Chapter 1: Apocalyptic Game.

City S.

Strolling down the street with his hands tucked into his pockets was Hubert Wang. He was twenty years old, but at first glance, he appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen due to his round face, chubby cheeks, and large eyes, which seemed to shave off a few years. Knowing his advantage, he had started his career as a streamer at sixteen, and it had been four years since then.

A devoted gamer, particularly of virtual reality games, Hubert had tried and live-streamed his experiences with all sorts of fun. Over time, he had run out of new games to explore and had played just about every game. Lately, he had been feeling down due to the lack of new games to review for his fans, so he had decided to take a walk outside and get some fresh air while he waited for new games to be released.

Suddenly, he spotted a man dressed in black from head to toe, with hair covering his eyes, holding a sign that caught his attention:

“Virtual Reality Game - Zombie Apocalypse.”

Having played countless types of virtual reality games, from heroic adventures to schoolgirl dramas, Hubert had never tried this genre and was intrigued.

“Hey, are you selling a zombie game?” he asked.

The man nodded and replied: “It’s my only one.”

“No one’s bought it yet?”

“Because it’s a realistic simulation set in the apocalypse of two thousand years ago, anyone asked about it has been too scared to play.”

A chill ran down Hubert’s spine. He had heard plenty about the apocalypse of two thousand years ago, and it was often recreated on television. He knew better than anyone else because his distant ancestors had survived that era, had found a glimmer of hope amidst the death and devastation, and had brought humanity out of darkness and into a brighter world. The apocalypse was still a haunting memory for all of humanity, a fear that ran deep and crept into their dreams, with the two suns blazing in the sky and zombies roaming like endless hordes. Hubert was not immune to this fear, but curiosity was more remarkable in his case - what was the apocalypse like two thousand years ago? He wanted to know.

“Alright, I’ll buy it.”

“Two J coins.”

The game disc was incredibly cheap compared to others he had purchased, so he handed over three J coins as a tip. The currency system has considerably changed over the past two thousand years. It was 4200, over a century after the apocalypse and two thousand years of reconstruction. The smallest denomination was the F coin, a hundred of which equaled one J coin, and a hundred J coins equaled one Z coin. Holding the game disc, Hubert immediately rushed home. He was curious about the game, so as soon as he got to his room, he turned on his gaming system and inserted the disc. In less than five minutes, everything around him suddenly brightened, and a voice reminiscent of Go*gle Translate echoed.

“Welcome to the 2060 Apocalypse Simulation Game. From this moment, you have entered this world. Thirty-six billion people in this world will play with you. The game ends when you open a new world and leave the apocalypse behind.

Hubert, please choose your buff.”

Hubert was dumbfounded. Was this still a game? Thirty-six billion people were playing it. What on earth was going on?

“So, the actual world will face a real apocalypse, and out of thirty-six billion people, only ten billion won’t turn into zombies, and out of those ten billion, only one billion will have special abilities. Hubert, you are the one who opened the gates to the apocalypse, so only you receive the game’s buff. After receiving the buff, you will have a unique way of increasing your power, stronger than others.”

“Wait, does that mean the apocalypse is my fault?”

“Please don’t think like that, Master Hubert. An apocalypse is sure to occur once every few thousand years because humanity’s excessive destruction has weakened Earth, causing a side effect that turns humans into zombies. Only by destruction and reconstruction can Earth live again. The mission to save Earth, I’ll leave it to you.”

Hubert was still in a state of confusion. Was it, not his fault?

“Please choose your buff, Master Hubert:

Single Crystal. Fast cultivation, an absolute power of a single crystal.

Seven Crystals. Much slower cultivation, weak initially, versatile force.

After choosing your buff, your physical constitution will remain unchangeable, but your cultivation speed will be much faster than average.”

Being a seasoned gamer who had played countless games, Hubert would naturally not choose an ordinary buff like the first one, so he decisively selected the second one.

“Go with the second buff.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Go*gle Translate rang out again.

“Buff selection completed. Congratulations to player Hubert on a successful game entry. The apocalypse will begin on June 15th after the solar eclipse ends, so please prepare carefully. The game developer sends Master Hubert a hundred square meters of space, and every time you level up, you will unlock an additional hundred square meters. Make use of the freedom to store supplies.

Furthermore, the game developer has scanned Master Hubert’s physical constitution. Since you have Yin attributes, the best results can be achieved using a cultivation method that supplements Yin with Yang.”

What? How does one supplement Yin with Yang?

“Since Master Hubert has a Yin physical constitution, the fastest way to level up is to make friends with many different ability users, people with superior energy to act as conduits for leveling up. If those different ability users are male, it’s even more advantageous because men always carry Yang’s physical attributes. The combination of Yin and Yang will yield the best results.”

“Isn’t this a bit evil? Isn’t this like absorbing vitality!”

How could he possibly do something so sinister? Although he wanted to become powerful quickly, he couldn’t just disregard people’s lives!

“Rest assured, Master Hubert, the other party will not be harmed, and this is a ‘shortcut’ cultivation method. If you don’t use it, it’s outstanding, as it’s a bonus given by the game developers to you, the one who opened the game. The game developers also unlock your Yin physical constitution specifically to aid in your cultivation. When cultivating, place your hands onto the hands of the other party to transmit energy.”

