It was a tranquil morning. The sun rose slowly from the horizon, casting golden light over the sea. Yet, without warning, a faint purple mist began to drift across the water. At first, it seemed light and harmless, like a delicate veil that the wind might carry away. But gradually, it thickened, shimmering with an eerie glow, creeping toward the shore like a venomous serpent.



James Lone opened his phone and posted a message in the [Sunshine Garden Neighborhood] group chat:



Recruiting Female Slaves: [@Everyone, looking for beautiful women, full board and lodging provided. If interested, DM me with an unfiltered, full-body selfie.]The group immediately erupted.



#1201 Block A, Distant Strongman:[ Bro, are you out of your mind?]



#809 Block B, Handsome Since Childhood:[ This is just a straight-up scam, huh? That bait is way too salty to swallow.]



#1808 Block B, Bush - City Council Member: [Young man, we're in the middle of a natural disaster. You should distribute your food so everyone gets a fair share. Don't be selfish! And trying to trade food for women? That's illegal! DM me and hand over your food for redistribution, and I'll let this slide.]



#303 Block A, Bunny: [You filthy creep! Don't let me find out who you are! Disgusting!]



#705 Block A, Aunt McCall: [Why hasn't this trash been kicked out of the group yet? Does anyone know where he lives? If I find out, I'll go to his place and teach him a lesson! Call the police already! What are you waiting for?]



#1802 Block B, Always in a Good Mood: [Where's the admin? Kick this disgusting pervert out right now!]



James Lone remained completely calm. Kicking him out? Impossible.Because his main account was the group admin.



James originally worked at a 24-hour convenience store outside the neighborhood. Many residents frequently ordered items for delivery. To make things easier, he created the group chat and labeled everyone with their identities and addresses. Over time, the group evolved into the neighborhood's public forum.



James Lone's motive for sending this message wasn't because he was some depraved pervert. It was because, on the third day after the arrival of the Purple Mist, he had been bitten by a mutated spider, poisoned to death, and then reborn with a system![God-Level Return System]



Condition: Number of Female Slaves Owned by the Host.



Virgin Quality: Must score at least 8, with a maximum score of 11.



Passive Skill: God-Level Return—Resources consumed by the host's women are refunded at a multiplier equal to the number of women × 100. Current multiplier: 100.



Passive Spatial Skill: Infinite Backpack—Unlimited storage space with time freeze.



James opened his system panel:[God-Level Return System]Number of Female Slaves Owned by the Host: 1Passive Skill: God-Level Return—Resources consumed by the host's female slaves are returned at a multiplier of 1×100. Current multiplier: 100.



Passive Spatial Skill: Infinite Backpack—Unlimited storage space with time freeze.



James Lone had an ex-girlfriend named Anna Karenina Wont. They had broken up over half a month ago, yet the system still counted her.

He thought to himself: When will I get my next female slave?

But he wasn't in a hurry.Most residents of the Sunshine Garden community were young and didn't have much food stored at home.James put down his phone and gazed solemnly out the window.The entirety of New York City was now engulfed in the endless Purple Mist.

Only tall structures like the TV tower and high-rise buildings emerged from the mist, resembling ship masts poking out of a purple ocean.James's apartment was on the 33rd floor, the second-highest level in his building.

Floors below the 20th had been completely submerged in the mist!Even more horrifying, the banyan trees in the neighborhood had grown tall enough to break through the mist!

What kind of banyan tree grows as tall as a 20-story building? He even spotted a cockroach as big as a mouse flying through the mist.James remembered the news reports:After the Purple Mist covered both the land and the sea, plants started growing uncontrollably, and animals began mutating. Attacks by these mutated plants and animals became increasingly common.

James himself had narrowly escaped death from a mutated spider bite—or rather, he had died. It was only after being killed by the mutated spider that he was reborn as a superhuman with a system.

He shifted his gaze away and opened his fridge, taking out the half-eaten bread from the morning.The bread, which he had opened just yesterday, was now covered in gray-green mold.As soon as he opened the bag, a putrid, musty odor wafted out.Food is rotting faster and faster! James sighed.Not only had plants and animals mutated, but microorganisms had also evolved. Any non-vacuum-sealed food spoiled rapidly.

Opened food had to be consumed within 30 minutes, or it would start to deteriorate.James walked to the balcony and tossed the bread outside. The loaf arced through the air and disappeared into the Purple Mist. The mist rippled like water upon impact.James couldn't see what was below the 20th floor, nor did he dare venture down.

On the first day the Purple Mist descended, James had been working at the convenience store. While delivering goods to the community and heading back to the store, he was bitten by a spider in the garden shrubs.

