Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

The dark, silent canyon was now filled with the clamor of construction work.

The lights from the base vehicle, construction vehicles, and the drones flying overhead brought a faint semblance of civilization to this desolate wilderness.

After hours of stop-and-go progress, the base vehicle arrived at the entrance of a collapsed cave. Once a tunnel for vehicles, it had partially caved in during past earthquakes.

"The blocked sections of the tunnel total about 60 to 70 meters," Su Wu noted. "The structure above seems relatively stable. It's worth attempting to clear a path."

A reconnaissance drone hovered at the entrance, scanning for several seconds before flying up the slopes and cliffs for a deeper analysis of the tunnel's interior structure. Soon, a detailed 3D map was generated, complete with marked optimal construction routes.

However, conventional methods would be too slow to meet Su Wu's needs. After some consideration and computational validation via the onboard AI, Su Wu decided to take a more direct approach.

The base vehicle reversed slightly as an unmanned miniature mech exited the second compartment. The mech raised its electromagnetic sniper rifle, aiming it at the tunnel.

Blue flashes briefly illuminated the barrel as several shock-mode electromagnetic rounds blasted into the obstructing rocks.

The resulting tremors rippled through the tunnel and into the surrounding mountains, shaking loose a cascade of small stones.

Not waiting for the tremors to subside, the mech, guided by its tactical computer, launched a second volley of shots.

Within less than a minute, the 3-kilometer-long tunnel was forcibly cleared using brute force.

"Sometimes, violence really is the fastest solution," Su Wu remarked, satisfied with the efficiency.

Recalling the mech, he resumed piloting the base vehicle into the tunnel.

Although the mech's rifle had broken through most of the obstructions, further widening was needed for the base vehicle to pass safely. The AI-controlled robotic arms on the vehicle were capable of handling this task without requiring Su Wu's involvement.

A few minutes later, while observing the robotic arms clearing the debris, Su Wu was about to leave the cockpit to relax with a game. However, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a faint purple glow beyond the panoramic glass.

His pupils contracted instinctively, and his hair stood on end.

Purple Crystalite!

Reacting instantly, Su Wu grabbed the controls and reversed the base vehicle, retreating over 30 meters before coming to a stop.

Deploying a reconnaissance drone for a closer look, he confirmed his suspicions. There it was—a Purple Crystalite, only slightly larger than a fist and seemingly dormant.

"The second encounter."

Su Wu's mood darkened. His hope that the first encounter had been an isolated case was shattered. These creatures weren't unique but part of a species.

After a moment of thought, Su Wu continued to reverse the base vehicle. His priority was ensuring absolute safety.

Once the vehicle had exited the tunnel, he deployed an engineering robot and two flame-throwing vehicles to the location of the Purple Crystalite for containment and study.

This time, with experience on his side, Su Wu skipped unnecessary tests. He instructed the engineering robot to use a high-powered laser to slice the Purple Crystalite open.

The focused beam of extreme heat gradually cut through the creature's purple crystal and rock outer shell, splitting it cleanly in half.

There was no resistance. The Purple Crystalite behaved as if it were an inert stone.

Guiding the reconnaissance drone closer, Su Wu observed the cut crystal sections, which still emitted a faint glow. Inside, he found a tiny clump of organic material, no larger than a fingernail.

Without the drone's scanning equipment to highlight subtle differences, the organic material would have been indistinguishable from the surrounding rock.

"So this is the core of a Purple Crystalite?"

Though his curiosity was satisfied, Su Wu wasn't ready to end his investigation. Given that these creatures likely originated from the Earth's mantle—a region more vast than the oceans—they warranted further study.

Finding a suitable open area outside the tunnel, Su Wu activated the base vehicle's station mode.

With the sound of mechanical joints turning, the vehicle's three compartments extended outward, tripling their internal space and transforming the vehicle into a true land-based base.

Using pre-prepared materials, Su Wu built an additional engineering robot. With its help, he set up a brand-new advanced laboratory in the expanded second compartment.

This laboratory, significantly upgraded with a large investment of survival points, featured cutting-edge equipment. Its capabilities were akin to those of a near-future research facility, far surpassing the level of a standard regional lab.

Even its containment measures had been greatly enhanced. No matter how virulent a pathogen, it would be almost impossible for it to escape the lab's confines.

Once everything was ready, Su Wu donned the miniature mech's cockpit in the first compartment, raising his personal protective measures to their highest level.

He then ordered the engineering robot in the tunnel to seal the dissected Purple Crystalite in a lead-lined container and transport it to the advanced laboratory via the Ore-1 transport vehicle.

The transfer process took about 12 minutes. During this time, Su Wu remained in a state of heightened vigilance, monitoring the lead container and its surroundings through his array of sensors and equipment.

Thankfully,everything went smoothly. No unexpected incidents occurred.

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