Thomas stared at the facility descriptions, jaw agape. “Holy shit… holy shit…” He’d anticipated improvements, but the reality exceeded his expectations, especially the gym and trophy display case. The workbench’s benefits were predictable, but the other two were a genuine surprise, revealing intriguing details about the game’s mechanics.
The mention of combat skills, dog tags, and calamity counts suggested these facilities catered not just to newcomers, but to seasoned survivors. “So, Metabolism and Immunity… those are skills too?” He’d encountered these terms before, on medical supplies, adrenaline injectors, equipment, and titles. He’d suspected they might become relevant after the first calamity, but hadn’t considered them as skills.
It was 7 PM. Five hours remained until the first calamity ended. A nervous anticipation settled over him.
Thirty minutes later, the combined well and water collector on the third underground level finished construction. The light screen vanished, revealing a small, eight-square-meter utility room tucked away in a corner.
[Water Collector - Underground Water Purification Plant] Level 3
Type: Hideout Facility
Effect 1: Unlimited hideout water supply with pipe connections available. Connecting other facilities requires PVC pipes, pipe tape, metal parts, and faucets.
Effect 2: 500L daily drinking water capacity. Requires one filter change per week.
Effect 3: Draws from a deep underground source, unaffected by calamities except earthquakes. Stable water quality, can replace various water sources.
Effect 4: Slowly increases Health skill proficiency over time.
---
His decision to combine the facilities had paid off. The water collector had upgraded to level 3, drawing from a stable, deep underground source. The daily capacity had increased from 5L to 500L, while filter changes were reduced to one per week, a testament to the water’s purity. The unexpected Health skill bonus was a welcome addition.
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With the water situation resolved, he moved on to the next upgrade. He stood on the second underground level, the newly constructed shooting range above him and the stairs to the third level beside him. He held the blueprint for the Indoor Greenhouse, another facility that would occupy its own extradimensional space.
As the blueprint transformed into a shimmering screen on the wall, a mechanical voice announced, “External water collector detected. Connect water supply using 28 PVC pipes, 15 metal parts, 8 rolls of pipe tape, and 10 showerheads? Yes/No?”
Prepared for this, Thomas confirmed. The required materials vanished from his inventory.
Construction Countdown: 3 hours.
With the greenhouse underway, all major hideout upgrades were in progress. The Intelligence Center, Calamity Coin Mine, shooting range, and greenhouse were all under construction. The first two had approximately 31 hours remaining, while the latter two would be finished in three hours, just before the end of the first calamity.
He eagerly awaited the Intelligence Center’s completion, which would unlock the Refugee Treasure Chest, Hideout Holographic Barrier, and Son of the Ocean gene-modifying serum. He also needed it to decrypt Ghostface’s USB drive and the laboratory map.
As midnight approached, Thomas grew restless. He began organizing his equipment, preparing for any potential contingencies.
At 11 PM, the shooting range and greenhouse were finished.
[Shooting Range]
Type: Hideout Facility
Range Depth: 50 meters.
Effect 1: Quickly identify weapon performance issues during testing.
Effect 2: Slowly increases weapon proficiency with related firearms.
Effect 3: Enclosed facility; reduces sound leakage by 95%.
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[Indoor Greenhouse]
Type: Hideout Facility
Depth: 15 meters.
Effect 1: Common plants mature in 3 days. 5% chance to cultivate rare plants (10% with plant nutrient solution).
Effect 2: Reduces rare plant growth cycles by one-third.
Effect 3: Climate-controlled environment. Requires 200L of water daily and 50 lbs of fertilizer every three days. Plant nutrient solution provides additional benefits.
---
With the final two facilities complete, the clock ticked down to midnight. Ten days had passed since entering the Apocalypse Game: seven days of preparation, three days of calamity. Of the initial 1,000 participants, only 297 remained. The first calamity was about to end.
“Let’s see what the real Apocalypse Game has in store,” Thomas murmured.
As the clock struck twelve, a tremor shook the hideout. A mechanical voice echoed in his ears.
“Congratulations…”