Looking at the tools on the ground, Brian Carter turned around to face them.

"As you can see, the nuclear war ended two hundred years ago."

"We are currently in the far northern outskirts of Qingquan City, far from the nuclear crater. Unless you run into 'glowing rain' or visibly radioactive clouds, you don't need to worry too much about excessive gamma levels."

"The shelter can't protect us forever, and our civilization can't hide beneath the ruins forever either. Remember, we are the vanguard returning to the surface. Behind us, thousands upon thousands of people are waiting for our good news—there's no time to waste."

"The first thing we need to do now is repair this sanatorium beneath our feet and establish an outpost on these ruins."

"It will become our bridgehead for returning to the surface."

"I'm giving you a task: pick up the axes on the ground and go outside to chop some wood."

"Before winter comes, we need to stockpile enough fuel, and at the same time, repair these broken walls around us."

"Remember not to go too far. If you encounter mutants, don't act rashly—retreat immediately."

"Move out!"

Brian Carter originally thought he would have to spend some effort persuading them.

Unexpectedly, these players were even more obedient than he imagined, picking up the axes and heading out to work without hesitation.

Their quick movements made it seem like they couldn't wait for him to finish talking, afraid of wasting any time before getting to work.

"Master, are you sure these guys are really okay?" Little Henry, who was following beside him, voiced its concern. It always felt that these clones weren't quite right in the head.

"That's why I had you come out too," Brian Carter glanced up at the sanatorium behind him, paused for a moment, and continued, "Go to the window on the north side of the third floor and keep watch. If they run into trouble or go too far, let me know right away."

As for himself, he needed to check the rewards for completing the task.

The wastebasket next to Brian Carter hadn't moved.

After a while, Little Henry spoke up softly.

"...Master."

"What is it?"

"Um, I don't have feet."

The mobile wastebasket circled around Brian Carter's calf, showing off its way of moving. Only then did Brian Carter notice that this guy had always been gliding on four pairs of wheels.

"...Alright, I'll carry you up."

He sighed.

Brian Carter squatted down and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

Good grief.

It was pretty heavy.

...

Ka-ka—

Duang!

A tree as thick as a thigh slowly toppled over, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"I don't think this place feels like a wasteland."

"Then what does it feel like?"

"More like a forest... I mean 'The Forest.' I don't know if you guys have played it, but in that game you chop trees like this and then build houses."

"Of course I've played it—it's the perfect game for co-op. Not only have I played it, I even built my house in the sky. But building houses there is way easier—just click the mouse. Not like here... damn, these axes are heavy."

"Speaking of settings, I actually think this is pretty realistic. I remember watching a documentary about returning to Chernobyl. After forty years without humans, it turned into a new ecosystem—buildings covered in vines, trees growing taller than the houses... This game's setting is two hundred years after the apocalypse, right? It's not impossible. I even feel like the situation in the city might be even more extreme than here."

Looking at the mess behind him, Old White wiped his sweat and clicked his tongue.

"If this was real life, we'd probably end up in jail for this."

They'd been working for two hours.

Although their efficiency wasn't great and the leftover stumps looked like they'd been chewed by dogs, they'd still managed to chop down about a dozen pine trees as thick as thighs, and countless thinner ones.

However, the administrator hadn't said how much was needed, so no one was sure if this was enough.

"Honestly, this game is just too realistic... Whether it's the dull thud of the axe hitting the tree, the flying wood chips, or the sunlight filtering through the leaves, it all reminds me of—"

"Alright, alright, enough with the nonsense."

Interrupting Long's musings, Ethan Reed leaned on his axe, looking at the scattered branches and autumn leaves on the ground, panting as he spoke.

"If we can chop trees, building houses and farming shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Their in-game physical abilities were much stronger than in real life.

In real life, Ethan Reed was the kind of person whose body had been hollowed out by nine years of compulsory education, but here in the wasteland, he could at least squeeze out a couple of biceps.

Of course, the one enjoying it the most was White Lightning—Old White.

His character didn't look like much, with a scruffy beard, but when he rolled up his sleeves, it was all muscle—he looked strong.

"If we're going to farm, I suggest we set a fire, mix the ash into the soil, and after winter, when spring comes, we'll have fertile land... Of course, that's if the game is really that realistic. Otherwise, it's just wishful thinking."

"By the way, I've always wondered—why is it that Old White looks so muscular, like he's trained, but I can barely swing an axe?"

Gale panted heavily.