Saving the Apocalypse, Starting with the Player Forums

The Minister of the Ministry of State Security, Tang Ning, was reborn eight times, but still failed to stop the Apocalypse from arriving.

At the same time, she seemed to have developed some side effects.

She could see the words [Player] hovering over some people's heads.

These [Players] feared nothing, had boundless energy, and were always bursting with vitality.

They charged headlong at dangerous zombies with their bare hands, and insisted on walking, dancing, and singing in freezing rainstorms.

She tried talking to them, only for everyone to howl with excitement.

Even stranger, no matter how many times these [Players] got themselves killed, they would come back to life and reappear right in front of her.

On top of that, a [Player Forum] interface was always floating before her eyes.

Posts kept getting bumped to the top.

[Apocalypse really deserves its spot as the number one survival game. The simulation is incredibly realistic.]

[But isn't this game way too open-ended? Where do we pick up quests from NPCs?]

[Hehehe, an NPC talked to me first today!]

[Sobbing, can some expert tell me how to get a quest?]

[Agent A from the Ministry of State Security is so cool and beautiful. Anyone know where she'll be tomorrow? I'll trade ten Tier One Crystals for the information.]

[Count me in. I'd go to the ends of the earth to kill zombies for her.]

Tang Ning called Agent A over. "...Tomorrow, go for a stroll around the auditorium."

The next day, ten crystals were delivered.

Tang Ning's eyes lit up again and again. She seemed to have found a way to save the Apocalypse.

*

"Captain, would anyone really be willing to take on an SSS-rank quest at the hospital just for one Tier One Crystal?" Member B asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

Tang Ning patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry."

She posted on the forum, and a throng of people flooded in right after, clinging to Agent B's legs and wailing.

"Please, give me a quest to do!"

"I don't want a reward. I'll even give you crystals!"

"I'll bring you presents. Can you put me first?"

*

Apocalypse is a newly released survival game set at the end of the world, famous for its high degree of freedom.

The game is just a little too free, though. Players don't even know where to pick up quests.

Players have long suffered from a lack of quests.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of kind people in the world. An expert called [NT] often posted directions on the player forum and shared tips on fighting zombies and completing quests. The moderators featured every one of NT's posts, and NT became a veritable god-tier expert in the players' eyes.

Countless newbies bumped the posts to cheer, asking to connect, team up, and be taken under their wing. The posts NT had made were treated as gospel by countless people, and thanks to their efforts, Apocalypse successfully ushered in a new era.

Until one day, a bombshell appeared on the player forum: [NT is suspected to be an NPC, and is two-timing!!!]

[Player A: What! Are you saying all of us players have been completely fooled by an NPC?]

[Player B: What are you talking about? My relationship with NT has been exposed?]

[Player C: You're done for, pal. Do you know NT's other lover is the number-one player in the game, the great demon king YT? He's a lovesick mad dog. The other boat NT was on has already been killed down to level zero. You'd better run.]

[Player B: ...Too late QAQ]

Archived on October 30, 2025.

Theme: Soar against the wind and find a way out when all seems lost