My First Upgrade

Liana stared at the new panel.

[Market Exchange: Available]

Her heartbeat quickened. She had expected the storage space to be her only advantage. Apparently, she had been wrong.

“Open Market Exchange.”

The blue screen expanded. Rows of items appeared.

[Bottled Water — 1 Survival Point / 20 Liters]

[Rice — 1 Survival Point / 25 Kilograms]

[Canned Food — 1 Survival Point / 20 Cans]

[Basic Medical Kit — 3 Survival Points]

[Solar Emergency Lamp — 2 Survival Points]

[Basic Water Purification Tablet — 2 Survival Points]

Liana’s eyes lit up. Then she saw the prices of the higher-level items.

[Portable Generator — 15 Survival Points]

[Advanced First-Aid Kit — 20 Survival Points]

[Reinforced Steel Door — 30 Survival Points]

[Space Expansion — 50 Survival Points]

Her excitement disappeared. “Fifty?”

She looked at her current balance. Survival Points: 2.

Liana sighed. “So I’m still poor.”

The system didn’t answer. She couldn’t help laughing. At least it was honest. There would be no instant mountain of supplies. No unlimited resources. No magical solution that erased every problem. If she wanted to survive, she still had to work. And somehow, that made her feel more confident.

She closed the market. “Save the points.” She would earn them naturally. For now, money was more important.

---

The next morning, Liana went to the bank. She withdrew most of her remaining savings, then visited several suppliers. Her strategy was simple: buy early, sell before everyone realizes there’s a shortage.

She purchased small quantities of emergency equipment and household necessities, then listed them online. At first, nothing happened. Then someone bought one. Then another. Within two days, everything was gone.

Liana stared at her sales record. She had made a profit of ₱8,700. It wasn’t a fortune, but it was enough. She reinvested almost all of it. Again. And again.

By the end of the second week, her savings had climbed to ₱71,500. Liana looked at the number for a long time. In her previous life, she had worked for years without ever having this much control over her money. Now she had earned it in weeks.

She smiled. “I’m getting there.”

---

That afternoon, she received a call.

“Hello?”

“Is this Ms. Hart?”

“Yes.”

“I’m calling about the farmhouse property you inquired about.”

Liana sat upright. “The property is still available?”

“Yes, but another buyer has shown interest.”

Her expression changed. “When can I view it?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll be there.”

She ended the call. The farmhouse. Her future safe haven. She couldn’t afford to lose it.

---

The next morning, Liana arrived at the property. It looked exactly as she remembered—an old two-story house, a large yard, a deep well, a small storage shed, trees surrounding the property. It wasn’t beautiful, but it was isolated enough to protect her from the chaos that was coming.

The seller showed her around. “The house needs repairs,” he explained.

“I can see that.”

“The previous owner abandoned it years ago.”

Liana walked toward the well and removed the cover. The water was clear. Her eyes narrowed. Good. Water would become one of the most valuable resources after the apocalypse.

She walked around the property. There was enough land to grow vegetables. Enough space for solar panels. And enough distance from the main road to keep unwanted attention away.

“I’ll take it.”

The seller looked surprised. “You haven’t negotiated.”

Liana smiled. “I don’t want to lose it.”

---

Three hours later, the paperwork was underway. The property wasn’t completely paid for yet, but Liana had enough for the initial payment. Her bank account was nearly empty again. But this time, she didn’t feel afraid. She had exchanged money for something much more valuable.

Security.

She stood in front of the farmhouse as the sun began to set. For the first time since her rebirth, she felt like she had a real foundation.

Then the system appeared.

[Mission Completed.]

[Safe Haven Successfully Secured.]

[Reward: +20 Survival Points.]

Liana smiled.

[Current Survival Points: 22]

Another notification appeared.

[New Mission.]

[Upgrade Safe Haven.]

Requirements:

- Reinforce exterior doors.

- Install backup electricity.

- Establish water purification.

- Prepare emergency food storage.

- Build a secure underground storage area.

Reward: +30 Survival Points.

Liana looked at the old farmhouse, then at the system. “Thirty points…”

She opened the Market Exchange. The Space Expansion option was still there—50 Survival Points. She was getting close. But then another item caught her attention.

[Basic Seed Package — 5 Survival Points]

Liana stared at it. Seeds. Food production. In her first life, people had fought over canned food. But eventually, canned food ran out. Those who could grow their own food had survived longer.

She immediately purchased the package. A small box appeared inside her storage space. Liana opened it. Vegetable seeds. Fruit seeds. Herbs. Rice seeds.

She smiled. “Good.” She was no longer simply preparing to survive. She was preparing to live.

---

That evening, Liana was carrying several boxes into the farmhouse when a familiar car stopped outside. She froze.

The car door opened. Marcus stepped out. He looked at the boxes, then at the property, then back at Liana.

“What are you doing here?”

Liana’s expression remained calm. “Moving.”

Marcus frowned. “Moving?” He looked around. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

Liana almost laughed. Because in her first life, she would have told them everything. She would have invited them. She would have prepared rooms for them. She would have spent every last peso making sure they were comfortable. But that woman was dead.

Liana picked up another box. “I don’t have to tell you everything anymore.”

Marcus stared at her. “You’ve really changed.”

Liana looked him directly in the eyes. “Yes.”

Then she walked inside. Behind her, Marcus stood silently. He had no idea what was coming. And neither did the rest of the world.

Seventy-nine days remained.