The armored vehicle raced down the abandoned highway.
Ironhide was visibly excited.
"Fatty Xiang, I never imagined you were this amazing, this good at fighting—and that transformation! Wow, I always thought you were just a big idiot."
"Heh heh."
Fatty Xiang scratched his head, wearing a foolish grin.
The battlefield was the best training ground. For Ironhide, it merely made his driving skills even more ferocious, but Fatty Xiang had undergone a complete transformation.
Well, only when he transformed. When he wasn't transformed, he was still the same big idiot.
Highscore glanced at him and thought, This guy's skill level is seriously high. I wonder how Auntie Xiang trained him. Could he have been born this way?
In "Cyber World," skill levels were divided into Normal, Advanced, Elite, Expert, and Master, with civilization serving as a prerequisite.
Highscore's two highest-level skills were both Advanced, while this idiot's transformation was Elite.
That made Highscore suspect that the kid had been passively training since he was in the womb. After all, he wasn't a mechanical bio-beast who could grind experience by hunting.
Still, there was no doubt that this was a good thing. As long as he could fully adapt to the battlefield, he would become a bona fide monster.
"Boss, why are we going back so early today?"
Ever since he had gone to the battlefield and experienced Highscore's methods, Ironhide had become utterly convinced. Deep down, he had already acknowledged the other man as his second boss. He just didn't know when he would be officially promoted, get a raise, and receive insurance or something.
A healthy organization would provide every member with the most generous benefits.
That was what his previous boss, an outstanding gang leader, had said during a speech when founding the gang.
Although after giving the speech, he had fired himself.
Highscore naturally had no idea what Ironhide was thinking. He was merely considering how to spend the eighty thousand experience he had earned over the past dozen or so days.
Thanks to the intense Hunting War, what he had gained in less than ten days was equivalent to what he had earned in a whole month before.
Well, there was no doubt about it—he would level up first.
[You have raised Mechanical Modder to Lv10 max, Strength +1, Agility +1, Perception +1] [You have raised your class to the maximum level and cannot improve it further] [You meet the requirements for class advancement. Would you like to advance your class?]
Of course, the answer was "No." Biological Modification had only implanted a skin, and the quest chain for the Classic-Style Mechanical Hunter was not yet complete. Advancing now would mean he had something wrong with his head.
His secondary classes, however, were worth trying.
[You have raised Electronic Neurology to Lv5] [You have raised Human Biology to Lv5] [You have raised Human Applied Mechanics to Lv5]
Electronic Neurology Lv5: In-depth research into the brain, modification of nerve fibers, and simulation of neural signals with electronic circuits.
Human Biology Lv5: The organs, structures, and functions of the human body at every level, as well as their biological interactions with the surrounding environment.
Human Applied Mechanics Lv5: Design principles for artificial implants.
[You have raised Cyber Doctor to Lv5 max, Perception +1] [Total level increased to Lv19] [You have triggered a class advancement quest: Veteran Cyber Doctor]
Class Advancement Quest: The Old Doctor's Dark Medical Arts
Quest requirements:
1. Successfully complete three cybernetic modification surgeries.
2. Complete two modification components based on your own unique approach.
3. Conduct one cybernetic experiment.
Tsk. The minor advancement is harder than in my previous life.
As Highscore remembered it, a normal Lv5 Cyber Doctor's minor advancement only required completing one cybernetic surgery, one modification component, and one cybernetic experiment.
This was probably the extra difficulty added because three classes had been raised to Lv5.
But that wasn't a problem.
Extra difficulty inevitably meant extra rewards.
After thinking it over, Highscore also raised Invasive Neural Modification Technology to Lv5 in one go.
Invasive Neural Modification Technology Lv5: Principles of enhanced neural signal transmission.
The three class knowledge sets provided by Cyber Doctor were all related to cybernetic implants and manufacturing. Invasive Neural Modification Technology, on the other hand, was used for connecting cybernetics and modifying mechanical species.
Next came the much-anticipated blueprint gambling session.
As a rich man with nearly sixty thousand experience points left, Highscore naturally chose to inject the maximum amount. What did technical mastery and hidden quests matter when spending money was so satisfying?
As long as I spend hard enough, I become the wish itself.
Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology + Lv5 Electronic Neurology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 1 neural blueprint: Advanced Neural Massage Chair]
Damn, a bad start. Lv5 knowledge produced a Lv1 blueprint? What kind of operation was that? It even gave him an elderly massage chair.
Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology + Lv5 Electronic Neurology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 neural blueprint: Happy Rocking Wand]
This Happy Wiggler... was its happiness respectable?
Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology + Lv5 Electronic Neurology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 1 mechanical blueprint: Electric Egg Beater] [Fusion successful, you researched...]
Five useless blueprints came out in a row. Highscore's forehead throbbed with bulging veins, the corner of his eye twitched, and his lips trembled. Ironhide, watching from the side, felt his heart clench. Oh no. Did the boss discover my wish for a raise?
Fortunately, the sixth blueprint finally turned from black to red.
Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology + Lv5 Electronic Neurology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 3 neural blueprint: Central Nervous System Direct-Control Ring]
Highscore skimmed the blueprint's notes.
