Survival in the Apocalypse: Max Level Drop Rate with Abundant Resources

Shen Xi gripped the badge.

【Kyoto's Glorious Badge】

[Type: Special Equipment/Badge]

[Quality: Epic]

【Durability: Never wears out】

[Special Effect 1: Voice of Kyoto - A city-wide announcement can be posted every two days, covering all players in Kyoto. The content of the announcement must be reviewed by the system and must not violate the basic rules.]

[Special Effect 2: Kyoto Will - When activated, within the Kyoto area, the effects of fear, intimidation, silence, and other mental effects on enemies are increased by 100%, and the effect on the target's mind is increased by 100%. Lasts 5 minutes. Can be used once per day.]

【Special Effect 3: Kyoto's Blessing - Passive effect: While within the Kyoto area, experience and gold gained from killing corpses, completing quests, and clearing dungeons are increased by 30%, and drop rate is increased by 5%.】

[Special Effect 4: Kyoto Backlash - Passive effect. As long as you are within the Kyoto area, any attack from an enemy player will automatically inflict the "Kyoto Backlash" effect, reducing all attributes by 15% for 5 minutes. This effect cannot be exempted, dispelled, or stacked.]

[Special Effect 5: Kyoto Guardian - When activated, summons a projection of the guardian beast of Kyoto to assist in battle. The guardian beast projection lasts for 2 minutes. Players gain 10% bonus (experience points, gold, and loot) from corpses killed by the projection. Can be used once every seven days.]

[Note: This is the highest symbol of honor in Kyoto, and only those who have made unprecedented contributions to Kyoto are qualified to wear it. This equipment is permanently bound, cannot be discarded, traded, or stolen.]

Shen Xi stared at the line of instructions, remaining silent for a long time.

Epic.

This was the first time he had seen epic-level equipment since his rebirth.

The Starlight Rhythm Uniform is Diamond-tier, the Starlight Guardian Mark is Diamond-tier, and the Pangu Axe and Primordial Pearl are Platinum-tier. The Kyoto Glory Badge, however, is Epic-tier.

Five special effects.

Each one is so powerful it's breathtaking.

Voice of Kyoto grants him the ability to issue city-wide announcements, similar to those in post-apocalyptic survival games. This means he can relay orders, boost morale, and even intimidate enemies to players throughout Kyoto at crucial moments.

Kyoto Will: Increases the effects of fear, intimidation, and silence by 100%, and the effect of thought influence by 100%. Lasts 5 minutes, once per day. If used on the right person, this effect is enough to turn them into their most fanatical follower, or... their most feared puppet.

With Kyoto's blessing, his experience points and gold coins are increased by 30%, and his drop rate is increased by 5%. This means that in the upcoming zombie horde, his growth rate will be at least 30% faster than other players.

Kyoto Backlash: Any hostile player who dares to attack him will automatically have all their attributes reduced by 15% for 5 minutes. It cannot be saved or dispelled. This is his enemy's nightmare, his talisman.

As for the Kyoto Guardian...

Summon the projection of Kyoto's guardian beast.

Two minutes.

He also gains a 10% bonus from the corpses killed by the projection.

Shen Xi took a deep breath and pinned the Kyoto Glory Badge to her chest.

The pale gold badge blended perfectly with the silver-gray uniform, the star map on his chest and the golden gem in the center of the badge complementing each other. At that moment, the aura he exuded was several levels stronger than before.

On the way back, Shen Xi's steps were much lighter than when she came. With the Kyoto three-piece set in hand, all she needed to do was adjust her condition and prepare for the zombie horde.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Mingying.

Mingying stood rooted to the spot, his two-meter-tall frame clad in dark gold general's armor, the Bone Nightmare Helmet obscuring most of his face, revealing only a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes. He exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay, like a demon crawling out of the depths of hell.

This design, if placed on the battlefield, would certainly intimidate the enemy.

But in normal circumstances, it would be too conspicuous.

Shen Xi frowned and took out the Starry Rhythm uniform she had just changed out of from her storage space.

The silver-gray fabric shimmered with faint starlight, and the star pattern on his chest rotated slowly. Although he had changed into the Kyoto Rhythm uniform, this Starlight Rhythm uniform was still a diamond-level special equipment, never worn out, and all four special effects were practical.

"Mingying, catch."

Shen Xi tossed the Starry Rhythm uniform over.

Mingying reached out and caught it.

"Put it on," Shen Xi said calmly. "Hide your outrageous outfit. Don't be so conspicuous when you go out in the future."

Mingying remained silent for a moment, a thought stirring in her mind.

The Starlight Rhythm uniform transformed into a silver-gray stream of light, covering his body. His previously menacing armor was instantly concealed, replaced by the silver-gray uniform shimmering with a faint starlight. Wearing this uniform, his two-meter-tall frame exuded a less menacing aura, gaining instead an air of mystery.

