"Alex, the boss is dead!"
"They say it was because he owed money for a construction project, and several workers beat him to death at the site!"
Hong Kong, inside an office building.
Alex Castro heard someone shout his name and gave him an indifferent glance. It was a young man in a formal suit, his hair slicked back with gel.
Then Alex lowered his head again.
He was playing a survival-adventure game on his tablet called Glacial Era. The graphics were fairly realistic, and it was considered a pretty hardcore survival game.
At the start, the player appeared next to a campfire. Because of the extreme temperatures in that world, you could only act safely within the reach of the fire.
If you stayed too far from the campfire for too long, your character would freeze to death.
Players had to build shelters and unlock different basic structures.
These structures could be upgraded by gathering materials. For example, the campfire could evolve into a large campfire, then into a furnace, and in advanced stages even into an energy tower.
In addition, players could develop military forces or technologies within their territory, unlocking different development paths…
According to the developers, a cooperative mode would also be released later.
However, since the game was still in closed beta, Alex didn't know anyone around him who played it, and he couldn't even find information about it online.
At that moment, a message appeared on the tablet screen.
[This game will enter maintenance in two hours. The public beta will be activated soon.]
[More content in development. Stay tuned…]
Was the public beta finally starting?
Alex's heart stirred slightly. At that moment, the young man with the slicked-back hair sat down naturally beside him.
Gabriel Wu put an arm around Alex's shoulder.
"Alex, you followed the boss for quite a while, at least. After all, he was your boss."
"Now that he's dead… doesn't it hurt a little?"
Alex put down the tablet and glanced at him.
"Come on. After he founded the Evergreen Group to 'clean up' his image, he cut ties with us."
"After all these years, I was just his personal driver. There was no emotional bond."
"Besides, that guy had a black heart. Getting beaten to death like that… It's pretty normal."
"You're right," Gabriel nodded.
Then he showed a meaningful smile.
"What a pity. He chased Laura Muñoz for so many years, and just when he finally won her over, and they were planning to get married, this happens."
"Speaking of that… Laura is a rare beauty."
"That body, those long legs… damn. Anyone would be dazzled."
"Too bad the boss didn't get to enjoy it…"
Alex didn't respond. His phone vibrated.
After reading the message, he stood up from the sofa and got ready to leave.
"Where are you going, Alex?" Gabriel asked.
Alex shrugged.
"I'm a driver. Where else? To pick someone up."
Alex arrived at the underground parking lot of the Evergreen Group and, among several luxury cars, easily found a dark brown Maybach.
The interior was extremely luxurious.
The total value of the car, including the equipment, easily exceeded seven million.
Of course, it wasn't his.
Alex was on his own, with no support from anyone. Living in a city like Hong Kong was already hard enough, let alone dreaming of a car like this.
Half an hour later, the Maybach stopped in front of a five-star hotel downtown.
Alex took out his phone and sent a message.
"Ms. Laura, I'm downstairs."
The reply was brief.
"Okay."
A few minutes later, a tall woman in an elegant black dress came out of the hotel.
Her movements were graceful. The tight dress outlined perfect curves, and her long legs looked like pieces of moving jade.
It was Laura Muñoz.
Alex didn't get out of the car. She went straight into the back seat.
"Alex, take me to the crematorium."
"Alright."
The car started moving.
Halfway there, Laura received a call. She frowned slightly, clearly annoyed.
"I already said it. I accepted that marriage because you forced me to. Now Carlos Rivera is dead, and I have nothing to do with him."
"Don't try to use me as a bargaining chip again!"
She sounded furious, but her good manners allowed her to calm down quickly.
"Sorry, Alex," she said softly.
Alex shook his head.
He knew her character well. She wasn't the type to mistreat subordinates because of her status.
In fact, she had always treated the people who worked for her well, and her public reputation was excellent.
After her rapid rise to fame, the media had thoroughly investigated her family and her past.
She didn't come from a rich family.
But thanks to her beauty and figure, she became famous after reaching adulthood.
Naturally, she attracted the attention of many people with bad intentions.
Among them was the president of the Evergreen Group, Carlos Rivera—Alex's "boss."
…
Soon, they arrived at the crematorium.
Before getting out, Laura forced a sad expression.
Even if she hated that man, she had to keep up appearances.
Alex stayed in the car.
An hour later, Laura came back.
It was obvious she had been crying. Her makeup was slightly smudged, with a faint smoky look.
Her elegance mixed with a hint of decay, creating a different kind of beauty.
"Alex, take me back to the hotel."
"Sure."
Just as Alex was about to start the car, everything suddenly went dark.
Then everyone heard a mechanical voice.
"The update ofthe Glacial Era has been completed. The global public beta officially begins. In one minute, all humanity of Blue Star will be transported into the game."
"System notice: this is a sunless world, vast and endless, covered by eternal cold. Your mission is to survive."
"You will appear next to a campfire. That is your flame of life. Do not stray from its light!"
"Gather resources, expand your territory, and develop units."
"The new mode is Family Survival. Maximum four people per group."
"Those without family will be randomly assigned to nearby people."
"Good luck. Live."
…
When Alex regained his sight, he found himself in a frozen wasteland.
Everything was covered in snow and ice.
"What the hell…? Where's my Maybach?"
A biting cold wrapped around him.
"Damn it!"
Instinctively, he moved closer to the campfire in front of him and felt a bit of warmth.
Then a panel appeared.
[Name: Alex Castro]
[Race: Blue Star Humans]
[Level: 1 (0/100)]
[Profession: None]
[HP: 100]
[Strength: 4 | Agility: 3 | Spirit: 5 | Constitution: 5]
[Lord Interface: Locked]
[Status: Cold]
[Current Temperature: -31°C]
"This is exactly like the game…"
Another notice appeared.
"All survivors must choose their profession."
"Five systems available: Cryogenic Engineer, Polar Warrior, Frost Mage, Boreal Knight, Snow Hunter."
Alex's eyes lit up.
He knew that at the start, none of the classes were very powerful.
The engineer, for example, could only summon a small, useless suicide robot.
The warrior barely knew how to cut.
The mage at least had an ice ball.
The knight used purification, and the hunter had perception.
To gain real power, you had to develop.
Alex thought it over.
"The engineer is the strongest, but only in the late game."
"In the early stages, the warrior and the hunter stand out, but they fall off later."
Then he understood.
"This family mode exists to balance professions and survive better."
He looked to his side.
There was only Laura.
She was staring at the campfire, confused.
"Looks like we won't have a full team…"
After thinking for a moment, Alex chose Frost Mage.
"Profession selected successfully."
Just then, another solemn message appeared.
[Compatibility detected between survivor 'Alex Castro' and this world. Unique talent activated: Eternal Power.]
[Eternal Power (hidden unique talent): any temporary buff obtained by allied units within the territory becomes permanent.]
Alex froze.
"What?! This is a cheat!"
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