Chapter 246
That's something related to the soul, which is called psionic energy here.
Mai Sakurajima activated her special ability, making her virtually undetectable by either insectoid swarms or humans in this world. Unfortunately, her stay was too short, forcing her to return ahead of schedule.
Yuki glanced to the side and saw that the players, seemingly talking amongst themselves, were all secretly observing him. He then realized that his micro-expressions earlier had aroused suspicion.
This is easy to solve.
"Hiyori, go and exchange this map with other players. If you don't get any information, just collect the points."
"Okay, I guess they've tried drawing maps too, let's verify that." The girl put away her novel; the time she'd just had was enough for Yuki to imprint it in her mind.
Seeing her leave to negotiate with other players, Yuki's fingertips trembled as he roughly sketched out the current situation.
This Emerald Basin can be seen as a giant fortress. The mountain range with special abilities is the city wall, and the 'Unfallen Fortress' is the city gate. Theoretically, the Zerg swarm can only kick open the gate to enter, and then be riddled with corpses by various firepower.
But the swarm is clever; they evolved wormhole worms that dig tunnels at the bottom of mountains to bypass them. Since the Emerald Basin is located in the center of the continent, wormholes could form anywhere.
"This tactic is disgusting. It can appear anywhere inside the basin. If you ignore it, it could form a giant wormhole and breach the fortress from the inside. If you do deal with it, the Zerg will relentlessly dig wormholes day and night, inevitably causing you to be overwhelmed."
No, humanity is already exhausted from running around.
Whether it's the conversation with Chris or Yuki's own personal experience, this rogue tactic really feels like a noose that keeps tightening.
The Emerald Basin is about the same size as the Sichuan Basin in my previous life, covering an area of about 100,000 square kilometers. It is difficult to concentrate troops over such a large area.
The Defense Force responded by having ordinary soldiers take up positions in trenches, building hundreds of watchtowers like sprinkling pepper, and then concentrating Psychic Warrior as mobile units to quickly seal off the wormholes when they appeared.
"It's like a pipe that leaks everywhere. You plug one hole, and then another one leaks, and the frequency of wormholes is increasing."
Yuki rubbed his head, unable to think of any good solutions. This was a war of attrition; once the mobile legion was exhausted, humanity would be doomed.
No, according to Hiyori, I'm worried that the real killer move is in that Unfallen Fortress. Once the number of troops transferred reaches a dangerous level, they'll kick the gate open and unleash a torrent of troops.
As an infiltrator, Yuki sighed. This was a dead end, and also the reason for the players' existence.
"Players are also a highly mobile elite force, which can greatly reduce the casualties of Psychic Warrior, and their deaths are not a pity. The pity is that players are unreliable, there are lurkers among them, and they are indifferent to the survival of the dungeon NPCs."
Yuki didn't know the number of Psychic Warrior; that was definitely top secret, but even a fool could tell the numbers were alarming.
The majority of people in this world are those 50-yuan brothers who can only squat in the toilet and cannot move quickly.
Yuki had no obligation to find a way out for the natives, but he did know one thing:
The will to survive is the strongest human instinct, and the Defense Force will never sit idly by and wait to be killed.
Slap slap
Johnny Silverhand, clapped his hands to gather everyone together. Yuki also walked over, crossed his arms, and leaned against the outer wall.
"Guys, you've probably figured out what's going on with this dungeon by now, right?"
Everyone nodded. It would be difficult for a player to understand the whole picture, but if they still couldn't understand after exchanging information, they would be considered Isshin idiot. Yuki, listening to the parameters of the Defense Force's war machines that Hiyori had exchanged.
"So we're the bosses here. As long as we don't deliberately do anything stupid, these natives can't do anything to us. Of course, I have a good impression of the men here, and I'm willing to help them if I can."
Silverhand's words drew sneers from many, but only Yuki knew that this man was speaking the truth; he was a rebel against tyranny and a true hero.
Adjusting his sunglasses, Johnny Silverhand, completely unconcerned about what the other players thought, continued, "We agreed not to fight amongst ourselves. Listen up, you infiltrators: I can't stop you from dealing with the natives, but don't even think about messing with the other players. Anyone who dares to cause trouble in there, I'll kill them, understand?"
"Why don't we have the others gang up on whoever breaks the rules and wipe them out?" Yuki to himself, drawing a chorus of eye rolls.
Damn it, you're the least trustworthy one. A lone wolf has no burdens and is most likely to cause trouble.
Silver Hand exhaled a smoke ring, gave Yuki a deep look, and extended his hand. "Alright, let's make a gentleman's agreement. Unless there's a direct conflict in the main quest, we can't be enemies. Anyone who violates this rule will have their faction wiped out by the other players."
The Smiling Lady was the first to step forward, not even bothering to pretend anymore. Yuki followed suit. With these three strongest players making their decision, the others exchanged glances and had no choice but to step forward as well.
