❄️ Three hours before the apocalypse, I chose infinite food... and everyone laughed at me.
When the world gave me one final choice—infinite food, a golden Desert Eagle, or irresistible charm—I ignored the weapons and picked food.
Then the world froze overnight.
A deadly blizzard turned warm streets into frozen graves. Toxic snow killed anyone who touched it, supplies disappeared within days, and civilization collapsed faster than anyone imagined.
The same people who mocked me for being a broke delivery worker were suddenly starving outside my door while I enjoyed hot pot, steak, and fresh seafood without worrying about my next meal.
My ex left me the moment her life got better. My arrogant neighbor acted like I didn't exist. Now they're all begging me to save them.
But endless food was only the beginning.
Every night at midnight, my mysterious system rewards me with a new ability, making me stronger while the rest of the world struggles to survive.
Sometimes, the smartest choice isn't the strongest weapon—it's the one nobody else understands.
💬 If you only had one choice before the apocalypse, what would you pick: Infinite Food, a powerful weapon, or unmatched charisma?
#AnimeRecap #Apocalypse #ManhwaRecap #Survival #OverpoweredMC
When the world gave me one final choice—infinite food, a golden Desert Eagle, or irresistible charm—I ignored the weapons and picked food.
Then the world froze overnight.
A deadly blizzard turned warm streets into frozen graves. Toxic snow killed anyone who touched it, supplies disappeared within days, and civilization collapsed faster than anyone imagined.
The same people who mocked me for being a broke delivery worker were suddenly starving outside my door while I enjoyed hot pot, steak, and fresh seafood without worrying about my next meal.
My ex left me the moment her life got better. My arrogant neighbor acted like I didn't exist. Now they're all begging me to save them.
But endless food was only the beginning.
Every night at midnight, my mysterious system rewards me with a new ability, making me stronger while the rest of the world struggles to survive.
Sometimes, the smartest choice isn't the strongest weapon—it's the one nobody else understands.
💬 If you only had one choice before the apocalypse, what would you pick: Infinite Food, a powerful weapon, or unmatched charisma?
#AnimeRecap #Apocalypse #ManhwaRecap #Survival #OverpoweredMC
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Before the apocalypse arrived, you're faced with three choices. Which one do you pick?
00:041. An unlimited supply of food and drinks. 2. A golden desert eagle with infinite ammo.
00:093. A can of hairspray that makes you irresistibly gorgeous, until it runs out.
00:13I know in advance, in three hours, the frozen apocalypse will hit.
00:17Human living conditions will deteriorate rapidly. The zombie virus is about to break out.
00:21Order and law will crumble piece by piece. In the apocalypse, food scarcity is the decisive issue.
00:26I choose option 1 without a second thought. Selection confirmed. Host has been granted
00:30unlimited food supply. A rush of excitement surges through me. I think silently. Give me a Coke.
00:35Light on the ice. I'm a little thirsty. In an instant, an ice-cold Coke appears in my hand.
00:40I can barely contain my excitement. This is actually real. Perfect. The apocalypse is coming.
00:44The rules of survival are about to change. Those miserable days. I never have to endure them again.
00:49Time to live differently. Starting today, I eat beef. System. Hit me with 10 more skewers.
00:54I'm chewing through beef skewers. When a message from my girlfriend comes through.
00:58I pass my grad school entrance exam. There are some things I need to clear up. Let's break up.
01:02You know as well as I do. We're not in the same league anymore. You're just a worker making $3
01:06,000
01:06a month. While I'm going to be a grad student, my future is bright. I know this is cruel,
01:11and I know you've been supporting me through these years of studying. But I gave up years of my youth
01:15too. We're even. Don't contact me again. This is where it ends. I stare at those cold clinical
01:20words. A sharp sting hits my chest. Then it fades. I let out a cold laugh. Ha, Luna, you're going
01:26to
01:26regret this. The system chimes again. To ensure hosts' survival, the system will offer daily check-in
01:31rewards at midnight. Options may include weapons, supplies, physical enhancements, and more.
01:36Host may select one reward per day. For the first time, I'm actually looking forward to the apocalypse.
01:41In the old world, I was nobody. In the world that's coming, I'm going to turn everything around.
01:45With that thought, I hop on my electric scooter and head back to my rental. While waiting for
01:49the elevator, a voice dripping with contempt cuts through the air. Hey, worker. Back off,
01:53you reek of sweat. I turn around. It's Sophie in her bank uniform. She's got her hand over her nose,
01:58glaring at me like I'm something she stepped in. Sophie is my neighbor. I'm in 501. She and her
02:02newlywed husband Wade are in 502. They married just a month ago. I caught a glimpse of her in a
02:06white gown
02:07that day. Honestly stunning. An easy 90 out of 100. Looks and figure combined. Far beyond the ex-girlfriend
02:12who just dumped me. Seeing her now, a slow knowing smile creeps across my face. Sophie frowns. Her
02:18patience visibly wearing thin. Keep staring and I'll gouge those eyes out. It's been a long day.
02:23The last thing I need is to be suffocated by someone like you. What rotten luck. Her husband
02:27Wade is a company executive. Together, they fancy themselves society's elite. And look down on workers
02:32like me from the bottom of their hearts. The elevator arrives. I step in. Sophie clearly intends to
02:37wait for the next one. Just before the doors close, I say coolly, if you get hungry, remember to come
02:42find me tonight. The moment the door is shut, Sophie feels a shiver run through her, followed
02:46immediately by a surge of fury. Who does he think he is? Come to him for food? He must be
02:51out of his
02:51mind. Back in my room, I start rummaging through the wardrobe. The frozen apocalypse is almost here.
02:56I need to dig out the down jackets and thick blankets first. A sharp, insistent knock hits the
03:01door. Sophie's voice comes from outside. Hey worker! Explain yourself! What did that mean just now?
03:05Get out here! Don't hide in there saying nothing! I know you're home! Hearing the commotion,
03:09her husband Wade opens the door. Sophie, what's going on? Why are you banging on that worker's door?
03:14Honey, this lowlife had the nerve to hit on me. I want him driven out of this building. So the
03:18punk's asking for it? Don't worry babe, I'll make sure he- Wade doesn't finish the sentence.
