Chapter 1, Cataclysmic Dimension

With a couple of clicks, the woman pulled back the gun's bolt and commanded, "Take off your clothes!"

I sat in front of the computer, anxiously pulling at my hair, wishing I could rush over to help that unfortunate soul immediately. However, my reach was limited; no matter how capable I was, I couldn't extend my hand through the screen. My mind was filled with curses. Where are the police? Where the hell have they gone? Isn't the public security in Dalian claimed to be the best in the world? How come there isn't a single figure in sight at this moment? Just as I was complaining, I caught sight of two figures running towards us in a corner of the video. Due to the holiday decorations, the streetlights were all adorned in red, making the surroundings appear somewhat dim. It wasn't until those two figures got closer that I realized they were two patrolling officers.

The female police officer cried out, "Li Yan, how are you?" She rushed over and embraced the male police officer, who was called Li Yan, her concerned gaze evoking deep sorrow. With a voice choked with tears, she held her walkie-talkie and called for support from headquarters

I hurriedly turned around and exited the small hotel; a place of such disputes is truly not suitable for prolonged stay

I had not finished speaking when the woman coldly shouted, "Shut up! Take off your clothes!"

The screen was filled with the sounds of people's screams, and the photographer staggered up from the ground. He first looked down at his partner, only to find the female host lying motionless on the ground, blood still flowing from her neck, though the amount of bleeding had clearly decreased. While shouting for help, the photographer pressed his hand against the wound on the female host's neck. This individual exhibited a high level of professionalism; even at this moment, he did not forget his role. The camera tilted upward, and the video continued to track that madman.

After listening, I could no longer hold back and exclaimed: "What the hell, on such a cold day, you show me just one, and it still shakes like a sieve!"

However, I didn't pay much attention to it. Now, everything I see looks like a cabbage, and I can't help but wish to enjoy a nice meal to reward my poor stomach. So, I didn't walk far before I plunged into a small roadside eatery. As I pushed the door open, I called out: "Bring me a ... ... " Then I was astonished to discover that something was very off in this small restaurant

Yet the madman had already charged into the crowd, grabbing and biting. The crowd, initially stunned, scattered in panic, and moments later, everyone had fled far away, leaving only one unfortunate soul pinned down by the madman. However, this unfortunate individual was clearly no weakling; he was tall and robust, exuding strength. In a desperate struggle, he grappled with the madman, engaging in a relentless fight. The two of them embraced tightly, rolling into a tangled mass on the street. Although the madman was relatively small in stature, he possessed immense strength. After several rounds, he managed to pin the unfortunate soul down. Yet, the unfortunate one refused to concede, fighting back like a cornered beast. Despite being bitten and bleeding profusely, with half of his nose gone, he fiercely defended his throat, preventing the madman from biting him.

However, the gun's muzzle, resembling an endless abyss, was truly terrifying. I was so frightened that I hurriedly raised my hands and said, "Gentlemen... I'm hungry... Are you police officers?" Although the fat man seemed unremarkable, the woman holding the gun was clearly dressed in a well-fitted police uniform, and the shotgun she held was also a police-issued weapon.

The woman also let out a slight sigh of relief, straightened her posture a bit, pointed the gun at my shorts, and said: "Take that off too"

The girl smiled and pointed at her phone, saying: "It is now past midnight, 12:00 AM, and the true Day of Judgment has arrived—December 22."

It was only then that I remembered what I was meant to do. I thought to myself that it would be too difficult to say I was in a bottleneck period, so I quickly turned off the internet connection, opened Jiji Writing, and began to focus on typing, immersing myself in the worlds of frost giants, fire phoenixes, and elven dwarves.

The woman was holding a shotgun, aiming its dark muzzle directly at me. Her head was lowered, with most of her cheek obscured by her hand and the stock of the gun, making it difficult for me to see her features

I was still assessing the strengths of both sides when the female police officer, who was ahead, rushed forward. Her delicate features exuded a certain gallant charm, appearing quite imposing. Without understanding the situation, she instinctively shouted, "Police! Don't move!" The madman completely ignored her warning and continued to strangle the unfortunate victim, who was rolling his eyes and sticking out his tongue.

I have long been accustomed to this peculiar phenomenon on forums. There will always be a group of idle individuals in this world who engage in discussions for the sake of discussion itself, while the reasons behind their discussions are of little concern to them.

The midnight bell finally tolled, and the half-skeptical crowd could not help but reveal knowing smiles. The female host, broadcasting live on video, excitedly stated: "Dear viewers, we have turned the last page of the Mayan calendar. According to the ancient Mayans, we have entered the sixth solar era." She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and smiled, saying: "In any case, our world has not ended; those prophecies about the apocalypse have once again been proven to be lies! Now, please follow our cameras as we take to the streets to personally experience the joy of people in this new era."

