Eternal Night.
The residents of the Peace City-State felt as if they had suddenly plunged into an unfathomable nightmare.
The sun and warmth disappeared from their view, replaced by the dense, rolling black mist in the sky.
Like a pair of crimson eyes filled with coldness and aggression looking down from high above, greedily gazing at this pockmarked ruined world through a thin mbrane separating the worlds.
——Invaders.
They had been coveting this blood-red land for a long ti, waiting patiently through thousands of Caius Tower simulations until the Three Dinsions’ resources were exhausted and the ti was ripe, then they decided to launch a full-scale attack, attempting to break through the dinsional firewall constructed by the Dawn System.
Strange sounds continuously emanated from the world’s edge, the breath of the invaders drawing ever nearer, and there was already a substantive effect on the Ruined World — "Ta Wei" had destroyed over half of the energy stations at the world’s edge.
The peaceful dream constructed by the residents through lengthy tis was torn apart in an instant. They finally forgot about the trivial matters in life, ceased their endless complaints about the city-state system and the Type 8 personalities; survival had beco their most difficult problem.
The City of asurent began to conscript soldiers.
So chose to rush to the most dangerous edges of the world, so stayed behind in the city-states to act as liaisons, so followed the military in search of resources, and others were unwilling to muddy the waters and seek opportunities.
——And all this was related to Yasa Acto, standing atop a building in Central City, overlooking the city-state.
Su Ming’an’s gaze swept across the system panel, dispatching tasks one by one, with the Dawn System aiding his decision-making. By his side were Su Rin, Noel, and Lu, equally deep in thought.
During this short two-hour rest period, Su Ming’an had summoned these three companions to the ruined building to discuss matters together.
"...The final mont has arrived," Noel said, "You have to take care of both Caius Tower and the two dinsions, neither can go wrong."
"Violet said they are willing to maintain the energy stations at the world’s edge," Lu said, "We can appoint them as captains. The supervising soldiers can be set as NPCs."
"There are also Zhang Daoxuan and Zhang Xiaoqi, these players are also quite strong... we can appropriately reduce Atlanda’s authority. After all, he is a Player, and the position of Councilman is too high."
The group discussed swiftly, and the complex matters were quickly arranged within this short span of two hours.
Su Ming’an’s brows were tightly knit, his brain cramd with all sorts of terms.
Inside the tower, outside the tower, Ta Wei Executors, Civilization Gambling Pact, nightti etings, Lin Guang, Dawn Code, 72-year laboratories, battle groups, deities, the three major dinsions... The problems were so nurous that with a "click," he snapped the pen in his hand.
Three days before the replica activation, he had stayed in the Central City laboratory and thought the start was like a vacation, with everyone liking him. It was only in these last few days that he found the problems to be so complex they made his scalp tingle, with traps everywhere.
Compared to this world, the dual-god conflict of Qiongdi seed incredibly simple.
"...Su Ming’an, Su Ming’an?" he heard Su Rin’s voice.
Su Ming’an looked up, and Su Rin’s golden pupils shone in the night like a pair of splendid lanterns.
"Su Ming’an, grant Dawn System authorization and announce the Dawn Plan to the entire city," Su Rin said.
Beside him, Noel and Lu both were looking at Su Ming’an. Under the endless night sky, the four of them were at an altitude close to the heavens, and in the rolling silence of the night, only the glimr in their eyes shined faintly.
"Good," Su Ming’an said, "let’s start announcing the matter."
"Shua shua shua—"
The Dawn System closed her eyes, as if being activated. Her white hair floated up, and streams of data sparkled across her body, accompanied by a sound like stardust rubbing together. Her voice traveled through the eighty-six thousand public electronic devices of the city-state, broadcasting the sa ssage.
"—By the authority granted by Lord of Acto City, Yasa Acto, the ’Dawn Plan’ has been activated."
"The city-state is in a state of ergency. All information systems are temporarily suspended, all large-scale civilian venues are shut down, and gathering and mass assemblies are prohibited. Please cooperate with the city-state’s operations. Those who disobey the orders will be registered as criminals and arrested by the Hawk Hound City-State Guardian Army. For severe acts, the Hawk Hound Guardians are authorized to keep recordings and proof, and have the right to execute the disobedient on the spot."
