The Eschaton of Iron Winter

"Poor survivor, welcome to the Dark Apocalypse. Here you'll seek opportunities to stay alive!"

"To survive in this apocalyptic land, remember these rules:"

"First, this is an end-time world eroded by unknown radiation. Social order has collapsed, civilization has perished... All areas outside shelters are contaminated. Prolonged exposure will cause infection."

"Second, mutated creatures - 'Rotting Corpses' and 'Mutants' - roam freely due to radiation. Guard against their threats immediately!"

"Third, extreme blizzards and perpetual subzero temperatures dominate this world. Supplies like food, clean water, and warm clothing will be vital currencies."

"Fourth, shelters are the only relatively safe zones. Develop your survival around them."

"Fifth, every survivor possesses a 'Survival Radio' to assist your existence."

"Sixth, to aid survival, each person may select three items from the survival toolkit. Confirm your choices to receive them."

...

Apocalypse?

Survival?

Staying alive?!

Lu Shen awoke from unconsciousness, rubbing his throbbing temples as he looked around in horror.

"Where... is this?"

His vision gradually cleared to reveal a dim, musty space smelling of long abandonment. Biting cold immediately assaulted his senses - at least -10°C - shocking him fully awake.

Stumbling upright, he finally comprehended his surroundings: An underground shelter. A roughly 5-square-meter space with earthen walls, illuminated faintly by light filtering through cracks in an overhead wooden plank serving as entrance cover. Howling winds battered the makeshift door, their ominous thumping echoing through the frigid chamber.

Shivering violently in his thin autumn clothes, Lu Shen urgently inspected the shelter. Against the far wall stood a narrow single bed layered with dusty bedding. A crude wooden table dominated the center, its surface occupied by an old military-green radio emitting ghostly light - the source of those initial announcements.

"The Survival Radio mentioned in the rules..." Lu Shen murmured, recognizing the device's cracked screen now displaying a package icon with text: [Confirm to receive supplies?]

After brief hesitation, he tapped confirmation. The screen flickered to display ten items:

Winter thermal suit

500g compressed biscuits

1.5L purified water

Axe

Flint

×10 reusable water purification tablets

Mini medical kit (bandages, antibiotics, fever reducers)

Insulated sleeping bag

Salt

Iron pot

Each item's importance screamed at him. Clenching chattering teeth, Lu Shen analyzed priorities through survival logic:

"Flint first - no fire means no surviving tonight." His finger hovered over selection two. "Winter suit essential - hypothermia will kill faster than hunger." Finally, "Water purification tablets - radiation-contaminated water needs treatment."

With reluctant confirmation, three items materialized: A thick thermal suit with fleece lining, flint stones, and purification tablets. Lu Shen frantically donned the suit, relief flooding through him as warmth returned to his limbs.

Now examining the radio's glowing interface, movement caught his attention - the rickety bed frame. As he sat to inspect the flint, rotten wood snapped violently. With a thunderous crash, the entire bed collapsed into splinters and dust.

"...Darn it!" Lu Shen coughed through the debris cloud, staring at the wrecked furniture. "Could this shelter BE any more decrepit?"