While the rest area upgraded, Thomas opened the Zone Chat. I have an extra pistol and vest. Might as well see if I can trade them for something useful.
The chat buzzed with activity. The survivor count had dwindled further, down to 968. Desperate pleas for weapons and armor filled the channel.
5 instant ramen for any weapon! Melee preferred! DM me!
Trading a firearm for two keys. DM if interested.
Anyone have medical supplies? Bleeding out! Please help!
Crowbar [image] for abandoned factory key. DM me.
Need food and water! Starving and dehydrated! HP dropping! Help!
Thomas's eyes landed on a particular message. He initiated a private conversation.
Thomas: What keys do you have?
Ben Walker: You have a firearm? I have keys to Apartment 15 and the Crimson Cabaret. Unused! [image]
Thomas's heart leaped. An Apartment 15 key! He already had two for that building. What a coincidence.
Thomas: I have a pistol. [image] But two keys aren't enough.
Ben Walker: Whoa, you're a god! How'd you get a pistol with a full mag already? [shocked emoji]
Ben Walker: Okay, two keys might not be enough. I only have some food and water left. How about I throw in some valuable information?
Thomas: What kind of information? You're not scamming me, are you?
Ben Walker: No way! It's classified info. Only a few people in the real world knew about it. I found out by chance. Deal?
Thomas: ??? If it's so valuable, why trade it so easily?
Ben Walker: Come on, a gun is worth more than anything right now. Besides, everyone will know this after the first Apocalypse Event. Telling you now doesn't hurt me. But at least for now, very few people know.
Thomas frowned. Classified information? He doesn't seem to be lying.
Thomas: Fine. Two keys and the information. Don't screw me over.
Ben Walker: Haha, no worries! You won't regret it.
Thomas traded the pistol and a magazine for the two keys. Ben Walker's message arrived:
Ben Walker: Try to collect as many graphics cards as you can. After the first Apocalypse Event, our game version will merge with the veteran players' version. Graphics cards will be crucial for obtaining Disaster Coins, the rare currency of the Apocalypse World.
Graphics cards? Disaster Coins? Two new terms. What were they for? The merger with the veteran players' version caught his attention.
Thomas: You mean our zone is only for new players?
Ben Walker: Exactly! Until the first event, it's just us newbies. The difficulty is set to easy mode. After the first event, we merge with the veteran players and the other races. The difficulty ramps up significantly.
Thomas understood. They were in the newbie zone. The veterans were in the main game. After the first event, the servers would merge. He could only imagine how much harder survival would become, facing not only harsher environments but also experienced players and otherworldly foes.
He glanced at the monitoring station. He needed every advantage he could get. He was glad he'd made the trade. This information was invaluable.
Acting on the tip, he went to the monitoring station and began dismantling the computers. They were mostly wrecked, yielding only a few salvaged components:
CPU fan x1
RAM stick x1
Power supply unit x1
Power cable x1
Not much, but he collected them anyway. Electronic components might be useful later.
He looked at his shelter door, then posted two messages in Zone Chat:
Damascus steel knife [image] for reinforced lock + any key. DM me!
Level 2 body armor [image] for shelter upgrade materials. DM me!
The chat exploded.
Another knife for trade! So many people with weapons! Is he trying to upgrade his door already?
He's trading a Level 2 vest too! Did he kill refugees already?
This guy's a pro! Any tips on getting weapons? Please share!
Refugees were considered near-invincible at this stage. Most of the afternoon's deaths were at their hands. No wonder everyone was shocked.
Please carry me,Pro! Need a sidekick?
I don't have a lock, but I have 3 instant ramen. Trade?
His private messages blew up with trade offers, mostly food or other basic resources for the weapons. He ignored them. Some offers were tempting, but he needed that reinforced lock.
Then, a message caught his eye:
I can trade a reinforced lock and a tactical sight [image] for the knife.
A tactical sight! Thomas sat up straight, opening the image.
DP Reflex Compact Sight
Effect: Increases aiming accuracy. +25% accuracy for long-range shots.
Magnification: 1x
Compatible with: Submachine guns, assault rifles
Perfect! It would work on both his firearms. He quickly finalized the trade, exchanging the knife for the lock and the sight.
He grabbed the lock and tape measure, heading to his shelter door.
Shelter Security Door
Effect: Prevents animal intrusion.
Note: Yes, it only stops animals.
