Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Signing In, Life-Saving Chocolate Liqueurs
I'm so hungry...
David lay on the ground, completely drained of strength.
It's so painful...
He couldn't remember the last time he had a full meal.
Since that damned cold wave hit, he had been scrimping and saving. But all his conservations had been in vain, only benefiting those bastard neighbors in the end.
About a month ago, a severe drop in temperature brought an unbearable cold wave that engulfed the world. Humanity could no longer move outside as hail continuously fell from the sky, large enough to kill a person. Soon, the outside world was completely encased in ice.
David, who was on a diet recently, had bought a lot of chicken breasts and light meals online, enough to last him a month or two. But not knowing when the disaster would end, he ate sparingly, sometimes only a packet of chicken breast a day.
But a month into the disaster, the daughter of his opposite neighbor knocked on his door, pitifully asking for food. David, who usually liked the little girl, couldn't resist helping her despite knowing the risks. But when he opened the door, his nightmare began.
A group of people hiding in the corridor rushed in, trampling over him and taking all the food from his house, leaving none for him. Even the little girl snatched a bag of chicken breast.
David lay alone in his house, fortunate to not be trampled to severe injury but in immense pain, with no food left. He couldn't even go out to search for food in his condition. He could only wait for death.
Just let it end...
David struggled to turn over, facing upwards. Staring at the familiar ceiling, hunger overwhelmed him. He felt close to death, even yearning for it.
Let me die quickly! I don't want to stay in this damned world anymore!
But...
It's so unfair!
Why don't those people die instead?!
Hatred filled David's heart, spreading throughout his body. Those who stole his food deserved to die! Unfortunately, he might die before them. If only he could go back in time, he wouldn't have opened the door, but there was no turning back now.
Perhaps it was the proximity of death, but a myriad of thoughts crossed David's mind, gradually fading away. Finally, his mind emptied.
The world turned dark, and the sound of hail hitting the walls and windows faded away. He couldn't see or hear anything.
Perhaps...
This is what death feels like.
"Today's sign-in reward: a box of high-end chocolate liqueurs."
Suddenly, a voice broke the silence in the dark world, like a bolt of lightning tearing through the quiet darkness. David's eyes shot open, and the dark world disappeared.
What just happened?
Am I not dead?
And what was that voice in my head?
Chocolate liqueurs?
Where are the chocolate liqueurs?!
David, nearly starving, somehow found the strength at the mention of chocolate liqueurs. The next moment, a box of exquisitely packaged chocolates appeared in his hands. The box, about the size of a laptop screen, was easy for David to notice.
Is this real?
David could hardly contain his excitement. He tore open the packaging without a second thought. Under normal circumstances, such behavior would be considered rude.
But who would care now?
Such a box of chocolates could make anyone abandon all dignity!
David opened the box to find twenty-five chocolate liqueurs. Swallowing hard, he didn't hesitate to pop one into his mouth. It was like biting into a bun; the flavor of the chocolate, the alcohol, and the rich aroma overwhelmed his taste buds, bringing him to tears.
David didn't care anymore. He tore off the wrappers and stuffed the chocolates into his mouth. Mint, juniper, cherry, orange, rum, absinthe – the various flavors mixed with the dark chocolate tasted like heaven.
At that moment, he forgot all his previous resolutions. He was no longer 'thrifty.' He would eat all the chocolates in one go!
He wouldn't suffer anymore!
After an unknown amount of time, David finished the chocolates in the box. The long-lost sense of fullness stopped his tears. The food gave him energy, and he felt death receding.
It's so good, so good!
He still didn't stand up but lay on the floor. Those people must have thought he was dead, but he wouldn't die. He would live even better!
Thinking this, David forced himself to stand up. He sighed in relief seeing the door his neighbors had shut. Feeling the pain in his body, he walked to the only remaining sofa in his living room, almost falling apart, and sat down.
The neighbors had taken everything useful, leaving him nothing.
But...
They probably never imagined he would awaken such a special ability.
"Daily sign-in..."
David murmured.
The voice in his head at the brink of death said so. This means...
He could get supplies every day by signing in?
If that's the case, this apocalypse might not be so bad!
He could survive. He wanted to live more than anything now. With this daily sign-in, he could make it!
The only problem was those damned neighbors!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone