Doomsday Countdown: From Luxury Penthouse to Stellar Manor

July in Song City felt like the world was trapped beneath a glass lid. Heat shimmered above the asphalt. Cicadas screamed from the treetops until their cries turned ragged, as if even they were protesting the relentless temperature. Yet inside the Lu family's private coastal enclave, the air told a different story. Sea breezes threaded through manicured gardens and old shade trees, carrying the scent of salt and greenery. Security checkpoints guarded every entrance. Land here cost more than gold. Countless people dreamed of stepping inside. The neighborhood held only three buildings. Two were ordinary twenty-story luxury residences. The third belonged to Lu Xue'er. Her family had built the twenty-five-story tower solely for her. The first eight floors housed private amenities—a temperature-controlled swimming complex, exclusive lounges, a karaoke club, and more. Floors nine through twenty-four contained secluded vacation suites unavailable at any price. The entire twenty-fifth floor belonged to one person. Lu Xue'er. A thousand-square-meter luxury penthouse perched above the sea like a private kingdom in the clouds. French country décor softened the space with cream-colored woodwork, floral fabrics, and sunlit corners. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed endless ocean views, while rooftop gardens transformed the penthouse into a floating sanctuary suspended high above the city. Safe. Private. A little isolated. Like the world couldn't quite reach her up here. The air conditioning hummed steadily at a cool sixty-eight degrees. Curled into a floral sofa inside her personal gaming room, Lu Xue'er looked perfectly content. A mint-green slip dress hugged her slender frame. The hem skimmed the tops of her thighs, and her long legs disappeared beneath sheer white stockings. Sinking into the cushions, she resembled an elegant house cat stretched lazily in a patch of sunlight. "Mm... no. That wallpaper is awful." Her fingers flew across the keyboard. A hyper-realistic 3D renovation simulator filled the monitor. As the beloved daughter of a tech mogul, she'd never worried about money. Shopping, trying new food, and redesigning her living spaces ranked among her greatest passions. "Light lavender on top, white paneling below. Much prettier." She nodded in satisfaction and reached for the virtual fireplace settings. Then everything changed. Without warning, a voice exploded inside her mind. Cold. Flat. Sharp as ice striking crystal. [Ding. Apocalypse Survival System successfully bound.] Her hand froze above the keyboard. A translucent blue screen materialized before her eyes. [WARNING: Three years and one month remain before the global Cataclysm enters full eruption.] [This system will issue disaster warnings and survival missions. Complete objectives to receive rewards.] "Apocalypse?" Xue'er blinked. "Three years?" Instead of panicking, she rested her chin on one hand and examined the floating screen with growing fascination. The voice was so cold it barely sounded alive. A strange thought surfaced. Then she smiled. "You know," she mused, "there's an old saying about how wildfire never truly destroys the grass. Spring always brings it back." Her fingertip tapped the edge of the blue screen. "Your voice is cold as ashes after a fire. No emotion. No warmth." Her smile widened. "But hope survives in the embers." "I'll call you Ember." The system fell silent. For a moment, she almost thought she'd broken it. Then the voice returned. [...Acknowledged.] [Designation: Ember confirmed.] The pause had been tiny. But it was definitely there. Xue'er grinned triumphantly. "Much better." A second screen shimmered into existence beside the first, glowing with soft pink light. "And what about you two?" The pink screen immediately bounced with excitement. [Master! Master! I'm the Farming System!] The voice sounded like a cheerful little girl. Sweet enough to cause cavities. [My pocket dimension is infinitely large! It has a complete ecosystem too! You can come inside whenever you want for a vacation!] Xue'er's eyes lit up. "A farming system?" She laughed. "Your voice is as sweet as candy." The pink screen sparkled happily. "You sound like a little treasure. My little Candy." "That's it. Your name is Candy." The response arrived instantly. [Thank you, Master! Candy loves Master the most!] The pink light practically vibrated with joy. Before Candy could continue rambling, a third screen shoved its way into the conversation. This one flashed gold. [Me too! Me too!] The electronic voice sounded oddly earnest. [I am the Interdimensional Trade System! Master can exchange valuable items for treasures from other worlds!] Xue'er's eyes sparkled. "Other worlds?" "That sounds expensive." The golden screen brightened noticeably. "You remind me of a little gold ingot." She pointed at it. "Shiny. Valuable. Lucky." "Goldie suits you perfectly." The system practically short-circuited with happiness. [Goldie... Great name!] [Goldie will help Master earn mountains of wealth!] "There we go." Xue'er snapped her fingers. "Ember, Candy, and Goldie." "Perfect." Growing up, she'd been spoiled rotten by her parents. She loved beautiful clothes. Beautiful shoes. Beautiful everything. She could be a little dramatic. A little high-maintenance. If the Cataclysm were arriving tomorrow, she'd probably be curled up on the floor crying. But three years from now? A slow smile spread across her face. She had three systems. Three. The future suddenly looked a lot less frightening. "Candy," she called mentally, "what's inside your pocket dimension right now?" The reply came immediately. [Master! There's a huge field of rich black soil!] Candy sounded impossibly proud. [And a spirit spring too!] [Oh! And Ember, Goldie, and Candy can all enter the pocket dimension. We have full permissions and can help Master anytime!] As Candy chattered excitedly, Xue'er felt a strange pull she couldn't quite explain. For the briefest moment, she imagined dark soil stretching endlessly beneath a silver sky. Warm. Alive. Waiting. Like roots sleeping deep underground, patiently anticipating the day they would awaken once more.