03:21He looks up, locks eyes with my cold hard stare, and his bravado deflates on the spot. He's soft
03:26looking. I've done physical labor for years. Solid all over. If it came to blows, the outcome would be
03:31obvious. Wade switches gears instantly, flashing a nervous smile. Haha, you're back? Long day of work,
03:36I bet. Get some rest. What are you backing down for? Did you not see the way he just looked
03:40at me?
03:41Are you actually scared of him? Honey, you've got it wrong. I'm not scared. We're society's elite,
03:45happy and successful. People at his level will always be jealous of us. Remember the fortunate
03:49person's retreat principle? We're the ones who have it good. In situations like this, it's best to just
03:54take a step back. I pulled out every thick blanket I own. I sealed the doors and windows and quietly
03:59wait
03:59for the apocalypse to arrive. That night, a sliver of icy wind sneaks into what was once sweltering air.
04:04The sky begins to release heavy flakes. Then the snow goes berserk, pouring down like a flood.
04:08In just 30 minutes, the temperature plunges from 30 degrees to zero, and it keeps falling. At the
04:13same time, a spark of delight ignites in my chest. Midnight. Today's daily check-to-in rewards are as
04:18follows. 1. 10,000 thermal suits made from special materials, capable of withstanding minus 100 degrees.
04:242. A wireless battery pack compatible with all electronic devices. 3. A 10,000 terabyte flash drive
04:31containing every film, show, and video you could ever want. 4. A cantaloupe so sweet it could give
04:35you diabetes on the spot. After a moment's thought, I pick option one. The temperature is dropping too
04:40fast. Staying warm is the top priority. Seriously though, is the system trying to be funny? Two days
04:45in a row, and the last option is always a joke? The moment my selection is confirmed I focus my
04:50mind,
04:50and a black thermal suit materializes in my hands. The fabric is something else, as soft and breathable
04:55as pure cotton, with the silkiness of cashmere. I pull it on, and my eyes light up. It doesn't just
05:00block the cold, it actively generates heat. Even my face, hands, and feet, fully exposed,
05:05feel nothing of the cold. It feels almost like a spring day. With food and warmth both secured,
05:10I settle by the window and watch the snowfall paint the city silver. Suddenly, a scream erupts
05:14from below. I rush to the window and peer down, and freeze. A young man's face is split open with
05:19a
05:19crack, and every patch of exposed skin on his body is covered in the same fractures. The crowd
05:23around him scatters in a panic. Less than 30 seconds later, the man's eyes go wide, and he
05:28hits the ground, motionless, stone dead, and he's not the only one. Within minutes, more and more
05:33people find the same cracks spreading across their skin. The whole complex erupts into chaos.
05:37I narrow my eyes, studying the victims carefully. Every single one of them had been playing in the
05:41snow. Could the snow be toxic? Cracks appear within 5 minutes of contact, and death follows in under 30
05:47seconds. The question is, can the toxin spread from person to person? I let out a slow, sharp breath.
05:52Brutal. In just this short window of time, over a dozen people below are already gone.
05:57I open my phone. Terms like toxic snow are already dominating the trending searches.
06:01The building group chat has exploded. Is anyone there? Someone save the children.
06:05What is happening to this world? This is just temporary. I know we'll be rescued.
06:09Does anyone have water or food? I'll pay top price. The smart ones can already sense it.
06:13This isn't a disaster that's going to just blow over. The snow has been falling for only an hour,
06:17and it's already half a meter deep, with no sign of letting up.
06:20I check the doors and windows, making sure no snow can drift inside, then lie down with an easy
06:25mind. The next morning at 8 o'clock, I wake up right on time. I walk to the window and
06:29look out,
06:29and can't help but stare. The bodies from last night are completely buried. The drifts have
06:33risen above the first floor. The temperature has dropped to minus 30. The one small mercy the snow
06:38has paused for now. No telling when the next wave will hit. I check the utilities inside.
06:42No surprises there. Water, electricity, and gas are all out. The cold alone is terrifying enough.
06:46Now there's no power on top of it. In this kind of cold, all people can do is bundle up
06:50and down
06:51jackets and tough it out. How many will actually make it? A lot of people are probably going to
06:55freeze to death today. I'm completely unfazed. I'm inside eating hot pot, sipping hot tea,
07:00casually scrolling through the building group chat. After a night of torment, a lot of voices in the
07:03chat have gone silent, poisoned, frozen, hard to say. Only a few scattered distress messages remain,
07:08and no one is answering them. I spend the entire day indoors. Midnight rolls around again.
07:13Time for the next check-in. Today's options. 1. A golden desert eagle with infinite ammo.
07:182. Power level increased by 5. 3. A reclining sled that glides across ice and snow with zero
07:23resistance. 4. A carbonated drink that makes you burp without end. The fourth option continues to
07:28be absolutely ridiculous. I'd love that golden desert eagle, but I go with option 2. Based on
07:33these options, it seems rewards can reappear in future check-ins. No rush then, I can wait and pick it
07:38when it shows up again. As for the power level upgrade, that sounds properly sci-fi. The moment the
07:42selection is confirmed, a surge of raw power floods through my body. I throw a punch at the
07:47solid wood dining table. The corner explodes into splinters. I'm satisfied. The upgrade covers
07:52everything. Strength, precision, every aspect of combat. And that punch? My hand doesn't even hurt.
07:563 more days pass. I still haven't gone outside. The snow outside falls and stops in waves. The
08:01drifts are nearly reaching my window now. And finally, the golden desert eagle shows up in my check-in
08:06again, along with a passive skill that makes every single shot a perfect hit. For the third reward,
08:11I go with the constant heat stove. It's shaped like a lotus flower, small enough to fit in your palm,
08:15glowing with a faint blue light. No charging, no fuel. It runs on its own endless energy. Place
08:20it indoors and it holds the temperature at 26 degrees within a 3 meter radius. The catch?
08:25Walls block the effect. But when you have 10,000 of them, a few scattered around the room does the
08:29perfectly. I can't help but feel a little speechless. Does this thing kind of make my thermal suit
08:33pointless? On the bright side, I can finally take a bath at home. The unlimited food supply I picked
08:37on day one already included hot water so that's covered. My phone still has a sliver of battery.
08:41I see someone in the building chat suggesting people head to the underground parking lot to
08:44trade supplies. Actually a smart idea. The parking lot connects to the outside, but all the entrances
08:48are buried under snow. Every building can access it through the emergency stairwells. Sitting inside
08:53eating all day is getting dull. I decide to head down and take a look. The underground parking lot
08:57is packed. I do a rough count. The whole complex has 15 buildings and over 3,700 residents.
