Chapter 2: Establishing the Territory – Hope Village

Zhou Bai’s gaze fell on the screen in front of her.

After the End Times system announced official operation, the screen content had already changed.

The main panel showed personal information.

【Character: Zhou Bai】

【Race: Human】

【Level: lv.0 (0/100)】

【Status: Refugee】

【Health: 86/100】

【Attributes: Constitution (4/10), Intelligence (7/10), Agility (5/10), Defense (2/10)】

To the left of the personal information was a friends function, currently unavailable.

Below were sections for map, backpack, private messages, etc.

Clearly a standard game interface.

Above these panels floated a notification layer, which was the content of the system voice notification that had just appeared.

【Host, would you like to bind the Lord Token?】

“Yes.” Zhou Bai answered decisively.

After making the choice, the notification disappeared, and the backpack section showed a small red dot. Clicking it revealed a Lord Token in one of the slots.

Zhou Bai directly clicked on the Lord Token, and an information page opened before her.

【Item: Lord Token】

【Description: Can establish territory after use. Territory provides shelter and protection from magical beasts】

After reading the description, Zhou Bai’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

Protection from magical beasts?

Did this mean that magical beasts would attack in the End Times Game?

What exactly were magical beasts?

Everything was unknown, and the unknown was what made it terrifying.

However, what made Zhou Bai feel fortunate was that she now had the Lord Token and could establish a territory, giving them a place to settle down safely.

Exchanging several buildings for this reward was absolutely worth it!

The next moment, Zhou Bai told her parents about the reward she had received and the situation she had encountered.

Hearing this, Zhou Zhengping felt slightly relieved. He had been worried that the unknown End Times Game would bring many unknown dangers, and under these dangers, he couldn’t protect his wife and daughter well.

Now that his daughter had this Lord Token, as long as they found a suitable location to establish territory, safety would be somewhat guaranteed.

“Let’s go find a suitable place for the territory,” Zhou Zhengping said directly.

Since it was confirmed that the gamified Blue Star would have magical beasts, it was naturally better to establish the territory as early as possible for safety.

“Mm.” Zhou Bai nodded. They urgently needed a safe location now.

Subsequently, the family of three began to move, preparing to search for a suitable location nearby. As they walked, they also began to encounter other people.

Compared to their family’s composure, the people they met were obviously very panicked.

“There are monsters, monsters ahead! Run quickly!” Seeing Zhou Zhengping’s family of three, someone shouted in terror.

“What monsters?” Zhou Zhengping asked. Since Blue Star’s gamification had become a reality, all they could do was try to understand this game world as much as possible.

“They looked like dogs, but several times larger, attacking people on sight. Several people were bitten to death on the spot. Everyone scattered and fled. I don’t know which direction it went, hurry and run!” After saying this, the person quickened their escape pace.

After this person, countless others came fleeing for their lives.

Seeing this situation, Zhou Zhengping had no choice but to take his daughter and wife and run along, but he deliberately moved in a different direction.

After witnessing this “escape,” he clearly understood how important the token his daughter possessed was in this apocalypse. He didn’t know if it could be stolen, so in this situation, they naturally had to avoid crowds.

Also, they needed to turn the token into space as soon as possible.

That mutated dog should be a magical beast. Who knew what other magical beasts there might be later?

What Zhou Zhengping could think of, Zhou Bai could naturally think of too.

She usually just relied on her parents and was too lazy to think, but now that her parents were also in danger, how could she continue to depend on them blindly?

While moving, she also observed that although the surrounding buildings had all disappeared, the basic environment was very similar to where they had been before. She had verified this on the map.

If that was the case, why not choose their previous villa area? The villa area was specially selected by developers who had consulted feng shui masters. It backed against a mountain and had a river flowing in front – truly situated between mountain and water. After development, it became the hottest property in the area.

Therefore, using this place as territory wouldn’t have poor development potential.

Thinking of this, Zhou Bai called out to her parents. “Dad, Mom, I thought of a suitable place. Shall we go take a look?”

“What place?” Zhou Zhengping instinctively asked. Although he trusted his daughter, the space matter was very important, so he still needed to be cautious.

“Our previous villa area. Dad, didn’t you notice that although the buildings and such have disappeared, the environment is still the same?” Zhou Bai reminded him.

Zhou Zhengping and Ding Qiurou, hearing Zhou Bai’s words, looked around at their surroundings. Upon observation, they suddenly discovered that the arrangement of surrounding trees really seemed to be the same as before.

If that was the case, their original villa area must still be there.

That place was indeed suitable for establishing territory.

“Good, let’s go back!” Zhou Zhengping quickly agreed.

