Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

The pitch-black surface world lay drenched under the relentless downpour.

In the oppressive darkness, dozens of faint but distinct points of light brought a glimmer of hope to the flooded Jianghe City.

Following Su Wu's rescue plan, the initial wave of transport vehicles and spider robots prioritized the most vulnerable shelters—those on the brink of collapse from the relentless floodwaters.

Survivors from these shelters were relocated to relatively safer high ground nearby. The remaining work of transportation was handed off to rescue teams mobilized from the Jingyuan and Zhou Xiwu shelters.

For survivors awaiting the secondary rescue teams, those lucky enough found refuge in intact buildings, offering temporary shelter from the elements. The less fortunate stood exposed on the ruins, draped in raincoats or plastic sheets, enduring the cold wind and the uncomfortable dampness soaking their shoes and clothes as they awaited uncertain salvation.

Still, these survivors were the fortunate ones.

Some shelters, by the time transport vehicles and spider robots arrived, had already been completely submerged by floodwaters. Residents within either drowned and floated lifeless in the water, or they had fled through the open shelter doors into the torrential flood.

Those who escaped fared little better. In floodwaters averaging two or even three meters deep, without proper protection, they were easily injured by sharp debris or metal shards.

With each passing moment, the frigid waters sapped their strength and drove them closer to unconsciousness. For those who managed to survive, the odds of rescue were bleak.

In a world submerged in rain, a flood as vast as an ocean left no signs of human habitation and no solid ground to stand upon. For these individuals, a slow death from starvation and exposure was inevitable.

In the northern districts of Jianghe City, only a few isolated skyscrapers remained visible above the floodwaters, while everything else had been swallowed by the deluge.

The water, measuring an average depth of four to six meters, surged with powerful currents, making this region the most perilous in the entire city.

"Destination reached."

"Estimated survivors within a one-kilometer radius: 17,000."

Amid the roaring waters, the base vehicle partially emerged from the surface, coming to a slow halt. Its body began expanding outward, gradually unfolding into a towering metallic structure that rose over a story high above the waterline.

This was the deployed mode of the base vehicle, its top layer automatically assembling into a flight control center and defensive turret. Beneath the surface, hidden from view, were two additional levels comprising the main body of the base vehicle.

As the base anchored itself firmly in the floodwaters, an array of lights flickered on, illuminating a radius of several hundred meters around the vehicle. The brightly lit waters pierced the darkness, creating a beacon of hope amid the chaos.

"The nearest three transport rescue teams will arrive in approximately seven minutes."

"There's still plenty of time."

From the control center, Su Wu monitored the map displaying a pale green, two-kilometer-diameter circle centered on the base vehicle.

The sight of this temporary stronghold in the most treacherous part of the city eased his earlier anxiety. The base vehicle had become a stabilizing presence, ensuring that the situation wouldn't spiral out of control.

His rescue operation was off to an excellent start.

A few minutes later, 700 meters away from the base vehicle, a transport truck slowly approached the submerged entrance of a shelter.

On the roof of the truck's cargo bay, three spider robots moved cautiously, extending their limbs toward the entrance.

Working together, they began constructing a temporary airtight compartment over the entrance—a makeshift airlock to allow the shelter's residents to safely open the door.

Underwater, the robots' movements were frequently disrupted by currents of varying speeds, causing delays and errors. Progress was painfully slow, and it took over ten minutes to complete the structure.

Once finished, the AI signaled the shelter below to open its doors.

A minute later, the shelter door creaked open cautiously.

A middle-aged man climbed up the ladder from the passageway below. He surveyed his surroundings, his expression shifting from apprehension to joy.

"Come on up!" he shouted back down. "The rescue team is really here!"

After his call, the man turned and descended once more, helping others below lift bags and suitcases to the surface.

"Warning: Each person is limited to carrying no more than 5 kilograms of belongings."

The AI's voice issued a firm warning through the loudspeaker on one of the spider robots.

The man ignored it, continuing to haul more luggage with the help of others from the shelter.

As three minutes passed and the AI issued its third warning, a sharp-faced young woman guarding the growing pile of belongings grew impatient with the repeated announcements.

Annoyed, she yelled at the spider robot from behind the semi-transparent airlock.

"What's with the rushing? We can only carry so much!"

"There's plenty of stuff left in the shelter anyway. Isn't that what you want? Don't be so greedy!"

The AI didn't respond to her outburst. Instead, detecting clear signs of noncompliance, it silently reduced the evacuation window from two minutes to 30 seconds.

"This is the final warning: The rescue operation will end in 30 seconds."

"Please proceed to the designated yellow zone for extraction."

"Each person is limited to carrying no more than 5 kilograms of belongings."

Among the survivors emerging from the shelter, some grew uneasy after hearing the warning and tried to persuade others to comply.

However, the sharp-faced woman refused to relent.

Dragging several suitcases, she stationed herself right on the edge of the yellow zone, effectively blocking the passage.

Hands on her hips, she raised her voice in defiance.

"I don't care! If we're leaving, we're all leaving togethe

r!"

"Nobody goes until we finish loading our stuff!"

"No one, got it?"

(End of Chapter)