Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

Shi Ming didn't stay in the hall for long. Soon, more groups of people were brought in, making the space crowded and chaotic. He followed the prompts and ascended with the crowd to the third level.

The third level was the top of the mobile base, mostly exposed to the elements.

Many unprepared individuals were immediately drenched by the torrential rain and left shivering in the cold. Shi Ming fared better, having read the rescue team's online announcements earlier. Knowing he might be exposed to rain during the transfer, he had worn a raincoat in advance. This foresight left him in relatively good condition, with enough energy to take in his surroundings.

The third level—or more accurately, the rooftop—was surrounded by a simple metal railing. Toward the rear, about a third of the space was occupied by a sharp-topped metallic structure.

This building had numerous firing slots and rotating mounts, features that even someone unfamiliar with military equipment could easily associate with machine guns or bunkers. Clearly, the structure had been designed for warfare.

Taking cautious steps forward, Shi Ming approached the railing.

Outside, the floodwaters surged under the lights, crashing into the base with wave after wave. Occasionally, spray leaped up, reaching the rooftop floor 20 centimeters above the waterline, wetting Shi Ming's shoes.

The sight made Shi Ming's heart race. He gripped the railing tightly, instinctively trying to secure himself. A single slip into the raging waters below, and survival would be nearly impossible.

Turning his head, Shi Ming surveyed the distance. For the first time, he noticed two other similarly sized buildings nearby, equally crowded with rescued survivors.

He counted the figures roughly and estimated that there were nearly a thousand people across all the locations combined.

"So many people," Shi Ming murmured in astonishment.

The mechanical rescuers had saved far more individuals than he had imagined. He began to understand why they had no patience for delays during rescues—their time was far too precious to waste.

As he stood in the rain, Shi Ming waited. In the distant darkness beyond the reach of the lights, faint glimmers began to emerge, growing clearer as they drew closer.

It was a fleet of more than a dozen inflatable rafts.

The lead raft approached Shi Ming's rooftop, and two men in life vests secured it to the railing with ropes. They called out, urging the survivors to board quickly.

The rafts, no more than two or three meters wide, swayed precariously in the turbulent floodwaters, offering little sense of safety.

Some people hesitated, afraid to board, while others, braver or more desperate, scrambled aboard with swift movements.

Shi Ming, not particularly courageous, was nevertheless spurred into action by the memory of the young father who had been executed earlier for delaying the rescue. Summoning his resolve, he was among the first to step onto the raft.

To his surprise, the rescuers were not as unyielding as the mechanical enforcers had been. Seeing some survivors hesitate, two rescuers climbed onto the rooftop to help them, showing remarkable patience.

"Don't you have a strict schedule?" Shi Ming couldn't resist asking the third rescuer, who was manning the raft's engine.

"There's some leeway," the rescuer replied. "We're part of the secondary rescue teams. At worst, it just means you'll have to wait in the rain a little longer. It won't have a major impact."

The rescuer seemed accustomed to such questions and, seeing Shi Ming's curiosity, elaborated without prompting.

"I see," Shi Ming said, visibly relieved by the rescuer's calm demeanor.

Introducing himself, he added, "My name is Shi Ming. Before the apocalypse, I was an ER doctor at a city hospital."

"A city hospital doctor? That's a big deal," the rescuer said, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "In our shelter, you'd be considered high-level talent. Your income will definitely be several times mine."

"I'm Gong Wei, a technician at the Jingyuan Shelter's water purification plant," the rescuer continued, returning the introduction.

"A technician?" Shi Ming asked, surprised. "Then why are you out here in such a dangerous job?"

"No choice," Gong Wei shrugged. "This time, they've mobilized everyone. They say over 100,000 people were organized to rescue all of Jianghe City. If you're healthy and able-bodied, you're not exempt from duty."

"Over 100,000 people?" Shi Ming was stunned, struggling to comprehend the scale of the operation. It was hard to imagine the level of organization required for such an endeavor. Even the official shelters might not be capable of something like this.

"Well, this disaster affects the entire city," Gong Wei said, a note of resignation in his voice. "Without such a massive effort, countless people would die."

Shi Ming fell silent, unable to refute Gong Wei's words. Without such large-scale mobilization, someone like him, living in a small shelter, likely wouldn't have survived to board this raft.

As they chatted, the raft gradually filled with passengers.

The two rescuers at the front untied the ropes, and the raft slowly backed away from the rooftop, turning to head into the darkness. It was packed with 18 people.

In the pouring rain, Shi Ming looked back at the receding rooftop. Despite the growing distance and the obscuring sheets of rain, the three mobile bases standing tall on the water remained brightly lit.

They shone like lighthouses in the middle of a submerged city, illuminating the surrounding darkness.

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