Immediately after.
That cold, mechanical, yet grand voice exploded simultaneously in the minds of every survivor.
[Ding—!]
[Global Announcement! Global Announcement!]
[Detected that the core target of the "Tide Hunt" event (High-Energy-Level Creature · Abyssal Leviathan) has lost all vital signs!]
[Detected that this creature has been completely eradicated!]
[Due to drastic changes in the current sea area's ecological balance, the system determines: This "Tide Hunt" disaster event… has ended prematurely!]
The smile on Qin Yu's lips grew even wider.
He leaned against the doorframe of the Ecological Pod, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.
Taking a deep drag.
"As expected."
"Killing that big guy forced the game rules to be rewritten."
The system's voice continued.
This time, the originally oppressive red text had turned into a reassuring gold.
[In light of this disaster's excessive difficulty and its premature termination by a "Mysterious Player."]
[To balance the game ecosystem, the server-wide "Recuperation" welfare mode is now activated!]
[Welfare One: Absolute Safe Period.]
[For the next 72 hours, all aggressive Sea beasts will dive into the deep sea to hibernate and will no longer actively attack any vehicles!]
[Welfare Two: Resource Surge.]
[For the next 72 hours, the refresh rate of Supply Crates drifting on the sea surface will increase by 300%! The drop rate of high-grade Supply Crates (Silver Grade and above) will increase by 50%!]
[Welfare Three: Full Crew Repair.]
[All survivors' current health points are fully restored, and all vehicle durability is automatically repaired by 30%!]
[We wish all survivors to develop freely and survive during this brief period of peace!]
The announcement ended.
The entire world fell into a deathly silence.
About three seconds passed.
"Boom—!"
The world Chat Channel completely exploded.
The scrolling speed of the messages was so fast that even Qin Yu's enhanced dynamic vision could barely keep up.
"Holy crap?! Did I hear that right? It's over? Just like that?"
"Wahh... Mom! I survived! That shark just bit my Raft in half, and then it suddenly swam away!"
"Thank heavens! Thank earth! Thank the system dad for sparing us!"
"What's going on? How did it end?"
"Didn't you hear the announcement? Someone killed a 'core target'!"
"You mean that Abyssal Leviathan? You've got to be kidding! Is that something a human can kill?"
"Who cares who killed it! I'm saved anyway!"
"My health bar is full! I don't have to amputate my leg anymore! Hahahaha!"
"Look at the sea surface! It's full of crates! So many crates!"
"Brothers, stop talking nonsense and start fishing! This is the time to make a fortune!"
The Chat Channel was filled with the ecstatic joy of having survived a catastrophe.
No one delved into who the "Mysterious Player" was.
In the face of life and death, the truth wasn't important.
What mattered was that they had survived.
And what's more, they had been granted a windfall of immense fortune.
Yao Xue looked at the system panel, then turned her head, her gaze complex as she looked at Qin Yu.
"Everyone on the server owes you their life."
"At the original intensity, many more people would have died in the remaining days."
Qin Yu blew a smoke ring, looking utterly indifferent.
"Forget about owing me your lives."
"I'm not that noble."
"I just thought that big thing was in my way."
"As for saving them..."
Qin Yu flicked the ash off his cigarette, gazing at the faint black dots on the distant sea.
Those were other survivors' boats.
"Let's just say they got lucky and hitched a ride."
Li Ruobing leaned nearby, watching Qin Yu's "shady merchant" expression and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"You..."
"Clearly did something heroic, yet you have to make it sound so mercenary."
"But..."
She looked at the calm sea surface where the once-menacing fins had all disappeared.
In their place were supply crates bobbing with the waves.
Wooden ones, iron ones, and even the occasional one or two silver treasure chests gleaming with a silvery light.
"This bonus is really something."
"Three days without worrying about monster attacks, and resources doubled."
"After these three days, the survival standards across the world will probably take a huge leap forward."
Qin Yu nodded.
As long as they weren't fools.
These three days of frantically collecting crates, expanding their ships, and upgrading technology.
Those who could only barely survive on rafts before could now build decent small boats.
And those who already had some strength could probably manage sailing ships or even basic powered vessels.
Human adaptability is terrifying.
Give them a little sunshine, and they'll shine.
"Never mind others."
Qin Yu stubbed out his cigarette butt, his eyes turning sharp.
"While others are collecting crates, we can't idle either."
"Even though we have plenty of resources now, we can't just sit back and deplete them."
"These three days are the perfect opportunity for us to widen the gap."
Qin Yu waved his hand grandly and began assigning tasks.
"Yao Xue, you're in charge of the ecological pod."