The seven hands joined together, then separated, and Johnny Silverhand was chosen as the leader, thus completing a small alliance.
Just then, the automatic door opened, and a middle-aged man dressed in a red military uniform from the Interior Ministry, Yuki did not recognize, appeared at the door.
He was a black man with a cold gaze. He looked around with some disgust. From the perspective of the Defense Force, the players were all the same kind of people. It was neither necessary nor worth the cost to deal with them.
If things really come to a head, players causing trouble all over the basin will be even more troublesome than the Puppet Bug. For example, the Blue Jade City incident, where a battle was fought right under the noses of the garrison, yet not a single trace was left.
Have you two reached an agreement?
He clearly knew what the players were doing. In fact, the Command Headquarters was quite happy to see the 'Guardians' unite so that they could better kill the swarm of insects.
"That's enough. We're all in this together, sharing the responsibility." Johnny Silverhand stubbed out his cigarette and stepped forward, neither humble nor arrogant. "Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, don't waste your energy making us search for the mole."
"I really don't understand. Insects and humans can only choose one; why can't we hate the 'Infiltrators' with a vengeance?" The lieutenant colonel shook his head slightly and gestured for them to proceed. "The Command Headquarters has already debugged the system; you can redeem rewards based on your military merits."
As soon as he finished speaking, the players' eyes lit up. Words like "manly" and "admiration" were meaningless; the only reason players would engage in battle was the reward.
Yuki was equally eager, raising his hand to catch the card that was thrown at him. It was an ID that allowed him to move within a certain area of Command Headquarters and redeem rewards on the terminal.
"Listen carefully, the activity area is fixed. Those who go outside the area will be isolated and investigated, and any resistance will be killed without exception." Jackson stated the stigma upfront, then pointed to the other end of the corridor. "There are terminals in K District. After exchanging, go to the hangar to pick them up. There are dedicated areas for testing small and medium-sized weapons."
Yuki was the first to walk out, not caring what the other players thought; he was only interested in the rewards he could take with him.
As I brushed past him, I scanned him with my Devil's Vision. His soul color was fine, but his eyes looked strange; he was carefully scrutinizing every player who passed by.
Unlike Kudus's hidden disgust, it carried a hint of amusement, and he even lingered on himself for a moment.
"A strange person."
Yuki didn't think much of it. He walked through the corridor, and another automatic door opened, revealing small cubicles on both sides, with a round, spherical object on the table.
Holographic computer.
Yuki had seen it on flies; this world rarely uses screens or similar things, and it's very easy to operate.
Insert the card, and a light screen will project a very simple message.
[Yuki Sorajima]
[No military rank]
[Permission denied]
[Battle Merit Points: 500]
That's the difference. The battle merits of the Defense Force aren't even listed on the player's panel, so Yuki didn't know if Kudus had tricked him, and simply waved his hand.
The image transformed into a densely packed table, and the tadpole-like characters were automatically translated by the Reincarnation Game, causing his eyes to slowly widen.
The variety and quantity are complete, ranging from high concentrations of adrenaline to all kinds of medicines. This copy is technologically advanced and can even treat any known ailment.
It has medicine, firearms, individual armor, lava grenades, Slaughterer Attack Helicopter, and even high-energy beam turrets.
"Isn't Johnny Silverhand overjoyed?" Yuki knew that this dungeon was most suitable for 'Mechanical Believers', the only thing to consider was whether the storage space could hold them all.
He continued scrolling down, but these things weren't really that meaningful to him. As a soldier, he couldn't possibly be piloting a Gundam while wielding a sword at the same time.
It's not just about equipment; 200 points can get you a Marine squad for protection, and 1000 points can get you a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief.
They even have the authority to perform psionic surgeries; you can undergo this surgery for 5000 points, but you need the relevant qualifications and bear the risk of surgical failure.
"This reward system is quite interesting; it's not monotonous or boring at all, and it takes all aspects into consideration."
"What is this psychic surgery? Besides their superhuman physical abilities, they also have fancy tricks like telepathic communication. I have no idea what those warriors have to do with soul energy."
Various potions: 25 points; Electromagnetic assault rifle: 50 points; Molecular Vibration Knife: 70 points; Beam saber: 100 points; Slaughterer Attack Helicopter: 300 points; Reaper Mech: 2000 points...
The price is actually quite fair; you can exchange it for an armed helicopter by participating in three cave-blocking battles. Yuki has witnessed the power of those things, but he knows they are a rip-off.
Helicopters are cheap, but ammunition is expensive, and you can't replenish them after leaving the instance. You can't exactly build your own armory.
There are also giant robots, which are fine for 'Mechanical Believers', but ordinary players don't have the time to train them slowly.
"As for other uses, having someone protect me is useless, I can't use large equipment, I don't have any special tools, and I dare not see the Commander-in-Chief."
"Let's exchange for some consumables and try out how potent the high concentration of adrenaline is here."
