The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

On the other hand, in the real world.

After a long period of silence, the official website of Wasteland Era has finally seen some new activity.

There were no fancy animations, no countdowns, just an extremely brief announcement that was highlighted and pinned by major apps.

[The open beta of "Wasteland Era" is coming soon, with the first open beta targeting the Dragon Kingdom region, distributing four million login accounts.]

[Note: Real-name authentication is required to pre-register for "Wasteland Era". Anyone over 16 years of age can pre-register.]

The moment the announcement appeared, it was as if a depth charge had been dropped on the entire internet.

The once-dormant player forum was flooded with tens of millions of visitors within seconds.

Moreover, this news spread like wildfire online, just like a virus.

On major social media platforms, the hashtag "Wasteland Era Open Beta" surged to the top of the trending topics list almost vertically.

Countless posts of speculation, analysis, and ecstasy sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

However, before this craze could fully take hold...

An even bigger piece of news was released from a channel that no one expected.

Official source from the Dragon Kingdom.

Almost simultaneously with the game's official website, a bright red announcement appeared prominently on the homepages of various apps.

Effective immediately, all classes from primary school onwards will be suspended indefinitely nationwide. The resumption date will be announced separately.

Below this announcement is the pre-registration link for "Wasteland Era".

The official registration channel for "Wasteland Era" has been opened.

Furthermore, we actively encourage all eligible young people to register and participate.

If the previous announcement of the game's public beta was a bombshell...

Therefore, this official announcement is tantamount to a nuclear explosion covering the entire Dragon Kingdom.

Society as a whole has fallen completely silent.

After a brief period of silence, a massive wave of public opinion swept through the country.

"They've gone mad! Utterly mad!"

"Schools suspended? Or indefinitely shut down? What kind of operation is this?"

"Education is the foundation of a nation! How can we stop it? How dare we stop it?!"

"An official announcement with a game link, encouraging young people to play? Am I reading that right? It's not April Fool's Day!"

A small group of so-called parents took the lead in launching a protest online.

They cited classical texts and expressed their deep sorrow, condemning the decision as a "historical regression" and "the self-destruction of civilization."

However, their voices were quickly drowned out by an even more turbulent wave.

The parents' questioning did not generate any significant resistance.

Most people reacted with an eerie calm, or even... a sense of entitlement, to this announcement that defied common sense.

"Haha, I'm not afraid to tell you, I guessed that all of this would happen half a month ago."

"You have the nerve to say it's been half a month? Your internet connection must be from a rural area. I knew things were going to change when 'Wasteland Era' came out."

"I feel the same way, but I thought I would have to wait a while longer. I didn't expect it to be so soon."

Online, some self-proclaimed experts rushed to share their opinions.

There are also pessimistic types.

"In my opinion, this world should just be destroyed. I've had enough of living, I'm tired of it all."

"If possible, please let me leave without pain; this is my last wish."

There are also rational types.

"I trust the Chinese government; they must have their reasons for doing this."

"Anyway, let's pre-register for Wasteland Era first. Tomorrow might not be better, but I believe a better tomorrow will surely come!"

Of course, some self-righteous people also sensed something else in this announcement.

Something's not right! Something's definitely not right!

"Such a big move by the authorities must mean something serious has happened!"

"I have a feeling that the apocalypse depicted in novels is probably really coming."

"Quick! Stockpile supplies! Food! Water! Medicine! The more the better!"

Apocalyptic rhetoric quickly gained widespread support.

Panic is the most contagious emotion.

Thus, a nationwide buying frenzy erupted without warning.

Countless people rushed into shopping malls and supermarkets, and the goods on the shelves were swept away in a frenzy.

Rice, flour, oil, canned goods, drinking water...

All supplies that can be stored for a long time have become highly sought-after items.

Some people fought over the last bag of rice, while others became enemies over a few boxes of instant noodles.

The entire social order seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

However, the next day, while those who had managed to grab the supplies were still congratulating themselves on their "foresight," something strange happened.

All the supermarkets that had been emptied were suddenly filled with shelves overnight.

The variety and quantity of goods were even more complete than before the rush to buy.

The price has not fluctuated at all.

On the first day, people thought it was the merchants replenishing their inventory, a last-ditch effort.

But the same thing happened the next day.

The same thing happened on the third day.

For a whole week, no matter how frantically people emptied the supermarket the day before, everything would return to normal the next morning.

It's as if they were prepared in advance; they can never finish moving everything and can never stop buying.

Now everyone understood.

It's not that we don't have enough supplies.

The Chinese government had made preparations long ago.

The resources stockpiled by the Chinese government have reached an outrageous level!

Their small-scale hoarding is nothing more than a ripple in the face of the authorities.

The panic subsided instantly.

Instead, there was a kind of awkwardness that was both laughable and frustrating.

The basement and storage room of the house are piled up with enough instant noodles and canned food to last for several years.

These "hard currencies," once considered treasures, have now become the hottest potatoes.

Because supplies will expire eventually, but gold and silver won't...

Finally, the first hoarder couldn't hold out any longer.

He opened the Douyin app and cautiously posted a video.

"Anyone want instant noodles? Various flavors available, 10% off, bulk orders get a discount..."

This TikTok video is like a lit fuse.

"Hey upstairs, I have some at a 20% discount!"

"I'm offering a 30% discount! Plus free shipping!"

"It's fucking 50% off! Please, just buy it already! My wife hasn't let me into the house for three days!"

A massive hoarding campaign ultimately devolved into an absurd and frenzied sell-off.

The internet is filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Where did the "doomsday warrior" who was hoarding rice and oil a few days ago go? How come he's turned into a discount salesperson today?

[I can't believe it! My neighbor has stockpiled thirty boxes of salt, enough to last until the next generation. Now he's constantly asking in the residents' group chat if anyone needs pickled vegetables.]

They think they're the only smart ones who could think of the supplies issue. The authorities have spent so much time preparing, yet they couldn't even consider this. The authorities are saying: "This is really tough for me."

[Hahaha, they thought they were on the second level, but the authorities were in the atmosphere, precisely filtering out a bunch of people with low IQs.]

Countless comments are active under various Douyin videos selling supplies, relentlessly mocking every "socially awkward" scene.

But there weren't many sarcastic or mocking voices.

Don't ask, the answer is that they themselves have hoarded it too.

Amidst the chaos and clamor, almost everyone overlooked the beginning of it all.

That announcement about the game.

That notice about the suspension of classes.

It seemed that everyone's attention had been drawn to this absurd hoarding farce.

Life briefly returned to a bit of normalcy.