"Plant all those seeds, and also study that automatic irrigation system. See if we can connect it to our S-grade water purifier and set up a fully automated cycle."
Yao Xue adjusted her glasses and nodded.
"Leave it to me."
"This is my specialty."
"Xiaoqian."
"Here!"
Yao Qian immediately stood straight, still clutching her shark pillow but with a serious expression.
"You operate that fully automatic fishing net."
"Also, keep an eye on the trading channel."
"Now that everyone has supplies, someone is bound to offer good stuff."
"Any rare metals, blueprints, or cores—snatch them all!"
"Our water and roasted meat are unlimited supply!"
Yao Qian gave an awkward salute and turned to run.
"Yes, sir! Brother Yu!"
Finally, Qin Yu looked at Li Ruobing.
"You..."
Li Ruobing raised an eyebrow. "What? Think I'm a wounded soldier and want me to freeload?"
"Not at all."
Qin Yu smiled and pointed at the four Hextech Defense Matrices.
"Even though the system says no attacks, we can't really trust it."
"What if some human players are blind and try to rob our 'aircraft carrier'?"
"You go to the main control room and monitor the radar."
"While you're at it, familiarize yourself with the fire control of this defense system."
"If any red dots get close..."
Qin Yu made a throat-slitting gesture.
"No need to ask for permission."
"Just blast them to bits."
A bloodthirsty smile curled at the corner of Li Ruobing's mouth.
"Now that's more like it."
"I love simple, brutal work like this."
...
The next few hours.
The "President" had become a precision harvesting machine.
The sea was as calm as a mirror.
With no wind or waves to interfere, Qin Yu pushed the ship to its maximum speed.
Four massive alloy fishing nets trailed behind the stern.
Wherever it passed, not a single blade of grass was left behind.
"Ding! Obtained ordinary wood*100!"
"Ding! Obtained scrap metal*50!"
"Ding! Obtained sea fish*200kg!"
The system notifications chimed as densely as firecrackers during the New Year.
Those supply crates that once required risking one's life to hook were now crashing onto the ship like a buffet.
Qin Yu couldn't even be bothered to scoop them up by hand.
He simply activated the "Magnetic Adsorption Device" he had previously drawn.
Whenever the ship passed by, metal crates within a fifty-meter radius flew onto the deck as if pulled by magnets, thudding one after another.
Was this survival?
This was practically stocking up on supplies!
"Yu-ge! Look!"
Li Ruobing's voice came through the walkie-talkie.
"Three o'clock direction, five hundred meters away."
"There's an A-Rank Treasure Box!"
"A-Rank?!"
Qin Yu's eyes lit up.
This was a real treasure.
Although the previous SSS-grade items were powerful, most were obtained through system draws or first-kill rewards.
Wild high-rank treasure boxes often contained items with greater "practicality."
"Hard to port!"
Qin Yu yanked the steering wheel.
The massive ship carved a white arc across the sea.
The five-hundred-meter distance was covered in an instant.
The golden box bobbed with the waves.
Intricate patterns were carved on its surface, gleaming temptingly under the post-apocalyptic sun.
"Haul it up!"
Qin Yu walked to the edge of the deck.
No tools were needed.
His enhanced body now possessed the strength of several thousand jin in a single hand.
Seizing the moment, his right hand shot out and grabbed a corner of the box.
"Up!"
With a low shout, the half-person-tall, incredibly heavy golden treasure box was lifted onto the deck with one hand.
"Thud!"
The box landed with a heavy, muffled thump.
Yao Qian and Yao Xue, hearing the commotion, gathered around.
"Wow! It's gold!"
"Let's see what's inside."
Qin Yu rubbed his hands together.
Even though he had seen his share of wonders, opening a box always held the thrill of the unknown.
No key was needed.
Nor was one required.
Qin Yu simply punched the lock.
Violent unboxing!
"Snap!"
The lock shattered.
The lid sprang open.
A dazzling golden light shot into the sky.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, host, for opening an A-Rank Treasure Box!]
[Obtained item: Basic Powered Armor Manufacturing Blueprint (complete set)!]
Qin Yu was stunned for a moment.
Then, he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"Powered Armor!"
"Now this is a man's true romance!"
Although the previous "Kiss of Death" was powerful, it was a weapon.
But this powered armor was the embodiment of both defense and strength!
With this thing, even if he left the ship and jumped into the sea to brawl with sharks, he wouldn't be afraid!
"Alright."
Qin Yu clapped his hands, observing the gradually bustling world around him.
In the distance, faint cheers from other survivors could be heard.
Some had even connected their rafts, throwing a sea party.
The world seemed to have truly returned to peaceful times.
But Qin Yu knew.
This was merely the calm before the storm.