Therefore, after seven days, when I "emerge from isolation," I am already in a state of utter disarray. I feel the need to take a shower and eat some fresh vegetables. Most importantly, the instant noodles at home have run out; if I do not step out of the house soon, I might starve to death in this small apartment of mine.

The level of shock I experienced at that moment was simply beyond words. I believe that those who, like me, were sitting in front of their computers watching this video felt the same shock. I knew that the host was unlikely to survive; based on the volume of blood and the force with which it was expelled, even without a medical background, I could deduce that the carotid artery had been severed. If immediate measures were not taken to stop the bleeding, it would lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in death. If the bleeding continued, the situation would be even worse, as the carotid artery is too close to the heart, and the blood pressure is relatively high. In just a few minutes, I knew that the host would likely die from excessive blood loss.

I informed my editor about this matter through QQ and included the link to the video. I thought he would also be inspired, but instead, I received a scolding: "You haven't submitted all your articles for this week, hurry up and write." Being an editor is quite challenging; even after work, they still have to review manuscripts at home or manage coordination among numerous writers. It seems that the only time they can enjoy a moment to themselves is when they are asleep

I opened my eyes to see a dark gun barrel aimed directly at my little brother

The live broadcast has stopped, and I sat in front of the computer in a daze for a while. For a moment, I had the illusion that I was watching a Hollywood blockbuster. After a brief pause, I hurriedly switched the page to the discussion section of a certain forum. The level of advancement in modern science is beyond what the Maya could have imagined. The intensity and brutality of that video were likely unparalleled on the internet in recent years; once it spreads, its shock value is difficult to describe. The website that hosted the live broadcast of this footage will undoubtedly see a surge in click rates in a short period, becoming a major hotspot. The intensity and brutality of that video were likely unparalleled on the internet in recent years; once it spreads, its shock value is difficult to describe. The website that hosted the live broadcast of this footage will undoubtedly see a surge in click rates in a short period, becoming a major hotspot.

The camera lens shook incessantly, and chaotic street scenes appeared on the computer screen. I am not a local native and cannot discern the specific location of this interview team through those disordered shots. I only saw the host casually stop a young couple holding small red flags and conduct an on-site interview, asking: "We are reporters from XXX Network, may I ask what your views are on the topic of the apocalypse?"

As expected, there are already hundreds of comments in the discussion section below the video. Some praise the police for their timely arrival, some express disgust and nausea, others admire the beauty of the female police officer, and there are those questioning the legality of the police using firearms. The most disgusting part is that two groups of people have engaged in a heated argument over whether the gun is a Type 54 or Type 64, with one advising the other: "Child, go home and study properly before embarrassing yourself out here." The other retorts: "Just because you call me a child doesn't mean you are knowledgeable, how shameless..." Person A says: "The shape of that gun is undoubtedly a Type 64." Person B replies: "A Type 64 pistol definitely doesn't have such a loud muzzle sound." Person C muddles the waters, claiming it is a hybrid of Type 54 and Type 64. Then everyone goes off-topic again, starting to discuss whether loading 7 rounds is more scientific or if 8 rounds is more practical. In the end, the conversation surprisingly drifts all the way to the point of comparing the power of ancient Roman bows to that of crossbows from the pre-Qin period.

At that moment, the fat man looked up at me, frowned, and said: "Sister Wan, look, this kid is trembling; he must be up to no good"

Fortunately, at this moment, the male police officer had already arrived at the scene. Despite his small stature, he was quite vigorous and quick to react, swiftly thrusting the baton in his hand forward, and the madman bit down on the baton.

The female police officer, along with the subsequent arriving law enforcement personnel, handled the evidence collection at the crime scene. She was not prominently featured in the video, and the photographer was evidently unharmed. However, the well-meaning police officers still advised him to go to the hospital for a check-up

I was taken aback and looked up, only to see that there were only two people in the small supermarket, a man and a woman. The man was a large fellow, with a big bag hanging around his neck, completely engrossed in his work. When he saw me enter, he didn't even lift his head, continuing to stuff a pile of canned goods into his large bag. As for the woman, I couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

I was filled with dread, every pore on my body stood on end, and I truly could not believe that what was happening before my eyes was real! Such a bloody scene occurred in the city where I live, right beside me!

The host was taken aback by the counter-question and after a moment of pause, she smiled and said: "We are merely discussing the matter at hand. Recently, the notion of the apocalypse has been widely circulated..." Before she could finish, the girl in the arms of the young man murmured: "I am not as optimistic as you all. Although the technological level of ancient people was not very high, it was not only the Mayans who made such predictions; ancient people from different regions have made similar prophecies..."

