The second floor was meant for more specialty stores, designed to provide additional goods that would improve the survivors' quality of life.
She added a Bookstore, naming it "Whispers of the Past", which would offer both entertainment and essential survival guides.
In the corner of the second floor, she added a Fitness Store, aptly named "Strength Station", which would carry workout gear and equipment to help survivors maintain their physical strength.
Finally, she added a Toy Store—because even in the apocalypse, children needed joy. She named it "Little Joys", imagining it stocked with books, toys, and small games to keep young minds engaged.
With the design finalized, Qianqian stood back, feeling the weight of the project. The Central Hub would serve as the commercial backbone of the base, providing everything survivors needed to live more comfortably.
Now, the work was about to begin. The building process was quick, the system generating materials, fitting out each shop and each store with efficiency. Qianqian watched as each storefront took form, imagining how it would look when fully stocked.
The mall had taken shape, just as she had envisioned.
The first floor would be bustling with people, carrying out their daily routines, while the second floor would provide an escape, offering things like books and fitness equipment.
Qianqian stepped out of the empty mall and out onto the street,the base was beginning to take shape,but it needed one more thing...a wall.
With a determined breath, she accessed the system once again, summoning the interface to her mind. The map of the base appeared in front of her, its lines and contours laid out in digital form. A large, solid city wall—the first line of defense—needed to encircle the entire base. It would have to be high, thick, and strong enough to keep out the creatures and other potential threats.
The system offered her several options. Some walls were basic, simple barriers that would suffice for a time, while others were reinforced with advanced materials designed to withstand even the most brutal attacks. Qianqian's eyes scanned through the choices.
Option 1: A basic stone wall. Cost: 20,000 points.
While sturdy, it was only a temporary solution, and it wouldn't hold against anything more powerful than a few zombies.
Option 2: A reinforced brick wall, slightly stronger and thicker than the stone wall. Cost: 35,000 points.
This would provide decent protection, but it lacked the durability needed for long-term survival.
Option 3: A high-tech steel wall, incredibly thick and reinforced with automated defense mechanisms. Cost: 50,000 points.
This would be the best option, ensuring the base was secure from all threats—zombies, raiders, and anything else that might come after it.
Without hesitation, Qianqian selected Option 3.
The system confirmed her choice. "50,000 points deducted. High-tech steel wall construction initiated."
As soon as she confirmed, the ground trembled slightly, and she could see the steel wall materializing before her eyes, rising in towering blocks of metal and energy. The sound of machinery hummed in the distance as the wall took shape, a shimmering barrier that stretched out in every direction, completely surrounding her base.
The wall was a sight to behold: sleek and metallic, tall enough to tower over her base's buildings, with sharp edges designed to keep any invaders at bay. It was fortified with layers of steel mesh and advanced technology that would allow it to withstand just about any force. Automated turrets would be placed intermittently, ensuring that there was no blind spot in the wall's defense.
Qianqian ran her hand along the smooth surface of the newly constructed wall, feeling the cool, unyielding strength beneath her fingertips. The structure was solid—unmovable. This was what she needed. The system's work was precise and swift, the final product as flawless as the plan in her mind.
She took a few steps back to admire the wall, mentally marking the areas where she would need to station guards and defensive positions. She wasn't planning to rely solely on the wall. She knew that active defense, vigilance, and preparation were just as important as the structure itself.
Echo's voice rang in her head, soft yet reassuring. "The wall is impressive, Qianqian. No one will get through that easily. You're building something strong here."
Qianqian nodded, looking out at the vast expanse beyond the walls. Her base was now secure, but her work was far from over.
With the city wall now fully erected, Qianqian turned her attention to another crucial aspect of her base: the roads. The wall provided safety and security, but the people living here would need proper pathways to get from one place to another. Without roads, the flow of life within the base would be chaotic, and she couldn't have that.
Qianqian stepped forward, her hand still resting on the steel wall, and activated the system once again. A new set of options appeared in her mind's eye, this time focused on infrastructure. She scrolled through them, considering the needs of her base.
She didn't need anything overly complex—not yet. The roads didn't need to accommodate the kind of traffic you'd find in a bustling city; there were no cars or bustling crowds to move around. Instead, she focused on practicality, ensuring that the roads were functional for foot traffic, supply carts, and whatever vehicles might enter in the future.
The roads she envisioned were simple yet efficient. She selected a sturdy, smooth asphalt road that would withstand wear and tear over time. The system set to work, immediately laying down the first layers, curving through the zones of the base. The roads began to take shape, winding through the different areas and connecting the various sections of her developing community.
Main Road: A wide, clear road that cuts through the center of the base, connecting Zone A (residential) with Zone B (commercial). It's wide enough for any future vehicles to pass through and allows for the flow of foot traffic between the different zones. This road would also connect to the base gate which she was yet to build.
Secondary Roads: Smaller, narrower roads that link the residential zone, the commercial zone, and the hostel. These are designed for pedestrians, with clear markers for walkways and access to all zones. These smaller roads curve around the designated spaces, making the layout neat and easily navigable.