09:02Only about 600 have come down here, which means in just 5 days, the complex is lost.
09:06Though that's not quite the whole picture. The snow started in the dead of night, so most
09:10people never touched it. A lot of families probably still have stockpiles at home, and
09:13don't need to come trade just yet. Phones for bottled water. Cigarettes for instant noodles.
09:18A chicken leg for fever medicine. Most people are bartering for food and water. A few are
09:21desperately trying to get medicine for sick relatives. The sudden temperature drop has
09:25put a lot of people down with colds. Most of the bottled water is frozen solid but it melts
09:28enough to drink if you wait. That's when I spot Wade and Sophie. Laid out in front of them,
09:32gold and silver jewelry. It looks like Sophie has pulled out her own wedding jewelry just to
09:35survive. But it's been days into the apocalypse, and everyone here already knows. That gold and
09:40silver mean absolutely nothing now. In the old world, money could get you anywhere. In this world,
09:45no one gives them a second glance, money or not. Sophie looks up and sees me watching her,
09:49grinning. The words I said in the elevator flash through her mind. If you get hungry,
09:52remember to come find me tonight. Did he know the snow was coming all along? I don't go over,
09:56I keep wandering around. Then I spot a woman, looks and figure every bit as good as Sophie's,
10:00and my eyes light up. She's huddled alone in a corner with nothing in front of her but designer bags
10:05and makeup. Just like Sophie's jewelry, completely ignored. I watch her while listening in on
10:09conversations around me, piecing together a few useful pieces of information. First,
10:13the toxin in the snow only spreads through direct skin contact. It does not travel through the air.
10:18That's a relief. Otherwise who would dare crack a window? Second, someone desperate enough to try
10:22found out that, as long as your skin never directly touches the snow, you can move through
10:26shallower drifts. The problem is the snow in the complex is already over three meters deep.
10:30No one can walk out to search for supplies. Some people are talking about rigging up vehicles
10:35they have at home, hoping to drive their way out somehow. I think that's delusional. With snow
10:39this deep, even an excavator would struggle, let alone a regular car. It shows just how desperate
10:44people are getting for supplies. The third piece of information gives me pause. Every person killed
10:48by the toxin has pupils that have turned gray-white, and every single body is frozen in a grotesquely
10:53twisted position. Horrifying to look at. What if all these corpses end up turning into zombies?
10:57The more I think about it the more likely it seems. Once the weather warms up, these frozen bodies
11:01thaw out, and there's a real chance they come back. Looks like any time a power level upgrade
11:05shows up in future check-ins, I should just take it. The stronger I am, the better my odds of
11:09survival. Just then a woman sidles up beside me and murmurs, hey handsome, these are all high-end
11:13designer bags. Real money spent. Can I trade them for some food? These are worthless now. You got
11:18anything actually useful? Julia's expression stiffens. She knows it. Designer bags are worth
11:22absolutely nothing right now. Everyone is bundled up and starving. Who has time to think about fashion?
11:27She lives alone. No one to fall back on. In a world this ruthless, the only thing she has
11:31left to offer may be herself, but she's not ready to go there yet. What about this? Julia hesitates
11:36for a moment, then pulls a black plastic bag out of her pocket. I take it, and feel the weight
11:40immediately. I open it to find rows of portable chargers, neatly packed in every size. Calls me
11:44handsome to my face, but in her head, I'm just a charging station. All fully charged, ready to use
11:49any time. Take them back, I toss the bag back to her. I was going to turn her away outright,
11:54but I decide to play the long game instead. So I reach into my pocket and pull out a bread
11:57roll.
11:58Give it a slow wave in front of her face. You want food? Come to my place. I hold her
12:02gaze for a beat,
12:03then turn and walk away. Julia bites her lip, torn. In another life, she wouldn't have given someone
12:07like him a second look, and yet here she is, being told to come to him. It makes her furious.
12:12But what
12:12choice does she have? He has food. I keep strolling, searching for my next mark. Less than two minutes
12:17later, three large men burst out of Building 7's stairwell, each swinging a cleaver. The one leading
12:22the charge is Drake. A thick slab of muscle, mean written all over his face. Move it, boys. Hit
12:26them. He charges the nearest stall himself. The vendor is a woman in her seventies, with a single
12:31can of elderly formula on her mat. Drake snatches it in one grab. Give it back, that's mine! The
12:36old woman clutches Drake's arm, desperate to reclaim what's hers. It was the only thing she had to trade
12:40for food. A cold gleam flashes in Drake's eyes. He raises the cleaver and brings it down. The old
12:45woman crumples without a sound. He killed her! Someone screams. He killed her! The crowd
12:50detonates into chaos, scattering in every direction. I'm not worried. I've picked up
12:54physical enhancement from past check-ins. These three are nothing to me, but I don't feel like
12:58getting involved. I let the panicking crowd carry me slowly back toward home. After all
13:02these days, order is finally beginning to collapse. When survival is at stake, kindness
13:06and humanity vanish. Today is where the chaos truly begins. What are you standing around for?
