The Queen of Scrolls never admits defeat

Even though he was mentally prepared, and even though he had played this game for years in his previous life, Xiao Xiao's heart was still pounding violently at this moment because of the unparalleled realism.

This isn't a game; it's like being thrown back into that desolate wasteland, as if we've returned to the apocalypse.

She forced herself to calm down; now was not the time for sentimentality.

Time is life, it's a precious coin, it's the key to future survival!

She lowered her head and looked at the back of her left hand.

There, a purple card, about the size of a coin, with intricate and exquisite lines, was emitting a barely perceptible soft light.

At the center of the design is an abstract, swirling rune.

This is it! The core card system that runs throughout the entire game and into the true post-apocalyptic future!
There is no character customization or class selection in "Doomsday". All players have after entering the game, besides this "game body" that is highly synchronized with their real-life physical and mental state, is this mysterious card pattern on the back of their hand.

Xiao Xiao took a deep breath, extended her right index finger, and gently touched the purple card pattern on the back of her left hand.

A semi-transparent user interface, glowing with a pale blue light, appeared out of thin air in front of her, like an unfolded scroll.

The interface is simple and divided into three clear columns:
[Left Sidebar - Personal Information]

Name: Xiao Xiao

Mental Power: 58/58
Gem Coins: 0
[Middle Column - Personal Card Album]

Current status: Not enabled (Enabling requires Gem Coins)

Storage slots: 0
[Right Sidebar - Card Shop]

Current level: Lv.0 (Upgrading requires Gem Coins)

Available for purchase: None (insufficient store level)

The basic interface was exactly the same as in his previous life! Xiao Xiao felt relieved.

Gem Coins are the only hard currency in the game world, and their source is only one thing—spiritual power.

One point of mental energy can be exchanged for one point of gem coin at any time.

Mental energy will naturally recover over time after it is depleted.

Maintaining a good survival status in the game will accelerate the recovery of mental energy.

More importantly, engaging in active activities such as building, exploring, and learning in this world can slowly and steadily increase the upper limit of one's total mental energy.

Gem Coins play a crucial role; they unlock storage slots in your personal card album. Purchased cards must be stored in the card album to be brought into reality once the card system becomes a reality.

Additionally, you can upgrade the card shop level and purchase cards. The higher the shop level, the more types of cards there are and the better the quality.

Xiao Xiao's gaze swept over the empty Lv.0 shop interface on the right, but his mind conjured up images of the dazzling array of goods that would appear here in the future:
{Food Card - Dry Bread}, {Food Card - Clean Water}, {Tool Card - Simple Stone Axe}, {Tool Card - Crude Torch}, {Building Card - Simple Shelter}, {Medical Card - Hemostatic Medicine}... Of course, there is also the most core and most expensive {Magic Card} series.

{Spell Card - Illumination}, {Spell Card - Water Condensation}, {Spell Card - Growth Enhancement}, {Spell Card - Ignition}...

In the game, these {magic cards} are all single-use items; their only advantage is their low price and ease of use.

But Xiao Xiao knew a shocking secret—a secret that players only vaguely noticed long after the apocalypse of his previous life.

Each magic card contains true and complete magical knowledge!

Once you purchase and use the {Meditation Card} series, master the meditation methods recorded within, truly perceive and enter your own "spiritual sea," and understand how to use your spiritual power, you can use your spiritual power to "read" the magical knowledge in those {Magic Cards}, learn the magical principles contained within, and thus truly master these spells, instead of merely relying on the limited number of uses of the cards!
This is the deepest value of this game!
However, in the past life, after the apocalypse truly arrived and the card system became a reality, the price of {magic cards}, which were originally inexpensive in the card shop, would skyrocket to a despairingly high level of over a hundred times!
This means that most people may only master one or two of the most basic magics in their entire lives.

But now, she has been reborn! She knew this secret beforehand!
Next, she will spare no effort to accumulate gem coins, unlock the card album as soon as possible, upgrade the shop level, and purchase {Meditation Cards} and all available {Magic Cards}, hoarding as many {Magic Cards} as possible before the card system becomes a reality.

Without hesitation, Xiao Xiao tapped the "Mental Strength" value in her personal information panel, and a simple exchange option popped up.

She chose "redeem all" without hesitation.

[Exchange successful!] [Mental Strength: 0/58]

[Gem Coins: 58]

She then turned her gaze to the card shop on the right.

The Lv.0 shop was empty, so she chose to upgrade.

[Consuming 1 Gem Coins upgrades the Card Shop level to Lv.1]

The Lv.1 shelf immediately refreshed with several simple items:
{Food Card - Black Bread}: 1 Gem Coin

{Food Card - Turbid Water}: 1 Gem Coin

{Tool Card - Broken Stone Fragment}: 1 Gem Coin

{Tool Card - Coarse Hemp Rope}: 2 Gem Coins

{Building Card - Simple Grass Mat}: 3 Gem Coins

These are all the most basic, even somewhat meager, survival supplies.

Xiao Xiao didn't even glance at it before choosing to upgrade again.

[Consuming 10 Gem Coins upgrades the Card Shop level to Lv.2]

Gem Coin Balance: 47

The shop interface flashed slightly, and the items immediately became more abundant. Not only were there several more practical tools and slightly better food, but more importantly, {Meditation Experience Card} and {Level Zero Magic Card} appeared:

{Meditation Experience Card - Level 0}: 10 Gem Coins

[Effect: After use, guides the user into a meditative state lasting 1 hour. Effect: Significantly accelerates mental energy recovery speed (approximately 3 times the base recovery speed). Uses: 1/1.]

{Level 0 Magic Card - Ignite}: 10 Gem Coins

[Effect: When activated, it generates a small, stable flame that burns for approximately 30 seconds on your fingertip or a designated flammable surface. Uses: 10/10.]

……

It's here! Just like I remember!
Click to buy.

[Consume 10 Gem Coins to obtain {Meditation Experience Card - Level 0} x1]

Gem Coin Balance: 37

47 Gem Coins. After deducting the 10 Gem Coins required to purchase this card, 37 Gem Coins remain.

She immediately turned her attention to the personal card album section in the middle.

Click "Start".

[Unlocking your personal card album requires Gem Coins. Initial unlock cost: 10 Gem Coins, granting 10 basic card slots. Subsequent expansion slots will have an increasing price. Unlock now?]

"Turn on!"

[Gem Coins consumed: 10. Personal card album unlocked. Current card slots: 10/10]

Gem Coin Balance: 27

Now, she has a card album to store her cards.

Cards can only be accessed at any time if they are stored in a card album, and in the future... they will materialize into reality with the system.

The {Meditation Experience Card} was automatically saved to her newly opened personal card album. (End of Chapter)