second upgrade path: Strengthen the overall construction. Integrating an electrical enhancement will dramatically increase its strike velocity. Costs 40 Survival Points.