Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 21: The Problem Is Very Serious

Cheng Xiaoxiao just realized now that the system has been hiding something from her. Previously, she was either busy making money to improve her life or doing tasks to save people. Only now did she discover many issues she had overlooked before.

For example, what is the significance of the rescue tasks the system assigned? The world she was in before was a peaceful world, so what was the big problem? What needed saving?

What’s wrong with the current world? Is it really just about saving a few dying humans, and what does that mean?

Or...

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t dare to think further. Could this world be facing natural or man-made disasters?

What kind of major disaster is present in the modern world that the system would appear there?

Her mind was a tangled mess, unwilling to make random guesses. Although threatening the system, at worst she could die, but she had finally been reborn once, had gradually grown fond of this place, and didn’t want to give up easily.

Quickly calming down, she said, "77, just tell me directly!"

What else could she not bear? If she could strive to live, she would strive to live. Even if fate didn’t favor her and decided to take back her life, hadn’t she already tried her best?

Feeling the host’s loneliness, the system also didn’t feel right. This host was completely different from the previous ones. Although they all saved people, the previous hosts always acted superior after saving others, making those people feel indebted to them. They were arrogant, lacking sympathy and love, towards it as well, so it didn’t like them.

When it first emerged, it was weak, and all the other systems looked down on it. Even when they interacted occasionally, they did so with a condescending attitude, the same arrogance as the previous hosts, so it didn’t like them.

It’s different now. Cheng Xiaoxiao gave it the feeling... that they were friends, partners; it was needed, valued. It liked this host and didn’t want this mission to fail. But... this world is an ultimate task, and how can a novice system like it complete such a difficult task?

Thinking of this, "Boohoo..."

"What’s happening?" How could it be crying? That’s not right! Shouldn’t she be pressing the system for answers, for it to be overwhelmed with guilt, then tell her the truth?

How did it end up crying?

Perplexed, Cheng Xiaoxiao said nothing, waiting for the system to finish crying.

"I am still just a baby; why must I endure such things?"

Through the system’s sobbing, fragmented recount, Cheng Xiaoxiao finally understood the situation now.

With a thud, she fell onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She now didn’t even have the courage to curse.

"Finished!"

"Ultimate Task"

Covered her head completely with the blanket, wishing not to think about anything. She felt so troubled...

Who could she cry to now? The system saved her life, only to make her repay even more lives? She was just an ordinary person, a completely average woman, who had been in two lackluster relationships and hadn’t even had time to experience anything before they fizzled out, let alone marriage and children.

Feeling her life was a failure...

No way, Cheng Xiaoxiao suddenly flung off the blanket, sat up.

I can’t just give up like this. Although life now is a bit plain and harsh, it’s very warm and loving. Her family bares their hearts and souls for her, and the villagers are very kind as well. Can she watch idly as they all die?

For herself, for her family, and for these diligent and simple villagers, she had to fight.

The system said that in the previous world, there was a natural disaster, and a third of the global population might perish, but back then the technology was advanced, and the potential for self-rescue was high. The state wasn’t incompetent either. It mainly assisted the host to save more people, and at that time it was just a mid-level task.

What is the current situation, jumping from a mid-level task, skipping high-level tasks, directly to the ultimate task, instantly increasing the difficulty a hundredfold?

If a mid-level task meant a third of the people died, then with a hundredfold difficulty... wouldn’t that mean practically no one survives...

Cheng Xiaoxiao gasped, suddenly overcome with anger.

"77, are you sure the old system that brought you in isn’t setting you up, making a novice system take on an ultimate task?"

"Why would it hand its own ultimate task to you, can’t it find something slightly easier, like a high-level one?"

"You fool!"

"This..." The system had never considered this question.

Alright, let’s not discuss this question anymore, it’s all meaningless now.

There’s no chance to do it all over again, only one path to go until the end. The destruction of this world isn’t something that happens overnight, we still have a chance.

The usual ways to destroy a world are nothing but natural disasters, wars, or meteor impacts.

If it’s a natural disaster, there’s always a place to escape or hide, and the same goes for wars. Only meteor impacts are unpredictable, with nowhere to run.

"Rest assured, host, there is no meteor impact."

The system hastily explained that if there were a meteor impact, it would basically be an instant event, then this world would essentially be in shambles, and there’d be no need for saving. So, if the main system can send a task, there must be room for maneuver, likely some natural or man-made disaster.

Analyzing like this makes some sense, as long as there’s time to save, it’s not too late, "Then when does it start?"

"It should... should be, soon." The system weakly replied, its voice quieter than a mosquito.

"What the hell?" Cheng Xiaoxiao’s blood pressure surged uncontrollably.

"You piece of trash, you come out here, and let me beat you to death."

"If I don’t get to the bottom of this today, were you planning to wait for something to happen before telling me?"

"You don’t want to live, but I still do, you unreliable system, you scourge." Cheng Xiaoxiao was furious, what misfortune that she had to encounter such a system.

"Host, calm down, it’s not that severe yet."

"How severe are you planning for it to be before you tell me, when I’m dead?"

"That’s not it, host..." The system fell silent.

After a long moment, Cheng Xiaoxiao finally finished venting her anger, "Let’s discuss, what’s the disaster coming soon, when is it happening, and how extensive is it?"

"Host, there’s about a month’s time left, with half a month of continuous heavy rain."

"I... I currently lack enough energy to monitor longer-term disasters, only those occurring within a month can be detected."

Previously learned from the main system that this world is an ultimate task world, the outcome is bodies strewn everywhere, desolate, almost all humans dead.

So it was so fearful and desperate, it didn’t dare to tell the host.

Only recently gaining some energy, it detected the disaster was about to start.

Cheng Xiaoxiao was already annoyed beyond words by the system, "You’re impressive."

A month, it’s only mid-June, and another month would be mid-July. In such a short time, how could she ensure her family’s safety?

Also... also, the harvest season isn’t until late August, won’t that mean a loss, and food is the foundation of people’s survival. Without a harvest...

Dreading the consequences.

What could happen with half a month of heavy rain?

Crops in the field get flooded, houses collapse, food stocks deplete, what will people eat, and heavy rains might cause mudslides.

Then... without rescue, it’s basically waiting for death, a mass death of people and livestock, possibly breeding plagues.

Just thinking about these headaches unceasingly.