Apocalypse car survivor

Ethan’s hands were still trembling as he drove, his mind racing through what had just happened. The world was crumbling, monsters roamed the streets, and now he had nearly been killed inside a damn convenience store.

Max sat rigid in the passenger seat, ears perked up, watching Ethan with concerned eyes.

“Yeah, bud,” Ethan muttered, exhaling sharply. “I know. That was too close.”

He needed a plan. A real one.

The camper van was sturdy, but it wasn’t built for combat. If he was going to survive, he had to make modifications—armor, weapons, reinforced tires, and most importantly, a place to rest without worrying about some rotting freak tearing him apart in his sleep.

But first, he had a bigger problem.

A group of bandits had spotted his van.

The Ambush

It happened fast.

Ethan was speeding down an abandoned stretch of road when a black SUV suddenly skidded onto the pavement ahead, blocking his path. Another vehicle—a rusty pickup—came up from behind.

“Shit.”

Max growled low in his throat.

Ethan slammed on the brakes, but not hard enough to stop—just enough to make it look like he was panicking. He reached under his seat, grabbing his hunting rifle. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

Three men jumped out of the SUV, each armed with rifles and pistols. They were dressed in scavenged tactical gear, faces half-covered in makeshift masks. One of them, a tall man with a scar down his cheek, stepped forward.

“Nice ride,” the man said, tapping his gun against the hood of the camper van. “You’re gonna step out real slow, hands where I can see ‘em.”

Ethan gritted his teeth. He had two choices: comply and risk getting executed, or fight and risk getting shot.

Before he could decide, something strange happened.

System Activation

A sharp, mechanical voice suddenly spoke inside his head.

[Survival System Activated.]

Ethan’s vision blurred for a second, then filled with glowing blue text.

Welcome, Ethan Carter. You are now linked to the Survival Enhancement System.

Assessing threats…

Three hostiles detected. Probability of survival: 27%.

Would you like assistance? [Y/N]

Ethan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.

“What the hell…” he whispered.

The men outside hadn’t noticed anything. Scarface stepped closer. “I said, get out—”

[New function available: AI Assistant.]

A soft beep echoed through the van’s speakers, and suddenly, a smooth, intelligent voice filled the cabin.

“Hello, Ethan. My name is Jarvis. I will be assisting you in your survival.”

Max barked in confusion, ears twitching.

Ethan blinked. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“No, sir,” Jarvis replied calmly. “May I suggest a countermeasure?”

Scarface raised his gun. “Last warning, asshole!”

Ethan had no idea what was happening, but something in his gut told him to trust it.

“…Yeah, Jarvis,” he muttered. “Do your thing.”

[Activating Defensive Protocols.]

Before the bandits could react, the camper van moved on its own.

The engine roared, and the front tires spun violently, kicking up a storm of dust and gravel. The van suddenly lurched forward—just enough to send Scarface stumbling back.

At the same time, a small turret popped up from the dashboard, its targeting system locking onto the nearest threat.

[Threat Neutralization Mode: Armed]

“WHAT THE FU—”

The turret fired a stun round, hitting one of the bandits in the chest. He crumpled instantly.

Scarface and the remaining thug scrambled backward, firing their rifles. Bullets slammed into the reinforced windshield but failed to break through.

[Activating Escape Maneuver.]

The van’s wheels screeched as it swerved hard, ramming into the SUV with a sickening crunch. The impact sent Scarface flying onto the pavement.

The last thug panicked, turning to run—only for Max to leap out of the open window and tear him to the ground.

Ethan didn’t waste time. He threw the van into reverse, yanked Max back inside, and floored it.

The last thing he saw in the rearview mirror was Scarface trying to crawl to his gun, his face a mask of fury.

They weren’t dead.

And they wouldn’t forget him.

Aftermath

Ethan’s hands were shaking as he drove, his heart pounding.

“Jarvis… what the hell was that?”

“A successful counterattack, sir,” the AI replied smoothly. “And the first of many upgrades. Your camper van now has integrated combat and survival functions.”

Ethan exhaled. “You’re telling me my van is a damn battle machine now?”

“Not yet,” Jarvis said. “But we can work on that.”

Ethan couldn’t help but grin.

Maybe—just maybe—he had a shot at surviving this world after all.