In Version 1, there were three universal powers that were upholding a peace that had lasted for ten thousand years, since the era of exploration. They were the Commonwealth of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church. The Silver Revolutionary Army had yet to be formed, the one responsible for the Supernatural Disaster was still fighting for dear life on some desolate planet, the World of Light had not come into existence, the civilization of the World Tree had not yet invaded from the beyond, and the Shattered Belt that contained Planet Aquamarine was still budding inconspicuously along the fringes of the explored universe.
In order to ensure that the game remained attractive, Galaxy borrowed and implemented ideas from its predecessors, such as ‘WoW’, where each version update revolved around a disaster or some major event. While Han Xiao enjoyed the game, now that he had transmigrated over…
“Get me out!”
While the Germinal Organization was small fry compared to the interstellar powers introduced in later updates, to the currently powerless Han Xiao, it was an entirely different story.
“Planet Aquamarine was modeled after Earth, and the Germinal Organization’s aim is to overthrow this planet’s government. If I’m not wrong, Valkyrie test subjects are brainwashed to serve as cannon fodder.”
The body he currently possessed had experienced a memory wipe. Apart from some general knowledge, all that remained were fragmented memories of captivity and experimentation.
It seemed to be roughly twenty years old and bore a slight semblance to his original self. However, its state of health was as yet uncertain. He had heard the researchers mention that he had been injected with Valkyrie, one of the Germinal’s gene altering drugs that was used to strengthen the brain. Valkyrie had a survival rate of only 30%, but this body had reacted positively to it.
Suddenly, a glowing line of blue text blue appeared before his eyes.
_____________________
You have been injected with Valkyrie!
+1 Endurance
You have learnt a new ability: Concentration
You have learnt a new ability: Low Level Willpower
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“Virtual interface!” Han Xiao jumped for joy.
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Name: Han Xiao
Race: Human/Carbon-based (Yellow)
Model: NPC (Countdown to Version 1.0 launch: 358 days 11 hours 03 minutes)
Level: 1
Experience: 0
Main Class: N.A.
Sub-class: Civilian Lv. 1 (0/50)
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Endurance 3, Intelligence 3, Mystery 1, Charm 2, Luck 1
Unassigned Stats: 0
Energy: 0 (Lv. 0)
Energy Rank: 1~2
Grade: F (Mortal)
[Piece of trash with a combat strength of 5; pick any NPC out from the streets and he will wipe the floor with you a hundred times! A hundred times!]
Health points: 23/30 (injured)
Stamina: 36/36
Abilities:
– Concentration: +10% to learning and crafting speeds
– Low Level Willpower: +3 Resistance
Skills: None
Talent points: 0
Class Talents: None
Influence: 0
Reputation: 0
Equipment: None
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“Thank god I still have the interface!”
Han Xiao was ecstatic but quickly discovered that there were several irregularities.
NPC, not a player? Countdown timer?
Han Xiao furrowed his brows as he organized his thoughts.
First of all, although he had no idea how the interface had transmigrated together with him, he had to treat this world as his new reality, meaning that if he died, he could not bank on being able to respawn like in a game.
Secondly, he could still access the system’s interface despite being classified as an NPC. This suggested that he could still level up like a player, which was good news.
Thirdly, if the countdown timer confirmed his suspicions that he had indeed traveled back in time to before the game’s launch, did it mean that ‘real’ players would soon appear?
Lastly, and most important of all, he was currently in grave danger!
Han Xiao felt indignant. Didn’t people who transmigrated normally receive perks such as resources, companions, or… at least an ex-girlfriend? At the very least, he should have started out in a safe location! The war hadn’t even begun, and he was already a lone hero deep behind enemy lines. A single slip could prove fatal; he could very well end up in the Hall of Heroes… if such a place existed.
Han Xiao only had one life here. If he died then that would be the end of it. It would be a pity.
Yes, Han Xiao only felt that it would be ‘a pity’. ‘I want to survive!’ would be a more normal line of thought. As for variations such as ‘My fate is not for the heavens to decide; if the heavens want to erase me, then I will erase the heavens!’ or ‘Swallow an aurous core to transcend life and death’, such ramblings were exclusive to people with second-grade syndrome.
“What the hell, why am I the only one SAO-ed?” Han Xiao lamented.
And while his senses confirmed that this was indeed reality, he started to wonder…
What exactly am I now? Am I an actual life-form, or am I just a bunch of data? Did my soul transmigrate, or is it something else entirely?
He sighed. I guess I’ll just have to make the best out of the situation and take it one step at a time.
The essential thing was to survive.
With a year to go before launch, he had enough time to get prepared; this was the sole glimmer of promise that he could cling on to.
Clank!
Suddenly, the door opened, and several people walked in. As he could only make out their silhouettes due to the light streaming in from outside, Han Xiao could not see their faces clearly. However, he could make out from their outlines that one of them was a woman with a fiery figure.
“The subject’s condition?”
Said woman spoke to her subordinate in a voice that was smooth, yet intertwined with an ever-so-faint rasp, reminiscent of a cup of rich coffee.