With Zhou Zhengping leading the way, the family of three walked toward the villa area.

Along the way, they also encountered many people. Faced with the sudden End Times Game, many people hadn’t reacted yet, showing some confusion in their faces. Facing the changed world, they didn’t know where to go for a while and could only go with the flow.

Zhou Bai didn’t say an extra word about this.

With the territory not yet established, bringing these people along might cause unexpected problems, and she couldn’t take that risk.

The family of three hardened their hearts and pretended not to see, but still gave a friendly reminder that magical beasts had already appeared outside, telling everyone to be more careful.

After an unknown amount of time, they finally saw the familiar environment.

Seeing the mountains and water, their guess was confirmed.

“Dad, Mom, shall I choose this place as our territory?” Zhou Bai asked.

Both nodded.

Soon, Zhou Bai clicked to take out the Lord Token from her backpack. The next moment, the token appeared in her hand.

【Would you like to use the Lord Token?】

“Yes.”

As the words fell, the token in her hand emitted a dazzling light and flew out.

When it landed in midair, a map appeared in front of Zhou Bai, and the map also displayed a small territory blueprint.

【Please select the territory placement location on the map.】

Zhou Bai observed for a moment and made her selection directly.

After she confirmed, a small space appeared on the empty ground in front of her, identical to the space blueprint – a small wooden fence surrounding a small house in the center.

When the space materialized, the family looked on with some disbelief.

This was… territory? Too crude, wasn’t it?

【Please name your village. After naming, it will appear on the character map.】

“Hope?” Let it be simple and catchy, and hopefully it will truly bring hope.

【Congratulations host on establishing territory Hope Village. Reward: 2 buildings.】

A space option appeared on Zhou Bai’s screen. Clicking it revealed the territory’s situation at a glance.

【Territory: Hope Village】

【Level: Level 0 Village (Upgrade)】

【Population: 0/100】

【Tax Rate: 10% (adjustable)】

【Wealth: 88 gold 34 silver 72 copper】

【Buildings: Lord’s Manor (Level 1), Fence, Other unlockable buildings (2 available)】

【Shop: Territory exclusive, provides materials only】

【Current Ranking: ***】

【Note: Territory can only be conquered by lords, newbie protection period 1 month】

Then came settings for visitors and residents. Since these could be adjusted at any time, Zhou Bai went with the system’s initial settings.

After confirming everything, she looked at Zhou Zhengping and Ding Qiurou nearby. “Dad, Mom, have there been any changes to your maps?”

The map range was limited. In the initial state, they could only see 10,000 square meters centered on their landing point, but visited places could expand the range. Previously, the villa area was outside their initial map, but after coming here, the map encompassed it.

“Yes, Hope Village has appeared on our maps.”

“Shall we go in and take a look?” Zhou Bai asked.

“Mm.”

Zhou Bai smoothly stepped inside, but Zhou Zhengping and Ding Qiurou were blocked outside, with a notification appearing on their panels.

【Dear refugees, welcome to Hope Village! Currently, available statuses: Visitor (10 copper coins/day), Resident (10 silver coins/permanent)】

Zhou Zhengping and Ding Qiurou exchanged glances and directly chose “Resident.”

【Congratulations on becoming residents of Hope Village. Please go to the Lord’s Manor to receive your identity tokens.】

At this time, Zhou Bai, as the lord, received a message.

【Hope Village has gained 2 residents. Within territory range, the lord can view resident personal information and has the right to expel residents.】

Seeing this, Zhou Bai’s eyes brightened. This would be more conducive to her managing the territory as lord. Later, if there were unreliable residents, she could completely drive them away.

Zhou Bai immediately mentioned this to her parents, who were also very happy. At least their daughter’s safety was guaranteed.

Subsequently, the family of three discussed and headed toward the Lord’s Manor. Many of the territory’s functions seemed to require exploration, so they might as well master all the rules quickly while no one else was around.

At this time, not far from here, many people who had scattered and fled after being chased by magical beasts suddenly received a notification.

【You have entered Hope Village’s jurisdiction, you may proceed to Hope Village】

【Note: Villages, towns, cities and other territories can resist different levels of magical beasts based on their defensive power.】

Looking at the notification, then at Hope Village that had suddenly appeared at the edge of their maps, many people became excited.

Especially the mention that territories could resist magical beasts.

When they were outside, they encountered various monsters from time to time – these should be the magical beasts. Some were strong, some weak. The weaker ones were manageable; they could even kill them and obtain some supplies. But when encountering stronger ones, they had no way to deal with them and even faced life-threatening danger. Moreover, they couldn’t stay in the wilderness forever!

They didn’t know where this territory had come from, but they could go there and take a look.