Mutant

Name: Omega-Grade Gene Awakening Potion Category: Consumable / Paid Limited Description: "The poor turn their lives around through mutation, while the rich control mutation."

An official "Star Abyss" product, a paid item specially provided for players who long to awaken Aoneng. It completely liberated extraordinary factors at the genetic level and fulfilled your superhero dreams.

Effect: 100% chance to awaken Aoneng (Omega-class)

Price: 9,888 Diamonds — "This thing really existed..."

Li Aoz stroked his chin. This completely confirmed his suspicions.

"This product was only added to the store after the Version 9.7.1 patch... 9,888 Diamonds, which worked out to half a month's salary for an ordinary office worker. With that money, it would be better to buy some outfits. Aoneng could be farmed casually in the late game. This was clearly meant for wealthy players who didn't care about money."

Li Aoz had always been indifferent toward spending money on games. If a free item could be earned through grinding, why spend money on it?

Of course, some outfits still had to be bought. After all, being strong was only temporary, but being handsome lasted a lifetime.

"Come to think of it, I wanted to spend money on that Ren Heaven collaboration outfit before, but I transmigrated before buying it. By rights, shouldn't I still have some Diamonds in my account?"

With a thought, Li Aoz checked his personal store account.

Account Balance: 114,514 Diamonds — "Holy shit, I actually topped up that much?"

Li Aoz twitched the corner of his mouth.

It was not particularly strange, though. "Star Abyss" was a game with an internal player trading platform. Many rare accessories and outfits could be directly exchanged for money.

For example, Counter-Terrorist Elite's "Eternal Spear" and "Dragon Sniper Rifle," or Beastmaster's "Rainbow Pony Outfit." Players would list them on the exchange and wait for other players to buy them, with the final settlement made in Diamonds.

By the late game, "Star Abyss" had formed its own Diamond trading system through a complete currency system. Qin Shi Huang touching an electrical wire—he was winning beyond measure.

Li Aoz could not say whether this money had come from his own top-ups or from leftover player trades. There was also a tiny chance that he had reposted an official giveaway and won through sheer luck.

He had seen plenty of players' game feeds. The moment he opened them, they were full of official "Star Abyss" repost giveaways, existing solely to mooch freebies.

When people encountered that sort of person, they would usually exclaim, "Damn, Abyss!"

"Tsk, too bad the Game Store can't directly buy experience crystals or skill books anymore. I can't immediately raise my level."

Li Aoz immediately purchased the Omega-Grade Gene Awakening Potion. His balance dropped to 104,523. There were not many things worth buying at this stage, and he was not a player. Buying outfits meant nothing to him.

"Besides the Game Store, there are factions, achievements, and many other sections that haven't been activated. Is it because the version isn't high enough? Or because, as an NPC Template, I don't get the same treatment as players?"

He did not have an inventory function and could not stuff things into a four-dimensional asshole like players could. Fortunately, he had decided to take the Mutant route, a class with low equipment requirements.

What truly disappointed Li Aoz was that he had not unlocked built-in minigames such as "Star Abyss Auto Chess," "Platinum Miner," and "Madly Beat Little Demon." Those minigames actually had ranked ladders, and the higher your rank, the more rewards the game system gave out.

The most common reward was experience crystals. Since Li Aoz enjoyed late-game patch benefits, he estimated that even if his Auto Chess rank only reached Platinum, he could still get 100,000 experience crystals.

"I wanted to steadily earn some experience through chess. What a pity."

With no safe and reliable way to obtain experience, Li Aoz glanced through the store. Many of the items inside were of little help to a starting class. He only had so many Diamonds, and once they were spent, he had no way to top up. It would be better to save them for trading rare items later.

For example, the electric injector that suddenly appeared in his palm, filled with golden liquid. He turned it over and examined it for a long time, a restless urge rising within him. A mysterious and abstract aura seeped faintly from inside the injector, as if it possessed some kind of magic that constantly ensnared his mind.

Eat it, and everything will be revealed.

He shook his head, slightly startled.

It seemed the raw materials for this thing were not exactly good stuff either...

Although he grumbled inwardly, the game's officials were the most trustworthy.

After all, they wanted to make money from players. As long as profit was involved, product quality would not be poor.

Without hesitation, Li Aoz pushed out the injector needle, held it at a ninety-degree angle to his skin, and stabbed it into the deltoid of his left arm.

Hiss...

As pressure was applied, the mysterious and noble golden liquid entered his body like the blood of a god. It looked extremely light and low-density. Once injected, it did not create any sensation of foreign matter. Instead, it brought a weightless sense of release.