"Hmm, not bad." Shen Xi nodded. "At least you're starting to look like a human being."

Just then, the equipment rankings for the China region were updated.

All players in the China region, regardless of which city they are in or whether they are fighting, resting, or fleeing for their lives, can see this.

[China Region Equipment Ranking]

1st Place: Kyoto Glorious Badge (Epic) - Holder: Taichu

2nd Place: Kyoto Rhythm Uniform (Diamond Level) - Owner: Taichu

3rd Place: Starlight Rhythm Uniform (Diamond Level) - Owner: Mingying

4th Place: Pangu Axe (Platinum Grade) - Owner: Taichu

5th Place: Primordial Pearl (Platinum Grade) - Holder: Tai Chu

6th Place: Bone Blade Leggings (Gold Grade) - Holder: Primordial

7th Place: General's Battle Armor (Gold Grade) - Owner: Mingying

8th Place: Storm Boots (Gold Tier) - Owner: Primordial

……

The moment the leaderboard was updated, the world channel in the China region was in an uproar.

"Holy crap! The gear rankings have been updated!"

"Epic?! The Kyoto Glorious Badge is epic?! When did the Primordial God get epic equipment?!"

"No, look closely! First place is Taichu, second place is Taichu, fourth place is Taichu, fifth place is Taichu, sixth place is Taichu, eighth place is Taichu... He's about to top the rankings!"

"Mingying also occupied several."

"Are these two here to dominate the charts?!"

"Epic-grade... At this stage, even a single silver-grade piece of equipment is extremely rare. Has the Primordial King already equipped an epic-grade item?"

"Kyoto Glorious Badge... Kyoto Rhythm Uniform... Starlight Rhythm Uniform... These three pieces of equipment all have city names in their names, what's their origin?"

"With the city under lockdown, how did Tai Chu manage to get from Xinghui City to Kyoto?"

"Who cares how they got there!"

"Is this even human? This is a god of death!"

Players in various cities across the China region are frantically discussing the changes in the equipment rankings, the relationship between Taichu and Mingying, and their miraculous appearance in Kyoto after traveling thousands of miles from Xinghui City.

In Kyoto, however, no one paid attention to the equipment rankings.

It's not that I don't want to pay attention, it's that I don't have time to.

Because the zombie horde is coming soon.

There are less than two hours left before the zombie horde officially arrives.

The first line of defense on the outskirts of Kyoto.

Wu Anjun stood atop a makeshift watchtower, his hands gripping the railing, his gaze piercing through the gray morning mist, fixed intently on the direction of the city walls. His combat uniform was stained with black blood, and the bandage on his left arm was faintly seeping blood—a wound from his previous battle with Mingying.

Several high-ranking military officers stood behind him, their faces grave. (You have received a new chapter update: Chapter 116, "The Voice of Kyoto," reading link.)

"Report!" A scout ran up from the watchtower, panting, and stood at attention in salute. "Sir, we still can't detect anything from the eastern fortress! The energy fluctuations from the fortress are too strong; all detection skills and tools are ineffective!"

Lord Wu'an frowned even more deeply.

"What about the west side?"

"It also cannot be detected!"

"South side?"

"Unable to detect!"

"The north side?"

"Unable to detect!"

Lord Wu'an remained silent.

City barriers are a means of sealing off cities in post-apocalyptic survival games. Originally, they were pale blue light curtains that completely isolated the city from the outside world. To pass through the barriers, one had to use special items like boundary-breaking talismans. But now, the barriers had become even more violent, blocking all detection methods.

How large is the zombie horde? From which direction are the main forces of the rotting zombies coming? Are there any high-level rotting zombies? Are there any other special forms of rotting zombies?

Everything is unknown.

Behind Lord Wu'an, a major general spoke up, his voice filled with anxiety: "Lord Wu'an, we can't just sit here and wait! We don't know where the zombie horde is coming from, so how can we deploy our forces? What if the main force of the rotting zombies breaks through from the east, while our forces are concentrated on the west? Then the capital will be finished!"

Another middle-aged officer chimed in, "Yes! We must find a way to scout out the situation outside the fortifications! Even just the general direction will do!"

Lord Wu'an turned his head, his gaze flat: "Do you have a way to investigate?"

The two men were speechless.

Lord Wu'an withdrew his gaze and looked again at the city walls in the distance. In the hazy morning light, the pale blue light curtain appeared and disappeared, like a natural chasm, completely isolating the capital from the outside world.

A thought suddenly flashed through Lord Wu'an's mind.

In the beginning.

The person who traveled thousands of miles from Starshine City to Kyoto.

How did he get through the city walls?

If we could replicate his method, perhaps we could find out what's going on outside.

Lord Wu'an took a deep breath and suppressed the thought. Now was not the time to think about such things. Tai Chu had already gone to the capital city; they would discuss it when he returned.

