Chapter 1: The Beginning of Chaos

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February 14, 2020—Valentine’s Day. On a night that should have been aglow with lanterns and warmth, the world was instead playing host to an apocalypse.

Around the White House, the heart of the M Nation’s government, gunfire echoed ceaselessly, mingling with smoke and fire. In the darkness, shadows loomed, and before the White House stood a hulking beast, radiating an aura of savage menace in the heavy air.

Its eyes, like bronze bells, glowed green. The creature cast a casual glance at the blood splattered across a soldier’s uniform, then flicked its crimson tongue over its lips, baring a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth.

Around it gathered a horde of half-human, half-beast monsters, clad in black scales and wielding gleaming, deadly weapons. They looked as if they had emerged straight from the depths of hell.

Below, in the White House’s underground safe room, a white-haired elder with an air of natural authority sat before a camera, his expression grave as he broadcast live to the nation.

“...Hereby, I—President Felice Howard—reaffirm the following orders: All citizens are to evacuate to the nearest military installations and seek assistance... We will make every effort to maintain order... Let hope remain forever in our hearts. I believe we can overcome this crisis together. God bless...”

On the other side of the globe, in the capital of the Z Nation, the administrative center was under attack by another horde of monsters, these bearing sharp horns and mantis-like scythes for arms, moving as swiftly as lightning.

The ground outside was awash with blood, and the soldiers, with no thought for their own safety, formed the final line of defense with their very lives.

Inside a secret bunker, the nation’s highest elder was also broadcasting live.

“Everyone must embody the spirit of perseverance... Face this calamity with courage. Now, in the time when the people need us most, Party members must put the protection of the people’s property first. Trust in your Party and government... I repeat, persistence is victory.”

To the west, on an island nation in the Pacific, four- and five-meter-tall squid rampaged unchecked. The nation was powerless to resist, and the smoke drifting over the island painted a portrait of despair.

From the E Nation to the Y Nation, from the D Nation to all other corners of the world, major government centers and military bases were subjected to devastating assaults. The suddenness of these attacks left the world’s militaries unable to mount a meaningful defense. Humanity was plunged into an unprecedented crisis.

Meanwhile, in a small southern town of the Z Nation, flames raged in the streets, and the air was filled with alternating cries and explosions.

An elderly man half-sat on the ground, cradling a blood-soaked old woman in his arms. His face was etched with despair as he stared at the sky, muttering, “A calamity... We’re all going to die... Retribution! This is our retribution...”

Suddenly, a lithe shadow leapt at him. The old man’s voice was cut short, blood splattering darkly over the ground. The shadow tore open his chest, stuffing his organs into its mouth with razor-sharp claws.

Moments later, in the flickering firelight, the creature leapt from the corpse and pounced toward its next terrified victim.

Scenes like this played out all over the town. Accustomed to peace, the townspeople were helpless in the face of the monstrous onslaught, defenseless and panicked. Even the local police force was too overwhelmed to help.

In a secluded alley on the town’s western edge, a tall young man emerged under the dim glow of a streetlamp. He was in his early twenties, his features refined and gentle. He wore a pair of glasses with one shattered lens, clutched half a wooden stick in his hand, and his left shoulder was stained with blood as he moved quickly through the shadows.

Suddenly, he froze, spotting a lurking shadow ahead—its eyes blood-red, brimming with ferocity. Wang Ji’s lips curled in a bitter smile as he mocked himself, “Who’d have thought, after twenty years, that I, Wang Ji, would die a virgin...”

Wang Ji, a single recluse from a small southern town in the Z Nation, orphaned from childhood, had scraped through a second-rate university on government aid. In these days where money and connections meant everything, he’d ended up working part-time at a bookstore in this town.

Today, on Valentine’s Day, Wang Ji had been selling flowers and contraceptives for extra cash, feeling quite pleased with his earnings. But disaster struck without warning: after buying some roast meat for dinner, he’d barely gotten home when the neighbor’s fat cat—now mutated—burst in and clawed his shoulder. He barely escaped with his life, only to run into a hamster the size of a large dog in this alley.

Wang Ji wanted to run, but his remaining strength was spent. The wound on his shoulder left him dizzy—signs of blood loss and exhaustion.

Gritting his teeth, he pressed his back to the wall, body taut and ready to strike, determined to go down fighting.

Faced with certain death, Wang Ji let out a furious roar and threw himself at the beast. If he was doomed, he’d at least go out swinging!

