"Congratulations, Survivor, on surviving the first Apocalypse—the Polar Blizzard. The current world is about to merge with the main world. Estimated merge time: 1 hour."


    "Survivor Thomas Smyth, you have one opportunity to relocate your hideout. Please select a new location within 1 hour. Note: This relocation is permanent. Choose carefully!"


    The mechanical voice echoed through the hideout, accompanied by increasingly frequent tremors. Five minutes later, the shaking subsided. Thomas, who had remained motionless throughout, finally relaxed. He noticed a stainless-steel chain around his neck, holding an oval metal tag.


    Dog Tag


    <ul><li>Name: Thomas Smyth</li><li>Race: Blue Star - Human</li><li>Apocalypses Survived: 1</li><li>Faction: Survivor</li></ul>


    "So this is the dog tag," he murmured, then recalled the system announcement. He stowed his weapons and opened the Apocalypse Game interface. A flashing wrench icon on the hideout panel indicated the relocation option.


    Initially surprised—the game had explicitly stated the hideout''s location was permanent—he quickly understood. The first Apocalypse was a tutorial, a trial by fire to weed out the weak and prepare survivors for the real game. Offering a relocation chance after the tutorial made sense.


    But should he move? The answer was a resounding yes. Black Dog''s raid and Ghostface''s infiltration had exposed the hideout''s vulnerability. The subway control room was a protruding structure, not a flush wall. While the Camouflage Sticker disguised the entrance, the unusual shape remained, a glaring anomaly. The tutorial refugees hadn''t been observant enough, but in the real game, such an obvious irregularity would attract unwanted attention.


    The question was where to move. Back in the living area, Thomas sank into the plush sofa by the fireplace, lost in thought. After careful consideration, he concluded that remaining within the subway station was the safest and most practical option.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Several factors influenced his decision.


    <ol><li>The Virtual Map: This invaluable tool, crucial for his survival, had guided him to victory against both the refugees and Black Dog. He wouldn''t relinquish its advantage.</li><li>The Subway''s Concealment and Accessibility: The tunnels offered concealed access to the east and west. Using the White Tower District map, he could navigate the network to reach any destination. The subway station was the center of a web, the tunnels its threads, extending his reach across the city. However, the tunnels would likely harbor other survivors and refugees in the merged world, a potential risk he''d need to address. Equipped with the Nightwalker title, the Cloak of Darkness, and the Black Mask, navigating the dark tunnels wouldn''t be too difficult. He made a note to explore solutions for dealing with potential tunnel inhabitants.</li><li>Environmental Protection: This was the deciding factor against other virtual map locations. The subway''s depth, combined with the underground bunker nature of his hideout, offered protection from most apocalyptic events. Once the Intelligence Center upgrade was complete, the Holographic Barrier would provide further shielding, rendering the hideout waterproof and camouflaged. Submerged deep within the flooded subway, the hideout''s safety would be unparalleled. The Oceanborn serum eliminated any concerns about underwater travel. The Great Flood wouldn''t be a disaster for him; it would be his domain.</li></ol>


    His primary concern wasn''t the flood itself, but the potential for human conflict beforehand. He stared at the gilded teacup in his hand, recalling Caban and his crew at the opera house. Their unexpected tactical prowess and intelligence had been unnerving. Thinking back, it was clear something was amiss.


    "They must have received a boost after Mad Dog and the Butcher died," he realized. "Caban, as the last remaining refugee leader, likely received a game-induced enhancement. Their true capabilities were revealed." He couldn''t underestimate the refugees in the real game; that would be a fatal mistake.


    With this realization, his priorities shifted. His new hideout needed to be defensible, capable of withstanding searches by refugees, rebels, and cultists. He focused on the Good Hope Station virtual map, searching for a location that offered maximum concealment. Obvious rooms and prominent structures were immediately dismissed. Hidden corners and dead ends were also unsuitable.


    Then, a particular spot caught his eye…