13:11Keep going! Drake bellows, and his two men find their nerve, swinging their blades and grabbing
13:15everything in reach. Julia takes one look and bolts for home, not stopping to grab her designer
13:20bags off the ground, and not noticing that her ID card has fallen out of her pocket. Wade
13:24grabs Sophie's hand and runs, but two people who've never had to fight for anything get
13:28knocked down fast. Honey! Honey! Sophie's legs have gone to jelly. She can't get up. Get
13:33up! Wade tries to pull her to her feet, but he's too starved to have any strength left. He
13:37sees Drake charging toward them, cleaver raised, and Wade shouts, Wait here babe, I'll go find
13:41someone to help. He drops her hand and runs, doesn't look back once. Sophie is frozen in
13:46disbelief. She never, not in a thousand years, imagined her new husband would abandon her
13:50like this. As Drake closes in, she breaks down in tears. I walk over and pull her to
13:55her feet. She's one of my targets. Can't let her disappear just yet. She feels the strength
13:58in my grip. Sophie looks up, sees it's me, and something stirs in her chest. Across the
14:03lot, Drake and his men keep going until everyone has fled. Only then do they stop. The two henchmen
14:07sweep through what's left, scooping up a solid haul of food. The plan was simple,
14:11charge in without warning, people panic and run, leaving everything behind, and it all
14:15goes to them. This is human nature in the apocalypse. Everyone fears getting hurt, not one person
14:20fought back, three men just terrorized hundreds. Drake does the math, what they grab will last
14:24a few days. After that, it gets complicated. These people probably won't dare come back
14:28down. The only way to get more food after that is to break into rooms. Just then one of
14:32his men jogs over holding an ID card. Boss, look what I found. Oh? And a pretty one at that,
14:37ID photos don't lie, her name's Julia, just don't know which unit she's in. No rush,
14:41let's get the food back first. After getting Sophie back, I block the stairwell door, then
14:45head back to my unit, building 5, room 501. Sophie doesn't find her footing until she
14:49sees her own front door. She wrenches free of my arm and hammers on it. Wade, open the
14:53door. Call yourself a man? You ran and left your wife behind, and now you have the nerve
14:57to lock the door? Her voice is raw, on the edge of breaking. I smile to myself, open my own
15:02door, and lean against the frame to enjoy the show. Wade, trembling inside, hears the racket
15:07and creeps to the peephole, and only when he confirms it's just us two, does he work up the
15:11nerve to open up. Sophie, you're okay, get inside, those guys might come back. What kind of man are
15:15you, Wade? What happened to your vows? The moment danger comes, you drop me and run. I must have been
15:19blind to marry you. Noticing me watching, Wade's face darkens. Sophie, listen to me. I wasn't scared,
15:25I was going to find someone to help, but no one would. There was nothing I could do. So I
15:29came back
15:29to grab something to fight with. I was coming to save you. You have to believe me. Then why did
15:34you lock
15:34the door? Wade has no answer for that. Sophie keeps going, we have nothing left to eat or drink at
15:39home. I lost my gold bracelet back there too. What are we supposed to do now? I'm still so young.
15:43Am I
15:44going to starve to death with you? The more she speaks, the more hopeless it sounds. She breaks
15:47into sobs. Sophie has never felt more helpless in her life. Wade is just as lost. For all his talk
15:52of
15:52being a social elite pulling in hundreds of thousands a year, he's completely useless in the
15:56face of this. Suddenly Wade's eyes drift to me, still watching, and something clicks. Why does this guy
16:01look so well fed? Not even a hint of hunger on his face. Hey man, you got food at your
16:05place? Yeah, plenty of it. That's great, could you share some with us? Of course not. I pull
16:09a can of coke from my pocket, crack it open, take a long sip, and let out a satisfied burp.
16:13Even in the dead of winter, ice cold coke hits just right. Wade and Sophie look ready to pop
16:18a vein. Looking at them I find it genuinely funny. You couldn't be bothered to acknowledge
16:21me before the apocalypse, and now I'm out of your league. Wade squeezes out a flattering
16:25smile. We're neighbors after all, neighbors are closer than distant relatives. Share a little
16:29with us and once this is over, I'll get you into my company. Six thousand a month? No,
16:33eight thousand. That actually makes me laugh out loud. This man still hasn't grasped what
16:37reality looks like now. I produce a piece of fried chicken, take a bite, nothing tops
16:41off a coke like fried chicken. The two of them stand frozen, eyes locked on the chicken in
16:44my hand. Sophie tries. What if we buy it? We'll pay. Do you have any idea what it's like out
16:48there right now? Then what's it going to take for you to give us something to eat? My gaze
16:52shifts slowly, and lands on Sophie. Here's the deal. My place is a mess. I need someone
16:56to take care of it. I'm willing to hire you as my maid, eight in the morning to eight
16:59at night managing my daily needs. As for payment, three meals a day, plus one bread roll and
17:04one bottle of water to take home each day. How's that? You've got some nerve, why would
17:08I clean your house? I'm a member of society's elite. You're a delivery worker. You want me
17:12to be your maid? Are you joking? Absolutely not. What if I help out too? Both of us clean
17:16for you. Guaranteed spotless. Other men aren't welcome in my home. Suit yourself then.
17:20I close the door. I've got food, drinks, and warmth. I can afford to wait as long as it
17:24takes. That evening, I get a craving for hot pot. I set one up. Beef, lamb, crawfish,
17:29the works. Next door in 502, Wade and Sophie sit in dead silence. Everything edible in
17:35their home is long gone. They're too hungry to sleep. What? Is that hot pot I'm smelling?
17:39Am I so hungry I'm hallucinating? They look at each other. Stomach's already touching their
17:42backbones, and the aroma hits them like a gut punch. It's unbearable. Wade quietly opens
17:47the door, confirms the smell is definitely coming from my unit, and his mind starts working.
17:51Honey, maybe you should just go help him out. Wade, do you hear what you're saying? You
17:55abandoned me to save yourself this afternoon and now you want me to walk into another man's
17:59home alone at night? Sophie, calm down. You're just helping with the cleaning. If he tries
18:03anything, you shout, and I'll come rushing in to save you the second I hear it. Sophie
18:06no longer has the energy to argue. The chill in her heart is colder than the air around
18:10her. She thinks back. He had status, manners, warmth. Everyone around them called him a perfect
18:14husband. But when disaster truly arrived, she finally saw who Wade really is. A coward.
18:20Heartless. Willing to sacrifice his wife. For a mouthful of food. And he always has to
18:24wrap it in a layer of self-righteous excuses. Seeing Sophie's expression, Wade scrambles
18:28to explain. Sophie, that's not what I meant. Trust me. Remember what I said? The fortunate
18:32person's retreat principle? We're the lucky ones. All we have to do is take one small step
18:37back. One step back? You're sending your own wife out the door? Is that your step back?
18:40Drop the act, you're a coward. If you had any backbone at all, you'd go out there and grab
18:44some food instead of standing here lecturing me. That's not it, honey. Just let me explain.
18:47No need. I'm going to him. Wade reaches out to stop her, then lets his hand fall.
18:52Sophie sees that he has no real intention of stopping her. Her heart goes completely cold.
18:56I'm inside tearing through slices of meat. Washing it down with ice-cold beer. A knock
19:00at the door. I check the peephole. Sophie. A quiet, unreadable smile crosses my face.
19:04I open the door. I'm here to be your maid. The rich scent of hot pot rushes out to meet
19:08her.
19:08And slowly, it coaxes her frozen heart back to life. Maybe following this man is actually
19:12a way out. At the very least, she'll survive. But how strange. It's freezing outside.
