Chapter 1: The Black Fog Descends N Years After the Nuclear Wastewater Discharge
[The Gongjiang Government decided to begin discharging the nuclear contaminated water from the First Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean starting on the 24th. Although there are five nuclear wastewater treatment plans, the Gongjiang Government insists that ocean discharge is the only option.]
[The Gongjiang Government claims that after utilizing the ALPS Water Treatment System, the nuclear wastewater meets discharge standards. However, the Gongjiang Side has yet to provide sufficient scientific and factual basis to prove that the nuclear contaminated water is safe.]
[The Lian Dang Government introduced a policy to stop the import of seafood products from the Gongjiang Nation.]
[Hello, viewers and friends. Today, we will analyze the flow direction of the nuclear wastewater after the Gongjiang Government discharged it, and the resulting harm to the body, using ocean current analysis…]
A fair, delicate hand held the remote control, changing the channel every few minutes. The content of the television channels might differ, but they all reported on the same subject—nuclear wastewater.
In April, 3022 AD, the Gongjiang Government announced the discharge of nuclear wastewater into the ocean.
Initially, some condemned it fiercely, some were fearless, some worried that nuclear contamination would destroy the world, and others just drifted through each day… until a Gray Fog swept across the globe.
This wasn’t fog; it was a black, dense drizzle.
The Nuclear Crisis Detection Bureau had already discovered that the drizzle contained small amounts of Carbon-14 and Tritium.
The Gongjiang Government provided its own research to justify the continued discharge of nuclear wastewater, predicting that the Black Rain would last for a maximum of three days, and that as long as people sought shelter and avoided extensive contact with the rainwater, the harm caused by the Black Rain to the human body would be almost zero.
But it was now the fifth day of the Black Rain.
The suspension of work and production across the country was extended, and people mostly stayed indoors. Yet, even so, many elderly people and children felt unwell, and ambulances were seen on the roads several times a day.
Chu Yian sat up from the sofa and walked into the washroom to splash her face with warm water.
The mirror reflected the owner’s milky white skin and slightly plump cheeks, which made her look extremely sweet. A small red mole was perfectly positioned at the corner of her eye, and coupled with her delicate features, it was enough to instantly make a good impression.
Her face was beautiful, but unfortunately, her fashion sense was lacking.
Wearing bright red thermal underwear paired with winter-edition ‘Grandma Style’ padded clothes, Chu Yian bundled up in a cotton jacket, put on a Gas Mask, and completely covered herself before preparing to go out.
The food at home had been completely consumed; she had to go out and buy supplies.
Just as she reached the unit building entrance, the rain fog outside seemed to have intensified, visible through the glass door. The Black Fog was so thick it resembled flowing ink, like the gaping maw of an abyss.
She hesitated while looking outside, feeling an inexplicable and intense reluctance to leave.
Meanwhile, she heard a sizzling sound near her ears, like electricity.
Tinnitus?
Chu Yian patted her ears, her finger touching the key code lock for the residential area gate. Just then, various screams suddenly erupted outside the residential area.
They were shrill and painful, accompanied by car horns, possessing extreme penetrating power!
What happened?
Chu Yian was so startled that she jumped, hastily withdrawing her finger. She looked out through the glass door; the Black Fog outside was now thicker than ink. Immediately afterward, bang, a bloody handprint was pressed onto the glass door!
Chu Yian was so frightened she took several steps back.
“Save me!”
A bloody, mutilated man appeared on the glass outside the door. His skin was being corroded bit by bit by the Black Fog rain, exposing the muscle and bone underneath. In just two seconds, his flesh melted in the Black Fog, revealing organs and bones, along with a puddle of red and yellow liquid… Ugh—!
Chu Yian covered her mouth, unable to stop dry heaving. Forget buying anything; she decisively ran back to her home. The screams outside were still ongoing.
Her phone had no signal, and the emergency call didn’t connect, only transmitting a busy tone.
The shrill cries for help outside sent shivers down her spine, like a living hell.