Ding! The injection was complete. Li Aoz wiped the injector clean and put it away. This thing could be reused. Then he quickly lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and waited for the Omega-Grade Gene Awakening Potion to take effect.

About thirty minutes later, Li Aoz felt his consciousness growing blurry and his head becoming heavy. He laboriously raised a hand, using all his strength just to place the back of it against his forehead. The burning heat that followed made him realize he had begun to run a fever.

"This involves Gene Modification, cough cough... this is normal..."

Li Aoz had wanted to encourage and comfort himself, but when he opened his mouth, his voice was incomparably hoarse and weak. His eyelids began to droop, and his limbs twitched from time to time.

His complexion had already been pale, but as his body temperature rose, an intense flush appeared on his skin.

On one hand, his temperature was rapidly climbing. On the other, his body was sweating violently. A wave of cold swept over him, making him tremble uncontrollably.

The alternation of cold and heat was only the beginning, but even so, the body's rejection reaction had already reached the limit for ordinary people. Many physically frail people might have died from it.

Li Aoz's vision blurred. He faintly saw a series of system prompts scrolling across his retina:

You used a Gene Awakening Potion and began a Gene Modification procedure.

Modification direction — Genetic Potential Awakening.

Due to the drug's effects, you activated the negative status — "High Fever": A Constitution check will be performed every 10 minutes. If Constitution falls below 2, you will enter a near-death state.

Gene Modification in progress.

Beginning Telomere destruction...

Release Invalid Gene Fragments.

Replicate Gene Fragments.

Aura Gene activated.

Beep beep beep beep beep—! A piercing alarm rang beside his ears. Moments later, the isolation ward's door was kicked open, and Assistant Physician Anna and the rest of the treatment team immediately rushed in.

"What's going on?" Assistant Physician Anna asked in a low voice. "He just received basic treatment and took antibiotics. Why has the life-health alarm gone off now?"

Li Aoz wanted to fabricate an explanation, but the moment he opened his mouth, a stream of scorching steam poured from his throat.

Hiss...

The white mist was scorching and violent, leaving the doctors staring at each other. Anna's gaze darkened. She waved a hand. "Check him, quickly."

"His life-health condition is deteriorating sharply. He has a high fever."

"Temperature reading: 45.9°C—this has already exceeded the human limit, and it's still rising. If this continues, his internal organs will be burned out!"

"Should we use physical cooling?"

"No. Physical cooling will cause severe dehydration due to the temperature difference... Prepare Saline Solution No. 2 first. He's sweating too much."

"Assistant Physician Anna, this is..."

Anna's gaze was gloomy, her expression grave. Li Aoz's condition had exceeded their expectations.

"If his temperature rises to fifty degrees, no medicine will work on him. We examined him before, and the Malefic Calamity indicators in his body were not high enough to cause deformities. The professor also said Level 5 Infected would not suffer physiological problems... But the professor also pointed out that we know too little about this kind of existence."

"We don't know what he will develop into, nor can we provide any help."

"Everything concerning his domain is unknown. All we can do is observe and research."

Anna said in a low voice, "This is a Level 5 Infected."

Nethermark Humanity's medical standards were second to none in the Outland, yet even Anna felt powerless in the face of this situation. Out of a physician's professional ethics, she walked to the bedside and continued observing and reassuring the patient.

"Don't be nervous. It's just a fever... a slightly high fever. Ordinary people would already be dead at this point. You should be able to live a little longer, right?"

Her reassuring words could hardly be called adequate. They were simply suffocating. Fortunately, the saline solution and various drugs being administered made his body feel somewhat better.

Li Aoz's consciousness gradually blurred. He felt as if his body had detached from him, while his mind rose from the ground and flew alone toward boundless deep space.

There was neither light nor darkness. He no longer possessed limbs or vision. In their place was a perceptive ability beyond objective existence.

The deep and boundless space had no color, leaving only a chilling grayish white.

Yet within this domain, Li Aoz clearly heard some kind of call.

Return... return...

What you cherished has been extinguished, while the lawless still run rampant.

Return... return...

What was taken... will all be reclaimed by your own hands...

Return... return...

This place is the source—

Listen to the Voice of the Source — Willpower +2, Charm +1.

Permanent Feat: Love Hunter activated — Primary Attribute Growth +1. If the Primary Attribute is Charm, Primary Attribute gains +30%.

Correction result — Willpower +2; Charm +2.

Gene Metamorphosis complete. Potential Genes released.

Your body contained four mysterious and unknown powers with limitless potential. They might help you discover the truth of the universe.

