Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

The convoy leader's warnings weighed heavily on Pang Changbing.

As far as he knew, most of Jianghe City's population was concentrated in shelters beneath the urban area. Those still operating shelters in the desolate outskirts were few, even less than 10% of the rural population before the apocalypse.

"Desolate" barely began to describe the area.

Glancing out his side window during a smooth stretch of road, Pang Changbing saw nothing but darkness shrouded by the heavy night sky.

His attention was diverted by the faint clinking sound of the truck's air conditioner. It sputtered slightly, its cooling output dropping, leaving the cabin stuffy and oppressive.

"Please, no malfunctions," Pang muttered, his heart racing.

The air conditioner was his lifeline. Without it, the scorching 70-80°C heat outside would seep in, testing the limits of his survival. Unlike the shelter's managers, Pang had no access to heat-resistant suits.

Perhaps his silent prayers were heard.

After a few strained moments, the air conditioner stabilized, resuming its steady hum and restoring some semblance of comfort to the cabin. Pang let out a long sigh of relief.

Suddenly, the dashboard display flickered, replacing the offline map with a real-time 3D terrain map.

A soft female voice emerged from the speakers:

"You have entered the vicinity of Huangshi Village. Please follow the updated navigation route."

Far from surprised, Pang felt reassured, even curious.

According to the convoy leader, this meant they were nearing their destination. From here on, all he had to do was follow the prompts.

However, what intrigued Pang more was the rumored local internet network.

Word had it that once inside the 10-kilometer radius of Huangshi Village, one could connect to a private internet filled with resources, even allowing for online games and interactions.

"Hope the rumors are true," Pang muttered, clutching his phone tightly.

A few minutes later, the glow of floodlights appeared at the end of the road.

Following instructions, Pang parked his truck in a designated area.

The dashboard map transitioned to a countdown display, indicating that unloading would begin in 14 minutes and 37 seconds.

"Efficient," Pang remarked, appreciating the orderly process.

There was no need for him to think or act beyond what was instructed. Everything was streamlined for maximum efficiency—a rarity in the chaos of the post-apocalypse.

Even his large shelter couldn't match this level of precision. Such systems required a powerful AI and a high-performance server—luxuries few shelters could afford.

Pang stole another glance outside.

Under the harsh floodlights, he saw two armored vehicles outfitted with autocannons and rocket pods patrolling the perimeter. Robots armed with rifles moved methodically between the vehicles, maintaining order.

"Impressive," he murmured.

The armored vehicles didn't surprise him; a major power like this shelter having military-grade equipment was expected.

What fascinated him were the security robots.

Each robot's cost was said to equal the lifetime wages of several workers. Before the apocalypse, only the wealthiest factory owners would splurge on such equipment, and even they preferred cheap human labor.

Now, with lives devalued and resources scarce, robots were even rarer.

Satisfied with his observations, Pang turned his attention to his phone.

To his delight, the rumors were true—he had internet access.

Excitedly, he began exploring the network, diving into its growing wealth of content.

Meanwhile, the large-scale transactions involving Su Wu's shelter were making waves across Jianghe City, even reaching information-isolated underground shelters.

Such massive trades inevitably stirred the pot, drawing the attention of many.

Morning light shelter

In an elegantly furnished office, an assistant rushed in, whispering the latest developments to her boss, Fu Yongyuan.

"They've started moving?" Fu asked, accepting the tablet and playing a video captured by intelligence personnel on the surface.

The footage showed a motley collection of modified vehicles assembling at the city's edge, with armed personnel moving among them.

Though their weapons looked crude—some even carried homemade rifles—their numbers were intimidating.

Over 200 vehicles and more than a thousand armed fighters made for a formidable force, one that could threaten any large shelter.

"Reports indicate Jingyuan is involved as well. They've sent a few retired officers to assist."

"Additionally, Hongtu has provided a batch of military-grade munitions, possibly including rocket launchers and grenade launchers."

The assistant's low voice highlighted the gravity of the situation.

A disorganized mob was one thing, but with trained officers and advanced weaponry, this was shaping up to be a full-scale battle.

"It seems our new friend is quite popular," Fu remarked, his tone neutral but laced with intrigue.

After a moment's thought, he issued his orders.

"Have our security department prepare an external field team. If an opportunity arises, we'll join the fray."

The profit margins of Su Wu's shelter—producing 5,000 radiation detectors daily and raking in tens of millions of contribution points—were enough to make even someone as wealthy as Fu Yongyuan tempted.

Though he wouldn't take the lead, he certainly wouldn't miss the chance to claim a share of the pie.

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