19:17And he's barely dressed. Doesn't he feel the cold? I glance at Sophie. Then cut a look at
19:21Wade standing behind her. Face a knot of conflict. And toss him a bread roll and a bottle of water.
19:26Wade catches them with a look of stunned delight. And without a moment's hesitation tears them
19:29open and devours them on the spot. Come on in. Sophie's eyes land on the steaming hot pot in
19:34the living room. And she can't hold out any longer. She steps inside. Sophie, don't worry.
19:38If anything happens, just call out. The door shuts in his face. Wade's words cut off mid-sentence.
19:43The moment Sophie steps inside, she freezes. It feels like walking from the middle of winter
19:47straight into summer. How is it this warm in here? The power has been out for days.
19:51I haven't eaten in two days. Can I eat something first? I give a cool smile.
19:54Forgotten your place already? Call me master. Sophie's temper flares. She's about to snap,
19:59but a sharp cramp twists through her stomach. She thinks of Wade grabbing that bread and not
20:03offering her a single bite. And her eyes go red again. She's an elite. And now she has to call
20:08someone like him master? But what choice does she have? Master. I nod and toss her a sheet of paper.
20:13That's the maid code. Follow it. Sophie picks it up, puzzled. Then her eyes go wide. The maid code
20:19reads. Rule 1. The maid must wear the designated maid uniform at all times while on duty. Violations
20:24result in a one-day suspension. Rule 2. The master's word is law. Talking back results in
20:29immediate dismissal. Rule 3. The maid must greet the master upon his return with a formal bow.
20:34Violations result in a one-day suspension. This is outrageous. This is an insult. I'm going back.
20:38I watch her with cold, steady eyes, and draw the golden desert eagle leveling the barrel at her
20:43back. Anyone who won't cooperate is a liability. Sooner or later. No need to keep them around.
20:47Sophie reaches the door. Her hand stops. Beyond the door, outside the reach of the constant heat
20:52stove, the bone-cutting cold rushes back in. She gives in. She doesn't want to go back to that cold,
20:57dark apartment. She doesn't want to face her useless husband. She doesn't want to starve.
21:01Sophie finally convinces herself, drops to her knees, and says,
21:04Master, I was wrong. Since you've decided to stay, follow the rules properly.
21:08Seeing as it's your first offense, I'll let it go this time. Just you wait, kid,
21:11give me one opening, and you'll know exactly what I'm capable of. An hour later,
21:15I'm completely full and satisfied. I run hot water in the bathroom and let Sophie go clean up on her
21:20own. Back in the living room, I can't help but sigh contentedly. Now this is the life.
21:24True to her reputation as the finest in building 5, Sophie is a gentle presence. Nothing like Luna,
21:29who used to look at me with contempt and kick me to the curb. Sophie, replaying everything that just
21:33happened, feels the tears threatening again. But she quietly makes her way to the table and
21:36finishes every last bit of the hot pot I left behind. That long lost feeling of being full
21:40finally returns. And with it, most of her resistance melts away. She follows the maid
21:45code to the letter, tidies the entire room, and then curls up on the sofa and falls asleep.
21:49She's made up her mind. Food, warmth, comfort. This place is practically paradise. As for dignity,
21:54survival trumps everything. Staying alive is all that matters. The one thing she can't figure out
21:59where on earth is he hiding all this food. The kitchen and fridge are both empty. Is it in the
22:02bedroom? But she doesn't dare set foot in my bedroom. It's too comfortable here to risk ruining
22:07it. At 12.10, the reward arrives. Today's daily check-in options are, 1. A nuclear-powered
22:12generator providing unlimited energy. 2. Combat-made function unlocked. 3. 1,000 high-explosive grenades.
22:194. A pair of socks that never smell. The grenades are tempting, but in the current situation,
22:23one handgun is more than enough. Grenades would be overkill right now. I'll grab them when they show up
22:27again. Combat-made? What does that mean? Curiosity gets the better of me. I go with option 2. The
22:32moment the selection is confirmed, a new tab appears on the system panel. I tap it. Sophie's
22:37information is displayed clearly. Name, Sophie. System rating, 82. Current level, 1. Maid set
22:42confirmed. I stroke my chin. Everything else makes sense, but what exactly is a maid set? It's
22:47definitely not something I sewed together. Has to be a system item. The way to level up a maid is
22:51pretty
22:51interesting. You accumulate maid experience points, and level up once they're full. A maid's maximum
22:56level is capped at half the host's level, which means Sophie can go up to level 3 at most right
23:01now. The 5-level power boost I got from the system has already pushed every physical attribute to a
23:05new high. As for leveling Sophie up, I'm very confident about that. That night, Wade tosses
23:10and turns, unable to sleep. The sounds drifting through the wall replay over and over in his mind.
23:14He wants to rage, but doesn't dare. After all, he was the one who pushed his wife out the door.
23:19At 8 the next morning, Wade shows up at my door with dark circles under his eyes.
23:23Unable to stop himself from knocking, I open it, still half asleep. I just wanted to check.
23:27How is Sophie? She's been here all night. Shouldn't she be coming home?
23:30Wade catches one glimpse of his wife in the living room, dressed in a maid uniform,
23:34and jealousy and fury nearly explode out of him. He holds it in. I slap my forehead.
23:39Where are my manners? She's incredibly capable. Got the whole place spotless. Very impressed.
23:43I turn to Sophie. You've been at it all night. You must be exhausted. Go home and rest.
23:47The kitchen and bathroom aren't done yet. I'm not going back today. It's cold out here,
23:50honey. You should head home. I smile to myself. Very pleased with her answer.
23:54Wade is absolutely seething. He fixes Sophie with a furious glare, nearly losing it,
23:58but before he can say anything I toss him a bread roll and a bottle of water.
24:01That's your share for today. Thank you. Since the cleaning isn't done, Sophie should keep at it.
24:05I'll leave you two to it. See that? Your husband didn't come here for you. He came for the food.
24:10Sophie feels a pang, but not as sharp as she would have expected. It seems she's already starting
24:14to grow accustomed to being here. Wade returns to his apartment, eyes burning with cold fury.
24:19The way Sophie acted just now, it's infuriating. Bet she wanted to go over there all along.