Chu Yian repeatedly dialed the emergency number until the screams outside abruptly stopped.
Click.
The electricity also vanished.
The room plunged into darkness, and the surroundings were so silent she could hear her own heartbeat.
An inorganic electronic voice suddenly came from all directions—[The Survival Game is now online.]
[The Three Basic Rules of the Game]
[1. Refuse the Game, Player Dies]
[2. Fail the Game, Player Dies]
[3. Contact the Black Fog, Player Dies]
[All rights of interpretation belong to the Game.]
When the voice finished, a transparent Blue Light Screen appeared in front of her.
Chu Yian was still shaken. She cautiously threw a packet of instant noodles forward. The noodles passed through the light screen and landed on the floor. The next second, the content on the light screen changed.
[The Novice Trial is about to begin. Global Novice Gift Packs are now being distributed.]
As soon as the voice finished, the Blue Light Screen in front of her vanished, replaced by a wall of light densely packed with Lottery Cards. There were so many cards that she couldn’t see the top or bottom, nor the left or right edges. Cards were constantly flipping and disappearing, as if hundreds of millions of people were genuinely drawing prizes right now.
Chu Yian felt dizzy after observing for just a few seconds.
She blinked hard and randomly selected one card from the identical set. This card flipped over and enlarged, while the others instantly vanished.
[Congratulations to Novice Player Chu Yian for obtaining the rare ability: treasure box]
[Introduction: The Player can summon the treasure box in both the game and reality. The treasure box cannot be dropped or destroyed.]
[Function 1: Storage Feature]
[The treasure box can store 1 cubic meter of items.]
[Function 2: Creation from Nothing]
[This skill can only be used within the game. It randomly produces one item. This skill requires a three-day cooldown after each use.]
The introduction disappeared, and a searing pain appeared in her palm. A box the size of a wireless earbud case materialized in her hand.
The box was heavy, made of pure gold.
Each of the six sides was inlaid with 12 gems of various colors, making one instantly want to convert it into cash.
“Is it only this big?”
As soon as she thought this, the box instantly elongated to the size of one cubic meter. The weight increased accordingly, nearly breaking her hand.
After a moment, she had a basic understanding of the box.
The treasure box could transform into two forms: the size of an earbud case or one cubic meter. Regardless of the size, as long as she pressed her palm against the box, it would immediately disappear, transforming into a pattern on her palm.
How cool!
Just as she was studying this miraculous box, the Game System’s voice sounded again. [Lottery time has ended. The Novice Test will now begin.]
[Novice Game: Road to Survival]
[Game Content: Reach the Safe Rescue Zone within five days.]
[Initial Funds: 200 Coins]
[Initial Supplies: ID Card, 1 Set of Clothing, Communication Device]
[Current total number of novice players: 6,103,455,781]
[Please note!! Survival Supplies can only be obtained by clearing the game. All players must take this seriously!]
A moment of dizziness and disorientation.
Chu Yian realized she was currently in a dormitory, a standard four-person room with beds above desks.
“Yian, why are you spacing out? Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
Chu Yian looked over. Three unfamiliar roommates were waiting at the door. One round-faced, slightly plump girl said smilingly, “Didn’t we say we’d go out for a good meal after the exams finished? Are you dazed from too many tests?”
Before she could react, the three pulled her out. They got onto the campus tour bus and rode all the way to the school gate.
“Where are we going?”
“The Shopping Mall!”
“Then I’ll call a cab first…”
While the three were discussing, Chu Yian counted the items on her person: two 100-denomination bills in her pocket, an ID card bearing her name, and finally, a phone without a password.
While waiting for the car, she started searching keywords like ‘Road to Survival’ and ‘Rescue Point,’ but the results were useless.
Just then, the car arrived.
Chu Yian got into the passenger seat, her mind preoccupied with the game’s issues, barely listening to their conversation. It wasn’t until an ambulance sped past, its sharp siren pulling her back to reality.
“There are so many ambulances today. This is the eighth one I’ve seen,” the driver muttered beside her.