I was left dumbfounded, suddenly realizing that the matter was not yet over. I hurriedly widened my eyes to watch the video again, and sure enough, along with the book, that madman lunged at the photographer. In that instant, the madman's face clearly occupied the entire screen: disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes, dark red liquid dripping from the corners of his eyes, leaving two long streaks on his cheeks, and a gaping mouth that seemed to be a bottomless pit, with blood flowing down to his chin. In that instant, the madman's face clearly occupied the entire screen: disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes, dark red liquid dripping from the corners of his eyes, leaving two long streaks on his cheeks, and a gaping mouth that seemed to be a bottomless pit, with blood flowing down to his chin

When I stepped out of my home, I did not sense anything amiss. Beneath the attic where I reside, there are six formal residential floors. I walked down from the attic, and the empty hallway did not catch my attention; in fact, I even peeked quietly through the slightly ajar or fully open doors of each apartment, hoping to catch a glimpse of a disheveled beauty or a sultry mature woman. Everything was eerily quiet, with no sounds at all. I hoped to see a disheveled beauty or a sultry mature woman. Everything was eerily quiet, with no sounds at all.

Due to the angle of the camera, I did not clearly see the process in the middle. However, when the male police officer retracted his hand, I saw clearly that his thumb was missing, and there were only four fingers on the snow-white glove. At the position where the thumb should have been, blood was continuously gushing out

The chairs and benches in the small hotel were askew, and the floor was littered with the remnants of shattered cups, bowls, and plates. Directly in front, the wine rack behind the counter was in disarray, with bottles broken to pieces, filling the room with the aroma of wine. Upon closer inspection, there was also a faint hint of blood in the air. Lacking professional training, I was unable to identify the source of that scent.

That small supermarket is indeed very small; to put it plainly, it is essentially a converted small shop that used to be commonly found on the streets. Generally speaking, the sales staff are mostly the owners themselves.

I couldn't help but admire the quick response of the male police officer; before I could finish my thought, I saw him leap into the air, swinging his baton out.

Which robber would allow a witness like me to live

The host was clearly intrigued by the girl's fresh assertion and, following her tone, said: "Are you suggesting that according to the Mayan calendar, December 21, 2012 has not yet arrived?"

I thought I had misheard, and in astonishment, I asked, "What did you say?"

In fact, many times I believe I have detached myself from the real world. I buy a few boxes of instant noodles, unplug the internet cable, turn off my phone, and completely sever my connection with the outside world. This seemingly harsh lifestyle is a necessary path for every writer in our circle, which we refer to as "seclusion." The benefit of this approach is that it allows one to produce more works in the shortest amount of time, and the connections between various storylines become much more coherent.

In pain, the young man exerted all his strength to push the strange person away, ultimately sending the strange individual crashing into the host. The strange person let out a hissing scream and grabbed the host, sinking his teeth into the host's neck, followed immediately by a jet of blood shooting from the host's mouth.

The female police officer lunged forward without hesitation! She exerted all her strength to pry open the madman's hand, but her strength was clearly insufficient to prevent the situation from escalating. However, this distraction caused the madman to react; he suddenly turned his head and viciously bit down on the female police officer's arm

I am an online writer, with a specialty and passion for assessing situations and making timely judgments

The male police officer did not hesitate, enduring the pain as he lunged forward, pushing the madman to the ground. He then restrained the madman's hands behind his back and handcuffed him. The madman continued to struggle, opening his mouth wide to bite off a piece of the ceramic tile on the ground, quickly reducing it to fragments. The police officer, fearing it was not secure enough, took out another pair of handcuffs and locked the madman's feet as well. Only then did he stand up, remove his blood-stained gloves, and check his wounds. After just a glance, he could not help but stagger, clearly realizing at that moment that his thumb was missing.

The interviewed young man spoke in a strong Dalian accent, saying: "What do you mean by the end of the world? It's all nonsense! Those are just malicious rumors spread by people with ulterior motives... How can you journalists believe such absurd tales?"

The fat man, upon hearing this, was not angry. While continuing to stuff canned biscuits into the large bag, he nodded and said, "That makes sense... It seems this kid has no issues."

The mad head suddenly intruded into the frame, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety for the photographer. Just as I was getting anxious, a leg suddenly shot out from below the lens, kicking the lunatic, who had already lunged forward, away.

As she raised her head, her delicate face immediately came into my view, and I couldn't help but be taken aback, exclaiming, "You... you are that female police officer who caught the madman a few days ago, aren't you...?" Before I could finish my sentence, I regretted it, and my face turned ashen. The thing that robbers detest the most is being recognized, which is why almost all robbery operations involve wearing a mask or a sock to conceal their faces. My earlier statement clearly implied, "Haha, I have recognized you!"