24:23I need to find a way to get my hands on all his food. Down in Building 5's emergency stairwell,
24:28a number of survivors from the building have gathered. Wade looks around and feels a chill
24:31run through him. The entire building has fewer than a hundred survivors left. The rest have frozen
24:36to death, starved, or been killed by the toxin. Everyone, the situation is critical. I believe we
24:41need to unite. Yesterday the whole complex gathered in the parking lot to trade, and Drake's crew robbed
24:46everyone. Now nobody dares go back down there, and things are only going to get harder. So I propose
24:50that the surviving households form an alliance. Share resources, protect mutual interests, and face
24:55this crisis together. Enough with the big talk, everyone's starving. How exactly do you share
24:59resources when there aren't any? The first thing we need to do is form a patrol team. One able-bodied
25:04person from each household. Starting from room 101 on the first floor, we go door to door. Any unit with
25:09no survivors, we take everything. Drake's crew has already killed people. We can't just sit here and wait
25:14to die. The parking lot security door won't hold them forever. We move together as a group. Even
25:19if we run into Drake, there's no reason to be afraid. There are three people. We're well over
25:22ten. Should we really be scared? And how do we divide what we find? Everyone who joins the patrol
25:27team splits the supplies equally. But I don't have any able-bodied people in my household. My husband
25:31probably died from the toxin outside. It's just me and my daughter now. I agree. This doesn't seem fair.
25:36My wife and I are both in our 60s. We can barely move around. What happens to us? Whatever you
25:41collect, please share some with everyone. Elderly households first. A cruel glint flashes in Wade's
25:45eyes. Useless old woman thinks she can eat for free? Before he can even finish the thought,
25:50a middle-aged man cuts in. Who cares about you? We go with Wade's plan. You work, you eat. If
25:55you
25:55want to survive, fall in line. Do well enough and maybe I'll toss you something. If you're not
25:59willing to contribute, that's on you. Wade nods inwardly in approval. But the moment those words
26:03land, the stairwell erupts, accusations flying from every direction. The middle-aged man's face
26:08goes dark. Without warning, he grabs the loudest woman by the head and slams it into the wall.
26:13Once. Twice. Blood spattering with each impact. Days of crushing survival pressure erupt into raw
26:19violence. His face twists into something inhuman as he beats the woman to death. Everyone present
26:23is frozen in horror. A dozen men exchange glances, as if some invisible chain has snapped. Pandora's
26:28box has been thrown wide open. Brothers, get control of everyone. Keep the useful ones. Anyone who
26:33doesn't cooperate gets thrown out. Don't let them slow us down. Wade is stunned. How did things
26:37spiral this far? His plan was to build the patrol team, then use it as leverage to pressure me into
26:41handing over food, and get his wife back in the process. He had badly underestimated how ugly
26:46people could get. In his cowardly fashion, he panics and scrambles back to his room, tripping over
26:50himself to get there. Master, it sounds like something's happening outside. What's going on?
26:54Don't worry about it. Focus on doing what you're supposed to do. Everything else is none of your
26:58concern. The purge of Building 5 had begun. But this wasn't just one man's doing. It was the spark that
27:03lit the fuse for men across the entire complex. In every other building, men began banding together,
27:08going door to door in search of food. The whole complex descended into chaos. In room 403 of
27:13Building 3 lived Julia, a solo streamer who lived alone. She'd always had a habit of stockpiling snacks,
27:19so she had more supplies than most. It had kept her going longer than her neighbors. But now,
27:23Julia's time was almost up. Building 3 had its own squad, more than 20 men, going door to door.
27:28The outcome was never in question. Through her peephole Julia watches the door to 401 get pried
27:33open. Her neighbors' screams send a tremor through her whole body. Julia knows she's far more attractive
27:38than the woman in that room. Which means if these men find her, her fate will be far worse. Then
27:42it
27:42hits her. The man she met in the parking lot yesterday. He said he was in Building 5, room 501.
27:48She has to find a way to reach him. The chaos outside is closing in. Her door is next. Julia
27:53dashes to the
27:53balcony. Lucky. No snow today. She carefully clears the snow from the window frame, shoves it open,
27:59and leans out. Building 3 and Building 5 aren't far apart, just over 20 meters between them. And
28:04from her window she can see my balcony directly. Without thinking, she grabs whatever bottles and
28:08jars she can find and hurls them out, trying to hit my window and get my attention. But she's not
28:13strong enough, and her aim is terrible. She throws again and again, and misses every time. The panic
28:18rises. Finally, a bottle of skincare lotion connects squarely with the glass. It doesn't shatter,
28:23but the impact rings out loud and clear. I'm in the middle of going over the finer points of the
28:27maid code with Sophie when I catch the sound. I step out to the balcony. I look out with a
28:31frown,
28:32and spot Julia waving frantically, come save me, they're breaking in. Did I just hear a woman's
28:36voice? One of the men in 401 straightens up puzzled. On the sofa, a powerfully built man with a cigarette
28:42clenched between his teeth turns his heavy gaze toward the hallway. Boss, sounds like it's coming from
28:46this floor. The man's name is Leo, the undisputed leader of Building 3. Sounds coming from 403,
28:52there's a woman in there. Leo waves his hand and leads the group to 403. The knock comes almost
28:56immediately. Julia's fear spikes. She calls out to me in desperation. They're here, please! I cross my
29:02arms, utterly unbothered, and give a faint smile. Save you? Do you know what that's going to cost you?
29:06Julia goes still. Her eyes are already going red. If you save me, I'll be your girlfriend. Anything.
29:11I don't need a girlfriend. Julia is speechless. At that moment, Sophie, dressed in her custom-made
29:16uniform, slowly moves to stand beside me. The sight completely stops Julia cold. She stares at what
29:21Sophie is wearing, baffled. Isn't she freezing? Is she superhuman? I look at Julia. I can save you.
29:26Same terms as her. At that moment, the door is pried open. Leo charges in with his men,
29:31and spots Julia right away, leaning out the balcony in desperation. Stay back. Relax. I'll make
29:36sure they take good care of you. I agree. I'll do whatever you want, just like her. I'll do it.
29:40Following this man, she'd only have to deal with one person. If she fell into the hands of these men,
29:44there was no telling how many she'd have to face. Leo frowns, striding toward Julia. Who are you
29:48calling out to? His hand hasn't even reached her when he looks up in alarm. A young man in the
29:53building across is climbed onto the window ledge, poised to jump. The next second, boom. I launch
29:58myself off the ledge, cut across the open air between the two buildings, and slam straight onto
30:02the balcony of 403. Leo's jaw drops. Then a size 10 foot connects squarely with his face. The sheer
30:08force sends him flying, and he crashes into the men behind him, taking several down with him. I land
30:12clean, and I'm actually a little surprised myself. Level 6, and I'm already this strong? I just had a gut
30:18feeling I could make that jump. And somehow I actually did. The system never disappoints.
