"Thank you very much for dropping me off."
Sunny bowed slightly as she faced the sleek black sedan. She stood on the sidewalk, wrapping her arms around her chest to ward off the biting night wind. She waited patiently, watching the asphalt, until the Viper Boss’s driver drove off into the streets.
He must have been in shock after seeing her house.
Once the red taillights faded around the corner and the quiet hum of the engine vanished, she turned back to face her new property.
"It sure does look like a normal house."
It really did. The structure sitting behind the sleek iron gate was a stunning, modern architectural masterpiece. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows framed a spacious, softly lit living area.
Warm wood accents lined the exterior, blending perfectly with the manicured green lawn. It looked like a billionaire’s weekend retreat, the kind of place featured in glossy design magazines.
But Sunny knew the truth.
This is a trap card disguised as a house.
When the apocalypse triggered and the sky fractured, this beautiful glass-and-wood facade would shift. Thick, reinforced concrete slabs would slide down from hidden compartments in the roof, locking over every single window and door. The open-concept living space would seal shut, transforming the entire property into an airtight, indestructible steel-reinforced box.
She giggled, a bubbly, chaotic sound escaping her lips.
Sunny sprinted up the paved driveway. The front door unlocked automatically as the system registered her biometric presence, swinging open with a soft, satisfying click.
She stepped inside, and her jaw hit the floor.
The air smelled like fresh linen and expensive citrus. High ceilings vaulted over a sprawling living room furnished with pristine white couches and a sleek kitchen island carved from a single block of dark marble. A modern fireplace flickered against one wall.
It was a place she could never have afforded with her measly job back in Korea. She used to count pennies just to afford her instant ramen and her internet bill. Now, she was standing in a mansion that probably cost more than her entire old life put together.
Donnie, babe, wait until you see where we are going to live. You are going to love the marble countertops.
She kicked off her damp, phantom-spawned boots. She wanted to run through every single room, test every mattress, jump on the couches, and open every cabinet, but she stopped herself.
First things first. I need to wash off the scent of that mafia boss before Donnie ever gets near me.
She found the master suite down a short hallway. The bathroom attached to it was bigger than her entire old apartment. A huge standalone soaking tub sat in the center, surrounded by heated stone floors and a glass walk-in shower equipped with a dozen different showerheads.
Sunny stripped off the damp black combat shirt and leather pants, leaving them in a messy pile on the floor.
She stepped into the shower and turned the sleek metal dial. Hot water cascaded from the ceiling, instantly melting the knot of tension wedged between her shoulder blades. She washed her hair with shampoo that smelled like vanilla and crushed roses. For twenty minutes, she just stood under the spray, letting the reality of her survival wash over her.
She robbed an underground auction. She stole from a Level 1 Awakened. She finessed a mafia boss and secured a fortress.
She was actually doing this.
Stepping out, Sunny wrapped herself in a fluffy white bathrobe that felt like a warm cloud. She padded barefoot out to the sprawling bed, sinking into the plush mattress with a happy sigh.
Okay, System. Time to claim the real prize.
She pressed her finger against the silver crescent moon pendant resting on her collarbone. A brief flash of light illuminated the dim bedroom, and the intricately carved wooden box materialised right in her lap.
Sunny unlatched the lid.
The Black Lotus sat on its velvet cushion, pulsing with a faint, dark energy. Up close, the petals looked almost like spun obsidian, sharp and fragile at the same time. This was the item that was supposed to trigger Donovan’s first major power spike in the novel.
Sorry, husband. I am going to have to borrow your cheat code. I promise I will protect you with it.
She picked up the flower. It felt cold against her fingertips.
Without giving herself time to second-guess the decision, Sunny tossed the entire lotus into her mouth and started chewing.
She braced herself for a bitter, toxic explosion. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the terrible taste of magical herbs.
Nothing.
It tasted like absolute nothing. It was like chewing on cold, flavorless air. She swallowed, blinking in confusion.
Wait, did I get scammed? Was it a fake?
A sharp heat suddenly blossomed in the center of her chest. It didn’t burn, but it radiated outward, rushing through her veins like a shot of pure adrenaline. Her vision snapped into razor-sharp focus. The faint hum of the refrigerator two rooms away suddenly sounded crystal clear in her ears. She could hear the individual raindrops hitting the glass windows outside. She felt a sudden, vibrant energy humming right under her skin.
[Ding!]
The blue interface popped up right over the bed.
[Host has consumed the Black Lotus.] [Awakened Status: Initiated.] [Strength +15] [Agility +15] [Perception +20] [Special Passive Acquired: Absolute Poison Immunity.]
Sunny stared at the glowing blue text. She brought a hand up to her face, flexing her fingers. She felt different. She felt durable. Her muscles felt tight, coiled like a spring ready to launch.
Poison immunity. Nice. No one is slipping cyanide into my hot noodles anytime soon.
She hopped off the bed, her bare feet hitting the soft rug. She had a base. She had food in her spatial ring. She had superpowers. But she was missing one crucial piece of the puzzle.
When the sky cracks open and the monsters flood the streets, I cannot be running around in a taxi.
Normal cars would just pile up on the highways. The panic would cause brutal gridlock. People would abandon their sedans and run. She needed a vehicle that could ignore traffic rules entirely. Not just a car, but a mobile fortress.
Tomorrow’s mission: buy an armored car.
She knew exactly what she wanted. The Rezvani Tank she had seen online back in her old world. It was a tactical, bulletproof beast. It had thermal night vision systems, electromagnetic pulse protection, and a smoke screen dispenser. It’s one of a good protection for an apocalypse, capable of plowing through a horde of mutated creatures without scratching the paint. With that beast, she could drive straight through the front doors of Fallon Industries to save her husband if she had to.
She paced around the bedroom, her mind buzzing with survival plans. She decided to finally take a look at the rest of her new bunker. She wandered down the hall, opening doors.
A state-of-the-art kitchen with double ovens and a vast pantry. She ran her hand over the cold marble counters, imagining cooking a hot meal while the world burned outside.
Next was a giant walk-in closet. She pushed the door open and gasped. Rows of tactical gear, sleek black boots, and soft sweaters hung neatly on the racks. It was all her size. The system had actually stocked it with clothes that perfectly matched her style.
I am never leaving this house. Ever.
Then, she opened a thick steel door at the far end of the corridor.
Sunny hit the light switch.
Fluorescent bulbs flickered to life, revealing a vast, cavernous room. Metal racks lined the concrete walls. Display tables sat in the center. But the room was bare. There was not a single bullet, knife, or rifle in sight.
She walks into the mansion’s massive, empty armory.
Well, this is depressing. What good is a bunker without a few shotguns?
Right on cue, the familiar chime echoed in the empty room.
[Ding!] [New Target Acquired.]
Sunny looked up as the blue screen materialized in the center of the room.
[Mission: Intercept Donovan Fallon’s secondary survival asset.] [Location: Koria Shipping Yards, Pier 4.]
Sunny grinned, a vicious sparkle dancing in her violet eyes.
The system pings. Her next target is Donovan’s future weapons cache.