“It appears that the test subject has calmed down.”
The experiment leader, Lin Wei Xian, answered the woman as he stared at Han Xiao passionately, as though he were looking at a prized possession.
“Who are you people?” Han Xiao asked hoarsely.
“Hmm? Amnesia…?” The woman’s eye twitched.
“Valkyrie stimulates the brain, so memory loss is not unexpected,” replied Lin Wei Xian, squinting.
When Han Xiao’s eyes had finally adjusted to the light, he was stunned by the sight of the woman.
Boasting a headful of luscious, burgundy hair that concealed part of her face, the woman wore a tight-fitting, jet black bodysuit from which her curvaceous figure threatened to burst out at any time.
Her features were telling of her Western descent, but they were also composed of a certain softness that was characteristic of Eastern women; perhaps it was her mixed heritage that blessed her with such beauty and charm. In a different world, she could have been easily mistaken for a beautiful snake demoness.
If Da Ji had possessed such beauty, then King Zhou did not die in vain! 1 thought Han Xiao.
“I am Hila, the commander here,” said the red haired woman as she looked at Han Xiao. She waved a hand and ordered, “Conduct a blood test. I want to see the report ASAP.”
Two stone-faced guards walked forward to yank him away. Their massive bodies and the fact that they were carrying guns dispelled any notion that Han Xiao had of resisting.
He recognized the ‘Crimson Snake’, Hila, and that this was one of the playable scenarios on Planet Aquamarine, Valkyrie Experiment Lab, located in a key base of Germinal.
Durin
g Version 1, Hila was a boss who had caused beginners on Aquamarine much grief. She had many nicknames, one of which was the ‘Goddess of Death’. She would eventually attain ‘Celestial’ class strength and rise to prominence in the Cotton Cluster.
Han Xiao laughed bitterly on the inside. The situation was bleak!
Chapter 2 - Mechanic
Translator: MJ_ Editor: Millman97
The blood test results were compiled quickly.
Hila went over the data she had received from Lin Wei Xian with knitted brows.
“No abnormalities detected?”
“Valkyrie mainly affects the brain. We will need to open the head up for assessment.”
Open the head up? snapped Han Xiao inwardly. Open the head up‽
Hila waved a hand in dismissal of the idea.
“He is the only subject to have ever survived the experiment. We’ll leave that option out for now.”
Han Xiao’s eyes lit up as he realized that his current status was somewhat advantageous for him.
Lin Wei Xian was not pleased by Hila’s decision, but he made no fuss about it.
“In that case, we’ll observe him for the time being to see if anything has changed.”
“Proceed with the brainwashing,” ordered Hila suddenly.
Brainwashing?
Han Xiao’s heart sank. Brainwashing was a common method of subordination, and while in the game, a brainwashed character would simply become an ally of the faction, it was completely different now! Losing his sense of self was the worst-case scenario.
No way!
The good news was that memory altering technology available on the planet was still under-developed, so the organization’s methods were very primitive; they made use of sensory stimuli to re-calibrate the subject. A character with at least ten points in Intelligence would be immune to the effects of the brainwash.
Valkyrie had given Han Xiao a +1 boost to the growth potential of his Endurance. Growth potential was an innate stat that affected the growth rate of the affected stat. Different races had differing starting potentials in each stat, and in the entire world of Galaxy, humans generally had a mediocre growth rate. They did, however, boast the highest Intelligence potential. As they also possessed the lowest Health, this single point in Endurance growth potential was nice to have.
[Concentration] gave him a 10% increase in mastery and crafting speeds, also increasing their success rates.
[Low Level Willpower] gave him three points of Willpower, which substituted for three points of Intelligence, so he still lacked three more Intelligence to survive the brainwash.
Leveling the Civilian class will boost a random stat by one, and also give me one unassigned stat point… but the chance for Intelligence to be boosted is extremely low…
Han Xiao knew that he could not rely on luck. In fact, he had always suspected that he was cursed. If a god or goddess did smile upon him, it would have to be the goddess of disaster. Rather than rely on luck, finding some way to learn a new class was a more reliable idea.
Although Han Xiao was incapable of moving freely, there had to be a way! After all, it was a scenario, wasn’t it?
Suddenly, he thought of something.
If I’m an NPC… I should be protected by the system… right?
“Take him,” ordered Hila.
Han Xiao was yanked away once again and brought to another room.
Han Xiao noticed that there was a bookshelf in this room.
<
<>
<
…
They were all reference books.
Hold on, there’s a class book there! rejoiced Han Xiao.
Han Xiao disregarded the two guards behind him as he stood up to walk towards the shelf.
His actions startled everyone, and instantly, the two guards were pointing guns at him.
However, Han Xiao steeled his nerves and continued to approach the bookshelf.
You’d better not fire! he prayed. I’m a valuable test subject!
“Hold your fire! Let’s see what he’s up to,” shouted Lin Wei Xian all of a sudden.
The two guards hesitantly lowered their guns.
Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief. He had been banking everything on his status as the first successful subject.
<
This was the book that had caught Han Xiao’s eye. He picked it out from the shelf and started flipping through.
Although the long paragraphs of texts and complex diagrams were hard for Han Xiao to comprehend, he patiently read on. After twenty seconds or so, the interface lit up.
_____________________
You have completed one session of self-learning in basic machinery knowledge!
[Basic Assembly] has progressed by 2.0% (based on your Intelligence).
(+0.2% from Concentration)
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As I expected! Han Xiao rejoiced. Although he wasn’t able to understand the book’s contents on his own, the system’s automated mastery system had allowed him to directly absorb the knowledge.
Lin Wei Xian curiosity was piqued. The test subject seemed to be learning!
He allowed Han Xiao to continue in order to observe him more.
The entire room was now silent, except for the rustling of paper.
_____________________
[Basic Assembly]
Progress Rate:
15% (+1.5%)
…
29% (+2.9%)
…
48% (+4.8%)
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Han Xiao’s reading speed increased with time. However, the pressure mounted on. Every second that passed could be his last.
When Hila arrived at the room, the sight of Han Xiao reading caused her to frown.
“What’s going on?”
Lin Wei Xian began to explain what had happened.
“You’re saying that his learning ability has been strengthened?”
“That is my initial conclusion. If you allow me to open his head up to perform a thorough assessment, I will be able to come up with a more complete answer.”
Han Xiao flinched. How much does this bastard love brains‽
Hila thought to herself, If his brain has been enhanced, he could prove to be more valuable than we initially thought…
“Is the brainwashing apparatus ready?” she asked.
“Preparations are complete.”
Damn it! I have to be faster! thought Han Xiao.
Suddenly, a notification accompanied with a sound popped up on the interface.
_____________________
[Basic Assembly]
Progress rate: 90% (+10%)
You have learned basic knowledge of Machinery, unlocking the Mechanic talent tree!
You have unlocked a new profession:
[Mechanic (Novice)]
STR +10, INT +1, END +1
You have gained 2 stat points.
You have gained 1 talent point.
You have acquired new skills:
[Mechanic (Novice)]
[Basic Maintenance]
[Basic Enhancement]
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As warmth surged through Han Xiao’s body, he realized to his surprise that he could actually comprehend the contents of the book now!
I can gain actual knowledge from the game‽ Are you kidding me? Galaxy has been in service for over a decade! How come the Federation of Earth hasn’t conquered the Milky Way yet‽
Strange…
The ‘Character Information Interface’ had updated as well:
_____________________
Name: Han Xiao
Race: Human/Carbon-based (Yellow)
&nb
sp; Model: NPC (countdown to Version 1.0 launch: 358 days 10 hours 11 minutes)
Level: 2
Experience: 0
Main Class: Engineer (Novice) – Lv. 1 (0/200)
Sub-class: Civilian – Lv. 1 (0/50)
Health: 43/50 (injured)
Stamina: 80/80
Attributes: 3 STR, 3 DEX, 5 END, 4 INT, 1 MYS , 2 CHA, 1 LUK
Unassigned Stats: 2
Energy: 10/10 [Lv. 1]
Lv. 1 (10) – [STR +1, DEX + 1, END + 1, MAX STAMINA + 20]
Energy Rank: 3~4
Grade: F (Mortal)
[You still lack the combat strength to take on 5 lowly thugs.]
Abilities:
– Concentration: +10% to mastery and crafting speeds
– Lesser Willpower: +3 to focus
Skills:
[Mechanic (Novice)]
Lv 1 (0/1000) – Increases mastery of engineering
[Basic Maintenance]
Lv 1 (0/400) – Able to perform simple maintenance
[Basic Enhancing]
Lv 1 (0/600) – Able to enhance machinery
Potential: 1
Class Talents:
– Arms: Basic Assembly Lv 1 [19 talents not learnt]
– Energy: [20 talents not learnt]
– Control: [20 talents not learnt]
Influence: 0
Legend: 0
Equipment: None
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Regarding stats, Strength improved melee damage and was also a requirement for some heavy equipment.
Dexterity improved movement speed, attack speed, and evasion. It also gave a bonus to ranged attacks.
Endurance increased Health and Energy. 1 Endurance gave 10 HP and 10 Energy. Endurance also affected some abilities and skills and increased HP and Energy recovery rates.
All actions depleted Energy, be it attacking, blocking, walking, running, swimming, crafting, etc.
Endurance also affected physical defense. There were many formulas contributing to the calculation of defense. For example, even if two characters’ defense stats were equal, one of them might not be wearing metal armor, so they would take more damage from a bullet than the other character.
Other factors that affected damage taken included Energy, range, bullet type, racial characteristics, and equipment material. All of these factors were taken into consideration when calculated by the quantum computer that the servers were run on. It was impossible for players to accurately optimize defense, but this wasn’t that big of a deal, as having more defense could only be a good thing.
The Legendary Mechanic c1-1385 Page 5