Tasks and Clues

[Apocalypse OL Version 1.1 Update Content]

"This version update requires a server shutdown. The downtime will be from 10 AM to 6 PM. Players can log in and play normally after 6 PM."

"This update introduces a new currency system. Players can check their Iron Coin balance on their Smartwatch interface;"

"Iron Coins: The universal currency of Calamity Base. Players can earn Iron Coins by accepting missions at the base, selling resources to NPCs, or trading with other players via their Smartwatches. Currently, trading is only valid within the Calamity Base area;"

"New daily missions added, which players can claim upon logging in each day;"

"Fixed a bug where the base lord would occasionally freeze."

"Next version update preview: Shop content will be added, allowing players to purchase items with Iron Coins. We hope all beta testers enjoy the game. More beta test slots will be gradually released. Thank you for your reservations and anticipation."

An announcement appeared on the official website of "Apocalypse OL." The five beta testers all saw the announcement.

Thin Dog and the other two had anticipated this.

"It's basically as Lin Tang predicted. The currency system is established, and the shop will be released in the next version. So, our mission for the next few days is to save money!"

Time quickly passed to 6 PM Earth time.

A gradient line between black and white seemed to stretch across the north and south, as night slowly descended from north to south.

The five players logged in almost simultaneously.

Thin Dog stepped out of his small hut and looked at the rising sun, inhaling the faint scent of sulfur in the air, giving him the illusion of being in the real world.

He had just experienced a day on Earth and now, feeling refreshed, welcomed a new day in the game.

The feeling was peculiar, like an extension of life.

The other four players also emerged from their respective dwellings.

Among them, Ink Dye Sword Xiao's house was a square matchbox made of wood, its area being larger than the three huts of Thin Dog and his companions. It was clear she was an experienced MC player.

But for Lin Tang, who would grind levels even if it meant eating dirt in the game, a shack was enough to shield him when he logged off. He wondered if only girls cared about how good a house looked in the game.

Outside, Cheng Shaofeng was already waiting for them.

"Soldiers, a new day has begun, and our base has more tasks for you."

"Food, materials, Electronic Components, energy, and weapons are the supplies we urgently need right now."

Ding!

Everyone looked at their Smartwatches.

[Daily Quests]

[1. Submit any 1 Prey, Reward: 50 Merit Points, 5 Iron Coins.] [2. Submit any metal material, 500g, Reward: 50 Merit Points, 5 Iron Coins.] [3. Submit 1 Electronic Components, Reward: 100 Merit Points, 10 Iron Coins.] [4. Submit any item containing energy. Valid energy will receive a reward of no less than 200 Merit Points. The higher the usable energy, the greater the reward.] [5. Craft a weapon of Superior quality or higher, Reward: 100 Merit Points, 10 Iron Coins.]

[PS: In addition to the five quests above, submitting any valuable item to the lord will receive corresponding Iron Coin rewards. Those with significant contributions will receive additional Merit Points and mysterious rewards.]

Each player received five daily quests.

Lin Tang understood.

"With the addition of the currency system, the quest system has also been upgraded. Whether we want to save Merit Points or accumulate money, we must complete the daily quests as much as possible."

Demonic Fox: "Then our daily activities today should revolve around these quests. Prey is easy to get; we can just defeat mutated creatures incidentally while doing other tasks. The difficult ones are the latter four. We can ask Xiao Xiao for help with crafting weapons, but for the other three quests, we haven't found any fixed drop points. Today, we'll need to expand our search range. We might even have to go beyond the Four Mountains region."

Thin Dog: "Maybe we can ask the lord?"

Demonic Fox immediately said, "I'll do it!"

Demonic Fox walked towards Cheng Shaofeng, who was chopping wood, placed his left fist on his chest, and performed a standard salute.

"Respected Lord, we have just awakened and know little about the changes in the world. Your learned and wise mind is beyond our reach. Could you guide us on our path to finding metal materials, Electronic Components, and energy?"

Cheng Shaofeng had expected players to ask.

"Soldiers, in the distant past, the Four Mountains were a mining area. There were countless mine shafts on each of the four mountains. Perhaps you can search for unexploited minerals in the mine shafts; Electronic Components are prized possessions of the Wasteland Scavengers. Perhaps you can follow in the footsteps of the Scavengers and search in the urban ruins; as for energy... unfortunately, it is an extremely rare resource on the Wasteland. It is said that every Raider camp possesses a piece of radiation energy that sustains their evolution."

