[Day -1 before Temperature Collapse]
Five days had passed since Killua first heard the chilling words: Temperature Crash Incoming.
In that time, he worked like a man possessed.
His dome shelter was no longer just an empty space—it was stocked to the ceiling. Rice sacks, canned goods, bottled water, thermal blankets, medical kits, and even a secondhand generator he scavenged from the junkyard.
He had looted discreetly, using his Resource Claim ability on abandoned warehouses, small hardware shops, and even a deserted farm lot. Each time he returned to the dome, he whispered the same thing:
> "This… this will keep me alive."
But now, the countdown ticked lower and lower.
[System Warning: 24 Hours Remaining.]
Killua's chest tightened as he saw the glowing numbers hovering in the air.
And then—something new happened.
---
Across the City — Manila
A flash of blue light filled the skies. For a moment, people thought it was another power surge. Students stopped in the middle of campus, vendors froze at their stalls, traffic snarled to a halt.
Then, glowing holographic windows appeared before everyone.
[Warning!
Global System Activation.]
The voice wasn't human. It was clear, mechanical, echoing in every language at once.
[Attention Humans:
In 24 hours, a planetary temperature crash will begin.
The surface of Earth will drop to sub-zero conditions.
A new Ice Age is coming.
This is not a test.]
Panic spread like wildfire.
"What is this?!"
"A virus? AR glasses prank?"
"No… it's… it's in my eyes! I don't even have a phone!"
People screamed, prayed, cursed, some fell to their knees in the middle of the street.
[Survival Protocol Initiated.
Each individual will receive a Starter Pack.
Shelter-building, scavenging, and combat abilities can now be unlocked.
Adapt or perish.]
---
Back in the Dome — Killua
Killua sat frozen.
He already had the system. For him, this wasn't news—it was confirmation. But now… everyone else had it too.
His advantage was slipping.
The system's interface flickered again.
[Daily Mission Update:
Because of your early preparation, you hold a unique title:
— Pioneer Survivor.
You are one of the first 0.1% to adapt before Global Activation.
Special Perk: All skills gain +20% efficiency.]
Killua exhaled, relief flooding him. So I'm still ahead… for now.
---
Meanwhile, Outside
The streets descended into madness.
Students abandoned classes. Workers fled offices. Families rushed to supermarkets—only to find them stripped bare. The sudden activation of the system made everyone desperate.
Lines at banks grew violent as people demanded withdrawals, thinking money would save them. Others ran to hardware stores, buying every generator, heater, and blanket they could find.
Some groups organized instantly. Rich kids from Killua's school flaunted their Starter Packs—flashy weapons, survival drones, and automated shelters.
"Finally, my father's donations paid off," one sneered, summoning a sleek, glowing cube that unfolded into a luxury safehouse.
Ordinary people stared in despair at their meager packs—cheap tents, rusty knives, and one-week food supplies.
The divide between rich and poor sharpened overnight.
---
Inside the Dome
Killua watched from a small slit he carved in the wall.
"I knew this would happen," he muttered. "The rich will still think they're untouchable."
But unlike them, Killua wasn't starting from scratch. He had five days of preparation, an inventory full of stockpiles, and the Sub-Zero Dome—sturdy enough to survive what was coming.
He clenched his fists.
"One day left… then the world freezes. Let's see who laughs last."
---
System Global Broadcast
For the second time that day, the blue holograms appeared across the world.
[Final Warning:
This planet will enter the Ice Age in 24 hours.
Temperatures will drop below -100°C.
Prepare your shelters.
Survival rate prediction: 2.4%]
The last number echoed like a death sentence.
Only 2.4%…
Killua's stomach dropped. Out of billions, only a fraction would survive.
But he swore to himself—
> "I'll be part of that 2.4%. No matter what."