Except for the base leader standing at the podium, the conference room was packed with members of all the rescue teams.
“110, how many people are in the room?”
“Host, there are 322 people present.”
So many? Jiang Fanxing was surprised. He had assumed this meeting would only involve his eight-person squad to plan the next day’s rescue mission, not an assembly of every team. Was there important news to announce? He peered through his veil, focusing on the leader. The leader’s steady, slightly weathered face was brimming with excitement. The tension in the room was palpable until the leader finally announced, “Just moments ago, the research institute achieved a breakthrough: the development of the Temperature-Control Capsule Home.”
“These capsule homes absorb solar energy and convert it into electricity for daily use. The materials insulate against extreme temperatures and extract water molecules from the air, maintaining a constant indoor temperature while harvesting water. They also feature a closed-loop water system, recycling drinking water and tap water.”
“Furthermore, they break the limitation of traditional, immobile housing. They are lightweight, foldable, and portable, making them perfect for field rescues. As long as the sun continues to shine, these capsule homes can operate safely for up to 200 years.”
As soon as he finished, the conference room erupted. Jiang Fanxing was stunned. The emergence of these capsules would completely upend the apocalypse. If they were deployed across the globe, survivors would no longer have to wait in despair for death. They would regain hope, and the rescue teams would no longer need to exhaust resources to bring everyone back to the base.
More importantly, for Jiang Fanxing, it meant he could shorten the rescue mission significantly. He had feared it would take months or years to save every survivor, but now he might be able to leave this world in less than a month. He felt a surge of excitement and quickly confirmed with 110, “Is it true? If the survivors outside get these capsules and are no longer threatened by the climate, can I leave?”
110 replied, “Yes, host. However, you must participate in the deployment operation, or the mission will be considered a failure.”
In other words, as long as he contributed to the salvation of the world, it did not matter if he was the sole hero; the mission would be completed. This made future missions feel much more manageable. Of course, some worlds were beyond saving and would inevitably be destroyed, in which case he would simply have to survive the apocalypse alongside them. But compared to the despair he felt upon first arriving in this rift, the pressure was significantly lighter, and he was no longer opposed to entering new ones.
While Jiang Fanxing was reeling from the news, Xie Yunqing and his team were equally elated. The rescue team members native to this world wept with joy. The apocalypse had struck so suddenly that they had feared they would spend the rest of their lives trapped in the base, never seeing the world recover. Now, they could farm, raise livestock, and live self-sufficiently. They could return to their original homes and walk the earth again, shielded by their thermal-control suits. After living in the mud for so long, they had finally seen the dawn.
Infected by their emotion, the base leader wiped his eyes. Composing himself, he continued, “Everyone, the institute is ramping up production. In one week, these capsules will be ready for deployment. In the meantime, I ask for your continued hard work in rescuing survivors.”
“It is our duty!”
“The apocalypse is finally coming to an end. I must spread this good news to the entire world!”
On the way back, Jiang Fanxing followed Jia Liang. He watched as the man alternated between excited outbursts and tears of relief. Understanding the weight of the moment, Jiang Fanxing did not interrupt his emotional release. The next morning, they drove out of the base once more to continue the rescue efforts. The work proceeded steadily without any setbacks.
A week flew by, and they returned to the conference room. Alongside the base leader stood several researchers who demonstrated how to use the capsule homes. A package the size of a pillow expanded to ten square meters with the press of a button, absorbing the air around it. The crowd backed away, eyes filled with wonder.
“This is the smallest model, ten square meters,” a researcher explained. “There are also 30 and 50-square-meter models, and even larger ones.” Jiang Fanxing guessed the larger ones were intended for farming and livestock.
“You will be deploying the 10 and 30-square-meter capsules,” the researcher continued. “We have also prepared supply kits containing nutrient-rich soil, seeds, compressed rations, and a heat-control suit. With these, survivors can achieve self-sufficiency.”
After the leader delivered a series of inspiring remarks, the supplies were distributed to the teams. Xie Yunqing was reassigned to aerial supply drops, while Jiang Fanxing and the remaining members continued to drive trucks filled with capsules to various corners of the world.
The rescue effort spread like wildfire, with more volunteers joining every day. Within half a month, they had covered most of the world, returning to the base only once to resupply. During that stop, the base’s communicator operator found Jiang Fanxing. Though she was disappointed she could not see his face, she subtly expressed her interest in him. Jiang Fanxing recognized her as the woman he had spoken to over the communicator. Realizing her intent, he said simply, “I am sorry, but I like men.” She left, disappointed and embarrassed, and he never saw her again.
Another half-month passed, and capsule homes and supply kits had been deployed worldwide. One afternoon, as Jiang Fanxing finished setting up a capsule and switched it on, 110’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Host, according to system calculations, humanity in this world has adapted to the environment. No one will die from extreme climate conditions hereafter.”
Jiang Fanxing’s heart leaped; he knew what was coming.
“Ding! Congratulations, host, mission completed.”
“Please prepare yourself. In ten minutes, you will be sent back to reality.”
Jiang Fanxing’s eyes crinkled behind his veil. Too good. Having feared a sudden departure, he had kept all his belongings in his backpack. Since he did not want to alarm anyone by vanishing into thin air, he decided to find a secluded spot to wait. Before leaving, he walked over to Jia Liang. He had spent over a month with the man, who had treated him with genuine kindness, and he wanted to leave a token of his appreciation.
Having given his only badge to Li Zhenyang, he handed Jia Liang the bag of snacks he had been saving. Jia Liang stared at the bag in confusion. “Why are you giving me these? Keep them for yourself; I do not care for snacks.”
Jiang Fanxing knew he was being modest. Jia Liang might not have liked snacks before the end of the world, but in a time of scarcity and bland vegetable mashes, he did not believe for a second that Jia Liang did not want them. He shoved the bag into Jia Liang’s arms. “Just take them.”
Relenting, Jia Liang smiled. “Then, thank you.”
“I am leaving,” Jiang Fanxing said.
Jia Liang, oblivious to the deeper meaning, smiled and said, “Take care.”
Once the team finished their deployment, they began returning to the trucks. When Jia Liang realized Jiang Fanxing was missing, he asked the others, “Have you seen Little Jiang?” The others shook their heads. Jia Liang’s expression shifted, and he murmured, “He told me he was leaving, but I thought he just stepped away.”
They searched the area but found nothing. Jia Liang guessed the truth, feeling a pang of sadness. That kid left just like that.
Unable to find him, the team returned to the base. When Jia Liang opened the snack bag, he found a card inside that read:
Brother Jia, I am gone. Do not look for me. Also, there is a guy named Lin Qing who offended me. I never got the chance to settle the score, so please beat him up for me. And I forgot to tell you, my name is Jiang Fanxing. Goodbye.
Jia Liang burst into tears. He had a sinking feeling that he would never see Jiang Fanxing again.
Meanwhile, Xie Yunqing and his team felt a sudden darkness envelop them, followed by a dizzying sensation, as if they had been tossed into a washing machine. When they came to, they found themselves back in reality, surrounded by soldiers. Lin Zihan and the others were terrified by the heavy military presence until they spotted Xie Yunqing. They realized they were no longer in the rift world; their old tactical gear lay at their feet, and a single capsule home stood beside them.
A voice resonated in the air: This is a gift.
Xie Yunqing looked at the capsule, then searched the crowd with a sharp gaze. Wait, what about the man with the surname Jiang? The one who was also from the real world?