[Welcome to the Apocalypse Island Survival Game!]
[You are now stranded on a desolate island. Survival is your sole objective. To stay alive, heed the following rules:]
[1. Newcomer protection is active. For the first three days, the island is safe. After that, a poisonous mist will descend. If you do not advance, death is inevitable.]
[2. Islands can drift. During drifting, you may encounter other islands. Devouring them will expand your territory.]
[3. Zombies roam the island. They possess an acute sense of hearing and smell. Bloodlust renders them even more feral.]
[4. Do not panic when facing zombies. Only by slaying them can you prove your strength. Otherwise, you'll be gnawed down to bare bones.]
[5. Killing zombies grants rewards. The stronger the zombie, the greater the prize.]
[6. Danger and opportunity coexist. The island may harbor resource chests— the more perilous the area, the more valuable the chest. Aside from survival supplies, you might even uncover advanced technological weapons.]
[7. Scavenge all available resources. When stepping onto a zombie-infested island, supplies are your most vital guarantee.]
[8. Upon reaching a new island, you may encounter others. You might forge alliances—or engage in ruthless plunder. Fate will decide.]
[9. Choose wisely. Death here is permanent and absolute.]
[10. Friendly reminder: zombies are terrifying. But the human heart, when twisted, is far more dreadful.]
On a barren and forsaken islet, Meng Hao stood in stunned silence, his eyes fixed on the pale blue panel before him, the text it displayed sending chills down his spine.
The air reeked of blood and decay, a fetid stench that lingered ominously in the breeze.
His brow furrowed, and a flicker of disbelief passed across his handsome face.
"An apocalypse island survival game?"
Moments ago, he had been doing homework. How had he ended up here, inside a game world?
The college entrance exams were just around the corner—this was supposed to be his prime time for focused study and review. Now he was trapped in some bizarre simulation?
The blazing sun beat mercilessly upon the beach, the waves rhythmically lashing against the rocks in a haunting refrain.
The heat was oppressive. Beads of sweat streamed down Meng Hao's face, yet his heart was cold with dread.
"What the hell is this place? I want to go home. I need to finish my homework!"
While writing, Meng Hao had long fantasized about living inside a game, dreaming of endless gameplay without responsibilities.
Now, that whimsical dream had become reality.
The island was small and barren, not even a single blade of grass to be seen. A thick fog surrounded its perimeter, obscuring all that lay beyond.
At its center was a green arrow, which could be rotated freely.
A button labeled "Start Drift" sat beside it—pressing it would send the island adrift in the indicated direction.
The arrow showed 3/3—each island could drift three times per day.
Nearby, a wooden crate stood starkly against the bleak landscape, drawing Meng Hao's attention.
He stepped forward and stood before the box.
[Sandalwood Chest: Newcomer Starter Pack. Open to receive your initial rewards.]
Opening it, Meng Hao discovered two items inside.
A wooden stick.
A ring etched with strange and ancient patterns.
[Ordinary Wooden Stick: A basic stick. If you possess sufficient strength, it can crack open a zombie's skull.]
[Storage Ring: A mystical artifact. Do not underestimate it—it can hold up to one cubic meter of supplies.]
Blue text glowed on the panel, introducing his first possessions.
A stick to fight zombies, a ring to store supplies—clearly, the most basic of starter kits. Hardly impressive.
There was no food or fresh water. To acquire essentials, he'd need to set his island adrift.
Just as Meng Hao prepared to pocket his meager loot, a mechanical chime sounded, and a line of brilliant golden text appeared.
[Ding! Divine Fortune System Activated.]
[Divine Fortune: All rewards received are multiplied one hundredfold.]
Choose Your Hundredfold Reward:
1. One hundred ordinary wooden sticks and one hundred storage rings (1m³ each)2. 98K Sniper Rifle and one storage ring (100m³)
Meng Hao: "???"
What was this—some kind of cheat code? A legendary system only he possessed?
Was this his golden finger, his secret edge in the game?
His breath quickened, eyes wide with incredulity. This was outrageous—clearly, he was being handed an unfair advantage.
Option one offered a brute-force multiplication of items. Option two sacrificed quantity for sheer power and efficiency.
On this island, facing zombies with mere sticks would be suicidal. Even a thousand sticks would be futile.
He had no desire to become zombie food.
Clearly, the sniper rifle was the wiser choice.
And as for storage, one massive ring trumped a hundred smaller ones—he didn't have that many fingers anyway.
After a moment's deliberation, Meng Hao decisively selected option two.
In a flash of light, the stick and ring vanished from the crate, replaced by a sleek, beautifully crafted 98K sniper rifle and a bronze-toned ring.
Meng Hao reached for the rifle—instantly, a panel of information appeared.
[98K Sniper Rifle: Silver-tier equipment. Attack power: 150. Comes with 200 bullets and a 2x scope. Note: Gunfire will attract zombies within a 500-meter radius. Use with caution.]
[Upgradeable: Compatible with 1.5x, 2x, 2.5x, 3x, 4x, 6x, and 8x scopes.]
[Ammunition and scopes can be found in loot chests or forged in the armory.]
[Recoil has been removed to accommodate weak player physiques.]
"Silver-tier!"
Meng Hao's eyes lit up as he eagerly opened the weapon tier panel.
In the Apocalypse Island Game, weapons were ranked: Rotten Wood, Black Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Starlight.
The stick was Rotten Wood level. Starting out with a Silver-tier rifle meant Meng Hao was already leagues ahead.
With this, he could down a zombie with a single shot. His survival odds had skyrocketed.
Delight surged through him, banishing the lingering dread from his heart.
He turned his attention to the ring in his hand.
[Storage Ring: Bronze-tier. Holds up to 100m³ of materials. Cannot store living beings.]
"A bronze-tier ring with one hundred cubic meters? Heh!"
Joy welled up within him.
Ordinary players likely received basic one-cubic-meter rings, probably classified as Rotten Wood tier.
Thanks to the hundredfold boost, Meng Hao had obtained a massive inventory right from the start.
A powerful sniper rifle and a vast storage ring—Meng Hao could hardly wait to embark on this deadly adventure.