Looking at the upgrade info, Dean paused for a moment.
Looks like if he wanted to survive the first night, he'd definitely need to upgrade the windows, but damn this was expensive.
[Tempered Glass] cost 3 coins—meaning he'd have to kill 30 zombies just to upgrade the windows.
He only had 60 bullets total. Unless every shot was a headshot, he wouldn't have nearly enough ammo.
Dean checked the time—a little over 3 hours until dark.
He had to move fast!
Just farming zombies for coins was absolutely not gonna work—he needed to find treasure chests!
Dean drove the van slowly across the plains grassland.
Hunting for treasure chests was definitely hard on the eyes.
Sure, there wasn't much blocking his view on the plains, but everything looked the same, plus the sunlight was harsh—staring too long made his eyes hurt.
After spending over an hour, Dean finally managed to find a little red fruit tree and picked "Fresh Fruit x43" from it.
[Fresh Fruit]
Rating: One of the most common fruits on the plains, packed with essential nutrients. Regular small consumption can boost constitution, but shouldn't be eaten in large quantities as a main meal—causes diarrhea.
Dean tried one. Tasted kind of sour and bitter, but it quenched his thirst okay.
He stuffed the rest of the fruit into his backpack and got back in the van.
But after just a few hundred meters, Dean felt the road getting soft and mushy, making driving difficult—like he'd entered muddy wetlands.
Dean broke out in a cold sweat and immediately stopped.
This world didn't have roadside assistance. If he got stuck here, he'd have to figure out how to get unstuck himself, or he'd be trapped here to die!
Can't keep driving!
Dean got out of the van and sure enough, his foot sank right into muddy water.
The terrain had changed, and who knows what he might encounter next.
He chambered a round in his pistol with a "click," ready for on-foot exploration.
Just then, a notification sound rang in his ears.
[Ding!]
[Today's intelligence triggered! Do you accept?]
Here we go!
Dean immediately perked up.
This time, he decisively chose to accept!
=====
[Today's Intelligence]
You have reached the outskirts of the swamp zone—a dangerous area where opportunity and peril coexist, where even zombies become food for certain terrifying creatures.
But likewise, this place hides many surprises. For example, about a hundred meters southeast of your current position, unusual white light has appeared. Explore that area carefully and you might find unexpected rewards.
But remember—definitely bring your weapon.
=====
"Southeast direction, about a hundred meters..."
Dean carefully read through this intel and looked toward the southeast.
The grass there was sparse and crooked, with a wet sheen to it.
No zombies... but definitely other dangerous factors.
Worth checking out!
Dean held his gun with both hands, crouched slightly, and slowly approached that direction step by step.
The mud underfoot gradually became softer and muddier, soon reaching his ankles. Each step felt like planting rice—his shoes almost got sucked off several times.
Plus, Dean noticed tracks in the muddy grass...
Snake trails from slithering movement, big and small, making his skin crawl.
Dean became even more cautious as he walked over a hundred meters and finally reached the target area.
As soon as he arrived, he spotted a wooden treasure chest half-buried in the muddy ground, his eyes immediately lighting up.
There really was one!
Dean slowly walked over and opened the wooden chest.
[Obtained Coins x1, Python Skin x5, Universal Bullets x200]
[Obtained "AK47" x1]
[Obtained "Short Dagger" x1]
A whole pile of equipment and materials jumped out.
Two weapons!!
Dean was thrilled, taking them all out of the chest.
=====
[Rifle] AK47
Magazine: 30/180 (auto-refill)
Durability: 100%
Modification Attachments: None
Rating: The world's highest production rifle, beloved by pirates, gangs, and bandits everywhere. Nothing a burst can't take down—if there is, just give it another burst.
=====
[Short Dagger]
Durability: 100%
Modification Attachments: None
Rating: Sharp with strong concealment, perfect for sneak attacks during life-or-death struggles. (Don't hesitate—whip it out and stab!)
=====
Besides the two weapons, there was also "Python Skin" and "Universal Bullets."
Python skin could be used to craft armor, upgrade seats, and other very useful materials.
As for universal bullets, they could refill ammo for all firearms except sniper rifles—total hard currency!
Awesome!
Dean tucked the dagger and pistol on either side of his waist, holding the AK in his hands—his confidence instantly skyrocketed!
But...
Something felt off.
Dean recalled the description in today's intelligence: 'This area seems to have had mysterious white light appear.'
Where was the white light?
It couldn't be referring to this wooden chest, right?
Since he was already here, might as well take a look!
Dean calmed down and crouched in the mud, carefully observing everything around him.
Soon, he saw a seven or eight meter long python, thick as a bowl, emerge from the grass...
Holy crap...
Dean jumped, watching helplessly as this python slithered past just four or five meters in front of him.
And it wasn't just this one.
In the next ten minutes, Dean spotted at least five giant pythons!
One of them was over fifteen meters long, scaring him so bad he didn't dare make a sound.
If that thing wrapped around him, his bones would probably get crushed to dust.
This swamp outskirt area was no joke.
After nervously searching for half an hour, Dean finally discovered something unusual in the grass where a python had just passed through.
Although the mud surface was quickly re-covered, he still caught that unusual glimmer of light.
Dean's heart rate instantly spiked.
There it was!
White light!
Dean swallowed to calm his nerves and slowly approached that spot.
The sludge here was deep enough to reach his shins.
Dean rolled up his sleeves, plunged both hands into the muddy water, and kept feeling around.
Sure enough, he soon felt a hard chest with neat edges.
"Heave!"
Dean held his breath and used all his strength to lift the entire chest out.
Glub glub glub...!
The muddy water kept bubbling, and the white light became more and more obvious.
Finally, the entire treasure chest surfaced completely.
[Silver Treasure Chest]
Rating: If you found me, consider yourself lucky.
(Chest levels: Wooden Chest, Black Iron Chest, Silver Chest, Golden Chest, Purple Glory Chest, Black Diamond Chest, Legendary Chest...)
Holy shit! A Silver Treasure Chest!
Finding a third-tier chest on the first day—who else could do that!
Dean suppressed his excitement and opened the chest directly.
Clang—!
With a crisp sound, brilliant light poured out of the chest.