NORMAL LIFE BEFORE THE STORM COMES

16 Hours before the Apocalypse occurred.

*** Click! Click! Click! ***

"Yes! I won again today against the hardest final boss!"

Li Xiaowu said as his hands nimbly pressed the keyboard and mouse beside his computer.

Li Xiaowu. He is 24 years old.

Now, he is at the end of his semester at the prestigious Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His interest in virtual reality games, online video games and advanced technology was so deep that he could fulfill his dream of entering the university he dreamed of. Adding to his knowledge of science, he learned how to involve and combine science and technology to get unique, advanced equipment and add his understanding to it more than before.

[ SYSTEM ]

[ Congratulations! You have defeated the final boss: Gorgonrilla!]

[You can take all the items the defeated final boss dropped.]

The video game he is playing now is a game called "Archemistry Online", which is an MMORPG game that is very popular among the community of online video players.

"Okay, I will take it all."

He smirked and smiled quietly at his computer screen as he pressed the mouse button to pick up the dropped item.

*** Click! ***

*** Ting! Ting! Ting! ***

{You have obtained a special new item: Gorgonrilla's Dragon Scale! x1}

{You have obtained a rare new clothing item: Luminous Black Armor! x1}

{You have obtained a rare new boot: Ancient Armada's boots! x1}

{You have obtained a new common item: Gorgonrilla's raw meat! x99}

{You have obtained a new medicinal item: Gorgonrilla's healing tears! x10}

{You have earned 1,000,000 EXP for defeating the final boss: Gorgonrilla!}

"Woah! So many!"

Li Xiaowu was surprised to have gotten many items dropped by the final boss. He didn't expect that the final boss he encountered when wanting to solo level up could give him various rare items.

*** Ring! Ring! Ring! ***

Suddenly, his smartphone rang. Li Xiaowu removed his headphones from his ears and continued to pick up his smartphone while looking at the caller ID. 'Mother'.

"Hi, mom! Why are you calling at night tonight?" He asked his mother.

"My Xiaowu, why do you ask such a question? Am I wrong to call my own child at the night?" His mother's voice sounded dissatisfied as she asked him questions again.

Li Xiaowu scratched his non-itchy head as he answered in a low tone.

"Ah, No. You're not wrong, Mom. I just wanted to know. Sorry."

"It's okay, son. By the way, Mom is calling you because I want to know how you are doing there. Are you okay? Do you still have the money to study?" His mother asked with a concerned tone.

Li Xiaowu nodded his head while holding his black smartphone. "Yes, mom. I'm fine here. I still have my money. Are Mom and Dad okay? You're fine at home, right?"

His mother answered in a calm tone. "Yes, I and your father are fine and healthy here. I only called you to ask about that."

"Oh, I see, mom." Li Xiaowu replied with a short answer.

His mother continued her conversation. "Remember mom's message: don't forget to eat and don't play games too often until late at night."

Li Xiaowu grinned and chuckled. "Haha! Mom, you know everything about me, don't you?"

"Of course. I know everything you do because I raised you since you were a baby." His mother answered in a loving tone.

"Alright, alright. You win, Mom. Thank you for raising me since I was little." Li Xiaowu smiled as he rose from his gaming chair, looking at the glowing scene outside his dark room's window.

"You are welcome, son. Ah, I have to go to cook now. I will end this call. Li Xiaowu, take care of yourself. You should always remember your mother's advice at all times." His mother replied in a firm tone even though she looked in a hurried rush to the cook.

"Alright, mom. You too, take care. You and Dad must eat well and care for your health. Goodbye, Mom." Li Xiaowu said to his mother as he looked at the night sky.

"Yes, son. I want to go cook first, goodbye Little Xiaowu!"

His mother continued to hang up the phone after saying that.

*** Tut!***

Li Xiaowu's eyes fluttered as he looked at the screen of his smartphone. 'Looks like mom is in a hurry to cook, huh..'

'Mom always called me Little Xiaowu since I was a child…Maybe Mom thinks I haven't grown up to become a real man. Well… I must prove to my mom that I have become a real man and reached adulthood.' He thought to himself.

Then, Li Xiaowu sat back in his gaming chair and looked at the computer screen. He looked at the time on the game screen.

'Oh, it seems to be 11:30 p.m. already. I must sleep now to get up early for tomorrow's lecture.'

After he thought that, he looked at the item he just got in the inventory bag of the game.

"I think I'll take a look and use this item tomorrow." He said slowly.

Next, he logged out of the online game and shut down his computer.

Li Xiaowu stretched his body while yawning and covered his mouth with his right hand. "Yawn... I'm so sleepy."

Afterwards, he headed to his bed and turned off the dim bedroom light. He lay on the bed, covering himself with a blanket and closing his sleepy eyes.

"New item…Wait for me."

Li Xiaowu smiled while talking in his sleep.

He feels excited for tomorrow...