After a moment’s hesitation, Chen Yun chose the Entry‑Level Thermal Cold Suit.

With that suit, he’d at least have reliable protection for outdoor activity once the apocalypse hit. From memories of his last life, the temperature before he died had never dropped much below −80°C. He couldn’t be sure whether the cold would fall even further after his death in that timeline, but this suit would definitely carry him through the early stages. Besides, even if temperatures dropped below −80°C, the system could later be used to further enhance the suit.

As for the other three rewards: the space‑expansion voucher would add 200 cubic meters to his system storage, but his current 1,000 cubic meters seemed enough for now; the basic medical kit contained valuable medicines, but he already had a stockpile that could substitute; the portable water purifier was useful, but he had multiple filtration systems and spare cartridges that could do the job. All three were important, but none were as immediately critical as thermal protection.

Weighing his options, Chen Yun mentally selected the cold suit.

“Confirm selection: Entry‑Level Thermal Cold Suit?” the system asked.

“Yes,” he answered mentally.

[Mission settlement complete.]

[Rewards delivered. Please check your inventory.]

The system’s mechanical voice faded. The tiny counter in the corner of the interface flickered upward.

[Points balance: 1630]

A neatly folded garment materialized in the space inventory; with a thought it appeared in his hands.

So this was the system’s thermal suit. It was a silver‑gray, form‑fitting full‑body suit. The fabric felt cool to the touch, flexible and resilient—remarkably thin, maybe two millimeters, and weighing only about a kilogram. A smooth silver metal disc about five centimeters across sat on the chest: the power core. It could be charged by spending points.

Chen Yun stripped down and donned the suit. It fitted seamlessly without constricting, joints moving freely. The material felt chilly against his skin at first, then a warm current flowed out of the chest core, spreading along the inner face of the fabric until the whole suit was warmed. A pleasant heat wrapped him.

He pressed a hand against the outer surface—the exterior still felt cool. The warmth generated at the torso core only radiated inward to the side of the fabric touching his body; none of that heat leaked outward.

This suit not only supplied warmth, it prevented internal heat loss. In extreme cold or at night, he would be far less likely to be picked up by thermal imaging.

“Black tech,” Chen Yun murmured, running his hand over the material. “System products really are top-tier.”

He changed back into his clothes and stored the suit in system space.

Driving back to his apartment, he washed quickly, then brought up the system interface again. The points counter still read 1,630—better than before. He opened the storage pocket and took stock.

He fetched paper and pen, then sent his consciousness into the space and began tallying items batch by batch: rice, flour, cement, fuel…

Wait.

Two huge fuel tanks lay side by side in the inventory: [——]. He mentally nudged them; they shifted position on command.

“Each tank’s eight meters long,” he calculated. “Side by side, that’s sixteen meters.” He'd tried placing them in different orientations and each time they fit as if the space didn’t limit linear layout in the way he’d first assumed. The system’s 1,000 cubic meters wasn’t a rigid 10×10×10 box; it looked like the system calculated the actual occupied volume of each object and summed those volumes, with the total capped at 1,000 cubic meters.

If that inference was correct, then the storage could hold far more than he’d originally imagined. The realization put a grin on his face—an unexpected bonus.

He took a deep breath and continued inventorying.

By eleven at night he lowered the interface and set the pen down.

“Finally finished.” He picked up the sheet; it was filled with cramped entries:

Food: 5 tons each of bagged rice and flour, 300 boxes of compressed biscuits, 200 drums of cooking oil…

Energy: about 30 cubic meters each of gasoline and diesel, several tons of coal, solid alcohol…

Medical: antibiotics, medical alcohol…

Weapons: bows and arrows…

Building materials: …

And more.

He checked the list twice to be sure nothing had been missed. Satisfied, he sank back against the sofa.

“Supplies are basically complete. Next—go back to the village and retrofit the old house.” The memory of his previous life flashed like a shutter behind his eyes: the wrenching pain of broken limbs, lying in the snow and waiting to die, the icy numbness, the humiliation of being trampled. Each image and sensation rose up clearly from the depths of his soul.

Chen clenched his fist so hard his nails tore into his palm. A thin line of blood welled and trickled down.

“Soon,” he whispered, blood beading at his fingertips. “Enjoy the present while you can. Soon I’ll take your lives with my own hands.”

After a long moment he forced the hatred down. The cut in his palm already began to close. He wiped the blood away; the wound had almost healed.

“Is it healing already?” he said under his breath, watching the skin knit. The serum‑augmented body’s recovery far exceeded normal. With this strong frame, his revenge would be that much easier.

“I should start planning the revenge properly. They won’t die easy.” He smoothed his breathing and glanced at the clock. The hands approached midnight—settlement time.

Ding—

The system chimed.

[Daily points settlement initiated.]

[Settling…]

[Base points today: 24.]

[Survival assessment today: Stockpiling (survival prep): 80.]

[Key survival equipment acquired: 40.]

[Settlement complete. Current survival points balance: 1750.]

“One thousand seven hundred fifty,” Chen Yun said softly, nodding. “The suit counts as key survival equipment—so that’s reflected in today’s settlement.”

He retracted the pale blue HUD and stood, looking around the cramped apartment that had borne his grind for three years.

“Leaving tomorrow.”

He shoved his remaining personal belongings into the storage space and tidied the room. Then, exhausted, he went to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.