He didn't feel anything at first, but by the third day, he found himself bedridden and on the verge of death. Just as his heart stopped, the system's voice suddenly awakened him, granting him rebirth.When he finally managed to get dressed to go to work, he discovered that the mist had risen from ground level to the 20th floor.

Over the following days, he tried descending to the 19th floor and entering the mist.The Purple Mist severely limited visibility to just 5–6 meters. Even flashlights couldn't penetrate it effectively, and the surroundings were shrouded in a haunting purple dimness.After walking for a short while, James heard human screams from deeper within the mist. Terrified, he fled back to his apartment and never ventured out again.

James opened a fresh pack of bread and began eating.Now, all social networks were in chaos:[NY State TV News]: The Purple Mist disaster has spread worldwide. All plants and animals are rapidly evolving.

The government will take measures to protect its citizens...

[U.S. Department of Public Safety Reminder]: All survivors are advised to stay indoors. Do not go outside under any circumstances! The wilderness is extremely dangerous!

[Telecom Announcement]: To ensure communication, all data services are temporarily free until the disaster is resolved!

The posts kept flooding in:Help! I got bitten by a mosquito the size of my palm, and now my entire face is swollen!Oh my God, the world is ending!

I saw a giant sparrow take down a helicopter!

Hahaha! I can shoot lightning now! Call me The Flash! I'm a superhero in this new world! [Image] [Image] [Image]So jealous of these lucky ones.

When will I awaken powers too?Dear awakened superheroes, please take me in.

I'm fair-skinned, beautiful, and come with whips and candles!

DM me: XXXXX. [Image] [Image] [Image]

Can you turn off the beauty filter up there?

Shut up!

This is the NY Coastal Security Bureau.

All newly awakened individuals, please report to our office.Officer, I'm starving.

Can you send me some food? My address is XXXX.James scrolled through the posts but saw no good news.As for the awakened ones, they started appearing on the 5th day after the mist's arrival.The world had changed.James was curious about how these people gained their powers.

[Ding! Anna Karenina Wont ate a Snickers bar. 100 bars have been refunded! They've been added to your space backpack.]

A smirk appeared on James's face.Since the system awakened, Anna Karenina Wont Wont had eaten quite a lot, all of which was refunded to him 100 times over. The resources she consumed were enough to sustain him for a year!Apart from that, his Infinite Backpack was filled with canned goods, sausages, instant noodles, and other packaged foods.These were all near-expiry items from the convenience store where he worked. The store owner, Fatty Eric, used to force James to buy them at half price. Now, they had become invaluable resources.

James snapped a few photos of the food and posted them in the group chat:Recruiting Female Slaves: [Full board and lodging provided. Seeking beautiful women only. Serious inquiries only.] [Image] [Image] [Image]

#303 Block A, Bunny: Trash! Get out of this group! So what if you have food?!

#1708 Block C, Hawson Wer - Gym Trainer: Kid! Stop being so despicable, or I'll knock you out with one punch! [Image] [Image]

Hawson Wer took the opportunity to show off his muscles, which now emitted a metallic sheen.

#809 Block B, Handsome Since Childhood: Whoa, Coach Hawson Wer, your muscles glow?

#1708 Block C, Hawson Wer: Hahaha! I don't know how it happened, but now my skin becomes as hard as steel when I flex. Even knives can't cut me! And my strength has doubled!#303 Block A, Bunny: Wow! Coach Hawson Wer, you're amazing!

#705 Block A, Aunt McCall: Such a handsome young man. I have plenty of canned food at home. Let's share a meal together!The group members began fawning over Hawson Wer.

James looked on enviously.

Hawson Wer's ability was very practical...

Unfortunately, James's Return System and Infinite Backpack didn't provide him with any combat power.Still, no woman messaged him privately.

But James wasn't worried.As the situation worsened and the authorities failed to implement effective rescue efforts, people would inevitably run out of food.He picked up a watering can and began watering the succulents on his windowsill.

These plants had been left behind by his ex-girlfriend, Anna Karenina Wont. James couldn't identify any of them.One of the succulents was particularly strange.

After the Purple Mist appeared, it had grown two black fruits resembling Nephelium (rambutan), but with a black hue.

The two fruits emitted a fragrant aroma that made James want to eat them.

But he resisted.

Now that everything was mutating wildly, who knew what these things really were?Black Nephelium?

They looked ominous.Suddenly, a scream rang out from Block A across the way:"Help! Somebody help me!"

James looked out his window toward Block A.On the 21st floor, a disheveled woman ran out onto the balcony.