The new revelations brought more changes. The explored area appeared in every human's vision, displayed as a physical map within their sight. Since the area around City 01 was the only region explored so far, it was the only area visible.
The new leaders quickly began making moves. They formed exploration teams from people working with them and notified others in their respective cities to do the same.
These leaders had the ability to issue missions and create rewards. The reward points were allocated by the base's spirit—the same entity that had informed everyone about the voting at the beginning.
The number of points awarded depended on the results of the exploration. Areas rich in resources would grant more points.
Once the exploration team system was introduced, people began chatting through the city's message board within their consciousness. Some formed teams of five, while others planned to explore alone.
There were also those who feared the unknown and chose not to rush in headfirst. Instead of waiting idly for results, they focused on improving the city itself. People began exploring the city that would be their home for the next year—or perhaps less.
Some discovered unprocessed land suitable for farming, while others found forests within the city. The city felt like a small version of Earth, containing everything needed for survival. There were even individual rooms where everyone could stay and rest.
Only then did they begin to understand why points had been deducted before they could do anything.
Humanity started moving both outward and inward, each person taking on tasks they were skilled at. Exploration was dangerous, so working within the city became a safer way to prevent further point deductions for cities' maintenances.
Anything that could not be handled by the people themselves would be taken care of by the base's spirit, though this would consume points from the population.
As people began working in earnest, those who produced results received notifications rewarding them with points.
[+1 point for creating clothes][+1 point for tilling the land] …
The leaders finally began to see a possible path toward survival when they learned of additional ways to earn points.
By managing the city and overseeing the people, they could also collect points.
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Ren washed himself in the lake, the light from his body and hair illuminating the water and revealing a circular area around him beneath the surface.
After stepping out and letting himself dry naturally, Ren turned his attention to the Unlucky Roulette.
He checked his points: 1,046,128.
Deciding to take a risk, he planned a single spin costing one million points.
With a thought, he initiated the spin.
The roulette let out a sharp screech and suddenly accelerated, spinning so fast it looked as though it had stopped moving.
After two seconds, it began to slow.
The roulette stopped on a tactical bodysuit that appeared mechanical in nature, yet constantly shifted and changed shape.
[Congratulations! You have won the 6th Level Encompassing Protector]
[Encompassing Protector: A combat suit equipped with defensive gear to absorb damage, allowing the user to fight without worry. The suit automatically adjusts to the wearer's size. It can defend against attacks up to level 100. Damaged parts are repaired using the user's points. A full repair requires 10,000 points. The suit can camouflage itself to its surroundings.]
[Note: Cover yourself before you flash someone and get arrested by the Apocalypse Police]
Ren willed the suit out of storage. The black gear emerged and, the moment it touched his body, spread across him like nanobots, sealing itself around him and suppressing the glow that had been emanating from his body.
Amazed by the technology and relieved as his light was concealed, Ren felt a sense of peace. Moments later, the suit extended upward, covering his head and hiding his glowing purple hair.
The darkness before his eyes vanished, replaced by a clear view of the world, as if nothing covered his face at all.
The suit scanned his body, confirming that he was unharmed and free of negative conditions.
From the outside, the black suit standing near the lake looked strange at first. Then, as Ren willed it, the suit slowly faded from sight, perfectly camouflaging itself with its surroundings.
Ren glanced at his hands, then toward his reflection in the lake—seeing nothing. A notification appeared in front of his eyes, likely generated by the suit.
Ren selected Y, and his image reappeared.
"Hey, there's a lake here. Do you think this counts as a resource? Would the base's AI-like spirit like this?"
Ren looked up and spotted a two-person team on the opposite side of the lake. He was surprised that he could both see and hear them from such a distance—it had to be nearly a thousand meters away. At first, he thought it was the suit.
The display zoomed in, and subtitle-like text appeared as the suit relayed their words directly into his ears.
That was when Ren fully understood—it was his own senses that had improved, but he was also shocked by the suit's capabilities.
Before he could marvel further, the two spoke again.
"Let's submit the mission and see what we get. Let's go. I don't like this feeling. You heard that roar—there might still be something out there."
Hearing about the base—and the possibility of other humans—sent a thrill through Ren. Excited, he decided to follow them and make contact with humanity once more.