Hubert nodded. Anything would be better than nothing. This was a supplementary cultivation method so that it could be used or not. Either way was acceptable.

“Congratulations, young master Hubert Wang, for logging into our apocalypse simulation game ‘Doomsday 2060’. From now on, the system will always be by your side, supporting you in saving the world. We wish Master Hubert to shine brightly and open the doors of survival to the world soon. The system needs to rest and recharge now and will return to assist you when the apocalypse begins. Goodbye!”

Afterward, the white light disappeared, and Hubert’s room returned to normal. He opened the window to look out, and everything was as usual, so he could hardly believe what he had just heard was real. But after checking himself and finding he could summon the space, he knew everything was true.

Hubert waited until the evening when Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang came home, and then he ran downstairs to tell them everything, replacing the part where he bought the game disc himself with a dream from the Wang family ancestor.

He also summoned the space, causing the atmosphere in the house to drop instantly. The fear of the 2060 apocalypse was still fresh, and it was coming back too soon to prepare.

.….

Hubert was rolling on his bed, tossing and turning but still feeling bored. Mr. Wang and his two brothers took care of the task of gathering supplies while he wanted to do something but was unable to. The news of the apocalypse had already spread across the country. Because Edward Wang - Hubert’s father - was the Minister of Defense, people trusted his words without a shadow of a doubt.

Hubert checked his space, which was already filled with enough food, clothes, and necessary tools, while Mr. Wang took care of things like weapons. The fact that he had a supportive space was known only to his family and was not disclosed outside. Hubert thought he also did not tell the cultivation method of absorbing energy, nor did he reveal that he could cultivate, so he was always seen as a child needing protection. But he had a younger brother and a sister below him, so why did they still pamper him so much?

“Hubert, come down for breakfast.”

“No, I’m not hungry.”

The one who just called was his eldest brother, Theodore Wang. The door was not closed, so when he looked out, he saw his serious-looking brother looking at him. This person was always the strictest with him and had disciplined him many times. He was also the one Hubert hated the most but felt the most sorry for. Theodore was the eldest son of the family. Naturally, he had to study hard and hone himself, the one predetermined to replace Edward’s position as Minister. He was twenty-seven this year, holding the position of Deputy Minister, with the power of being under one person and above thousands in the military. To reach the situation he is in today, Theodore had no leisure time, no time for playing or looking for a girlfriend, and he was a golden bachelor that any girl would want to share a bed with.

“The apocalypse is coming, and you need to nourish yourself well. Who will protect you when the apocalypse happens?”

“I can protect myself.”

“Just with the space you have?”

Hubert didn’t want to argue with this man. Theodore had always opposed him, so he defiantly pulled the blanket over his head to avoid listening.

After a lengthy silence, assuming Theodore had left, Hubert emerged from the blanket, only to find him still there, staring intensely at him.

“Why are you still here?”

“Hubert...”

Theodore’s voice seemed softer than usual, carrying an indefinable hint of frailty.

“You have a safe zone and thus can’t become a zombie. But, we don’t know who in the house could turn. Who... who will protect you when the apocalypse strikes? Who can shield you?”

“I’ve told you I can handle myself.”

Hubert sprang from the bed, pushing Theodore back with both hands, intending to drive him out and close the door for some peace. Yet, Theodore was immovable, capturing Hubert’s hand with his own. Was he planning on punishing him by making him kneel again? No twenty-year-old should have to kneel!

“Hubert, what will you do if I become a zombie?”

Taken aback by the sudden question, Hubert was momentarily speechless. If Theodore turned into a zombie, would he kill him, or would someone else in the house take him down? If Hubert were the only non-zombie in the family, what would he do?

However, this was a pointless question. Research indicated that the descendants of those with special powers would not turn into zombies during an apocalypse. His ancestors were such people, so his family wouldn’t become zombies. Theodore’s words were meaningless. But Theodore continued:

“For twenty-seven years, I’ve never lived for myself. But, Hubert, you can. So, you must give it your all...”

“You always say the same thing, and I don’t want to hear it! Besides, how can the Wang family become zombies? Even if you’re crazy, try not to be too delusional!”

Fed up, Hubert pushed past Theodore and left.

“Where are you going?”

Theodore swiftly grabbed Hubert’s arm, his dark eyes inscrutable.

“You always underestimate me. Just leave me alone!”

With a swift motion, Hubert broke free and ran off, oblivious to Theodore’s hurt expression.

Theodore understood all of Hubert’s words, but they weren’t biological brothers, and Theodore wasn’t a true descendant of the Wang family. His adoption was a secret known only to a few close military friends and his adoptive parents, kept hidden to protect his career.

Theodore’s biological parents used to work in a national scientific research institute and had entrusted him to their superior, Edward Wang, due to their busy schedules.

Then disaster struck: the institute was bombed by enemies, and Theodore’s parents were killed. Finally, Edward Wang adopted him, and from then on, his surname was changed to Wang. So, his real name is Raymond Joshua, not Wang.

If possible, after the apocalypse, if he doesn’t become a zombie, he’ll reveal everything to Hubert, telling him how much he values him. Saying that he genuinely loves his younger brother like siblings, not just the cold exterior.