Chronicles of the infinite reset

Next on the agenda was the construction of a hostel and a residential building for the brothers.

Xu Qianqian stood at the edge of the newly mapped-out base, eyeing the construction areas. The hostel was marked in the lower part of Zone A, far from her personal residence to keep things organized, while the residential building for the brothers was placed closer in the "upper" section.

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decisions ahead. The base was slowly taking shape, but this was only the beginning. She needed a solid foundation, both for the buildings and the people who would call them home.

The system displayed several designs for the hostel, ranging from compact barracks to spacious dormitories. She chose a practical three-story layout with shared rooms, communal bathrooms, and a central gathering area.

"Alright, let's do this," she murmured, looking down at the map again.

The system pinged:

[Hostel Construction: Cost 5,000 Points. Confirm?]

[Residential Building Construction: Cost 10,000 Points. Confirm?]

She tapped the screen, confirming both without hesitation.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet rumbled faintly. She stood back, her eyes scanning the area as the construction process began. Slowly but surely, the materials materialized out of thin air, as the system effortlessly formed the skeletal structures.

First, the hostel began to take shape.

The base of the building grew first—reinforced concrete walls, with frames rising for windows. The heavy doors of the entrance appeared, followed by the outer walls. The simple but functional design was now a reality, each floor clearly visible, segmented for practical use.

Her gaze shifted to the other building—the residential structure. It was more compact but no less well-designed. The outlines of the rooms and walls began to fill in, a small but sturdy place that would be just right for the four brothers.

As the building processes completed, she couldn't help but marvel at the efficiency. A simple command, and everything was constructed in moments.

The hostel now stood three stories tall, the first floor intended for communal living, the second and third floors designed for private rooms.

The design of the residential building was simpler but fit the need perfectly, with ample space for the brothers to live comfortably.

She walked around the new structures, surveying the progress with a critical eye. The hostel's clean, neutral gray exterior gave it a welcoming, temporary vibe, while the brothers' home looked stable and homely, even if it was still unfurnished.

She sighed. "Now comes the tricky part, doesn't it?"

The cubs—Sparks, Tank, and Bolt—watched her curiously, darting around her feet, their little paws padded softly against the concrete ground. They had been beside her through all of this, silently observing and offering their quiet companionship.

The cubs had grown used to her commands, especially Sparks, who flitted in and out of the area. Tank was more laid-back, ambling around the buildings with an almost contemplative demeanor, while Bolt, ever the curious one, bounced excitedly between the buildings, his bright eyes reflecting a mischievous gleam.

Qianqian straightened up and surveyed the now-complete hostel and residential buildings again. There was still much to be done, but at least the physical structures were in place.

She turned toward the hostel's first floor. The cafeteria area would be the first to need attention once survivors arrived. Though it was still bare, with no tables, chairs, or even a stove, she knew she could make it work with enough time and resources.

The residential building for the brothers had four rooms on the second floor, and Qianqian could already imagine each brother choosing their room, settling in, and making it their own. The house would be theirs—a place where they could take refuge from the coming storm.

She made her way inside the hostel's first floor and paused at the open space where the cafeteria would go. "I'll need to start sourcing supplies from the city soon... This is going to take a lot of work."

With her buildings set and the foundations of the future base taking shape, the next steps would involve getting the furniture and supplies needed to make the spaces livable. Though she wasn't fond of spending points on such things, it was necessary if the hostel and residence were to feel like home.

As she glanced back one last time at the hostel, her eyes narrowed. The work wasn't done, but at least it was a start.

"Let's get to it."

Qianqian took a deep breath as she surveyed the empty space of Zone B, the Commercial Zone.

The three warehouses stood like silent sentinels, isolated and lonely in their own right. They had served their purpose, but now it was time for something more.

She needed a space that could not only serve as a retail hub but also bring a sense of normalcy to the survivors who would soon call the base home.

With a slight tilt of her head, Qianqian glanced at the blank canvas of land in front of her. The idea of a small selection of shops had crossed her mind, but now that she was standing here, she realized she needed more—much more. The survivors she planned to gather would need convenience, comfort, and a sense of normalcy. What better way to provide that than by building a mall?

"I'm thinking... a central hub, maybe," she murmured aloud, though there was no one around to hear her.

Echo's voice cut through her thoughts, smooth and calming as always. "A mall? That sounds like a good idea. It's better than just scattered stores. You'll need space for a variety of things."

Qianqian nodded, speaking to Echo in her mind as she always did. "Exactly. Not too big, but big enough. A place for people to get everything they need."

The system's interface materialized before her eyes, the familiar glowing options already starting to populate the screen. "30,000 points to construct the mall," the system prompted, and Qianqian didn't hesitate before confirming it.

[Mall Construction: Cost 30,000 Points. Confirm?]

Her finger hovered over the confirm button, and she clicked it. Immediately, the ground began to hum with the soft vibrations of the system's power, the building's framework rising slowly but surely. The mall would not be extravagant, but it would be sturdy and serve a purpose—something essential for the people who would soon call the base home.

As the building took shape, Qianqian's mind whirred with ideas for the stores. She had a vision of how she wanted it to be laid out—simple, practical, and welcoming. She would decide everything, from the store names to the stores themselves. No need to rely on the store templates that the system offered; she'd customize the mall herself.

Echo's voice came softly in her mind. "You'll need to pick wisely. A supermarket, for sure. And a clothing store. But don't forget things like footwear, appliances... your survivors will need more than just food and clothes."

Qianqian smiled. She'd already thought of all that.

The mall was a two-story building with an open, airy feel. The first floor would host larger stores, while the second floor would have smaller, more specialized shops.

The exterior was sleek yet simple, constructed from reinforced concrete and glass, designed to be durable but with a touch of elegance. The front of the building had wide, automatic sliding doors, offering a clear view of the interior. At the entrance, a large signboard flashed the mall's name, which Qianqian decided to call, "The Central Hub."

Inside, the first floor was expansive. Qianqian imagined it would be bustling with activity once the survivors moved in, offering a variety of products from daily essentials to luxuries. On one side, she created space for a supermarket, with neatly arranged aisles for food, snacks, and other necessities. She made sure there would be plenty of room for fresh produce and non-perishables, anticipating that the base would need a steady flow of supplies once people started arriving.

Next to the supermarket, she planned the Clothing Store. Qianqian tapped the screen and selected the options for both basic wear and a small section for more specialized clothing. She called it "Fabrica Threads", offering everything from casual wear to more durable survival clothes for tougher conditions.

Then came the Shoe Store. For practicality and durability, she chose "Step Forward" as the name, imagining rows of boots, sneakers, and other types of footwear designed to withstand the harsh environments of the apocalypse.

Moving further, she selected a section for Appliances. The Appliance Store was a necessary addition. The survivors would need everything from basic electronics to more complex machines for their living spaces, so she named it "Essential Gear", where everything from refrigerators to small generators would be stocked.

As she moved through the system's store options, Qianqian added a few more stores to fill out the mall. She included:

"Bright Lights" for lighting fixtures and lamps, perfect for providing the base with much-needed illumination.

"Forge Tools" for tools, hardware, and small equipment, essential for daily maintenance and survival.

"Tidy Homes" for cleaning supplies and home improvement needs, from brooms and mops to more advanced sanitizing equipment.

She moved on to the second floor...