"This is the information I have. Perhaps you can obtain the corresponding materials through other channels."

After speaking, Cheng Shaofeng continued chopping wood, seemingly intending to build something.

Demonic Fox: "Thank you for your guidance. Praise the Lord! Praise Calamity Base!"

He bowed like a gentleman and retreated.

The other four players: (O_O)!!

Xiao Xiao: "What does your team's Demonic Fox do in real life?"

Forgiveness Hat: "Isn't that just a sycophant! I see plenty of them when I run errands!"

"What are you talking about! What kind of talk is that!" Demonic Fox walked over, heard Forgiveness Hat's words, his face turned red, and he shouted.

"Who's a sycophant! Do you understand strategic flattery? Do you understand favorability points? Just tell me if I got any useful information!"

Thin Dog's face contorted as if he had a toothache.

In his memory, Demonic Fox had always been the kind of man who remained unfazed even when a mountain collapsed before him, and who would simply smile and say, "Interesting," when subjected to public insults.

He hadn't expected to see this side of him while playing a virtual reality game.

"Ahem! Everyone, please don't mind these trivial details. Hu Da has brought us news: we can obtain the items needed for our quest from the mine, the city ruins, and the raider camp."

"How about this: we're all among the first batch of internal testers for the game. We're exploring together, so helping each other out will allow us to get a better handle on the game and open things up faster. I propose that the five of us team up for now and try to complete the quest together. What do you say?"

Xiao Xiao: "Uh, I have no problem with that, but I'm too scared to go out and fight monsters. I can't stand the sight of blood. I'm fine with crafting equipment in the base. Don't all five of us have weapon crafting for our quests? I'll take care of it!"

Forgiveness Hat: "I prefer to go my own way, but helping each other with the quest can reduce travel time. Yesterday, while exploring the mountains, I actually discovered a mine with iron ore. You can leave the material gathering to me. I can also look for electronic components and try to bring back all the materials everyone needs."

Demonic Fox: "Great! Then the hunting and energy gathering quests will be left to the three of us. It just so happens that the three of us are more skilled in combat. If we find electronic components for sale in the Wasteland, we'll exchange all our resources for them. After all, this quest offers the highest reward, and stocking up on electronic components will also make it easier for our clones to revive. Oh, speaking of which, Xiao Xiao, can you make ranged weapons? Like bows or crossbows?"

Xiao Xiao: "Making a bow shouldn't be too much of a problem. I saw the massive mutated rabbit you guys brought back yesterday. Its hide is incredibly tough. If we can extract a tendon from it, we can definitely make a short bowstring. Then, using the bamboo here for the bow limbs, a short bow can be made."

"The main thing is the arrows. If we want to maintain penetration power, we must use metal arrowheads. We don't have the materials on hand. We can use leaves for fletching, but tough feathers would be best. If you find these materials, I'll start crafting."

Thin Dog: "Understood. Leave the metal part to Forgiveness Hat, and we'll go hunt some creatures with feathers."

The five of them thus divided their tasks. Except for Xiao Xiao, the rest descended the mountain.

Today, the Four Mountains were exceptionally green, as green as the "Flipping Sheep" Forgiveness Hat had given away that morning.

But it wasn't because the leaves had grown more lush; it was because groups of green, muscular behemoths were roaming the Four Mountains.

They were searching for their lost 'sacred artifact.'

Their target: all known human settlements!

Yesterday, the raider chief, using the most intelligent brain among the raiders, had analyzed that the humans in the Four Mountains were all located in these settlements. If they stormed the settlements directly, could they possibly escape?

After listening to the town mayor's soul-wrenching screams from his house all night, the residents of Salt Well Town woke up to a squad of green-skinned behemoths, led by a 2.5-meter-tall raider whose skin was as hard as stone.

"Hand over the sacred artifact! Otherwise, we'll raze the town!"

The Salt Well Town mayor's guard and hunters alike raised their guns and aimed them outside.

To make up for the update that was supposed to be posted earlier, two more chapters will be updated normally later tonight.