Lin Chen returned to his room and placed the supplies on the table. He opened his system panel, which displayed his collected items: water, food, bandages, and a small flashlight.
A new notification popped up:
[System]: Resource collection complete. Unlock "Item Analysis."
Lin Chen clicked the icon. A new screen appeared, showing each item's value, durability, and usage. The flashlight was marked with a special symbol—Emergency Light.
"This is useful," he muttered. He checked the time; it was almost dusk. Outside, the sky turned a deep red, and the neighborhood grew quieter than ever.
He decided to test the flashlight. He turned it on, and a soft white light filled the room. It wasn't bright, but it was steady, reliable.
Just then, his phone buzzed. A message arrived:
"Stay safe. Update soon."
It was from his teammate, Zhang Hao. Lin Chen smiled. He had missed talking to someone.
He wrote back:
"All good. Getting supplies. You too."
After sending, he placed the phone down and looked at the window. The red light outside was calming, almost peaceful. Lin Chen took a deep breath. He knew the real challenges were only just beginning.