30:22That was over 20 meters. I'm practically flying. Julia's mind has completely shut down. She stares
30:27at me, dazed. You, how did you even get over here? Leo hauls himself up, looking at me with
30:32something close to fear. But then he counts his men, 20 plus all armed with blades, and his confidence
30:37creeps back. Kid, playing the hero? Take a look at how many of us there are. Get on your knees
30:41and give
30:41up. At his signal, the men draw their cleavers and kitchen knives ready to charge. Perfect timing.
30:46Let's see just how strong I really am. I lick the corner of my mouth with a savage grin,
30:51pocket the gun, and drive my fist into the nearest man. Leo's mouth falls open. This
30:55isn't a person. The destructive power is completely off the charts. Julia's eyes roll back. She
30:59passes out cold. Even I stare at my fist for a moment, a little stunned. Then I pick up
31:04the cleaver that clattered to the floor and give them all a cold smile. Deliveries here,
31:08gentlemen. Time to send you on your way. My voice lands like a whisper from the devil himself.
31:12Someone screams, and the whole crew collapses, surging toward the door in a stampede.
31:16Leo is the first one out, but 20 plus people all cramming through one door at the same time?
31:20Not exactly a clean exit. The chaos is total. I don't concern myself with the details.
31:25Only about half make it out. I step out of 403 into an empty hallway, and toss the battered
31:29cleaver aside. The door to 401 is wide open. A woman barely clinging to life drags herself
31:34to the doorway, and struggles to call out to me. I glance over. She looks to be in her 30s
31:38or 40s. But she's already at death's door. This is probably her final moment of clarity.
31:42Please. My daughter. She looks up at me. A flicker of desperate hope in her eyes.
31:47Not interested. I turn to go. The light in her eyes dies quickly. She lifts her head,
31:51and lets it fall hard against the floor. Life is draining out of her. But the words she forces
31:55out stop me in my tracks. Zhang Cheng Institute of Technology. She doesn't finish the sentence.
32:00She's gone. Zhang Cheng Institute of Technology? I narrow my eyes. Now that has my attention.
32:04Because my ex-girlfriend Lily was at that school. I look at the woman's body for a moment.
32:09Let out a slow breath and step inside her apartment. Her husband is already dead in a
32:12pool of blood. Eyes wide open. I quickly find a family photo. The three of them together.
32:17My eyes light up. The daughter is stunning. Radiating youth. With two small dimples when
32:21she smiles. Campus beauty material. Easily. I also learn her name. Chloe. 19 years old.
32:26A second year student in the media school at Zhang Cheng Institute of Technology.
32:30Good. Once I can get out of here, I'll head to Zhang Cheng Institute of Technology.
32:33Let's hope she's still alive. And Lily, you'd better be alive too. I pocket Chloe's photo,
32:38head back to 403, and shake Julia awake. Julia's eyes flutter open, and the first thing she sees
32:43is me, covered in blood, standing in what looks like a scene straight out of hell. Don't scream.
32:48Too noisy. That snaps Julia fully awake. She stares at me with wide, fearful eyes,
32:52trembling head to toe. Come on, we're going back. I get up and head for the door. Julia takes in
32:57the
32:57room full of bodies and feels sick. Her legs going weak beneath her. But I'm already out the door,
33:01and the fear of being left behind gets her moving, crawling on all fours if she has to.
33:05She can't stay here. She has to follow me. This time I don't jump. I take the stairs like a
33:09normal
33:10person, planning to cut through the underground parking lot. Out in the hallway, Julia spots the
33:14woman from 401, and a wave of cold sorrow washes through her. In the apocalypse, women have only two
33:19fates. Either find a powerful man to stand behind, or be broken by a group of them. There is no
33:23third
33:23option. With that thought, Julia feels a surge of relief that she chose to follow me. Without me,
33:28her end would have been far worse than this woman's. Something clicks into place inside her.
33:32Strength returns to her legs, and she quickens her pace to keep up. We've barely stepped into the
33:36underground parking lot when we hear voices. These people are smarter than I thought. Every building
33:40has its own crew now. Not a single hall to show for it. Drake rubs the bruise on his forehead,
33:45looking absolutely miserable. He'd gone to another building with his two men, and walked straight
33:49into a counterattack from more than ten people. Barely made it out. He never imagined that his own
33:53actions, being the first to kill and steal, were exactly what inspired everyone else to
33:57follow suit, creating the very situation that now has him cornered. Boss, what do we do now?
34:02How should I know? He genuinely has no answer. Building 7, his own building, is showing signs
34:07of organizing too, which means the three of them are now sitting targets. Zane is about to say
34:11something when he suddenly hears footsteps, and spins around. Who's there? Just passing through.
34:16I'd already spotted them. I say it calmly. Julia recognizes them instantly, and ducks behind me,
34:20desperate not to be seen. Just passing through. Everyone in this complex knows who we are.
34:24You've got some nerve, kid. Boss. It's the woman from the ID card. It's actually her.
34:29Ha, what are the odds? We've been hunting for food all day and we stumble into a beauty like this,
34:33not a bad day after all. With that, the three of them close in. Julia presses herself further
34:37behind me, terrified. Don't hide from me, sweetheart. Drake reaches for Julia's face,
34:41acting as though I'm not even standing there. I slap his hand away without a change in expression.
34:46You blind? There's a man standing right here. Drake recoils from the sting and finally takes a good
34:51look at me. I'm tall and well built, but the three of them don't see that as a problem.
34:55Zane notices the blood on my clothes. Frowns slightly. Something feels off, but he says
34:59nothing. They've killed people themselves. Of course others can too. Kid, I'm in a generous
35:04mood today. Don't feel like killing anyone. Be smart about this. Hand over the girl, and I'll let
35:08you walk. I'm in a hurry. If you insist on dying, don't say I didn't warn you, and then I
35:12move.
35:12Three sharp cracks ring out in quick succession. It takes Drake and his men a full second to register
35:17the pain. Then all three drop to their knees, hands between their legs, drenched in cold sweat.
