Invasive Neural Augmentation

Gao Gong slammed hard into a tree, losing 11 health. Gritting his teeth, he swung his fist back and smashed the tree. The chainsaw mode of his Micro-Machine Knuckle Duster whirred to life, slicing vertically through the wood with a zzzzzzzzzt, sending wood chips flying, and finally slowing his momentum as he stumbled to the ground.

However, Gao Gong showed no signs of triumph. Instead, his gaze was heavy as he looked at the Reaper leader in mid-air.

The radiation storm had indeed begun to weaken, but it hadn't disappeared, which meant the Reaper leader wasn't completely dead.

Among its several question marks, one definitely belonged to the [Headless] trait.

Headless: Apart from its radiation energy source, this Mech-Bio Beast has no vital organs.

"What are you standing around for! Shoot!"

Gao Gong's roar woke the remaining Cable Tribe members, and sporadic gunfire erupted.

Even if it wasn't dead, its remaining health wouldn't exceed 200 points. As long as they could withstand its final death throes, they could definitely take it down.

But something unexpected happened. The female Reaper, sensing her mate, suddenly appeared behind the heavily injured male. Four biological scythes flashed out like lightning, piercing its body. From small circular holes on the 'back' of the biological scythes, they began to absorb its mate's essence.

The female leader's body visibly turned red.

It was said that after mating, female mantises would eat their mates as food.

It seemed quite eco-friendly.

It appeared that was exactly what was happening before them.

The radiation storm visibly dissipated. Then, the female leader suddenly opened its mandibles, emitting an unpleasant low-frequency noise. Without looking back, it left. The remaining three Reapers, after a moment's hesitation, also burrowed into the forest and disappeared.

Only a shriveled husk plummeted heavily from the sky.

[Mission complete, calculating mission rewards...]

[Mission Descent has been issued]

Gao Gong sat down on the ground, wincing, and stared at the string of rewards that flashed across the system panel.

Experience: 9440 Base Reward 6500 + 700 [Cable Tribe Survivors 17] + 160 [Young Reapers * 2] + 480 [Adult Reapers * 4]

Cable Tribe Favorability (Friendly) [500/1800]

Note: You are a friend of the tribe, and your suggestions will be seriously considered by the tribe.

You have unlocked Regional Reputation: 200 [Desert Daredevil]

Desert Daredevil: As a seasoned hunter, the near-death experience has not dampened your lofty ambitions. Your body is forged from machinery, and your mutated spirit burns with fighting spirit.

Specialization Point +1

Mechanical Puzzle Fragment [1/5]

It wasn't easy, finally getting a specialization point. If I don't transfer classes, leveling up skills might be the only way to get stronger quickly.

Specialization points are skill points that can break through skill caps.

Gao Gong didn't hesitate. He first maxed out [Brawl] and then invested this specialization point into [Brawl].

[You have raised Brawl to Lv10]

[Brawl has reached Lv10 (Max) and entered skill advancement. Please choose your advanced skill: Grappler, Basic Gun-Fu, Slaughter Samurai]

Grappler is the physical enhancement version of Brawl, following a tank route. Basic Gun-Fu is a 'man and gun as one' technique, a close-combat output style. Slaughter Samurai is undoubtedly the assassination style.

Gao Gong hesitated between Basic Gun-Fu and Slaughter Samurai. The Gun-Fu skill was actually very suitable for mechanical augmentation. Not to mention the flashy move of hiding a gun in his crotch, even with ordinary modifications, Gao Gong's body could accommodate at least seven or eight firearm mechanisms. He could even modify his spine into a folding machine gun.

However, while the output of this skill was decent, its burst damage was lacking.

Furthermore, to perform humanized modifications for firearms would inevitably cause his mechanical augmentation rate to skyrocket.

He couldn't let an advanced skill affect the bigger picture.

[You have chosen advanced skill: Night Warrior]

[You have raised Night Warrior to Lv2]

[You have raised Night Warrior to Lv3]

[You have raised Night Warrior to Lv4]

Night Warrior Lv4 (Advanced): When using swords, attack power +20%. When using swords, attack speed increases by 18%. When performing sword combos, there is a 15% chance to apply a bleeding effect.

Additional Status: Raging Stealth

Raging: When applying a bleeding effect to an enemy with a sword, attack power increases by 5% (stacks up to ten times).

Stealth: When hidden, the chance of being discovered is reduced by 10%, and the chance of a one-hit kill against an unsuspecting target increases.

In an instant, countless combat experiences flashed through Gao Gong's mind. In a daze, he felt as if he had transformed into an ancient assassin, wielding a sharp blade, moving through the darkness, killing time and time again, facing powerful enemies, blood surging, his soul trembling. Under the pale moonlight, the blade dancer was intoxicated by the art of slaughter.

"Why don't you—"

Gao Gong suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze was as calm as a deep lake, with countless corpses submerged in the water.

"Ah!"

The young girl from the Cable Tribe screamed, her mind going blank. For some reason, just by making eye contact, she felt death pouring over her like cold water.

"What's with the 'ah'? I just asked you to bring some water. Did you bully her?"

Huang Yuanli looked down at Gao Gong, who was sitting under the tree, hands on her hips. This was one of the few opportunities she had to look down on him.

