Gradius Crystal Option

Gradius · Crystal Option

Gradius is a side-scrolling shooting game, a spin-off of the Gradius series.

In the game, players control a spacecraft to shoot and destroy enemies, obtaining power-up components and selectively enhancing their ship based on the number of components they possess.

Speed Up, Missile, Ripple Laser, Laser, Crystal Option, and Shield – the number of components required for these six spacecraft enhancement modes increases from 1 to 6.

Among them, the Crystal Option is the most functional, perfectly replicating all attack capabilities of the spacecraft it's equipped to, including firing rate, power, missiles, shooting components, and more.

Of course, Cheng Tian believed that the original's perfect replication effect was auction-worthy. Since this thing was on a stall, it was likely heavily weakened or had usage restrictions.

He was also curious whether this item was vehicle-exclusive or if a person could use it directly.

Crystal Support Unit Replica: Blue (Excellent)/Lv1, Option. Equipment Requirement: Agility and Spirit total greater than 25.

A mass-produced version manufactured using the "King of Britannia" Gradius spacecraft's option technology, usable without a vehicle.

You must ensure your mana bar is above 50% to inject MP and activate the option. Once activated, the option will hover around you, assisting in combat by replicating your ranged attacks—

The option can only replicate E-grade skills/talents and ranged attacks from Green (Excellent) or lower weapons and equipment.

The replicated attack's power is reduced to 25% of the original.

Each replicated attack consumes an equal amount of the user's MP.

The option consumes 1 MP per second of operation.

When MP is exhausted, it enters a 60-minute standby state.

The option can only withstand two attacks. After it shatters, it must return to the Chosen Evolution Space for repair.

Your Agility affects the option's hovering speed, and your Spirit affects the option's maximum MP storage.

Price: 12,000 Heaven's Chosen Coins

Cheng Tian's first reaction was that this replica had indeed been heavily nerfed. His second reaction was, "Holy crap, that's expensive!"

Holding the Crystal Option, Cheng Tian's Deadpool mask seemed to furrow in worry, not bothering to hide his thoughts.

"Hey, newbie?"

The stall owner, who had been idly browsing Chosen Evolution Space news behind the stall, suddenly asked. Cheng Tian turned his gaze to him.

Stall vendors don't necessarily need to be present 24/7. They can set prices and do other things. Many stall owners weren't around; you just paid for what you wanted. The Chosen Evolution Space had rules. So, if a stall owner was present, either they had nothing better to do, or they were open to haggling.

As for the stall owner's appearance... why did he look like Van Helsing?

Cheng Tian, completely forgetting his own cowboy Deadpool getup, raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

Cheng Tian's straightforward admission surprised the stall owner, who then seemed disinterested, sighing and leaning back in his gaming chair.

These days, admitting you're a newbie is practically advertising, "I'm easy to scam." But newbies also meant they didn't have much to offer, and "Old Van" wasn't about to stoop to the level of those hyenas swarming the plaza.

Old Van knew his price was inflated, but even with haggling, the Crystal Option was beyond a newbie's budget.

It was too expensive for newbies and didn't offer a direct combat boost. For veterans, it required significant investment to be effective. With the same resources, buying a better ranged weapon or learning a new skill was a better choice.

But Old Van wasn't willing to sell it cheap, so he was waiting to see if he could find a sucker.

"It's not that hard. I saw you wandering around earlier. Any newbie with a bit of social skills would gather information like that."

Old Van didn't elaborate, already assuming Cheng Tian couldn't afford it, but he wasn't about to ignore him completely.

"Honestly, it's overpriced."

Cheng Tian didn't dwell on it, shifting the topic back to the mass-produced Crystal Option.

Yes, he was tempted.

At first glance, the Crystal Option was in an awkward spot: not good enough to use, but not bad enough to discard.

The high MP consumption made it difficult for newbies to use, and the limited skill/equipment replication restricted its use for veterans.

But Cheng Tian was different.

The MP consumption could be compensated with the newly acquired skill Soul Salvation. As for skill replication, although Cheng Tian's first formal skill was B-grade Hundred Demons' Night Parade, he also had the Green (Excellent) Polymorph cane and the Game Expert talent's template loading!

The template skills from template loading, which had no grade, might bypass the restrictions and meet the Crystal Option's attack replication requirements.

"I know the price is high, but even if I cut it in half with a massive 50% discount, can you afford it?"

Old Van wasn't trying to be sarcastic, just telling Cheng Tian not to aim too high.

Usually, a pure newbie who survived their first trial and earned around one or two thousand Heaven's Chosen Coins was considered excellent, and that was if they hadn't slacked off too much in the team's main quest.

But as Old Van finished speaking, he saw Cheng Tian check his stats, click his tongue, and turn to leave.

Muttering as he walked, "Even if I sold this thing, I'd still be eight hundred short... never mind."

Cheng Tian figured the stall owner wasn't serious about the 50% discount, so he wouldn't waste time. He might as well check out other items.

Most Chinese people advocate not flaunting wealth. Cheng Tian generally followed this principle, but at this moment, he was in the Chosen Evolution Space, and his mindset had completely switched to his gaming mode: "If I don't show off, how will others know I'm awesome?" "Investing in myself will double my future output!"

So, the muttering was intentional.

While he wasn't sure what the average newbie player should get from a newbie trial, he was very clear that he must be the best of the newbie players!

Sure enough, Old Van's eyes widened when he heard it, staring at Cheng's departing figure, and he jumped up from the deck chair.

"Only eight hundred short? You earned five thousand from a newbie instance?! You've got to be kidding me!"

Old Van's unsuppressed outburst instantly attracted the attention of many stall owners and customers around him, and after understanding what he said, they all focused their attention on Cheng Tian.

Everyone loves gossip, especially when it involves a newbie instance earning a whopping five thousand Heaven's Chosen Coins, a piece of gossip that anyone with a little knowledge of the Chosen Evolution Space would scoff at.

As the center of the gossip, Cheng Tian stopped, turned around, and returned to the side of Old Van's stall... directly applying for a stall permit, and then, to the surprise of the gossiping players, he put a complete set of Knight Armor on display.

Then he heard an almost unanimous exclamation from the crowd around him—

"Holy shit! It's from Demon Village!?"