"Now, to all inhabitants of the city-state as well as residents of affiliated areas, we will broadcast the full content of the ’Dawn Plan.’ Please listen carefully."
"Repeat, we will now broadcast to..."
"..."
Su Ming’an looked down from above.
In the perpetual night, armies marched hastily through the vast darkness, trucks sped toward energy stations around the world, and people’s napes glowed with a green light. Dressed in thick white protective suits, they strove forward, flasks filled with glistening, gold-like liquid fluid stored in large glass cases, which were resources for restarting the energy stations.
Like wading through a black sea, they ford a pure white path.
The world seed to be divided into independent modules, each enacting its human drama. Su Ming’an saw through surveillance caras that a small group of players, self-proclaid "Su Ming’an’s dogs," climbed onto trucks headed to the edge of the world. He also saw the desolate tavern of the Fringe combat team, where only the leader, wearing a tattered red cloak, smoked in a dim street corner. He saw the pampered father of a young lady, deprived of the protection of the black boss, being stripped of his wealth by destitute people who resembled wild dogs. He also saw under the overcast skies, an elderly couple with graying hair holding each other, kissing the rings in their hands.
Scenes of human life, diverse and varied.
The cold voice of the Dawn System resounded in every inhabitant’s ears.
"The ’Dawn Plan’ consists of three parts. First, appoint seventy-two hundred liaison officers, half of whom are responsible for real-ti frontline reporting and for tallying the status of damage and restarting of the energy stations. The other half will remain in the city-state and affiliated areas, conveying ergency decisions from the front lines."
"Second, appoint thirty thousand Resource Officers who will accompany the transport teams to the edges of the world and tally the transportation of resources. This position requires a certain Combat Power to protect the liquid resources in tis of crisis."
"Third, establish positions for flexible scheduling. These positions are divided into four major modules: aerial transport, ground transport, underground collection, and auxiliary rescue. Specific position scheduling and tasks will be released to each authorized individual, please read them by yourselves."
"In this operation, no cost is too great, and we encourage residents to contribute. All rits will be calculated after the crisis, with persona upgrades and military ranks as rewards. Rember, no one should believe the Whisperings of the Invaders. They will not spare your life..."
Just days before, still imrsed in peace, the city-state had suddenly burst into action like a machine at full throttle. People flowed like blood, with the Dawn System at the heart, activating the city-state’s core, with efficiency and resource utilization rates that were startlingly high.
The "asurent" of the Dawn System was perfectly manifested at this mont.
Before the Apocalypse, the contingency plans left by Acto saved this world on the brink of collapse ti and again.
...
[Core Area・Constantine University]
Yamada Machiichi once again arrived at Constantine University, coming as one of the 7,200 liaisons in the Dawn Plan.
This sector was his responsibility. Should he be summoned to Caius Tower, soone would take over his work.
Upon stepping into the university’s grand auditorium, which now served as the students’ temporary refuge, Machiichi saw firsthand how the "Ta Wei" destroyed the power station by releasing a virus. It drifted through the air, corroding anything energy-related, including the human body.
The students, as the elite and hope of the city-state, didn’t need to don protective suits and rush to the world’s edge. They just had to keep doors and windows tightly shut, stay away from the black sky, and wait out the crisis.
No sooner had Machiichi entered than he heard the students’ complaints.
"— What should I do, I still haven’t finished my paper, I haven’t had the chance to submit my materials, I’m just one step away from my postgraduate research program! It can’t all end like this..."
"— When will this crisis end, I have research to conduct... My supervisor has vanished, and even though he scolds every day, without his recomndation letter I’ve basically slaved away for three years for nothing..."
"It’s over, it’s all over, I’m going to die before I even get into the Central City laboratory, my dreams are ruined..."
As they grumbled, the students were buried in their books inside the auditorium.
Luocha, who had once dined with Machiichi in the cafeteria, sat holding his girlfriend Jingjing quietly, absorbed in a core journal. Several students with disheveled hair were sprawled against the walls, obsessively muttering numbers and formulas as if possessed.
