My Post-Apocalyptic Shelter Levels Up Infinitely! - Chapter 4 - The End of the First Day in the Wastelands
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- Chapter 4 - The End of the First Day in the Wastelands
Chapter 4: The End of the First Day in the Wastelands
Having traded for an iron slab, Su Mo didn’t hesitate to put it to use. He summoned the crafting page and used one unit of iron to create an iron axe, significantly improving his tree-cutting efficiency.
“Doomsday Survival System awards Survival Points based on my living conditions,” Su Mo pondered. “So, I need to make the shelter more comfortable, more livable, or safer to create a positive feedback loop.”
As he cut down trees with his new iron axe, he strategized internally. His current shelter was far from ideal – poorly ventilated, dark, with a bare floor and a basic door. The well was its only redeeming feature, making it slightly more than a tomb.
He continued cutting trees until sunset. Feeling hunger, he returned to his shelter. His inventory now held 20 units of wood and eight units of plant fibers. The inventory’s item stacking limit was still unknown, but 20 slots were certainly sufficient for his current needs.
In the dim shelter, Su Mo created a torch for light. The torch, made from one unit of lumber and two units of plant fiber, could burn for 12 hours, a small mercy granted by the game for survival’s sake.
Back inside, he used a lighter to ignite the torch, instantly brightening the dark space. He attempted to build another well but got no response from the system. Instead, he improvised a simple lighting device by connecting the torch to a wooden stick near the well.
After securing the wooden door with a solid bolt, a sense of safety washed over him. This was the end of his first day in this post-apocalyptic world – he had a shelter, a continuous water source, enough food for two meals, and now, light.
Sitting on the shelter’s step, Su Mo indulged in creating a few basic pieces of furniture – a crude wooden bed, a chair, a small wooden cup, and a round table, using the majority of his wood and plant fibers.
His basic needs met, Su Mo felt a surge of excitement. He arranged the bed near the inner part of the shelter and the table and chair near the entrance. After collecting 150 ml of water from the well, he poured it into his new cup and set it on the table along with the bread and dried beef.
“Quite a feast,” he remarked, enjoying his humble dinner. The fresh food and water were a relief, a small oasis in his desert-like situation.
He wondered about his family’s situation, resolving to build a shelter sufficient for them before their arrival. As he ate, his mind buzzed with thoughts about the future. The uncertainty of when his family would be brought into this survival game hung over him like a sword of Damocles.
After dinner, while digesting, Su Mo checked the chat panel. Almost eight hours had passed since their arrival in this world. While his shelter was becoming livable, many others had nothing more than a shell, spending the night hungry and thirsty on bare floors. Some were injured, some found treasures, and some, unfortunately, had already perished.
The regional chat group, which started with 1,000 members, now showed only 988. In just half a day, 12 people had died – a sobering reminder of the relentless nature of this survival challenge. Caution and judicious exploration were key; recklessness could lead to death. Some had fallen victim to mutants while others had been killed in overzealous attempts to tackle unknown dangers.
The deaths on the first day shared a common trait: recklessness. “Challenging mutants is a risky endeavor. Those who died treated this world like a mere game, which was foolish,” Su Mo reflected. “I’ve made good progress, but starting tomorrow, I must train to defend myself against mutants. And for the upcoming acid rain, I need proper ventilation and drainage, ideally stockpiling more than three days’ worth of food.”
Su Mo knew that facing mutants was inevitable in this world. The early stages might be manageable, as he guessed the mutants wouldn’t be too strong yet. Adults armed with weapons should be able to handle them. Avoiding these harsh realities now would leave him unprepared once the initial newbie phase ended.
After leaving the chat channel, he revisited the trading platform. Like in the afternoon, people were mostly trading commodities for food and water, the scarcest and most vital resources in these early days.
While browsing, Su Mo noticed a special item up for trade:
(Seller: Chen Ping’an)
(Item: Monster Illustrated Handbook (disappears after use))
(Requirement: 1 L of water)
(Note: Only water. Anyone bringing other items, your mom’s going to be hung on tree number two tonight)
Su Mo raised an eyebrow, amused by the seller’s aggressive note and the flurry of comments it provoked. Insults and offers filled the transaction area, showing the desperation and frustration of the community.
After a while, the seller, Chen Ping’an, posted another item:
(Seller: Chen Ping’an)
(Item: Water Pears (10))
(Requirement: 100 ml of water per pear)
(Note: Those looking for a bargain can go away. I won’t die without water tonight, so no cheapskates)
This post incited even more reactions, with a barrage of insults and outraged comments. Su Mo decided not to engage. He needed the illustrated handbook, and 1 L of water wasn’t much, but he would have to wait until the next day when he had enough water to trade.
After a brief stretch, Su Mo crafted a wooden spear and placed it by his bed. He extinguished his torch as the shelter lacked proper ventilation, and the burning torch could deplete the oxygen.
As sleep overtook him, he dreamed of his family arriving in this world, finding a fully automated, luxurious shelter he had built. In his dream, the shelter withstood meteor strikes and extreme temperatures, providing safety and comfort for his loved ones.
Unbeknownst to Su Mo, almost ten million humans had perished on this day, silently and unnoticed. His sufficient supply of food and water had given him the strength to withstand the night’s challenges. Others, however, were not so fortunate. They faced thirst, hunger, and the constant threat of lurking mutants. In these initial stages, those who chose underground shelters had an advantage, at least not having to worry about nocturnal attacks by wild animals.
(End of Chapter)
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