35:21You dirty? That's not fair. That hurts like hell. Am I broken? Julia's eyes are practically
35:25sparkling. He really is incredible. I turn to look at her, and casually pull the golden desert eagle
35:29from my pocket, holding it out. Go ahead, finish them. Julia freezes, wringing a chicken's neck
35:34maybe. But three living people? Is he serious? Hurry up. If you want to be my maid you need to
35:38be
35:39able to kill. I don't keep dead weight. I press the gun firmly into her hand. The golden desert eagle
35:43is heavier than she expected. The cold metal against her palm makes one thing instantly clear.
35:47This is not a toy. It's a real gun. Aim at your target. Index finger on the trigger. I walk
35:52her
35:52through it patiently. Julia looks deeply reluctant, but she meets my sharp gaze and says nothing.
35:57Drake sees the gun pointed at him, and assumes it's a toy, and can't help sneering. Who do you
36:01think you're scaring? I didn't grow up afraid of anything. Remember your face now. Go ahead and pull
36:05the trigger if you've got what it takes. Otherwise, I will make you regret this. Julia startles,
36:09and the fear suddenly drains out of her, replaced by a surge of white-hot fury. I murmur in her
36:14ear,
36:15he's garbage, pull the trigger. Julia clenches her jaw so hard her lip nearly bleeds. She's furious,
36:20but when it actually comes to pulling the trigger on a living person, she hesitates.
36:24Ha! Go on then. Can't do it, can you? Don't be scared, I've got a gun too. I'll show you
36:28how
36:28it's really done. Heh. Then, Julia's finger moves. She pulls the trigger. The gunshot thunders through the
36:33parking lot. Drake's head explodes on the spot. Zane and the other man are scared out of their minds.
36:38They forget the pain entirely and scramble to escape on all fours. Julia stares at the body in
36:42front of her, hands shaking uncontrollably. Then she thinks of the woman in 401, a woman with no
36:47power to fight back, tortured to death by a group of men. The man standing before her has given her
36:52the power to resist. She has to learn to wield it, fast. Otherwise her end will be no different from
36:56that woman's. Julia's mind shifts fast. She goes after Zane immediately, raises the gun, and fires.
37:02Zane is crawling desperately for his life. The shot catches him in the thigh. He collapses in agony.
37:06Don't kill me! Julia fires again. Zane goes completely still. That's enough, he's dead.
37:11I nod in approval and take the gun back. As reality sinks back in, Julia slowly begins to
37:16accept what she's just done. The churning in her stomach becomes impossible to hold back.
37:20She turns away and wretches violently. I walk over to the last surviving henchman.
37:24Big bro, no, please sir, don't kill me, I surrender. Whatever you need, I'll do it. Just say the word.
37:29Please spare my life. It's a while before Julia, having brought up everything her stomach had,
37:34comes to stand before me with red-rimmed eyes, clearly wanting to say something but unable to
37:39find the words. Let's go. Home. I turn and head toward building 5. Julia looks at the bodies on
37:44the ground, and the people Drake killed the day before, and something inside her grows firm.
37:48I have to survive. Whatever it takes. Drake's remaining crew is nowhere to be seen. We don't
37:53cross paths with them. The moment we get back, Julia stops dead. The dining table is covered with all
37:58kinds of seafood and beer, and a pot of rice sits steaming hot. The apartment is spotless,
38:03carrying a faint mix of tobacco and something lightly fragrant. Most importantly, it is wonderfully
38:08warm. Sophie sees me come in and steps forward immediately with a bow. Welcome home, master.
38:12Julia gets her first proper look at Sophie's face, and is struck speechless. She's beautiful.
38:17This is the new maid. Show her the rules. I don't want to see either of you slipping up.
38:21With that, I settle at the table and start eating. Yes, master.
38:24After Sophie turns to look at Julia, and is just as struck. She's stunning. Her figure and presence
38:28are even better than mine. In an instant, Sophie feels a flash of alarm. She needs to establish her
38:33authority now, before this woman takes all of the master's favor. Follow me, bathroom first,
38:38clean yourself up. And with that, Sophie crawls toward the bathroom on her knees. Julia stands there,
38:43bewildered, and takes a couple of steps to follow. When Sophie stops and fixes her with a sharp look,
38:47once you walk through that door you became the master's maid. Maid code, rule 1. No standing or walking
38:52without the master's permission. Julia is taken aback by the sheer force of Sophie's tone,
38:56and part of her wants to walk right back out the door. But the memory of what just happened,
39:00and the gun in my hand, brings her straight to her knees, mirroring Sophie exactly. I sit eating
39:05the mantis shrimp Sophie shelled for me earlier, nodding with quiet satisfaction. She's adapting fast,
39:10true to her elite background, impressive ability to adjust to a new role, worth commending.
39:14In the bathroom, Sophie carefully washes Julia. Neither of them says a word. Why is everything in
39:18this room? Don't ask questions you shouldn't. Keep respect for the master at all times.
39:22Or you won't even know how. You died. Julia falls silent. She can't begin to imagine what Sophie
39:27has been through to become this way. Sophie studies Julia's figure, and the knot of unease in her
39:31chest tightens. Her hands, without meaning to, press a little harder. Do you think rescue will
39:36come for us eventually? Never say that again. Finding the master, that is our rescue. Don't you
39:41understand yet? Women like us? What do you think happens to us without him? Half an hour later,
39:45Julia follows Sophie out. I've just finished eating, I grab a whole lobster and drop it in front of
39:49Julia. Good work today. Julia stares at it, feeling a complicated mix of emotions. A hot lobster in the
39:55middle of the apocalypse. That's beyond luxury. I look at her and let a slow smile spread across my
39:59face. I glance at the system panel and nod with quiet satisfaction. Seems like a streamer isn't
40:03all beauty filters and camera angles. There's real substance there too. The situation across the
40:08complex keeps deteriorating. Every building now has its own floor boss. Violent gangs modeled after
40:12organized crime, each one locking down their building completely. The snow is so deep,
40:16it actually cushions falls. Jumping from a window won't kill you outright. But most people sink deep
40:21into the drifts, and either suffocate or slowly freeze. Screams and wails fill the air without end,
40:26grinding down every survivor's nerves. Meanwhile Leo gathers more than a dozen men into a room.
40:30Besides the supplies we've taken on over 20 people who can actually work. Next step, we move according to
40:35the plan.
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