However, you were still unable to fully control them. Please choose one of the following as your Core Aura: A — Mind Power: Omega-class Aoneng. Benefits from both Willpower and Charm. Compared to ordinary Mind Power, it had far stronger offensive and control effects.

Aoneng Effects:

Active Activation — Could forcibly read the will of others, create illusions, control the minds of others, and dealt double damage to spiritual entities.

Passive State — Mind resistance and spiritual entity resistance were fixed at 70%. Immune to "Mind Reading" and "Precognition" effects.

"You haven't even spoken, and I already know what you're thinking."

B — Strengthen Sinews and Bones: Omega-class Aoneng. Benefits from both Constitution and Charm. Possessed far greater performance and growth potential than ordinary Physical Enhancement Aoneng.

Aoneng Effects:

Active Activation — Unleash immense power.

Passive State — Gain 1 Constitution every 10 natural days. Constitution-to-health conversion ratio increased to 1:20. C — High-Energy Explosion: Omega-class Aoneng. Benefits from both Strength and Charm. Could release powerful high-energy shockwaves.

Aoneng Effects:

Active Activation — Create a destructive shockwave of a certain scale (spell damage). Passive State — All attack skills converted into spell damage. D — Gravity: Omega-class Aoneng. Benefits only from Charm. Could initially control one of the four fundamental forces of the universe: "gravity."

Aoneng Effects:

Active Activation — Control the magnitude of gravity, alter the gravity borne by objects, and change the direction of gravity.

Passive State — Gain 8% damage reduction. — "Not bad."

Li Aoz let out a breath of relief.

Of the four options, three were among the most practical early-game Aoneng. Mind Power was the exclusive Aoneng for those who would later choose the Missionary path. It was extremely versatile. Once its attributes were stacked, it was absurdly powerful in both solo fights and team battles.

Missionary was the most prestigious subordinate class under the Overlord Class. Within Cosmic Civilizations, several Heads of State greatly favored this direction.

Powers related to the mind were simply too convenient in the hands of civilizations. Even if they were not used on one's own citizens, they could at least prevent citizens from being influenced by the mental projection of outside forces.

The cultivation process was rather troublesome, though. To truly bring it into play, one first needed an Objective Idealism feat, and that feat... could only be acquired after entering the universe.

Second, one needed to join a religious organization to increase the Missionary's output.

Finally, this class relied heavily on accessories and, in the early stages, almost had no ability to counter close-range rushes.

One glance at it: certified prison time.

Strengthen Sinews and Bones could serve as an Ability User's Core Aura. This class could act as a frontliner and absorb damage, while also bursting out with respectable damage to make up for its output.

Ability Users were the main force of the universe. Though very useful, they severely lacked damage output, so the early game was still prison time.

High-Energy Explosion was an unexpected delight. When this ability evolved to its final form, it was called the Power of Destruction. It could annihilate planets, shatter continents, and bombard nebulae. It was extremely powerful and was classified as "Calamity Aura."

However, if he chose High-Energy Explosion, the game experience would not merely be early-game prison time. It would become a matter of constantly figuring out how not to get beaten to death by a mob.

The reason was simple: this Aoneng was extremely difficult to control. One slight mistake and you could send both yourself and the entire city skyward.

One accidental sneeze could cause an explosion. Scratching your scalp might trigger a storm filled with radioactive dust. Shaking hands with a pretty girl could blow her into "little sister paste"...

And these were top-tier Aoneng. New players might not have the money to use advanced Awakening Potions. After awakening Aoneng, they still had to rack their brains to practice controlling it.

"Mutants are still too weak in the early game."

Li Aoz could not help sighing.

Even after using a Gene Awakening Potion worth 9,888, allowing him to obtain the best Aoneng at this stage, he did not gain many attribute points or skills.

More importantly, attribute differences were not what truly limited a Mutant's performance.

Other classes could declare themselves ready to venture out at this stage, freely hopping around to farm monsters and beat people up. Mutants, however, had to spend a long time studying and controlling Aoneng.

Handing a good gun to a brat and handing it to a Gunslinger produced completely different results.

The brat might play around recklessly, shoot himself to death, or slaughter innocents. A Gunslinger, on the other hand, could use his will to intimidate others, maintain public order, and prevent tragedies.

"Power must submit to the dominion of my will."

Li Aoz did not choose the other Aoneng. What he needed was the fastest way to bring his abilities into play.

You chose "Gravity."

Gene Fragments recorded.

Overlord Willpower permeated the soul.

Class cleansing complete.