"Tap tap tap—" In the auditorium capable of holding two thousand people, the sound of keyboards clicking echoed. Machiichi looked around to see the majority of these refuge-seeking students working on their personal terminals, screens displaying white docunt backgrounds with characters flickering on and off—it was clear that most were writing papers, so even intently taking online classes...
...This is the apocalypse!
...Why are you still studying so hard?
Machiichi felt nauseous at just one glance, his body trembled reflexively, and he started to regret why he had applied to beco Constantine University’s liaison. The scene made him physically uncomfortable.
"Machiichi?" Luocha waved at him.
In the corner of the auditorium sat Luocha’s small group, which included a few students from the chanics class that Machiichi knew well.
"I never expected you to beco a liaison." Luocha looked at the liaison badge on Machiichi’s chest, surprised. He knew Machiichi was from The Fringe and didn’t expect him to land such an important position.
"Uh... It’s because I have a bit of a connection with the City Lord, he asked to co," said Machiichi.
"Really?" The other students’ eyes lit up instantly.
"Please! Beautiful miss, could you introduce , here’s my résumé!"
"My roommate would haunt if he were a ghost just to get into the Central City laboratory, even if it ant starting from the lowest position..."
"Can I et the City Lord, please? I have so small thoughts on his research results. I admire him so much..."
Several attractive girls clung to him like hungry tigers or octopuses, so even burying their heads under Machiichi’s Lolita dress. Machiichi blushed, feeling a bit overwheld. Hidden beneath his skirt was a heavy cannon given to him by Su Ming’an; he hoped these people wouldn’t get so excited as to lift his dress.
"...Uh, sure, sure," Machiichi said, waving his hand.
Suddenly, he felt this place wasn’t so bad after all.
Heh heh.
Soone actually called him "beautiful miss"...
"I’ll protect you," Machiichi thought with pride, "Don’t worry, I’ll pass on any information to you as soon as I have it. I am the liaison for Constantine University."
"Really? Thank you so much, beautiful miss... I’m counting on you..."
"Beautiful miss, I want a T-shirt..."
...
[The Fringe]
"Don’t fight! Stop pushing—get out of the way!"
"Damn it, people are robbing even now, all of you can go to hell! Get lost!!"
"Fuck, the world is ending, but I want to live it up before I die, hurry and grab all the liquor from his place!"
Black smoke billowed, and the air was rife with pollution. In the low-built residential area of The Fringe, one could see discarded old-fashioned assembled cars and garbage heaps emitting foul odors, as well as a thick layer of black oily dirt on the ground.
Beautiful ladies of the night took advantage of the chaos to flee the area, leaving behind hordes of red-eyed poor people. With the Hawk Hound Army not enforcing control, they smashed and looted houses for money and food. Various gray area factions fought violently, gunshots ringing out ceaselessly, the flas making the region as bright as daylight.
Danger, chaos, clamor... all of The Fringe’s negative elents surged like flas at that mont. As the Dawn Plan didn’t include this part of The Fringe, it had beco a lawless zone, in stark contrast to the peaceful and serene Constantine educational district.
The Dawn System wouldn’t add these people to the task list; after calculations, the inhabitants of The Fringe would only bring negative returns. So, while everyone else struggled for the world’s fate, these people were brawling among themselves.
"You can’t steal mine! That’s my ho—!" A bearded, plump man scread in despair as his small two-story villa was getting ransacked—his newly built ho!
No one paid him any mind as all eyes were on money, countless figures trampling over the ruins, their coins gleaming in their hands.
"Damn, fat pig! I’ve always looked down on you. You live in a villa built with money from selling your daughter, you should be ashad!" A bald man hit him on the head, spat out, and turned back to continue looting.
The plump man fell to the ground, his gold necklace snatched away, amidst the chaotic gunfire and pandemonium, he sobbed uncontrollably, "Xiaoi... i... where are you, save ... Your dad’s going to be beaten to death..."
He felt regret, not for selling Xiaoi, but for not getting a better price. If he could have afforded a Guardian to protect him, things wouldn’t have co to this...
It hurt so much, the brief days of living like a wealthy man had been so short-lived...
He struggled to crawl forward, watching military trucks drive by, noting the fully ard soldiers, and then saw soone with a familiar silhouette.
That person seemingly felt a similar premonition and turned around, their pitch-black eyes eting his gaze.
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