Next Stage: Shelter Security Reinforced Door Level 1
Requirements: 25000 Apocalypse Coins, Reinforced Lock x1, Tape Measure x1
Upgrade Time: 30 minutes
Upgrade available. Proceed with upgrade?
"Yes!"
The door began upgrading, consuming his remaining Apocalypse Coins. Just then, the rest area finished its upgrade. The flimsy cot had transformed, now sporting a thick blanket and a wooden frame.
Rest Area (Level 1)
Effect: 6 hours of sleep restores 80% Stamina, consumes 30% Hunger, 20% Thirst. Provides warmth. 10% chance to negate negative status effects.
Note: Not bad. Actually sleepable.
Next Stage: Cozy Rest Area (Level 2)
Requirements: Ventilation Level 1, Bathroom Level 1, 20,000 Apocalypse Coins, Energy-Saving Lightbulb x1, Energy Cell x1
Upgrade Time: 1 hour
Current resources insufficient for upgrade.
He noticed a new "Crafting" button below the rest area description. He opened it, revealing a list of craftable items:
Blanket (Single): Requires Wool x10, Twine x2
Quilt (Single): Requires Cotton x15, Needle and Thread x1
Mattress (Single): Requires Palm Fiber x3, Rubber x1
Pillow: Requires Cotton x2, Polyester x2
A full set of bedding. Too bad he didn't have the resources or the time to craft them right now.
He collapsed onto the upgraded cot, exhaustion claiming him. Day one had been eventful, to say the least.
He woke the next morning, bladder full. After relieving himself, he was fully awake, his mind turning to the day's plan. He opened the Super Monopoly plugin.
The map appeared, his daily dice roll replenished.
Roll the die?
He rubbed his hands together. Fingers crossed.
"Yes!"
The die tumbled, landing on:
4
His miniature self hopped across the map, stopping on a square bathed in red light.
Purchase Crimson Cabaret for 150 points?
Crimson Cabaret? The name sounded familiar. He checked his inventory, his eyes landing on the keys. He had five: Apartment 15 (main door, room 715, room 807), Subway Locker 45, and…Crimson Cabaret.
No way.
He pulled out the Crimson Cabaret key, comparing it to the icon on the Super Monopoly screen. It was a match.
"Yes!"
A new 3D map materialized in his mind – the Crimson Cabaret. He grinned. His luck was turning. A key he'd acquired as a throw-in during a trade was now his ticket to a new location.
His destination was set. But first, a few things to check. He frowned at his point total: 153. That didn't add up. He'd started with 500, spent 250 on the station, and 150 on the cabaret. He should have 100 left. Where did the extra 53 come from?
He checked the system log. He'd forgotten about investment returns! A message had appeared at 5 AM while he was asleep:
Day 2 Apocalypse Game Super Monopoly Investment Summary: Subway Garden Station generated 53 points.
He looked at the Crimson Cabaret icon. So, each property generated daily income. With two properties, his income would double tomorrow! A pleasant surprise.
He checked the shelter door. The upgrade was complete.
Shelter Reinforced Door (Level 1)
Effect: Thick steel and a reinforced lock protect against most intrusions.
Note: A reinforced door. Your first step towards true security.
Next Stage: Shelter Alloy Door (Level 2)
Requirements: Ventilation Level 1, Bathroom Level 1, 50,000 Apocalypse Coins, Alloy Steel x2, Glass x1, Expanding Foam x1
Upgrade Time: 1 hour
Current resources insufficient for upgrade.
Good. No need to worry about the door for now. A key to the reinforced door appeared in his inventory.
He'd also received numerous trade offers for the Level 2 vest. He chose the best one, exchanging the vest for 2 energy cells and a can of expanding foam – all useful shelter upgrade materials.
With his shelter affairs in order, he ate and drank, replenishing his energy. Then he geared up for his expedition to the Crimson Cabaret. His loadout was impressive:
Primary Weapon: PM submachine gun (3 magazines, 90 rounds, with tactical sight)
Secondary Weapon: PL-15 pistol (16 rounds)
Melee Weapon: 6H5 bayonet
Throwable Weapon: F-1 fragmentation grenades x5
Armor: Level 2 body armor
Backpack: 20-slot backpack, 16-slot chest rig
Medical Supplies: Sterile bandages x6, Golden Star Balm x1
He surveyed his gear with satisfaction. Lack of skill? Compensate with superior firepower. As long as he was careful, he could reach the cabaret undetected. And once there, his mental map would give him the ultimate advantage. He'd show them what a true ambush looked like.