C4 Beginner Equipment

Lee Yuanhong began scouring his little abode for anything that could be repurposed. His gaze landed on the mop tucked away in the balcony corner. It was a wooden-handled mop, and while the wood wasn't top quality, it was sturdy enough. An idea sparked in Yuanhong's mind. He removed the mop head, transforming it into a stick. If he could just sharpen the end, he'd have himself a makeshift wooden spear. Without hesitation, Yuanhong detached the mop head, only to realize he lacked the proper tools to whittle the wood. It looked like a trip to the kitchen for a chef's knife was in order.

As he reached for the door, Yiling's voice pierced the air with urgency, "Don't open the door, there are zombies outside!"

Frozen in place, Yuanhong's mind raced. What was happening? Zombies, here, at his home? Yiling, with an exasperated roll of her eyes, explained, "You've been out for over a day. The virus outbreak happened yesterday. Haven't you noticed the absence of any noise from outside?"

"This apocalypse, it just sprung up out of nowhere. I'm not prepared for this!" Yuanhong lamented, his face etched with dismay.

"Oh please, who do you think you are?" Yiling retorted, her voice dripping with disdain. "If it weren't for the time-space energy being depleted, forcing me to recharge with lightning, do you really think I'd choose to inhabit your sorry self? Life's tough!"

Yuanhong stared blankly at Yiling, realization dawning on him. His life-saving 'blessing' was nothing but a fluke. He had fancied himself the chosen one, graced by some extraterrestrial advantage, but it was all just happenstance. Clutching his head, he pondered his situation. Cheat or no cheat, blundering outside now would likely mean becoming zombie fodder. His spirits lifted with newfound resolve. First things first: gear up, then take on the undead.

The wooden spear was a no-go, but he still had the stick. Spotting the dumbbells he used for workouts, inspiration struck again. He secured the dumbbell to the stick with tape, creating a makeshift hammer. For added grip, he wrapped the handle with strips of cloth.

Yiling's voice broke through his focus, "You can now check the stats of your newly crafted weapon on your watch."

Lee Yuanhong glanced at his watch and noticed new text in the previously empty weapon slot:

"Self-Made Crude Long-Handled Hammer

Attack: 4 Durability: 5

Crafted from a mop handle and a 2.5-kilogram dumbbell, this hammer is suitable for striking creatures with defense values below 3."

The attributes were underwhelming, but it was his first weapon, and a long-handled one at that, which could be advantageous for survival. Next on the agenda: defensive gear.

Surveying his cabin, he pondered what could be repurposed into armor. Ancient warriors donned leather and iron armor, looking formidable, but he didn't even own a leather jacket, so that was out of the question. A down jacket offered some protection, but in the early autumn heat, it would be unbearable and cumbersome, which was far from ideal. Then, his eyes landed on the cardboard boxes from moving. Recalling the cardboard armor from novels, he set to work crafting his own, focusing on shielding his torso and limbs. Secured with tape and feeling unencumbered, he accessed the equipment section on his watch:

"Crude Cardboard Armor

Defense: 2

This makeshift armor, fashioned from coarse cardboard, provides basic protection against bites and scratches but is susceptible to fire and water damage, which can reduce its defensive capabilities."

The attributes were disheartening. In novels, the protagonists seemed to have endless cheats, acquiring impressive gear with ease. Yet, in his hands, everything turned out to be worthless. Such was his tough luck.

"Wait a minute, shouldn't the system hand out some sort of welcome gift, like a big gift bag? How about giving me one to start with!" Lee Yuanhong suddenly remembered and called out to Yiling.

"There is a gift bag code... yes, but it's locked away in the space. Without an energy crystal, it's inaccessible. You'd better focus on taking down zombies first. Once you've got a zombie Crystal Core, the gift bag will be yours!" Yiling replied with a dismissive tone.

It was clear he had to fend for himself; relying on this extraterrestrial system was futile. Determined not to let his resolve wane, Lee Yuanhong inhaled deeply, gripped the doorknob, clenched his homemade hammer, and cautiously opened the door to peer into the hallway.