Missions and Merit Points

Even though it had only been a little over a day since they last logged in, the three of them were restless, feeling like time was dragging on.

With such a great gaming helmet right at their fingertips, being unable to log in felt like ants crawling all over them.

Finally, the esteemed game designer, Sentinel, had given them another chance to log in!

The three of them still remembered Sentinel's instructions from the forum.

"Once you log in, your main task is to test the current features, assist the base NPCs in the initial setup of the disaster zones, and keep an eye out for any bugs during gameplay. If you find any, report them to me immediately. Our game development team values your testing!"

The three of them were instantly filled with a sense of responsibility!

This feeling of trust was intoxicating. The thought of being internal testers for such a magnificent game was more fulfilling than spending 600 to sponsor a needy young lady on the street.

But!

Thin Dog had never expected this!

Demonic Fox, who had the most psychological barriers about flattering NPCs yesterday, was now sucking up so effectively!

Thin Dog inwardly roared: Do they have any backbone left from the Dark Three forums!

Snap!

He dropped to one knee.

"Respected Lord, me too!"

Lin Tang followed suit, kneeling down with his two good brothers. If they had planted a few more incense sticks on the spot, it would have been enough to create a classic Three Kingdoms Kill card.

Cheng Shaofeng was trying to maintain a serious demeanor.

He almost broke character because of the three players.

"Ahem! Everyone stand up! Disaster soldiers do not need to kneel to anyone. From now on, when you need to report to me, a fist salute is sufficient!"

Cheng Shaofeng raised his left hand, clenched it into a fist, and tapped it twice on his right chest as a gesture.

The three of them stood up and mimicked his actions, looking like real soldiers.

Cheng Shaofeng: "Soldiers, the base does indeed have a task for you today."

The three men's eyes lit up!

Here it comes! The mission!

"Our base requires a safe and comfortable environment. The new settlement is too rudimentary. Your task is to use tools to clear a 20-meter radius around the base and construct four simple dwellings."

After Cheng Shaofeng finished speaking, a notification chimed on all three of their wristwatches simultaneously.

[Main Quest: Build Simple Shelters]

[Complete the clearing and construction work as per the Lord's request. Upon completion, each person will receive 1 jin of Beans (food) and 100 Merit Points.]

Ghost Face Demon Fox: "We guarantee mission completion!"

The other two, a beat behind: ".Me too!"

The players' watches could display the content that Cheng Shaofeng edited using the base's [Information Editor] and released as a mission.

Yesterday, Cheng Shaofeng had also bought several axes and shovels in town and distributed them to them.

The base's supplies had completely depleted his funds, leaving not a single cent.

Next... he had to earn back the supplies doubly from these three people.

After accepting the mission, the three of them rubbed their hands and lingered, looking expectantly at Cheng Shaofeng.

Cheng Shaofeng understood after a brief moment of thought.

"The day before yesterday, your trial mission was successfully completed, rewarding each of you with 200 Merit Points. Soldier African Thin Dog captured a Radiation Energy Stone, making an outstanding contribution to the base's energy replenishment, earning an additional 200 Merit Points."

As Cheng Shaofeng finished speaking, their watches lit up again simultaneously.

[Notification: Calamity Base Merit Points +200]

Thin Dog gained 400.

Only then did the three happily go to work.

Cheng Shaofeng, on the other hand, walked out of the base and looked around.

He had heard the Raiders last night, and there might be Raiders wandering nearby. He had to be vigilant in advance.

Thin Dog tapped his watch, happily looking at the 400 Calamity Base Merit Points displayed on it, grinning from ear to ear.

Demonic Fox: "Thin Dog, do you know what these Merit Points are used for?"

"No idea."

"Then why are you so happy?"

"It doesn't matter what they're for. Based on my years of gaming experience, anything that's accumulative is definitely worth hoarding! Just you wait... once the open beta starts, we'll be a huge leap ahead of other players with these Merit Points!"

Lin Tang nodded in agreement: "Indeed. So let's hurry and complete the mission to get the next 100 Merit Points!"

"Okay!"

The three of them grabbed their axes and swung them at the trees, filled with enthusiasm.

It was hard to imagine that these three, who were too lazy to even wash a bowl at home, would need someone to help them use the toilet.

Now, the three of them were living a primitive life of logging and building houses, and they were doing it happily.

"Hey! Look at these wood shavings. Tsk! Amazing! It's just like the real thing!"

"I can even smell the difference between the outside of the wood and when it's cut open. This game's development team is really meticulous."

"That's just the surface! Look at the physics engine! Simple logging reveals that this game's physics engine is definitely a product of the new era. The trees react differently based on where I chop with my axe, giving a different collision experience. Look, look! It even gets stuck! Such a powerful physics engine surpasses all games we've ever seen. I feel like only a true AI game system could create this."

"Awesome! Even logging is this realistic. I feel like I could chop all day!"

The three of them discussed the details of "Apocalypse OL" with great interest, exclaiming with each new discovery.

After two hours of work, the novelty wore off.

The Demonic Fox started thinking about other things.

"Actually, this is also a tutorial quest. It helps us understand another aspect of this game: the farming attribute."

"The rewards the lord gave us just now were interesting: 1 jin of beans. It sounds like food or... seeds. Whichever it is, it means this game isn't just about fighting monsters and grinding like the dark fantasy games we play. It also has farming elements. We can use this realistic physics engine and the materials all over the mountains to build whatever we want."

"We can also plant, raise livestock, cook, and eat. It seems this game has big ambitions. It's made its content so solid just to satisfy the needs of different players. I boldly predict! Future players will definitely be divided into life-skill and combat classes, and naturally, into casual and hardcore players."

The Demonic Fox's insights into the game were the strongest among the three.

He could infer what might happen from the slightest clues.

Thin Dog: "Demonic Fox, you're amazing! You've seen right through this game!"

Lin Tang: "Hu Da, with your insight, it's a shame you're not making mods with me..."

"Hey! What are those three big machines over there? They didn't look so sci-fi when I was here last time."

"I feel like we'll know once we finish this quest."

The group happily worked while deducing the game's mechanics. After 5 hours, they cleared a large open space and built four simple sheds using wood near a rocky area.

Although they looked a bit crude, they could barely block the wind and rain.

After all, their craftsmanship was limited. The fact that they knew to use vines to tie the wood together and secure it to the ground was already their limit.

After finishing, all three were covered in sweat.

Thin Dog wiped his forehead and exclaimed, "This game is so hardcore, I can actually feel hungry!"

"Me too."

"I hope the beans from the quest reward are edible."

Cheng Shaofeng returned after a long walk outside, carrying several green fruits in his hand.

Following his instinct as a scavenger, he couldn't come back empty-handed.

Upon his return, Cheng Shaofeng's brow was furrowed.

He first distributed the Merit Points reward to the three eagerly waiting individuals, then threw a small bag of beans to each of them.

Then, he said sternly, "We now have a basic shelter, but the crisis of survival still plagues us. The day before yesterday, we disturbed a Raider camp and took their radiation source, which they used to evolve and strengthen their tribe. I just discovered they are searching for us in the Four Mountains area, and danger could strike at any moment."

"Soldiers, after you eat, you will be given some important tasks."

Another chapter coming up~