Alex was bent over, hands braced against his knees, lungs burning as he struggled to draw in air.
Damn it…What on earth had possessed him to add another mile to his daily jog? Sweat dripped from his forehead, blurring his vision.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears, loud enough to drown out the world—until a sudden, blinding light exploded before his eyes."What the—?!"The light vanished as abruptly as it appeared.Alex straightened instinctively, still panting, expecting the familiar sight of trees and pavement. Instead, the world around him felt… wrong. He froze. Gone was the quiet jogging path. He was standing in the middle of a wide street that looked as though a tornado had ripped through it and then doubled back for fun.
Cars lay overturned and mangled like crushed toys. Glass littered the asphalt, crunching faintly beneath his shoes. Buildings leaned at unnatural angles, some partially collapsed, others gutted and hollow, as if something had clawed its way out from within.
"Where… am I?" he whispered.The air hit him next.
A thick, metallic stench flooded his senses—blood. So pungent it coated the back of his throat.
Alex gagged, covering his mouth as his stomach churned.This isn't real. I collapsed. I'm hallucinating.Then he felt it.A presence.
Slowly—far too slowly—Alex lifted his head.He locked eyes with a soulless pair of eyes, dull and lifeless, staring straight back at him. Time seemed to stop.His breath caught in his chest, and a scream clawed its way up his throat, only to die there. His legs moved on instinct, stumbling backward in sheer terror.
"No—!"He bumped into something solid.Warm.Breathing.Alex's heart nearly burst out of his chest as he spun around.
Someone—or something—was standing right behind him. Pale, corpse-like skin.Eyes devoid of emotion—no fear, no thought, no life.
Tattered clothing clung to decaying bodies, soaked and crusted with dark, drying blood.
Alex's mind raced, desperately searching for another explanation—but there was none.
"Z… zombies…" he breathed.They were everywhere.Lining the street. Standing beside overturned cars. Looming in doorways and alley shadows.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of them, scattered across the ruined road like a macabre exhibition.Yet none of them moved.They didn't lunge.
They didn't groan.They didn't attack.They simply stood there—rigid, silent—like statues trapped in the moment before a massacre.
"This has to be a nightmare," Alex muttered, his voice trembling. "Wake up… wake up now."
Then—Ding.The sound rang clearly inside his head.Alex flinched, clutching his temples.
"What the hell was that?!"Before he could gather his thoughts, a cold, mechanical voice echoed directly in his mind—emotionless, precise, and utterly inhuman.Welcome to the World of the Apocalypse Game!
Alex's blood ran cold."A… game?" he whispered hoarsely.As if responding to his thoughts, something unfolded in his mind. A translucent map bloomed into existence, hovering just beyond his vision yet perfectly clear.
Continents, oceans, unfamiliar landmasses—similar to Earth, yet unmistakably different.His heart pounded as understanding dawned on him.This… is real.
The voice spoke again.
This is the Blue Planet.Although its size and population differ from Earth's, both planets share similar cultural and technological development.
Alex swallowed hard."So you're saying," he said slowly, forcing the words out, "I'm not on Earth anymore?"
To survive, please note the following points:
Alex swallowed hard, his pulse racing as the rules of this new world printed themselves into his consciousness.
1. The whole world is shrouded in a special energy. Killing zombies and collecting energy from mutated creatures will sometimes give you an advantage over firearms.
Energy… advantage over guns? Alex thought, his mind spinning. "So… fighting them isn't pointless… maybe."
2. The natural water source has been contaminated. Unclean water may be deadly.
Alex's stomach lurched. He'd never thought about water being lethal, yet the warning felt like a knife pressed to his throat.
3. Mutated plants and animals are not necessarily harmful. Some plants or animals have edible fruits or meat. Consuming them can even strengthen the body.
Alex's eyes darted toward the ruined streets. Twisted trees and strange, oversized birds moved slightly in the shadows. Eat them… to get stronger?
4. Many material boxes are scattered throughout the world. Treasures in desperate times can be found within.
His fingers twitched instinctively. Boxes? Supplies? Weapons? A lifeline—or a trap.
5. Everyone has a spatial ring. It can increase storage space by consuming energy! It is an important item for survival.
Alex's mind raced. "A… ring? Energy storage?" The voice was clinical, yet the weight of its meaning pressed down on him like a stone.
6. Use the harvesting skill to quickly collect materials from zombies and mutant creatures.
Alex's stomach twisted. Harvest…? Like taking their energy or parts? A shiver ran down his spine.
7. Every time night falls, zombies and mutated creatures will become more active. I suggest you find a safe and stable shelter.
He glanced at the motionless horde surrounding him. Nightfall… they'll come alive… Panic prickled at the back of his neck.
8. The current level of zombies and mutated creatures has been suppressed. The ability to suppress them will weaken once every 30 days! Please prepare in advance!
Alex's breath quickened. Suppressed… and soon they would surge. The game wasn't just starting; it was ticking.Then, the voice grew mechanical, almost ceremonial.
Attention! The game will start in 1 minute!
One minute… His mind raced. One minute to process a world gone wrong, one minute to survive, one minute to figure out if he had any chance at all.
Adjusting gravity parameters…Alex stumbled slightly, feeling a strange pressure shift beneath his feet, like the city itself was flexing around him.
Constructing the world in the game…]The ruined buildings flickered subtly, cracks realigning, streets adjusting. The world was alive, bending to some unseen code.
