Chương 2: Starter Pack

"Forty days? Are you freaking kidding me?" Jack braced one hand on the cashier counter, and the baseball bat nearly slipped from his other hand.

"Scared now?" the system's mechanical voice rang out again.

"Human, you didn't seem that worried when you were laughing at my name." Jack said nothing. The system continued, "The surface temperature outside is extremely unstable. The daily average is around fifty-two degrees Celsius, and during the day, it can climb as high as seventy-three. Humidity is extremely low, so water evaporates far faster than it would in a normal environment.

The convenience store's current stock may look sufficient, but before my permissions are unlocked, every resource you have is still limited."

"So forty days is already a fairly optimistic estimate." The system seemed to be waiting for him to fall apart. But in the next second, Jack suddenly raised his fist and swung it down hard.

"I can still last forty days? That's awesome!" The system: "...??" Jack immediately set the baseball bat down on the cashier counter, his tone becoming lighter at once.

"I thought I was gonna starve or die of thirst any minute now. Forty days? That's more than enough time." After saying that, he even looked up at the empty air and gave it a thumbs-up.

"Thanks, Loser—sorry, LOSS. I was going to do inventory today anyway, but you already did the math for me." Jack patted the cashier counter.

"Seriously, big help." The system: "…" This time, the silence lasted a little longer than before. Then the mechanical voice sounded again, as if it were barely holding back its temper.

"Human!" Jack paused with the can halfway to his mouth.

"Are you mocking me again?"

"Nope." Jack looked perfectly innocent.

"I'm genuinely thanking you."

"High levels of fake sincerity detected." Jack: "…" This thing could detect that too? The system's cold voice continued, "Due to the host's repeated attacks on my name, verbal mockery, and dismissive attitude, I will now express my dissatisfaction by canceling the starter gift pack that was originally scheduled for distribution." The can in Jack's hand almost slipped.

"Wait!" He straightened up immediately.

"Nope. No, no, no. You can't do that!" The system made a sound that almost resembled a cold snort. Although its voice was still mechanical, Jack could already hear a little smugness in it.

"And why can't I?"

"Because everyone gets a starter pack when they bind to a system!" Jack immediately became anxious.

"You can't just single me out like that!"

"Maybe you shouldn't have mocked me."

"My bad." Jack answered with shocking decisiveness. The system had just prepared to keep acting superior. Its voice had already started, "I already reminded you that humans should show proper—" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"My bad. I was wrong. Seriously, I was wrong." Jack cut in at once.

"I won't call you Loser again, and I won't roast your name anymore. Deal?" The system was about to continue lecturing him, but after hearing that, it suddenly stalled. Soon, however, the mechanical voice returned to its usual calm.

"Ahem."

"Host's apology detected. Attitude: acceptable." Jack blinked. The system continued, "Since your sincerity is passable, I'll accept your apology." Jack muttered under his breath, "Wow, that was easy."

"Low-volume offense detected."

"Nope." Jack immediately looked up.

"I said you're very generous." The system let out a faint "hmph" and continued its announcement.

"Starter gift pack distribution beginning." Jack's eyes lit up at once.

"Starter Pack Item One: Energy Shield. Once activated, it can block any form of physical damage. Duration depends on the intensity of the attack. Cooldown: seven days." Jack immediately perked up.

"Any kind of physical damage?"

"Yes."

"What about a meteor?"

"In theory, that counts as physical damage."

"What about monsters?"

"If the attack is physical impact, it falls within the shield's defensive range." Jack sucked in a breath on the spot.

"Okay, that's actually kind of busted." The system ignored his amazement and continued.

"Starter Pack Item Two: Basic Survival Facility Evolution for the convenience store. After the evolution is complete, the convenience store's water and electricity supply will be upgraded to an unlimited stable supply." This time, Jack was truly stunned. Unlimited water and electricity? Outside, the average daily temperature was over fifty degrees Celsius, and during the day, it could shoot all the way up to seventy-three. One trip outside could turn him into human barbecue.

At a time like this, the words unlimited water and electricity sounded way more practical than winning the lottery. The system asked, "Human, do you want to start the evolution now?"

"Do it!" Jack said without hesitation.

"Right now. Immediately. Let's go!" As soon as he finished speaking, a layer of faint blue light suddenly lit up inside the convenience store. Before Jack could even get a good look, the light swept past his eyes. The shelves, refrigerators, and cashier counter were all coated in a pale blue glow. He instinctively closed his eyes, but still didn't forget to mutter, "Okay, now we're talking. Finally, some actual special effects." A little while later, the blue light disappeared. The system's voice sounded.

"Evolution complete." Jack immediately opened his eyes. In Jack's mind, something called an evolution should at least come with a floating holographic screen, automatic door locks, hidden defensive armor, or something along those lines. At the very least, the convenience store should have lit up with a ring of cold blue lights, making it look even slightly futuristic. But what appeared before his eyes was still the same convenience store he knew all too well.

The shelves, refrigerators, and cashier counter were all sitting obediently in their original positions. Forget floating holographic screens and automatic armor. Even the crooked promotional sticker on the glass door had not been straightened for him. The expectation on Jack's face slowly collapsed. He stood there and stared for a long while. In the end, he managed to squeeze out one sentence.

"That's it?" The system did not answer. Jack refused to give up. He looked up at the ceiling, then down at the floor. Forget virtual projections. There wasn't even an extra outlet. Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore.

"System, come on. Didn't you say the evolution worked? Where's the upgrade?" The system's voice sounded, carrying a kind of calm that suggested it really did not want to explain basic things to an idiot.

"Human, are you misunderstanding what 'water and electricity supply evolution' means?" Jack froze.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Unlimited electricity does not mean electricity will start flying around the store. Unlimited water does not mean water will flood the entire building." Jack: "…" The system continued, "The holograms, cold lighting effects, and automatic armor you expected are not part of this evolution." Jack opened his mouth.

"But evolution sounds high-tech!"

"That is your own overactive imagination."

"Your starter pack description was not clear enough!"

"My description was accurate."

"Then you should've at least added more special effects!"

"The blue light scan was already a visual prompt."

"That was so half-assed!"

"Invalid complaint rejected." Jack was left speechless. He held the baseball bat, pointed at the ceiling, then pointed at the floor. For a moment, he actually couldn't find a proper angle to argue from. The system coldly added, "Recommendation: watch fewer sci-fi movies and pay more attention to real survival conditions."

"You're seriously lecturing me now?"

"This is a reasonable suggestion."

"What right does a system with a name like LOSS have to give me life advice?"

"Human, watch your wording." Jack was just about to say something else when the system's voice suddenly became serious.

"Human, weather conditions are changing." Jack stopped short.

"What?"

"A super sandstorm is moving toward this location at high speed." The expression on Jack's face slowly stiffened.

"How fast are we talking?"

"At its current speed, it will reach the convenience store's area in no more than three hours," the system said. After a brief pause, it continued, "If no protective measures are taken, the convenience store's outer structure will not be able to withstand the impact. At that point, you will not need to worry about the forty-day estimate." Jack swallowed.

"Why not?"

"Because you may not even last four seconds." Jack had no comeback for that. He looked outside the window. The red-brown wasteland in the distance was still quiet. But only for a moment. Far beyond the withered trees, the horizon darkened. Then it moved.