Page 21
Dawn brought a damp chill that penetrated the bus's armor, but Jhon, snuggled in his sleeping bag, felt no impact. The low, steady hum of the engine, which he kept running to keep the heat at a minimum and the systems active, was a familiar lullaby. When he woke, the sky was still gray, with the first streaks of light barely peeking over the horizon. The smell of dew and wet earth was strong.
Jhon stood up, his movements efficient and unhurried. He glanced at his HUD. The new pan, now a "Rare" item, was ready to be used again. His mind was already focused on the day ahead and, above all, on the hunt for badges. He needed more Stage 1 badges to upgrade the rest of his bus and then begin hunting for Stage 2 badges to take it to the next level.
"Loli, what Level 1 badges do I need to upgrade the entire car and how many do I need?" Jhon asked, wanting a full inventory of the requirements.
"Okay, John! Let's review your current Level 1 Badge requirements for the bus," Loli replied, her voice organized and informative. "Your Engine and Armor are already at Max Level 1, which is excellent! For the rest of the vehicle, you'll need the following Level 1 Badges, one for each part:
Level 1 Badge (Wheels): To improve tire grip and durability.
Level 1 Badge (Gearbox): To optimize transmission and acceleration.
Level 1 Badge (Glass): Improves the strength and visibility of windows.
Level 1 Badge (Body): Refers to the general structure of the bus, increasing its robustness against impacts and scratches.
Level 1 Badge (Fuel Tank): This increases the fuel storage capacity of the bus's main tank.
Level 1 (Interior) Badge: To begin adding comforts like air conditioning, heating, radio, and other interior systems.
In total, you need 6 Level 1 Badges to get all your bus parts to Max Level 1. Remember, once all parts are at Max Level 1, you can choose the next vehicle modification, like turning it into a full-fledged mobile home, for example. And only then can you start pursuing Level 2 Badges to take the next big leap in your vehicle's evolution!
Jhon absorbed the information. Six Level 1 badges. A clear and tangible objective. The idea of an upgraded interior, with air conditioning, heating, and a radio, was a glimpse of comfort in a hostile world. And the possibility of transforming the bus into a mobile home... that would be the ultimate fortress and base of operations. The journey to find all these badges would be long, but he was prepared.
He started the bus's engine. The familiar roar filled the cabin. The hunt for badges and upgrades was about to begin. The wild world awaited, and Jhon was ready to face it.
Page 22
The morning sun, a pale, indifferent disk, struggled to break through the dry haze that hung over the newly transformed landscape. Gone was the softness of the verdant hills. Now, the land stretched out in an arid vastness, a cracked, parched ground that exuded a growing heat. Skeletal trees, their branches twisted like the world's pain, dotted the horizon, a few of them still sporting withered, gray leaves. The air was heavy, smelling of dust and metal, a portent of the approaching intense heat. Yet the asphalt road, a dark, flawless ribbon, snaked ahead, perfectly smooth and unbroken, as if oblivious to the desolation that surrounded it.
Jhon, even with the growing tension in the air, maintained his routine. Discipline was his anchor, a non-negotiable daily ritual. He prepared breakfast. The Multi-Function Pot (Rare) sizzled gently over the makeshift stove, releasing the aroma of small creature meat he cut with his sharp Survival Knives (Uncommon). He added some of the dehydrated meats for more substance, a robust black coffee he sipped from a metal mug, the warmth of the beverage a small comfort. He ate slowly, savoring every bite, knowing that in battle, meals would be a luxury.
"Loli, the scenery has changed drastically," Jhon thought, his eyes scanning the skeletal trees outside the window. "These dry branches might be useful. We can multiply them to make a fire at night, right?"
"Of course, John! Great observation!" Loli replied, her voice bright. "These Dry Twigs (Common) are an excellent source of fuel. You can use your skill to multiply them by 50, ensuring a plentiful supply for campfires. Building a campfire not only provides warmth, which will be crucial in these new, more arid, and colder areas at night, but it can also keep some more light-sensitive creatures at bay. Plus, smoke can be a sign, good or bad, depending on who sees it."
Jhon finished his meal in silence. Dry branches for fires. That was useful. The bus was a fortress, but a safe night's camp outside, warmed by the fire, would bring a sense of normalcy.
He looked at the system, and God's voice echoed in his mind, a deep, reverberating sound, punctuated by a laugh at the end.
"Congratulations, survivors! You've survived the first 24 hours! But the game is just beginning! In 7 days, the next survival test will begin! Intense heat will sweep across this world, reaching 70 degrees in the shade and 80 degrees in the sun, with a wind chill of 90 degrees! But don't worry, the increase will be gradual over these 7 days. After this period of extreme heat, you will have a short 48-hour rest. After that, the next event will be even more... interesting! Be prepared! Every 7 days, there will be natural disasters or extreme weather! Good luck to everyone! HAHAHAHAHA!"
God's voice faded, and Loli, with a deeper tone, filled the void.
"John, this is worrying news. Such intense heat will require adaptations. And about the world... the data has been updated," Loli said, projecting numbers on the HUD. "There are 189 trillion survivors in this world, and 9 trillion already perished last night. Of Earth's humans, there are 3 billion survivors left, and 500 million are already gone."
Jhon processed the information. The scale of the catastrophe was incomprehensible, but the message was clear: survival was a rare privilege.