The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the sea mist like sharp swords.
Qin Yu opened his eyes.
Yao Xue was still asleep in his arms, her long hair disheveled, breathing steadily - last night's passion had drained too much of her energy.
He gently withdrew his arm.
He didn't indulge in this comfort.
What concerned him more than the beauty was the bloody countdown hanging over his head.
Time waited for no one.
Qin Yu rolled out of bed, wearing only shorts, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
The sea was as calm as dead jade.
"System."
Qin Yu called out silently in his heart.
"Check in."
Another new day.
Another moment to verify his lucky bloodline.
[Ding!]
[Daily draw activated.]
[Drawing in progress...]
A massive virtual wheel spun rapidly before Qin Yu's eyes.
Kaleidoscopic color blocks merged into a continuous line.
If this were before, Qin Yu might have felt slightly nervous.
But now.
Having acquired this steel giant ship, his mindset was as steady as Mount Tai.
Even if he drew a "Thank you for playing," he could afford the loss.
"Stop."
Qin Yu casually called out.
The wheel abruptly halted.
A dazzling golden light instantly filled his entire field of vision!
Not white light, not blue light, not even purple light.
It was golden light!
[Congratulations, Host!]
[Obtained S-Rank survival supplies: Nano Fluid Tactical Suit (Set) x10!]
[Item description: Individual combat equipment from future high-dimensional technology.]
[Trait 1: Absolute Defense. Uses non-Newtonian fluid nano material, soft as silk in normal state, hardness surpasses diamond upon impact, immune to conventional firearms, blades, and even small-caliber artillery impacts.]
[Trait 2: All-Weather Constant Temperature. Built-in miniature nuclear temperature control chip, maintains optimal human comfort temperature of 24 degrees Celsius whether in -100 degree extreme cold or 300 degree heat.]
[Trait 3: Automatic Adaptation. No sizing required, automatically conforms to body shape after wearing, lightweight like a second skin.]
[Trait 4: Self-Cleaning. Waterproof, dustproof, never develops odors.]
Looking at the description on the light screen, Qin Yu couldn't help but break into a wide grin.
If this were yesterday, he might have preferred weapons.
But now.
This thing seemed tailor-made for the "Extreme Ice Hell" three days later!
Minus fifty degrees?
Before this suit, that was nothing but a joke.
"Extract."
With a flash of light.
Ten black metal suitcases materialized on the floor.
Qin Yu casually opened one.
Inside lay a black bodysuit, shimmering with iridescent light, feeling like flowing mercury to the touch, cool and smooth.
He picked up the suit.
Pressed it against his body.
The clothing seemed alive, instantly covering his entire form without even a zipper, seamlessly merging.
Immediately after.
An indescribable comfort enveloped his entire body.
Like soaking in a hot spring.
Qin Yu walked to the mirror.
The black combat suit outlined his explosive, panther-like musculature, with dark red flowing light patterns at the joints, exuding a lethal technological aesthetic.
"Testing durability."
Qin Yu casually picked up a fruit knife from the table.
Without hesitation, he stabbed it forcefully toward his own arm.
Clang!
A crisp sound rang out.
The moment the blade tip touched the fabric, the originally soft material instantly hardened into impenetrable armor.
The fruit knife shattered directly.
A broken blade fragment flew off and embedded itself in the nearby wooden cabinet.
Qin Yu's arm didn't even show a red mark.
"Excellent gear."
A sharp glint flashed in Qin Yu's eyes.
This wasn't just clothing.
This was a second life!
"Mmm... Qin Yu... what are you doing?"
Yao Xue on the bed was awakened by the noise.
She pushed herself up, rubbing her sleepy eyes as the blanket slipped down, revealing vast expanses of snow-white skin adorned with red marks from the previous night.
She stared blankly at Qin Yu standing before the mirror, clad in black combat armor.
"What... what is this?"
"Did you materialize this too?"
Qin Yu turned around.
The black combat suit made him appear even more cold and ruthless, like an emotionless killing machine.
"Get up."
"Time to test new equipment."
Qin Yu kicked open two other cases.
"Bring Yao Qian."
"These will keep you alive."
Ten minutes later.
In the living room.
Yao Qian stumbled downstairs with messy hair, yawning widely, clearly still recovering from last night's all-night gaming session.
"Brother-in-law... what is it so early..."
"I just fell asleep two hours ago..."
She mumbled complaints groggily.
But when she saw the two sets of black clothing shimmering with flowing light on the coffee table, her eyes widened instantly.
"Is... is this cosplay gear?"
"So cool!"
As a dedicated otaku, she had zero resistance to anything with this level of cyberpunk style.
