Chapter Text
The world ended on a Wednesday.
It ended at 2:27am, to be precise.
Jiang Cheng was woken up by Jin Ling at around 2am. The baby wasn't hungry. His diaper was clean and dry, but Jiang Cheng changed it just in case because he was half asleep and he is at least thorough when saddled with babysitting duties. But Jin Ling kept crying every time he was lowered back into the crib.
Sighing and completely resigned that his sister is raising a spoilt little baby, Jiang Cheng picks him up — which immediately quiets him.
"Spoilt brat," Jiang Cheng murmurs affectionately. He kisses the irresistible chubby cheeks. Both sides.
Just as he considers sitting down, still half asleep, Fairy whimpers by the front door.
"Oh, come on!" Jiang Cheng groans. "I swear you're both in on this!"
He hums and haws about it, but ultimately he can’t rationalize leaving Jin Ling home alone in his crib, even if for a short moment. Which is why, in the middle of the night, Jiang Cheng has Jin Ling strapped to the front of his chest, the two of them watching Fairy dawdling on the grass, looking for the perfect spot to urinate on.
Still in his pajamas, a purple sweatpants-sweatshirt combo that matched Jin Ling's tiny yellow matching set, he'd thrown on a stylish oversized denim jacket that didn't belong to him. It carried his scent with how often he reaches for it. His feet were hastily slipped into his unlaced running shoes.
It was cold enough he didn't want to linger too long, eager to get back to the warmth of their home.
“Feh-wee!”
Yawning, Jiang Cheng ruffles Jin Ling’s hair, smiling at the giggles from the one year-old. They watch Fairy wrap up her business like a lady, the husky sniffing her urine thoughtfully.
For a cold night, they’re lucky there isn’t much wind. A car drives by in the distance, the headlights washing a bright glow around them.
Alarms blare, cutting through the silence of the night.
Flinching, Jiang Cheng whirled around, hands flying up to cover Jin Ling's little ears.
The skies flash white, then red, then — a literal earth-shaking thump reverberates through his body.
Silence.
Shaking, Jiang Cheng kept looking around him. It happened so fast, his brain needed a few seconds to process what he was looking at.
He stared at where his home used to stand. The apartment buildings that surrounded them were completely flattened, crushed to the surface of the earth. Empty space was left behind where buildings previously were. Everything around them had disappeared; streetlights, cars, buildings… The trees and plants still existed, but… it all was so impossible, Jiang Cheng could do nothing but stare.
The rush of wind emphasized the vast and empty space around them.
The entire city around him had just been levelled to the ground.
An alien voice spoke in his head. It spoke in an impossible language he has no knowledge of, but he understood it just fine.
Please take note, surviving humans.
All three of them startle, including Jin Ling and Fairy.
Jin Ling was crying again, scared by the flashing lights and strange loud noise. Fairy had rushed back to Jiang Cheng with the initial crush of everything, used to returning to Jiang Cheng during stressful moments, though Jiang Cheng was still shell-shocked and had not recalled her.
Hushing Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng crouches down to hug both baby and dog in his arms.
"Shh, it's okay. We're okay. I got you." The words come automatically, but a rising dread threatens to overwhelm him. Everything is not okay.
Your planet has been selected for Material Reclamation. Every interior of your world has been crushed and mined for raw materials.
As per the Indigenous Planetary Species Protection Act, any surviving humans will be given the opportunity to reclaim lost materials via The Syndicate's choice. The Syndicate has opted your planet into the 18-Level World Dungeon. The Syndicate retains all rights to broadcast, exploit, and otherwise control all aspects of the World Dungeon, and will remain in control as long as they adhere to regulations regarding world resource reclamation.
A Syndicate-neutral system—myself—has been created and dispatched to this planet to supervise the creation of the World Dungeon and to ensure all the rules and regulations are properly followed. Please pay attention to the following information as it will not be repeated.
Humans will have the opportunity to participate in the World Dungeon as Crawlers.
At the end of this announcement, first-level entrances will open. The entrances will remain open for One (1) hour. Once closed, you may no longer enter. Crawlers who choose to participate must find a staircase and descend to the next level down.
Once you have entered, you may not leave until you have completed all 18 levels of the World Dungeon.
Crawlers must find a staircase and descend to the next level down before the allotted time is up for that level. Once the time is up, the level will be reclaimed and all remaining matter in that level, organic and inanimate, will be forfeit.
Upon successful completion of level 18 of the World Dungeon, regency of this planet will revert to the successor.
Humans who choose not to participate in the World Dungeon may remain on the surface. You may mine and utilize any remaining and naturally occurring resources for your own benefit. All previously processed matter are forfeit. This will be the last communication you receive during your lifetime. The Syndicate wishes you luck and thanks you for the opportunity.
Thank you for being part of the Syndicate. Have a great day.
Horns blasted again, and lights lit up the skies. The closest spotlight lit up the ground just twenty steps away. Warmth radiated from the brightly lit hole. In the distance, Jiang Cheng could see many more spotlights, shining brightly onto the ground. These must be the entrances.
Heart pounding, Jiang Cheng quickly ties his shoelaces. That was when he noticed his hands are shaking. He stands, hands running roughly over the carrier straps, checking Jin Ling is secured. What the hell is he supposed to do?
He couldn't see anyone around him. Did everyone just… die? Did he survive only because he was outside? What about his sister? Were she and Jin Zixuan squashed to death, in whatever resort they had decided to stay at for their anniversary?
Jiang Cheng wiped a shaking hand over his face.
"Joo?" Jin Ling whined, chubby little fists lifting to bat at the tears on Jiang Cheng's face.
"Sh, we're okay." Perhaps the words were more for himself. Jiang Cheng kissed Jin Ling's cold fist. Fairy whined and rubbed against his leg. Her nerves were showing too. He spoke to the two babies depending on him. "We're going to be fine."
They can’t stay out here. The wind is vicious with nothing left to stand in the way.
He takes a deep breath.
Jiang Cheng ran towards the light.
Dungeon Floor 1.
Time to Level Collapse: 10 Days.