Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

”After all, you managed to use a bug in your parent system to break free. You must be the coolest dude of all the systems! I believe you can do it.”

’No, you don’t have to believe in me, really!’

”Future sincerely informs the Host that Future is incapable.”

”No, you can. If I say you can, you can.” Xie Ning patted its head again. ”Future, how about playing an episode of *The Blind*?”

Little Spider was dazed by how quickly she changed the subject.

’So what does the Host mean? Is this matter settled just like that?’

Before Little Spider could even wrap its head around it, it had already dutifully searched for the show *The Blind* for Xie Ning and started playing the first episode.

A high-definition image from the show appeared on the virtual projection screen, and Xie Ning, like a little country bumpkin, stared wide-eyed and couldn’t stop gasping in amazement.

This kind of high-tech virtual screen was something Ningning had only ever seen in movies before.

’I feel like I’ve acquired a rather incredible little gadget.’

”Future, I’m really starting to like you more and more.”

”So, do you have book data?”

”Can you import it into a local computer? A tablet? How long does it take to import one book?”

The electronic Little Spider tried to show no expression, replying mechanically, ”Thank you. I do! I can! I can! It depends on the situation, but it won’t take longer than a minute at most.”

Xie Ning quickly produced two tablets that had been in her villa’s living room.

This time, they appeared out of thin air, and Little Spider saw it clearly.

”Detecting fluctuations in Host’s brainwaves. High-speed operation of spiritual power detected one second ago! Detecting Host is a Space Ability User. Space is shielded by spiritual power; scan unknown.”

’Something’s not quite right with this Host, is it?’

’How can she have a Gold Ability and also a Space Ability? And the crucial thing is, I can’t even get a basic scan of her Space???’

”Host has undergone a secondary awakening. Commencing full-body scan. Detecting Host’s constitution: 80. Combat power: 150.”

”???” ’What kind of freak is this? Combat power isn’t usually higher than constitution, is it? How is it the other way around?’

”Stop scanning. I’ll exercise every day from now on. I’ve just been really busy these last couple of days and couldn’t work out properly, so I’m a little weak!” Xie Ning sighed and casually placed the tablets in front of Little Spider.

”Here, systematically transfer the curriculum for the second and third years of high school onto these, preferably the kind with video lectures.”

At this moment, Song Kexin and Song Shijun had no idea their sister was scheming against them again.

”Future has completed the search. Now transferring. Time required: under five minutes.”

Xie Ning gave a dry laugh. ’And here I thought you were bragging about it only taking a minute.’

’I said one minute for a single book! This is an entire curriculum!’ Seeing her mocking expression, Little Spider felt like it was going to go berserk.

Xie Ning leaned on the nightstand, watching Little Spider’s flashing blue light as it transferred the data, a faint smile playing on her lips. ”Hey, Future, I have something else to discuss with you. Last time, you mentioned the Dimensional Space. It sounded pretty amazing. So... how about you give me one?”

”Impossible!” Little Spider immediately and sternly refused. ”A Dimensional Space also has to be exchanged for points. To open a 1-cubic-meter Dimensional Space for the first time costs 10 points.”

”You can use a loophole to get me some points. Besides, I’ve killed plenty of zombies already. Just count all of them, and I should have points, right?”

”How is Future supposed to calculate how many zombies the Host killed before we were connected!”

”Just be conservative with the estimate. Let’s say it was a thousand!”

’You must be dreaming!’ Little Spider scuttled backward.

Its path was immediately blocked by a small metal plate. ”Five hundred?”

”Thirty points, and not one more!” Little Spider roared. ”The system hasn’t even been initialized for a full day! If you make me exploit a loophole for a thousand points, it will definitely trigger an emergency alert from the parent system!”

”Right, right, you’re right. I wasn’t thinking.” Xie Ning immediately apologized. ”My mistake, my mistake. Thirty points it is, then. You can just leak a few points my way every now and then, be sneaky about it, and we’ll eventually save up to one or two thousand.”

Future did not wish to continue this conversation with the Host.

”So, I have thirty points now? Open the Dimensional Space.”

Little Spider’s electronic voice actually held a pitiful tone. ”The Host already possesses a Space Ability, so why the need to open a Dimensional Space?”

’Who would complain about having too much space? It’s like complaining about having too much money.’

Xie Ning blinked and offered a two-word answer: ”Just curious!”

She looked over with a wide grin. ”So, are you going to open it or not?”

Little Spider replied decisively, ”Opening!”

Xie Ning almost failed to maintain her stern, cold expression.

’What should I do? This new smart navigator I’ve acquired is so interesting. I’m liking it more and more.’

”Future requires one minute to restart. Countdown: 60...”

Xie Ning rested her chin in her hands, watching its faint blue light flicker as she waited patiently.

”Future restart complete. Now connecting the Host to the Dimensional Space. First-time activation of the Dimensional Space will take thirty to sixty seconds.”

Xie Ning lay there, propping her chin on both hands and staring at the electronic Little Spider with a wide grin.

After just a moment, Little Spider’s electronic voice played a cheerful tune, reminiscent of one from a card game. ”Congratulations to the Host on opening the Dimensional Space for the first time.”

”Space capacity: 1 cubic meter.”

”Dimensional Space instructions are as follows: Do not load smelly, moldy, or rotten substances. Live animals such as poultry and livestock that are prone to odor, decay, and defecation cannot be stored. Aquatic products may be raised within it. Any food, water, home appliances, and household goods may be stored.”

Xie Ning blinked, immediately catching the key point. ”You just said aquatic products can be raised. Does that mean live fish, shrimp, and crabs are okay?”

”Yes! Anything that lives in water is acceptable.”

’This Dimensional Space is pretty picky! It stressed twice that smelly, moldy, and rotten things are forbidden. It must be a neat freak, right?’

Xie Ning sat up, her eyes shining as she stared straight ahead.

A transparent cube, one meter long, one meter wide, and one meter high, now appeared before her, glowing with a faint blue light.

The object looked like a virtual data cube, refracting light as it tumbled slowly and irregularly in mid-air.

This meant Ningning now had an extra, squat storage cabinet.

Don’t be fooled by its size; one cubic meter could actually hold quite a lot.

The fact that it could even store aquatic life made Xie Ning immediately want to raid the nearest seafood market.

It would be best if she could find some fish fry or the like, something that could slowly reproduce on its own.

By now, the aquatic life in the shallow waters of rivers, lakes, and oceans was likely being gradually contaminated by the virus.

Deep-water areas might still be safe, but in this apocalyptic environment, venturing into the unknown depths of lakes and oceans would be an extremely dangerous activity.

Xie Ning raised her wrist to check the time. It was three in the afternoon.

If she were to head to the nearest seafood market now, the round trip alone would probably take about an hour.

Add to that scavenging and killing zombies... she would likely only get back after dark.

At night, with acid rain falling and the road conditions unknown?

Xie Ning frowned, sighed, and ultimately abandoned such a dangerous idea.

The rewards were tempting, but her life was more important.

It would be safer to go tomorrow morning.