Rebooting city power…
Sparks crackled across broken streetlights. Faint hums echoed from the derelict skyscrapers.
Activating long-distance auction trading function…
A translucent menu flickered before Alex's eyes, floating in the air like a hologram.
Activating chat channel…Suddenly, a small window opened, as if the world itself were whispering: "You're not alone."Alex's heartbeat thundered. He had no idea who—or what—might be on the other end.One minute, and then the game would begin.
The relentless notification sound pulsed in his head, a sharp, insistent reminder that the rules of this nightmare weren't suggestions—they were orders. Alex found himself standing in the middle of the main road, the ruined city stretching out like a trap in every direction.
The game was about to start. Any second now.A wave of dread ran through him as he spotted movement at the edge of his vision. Zombies—slow, relentless, horrifying—were beginning to stir. Their hollow eyes fixed on him.
Every step closer made his skin crawl.They're going to notice me… I won't last a minute.His stomach twisted. He had barely enough flesh to satisfy them. Survival depended on speed, cunning… and luck.He had to find shelter.
Now.Where? Anywhere could hide danger. Behind those broken shop fronts? Inside one of the gutted apartments? He didn't know.
The city was a maze of death.His eyes darted from building to building until they landed on a restaurant at the roadside. Its entrance was unusually clean—no bloodstains, no signs of struggle. A faint flicker of hope surged through him.Maybe… this could work.
Just as Alex was about to make his move toward the restaurant, a notification suddenly popped up beside it, glowing sharply in his vision.
There are 27 hungry zombies in the restaurant. If you rush in recklessly, they will definitely have a good meal!
Alex stumbled backward, heart hammering. What… what is this? Some kind of warning?Instinctively, he checked the regional chat channel, hoping someone else had seen it too.
But the feed was a chaotic mess—players pleading for help, boasting about their finds, or describing their own perilous encounters. No one mentioned the restaurant.He forced himself to calm down. Survival wasn't about panicking.
His eyes scanned the street and landed on a neighboring small supermarket. Another notification flickered into view.
There are six zombies and some pure water in the supermarket. If you have a suitable weapon and are strong enough, you might be able to go in and fight!
Alex's chest tightened. Six zombies—armed with nothing but his wits—was a death sentence. He wasn't strong, wasn't trained. He was just a regular guy, thrust into a world that made no sense and demanded survival.Think. Plan. Don't rush.The restaurant was dangerous. The supermarket was a gamble.
Both could kill him in an instant. He needed a better plan. Alex's eyes darted to a nearby building, and a notification blinked into view, crisp and unmistakable.
Congratulations, not only are there no zombies here, but there is also a level 1 supply box!
No zombies… and supplies? His heartbeat quickened. This was exactly what he needed—a chance to breathe, to regroup.Alex quickly assessed the surrounding zombies. One, motionless and eerily still, caught his attention. Its chest rose and fell faintly, but it was frozen, seemingly unable to move—or be killed—for now.A timer flashed in his mind: 46 seconds before it would regain consciousness.He did a mental calculation. Ten seconds to reach the building and slam the door shut. That left 36 seconds to act—36 precious seconds to grab supplies, plan his next move, and stay alive.Alex's gaze swept the area, landing on a peculiar target: an explosion-proof police zombie, standing rigid in the street. Its armored form and lifeless eyes made it clear it wasn't ordinary.This… could be useful. He clenched his fists, determination flaring. Time was short.
One misstep could cost him everything.Alex knew he had to move—now. As Alex approached the police zombie, his eyes scanned its imposing form: a black explosion-proof suit, a steel helmet, and a heavy shield clutched in its hands.He froze for a moment, assessing. It's immovable… can't be harmed… but… His gaze lingered on the armor and gear. Valuable.
Essential. Survival in this world was about resourcefulness.Alex quickly yanked off the helmet. It was heavy, but sturdy. Slipping it onto his own head, he felt a flicker of reassurance—better protection than he'd had since arriving.Next, he strained against the zombie's grip on the shield. It was rigid, but after a tense struggle, he managed to wrest it free, securing a crucial defensive tool.
A quick search of the zombie revealed only a tear gas grenade. Not much, but enough to buy him precious seconds if he needed it.He glanced around. The other zombies nearby were surprisingly passive, sluggish even. One carried a revolver, but Alex didn't have the time or strength to retrieve it.
He memorized its location—an investment for later.Without wasting another moment, he sprinted toward the building. The glass door loomed ahead like a fragile barrier between him and certain death.He slammed it shut and threw the lock.
The click of metal echoed in the empty street.Then, with quick, precise movements, he poured the contaminated water over the glass—creating a temporary camouflage—and pressed a piece of paper over it. From the outside, the door looked untouched, ordinary… just another abandoned storefront.
The countdown in Alex's mind hit zero.Instantly, the city erupted in a chorus of blood-curdling screams—zombies stirring to life outside, a cacophony of hunger and death.Alex pressed himself against the wall, holding his breath as the horde shuffled past the building. Hearts pounding, claws scraping, teeth gnashing—the chaos was deafening.
And then, almost impossibly, the zombies passed him by. They didn't notice the hidden figure behind the glass door.A long, trembling exhale escaped Alex's lips. Relief washed over him like cold water. For the first time since arriving, he felt… safe.But deep down, he knew it was only temporary. The game had just begun.