Qianqian stood on the freshly laid road and inspected the paths. She wanted to ensure that everyone could easily get from place to place without confusion. The sidewalks were next. She selected a set of basic, paved sidewalks to line the roads, ensuring that the walkways were smooth, accessible, and wide enough for people to walk side by side. There were no complex intersections or signs for cars yet, but it was a start.
As the roads progressed, Qianqian began to think about the signs. While there wasn't a need for complex traffic signs just yet, there would be a need for simple directional signs to guide the residents and future survivors to key areas.
The signs were basic—nothing too elaborate, just clean markers to keep things organized.
Signs for Zones: Small, sturdy posts with clear text indicating the different zones: "Residential Zone," "Commercial Zone," and "Hostel." Each sign pointed toward the respective areas, ensuring anyone could find their way easily.
Directional Markers: Along the main road, Qianqian had the system place directional signs at every intersection, pointing the way to the key locations. Arrows would indicate the direction toward the Residential Zone, Commercial Zone, and the Hostel.
Small Signboards: She placed smaller, more discreet signs near key points, such as near the mall or warehouse, indicating the specific areas within those zones.
As she made her way around the defense zone, Qianqian noticed a small gap in the construction—a stretch of land that would remain unoccupied for the time being.
It would be part of the defense perimeter, but for now, she couldn't afford to waste space with any buildings or other structures.
She decided to set up a barricade instead. Using the system, she quickly constructed a basic but sturdy barrier around the empty land.
The barricade wasn't too high, just enough to keep people out and ensure that no one accidentally wandered into the restricted zone.
It was simple, consisting of interlocking panels and some basic fencing materials, leaving the land free for potential future use or expansion.
As Qianqian observed the layout of the roads, the sidewalks, the signs, and the barricade, she felt a sense of satisfaction.
The roads were functional and well-planned, guiding the way through the base without unnecessary complexity.
The signs were clear, marking the paths toward all the major zones, and the barricade around the defense area was a temporary measure to keep things in order.
It took her a total of 12,000 points for this
Echo's voice came through her mind, soft but approving. "It looks good, Qianqian. You're really building something solid here."
Qianqian smiled as she headed to the wall,it was time to place a gate.
Considering that the forest was in a round form surrounding the base Qianqian has no option than to pick a side for now,she was running low on points, in future she planned to add three more gates.
As the last piece of the base's security infrastructure, Qianqian knew the gate would need to be both sturdy and easily accessible. She couldn't afford to skimp on this. The gate would not only serve as an entryway but also provide a strong point of defense for the base. After all, she was preparing for the worst, and the last thing she needed was a weak point in her defenses.
Qianqian opened the system's options and reviewed the designs for the gate. A large, imposing structure caught her eye—tall, reinforced, and made of a heavy steel frame.
It cost a total of 5,000 points.
It was exactly what she needed: strong enough to withstand external threats, yet still manageable for day-to-day use.
The gate was tall, towering over the base's walls at around four meters high and three meters wide.
It was designed as a single, central entryway that could easily be opened or closed when necessary.
The width allowed for large vehicles—such as supply trucks or military vehicles, should the need arise—to pass through without difficulty.
Made of reinforced steel and heavy-duty metal panels, the gate was built to last. The steel was coated to prevent rust, and the metal panels were designed with a pattern of small slits for visibility and air circulation.
The frame itself was reinforced with solid steel beams for additional strength.
For added security, the gate featured a double-locking mechanism. The first layer consisted of large steel bolts that would slide into place when the gate was closed.
The second layer was a barbed wire mesh that could be dropped from a series of hooks on the gate's sides, which would make it nearly impossible to breach.
It was designed to give a tactical defense, allowing Qianqian or any trusted person in the base to seal the entrance quickly if needed.
While the gate could be operated manually with the large steel cranks on either side, Qianqian opted for an automated opening system.
A button by the gate would allow it to open and close with ease, though in the event of a power failure or emergency, the manual operation could still be used.
The system provided enough redundancy to ensure it wouldn't fail when it was most needed.
On either side of the gate, Qianqian had the system build small guard towers, positioned high enough for visibility.
Each tower had a small platform with a metal railing for safety, a basic watch post that would allow guards to oversee anyone approaching the gate.
The towers were equipped with spotlights to ensure visibility at night, making it easier for anyone on watch to spot intruders.
On either side of the gate, Qianqian had the system build small guard towers, positioned high enough for visibility.
Leading up to the gate was a wide asphalt road, the same one Qianqian had just laid down. On either side of the gate, the fence would continue, becoming part of the security perimeter.
The fence itself was high, solid, and impenetrable, interwoven with reinforced steel wires. A small security booth was also built on the right side of the gate for anyone on guard duty, ensuring they could monitor and control access to the base at all times.
Qianqian knew that while the gate needed to be imposing, it also had to be practical.
The automated feature allowed her to open or close the gate without too much effort, but in the event of a siege or an emergency, the manual locks and the barbed wire provided added security.
No one would be able to just waltz in uninvited. Moreover, the guard towers gave her personnel a vantage point, making sure that they could spot anyone coming from a distance.