One hour later.
Long Ming walked forward step by step. It had clearly looked as if the fallen object was not very far away, yet even now he still had not seen it.
He was beginning to suspect he had gone off course.
Even so, Long Ming continued onward. He no longer had any way back.
When he climbed the sand dune before him, he saw a huge impact crater ahead. Lying within the crater was an oval-shaped mechanical pod.
Long Ming took a deep breath and walked step by step up to the mechanical pod.
The pod’s materials and craftsmanship were both extremely advanced, completely out of place with this world’s civilization.
Long Ming raised his bracelet and scanned it.
“Prompt: Supply pod discovered. Open?”
Long Ming was immediately delighted when he saw the prompt. He had not expected it to be a supply pod. If there was food and water inside, that would be perfect. He promptly tapped the option.
“Yes!”
Click!
The entire supply pod split open at once, revealing a 1.5-meter-long portable weapons case and two metal boxes.
Long Ming reached out and opened the portable weapons case. A brand-new M24 sniper rifle and its accessories were revealed. Its black metal body gave off a matte black sheen, giving it an extremely high-end feel.
Long Ming took a deep breath, then reached out and picked up the M24 sniper rifle.
A prompt immediately popped up on the scanning bracelet.
M24 Sniper Rifle.
Durability: 100/100
Detailed parameters: Caliber 7.62 mm, overall length 1092 mm, unloaded weight 5.49 kg, magazine capacity 5 rounds, effective range 800 m.
After Long Ming finished reading the data on the bracelet, he placed the rifle back into the portable weapons case.
If he could bring this weapon out, then he would have struck it rich.
After doing this, Long Ming picked up one of the boxes and opened it. Inside was a round injectable syringe.
Perception Drug
Effect: After use, enhances the five senses for one hour.
Long Ming swept a glance over it, then reached out and opened the second box. Inside the box was a finely made invitation letter.
Long Ming was immediately somewhat disappointed. It was actually a Civilization Voucher, not supplies.
However, he quickly adjusted his emotions and glanced at the time. He discovered there was only 1 hour and 7 minutes left.
And from here to the extraction point, there was still nearly 5.2 kilometers to go. Under normal circumstances, that would not be a problem at all. Unfortunately, Long Ming was now hungry, exhausted, and thirsty. It would truly be very difficult.
At this moment, Long Ming made his decision. He threw away the single-shot rifle in his hand, as well as the iron chain in his backpack, reducing his load as much as possible.
Although he was rather reluctant to part with them, given the current situation, he had to lighten his burden to the greatest extent possible.
If he could not extract alive, then no matter how good the items were, they would have no meaning.
Afterward, Long Ming slung the M24 over his back, put the Perception Drug, the invitation letter, and the accessories into his backpack, then turned and walked toward the extraction point.
One hour later.
Long Ming no longer knew how far he had walked. His steps grew slower and slower, his feet seeming as if they had been filled with lead. Every step required him to exhaust all his strength.
The scorching sunlight shone down on him, greedily wringing every drop of moisture from his body.
Long Ming felt as if his entire body no longer belonged to him, and his consciousness was gradually becoming hazy.
At this moment, red warning messages kept flashing on the bracelet’s screen.
“Warning: You have been online for more than 23 hours and 53 minutes!”
“Warning: Body is in an extreme state.”
Just then, Long Ming’s body began to sway. Then he fell heavily to the ground, panting as he lifted his head to look ahead.
He saw a mechanical platform standing not far away, but his body had already reached its limit. No matter how strong his will was, he could no longer hold on. He could not stand up at all.
Even so, Long Ming still did not give up. Gritting his teeth, he crawled little by little toward the mechanical platform.
By then, only five minutes remained before the twenty-four-hour mark.
Long Ming could no longer hold on. His entire body lay sprawled on the ground, motionless.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
When only the final thirty seconds remained.
Suddenly, one hand pressed onto the mechanical platform. Long Ming laboriously raised his head and looked at the platform.
The indicator light on the mechanical platform was green.
A faint smile appeared on Long Ming’s face. He used the last of his strength to crawl onto the mechanical platform and gazed up at the azure sky.
In an instant, the complex patterns at the bottom of the mechanical platform lit up with a faint glow.
Buzz~
The bracelet vibrated, and a prompt popped up.
“Extract?”
A tired smile immediately appeared on Long Ming’s face. He had won the gamble!
With a trembling hand, he reached out and tapped extraction.
Buzz~
In an instant, the mechanical platform activated, and Long Ming slowly floated up.
At this moment, he suddenly felt an unprecedented lightness, allowing his body to drift slowly toward the sky. In the end, he turned into a streak of white light and departed.
Inside the dim bedroom.
Long Ming suddenly opened his eyes, then began coughing violently.
Cough, cough!
He reached out and took off the helmet.
An endless sense of exhaustion swept over him. He felt extremely dispirited, and even his vision was somewhat blurry.
The feeling was like that of someone who had just survived drowning.
Still, Long Ming forced himself to get out of bed and came to the table. He picked up the cough medicine placed there and took a sip. Immediately after, he unscrewed the bottle of immunity medicine, poured out two pills, and swallowed them directly.
After doing all this, Long Ming returned to the bed, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
He did not know how much time had passed before Long Ming groggily opened his eyes, then slowly sat up.
He shook his head. Although his head felt a little heavy, at least he had recovered.
But just then, an incongruous sound rang out.
Gurgle~
At this moment, Long Ming felt as if his body had been hollowed out. He was exhausted and starving.
He turned his head to look outside the window. The sky was still dark; dawn had not yet come.
However, when Long Ming took out his phone and glanced at the time, he was stunned.
It was now 8:14 p.m. In other words, he had slept for over ten hours and had gone nearly two whole days without eating or drinking.
Long Ming hurriedly left the bedroom and went to the kitchen, reaching out to open the refrigerator and look for something to eat.
Unfortunately, the refrigerator was completely empty. There was nothing to eat at all.
Long Ming helplessly closed the refrigerator, put on his coat and shoes, and hurriedly left the house.
Inside a 24-hour convenience store.
Ding-dong~
“Welcome!”
As the notification sounded, a middle-aged uncle wearing a gray shirt behind the cashier counter raised his head and glanced toward the door.
He saw Long Ming walk in.
“Isn’t this Long Ming? Haven’t seen you in a while.”
The convenience store owner greeted Long Ming with some surprise.
“Mm. I’ve been rather busy lately.”
Long Ming explained briefly to Boss Tang Ke, then walked toward the non-staple food shelves.
He took five packets of instant noodles and a pack of sausages.
In truth, Long Ming really wanted to take the cup noodles, but those were too expensive, so in the end he gave up on them.
He brought these items to the cashier counter and said to Boss Tang Ke,
“Checkout.”
“Twenty-one in total. Since you’re a regular, just give me twenty.”
“Thank you.”
“But Long Ming, don’t blame me for saying this. Your health isn’t that good to begin with. Don’t eat this stuff too often.”
“Mm, I know.”
After Long Ming silently paid with his phone, he carried the items and left.
Tang Ke watched this scene and shook his head regretfully.
“Such a good kid. What a pity!”