Trapped in the Girls' Dorm at the End of the World: Gaining the "Strategy for Girls, Material Doubling" System

3.0

Author
Mr. Zhi

Chapter 1

971words2026-02-06 07:25

October’s cold rain lashed against the stone courtyard walls, wrapping the college—famous for its oak cloisters and towers—in a damp, gloomy haze. Toby Cartwright stood at the carved oak door of the "West Tower" girls’ dorm, clutching a stack of leather-bound ancient books. His knuckles unconsciously brushed the faded college crest on their spines—these were plague-era relics left by Beth Williams’ grandfather, an old researcher who had once taught at the college and always said the manuscripts held "wisdom for survival".
"The door’s unlocked, come in," Beth’s soft voice called from inside, mingled with the gentle clink of ceramic mugs. Toby pushed open the door, and a scent blending lavender and old book ink wafted over him. The en-suite dorm was neatly and tastefully arranged; an open copy of Medieval Plague Prevention Manuscripts lay on the desk by the window, and two bone china mugs emitted wisps of steam, condensing into tiny droplets on the glass that blurred the thickening grey mist outside into hazy patches.
Beth was kneeling on the carpet, gently brushing the cover of the manuscript with a soft brush. Her light brown curls were loosely pinned back. When she looked up, her blue eyes glistened like pebbles dipped in warm water: "Grandfather said that during the 1665 plague, the monks hid emergency supplies in the top of the tower—but the manuscript doesn’t say exactly where."

"There might be clues in the Special Collections archives," Toby replied, setting down the ancient books. He picked up a mug and took a sip; the rich warmth of the black tea, laced with a hint of milk, spread across his tongue. He leaned down to flip through the manuscript—on its yellowed pages, the Latin phrase "Quarantine septem dies, incendite incense ad expellendum pestem" (Quarantine for seven days, burn incense to drive out the plague) was still legible. But his gaze was suddenly drawn to something odd outside: not just ordinary rain, but a thick grey mist, rolling over the courtyard walls like a tide, swallowing even the outline of the distant clock tower.
A shrill campus announcement suddenly shattered the calm, its static scraping painfully against their eardrums: "Emergency alert! All students return to your dorms immediately! Secure all doors and windows! Repeat, do NOT go outside! An unknown virus has leaked from a southern laboratory—individuals infected show aggressive symptoms, and casualties have been reported…"
The broadcast cut off abruptly. In its place came a scream from the distance—sharp, like breaking glass. Toby jumped to his feet; tea sloshed from his mug onto the manuscript. Beth, her face ashen, stumbled to the window and cautiously lifted a corner of the curtain. She gasped.
On the lawn below, a boy in a tracksuit was running in a staggering, unsteady way. The back of his uniform was stained with something dark and sticky. Chasing him were three figures—their skin a sickly purple-grey, their eyes cloudy and bulging, dark liquid dripping from their lips. Their limbs twisted at unnatural angles, yet they moved with terrifying speed as they closed in on their prey, finally tackling the boy to the ground.
"Oh my God…" Beth’s voice trembled. Her fingers tightened around the curtain. Toby grabbed her arm at once, pulling her away from the window: "Be quiet! They’re sensitive to noise!" He glanced around the room, his eyes fixing on the oak wardrobe by the door. "Help me push this against the door!"
Together, they heaved the wardrobe toward the entrance. Its wooden castors scraped across the floor with a harsh, grating sound. No sooner had they wedged it against the door than a loud bang echoed from outside—as if someone had thrown their body against the wood. Next came the high-pitched scratch of fingernails on the door, sending shivers down their spines. Toby pressed his back against the wardrobe, feeling every tremor from the other side—and catching a faint, sickly stench, like rotting leaves mixed with iron rust.

"The bookshelf is going to fall!" Beth shrieked suddenly. Toby spun around. The tall bookshelf lined against the wall was tilting with the vibrations, and the thick Chronicles of the College from its top shelf came crashing down first. Without thinking, he dived toward Beth, shielding her with his body. The book slammed into his back; pain surged through him instantly, and his vision went black.
In his dazed state, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside his head:
【Host vital signs abnormal detected. Apocalypse Strategy Supply System activated automatically】
【Starter pack issued: 5 bottles of mineral water, 3 packs of high-energy emergency biscuits】

【Eligible target detected: Isabella Williams】
【Current favourability: 35 (Affinity based on shared academic research)】
【Core system function: Upon successful strategy completion with target, designated materials will be permanently doubled】
Toby’s eyes snapped open. The pain in his back had lessened slightly. A transparent panel had appeared out of nowhere in front of his palm, clearly displaying the messages he’d just heard—plus a small image of Beth and her favourability score. On the floor by the desk, five unopened bottles of mineral water and three packs of biscuits marked "Emergency Use Only" lay neatly: the system’s starter pack.
"Toby, are you okay?" Beth asked, gripping his shoulder. Her eyes were filled with worry, her voice still shaking. "What was that voice? And where did these water bottles and biscuits come from…"
Toby was about to speak when faint cries for help drifted over from the next room, mixed with the sharp sound of breaking glass. He glanced at the panel, then at Beth’s pale but determined face. He took a deep breath: "Never mind that now—we need to survive. And someone else needs help." Outside, the grey mist was thickening, completely engulfing the college. Roars and the sound of doors being smashed echoed in the distance, marking the official arrival of the apocalypse.