"Put them on."
Qin Yu sat on the sofa, toying with the broken blade fragment.
"Are we going out?"
Yao Xue, more perceptive, picked up the clothing. It felt slightly cool to the touch, completely unlike ordinary fabric.
"I'm going alone."
Qin Yu said calmly.
"This clothing can stop bullets, blades, and resist extreme cold."
"Temperatures will drop in three days. This will keep you alive."
Hearing "bulletproof," Yao Xue's expression instantly turned grave.
Without another word.
Right in front of Qin Yu, she untied her robe.
Since she was already his woman, there was nothing to hide.
She picked up the seemingly small outfit and slipped it on.
A miraculous transformation occurred.
The fabric flowed like liquid, automatically expanding to envelop her curvaceous figure.
Seconds later.
A cold and beautiful female warrior with a fiery figure and heroic bearing stood before Qin Yu.
The S-grade combat suit perfectly accentuated every curve of her body.
Every contour in its ideal place.
Paired with her naturally aloof temperament, it created a visual masterpiece.
"So comfortable..."
Yao Xue flexed her limbs.
No sense of restriction whatsoever, and the constant temperature effect instantly cleared her mind.
"Wow! Me too, me too!"
Seeing how amazing her sister looked, Yao Qian immediately shook off her drowsiness.
She grabbed the other set and pulled it on in seconds.
"Oh my god! It even auto-adjusts at the waist!"
Yao Qian exclaimed in delight, running her hands over her newly defined waistline.
"Brother-in-law! This is incredible!"
"I'll never have to buy clothes again!"
She spun around excitedly on the spot, like a child who'd just received a new toy.
Qin Yu looked at the two strikingly beautiful women before him, each with their distinct style, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Enough."
"Stop preening."
Qin Yu stood up, his tone turning cold and hard again.
"Business."
The two women immediately fell silent.
They knew that when Qin Yu wore this expression, he was about to issue commands.
"That Sunken Ship Island the bald guy mentioned is twenty nautical miles from here."
"I'm going alone."
"You two will stay and guard the ship."
"I'm coming with you!"
Yao Xue blurted out almost instinctively.
She stepped forward and grabbed Qin Yu's arm.
"I'm a doctor, if there are casualties, I can..."
"No."
Qin Yu cut her off directly.
His eyes showed no fluctuation whatsoever.
"The situation there is unknown. Taking you along would be a burden."
The words were hurtful.
But true.
Yao Xue bit her lip, her eyes dimming slightly as her hand slowly released its grip.
She knew Qin Yu was right.
In this cruel world, strength was everything.
Though she held a medical doctorate, she truly couldn't be of much help in real combat.
"Moreover."
Qin Yu pointed at the floor beneath their feet.
"This ship is our foundation."
"We have supplies here, water, electricity."
"If I leave and our base gets raided, that would be true disaster."
Qin Yu's gaze swept over both women.
"These clothes are impervious to blades and bullets. The ship has an S-Class Automatic Defense System."
"As long as you don't foolishly venture out, even an army couldn't breach this place."
"I need you to guard this place well."
"Understood?"
Yao Xue took a deep breath, the vulnerability in her eyes disappearing.
Replaced by firm determination.
"Understood."
"As long as I'm alive, this ship will remain standing."
"I can help too!"
Yao Qian raised her hand, her small face full of seriousness.
"I can monitor the cameras! I can operate the turrets!"
Qin Yu ruffled Yao Qian's hair.
"Mm."
"If anyone dares to approach."
"Open fire immediately."
"If you kill the wrong people, I'll take responsibility."
After giving all instructions.
Qin Yu turned and headed toward the lower deck warehouse.
"I'm going to retrieve that human GPS."
...
Lower deck storage room.
Dark, damp.
The air reeked of urine.
The bald boss was tied up like a dumpling, curled in the corner.
His face was swollen like a pig's head, a rag stuffed in his mouth allowing only muffled grunts.
He hadn't slept all night.
Didn't dare to sleep.
The slightest noise made him tremble in fear.
"BANG!"
The iron door was kicked open.
Light flooded in.
The bald man shrank back violently, staring in terror at the tall figure silhouetted in the doorway.
The black combat armor made him look like a demon god crawled up from hell.
Qin Yu strode in.
Without a word, he grabbed the ropes binding the bald man and dragged him out like a dead dog.
"Mmph! Mmph!!"
The bald man struggled desperately, his eyes filled with pleas for mercy.
Qin Yu yanked the rag from his mouth.
"Don't scream."
"Scream again and I'll cut out your tongue."
The bald man immediately shut up.
Tears and snot covered his face.
