3: Chapter 3 System Panel

The long night was hard to endure.

Lin Qiming curled up deep within the crevice. The icy rock wall sapped his body heat, and the pain in his left arm pulled at his nerves like a dull saw. He forced himself to stay conscious, gently moving his fingers and toes every so often. The stench was pervasive, but he had already become somewhat numb to it.

His consciousness sank into that crude blue panel.

[Energy Level: 2.1 ona (F-Rank · Lower Tier)]

[STC Repair Progress: 0.03%]

[Energy Reserves: 2 ENU (Extremely Low)]

"0.03%..." Lin Qiming stared at the number. "So the progress bar for this cheat is calculated in hundred-thousandths? Truly generous."

He clicked on the stc core under "Assets," and an even cruder sub-interface popped up:

```

═══════════════════════════════════════

[Old One Cross-Dimensional Anchoring Device (Core Unit · Severely Damaged)]

Repair Progress: 0.03%

Unlocked Functions:

· Basic Status Monitoring

· Simple Environmental Scan (10m radius, low precision)

· Limited Access to Damaged Database

· Task Framework Prototype

· Energy Reserve Monitoring (Current: 2 ENU)

Functions to be Unlocked (Repair Progress ≥ 1%):

· Full Activation of Intelligent Assistant

· Basic Manufacturing Blueprint Library

· Information-State Projection Protocol (Player Summoning) Framework

Warning: Core is severely unstable; excessive use may lead to permanent damage.

═══════════════════════════════════════

```

"Player Summoning..." Lin Qiming's gaze sharpened. If he really could summon players, it would be a revolutionary force in this desperate universe. But the prerequisite was that he had to survive until the repair progress reached 1% and have enough energy.

"How do I replenish energy?" he asked.

[Small amounts can be accumulated through routine activities... Can be obtained by killing targets with 'Information Perturbation'... Absorb specific energy sources... All methods are extremely inefficient... It is recommended to prioritize finding stable energy sources or ancient ones relics fragments...]

"That's basically saying nothing." Lin Qiming closed the sub-interface.

Time passed slowly amidst the pain and cold. He broke off a small piece of Nutrient Paste to eat every few hours. His health points fluctuated weakly around 19, and his stamina slowly recovered to 35.

With about 6 hours left on the task timer, new sounds came from outside.

A rustling, dense scratching sound came from the direction of the sewage pool.

[Multiple small lifeforms detected... Common Mutant Rat Swarm of the Hive Bottom... Quantity: 8-12... Threat Level: Low (to healthy individuals), Medium (to severely injured individuals)...]

Mutant rats. Lin Qiming held his breath. The rat swarm rummaged through the trash by the sewage pool, making ear-grating gnawing sounds. After a while, the noise gradually faded into the distance.

Lin Qiming waited for a few minutes, only relaxing slightly once he was sure it was quiet outside.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted several irregular, dark-silver metal flakes about the size of a fingernail on the ground at the entrance of the crevice, with scorch marks on the edges. Were they left behind where the rat swarm had been active?

He carefully moved over and picked one up. It felt cold to the touch, and its texture was denser than ordinary iron.

[Unknown alloy fragment detected... Contains trace amounts of Promethium, unknown crystalline structure... Energy residue: Extremely faint... Absorption can be attempted...]

"Absorb."

The metal flake in his hand lost its luster at a visible rate, becoming dull and brittle before finally turning into fine powder that drifted from his fingers.

[Absorbed unknown alloy fragment (energy residue)]

[Energy Reserves: 2 → 3 ENU]

[stc core Repair Progress: 0.03% → 0.04%]

"0.01%..." Lin Qiming looked at the pathetic increase. "So scavenging trash can also repair it? This is a 'stable' path, if I can find them every day."

He had Hephaestus scan the vicinity for any more similar fragments.

[No similar energy signals found within the scanning radius.]

"Of course it wouldn't be that easy."

When the countdown for [Survival (Day 1)] on the panel hit zero, a notification sounded:

[Task Completed: Survival (Day 1)]

[Evaluation: Successfully survived for 24 hours under conditions of severe injury, pursuit, and harsh environments.]

[Energy Level Increase: 2.1 → 2.8 ona]

[Unlocked Specialty Clue: Hive Survivor — Survive a total of 72 hours in the Hive Bottom and independently resolve three survival crises (Progress: 1/3)]

[New Task Triggered: Injuries and Supplies — Restore health points to over 30 and obtain at least 3 reliable food sources within 48 hours.]

A faint warm current flowed through his body. Lin Qiming felt his spirits lift slightly.

"Finally... I've made it through the first day."

He organized his belongings: a metal pipe, a tattered jacket, a pair of old boots, and a piece of Nutrient Paste. Along with that almost negligible system and the 0.04% repair progress.

"Starting with a pipe, everything else is scavenged," he mocked himself quietly. "Well, at least it's better than nothing."

He carefully moved the metal cabinet at the entrance and poked his head out to observe. The sewage pool still reeked, but there was no sign of living things nearby.

Leaning on the metal pipe, he stepped out of the crevice and back into the dim, complex corridor.

Objective: Find a safer stronghold, obtain food and water, and treat his injuries.

And in the corner of his vision, the stc core repair progress quietly displayed 0.04%.

The road ahead was still very long.