Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

At this point, the first wave of residents had started moving into official shelters across major cities on every continent.

Unsurprisingly, these early occupants consisted mostly of political leaders and scientists. Wealthy elites, though qualified, were underrepresented.

It wasn't due to lack of eligibility but rather their preference for private shelters, which had led to a booming market for abandoned mountain bunkers. Many had been repurposed and sold at premium prices over the years.

Compared to these elites, Su Wu felt little regret about failing to secure an ideal mountain shelter. His modest resources and late timing had made it nearly impossible.

"In Jianghe City, most of the official shelters are finally complete," remarked Wang Jianguo, the steel mill owner who had invited Su Wu to the doomsday group.

"They've connected the city's underground parking lots, shopping centers, and subway tunnels. The result is a sprawling underground complex—practically a small city."

"But…"

Wang trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. The shelters' sheer size seemed impressive, but with a population of 3 to 4 million to accommodate, each individual's living space would be minuscule. Six-person, even ten-person dorms were likely to become the norm.

Compared to that, even the most modest private shelter seemed like paradise.

"They should've finished by now," another member, using the screen name Armored Knight, chimed in with a worried tone. "It's already the 9th. Any more delays could spell disaster."

Relocating millions of residents, complete with families and belongings, to an underground shelter might sound straightforward. But anyone with management experience knew how incredibly complex such an operation could be. A single delay could mean the remaining 20 days wouldn't suffice.

"Not a big deal," countered Tiancheng Construction. "Most people live near the shelters anyway. If push comes to shove, they can abandon their belongings and run. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes to get inside."

While plausible for able-bodied individuals, his suggestion ignored the elderly, disabled, and others with limited mobility. Under such circumstances, abandoning the weak could easily cost tens of thousands of lives.

Of course, with the apocalypse looming, many had already adopted a survival-of-the-fittest mentality. Even during peacetime, the wealthy didn't prioritize ordinary lives, and in the apocalypse, the gap between elites with private shelters and commoners would only widen.

"Is the government's timeline even reliable?" someone asked skeptically.

"They're saying we still have 20 days to prepare, but it's already 40 degrees outside. My family had to move into our shelter early, and I'm stuck managing my employees remotely."

The comment came from Master Zhuang, an unabashedly privileged member. His frustration was evident—no racing cars, no parties. Even the most luxurious private shelter couldn't replace his freedom.

"Forty degrees?" Su Wu glanced at his window thermometer.

It read 42 degrees Celsius, two degrees higher than what Master Zhuang had mentioned and already surpassing Jianghe City's historical record.

Just yesterday, the temperature had peaked at 34 degrees. Overnight, summer had shifted from warm to scorching.

Su Wu stood up and opened the window.

A wave of oppressive heat rushed in, instantly raising the room's temperature by several degrees.

"The outdoors are no longer suitable for extended human activity," Su Wu muttered as he observed the temperature shift.

His gaze moved past the small courtyard and onto the distant mountains, where faint flames and gray smoke rose toward the sky.

It was the sign of a wildfire, one that looked ready to spread.

In normal times, forest firefighters would have already mobilized to contain the blaze. But now, with the government consumed by shelter construction and relocation efforts, no resources could be spared to combat the fire.

"There's a bunker in those mountains, right? Didn't some wealthy guy buy the entire hill along with it?"

Su Wu had researched that location when planning his own shelter but lost out to wealthier competition.

Now it seemed like a stroke of luck.

The wildfire, with its searing heat, choking smoke, and toxic fumes, posed a nightmare scenario for any shelter in its path. Without robust ventilation and air purification systems, survival inside such a shelter would be questionable.

Su Wu shifted his focus back to his own shelter entrance.

In the courtyard below, a mini transport vehicle emerged from the underground passage, loaded with dirt and rubble.

Even in the punishing heat, the AI-controlled construction team maintained its efficiency, steadily expanding the shelter's underground space.

"By tonight," Su Wu calculated, "the second underground floor should be complete. Another two days for finishing touches, and I'll be ready to move in."

The second floor would span 650 square meters, 50 more than the first. The extra space was allocated for a power room and a water storage room.

The power room would house a new geothermal generator, sharing the same underground pipeline as the existing one on the surface. Space was reserved for two additional generators, should they be needed later.

The water storage room would hold a pump and filtration tank. The pump would draw groundwater, which the filtration tank would purify and supply to the hydroponic farm on the first floor and the living quarters on the second.

As for the main areas of the second floor, Su Wu had divided them into:

Living Quarters: Including three bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, entertainment room, and a guest lounge.

Control Center: To monitor and manage the shelter's systems.

Mechanical Workshop: For repairs and manufacturing.

Storage Rooms: For food, supplies, and essential materials.

The living quart

ers would serve as Su Wu's primary residence—a place of comfort amidst the apocalypse.