007 Needs to Wake Up, Samurai, Let's Burn the Outland

"007. Time to wake up, Samurai, let's burn the Outland to—"

The driver looked surprised, thinking the person in front of him was a bit crazy. Despite his thoughts, his body was obedient. He slapped his hand down, "What's the problem? I'll give you an extra box!"

Li Aoz didn't haggle, trading his terminal for the driver's ten packs of 'Romantis' cigarettes.

The cigarettes themselves weren't significant, but in the game, they were tied to a chain of Task achievements.

He had just finished talking with someone, and all three [Descend] tasks were completed, unlocking all Player functions, including: [Game Forum], [Limited-Time Event], [Star Abyss Auto Chess], [Game Store], and 19 other functions.

There were some things he hadn't had time to check yet, like the [Game Store], which was a good thing. Icons like [Player Forum], [Limited-Time Event], and [Auto Chess] were still grayed out, indicating they were locked.

"Maybe they'll unlock when the Version updates. Some things are only added when the game Version is upgraded. For example, Auto Chess and mini-games were only added after 4.0."

However, some functions were open to everyone from the start. Li Aoz had initially worried that as an NPC Template, he wouldn't be compatible with the Player system, but it seemed that at least most functions could be used.

This included the [Career Achievement] function.

There were hundreds of thousands of achievements in "Star Abyss," and different achievements provided players with various beneficial effects.

According to Li Aoz, there was a phased achievement that could be completed on Azure Planet, and it wasn't too difficult. It was related to these 'Romantis' cigarettes.

Just now, in front of the driver, he had opened the cigarette packs, taken out all the cigarettes, and kept the cigarette boxes. He then tore off the outer packaging of each box, and between the cigarettes and the box, he pulled out the foil lining that served as a separator.

Under the driver's disdainful gaze, Li Aoz refolded the foil according to the creases, eventually folding all ten pieces of foil into cards.

[You obtained one of the 'Romantic Envoy' series card decks: Unlocked Achievement - Dream Talk]

[You obtained one of the 'Romantic Envoy' series card decks (duplicate)]

[You obtained one of the 'Romantic Envoy' series card decks (duplicate)]

[You obtained one of the 'Romantic Envoy' series card decks: Unlocked Achievement - Infatuated Words]

[You obtained one of the 'Romantic Envoy' series card decks (duplicate)]

[You obtained one of the 'Romantic Envoy' series card decks: Unlocked Achievement - Mad Song]

[Accumulatively obtained three card decks from the 'Romantic Envoy' series, granting the Permanent Feat: Love Hunter]

[Permanent Feat: Love Hunter]: Trisdi Romantis was a romantic and dashing man. Even before he became a renowned Gunslinger of Nasik, he was a wild man who could attract both men and women.

He swore by his Great-grandmother that even robots couldn't refuse Trisdi Romantis's advances back then.

However, a man's most attractive quality wasn't his appearance, but his unwavering pursuit of his original intentions.

Trisdi Romantis, he abandoned the temptation of beautiful companionship and unhesitatingly ventured into Nasik's World Hunting Ground with his guns, facing the most ferocious and Evil beasts.

This was the hunter's true calling.

[Effect]: Primary Attribute growth +1. [Permanent Effect] — If the Primary Attribute is [Charm], Primary Attribute gains +30%.

"Excellent, this is it!"

Li Aoz nodded.

Feats were one of the direct manifestations of a Player's and NPC's Combat Power, providing buffs, support, and resistance.

A good feat could even compensate for attribute disparities.

With that thought, Li Aoz found the driver much more agreeable.

If the driver hadn't given him an extra pack, his luck might not have allowed him to draw three different card decks.

Permanent Feats were relatively rare, only activating their permanent effects under specific conditions, usually related to ability growth.

Li Aoz placed great importance on his Primary Attribute, [Charm].

As a Veteran Player, he knew very well that low core attributes made playing any class feel like a painful, endless grind.

[Starcaller], and even its initial class [Mutant], were particularly known for their long, prison-like early game experience. If the core attributes didn't keep up, they were essentially useless.

"I almost forgot, although Frostplate is a place with poor mountains and bad waters that breeds difficult people, Frostplate is also the place where you can obtain the most Feats!"

Many female players Li Aoz knew who were from Frostplate, despite their levels being significantly lower than players from other countries, each had at least five Feats when they competed in arenas.

One professional player even obtained 24 Combat Feats by level 60! Many people couldn't collect that many Feats, let alone all Combat Feats, even by level 100. In a real fight, it was equivalent to having three extra pieces of equipment.

This led to that female player dominating the top three spots on the solo ranking charts for two Version periods.

The 'Romantic Envoy' series had a total of 13 card decks from the cigarette boxes. Collecting all of them would grant a very considerable [Charm] bonus, making it a Feat that greatly suited the [Mutant].

"Similarly, if I go to the shelter, I should be able to get that very rare Feat..."

Li Aoz narrowed his eyes.

That Feat, while not a [Charm] bonus, had an effect that everyone envied. If obtained early on, it could completely reverse the early game grind experience of the [Mutant].

"Hurry up and get out, you'll freeze to death if it gets dark."

The driver started urging him to leave. Li Aoz didn't linger, picked up his luggage, and opened the car door.

WHOOSH WHOOSH BANG BANG BANG—

The wild, cold wind whipped up ice and sand, violently striking the car door. Li Aoz was used to it, wrapping his scarf around his head like a bandit, leaving only a slit for his eyes. He then calmly got out of the car and firmly shut the door. The impact was drowned out by the wind, almost imperceptible.

As soon as he closed the door, the driver immediately stepped on the gas and drove away, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

Li Aoz turned his head. He wasn't focused on the truck driver's hasty departure, but rather looked up at the sky.

The sky of the Outland.

The frigid sky was enveloped by bizarre black and red gaseous substances. Not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate the thick black and red atmospheric layer to reach the surface. The cold air was mixed with an odor that caused physical discomfort. The lack of sunlight covered the land in snow, and the low temperatures prevented the snowflakes from melting. It was as if the barren sand and gravel were coated with a thin layer of white frost, like galvanization.

Snow and sand rubbed fiercely against each other in the howling wind. Tiny particles collided and intertwined, creating faint sounds that lingered in the ears. If one took a step, their shoe soles would sink into the snowy ground, causing the soft snow-sand to collapse and deform, emitting a strange squeaking sound. The wind distorted the original meaning of the sound, making it seem like whispers murmuring in one's ear.

Cold, despair, and lifelessness.

This was the world abandoned and utterly exploited by the Four Nations, who occupied seventy percent of Azure Planet's territory.

The vast atmosphere was surrounded layer by layer with nanomechanical particles to intercept and absorb sunlight. Meanwhile, the Four Nations established orbital elevators around the four oceans, directly utilizing the solar energy accumulated by the nano-clouds for power generation, thereby firmly monopolizing resources.

"Humanity's cruelty to its own kind is far more impressive than that of the Void and demons."

Li Aoz scoffed, raising his hand to wipe the frozen ice grit from his eyelashes. The cold made him shiver solidly, and the real sensation on his skin told him he was no longer intervening in this world as a Player.

This was his life.

Players could have a chance to start over, but he faced this desperate, dying land with only one choice.

Conquest.

Not mere survival. This desperate situation also contained killing intent and cruelty. Only the strongest could survive here.

"Welcome to the Outland."