Activate

When Chen Mo checked the last number of his mobile phone for the third time, the induction light in the elevator room suddenly went out. His hand froze in midair with his takeout bag, the musty smell of old apartment buildings mixed with the pungent smell of crayfish in the dark.

"Resident 0972, your delivery has arrived." He raised his voice and there was a strange echo in the hallway. The phone's screen lights up at this point, the blue light reflecting the dark red rust on the security door, the mottled marks suddenly twisted into some kind of hieroglyphics.

"Life forms that meet the criteria have been detected, and the Doomsday survival system is activating."

A cold mechanical sound exploded inside his skull, and Chen Mo staggered to hold the wall. Translucent panels appear on the retina, and a scarlet countdown pulsates in the upper right corner: 71:59:23.

"Are you kidding me......" He fumbled for a customer number when the window at the end of the corridor burst. Shards of glass grazed our cheeks, a fishy wind blew in, and car alarms sounded in the distance.

"Novice Quest: Complete current delivery (time remaining 02:59)"

"Bonus: Base Survival Points x 50"

"Punishment: Obliteration"

In the lower right corner of the panel pops up the inventory bar, in which lies a lone silver metal box. When Chen Mo's eyes are focused, the description text automatically appears: [Cognitive Jammer (trial installation) can block low-level monitoring equipment].

The sound of hurried footsteps came from downstairs, and he grabbed the jammer and jerked it. Three figures in riot gear rushed up the stairs with assault rifles, but headed straight for the roof as if they had not seen him. Chen Mo stuck to the wall to move to 0972 in front of the door, found the liquid oozing from the door in the mobile phone light with strange blue.

"Mr. Wang? Your takeaway......" The rusty hinges screeched as he tried to push the door open. In the entryway lies a headless body, cut up like a laser, and an electronic clock on the wall displays a red number that stops forever at 23:59.

The phone suddenly vibrates and a new message comes from an unknown number: "Leave your stuff at the door and leave immediately."

"Mission completed, Survival Points have been awarded"

"Unlock Basic Skills: Crisis Sensing (Passive)"

"The next phase of the mission will be released in six hours."

When Chen Mo turned and ran, the lights of the entire apartment went out at the same time. Behind him was the dull thud of a heavy fall, and something was moving rapidly down the air ducts. The moment he rushed into the elevator, the metal car creaked with heavy pressure, and the crackle of breaking cables was heard overhead with the growl of an animal.

Street lights burst one after another, Chen Mo fumbled in the dark with the battery car key. The rearview mirror suddenly glowed with blood, and he turned to see a woman in a white coat standing in a window on the seventh floor, her work badge glowing in the moonlight - the name of the delivery order he had just delivered