"Welcome to the Global Highway Survival Game..."
"This is a migration for all of humanity, and an endless flight from death."
"Whether you were once a billionaire or a beggar on the street, at this moment, you all stand at the same starting line—one vehicle, one life."
"Your vehicle could be a plane, a tank, a taxi, a bicycle, a sports car, a fire truck, or even a subway train... Whatever vehicle you possess, you will automatically master the necessary driving skills."
"The highway beneath you stretches infinitely; it is your only path to survival."
"Remember: Do not look back."
"The Grey Mist is chasing from behind. Its speed is constant, and it devours all living things in its path."
"Gather resources, reinforce your vehicle, and on this highway of death... survive."
...
A cold, synthesized mechanical voice exploded deep within his mind.
Lin Hui snapped his eyes open.
What met his gaze wasn't the familiar ceiling of his bedroom, but a windshield.
Outside the glass, the sky was so gloomy it looked as if a bucket of aged ink had been splashed across it—a suffocating pressure that made it hard to breathe.
He was sitting in the driver's seat, his hands white-knuckled as they gripped a black steering wheel.
"I've transmigrated?"
"Global Highway Survival..." Lin Hui muttered to himself, his brain rapidly processing the information he had just heard.
As a youth of the modern era, his ability to accept such sudden, bizarre circumstances far exceeded that of ordinary people.
He didn't scream in panic. Instead, his first instinct was to reach into his pocket.
His phone was gone.
In its place was a black manual.
The cover was made of coarse leather, embossed with a single line of blood-red countdown numbers:
[Time Remaining Until Grey Mist Arrival: 00:59:32]
This wasn't just a manual; it was a death-dealing hourglass.
Lin Hui frowned slightly and flipped to the first page.
[Survival Rules]
Your vehicle is your Sanctuary. No one may enter without your explicit permission.
Within your vehicle, you are the absolute Sovereign. No player can harm you while onboard. Items on the vehicle cannot be stolen unless the player dies.
In this world, even ordinary monsters are formidable. However, every kill yields rich resources.
You must reinforce your vehicle. Make it stronger to survive the looming dangers.
Monitor your Sanity (SAN) at all times. In this world, madness is more terrifying than death.
100,000 Resource Boxes have been randomly scattered along the highway. Remember to search for them.
All data has been digitized. Simply think the word "System" to view your status panel. (Note: Summoned panels are visible to other players. View them in private when possible.)
Lin Hui closed the manual, focused his gaze on the void, and whispered in his mind: "System."
Shua.
A pale blue, translucent light screen instantly unfurled.
On the far left was the Player Status Panel:
[Name]: Lin Hui [Race]: Human [Status]: Healthy (Mild Hunger) [Sanity (SAN)]: 100/100 (Note: Below 30, suicidal ideation begins; below 20, you will hear whispers; below 10, you will fall into total madness.) [Spirit]: 5 (Note: Average for a healthy adult. Higher Spirit increases Sanity resistance and recovery speed.) [Constitution]: 5 (Note: A composite of speed, strength, and defense.)
Moving his gaze to the right, he saw the Vehicle Panel:
[Vehicle]: Entry-level Civilian Class C RV [Level]: LV.1
At that moment, the World Chat channel had already exploded. Panic was spreading like a plague.
"Help! Where the hell is this? Where's my brand-new Ferrari? Why did it turn into a beat-up Wuling van?"
"The guy above, count your blessings! I'm on a freaking tricycle! And it's open-air!"
"Dammit! Why do I only have a kick-scooter?!"
"Can someone tell me how to read this fuel gauge? Why is the needle below the red line?"
"Same here! The system says I only have enough gas for 20 kilometers! It's all wasteland out here, where am I supposed to refuel?"
"This is murder! I want to go home! Sob..."
"Is there a gas station ahead? Has anyone seen a gas station?"
"Forget about it. This is a survival game. Why would the system give you a full tank at the start? It's forcing us to get out and find resources!"
"But there are sounds outside... sounds like zombies. I'm too scared to get out!"
As expected.
Lin Hui scanned the messages and realized most people were in the same predicament.
The system had given everyone a fair yet desperate start: extremely low fuel, forcing players to choose between "risking their lives to stop for resource boxes" or "being overtaken by the Grey Mist."
This was the Great Sifting.
In the first round, those without courage or luck would be filtered out.
"My luck is decent. At least it's not a bicycle," Lin Hui exhaled sharply, muttering to himself, "Staying here isn't an option... I need to find those resource boxes!"
But just as he started the engine—
A crisp notification chimed in Lin Hui's mind. Unlike the previous mechanical system voice, this sound was ethereal, as if descending from a higher dimension.
[Detected: Host's soul signature is compatible. Cheat-plugin binding in progress...]
[Binding Successful: Unique Golden Trait per Level unlocked.]
[Effect: Every time your vehicle levels up, you will receive one 'Golden Trait.' This trait can be forcibly imbued onto any vehicle component.]
[Newbie Bonus Issued: Your RV is currently LV.1. You may now draw your first trait.]