Survival in the Apocalypse: Max Level Drop Rate with Abundant Resources

The teleportation light faded, and Shen Xi stood once again atop the desolate mountain.

Take a deep breath and feel the long-awaited fresh air filling your lungs.

Shen Xi had no idea how long he had been in the rotting corpse mine, but the strong stench made him almost think he was about to turn into a corpse himself.

[System Notification: Congratulations to player "Taichu" for successfully clearing the solo dungeon "Corpse Mine" for the first time!]

[Completion Rating: S-Rank (Perfect Completion)]

[Rewards being distributed...]

Experience +200, Free Attribute Points +5, Gold +100, Reputation +100

[Congratulations to player "Taichu" for reaching level 7! All base attributes increased! +5 free attribute points!]

[Special Rewards: Skill Fusion Card (Bronze) x1, Equipment Fusion Card (Bronze) x1]

[Skill Fusion Card (Bronze): Can fuse two Bronze-level skills, with a chance to obtain a Silver-level skill]

【Equipment Fusion Card (Bronze): Can fuse two bronze-level equipment pieces, with a chance to obtain silver-level equipment】

Shen Xi's eyes lit up.

Holy crap, it's a fusion card!

He'd heard of this in his previous life, but it was a high-level item that only appeared in the mid-game. He never expected that in this life, his very first solo dungeon would drop it.

Without saying a word, he found a rock to sit on and opened his backpack.

In his skill bar, [Triple Strike] and [Whirlwind Slash] lay quietly. These two bronze skills had helped him cut down countless corpses, but now, with more advanced skills, they were starting to fall behind.

"Integration".

With a thought, Shen Xi activated both skill cards simultaneously.

Please select the skills you wish to fuse.

He selected [Triple Strike] and [Whirlwind Slash], and clicked confirm.

Two beams of light shot out from the skill bar, intertwining, swirling, and merging in the air. The light grew brighter and brighter, making Shen Xi squint.

A few seconds later, the light faded.

A new skill icon appears in the skill bar.

[Congratulations! You have obtained the Silver-tier skill: Whirlwind Triple Slash!]

【Whirlwind Triple Slash (Silver Tier - Active): After activation, enters a spinning state, unleashing three consecutive area-of-effect attacks. The first circle deals 120% damage, the second 140% damage, and the third 160% damage. During the spin, the user is immune to control effects, but movement speed is reduced by 30%. Cooldown: 25 seconds.】

Shen Xi's breathing became heavy.

Three laps!

Damage increases with each lap!

It also helps control immunity!

This is several levels better than a simple whirlwind slash.

"nice one."

He took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and took out the equipment fusion card.

Inside his storage space, the [Corpse Claw - Left] and [Bone Battle Axe] lay quietly. These two bronze pieces of equipment had accompanied him through the most difficult beginner period, but now they were starting to fall behind.

"Integration".

Two beams of light shone again.

The rotting claws and the bone battle axe flew out of the backpack, colliding and merging in mid-air. The bones shattered, the claws melted, and then they reformed and coalesced...

A moment later, a brand new weapon landed in Shen Xi's hands.

It was a strangely shaped battle axe. The axe body was made of polished bone, but the blade was divided into five sections, like five claws joined together. Black strips of cloth were wrapped around the handle, gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

[Congratulations! You have obtained the Silver-tier weapon: Bone-Corroding Battle Axe!]

【Name: Corrupted Bone Battle Axe】

[Type: Weapon]

[Quality: Silver]

Attack power: 42-48

[Durability: 65/65]

[Special Effects: Tear (30% chance to inflict Bleeding effect on attack, lasting 8 seconds), Armor Penetration (ignores 15% of the target's defense), Lifesteal (10% of the damage dealt is converted into the user's health)]

[Description: Forged from the fusion of a rotting corpse's claws and a bone battle axe, this weapon combines the sharpness of claws with the weight of a battle axe, making it a rare and deadly killing tool.]

Shen Xi gripped the axe handle tightly, feeling the warmth emanating from her palm.

Blood sucking!

This axe has life-steal properties!

This means that you can heal yourself while fighting, maximizing your survivability.

He stood up and swung it twice. The Corrupted Bone Battle Axe was heavier than the White Bone Battle Axe, but it felt excellent in his hand, and the five axe blades drew strange arcs in the air.

"Good axe."

Shen Xi put away her weapon with satisfaction and opened the attribute panel.

[Player: Primordial Beginning (King of Newcomers)]

Level: 7 (Experience: 15/1000)

【Strength: 46】

【Spirit: 37】

[Agility: 44]

[Physical Fitness: 51]

Free attribute points: 15

[Reputation: 6100]

Gold Coins: 6100

[Skills: Whirlwind Triple Slash (Silver), Bloodlust Berserk (Silver), Bloodlust Charge (Bronze)]

[Equipment: Corrupted Bone Battle Axe (Silver), Mine Owner's Bone Blade (Silver), Bone Blade Dual Blades (Silver), Storm Cloak (Silver)]

[Item: Ghost Child's Rag Doll (Silver, Remaining Uses for Today: 0)]

Storage space: 14 cubic meters

[Task: None]

[Dominator Bonus: Heavenly Evolution Drop Rate]

Level 7.

All attributes have increased dramatically, and equipment skills have been upgraded.

