Shocked, I'm the Favorites in the Survival Game - chapter 1

[April 19, 3022, the global black fog descends. According to incomplete statistics, there have been over ten thousand major disaster events caused by the black fog, with economic losses amounting to billions of dollars.]

[On the fourth day of the global black fog, riots in Europa and other countries have intensified, and the number of terrorist attacks has reached a historical high. The United Party government reminds all citizens to keep emergency supplies on hand and to minimize going outside.]

[Work stoppages and production halts have been extended across the country. The Prime Minister has announced that the nation is entering a state of war preparedness…]

A fair, delicate hand held a remote control, switching channels every few minutes. The content on each TV channel might differ, but they all reported on the same topic-the black fog.

In April 3022, an inexplicable black fog suddenly swept across the globe.

This thick fog was neither toxic nor odorous; it was simply black. Daytime became as dark as night, and even high-powered flashlights couldn’t penetrate more than ten meters into the fog.

At first, experts predicted the black fog would last about three days, but now it was already the fifth day. With the sun blocked out, the surface temperature of Blue Star was gradually dropping. What should have been midsummer in M City was now minus three degrees Celsius.

Chu Yian got up from the sofa and went to the bathroom to wash her face with warm water.

The mirror reflected her milky-white skin and slightly plump cheeks, giving her an especially gentle appearance. A small red mole sat perfectly at the corner of her eye, and together with her delicate features, it was enough to make anyone feel a sense of fondness.

Her face was beautiful, but her sense of style left much to be desired.

A bright red thermal top and pants, paired with a winter-exclusive grandma-style cotton jacket and trousers-Chu Yian bundled herself up and prepared to go out.

The food at home was nearly gone; she had to make a trip outside.

As she reached the entrance of her apartment building, she saw through the glass door that the fog outside seemed even thicker. The black fog was as dense as flowing ink, and somewhere, a sizzling sound could be heard.

Was it tinnitus?

Chu Yian patted her ear and reached for the keypad to open the community gate. But just then, a cacophony of screams erupted outside the complex.

Shrill, agonizing, mixed with the blaring of car horns-piercing and intense!

What happened?

Chu Yian was startled, her whole body tensing up as she hurriedly pulled her hand back. She looked out through the glass door; the black fog outside was now thicker than ink. Suddenly, with a bang, a bloody handprint appeared on the glass!

Chu Yian stumbled back several steps in fright.

“Help me!”

A man, his flesh mangled and bloody, appeared on the other side of the glass. His skin was being corroded bit by bit by the black fog, exposing muscle and bone. In just two seconds, his flesh melted away in the fog, revealing organs and bones, and a puddle of red and yellow liquid…

Ugh-!

Chu Yian clapped a hand over her mouth, unable to stop herself from retching. Forget about buying anything-she decisively ran back to her apartment, the screams outside still echoing.

Her phone had no signal, and the emergency number wouldn’t connect, only giving a busy tone.

The desperate cries for help outside sent chills down her spine-it was like hell on earth.

Chu Yian kept dialing the emergency number over and over until the screams outside suddenly ceased.

With a “click,”

the power went out as well.

The room was plunged into darkness, so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat.

Suddenly, a mechanical electronic voice echoed from all directions-[Survival Game is now online]

[Three Basic Rules of the Game]

[1. Refuse the game, the player dies]

[2. Contact with the black fog, the player dies]

[3. Only by clearing the game can you obtain supplies]

[All rights of interpretation belong to the game]

As the voice ended, a transparent blue screen appeared before her.

Still shaken, Chu Yian cautiously tossed a pack of instant noodles toward the screen. The noodles passed through and fell to the floor, and in the next second, the contents on the screen changed.
[The novice trial is about to begin. Now distributing the global novice gift pack.]

After the voice finished speaking, the blue light screen in front of her disappeared, replaced by a wall of densely packed lottery cards. There were so many cards that she couldn’t see the top or bottom, nor the left or right ends. Cards kept flipping and vanishing, as if billions of people were drawing prizes at this very moment.

Chu Yian only observed for a few seconds before feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

She blinked hard and randomly picked one card among the identical lottery cards. The card flipped over and enlarged, while the others instantly disappeared.

[Congratulations to novice player Chu Yian for obtaining the rare ability: Treasure Chest]

[Description: The player can summon the Treasure Chest in both the game and reality. The Treasure Chest cannot be dropped or destroyed.]

[Function 1: Storage Function]

[The Treasure Chest can store up to 1 cubic meter of items.]

[Function 2: Create from Nothing]

[This skill can only be used in the game. Randomly generates one item. After each use, the skill requires a three-day cooldown.]

The introduction disappeared, and a burning pain surged in her palm. A box the size of a wireless earbud case appeared in her hand.

The box was heavy and made of pure gold.

Each of its six sides was inlaid with twelve gemstones of different colors, making her want to exchange it for money.

“Is it really this small?”

As soon as she thought that, the box instantly stretched to the size of one cubic meter. The weight increased accordingly, almost breaking her hand.

After a moment, she had a basic understanding of the box.

The Treasure Chest could switch between earbud case size and one cubic meter. No matter the size, as long as her palm touched the box, it would immediately disappear and become a pattern on her palm.

So cool!

Just as she was studying this magical box, the game system’s voice sounded again: [Lottery time is over. Now beginning the novice test.]

[Novice Game: Road to Survival]

[Game Content: Reach the Safe Rescue Zone within five days]

[Initial Funds: 200 coins]

[Initial Supplies: ID card, one set of clothing, communication device]

[Current total number of novice players:

[Rongge Novel Resource Group 229036474]

]

[Attention!! Only by clearing the game can you obtain survival supplies. Please take this seriously, players!]

##

A sudden dizzying sensation.

Chu Yian found herself in a dormitory-a standard four-person room with upper bunks and desks below.

“Yian, why are you spacing out? We’re getting ready to leave.”

“Huh?”

Chu Yian looked over. Three unfamiliar roommates were already waiting at the door. One round-faced, slightly chubby girl smiled and said, “Didn’t we say we’d go out for a meal after the exam? Too many exams, your brain’s fried?”

Before she could react, the three pulled her out, boarded the Sightseeing Car inside the school, and headed straight for the school gate.

“Where to?”

“Shopping Mall!”

“I’ll call a car first…”

While the three discussed, Chu Yian counted her belongings: two 100-yuan bills in her pocket, an ID card with her name on it, and a password-free phone.

While waiting for the car, she started searching keywords like Road to Survival and Safe Rescue Zone, but found nothing useful.

Just then, the car arrived.

Chu Yian sat in the front passenger seat, her mind filled with game-related questions, not listening to their conversation at all. It wasn’t until an ambulance sped by, its piercing siren snapping her back to reality.

“There are so many ambulances today. That’s the eighth one I’ve seen,” the driver muttered beside her.