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The mutated hamster shrieked and lunged at Wang Ji as well. Both figures collided—one desperate for survival, the other provoked by its prey.

But just as they clashed, a flash of blue light erupted between them, and suddenly, the world was silent.

...

In a daze, Wang Ji raised his hands and shook his groggy head.

“Am I dead? Is this what death feels like?”

A cold, mechanical female voice spoke:

“Host binding complete! Initiating automatic environmental scan...”

“Scan complete! Time confirmed: February 14, 2020, 21:42:20…”

“Host data acquisition complete. Reality: Foreign species incursion data acquired...”

“In response to your question, you are currently in the virtual space of the X Military Research Base Command Center!”

The deluge of information from the mechanical voice left Wang Ji frozen, but in less than a second, he rolled to his feet, astonished to find himself pain-free.

Vigilant, Wang Ji surveyed his surroundings: a space of roughly a dozen square meters, furnished like the command center of a sci-fi film. Ahead was a large screen, a desk, and a chair.

“X Military Research Base Command Center?” Wang Ji was confused—was this some supernatural event?

“Yes, you are in the X Military Base Command Center. Strictly speaking, your consciousness is here; your body remains in the real world.”

“What’s going on?! Is there something wrong with my mind?” Wang Ji frowned, troubled.

The mechanical voice answered again:

“Conducting host body scan... Scan complete... Host’s left shoulder has sustained a primary laceration and is bleeding. Mental state is normal... For detailed information, please consult the screen.”

A three-dimensional human projection appeared on the screen, the left shoulder highlighted in red, surrounded by data. Wang Ji barely glanced at it, stunned to realize that this mysterious voice could sense his very thoughts.

“Rest assured, I am the X Military Research Base Auxiliary Intelligence System. I can communicate with you mentally or verbally, as you prefer,” the mechanical voice explained.

Wang Ji took another look around. “Alright, what’s your name?”

“This auxiliary intelligence system is as yet unnamed. Please assign a name,” the voice replied, still emotionless.

Wang Ji frowned, but given the circumstances, he flopped carelessly into the chair.

“Fine then... Since this is the X Military Research Base, I’ll call you the X System.”

“Command confirmed! Executing order! Auxiliary intelligence system officially renamed X System!”

Wang Ji’s expression brightened with curiosity—his reclusive imagination and adaptability were already showing their worth.

“Stop calling me ‘host’ all the time. Can’t you use something else?” Wang Ji pushed up his glasses, glancing around.

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“Command confirmed... Accessing host permissions; order accepted. Please select your preferred title: 1. Host, 2. Commander, 3. Wang Ji.”

Wang Ji immediately chose, “2!”

“Command confirmed. Commander, please issue your next order!”

“X System, where did you come from? Why are you here?”

The X System paused for several seconds before replying, “Insufficient commander privileges. Unable to answer.”

Wang Ji rolled his eyes. “So what can you do for me?”

This time, the X System responded quickly: “The X Military Research Base can help you study military knowledge, including training, command, and technical skills. You can also use energy points to materialize items, such as weapons and equipment. Finally, I can assist you in fighting against foreign species.”

Wang Ji’s eyes lit up. The world had gone mad—he slapped his hands together and stood up.

“That amazing?! Make me a tank right now! Those freakish monsters—those ‘foreign species’ you mentioned—are terrifying!”

“Command confirmed... Command denied... Your current privileges and energy points are insufficient to produce a tank.”

The X System’s icy words doused Wang Ji’s excitement.

“What are energy points? How many do I have? How do I get them? And when can I make a tank?” Wang Ji rattled off his questions.

The screen before him flashed, displaying a management interface as the X System continued:

“As you can see, Commander, you currently have zero energy points. Energy points are the foundation of the X Military System. Without them, you can’t produce or research weapons or equipment. You obtain energy points by killing foreign species.”

“To acquire energy points, you must approach within three meters of a slain target.”

“Your current rank is Private. You must reach the rank of Major to unlock tank production. Rank increases are also earned by accumulating points from killing foreign species.”

“Rank progression is as follows: Private, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Senior Colonel, Major General, Lieutenant General, General.”

Armed with this information, Wang Ji realized just how lucky he was to have stumbled into this opportunity.

“So, with zero energy points, is there any weapon I can make?”

He desperately needed something to defend himself and find a safe place—he couldn’t get far with just a broken stick.

“None.”

Wang Ji chuckled wryly, feeling he’d asked a foolish question.

The mechanical voice spoke again: “Commander, please consult the tech tree. All permissions and requirements are clearly detailed there.”