An abandoned residential building in Kyoto.

Shen Xi led Mingying back to the room where they had rested the night before.

The doors and windows were intact, and it was relatively quiet.

He sat cross-legged, took out a bottle of energy recovery potion from his storage space, and tilted his head back to gulp it down. A pale blue light flowed through his body, dispelling the fatigue accumulated from the series of battles.

Mingying stood by the window, wearing the Starry Rhythm uniform, the silver-gray starlight slowly flowing over his body.

He closed his eyes, his mind racing as he considered his next move.

The zombie horde will arrive in less than two hours. SSS-level, 72-hour duration, scale unknown, direction unknown, type of zombie unknown. He has no idea how to fight this battle.

With his current strength, even if Kyoto really falls, he is absolutely confident that he can lead Mingying to fight his way out and leave alive.

But he can't leave.

Because there's a rule in post-apocalyptic survival games: when a city's defense against a zombie horde fails and the city falls, all players who leave that city will suffer a permanent punishment. Their level will be lowered, their attributes reduced, their drop rates decreased, and certain special dungeons and quests will be permanently closed to them. It's a curse branded deep within their souls, impossible to dispel.

This rule was one he had witnessed in his previous life.

It was a medium-sized city, fallen to the horde of zombies. The surviving players escaped to other cities, but they were forever branded as "the dead." Their stats were always weaker than others, their drop rates always lower, and no matter how hard they tried, they could never catch up. They became second-class citizens in the post-apocalyptic survival game, forever living under the discrimination of others.

Shen Xi would never allow herself to become like that.

Therefore, we must win this battle.

He opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.

But before that, there is one more thing to do.

Gu Tianxin.

That old bastard, in his quest for revenge, didn't hesitate to use a corpse-luring grenade to unleash a horde of zombies, disregarding the lives of all the players in the city. A man like that doesn't deserve to live.

With a slight thought, Shen Xi felt the pale golden light of the Kyoto Glory Badge illuminate her chest.

【Kyoto Voice】, activated.

A semi-transparent light screen unfolded before him, displaying only a simple prompt: 【Please enter the announcement content…】

Shen Xi took a deep breath and then spoke.

Then, each word, through the power of the Kyoto Glory Badge, transformed into a grand announcement, exploding in the minds of every player in Kyoto…

[Attention Kyoto area players!]

[Player "Taichu" posted a regional announcement!]

"Gu Tianxin".

"You old bastard."

"For personal revenge, he used a corpse-luring grenade to attract a horde of zombies, disregarding the lives of all the players in the city."

"You, Gu Jia, staged a coup in Starshine City, nearly killing the city lord. In the capital, you colluded with military traitors, attempting to manipulate the championship. Now, you've gone even further, dragging the entire city down with you."

"People like you waste air when you're alive, and waste land when you're dead."

"I will personally visit you after the zombie horde ends."

"Wash that dog head on your neck clean yourself and wait."

"Gu Tianxin, you bitch, I'll f*** you!"

The announcement is now complete.

The entire city of Kyoto fell into a deathly silence.

Then, it exploded.

"Holy crap!!! The Primordial Lord has released an announcement!!!"

"Gu Tianxin! It was Gu Tianxin who attracted the zombie horde!!!"

"I knew the zombie horde was suspicious! Turns out it was the Gu family's doing!!!"

"That old bastard Gu Tianxin! Has he gone mad?! He's dragging the whole city down with him?!"

"The Primordial Lord is right! These kinds of people waste air when they're alive and waste land when they're dead!"

"Kill Gu Tianxin! Kill Gu Tianxin!"

"Once the zombie horde is over, let's go settle accounts with the Gu family!"

The sentiment is indignant.

On the outer defense line of Kyoto, at the watchtower.

After reading the announcement, Lord Wu'an's lips twitched slightly.

"This primordial beginning..."

He shook his head, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. Although his words were blunt and direct, they were surprisingly effective. The root of fear is the unknown, but when fear has a definite object, it transforms into anger and fighting spirit. This tactic of Tai Chu was more effective than any mobilization order.

Lord Wu'an turned to the generals behind him: "Did you hear that? The horde of corpses was brought here by the Gu family. After this battle, the Gu family must be held accountable."

The generals responded in unison, "Yes!"

Inside the residential building.

After posting the announcement, Shen Xi leaned back against the wall, satisfied.

Cool.

That was fucking awesome.

He didn't care how Gu Tianxin would react after hearing the announcement.

Shen Xi closed her eyes and adjusted her breathing.

Having vented my anger, it's time to prepare for the real challenge.

A horde of zombies.

SSS level.

come on.

The latest work by author Riding a Cow, "Survival in the Apocalypse: Max Level, High Drop Rate, and Abundant Resources," is exclusively published on Cola Novels!