Note: Can perform restrictive modifications on the nervous systems of small and medium-sized mechanical species. Applicable range: radiation value below 10,000.
In other words, mechanical bio-beasts below Rank C.
As for "restrictive modification," this thing—
It was a binding circlet!
Highscore's eyes lit up. After [Desert Skin], he had obtained another blockbuster.
Compared with [Desert Skin], this blueprint was more accessible to ordinary players. It didn't even require changing classes to Mechanical Hunter; it could be used as long as one's Perception exceeded 5.
The higher one's Perception, the more mechanical bio-beasts one could control.
This could completely become a "faction specialty"!
Highscore immediately made up his mind. He couldn't cooperate with Little Finger on this blueprint.
Being supported by a rich woman was satisfying, but wasn't it even more satisfying to be wealthy enough to support rich women?
He switched to another type of class knowledge to change his luck.
Lv5 Human Biology + Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 mechanical blueprint: Human Pleasure Control Device]
This pleasure... was it respectable?
Lv5 Human Biology + Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 VR blueprint: Open-Version Virtual Projection]
According to the notes, this virtual projection was no longer fixed-device, fixed-storyline VR. Instead, it could be manipulated to a certain degree according to the creator's thoughts.
In short, this thing was a "special-effects generator."
If it were combined with an explicit hand-drawn comic, tsk tsk.
Unfortunately, he had already retired from that world. Highscore shook his head, then suddenly had a thought.
With some modifications, this thing seemed like it could become an "auxiliary combat device."
Just imagine combining it with his assassination-style swordsmanship. Wouldn't he be able to generate sword qi whenever he wanted sword qi, create clones whenever he wanted clones, and produce speakers whenever he wanted speakers?
Qiao Feng: Dad never has to worry about my speakers being smashed again.
Interesting.
Lv5 Human Biology + Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 neural blueprint: Neural Frequency Amplifier]
This little component wasn't bad either. It could strengthen the connection between neural devices.
Then three more useless blueprints followed.
Lv5 Human Biology + Lv5 Invasive Neural Modification Technology
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 3 neural blueprint: Manual Neural Disruptor]
Highscore was delighted. It had finally appeared.
In his previous life, this thing was also known as the monster-attracting artifact. Its function was to create a super-noise field covering an area of 300 by 300 meters.
Within that area, its effect was equivalent to ten times the noise of a construction site—for monsters.
They would smash it with everything they had.
For Highscore, this blueprint was likewise a fish-blasting artifact.
In the future, when hunting desert worms, he wouldn't have to wait eagerly like a bootlicker, hoping they would come out.
I'll use noise to disrupt the monsters!
With Central Nervous System Direct-Control Circlet, Open-Version Virtual Projection, and Manual Neural Disruptor, Highscore wouldn't need any other "neural connection devices" for the time being.
So he switched to another direction.
Lv5 Human Biology + Lv5 Human Applied Mechanics + Lv4 Mechanical Modification
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 mechanical blueprint: Giant-Grip Magnetic-Sensing Gloves]
These gloves increased grip strength by 9%, raised heavy blunt-weapon attack damage by 12%, and came with the "Magnetic Call" skill.
This skill was a weakened version of "Electromagnetic Excitation." With the gloves on, one could adjust the magnetic pull to draw weapons over. The heavier the weapon, the stronger the attraction.
They were quite suitable for heavy-weapon users.
However, the image of the Magnetic Grip Gloves gave Highscore an intense sense of déjà vu.
Wasn't this Thanos's gauntlet without the gems?
If Thanos had had another one of these gauntlets back then, how could anyone have snapped their fingers at him?
Lv5 Human Biology + Lv5 Human Applied Mechanics + Lv4 Mechanical Modification
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 mechanical blueprint: High-Temperature Metal Boots]
This was a wearable auxiliary device weighing 5.7 kilograms. Its size could be adjusted, and its attributes were Strength +2, +15% traction, and a reduced chance of triggering stun effects.
Highscore looked at Fatty Xiang with a strange expression. Could the European Emperor really be standing right in front of me?
Both pieces of equipment were clearly suited to large players, specially prepared for tanks.
Unwilling to accept this, Highscore opened two more.
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 1 mechanical blueprint: Torque Belt] [Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 mechanical blueprint: Brute-Force Brow Guard]
One was a high-quality blank item with Stamina +4. The other came with the auxiliary skill "Hot-Blooded," which granted an additional 15% critical-hit rate while active.
"Brother Gao, why are you touching me?" Fatty Xiang asked blankly.
"Nothing. I'm feeling how plump you are, and taking the opportunity to soak up some of your good fortune."
Lv5 Human Biology + Lv5 Human Applied Mechanics
[Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 technological blueprint: Blood Sedimentation Device] [Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 technological blueprint: Polymer Surgical Knife] [Fusion successful, you researched a Level 2 pharmaceutical blueprint: Metal Sedative Pills] [Fusion successful, you researched a Level 1 cybernetic blueprint: Immune Appendix]
After opening more than twenty blueprints in total, only seven could be considered proper blueprints, and all of them were related to performing surgery.
How should he put it?
Health was a blessing?