Strictly speaking, when Mo Xiaobai received the system notification that the safe zone construction mission was complete, not all safe zones had been finished yet. The system calculated completion based on the six blueprints used as templates. When at least one of each type of safe zone had been successfully built—around June 16th, two days before full completion—the task was considered done.
At that time, Mo Xiaobai had just woken up and was washing up when the notification sounded:
“Congratulations to the host for completing the Intermediate Merit Task:Construct Safe Zones Based on the Safe Zone Blueprints. Task Reward: Ultra-Large Base Protective Shield Blueprint ×1 Task Completion: 120%Reward Merit Points: 12,000,000.”
“Little Fuwa, what does 120% mean?” Mo Xiaobai was thrilled to see a completion percentage above 100%. That meant an extra 2 million merit points! Even though she’d been earning merit points non-stop recently, that was still a significant amount.
“Host,” Little Fuwa explained, “when the task outcome exceeds the system’s original calculation, it’s considered an over-completion. For example, this task only required six types of safe zones—one of each blueprint—for 100%. But China actually began constructing sixteen safe zones. Even though not all were complete, the system recognized this as overachievement.”
“I see! So that’s how it works.” Mo Xiaobai’s eyes brightened—she’d just found a way to exploit the system’s reward scaling. She decided to try that again in future tasks.
Following standard procedure, she turned the task reward over to the proper research team for study and implementation, and used the merit points to exchange for supplies.
By the time June 18th arrived and all safe zones were completed, the Ultra-Large Base Protective Shield’s core components had already been fully researched. By June 21st, every safe zone would be protected beneath it.
With China’s current level of preparedness, more people would at least have a chance to survive when doomsday arrived.
Using the six safe zone blueprints as a base, China’s architectural experts made extensive adjustments and optimizations to suit different purposes. Ultimately, sixteen safe zones were constructed across the country.
Each safe zone included:
The Livestock and Planting Zones were mainly overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture. Most wood-type and beast-type ability users who lacked offensive powers were stationed there.
The Residential Zone served as the main civilian area and political hub—it contained the living quarters, recreation areas, and administrative centers.
The Training Zone was open to everyone for ability and physical training. It was further divided into sub-areas: ability training, physical training, and firearms practice zones.
The Military Zone was for the armed forces only, featuring military barracks, mecha training fields, and heavy weapon testing areas.
The Research Zone was self-explanatory—reserved for scientists and researchers.
Each safe zone’s internal layout varied depending on local geography.
The zones were named simply: Safe Zone No. 1 through No. 16.
Safe Zone No. 1, located in City A, was the largest and most secure. It housed the central command, the National Research Institute, and the Main Ability Training Camp.
Yes, the ability training camp would continue to exist—its format would change with circumstances, but the main camp would always remain the most elite.
The other fifteen safe zones were distributed around No. 1, forming a protective ring. The nearest one was a five-day drive away, while the farthest took ten days to reach.
Once construction finished, the next stage was transporting supplies and stationing troops.
Civilians were relocated to the nearest safe zone based on proximity. When the apocalypse came, they would be admitted in an orderly fashion.
Their treatment within the safe zones would depend on their contribution value.
After China entered a wartime state, a Contribution Value System was established. Citizens earned points based on their contributions to the safe zones’ construction. These points would become the primary currency in the post-apocalyptic era.
The calculation rules were fully public and transparent. Everyone could check their points and transaction records on the National Contribution Value Website.
As a result, everyone worked hard—those who could donated money, those who couldn’t contributed labor. This collective spirit was what allowed the safe zones to be completed ahead of schedule.
The website also allowed direct exchange of contribution points. Citizens could view needed materials or available jobs and trade accordingly to earn more points.
There was also a Contribution Mall, which sold items developed by the Research Institute based on Mo Xiaobai’s blueprints and formulas—nutrition potions, restorative liquid, spatial buttons, combat suits, light-brain devices, and more. It even included agricultural products and specialty foods produced by Mo’s mother and other space-type ability users. None of these goods were available outside.
Essentially, the Contribution Website served as a simulation of post-apocalyptic life, letting citizens familiarize themselves with the new system in advance.
Public response was highly positive. Most people saw the contribution system as a fairer replacement for currency—since the mall’s goods were so rare, using money would have been too unequal.
Contribution points could be traded or gifted, but with strict limits: both parties had to appear in person at a Contribution Transaction Center, undergo physical and brainwave scans, and sign to prevent coercion or fraud.
Because everyone understood the value of contribution points, private transfers were rare.
It wasn’t that darkness didn’t exist—but the government had done everything possible to minimize it.
During the last three days before the apocalypse, China’s citizens were busy relocating.
The military—including ability users—were deployed around each safe zone to protect evacuees and prepare for immediate rescue operations once disaster struck.
The government still couldn’t determine how infectious the coming zombie virus would be. That was why citizens were instructed to stay outside the safe zones until after the outbreak—entering too early risked contamination.
On June 20th, China held a press conference to announce several key decisions:
Additionally, internal notices were issued adjusting the safe zone entry timeline.
Residents near the safe zones were ordered to begin home isolation immediately. To prevent infection, each person should live alone if possible and stock at least one week’s worth of supplies. Those lacking resources could purchase goods from the contribution mall—delivery would arrive within 24 hours.
Those without housing could contact local relief stations, which would assign temporary shelters nearby. Civilians still en route were to follow the instructions of their assigned evacuation leaders.
China, Central Command — Main Conference Room.
The national leader, Mo Xiaobai, and others sat watching the massive screen displaying the eerily still cities below. Everyone’s expression was solemn. None could predict how many people would still be alive once the zombie virus swept through.
All staff members who hadn’t awakened abilities finished their final checks, then returned to their personal isolation pods—small individual rooms installed at the entrance of each safe zone for future quarantine purposes.
At that moment, every non-ability soldier stationed at the safe zones entered these compartments, waiting for the apocalypse to arrive.
All ability users returned to their assigned sectors, ready for action.
Everyone aware of the truth watched the clock in silence—until the foretold time finally arrived.