Xiang Yue woke up to the smell of smoke and the sound of distant screams. The sky was a dull gray, a mixture of ash and storm clouds blotting out the sun. She blinked, her small hands gripping the cold ground beneath her—broken tiles and dirt. Around her, the ruins of a once-bustling city stretched endlessly, twisted metal and shattered glass gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Her head throbbed. Her thoughts were scattered. Who am I? The question lingered, unanswered, as she slowly sat up. She looked down at herself—a petite figure, clad in a tattered dress. Her bare feet were covered in dirt, yet she felt no pain.
Before she could gather her bearings, a voice echoed in her mind, clear and mechanical.
"Initializing Resort Genesis System… Welcome, Administrator Xiang Yue. Mission: Establish humanity's first sanctuary. Objective: Secure Energy Cores to unlock functions."
Her brow furrowed. "Resort Genesis? Administrator? What are you talking about?" Her voice was soft, melodic—childlike—but carried an inexplicable weight.
The system continued, ignoring her confusion.
"Starting package granted. Scanning immediate surroundings for threats."
A flickering blue screen materialized in front of her, showing a map of the area. Red dots appeared, clustered alarmingly close. The screen zoomed in on one of the dots, revealing a grotesque creature—a four-legged beast with jagged, bone-like protrusions and glowing red eyes.
"Low-tier Rift Beast detected. Threat level: manageable. Suggestion: Test Administrator's combat abilities."
Before Xiang Yue could process the situation, a deep growl resonated behind her. She turned, her wide eyes locking onto a creature exactly like the one on the screen. It crouched low, saliva dripping from its fanged mouth.
Instinctively, she raised her hand. Energy surged through her body, as natural as breathing. A swirling ball of fire materialized in her palm, illuminating the beast's hideous form. Her eyes narrowed. "Stay back."
The creature lunged. Xiang Yue reacted without thinking. She hurled the fireball, watching as it streaked through the air and exploded on impact. The beast let out a piercing shriek before disintegrating into ash.
"Kill confirmed. Energy Core extracted."
A small, glowing orb hovered in the air where the beast had been. Xiang Yue reached out hesitantly. The moment her fingers touched it, warmth spread through her body.
"Core absorbed. Current Energy Points: 10. Use points to activate Resort Genesis Base."
The ground beneath her trembled. A small holographic screen appeared, displaying an option: "Build First Resort?" Below it, a warning read: Requires 10 Energy Points. Proceed?
Xiang Yue hesitated, but the distant sound of snarls reminded her she didn't have much choice. She pressed the screen with a trembling finger.
The earth beneath her glowed, lines of blue light tracing an intricate pattern. The ruined ground began to shift, transforming into polished white tiles. Walls sprang up from nowhere, forming a dome around her. Lush greenery emerged, along with sparkling pools of water. Within moments, she stood in the middle of a luxurious resort lobby, complete with golden chandeliers and velvet seating.
A soothing chime played, and the system spoke again.
"Base established: Serenity Haven. Status: Safe Zone. All threats neutralized within a 1-kilometer radius."
Xiang Yue sank onto one of the plush chairs, her legs finally giving out. Her heart was pounding, but not from fear—rather, a strange exhilaration.
She glanced at the holographic map again. Red dots still littered the surrounding areas, but they stopped at the glowing blue perimeter of the resort.
A notification popped up.
"Administrator's next task: Expand the resort. Current goal: Secure 50 Energy Points to unlock additional features and expand safe zones."
Xiang Yue exhaled, her gaze hardening. She didn't know who she was or why she had this power, but one thing was clear—this "Resort Genesis" was humanity's best chance at survival. And she was the one holding the key.
The world outside might be a nightmare, but here, in her sanctuary, hope had been reborn.