"How can someone become a police officer and still commit robbery?" I truly find it hard to believe my eyes as I glanced at the items they were stealing... Although there were many, they were not particularly valuable, totaling only a few hundred yuan. I composed myself and said, "I am not a wealthy person either, but isn't it a bit excessive to rob a small convenience store like this? Is it really worth it to steal items worth just a few hundred yuan? And to have the audacity to do it while wearing police uniforms, do you not realize that this is a crime that deserves even harsher punishment..."

His girlfriend, however, was clearly not as optimistic as he was. She said, "Don't be too happy too soon; the calculations of the Maya are not that precise. Even carried to the present day, there should be a one-day margin of error"

Upon arriving at the street downstairs, I began to feel a slight sense of unease. Why was there not a single person on the street? Although I had deliberately chosen to rent a house in the suburban area for the sake of tranquility, the street was usually bustling with people, and it was absolutely unreasonable for there to be no one at all.

If it were not for the one square meter window that remains on the gable wall of the loft I rented, I would often be under the illusion that I was living in the tree hollow of a green elf from a primordial era.

When I returned to the street, my mood relaxed slightly. I thought it would be best to fill my stomach first, so I chose a small supermarket not far away and walked briskly towards it, wondering if the owner of the supermarket might know something about what had happened in the small hotel.

I sat upright in front of the computer, captivated by the girl's intriguing perspective. Just as I was about to ponder its validity, a chilling scream suddenly echoed in my headphones, startling me. When I looked up to examine the situation closely, an unbelievable scene was unfolding in the video.

The video suddenly shook, clearly indicating that the cameraman was desperately trying to evade that madman. Suddenly, the camera swung towards the deep night sky, followed by a pair of women's fur shorts appearing in the frame. It seemed that the cameraman had fallen onto his back, and the fur shorts visible on the camera were unmistakably those of the female host.

A person dressed in a dark down jacket suddenly jumped out from somewhere, pouncing on the young man being interviewed and frantically biting at his face. The young man's girlfriend was taken aback, reaching out to grab the assailant's arm. Without turning his head, the assailant retaliated by grabbing her face fiercely, and with an unknown strength, he tore a bloody piece of flesh from her face. The girl let out a piercing scream, instinctively covering her face, only to be pushed over by the assailant, falling out of the frame.

Bang! Bang! Two gunshots rang out! The female police officer, who had been thrown aside, finally fired her weapon. The bullet pierced through the madman's arms, seemingly breaking the bones directly. The unfortunate man, who had been pinned to the ground, immediately retracted his tongue and began to cough loudly

I hurriedly pushed open the door of the small supermarket and walked in, still trying to figure out what was happening, when I heard a woman coldly shout: "Stop! Don't move!"

I estimated that she wanted to swap clothes with me, to avoid being caught and facing worse consequences. In my mind, I greeted all the women in her family, and then slowly began to take off my clothes. After a moment, I was left with only a barely concealing pair of triangle shorts. Being bare in this cold weather is truly no laughing matter; even if the cold wind couldn't blow in from outside, I still found myself shivering slightly.

Is anyone there? I mustered the courage to call out, but no one answered. I called out again, yet there was still no response. This empty little hotel was permeated with an extremely eerie atmosphere, making it hard for one to breathe.

However, when those two patrol officers approached, my heart, which had slightly relaxed, sank again! They were a male and a female police officer. The female officer was particularly striking, with a figure resembling that of a model, which seemed entirely unrelated to the concept of strength. The male officer was half a head shorter than the female officer; although he appeared quite tough, his build was undeniably too slender! Even that unfortunate tall fellow was no match for them, so what use could these two petite officers possibly be?

I must declare that I truly did not expect the recent video to have any connection to me, nor did I anticipate that it would directly impact the course of my life thereafter

The scene that followed was much as I had anticipated. An ambulance numbered 120 rushed in, and the paramedics in white coats jumped out of the vehicle, lifting both the unfortunate individual and the female host onto stretchers. Even the male police officer was assisted and taken into the ambulance, urgently transported to the hospital for treatment

The girl's boyfriend laughed dismissively and said, "But the facts prove that our ancestors were wrong. Just look, December 21, 2012, has already passed, and now it is December 22." It seems that this guy did not dare to offend his girlfriend too much, so he spoke very tactfully.

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at the time. It had only been a little over three minutes from the incident to the arrival of the police. I couldn't help but admire the patrol officers in Dalian, thinking to myself that I shouldn't have inexplicably blamed them earlier. After all, the police force is limited in number, and it is impossible to assign a security guard to every citizen.

Indeed, the female police officer's expression changed suddenly, and she swiftly leveled her gun, preparing to shoot. Instinctively, I closed my eyes, and beside my ear, I heard the female officer shout: "Quick, take it off!"

When! When! When... ...