Shen Xi nodded in satisfaction, turned off the panel, and turned her gaze to the foot of the mountain.

There, the outline of Starshine City was clearly visible in the sunlight. High-rise buildings stood tall, and streets crisscrossed, but the once bustling metropolis now exuded an eerie stillness.

Occasionally, black smoke would rise, and screams and cries could be faintly heard from within the city.

The end of the world has already spread throughout this city.

Shen Xi gripped the Corrupted Bone Battle Axe tightly, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Gu family, I'm here."

He stepped down the mountain and disappeared into the dense forest.

......

at the same time.

Starshine City, Military Region Headquarters.

As night fell, the headquarters building was brightly lit.

In a secluded room on the third floor, three people sat around a round table.

Gu Zhengxiong sat in the main seat, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

Gu Yunfei stood behind him, his eyes fixed on the person opposite him.

A middle-aged man in his fifties was sitting opposite me.

He had a square face, thick eyebrows, dark skin, and a robust build. He wore his city garrison uniform impeccably.

Zhao Dezhu.

The deputy commander of the city defense army, Liu Xinghui's right-hand man, had been with her for ten years.

At this moment, he sat opposite Gu Zhengxiong, his face calm and revealing no emotion.

Silence filled the secret room.

Only the sound of Gu Zhengxiong's fingers tapping on the table, one tap after another, seemed to strike people's hearts.

After a long silence, Gu Zhengxiong spoke.

"Deputy Commander Zhao, I don't like beating around the bush." ​​He looked directly into Zhao Dezhu's eyes. "You know the situation in Xinghui City better than I do. The apocalypse has come, order is collapsing, and this city needs a strong leader."

Zhao Dezhu did not speak.

Gu Zhengxiong continued, "I admit Liu Xinghui is a capable woman. But what can she do? Defend the city? Suppress bandits? Or lead everyone to survive? She's just a politician, not a warrior."

He paused, then raised his voice: "What this city needs now are soldiers, people who can fight, people like you and me."

Zhao Dezhu finally spoke, his voice low and deep: "What does Commander Gu want me to do?"

A smile appeared on Gu Zhengxiong's lips.

He raised his hand, and Gu Yunfei immediately stepped forward and placed a document in front of Zhao Dezhu.

"This is your file," Gu Zhengxiong said. "Your daughter's medical records, your wife's job, every single account you've handled over the years—it's all in here."

Zhao Dezhu's expression changed slightly.

Gu Zhengxiong continued, "Your daughter's illness requires imported medicine. Is your and your wife's salary enough? Over the years, you've received quite a bit of 'special allowance' from Liu Xinghui, haven't you?"

Zhao Dezhu remained silent.

"I'm not here to threaten you," Gu Zhengxiong's tone softened. "I'm here to help you."

He leaned forward, his eyes piercing: "After this is done, your daughter will have priority access to the military region hospital's medical resources. Your wife can be transferred to the military region's logistics department, with doubled benefits. You will be promoted to major general and appointed as the deputy commander of the military region."

Zhao Dezhu's breathing became heavy for a moment.

Major general.

Deputy Commander of the Military Region.

This is a position he could never reach, no matter how hard he tried his whole life.

Looking at his expression, Gu Zhengxiong knew that the time was almost right.

"You don't need to do much," he said in a low voice. "Just distract the city guards around Liu Xinghui when the time is right. I'll take care of the rest."

Zhao Dezhu raised his head, looking at Gu Zhengxiong with a complicated expression: "You're going to kill her?"

Gu Zhengxiong laughed: "Liu Xinghui is a smart man. A smart man won't stubbornly resist when a knife is held to his throat."

He did not give a direct answer.

But Zhao Dezhu understood.

A long silence fell over the secret room once again.

After a long silence, Zhao Dezhu finally spoke: "After it's all done, you really won't hurt her?"

Gu Zhengxiong looked at him, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "If she cooperates, I guarantee she will leave Xinghui City safely."

Zhao Dezhu stared into his eyes, trying to find a flaw in them.

But those eyes were like a deep pool; you couldn't see anything in them.

Finally, he lowered his head.

"...I agree."

Gu Zhengxiong smiled, stood up, and patted Zhao Dezhu on the shoulder: "Deputy Commander Zhao, oh no, General Zhao, it's a pleasure to work with you."

Zhao Dezhu did not laugh.

He stood up and silently left the secret room.

Behind him, Gu Yunfei leaned close to his father's ear and asked, "Father, is this person trustworthy?"

Gu Zhengxiong watched Zhao Dezhu's retreating figure disappear through the door, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips:

Whether he is credible or not is not important. What is important is that he has no way out.

"Once he gets things done, this pawn will be useless."

Gu Yunfei felt a chill run down his spine, but said nothing.

Outside the window, the night was as dark as ink.

Somewhere in Starshine City, a piercing scream shattered the night sky.

Another unlucky soul became dinner for a rotting corpse.

Night finally fell.

Starshine City was shrouded in an eerie silence.

In the distance, from the direction of the military region, the faint roar of engines could be heard.

A storm is brewing.

At the eye of the storm, the young man had just taken out a lot of bottled water supplies and took a refreshing cold shower.

After washing away the blood and stench from the rotting corpse mine, and changing into a few new clothes, Shen Xi strode towards the city.

"Starlight City..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"I am coming."

"Gu Jia, are you ready?"