Ark [Wasteland]

[Signed for publication. Updates are posted on Weibo at Mengyou Dashi Qieqie Jun]

[Thank you for your companionship. The complete story ended on 2024.01.03]

After dying one day, Fang Zhou transmigrated into the apocalyptic game Old City's Ruins, which was marketed for its wasteland setting and alien creatures. She became the protagonist's older sister, a useless, sickly burden who panted after every few steps.

In this world, where the environment had undergone a drastic change, resources were scarce, and people with supernatural abilities and monsters were everywhere, even a mouthful of windblown sand could nearly kill Fang Zhou.

In the game's original story, the protagonist's younger brother, who was the leader, used nearly all the supplies at the survival base to keep her barely alive. His repeated actions put the entire base in danger, leading his subordinates to rebel and drive the siblings out.

That was where the players' journey began. The protagonist had to rebuild a new faction while looking after his frail older sister. She became his greatest obstacle, dragging the story along half-dead until she was finally devoured by an alien creature.

Everyone loathed and hated her. Players of Old City's Ruins cursed Fang Zhou as a deadweight and wished she would hurry up and die.

The newly arrived Fang Zhou looked up at the word "Summoner" above her forehead, then at the progress bar in the upper-right corner showing that reaching certain reputation milestones would extend her lifespan.

She figured she might still be salvageable.

["Summoner" skill activated]

[Summoner: Can command alien creatures and make their abilities her own after subduing them.]

[Alien creature species collected: 0]

[Current reputation: -100,000]

The AAA game Old City's Ruins officially launched its open beta, and players flooded in. Less than half an hour later, someone made a post.

[Topic: Isn't Fang Zhou's character gorgeous? Is she a major character?]

Players from the closed beta showed up and angrily replied below.

[She's useless. She single-handedly dragged the entire base down. Why is she still here in the open beta? Hasn't the publisher been criticized enough?]

[Without Fang Zhou, the players' route would be a lot easier.]

[Seeing Fang Zhou's face in the closed beta made me physically uncomfortable. She's weak and unbearably self-righteous.]

But a few days later, the words "Fang Zhou" were flooding the Old City's Ruins game forum, and the mood had completely changed.

[Who on earth called Fang Zhou useless!? I've never seen such an incredible Summoner.]

[Without Fang Zhou, this world would have been destroyed ten thousand times over.]

[I love the contrast between Fang Zhou's frail appearance and her strength so much!]

[Is anyone else crying over the bond between these siblings?]

[Isn't Fang Zhou the real protagonist of this game!?]

The alien creatures followed her, and people adored her.

With her around, humanity, which had battled alien creatures for decades, finally found peace and uncovered the truth about the world.

Several days later, the first player to finish the game left a message on the forum.

[In this apocalyptic world, where civilization and order have fallen, she is the one and only Noah's Ark.]

Reader's Guide:

1. This blurb is only a reference to the story. Please follow the main text. This is a fictional world, and all the settings are made up by me, so don't expect them to stand up to close scrutiny.

2. There are a few secret identity elements, and identities will be revealed. This is the product of a chuuni author's chuuni imagination. Just leave me be, I only want to read stories about saving the world.

3. This is not a conventional power fantasy. It's a slow-burn, plot-driven story. The heroine will become the strongest. Although she saves the world, she is no saint and is self-serving. Don't read this if you prefer purely benevolent protagonists.

4. There is no absolutely fixed protagonist group in this story. Don't assume any supporting character is a permanent member of the protagonist's group. The heroine is the only protagonist.

5. There's very little romance. Spoilers won't identify the pairing, and it isn't important anyway.

6. Forum-style chapters are labeled. Feel free to skip them if you don't like them, though I don't recommend it, since they contain a lot of information.

7. I don't accept writing advice from any perspective, and I don't need anyone to teach me how to write. If a scene makes you uncomfortable, stop reading in time. There are countless good stories out there, so don't hang yourself from my crooked tree. There's no need to tell me if you drop the story.

8. Please don't bring up other stories under my work, and don't bring up my work under other stories. Thank you very much.

9. That's all for now. I'll add more if I think of anything! I hope you enjoy reading and have a wonderful day!

Theme: Blossoming amid despair