Stabbing the pin into her finger, Emma winced at the sharp pain that shot through her. Yet, she remained determined, focusing on the task at hand. With practiced precision, she squeezed the wounded spot, coaxing a droplet of blood to fall onto the surface of the purple diamond. For a brief moment, the gem glowed with an ethereal light before dimming once more. Emma held her breath, excitement flowing through her veins.

Seconds passed like hours as Emma waited for something, anything, to happen. But to her disappointment, there was only silence and stillness in the room. Frustration knotted in her stomach as she attempted to squeeze another droplet from her finger, but before the second could fall, a sudden dizziness washed over her like a tidal wave. Her vision blurred, the edges of her consciousness fading into darkness.

In the depths of her unconsciousness, a voice appeared, echoing through the recesses of her mind like a distant thunderclap. "Welcome, child of the Lin Bloodline," it boomed, its tone both commanding and enigmatic. "Are you ready to sign on to build the strongest base in the apocalyptic world?"

Startled, Emma jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. Blinking rapidly, she took in her surroundings, finding herself still in her tiny apartment. The voice, strangely remindful of a game system, echoed in her mind, its tone commanding yet oddly enticing. "Are you ready?" it asked, its words lingering in the air like an unspoken challenge.

“Yes,” Emma responded instinctively, her voice tinged with uncertainty. For a breif moment, she felt foolish, as if she were merely talking to herself in the silence of her apartment.

Ding. The sound echoed in her mind, signaling the arrival of a message. “31 Days until the apocalyptic event. Mission one: Find the location to build your base,” the voice said, its directives clear and concise.

As the voice faded away, a vivid image began to form in Emma’s mind. It was as if she were peering into a dark, enormous storage room, its contents obscured by shadows. She could make out a few shelves, but the rest of the space remained shrouded in darkness, like the unlocked areas in a video game. Emma shook her head, clearing the image momentarily, only for it to reappear when she focused her thoughts once more.

With a satisfied smile, Emma gazed at the purple diamond resting on her table. Carefully, she placed the precious gem back into its box and mentally transported it into the storage room alongside the ice cube. “Thank you, grandma,” she whispered softly. “I will protect this with my life.”

With a newfound sense of purpose, Emma threw herself into her tasks with persistent determination. With her family's numbers blocked and her mind focused solely on her mission, Emma found herself consumed by her quest to prepare for the upcoming apocalypse.

As Emma dressed in an old t-shirt and shorts, with a money bag cinched around her waist, a hat on her head, and a clipboard and pencil in her hands, she made her way to the Wholesale Market. Knowing that purchasing supplies only from grocery stores wouldn't be enough and too attention taking, she opted for the wholesale market, disguising herself as an common buyer to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. Buying seeds for various fruits and plants, Emma soon realized the necessity of acquiring a vehicle to transport her purchases without raising suspicion.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Renting an old truck from a local company, Emma continued her routine of scouring the city for potential base locations and acquiring supplies. Each day brought her closer to her goal, as she meticulously planned and prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. With each purchase, she felt a renewed sense of determination, fueled by the knowledge that she was taking control of her own destiny in the face of upcoming disaster.

As the week drew to a close, Emma's phone rang, displaying Vivian's name on the caller ID. However, before she could answer, the voice of her brother, Liam, boomed through the line. "Emma Lin!"

With an annoyed and slightly tired sigh, Emma pulled the phone away from her ear until the voice faded into silence. "You have the four hundred thousand ready?" she asked, cutting straight to the point.

“Ummm….” came the hesitant reply from the other end of the line.

Emma's frustration increased, evident in the crease of her brow. She sighed deeply and ended the call. Yet, within moments, the same number appeared on her screen once more, persistent in its pursuit of her attention.

“We've got it. The four hundred thousand. Don’t sell it to anyone else,” Liam's voice declared firmly, a note of urgency underscoring his words.

Emma's smile widened. Her plan was working. "Send that to my bank account. And the house will be yours by tomorrow," she instructed, her tone firm.

“You’re an awful person, Emma, how can you do this to us, your own brother….” Liam's voice trailed off in a useless attempt to guilt her.

By the next morning, Emma's almost empty bank account had been replenished with the promised four hundred thousand from Liam. But that wasn't enough for her. With determination, Emma delved into the world of usury, leveraging the house as collateral to secure additional funds. Soon, her account swelled with even more money, acquired through loans with strict repayment terms.

With a wicked smile, Emma enjoy the thought of using their greed against them. Let them fight over the house, she thought. It would no longer be her concern.

After enlisting the help of a lawyer to handle the legalities with her family, Emma set off once again with the realtor in search of the perfect location for her base. As they walked into the forest, the realtor, a rounded man with eyes that looked like a fox's, and a round belly, spoke up. "Ms. Lin, this is the last house I can find that matches your description…" he trailed off, gesturing toward a house hidden amongst the trees.

Emma's eyes lit up. Yes, this was the house she had been searching for. Perched atop a hill, concealed from society and difficult to find. "I'll take it."

After paying for the house and signing the necessary documents, Emma glanced at her bank account. Half of the money she had acquired through usury was now gone, leaving her with a sense of unease. But soon, that feeling was washed away.

The systematic voice in her mind returned, its tone more cheerful this time. "Congratulations on accomplishing mission one. Reward: storage room space increased by one hundred meters."

Instantly, the dark shadow surrounding the storage room in her mind dissipated, revealing a vast expanse of additional space. Emma couldn't help but smile at the prospect of all the possibilities this new expansion offered.

But the voice wasn't finished yet. "Reward: electronic gate. Reward: top-quality planting soil. Reward: a fresh, ever-flowing water system. Reward: electricity system..."

With each reward announced, Emma's excitement grew.