Gao Gong retracted the light in his eyes, revealing a sunny and handsome smile. "My apologies, the residual blood energy on me might have startled you."

The young girl's face flushed slightly as she shook her head.

She was also a native, about the same height as Huang Yuanli. However, instead of on her eyelids, a tumor grew on her forehead, making her look like the Erlang Shen without his third eye.

She lacked the charm of a young lady.

Gao Gong took the water and asked, "I only brought five or six Radiation Shots, which probably isn't enough, is it?"

"It's fine. Do you think we people of the Cable Tribe are useless? We can concoct herbs that reduce radiation. Here, the one in your hand is it."

Gao Gong looked down. The cup contained a murky green herbal water that smelled like rotten leaves.

"Never mind. From your expression, I can tell you don't want to drink it. Come with me, Professor Han wants to see you."

Huang Yuanli led the way, with Gao Gong following behind. All the members of the Cable Tribe they encountered on the road, regardless of gender, showed expressions of gratitude towards Gao Gong.

Without Gao Gong's intervention, they would have most likely been wiped out in this encounter.

"Hey, aren't you going to show some appreciation? Everyone is thanking you!" Huang Yuanli said indignantly.

"Oh," Gao Gong replied calmly.

"Hmph," Huang Yuanli thought for a moment, then whispered, "Professor Han is an elder in our tribe. He has many good things. You can ask him if you have any questions."

"But you have to be quick. Preferably before we go back. Our Great Elder is particularly stingy and might go back on his word."

Huh? Gao Gong recalled that it was the Great Elder who had asked Huang Yuanli to maintain contact with him, while this Professor Han had been against it.

Gao Gong pondered for a moment. "I actually do have a question."

"What question?"

"Is the right of the first night still popular in your tribe?"

Huang Yuanli's eyes slowly widened, and the blush on her face spread from her head all the way down to her neck. She suddenly bit him in anger.

"It's never been popular!!??"

"Just kidding, don't get excited, don't get excited," Gao Gong said, shaking Huang Yuanli off his hand like a towel, and chuckling, "You must be Professor Han."

"Hello, young man."

The cave was dimly lit, yet Professor Han's gaze was unforgettable, as if it wasn't looking at his face but was branded into his heart.

This perception... he can control C-class leader bosses. He must be around 40. Gao Gong narrowed his eyes. The desert truly was full of monsters. Sister Rose was one, and this person in front of him was another.

However, apart from his perception, Professor Han was just a very ordinary old man. His age spots were very noticeable, and his energy was very low, making him look like he could collapse at any moment. The animal skins he wore were no better than anyone else's.

"Yuanli, you can go out now."

Huang Yuanli bared her fangs at Gao Gong before stomping away angrily. After she left, Professor Han asked a surprising question.

"Young man, the blade in your hand, was it forged by Sister Xiang?"

Gao Gong was taken aback. He turned and drew out the Red Unicorn, handing it over.

After more than half a month of use, the blade was already pitted, with some edges curled. This blade had cut through metal plating every time, some of which were thicker than steel plates. Even the best blade oil couldn't withstand such wear and tear.

Professor Han took the blade with a hint of nostalgia and said softly, "Your combat style is somewhat similar to some people I knew."

"A classical Mechanical Hunter? Are you friends with them?"

"Not friends."

Professor Han suddenly withdrew his emotions, handed the blade back, and said calmly, "Young man, I can impart my knowledge to you, but I'll give you two options."

"First, I'll take you back to the tribe. There, you'll find the richest research data and experimental equipment. If you wish to delve deeper into this knowledge, I can teach you slowly."

"Second, I can impart this knowledge to you right now. How much you understand is up to you."

Gao Gong chose without hesitation, "I choose the second option."

A flicker of surprise crossed Professor Han's eyes, but he still nodded. "Alright, then listen. In the old civilization era, I was a researcher in a large-scale scientific project. The project's content was 'Bionic Technology,' and my research direction in Mechanical Augmentation was 'Invasive Neural Augmentation Technology'..."

[You have been imparted with the professional knowledge "Invasive Neural Augmentation Technology," learning progress 1%... 2%...]

It took Professor Han a full two days to complete the impartation of this professional knowledge.

[Invasive Neural Augmentation Technology]lv1: Implantation and Connection of Dynamic Neural Networks

Gao Gong finally understood how the professor could control the Metal Sparrows and even make them speak human language. It wasn't that the sparrows' intelligence had increased, but their dynamic neural networks had been modified, causing them to screech in a manner resembling human speech.

This professional knowledge was undoubtedly very useful. At the very least, with it, Gao Gong wouldn't need the heads of artificial soldiers as brains.

He could directly modify the neural systems of Mech-Bio Beasts.

And that "Human Application Technology" was most likely the higher-level Professional Knowledge Chain.

Mechanical Augmentation, Human Application... it had a bit of a "mechanical to carbon-based" feel to it.

As everyone knows, carbon-based civilization and mechanical civilization are a pair of rivals who love and hate each other.

The conversion of carbon-based to mechanical, turning humans into robots, is not uncommon.

But the reverse, transforming machine life into a humanoid civilization, is also not surprising.

Bionic Humans are the best example of this.