The three of them quickly moved to the study, a room with no windows and sturdy walls. Lin Xiao grabbed some blankets and duct tape to cover any potential gaps where light might filter in.
As he worked, his mind kept returning to the horrifying scene on the TV and the explosion of the reporter. There had to be a connection to the supernatural events they were witnessing.
"Xiao Xiao, do you think this is related to the red moons?" Mother Lin asked, her voice trembling.
"It has to be," Lin Xiao replied. "Whatever's happening, it's affecting the whole world. We need to be prepared for anything."
Once the study was secure, Lin Xiao sat down with his mother and sister. Xiao Bai and Lil'blackie, sensing the tension, curled up close to him, offering some comfort.
Lin Xiao knew he had to stay strong for his family, even though he felt just as scared and uncertain.
Lin Xiao opened the system store and scanned through its contents. He saw that every piece of food cost 1 coin.
With his current balance of 200 coins, he started calculating how long his family could survive if they needed to rely solely on the system's resources.
He started doing the calculations, There were 3 people, him, his mother, and his sister. Assuming every person eats 3 meals per day. That would mean his current balance would allow his family to survive for roughly 22 days if they ate three meals a day solely from the system store.
Lin Xiao realized that this was not a sustainable long-term solution. He needed to earn more coins to ensure they could survive if the situation worsened.
"22 days," he murmured to himself. "That's not nearly enough if this situation lasts longer. I need to find a way to earn more coins."
Lin Xiao knew he had to take action to ensure their survival. He couldn't rely solely on the system store. He needed to find ways to earn more coins and possibly find other resources just in case.
"Maybe completing games just like before can earn me more coins," he thought, looking at the system interface again.
Lin Xiao remembered how completing games in the system had earned him coins before. "Maybe completing games just like before can earn me more coins," he thought, looking at the system interface again.
He navigated to the game section and started browsing the available games. This week's free game was already completed, so he needed to buy another one.
Here were the top recommendations:
1. "Mystic Maze" (Purchase for 100 coins)
Description: Navigate through an enchanted maze filled with puzzles and magical creatures.
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Coins Rewarded: 150 coins
2. "Dragon Slayer" (Purchase for 100 coins)
Description: Battle dragons and save the kingdom in this action-packed adventure.
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Coins Rewarded: 200 coins
3. "Haunted Village Escape" (Purchase for 100 coins)
Description: Escape from a haunted village filled with ghosts, monsters, and dark secrets. Solve puzzles and avoid dangers to find your way out.
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Coins Rewarded: 300 coins
4. "Sky Pirates" (Purchase for 100 coins)
Description: Command a skyship and fend off pirates in high-flying aerial combat.
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Coins Rewarded: 250 coins
5. "Treasure Hunt" (Purchase for 100 coins)
Description: Embark on a quest to find hidden treasures scattered across dangerous terrains.
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Coins Rewarded: 180 coins
Lin Xiao hesitated a little, weighing his options. The "Haunted Village Escape" game had the highest coin reward, which was what he needed most right now. Despite its high difficulty, he decided to choose it.
"Alright, 'Haunted Village Escape' it is," he said, selecting the game.
He then told his mother he needed to go to the washroom and would be back soon.
Rushing into the washroom, Lin Xiao selected 'play game.' A VR headset materialized in front of him, and Lin Xiao put it on, immersing himself in the game's world.
The game began with character customization. Lin Xiao noticed that his previous character was on a timeout and unavailable. He explored the preset section, which had three options:
1. Blood Mage
Appearance: A tall, pale figure with crimson eyes and flowing black robes adorned with red runes. Their hands constantly drip with a glowing red liquid, and they carry a ceremonial dagger.
Abilities: Blood Magic (can manipulate blood to create weapons, heal, or bind enemies), Enhanced Strength, Lockpicking, Gun Mastery.
Cost: 200 coins
2. Necromancer
Appearance: A gaunt figure with dark circles under their eyes, clad in tattered robes and carrying a staff with a skull on top. Their skin has a slight greenish hue, and they have a haunted look.
Abilities: Necromancy (can summon and control undead minions, drain life energy from enemies), Shadow Step (teleport short distances), Lockpicking, Gun Mastery.
Cost: 350 coins
3. Ghost Hunter
Appearance: A rugged, battle-hardened figure with short, spiky hair and a scar across one eye. They wear a leather jacket and cargo pants, equipped with various ghost-hunting gadgets and a crossbow.
Abilities: Ghost Detection (can sense and track supernatural entities), Exorcism (can banish weaker spirits), Enhanced Agility, Lockpicking, Gun Mastery.
Cost: 50 coins
Lin Xiao sighed, knowing he couldn't afford the Necromancer or Blood Mage presets. He selected the Ghost Hunter preset for 50 coins, and the game began to load his character.
As the game world materialized around him, Lin Xiao found himself standing at the edge of a foggy, desolate village.
The background music was eerie, and the distant sounds of ghostly whispers sent shivers down his spine.
His character was equipped with a crossbow slung across his back, a pouch of ghost-hunting gadgets at his waist, and a lockpick set.
Main Objective: Escape the haunted village by solving puzzles and avoiding supernatural dangers.
Lin Xiao took a deep breath.
This game wasn't just for fun; it was a crucial step in ensuring his family's safety. He had to stay focused and alert.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered, stepping into the village.
The village was eerily quiet, with old, abandoned houses lining the narrow streets. As he moved cautiously forward, he noticed flickering lights and heard distant, ghostly whispers.