Your class has been forcibly changed to — Mutant —

Name: Li Aoz

Title: None

Race: Carbon-Based Lifeform — New Generation Homo Sapiens

Gender: Biological Male

Age: 21

Template: Ordinary Neutral NPC (Maximum Health +10%)

Faction: Nethermark Humanity

Total Level: Lv. 0 —

Main Class: Overlord Class — [Mutant] —

Secondary Class: None

Health: 16/55 (Danger)

Aura Value: 150/150

Experience: 20

Attributes:

Strength — 4

Dexterity — 5

Constitution — 5

Charm — 15

Willpower — 8

Talents:

Racial Talent: Teamwork — New Generation Homo Sapiens possess extremely strong teamwork ability. When you are in a team, experience gains increase by 50%. This effect becomes invalid after leaving the team.

Class Talent: Mutation — Your Genetic Potential has been initially liberated. [Mutation] will occur periodically. This may alter your appearance or grant some kind of enhancement.

Feat: Permanent Feat: Love Hunter

Aoneng: [Gravity] — You have gained an initial understanding of "gravity," one of the universe's four fundamental forces.

It is such a wondrous yet strange and unpredictable mysterious power. Impossible to fully comprehend or grasp, it constantly deepens your curiosity and grants you the blessing of remaining untouched by mundane forces.

Without doubt, this is a godlike power. But should you also beware of curiosity's corrosion? Perhaps one day, your exploration of the unknown will lead you... Take care of yourself.

"Newton lied to you. Gravity exists only around me."

Range: A spherical space centered on yourself, with a radius of 15 meters.

Current Development Level: Perception Level. At this development level, Aura Value consumption rate is — 110%;

Owned Skills: "Common Sense," "Intermediate Vocational Knowledge" — Innate;

Tier: Beginner —

"Uwaaaaaah—!"

Yawen had just finished the screening mission. Before she even entered the scene, she heard a series of inhuman screams. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately hastened toward the room.

"What was that sound just now? What happened?"

The moment Yawen stepped through the door, the scene before her stunned her. The female agents of Law Enforcement Division Four were busily rummaging through boxes and cabinets, stuffing anything even slightly valuable into their arms without the slightest restraint. Every one of them was occupied with looting the suspect's property.

Meanwhile, the smuggling ringleaders they had raided lay on the floor, beaten until they were bloody and mangled, their skin split open. The agents beside them idly kicked their heads with shoes and jabbed their spines and ribs with pointed boot tips, as if they were playing some sort of game.

"Oh, the college student is here?" Agent Tima glanced at Yawen and sneered. "Have the spiritual entities all been deployed?"

"The surveillance spiritual entities have all been deployed. If anyone passes by, they'll immediately alert us."

Ya Wen said evenly, "But Agent Tima, beating suspects and extracting confessions through torture are illegal..."

"Illegal?" Tima sneered. "You're talking about the rule of law? It makes me laugh. These are smugglers who endangered national security. They sent the target we're hunting into the Outland."

"...Have you already gotten an answer from the interrogation?"

"She had banknotes from the bank. We checked the serial numbers."

Ya Wen's expression was complicated. She could only ask the female human trafficker who had been beaten half to death, "Five hours ago, did you transport this illegal immigrant using new banknotes?"

The woman cocked her head and gave a weak affirmative hum.

"Hmph, an 'mm'..."

Ya Wen crouched down and asked:

"Where was his destination?"

"The Outland... P-205 Shelter."

The female trafficker raised her eyes and stared at her numbly, with no trace of spirit left in her gaze.

"Did he reveal his identity?"

The woman opened her mouth and whimpered:

"He... said he was with the Rose Army..."

"Now we've got it." Tima smiled and looked at Nimoting, who was slowly walking in from the side. "Team Leader Nimoting, this criminal case has become a treason case—the kid who burned down the bank is an insurgent against the motherland. What are we waiting for?"

"The Rose Army?" Nimoting frowned.

That explained it. The other party was with the Rose Army, which was why he had fled to the Outland—to rendezvous with the rebels.

"The destination she gave was P-205 Shelter."

Ya Wen stood up. "That's quite far away, and it could very well be an enemy base... We should proceed cautiously."

"Team Leader, what are we waiting for? We need to move now!" Tima could not wait. In her eyes, this was a perfect opportunity to rack up achievements.

"Mm..."

Nimoting was not particularly concerned. The Rose Army's main force was still in the south; how could they possibly reach this area? It was probably just a small squad.

"There's no time to report to headquarters—requisition a batch of combat police and Outland vehicles locally. We'll catch up to them first."

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