[Humanity's relentless destruction of nature has triggered the universe's punishment mechanism. A global apocalypse is imminent.]
[From this moment onward, Earth will face a new apocalyptic disaster every month.]
[All human technology has been rendered useless.]
[Every person on Earth has been assigned a random shelter. Current homes will automatically transform into shelters, each with unique abilities. Use them wisely to survive.]
[If humanity is wiped out, Earth will be repopulated by a new species.]
[But if humanity survives one thousand apocalyptic disasters, they will become the eternal rulers of Earth.]
That mysterious voice echoed in the minds of every living human, shaking the very foundations of the world.
In an instant, no matter where people were—eating in restaurants, shopping in malls, working late, or even in the middle of a romantic moment—they were all suddenly teleported back to what was now their shelter.
A man eating dinner suddenly found himself sitting on his own bed, still holding his plate.
A woman shopping for groceries blinked, and the next moment, she was on her living room couch, bags still in hand.
Even the homeless appeared inside unfamiliar apartments, as if reality itself had rewritten the rules.
Nova was no exception.
One moment, he was enduring a lecture from his boss at work, and the next, his surroundings twisted and melted away. When the dizziness faded, he found himself on his old, familiar couch.
"Huh?" Nova blinked in confusion.
Was this a stress-induced hallucination?
But then, his body trembled.
"That voice… it wasn't a dream."
"A supernatural entity is punishing humanity... The apocalypse is really happening."
At 23, Nova wasn't the strongest or smartest, but he was quick on his feet. He forced himself to calm down and piece together what was happening.
"Everyone has been assigned a shelter... and the first disaster begins in ten minutes."
[Disaster Theme: Extreme Heat!]
[A global temperature surge of over 60°C will sweep across the Earth. Check your shelter's status and secure your resources.]
[Your only goal: survive.]
[Primary Task Reward: A random prize based on your survival performance.]
[One shelter ability is available for activation.]
Nova looked down at a glowing note that had appeared on his coffee table. It was written in a language he'd never seen before, yet he could somehow understand every word.
He took a deep breath. "This is real... This is actually happening."
"Open shelter data panel," he muttered.
Whoosh!
A semi-transparent interface appeared in front of him like a hologram.
[Shelter Data Panel]
Shelter (Unnamed)
Owner: Nova
Level: 0
Population: 1
Rooms: 1 Bedroom, 1 Living Room, 1 Bathroom
Safety: 1
Comfort: 1
Resources: 7 Chairs, 1 Bed, 1 Couch, 1 Refrigerator, 1 Computer
Food: 5 Loaves of Bread, 2 Boxes of Instant Noodles, 3 Bags of Chocolate Snacks, 2 Bags of Pasta, 4 Bottles of Soda, 8 Beers, 2 Buckets of Water
Miscellaneous: Non-essential Items
Survival Points: 0
Current Disaster: Extreme Heat (Starting Soon)
Primary Task: Survive
Reward: Random
Special: 1 Unlocked Shelter Ability (Pending Activation)
"This isn't some prank," Nova muttered, eyes wide. "This is real."
He rushed to the window and pulled back the curtains.
Outside, chaos had erupted.
People stumbled out of their homes, shouting and panicking.
"I was at the construction site, how did I end up here?"
"Someone teleport me to Europe next, please!"
"Wake up! This is real! The apocalypse is here!"
"No signal! My phone's dead!"
"Give me all your ice and canned food! I'll pay triple!"
"Pay? Your money's useless now!"
Shops were being looted. Store owners frantically shut their gates. Police were starting to show up, but even they looked confused and afraid.
Nova didn't move. He calmly observed the frenzy outside.
"Five minutes left," he said quietly.
"It's too late to go scavenging now."
He checked his phone. Dead. He plugged it in. Nothing.
"No electricity... but the water still works."
Nova snapped into action.
He filled every bowl, cup, bottle, and pot he could find. He turned on the bathtub and shower, collecting every last drop.
"Thank God I rented a place with a tub... this might just save my life."
He opened the fridge—still cool, but losing power fast.
He grabbed his insulated cups and filled them with water, tossing in ice from the freezer.
"This heatwave's going to kill more from dehydration than heatstroke," he thought grimly.
Nova glanced at the digital clock. Less than a minute remained.
He stared at the floating data panel again. He had only one chance.
"If I want to survive... I need that shelter ability."
"Activate shelter ability!"
[Shelter ability detected. Initiating activation…]
A white light enveloped the room, and the data panel flashed.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the SSS-Rank Shelter Ability: Homebody's Haven!]
[Homebody's Haven (SSS Rank)]
For every 24 hours you remain inside your shelter, you will receive a random survival reward tailored to your most urgent needs. As your shelter levels up, rewards will improve.
Nova blinked.
"…An SSS-level ability?"
Then, his expression shifted. From stunned… to overjoyed.
"So I get survival supplies just by staying home?"
"And the system gives me whatever I need most?"
"That's... insane."
"This ability is perfect. I don't even need to fight."
Nova burst out laughing, relief washing over him.
"Let the apocalypse come. I'll win it... from my couch."