"B-big brother... I'm useful... don't kill me..."
"I know you're useful."
Qin Yu dragged him expressionlessly down the corridor.
"Lead the way."
"If we can't find that sunken ship."
"I'll chop you up for fish bait."
Reaching the edge of the deck.
Qin Yu focused his mind.
[Deploying: Two-Person Amphibious Assault Boat (Black Hawk) (Full Tank)]
A flash of white light appeared.
Though not an S-Rank item, on the current sea surface, it was absolutely supercar-level transportation.
Qin Yu grabbed the bald man and threw him directly onto the assault boat.
"Thud!"
The bald man crashed down, completely disoriented.
Before he could even get up, Qin Yu had already jumped down, landing steadily in the driver's seat.
"Which direction?"
Qin Yu asked coldly.
The bald man shakily got up, glanced at the sun's position, then looked at the vast ocean.
He swallowed hard.
Extended his left hand—now missing a finger, leaving only four—and pointed southeast.
"Th...that way..."
"About...about an hour..."
"Hang on tight."
Qin Yu didn't give him any time to prepare.
Directly pressed the ignition.
"VROOM—!!!"
The engine roared like a wild beast.
The assault boat's bow lifted sharply.
Like an arrow released from its bow, it instantly tore through the sea surface and shot forward.
The tremendous inertia nearly threw the bald man into the sea.
He clung desperately to the base of the seat, scared out of his wits.
"Ahhh!!!"
...
They raced across the waves.
The sea wind cut against their faces like knives.
But Qin Yu, protected by his S-Rank Battle Suit, felt no cold at all.
He steered with one hand, holding a bottle of mineral water in the other, taking occasional sips.
As leisurely as if he were on vacation.
Meanwhile, the bald man at his feet had already vomited three times from the violent motion.
Even bile was coming up now.
Half an hour later.
The surrounding sea began to change.
Floating debris noticeably increased on the water's surface.
No longer just scattered wood.
But large sheets of metal, rusted oil drums, even broken container fragments.
The seawater grew murky, carrying the smell of engine oil.
"We're...we're here..."
The bald man weakly lifted his head, voice trembling.
"It's...in that fog ahead..."
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes.
There was indeed a thin layer of sea fog ahead.
And within that mist.
Loomed a colossal shape.
Its black silhouette resembled both a solitary island and a slumbering giant beast.
The sense of oppression was overwhelming.
Qin Yu slowed the boat's speed.
The assault boat glided forward, parting the mist.
When the colossal shape's true form was fully revealed before them.
Even Qin Yu's breathing momentarily halted.
It was a cargo ship.
An astonishingly large ocean-going freighter!
The hull had broken into two sections.
The front half was slanted into the seabed, only the bow visible above water.
The rear half, including the towering bridge and massive smokestack, was wedged among some reefs, stubbornly protruding above the surface.
The ship's body was covered in reddish-brown rust and green seaweed.
Like a giant piece of rotting flesh.
Countless seabirds circled above, emitting piercing cries.
Desolate.
Barren.
And an indescribable eeriness.
"This is...this is the place..."
The bald man hunched his shoulders, not daring to look at the ship.
Even under the bright sun, he felt chilled to the bone.
"It's full of...full of those things inside..."
Qin Yu ignored his fear.
His gaze remained locked on the towering stern.
Inside the damaged hull.
He seemed to catch a glint of metal.
It was the crystallization of industrial civilization.
It was the hope that would allow him to survive the frozen hell three days from now.
"Is this Sunken Ship Island?"
Qin Yu drew the machete from his waist.
The blade gleamed coldly.
He glanced at the shivering bald man.
A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Let's go."
"No matter what demons or monsters are inside."
"This place."
"I'm taking over."
Qin Yu hoisted the bald man up by the collar.
The assault boat slowly approached the ship's hull covered in barnacles.
A rusty iron ladder hung mid-air, emitting an ear-grating scraping sound.
"Up."
Qin Yu tapped the bald man's face with the back of the machete.
"Don't try anything funny."
"You know the consequences."
The bald man stared at the dark ship cabin entrance, gaping like a mouth ready to devour anyone who entered.
He then glanced back at Qin Yu holding the machete behind him.
Danger ahead, threat behind.
He had no choice.
Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the precarious iron ladder and began climbing up step by step.
Qin Yu followed closely behind.
His body tensed, muscles beneath the S-Rank Battle Suit coiled and ready.
Combat mode engaged.
As they ascended higher.
A strong putrid smell drifted down with the sea breeze.
Not the smell of fish.
But the stench of rotting flesh.
Qin Yu frowned.
It seemed.
The "locals" up here weren't very hospitable.