Yuki thought for a moment, then spent 100 points to exchange for a set of electromagnetic individual armor, an alloy shield, and a bunch of adrenaline and molecular antidotes. He also got a few lava Thunderclap, and finally had 25 points left.
But he hesitated for a moment when he clicked confirm.
A needle extends from the center of the machine; as prompted, a biometric sample needs to be collected for binding the equipment.
"Is this some kind of fishing game?" Yuki was a little suspicious, but he still reached out his hand.
If he didn't dare to exchange, wouldn't that make it obvious that he was an 'insider'? Besides, he knew the nature of the Reincarnation Game very well; if he were exposed so easily, what would be the point of an infiltrator's existence?
A slight stinging sensation, the needle retracted, and the small hole in the palm was instantly repaired.
It feels like I'm back to when I was getting my blood drawn during a physical exam.
Lately, the pain I've been experiencing has been either from being bombarded or stabbed; these experiences are quite novel.
After taking out the card, Yuki didn't disturb Hiyori in the next room. That girl was quite smart; she would definitely be able to figure out that the guns and ammunition couldn't be replenished, and that once they left the instance, they would become useless.
Defensive equipment is more important, followed by various biological agents.
Yuki went to the hangar. The Defense Force were very efficient. By the time he arrived, the robotic arm had already delivered the equipment, which was piled up on the platform in front of him. Next to it was a holographic head, which was his own photo.
This creature binding speed is incredibly fast!
Yuki, this foolish Earthling, really doesn't understand high technology. He looked at the silver-white armor in the middle of the platform. It was much smaller than the powered exoskeleton of his 50-dollar buddy and didn't have a helmet.
The material is quite soft, more like a tight-fitting garment with a raised back. There are two strange devices on the shoulders and waist, which should be force field generators.
After spinning around a few times, Yuki reached out and touched it, immediately receiving a notification:
[Special Item: Electromagnetic Individual Armor]
[Releases powerful electromagnetic waves to create a defensive force field, providing good protection against physical attacks. Cannot be forged or upgraded; automatically discards when energy is depleted.]
[Status: Bound]
[Description: A culmination of technological civilization, crafted from special fibers and powered by activated Emerald Stone; requires fuel to be added.]
There's a notification sound to confirm this isn't a fake, and it's definitely safe to take it out of the instance.
Yuki grinned, then wondered what the Emerald Stone was. It must be the one inside the protrusion on his back, which he guessed was the 'fuel rod' Chris had in her mouth.
Emerald Star, Emerald Stone —is it some kind of specialty product? And what does "activate" mean? Does it need to be refined like oil?
He snapped out of his daze, focused on the prompts, and touched each one in turn. The feedback he received was always "special item," and he understood after a little thought.
Special items have no side effects, but they can't be upgraded either; they're essentially inanimate objects. For example, if this armor runs out of energy, where do you get the fuel to refuel it?
Special props...
Yuki remembered the golden fountain pen lying quietly in the storage space.
What kind of prop is that?
Chapter Thirteen: Cooperation (5K)
This uncovers just the Ikkaku the iceberg regarding the Reincarnation Game, but we are still far from the truth.
The Olden Pen clearly does not belong to this special item; what it is remains to be verified.
Yuki retracted his attention and glanced at the mechanical arm extending from the side. Judging from the holographic projection, it was exchanged by Hiyori, and the result was as expected.
A bunch of medicines, and then various defensive items. The senior students' goal was always clear: not to hold anyone back. Stacking armor like crazy was the rational choice.
"Let's test the strength of these items first."
The Reincarnation Game doesn't follow the data-driven approach; equipment doesn't have its defense or attack power listed, but that doesn't stump veteran players.
You can just set up your own standard Repulsion; it just takes a little more time.
After packing up all his equipment, Yuki followed the directions to the training ground next door. The area wasn't large, about half the size of a stadium, and it was a completely enclosed structure with thick steel plates riddled with bullet holes.
This wouldn't be unusual on the ground, but it's in the sky.
Just how big is this ship?
Yuki around. Piloting an armed helicopter was out of the question, but it was more than enough to test individual soldier equipment. He first put on the combat suit, then pressed a button on his wrist, and the equipment automatically tightened and adjusted its dimensions.
It looked tight, but it actually fit quite well, without any strange bulges, much like the combat suits worn by Psychic Warrior.
Yuki glanced at himself and thought this thing looked more like the pilot suit from EVA, and even had some temperature regulation function.
Force field activation.
Pale blue arcs of electricity surged, and soon a protective shield appeared in front. This thing could adjust its coverage area; if it covered the whole body, it would become very vulnerable, so it concentrated on the left arm, forming a semi-transparent light shield.
Swish.
The long sword slashed down, like two magnets colliding; a repulsive force slapped the blade aside, causing Yuki's eyes to widen in surprise.
"This is interesting. With just a fraction of my strength, even a level 4 or lower defensive Chaos Item wouldn't be able to stop me."