Chapter 46 Intermission 9

"The scenario has been completed, calculating the reward.

"Obtained EXP: 1,650, Game Coins: 16,500.

"Obtained Equipment: None

"Completed/Accepted Quests: 2/2

"Completed Special/Hidden Quests: 2. Unlocked Worldbuilding: None

"Time of Terror Points Increase: 0. Highest Terror Points: 0%. Average Terror Points: 0%.

"Your Terror Rating is: Embodiment of Valor. Extra reward obtained, can be selected later.

"Obtained Skill Points: 90

"Additional Rewards from Skill Points Gained: EXP: 900, Game Coins: 9000

"Scenario Cleared Reward: Skill Card x1

"Side Quest cleared Reward: Additional EXP: 1,000

"Hidden Quest Cleared Reward: A random Excellent quality item

"Calculation complete. Please continue."

Feng Bujue looked through the rating review. His level did not rise, still level eleven, but his EXP gauge had reached 4,900/11,000, and he had 77,000 Game Coins. His earlier worry of raising his level too quickly was unfounded; in reality, his speed of levelling was much lower compared to professional players.

The EXP gained this time was average at best. The additional EXP and Game Coins given were calculated via the Skill Points gained. More specifically, when playing Team Mode, it was a multiplier of the Skill Points gained in terms of ten times or one hundred times; while for Solo Mode, it would be a multiplier of either one time or ten times, and the difference was huge. The other factor to influence the EXP gained was the gaming time. For example, for this scenario, it was about one hour longer than the previous scenario, so even though the difficulty was not high—scenarios that did not rely on fighting were not considered difficult to Feng Bujue—the base EXP gained at the rating review was higher than the previous scenario.

That EXP was not enough for Feng Bujue to rise in terms of level. Without unlocking the world-building, he had to go through at least four to five teamed scenarios of such difficulty before he could level up. Therefore, life was not that easy for those studios' workers. Starting from the beginning of the closed beta, 8 am on 4th April to midnight of 6th April, there were about forty hours in real life. Separating the hours into two connectivity methods and minus the necessary break time… it meant that they had fought for at least five days in game before they reached the maximum level.

The time Feng Bujue spent in the virtual world totaled up to less than ten hours. Compared to professional players, he was indeed just starting out.

"Hmm… This time, I guess I'd better choose the EXP reward," Feng Bujue grumbled. "Xiao Tan will eventually lag around one or two levels behind me… but after the open beta begins, he can buy some EXP boosts, and he'll take no time to catch up.

"Now that I think about it… even though the speed of levelling slows down after level eleven, but at least during the closed beta period, the difference of five levels is not that much. The difference of a level ten and level fifteen player is a five hundred Stamina Points difference. Good equipment can temporarily improve one's power level, but raising one's mastery level and gaining skill is the real long-term solution. Just like…"

The image of Passing Rain flying through the sky brandishing her sword appeared in his mind.

"Her level is not that much higher than mine, but that display of her skill… she should at least have a D in fighting."

Thinking about that, Feng Bujue opened the menu to look at his mastery. After the scenario, his current status was: General Ability E, Workmanship E, Sleuthing E, Fighting E, Marksmanship F. Only Medic was not unlocked. To conclude, he had raised four masteries other than marksmanship to level E.

Level E meant a beginner's level, and it gave a forty percent success rate of activating the respective school's skills.

So far, other than Medic, which Feng Bujue had no connection with at all, the man dabbled briefly in all the other masteries, but unfortunately, he was not focused on any of them. This placed a giant question mark on his fighting ability. Other than that, his title 'Cold-blooded Skull Cracker' had not changed, so his special power was still Brain Concussion.

After going through the system clear list, he walked out of the elevator. This time, there were three glass tubes in the metallic room. They were the rewards from clearing the scenario, from a good Terror Rating, and the random item from completing the hidden quest.

He walked to the Terror Rating reward first, and the system said, "Please select your additional reward. One, a randomized piece of equipment that is matching your level; two, 50,000 Game Coins (Max); three, 4,400 EXP"

"Looks like after level ten, whenever you gain a good Terror Rating, the choice for Game Coins will be fixed at 50,000," Feng Bujue commented. During the period when Game Coins were useless, the exchange rate of Game Coins and real-life currency was an unknown, so Feng Bujue temporarily would not consider that reward. This time, he made the decision to choose the EXP. After gaining the amount that would be forty percent of his EXP gauge, Feng Bujue's EXP shot up to 9,300/11,000. After clearing another scenario, he should level up to level twelve.

Then, he walked to the glass tube representing the reward for clearing the scenario and picked out the randomized Skill Card.

———

Item Name: Below-the-belt Shin Kick

Skill Card Element: Active Skill, three times use

Skill Type: Fighting

Effect: Ignoring Mastery Level, there is a 100% percent of toppling monster that can be toppled over and angering said monster to target you.

Consumption: 100 Stamina Points

Learning Requirement: Fighting Mastery F or Level 10

Remark: You're going to be disqualified if you use this in a professional match.

———

"What is this…" Feng Bujue studied the skill card for some time. The item name and remark aside, the effect of the skill was quite strong. Feng Bujue thought about it before equipping it. This kind of prank-type skill did not seem like the kind that would sell later, and it was not the kind that would make a great gift either.

After equipping the skill, at least he had an active skill that he could use during combat. Then, Feng Bujue walked to the last glass tube, hoping that the system would finally give him something good. But he actually had a prediction in his heart already. During the rating review, the reward said that it was a 'a random Excellent quality item', but the clause 'that is matching your level' was conspicuously missing, so there was a high chance that while the equipment was going to be good, he might not be able to use it.

The white light materialized, and an item that looked like a belt appeared. Feng Bujue's first reaction was… this could be Batman's toolbelt, but he was wrong. The equipment was even better.

———

Item Name: Echo Armor

Item Type: Armor

Quality: Excellent

Defense Points: Quite Strong

Element: Damage Mitigation

Special Effect: None

Equip Requirement: General Ability C or Workmanship D

Remark: After collecting the whispering from Blackbolt, Dr. Doom used the powerful energy to create this equipment. After activating the belt, the user will obtain invisible armor made from 'echo'.

———

The armor was powerful, but unfortunately, Feng Bujue could not equip it. However, he still placed it inside his backpack. After all, he already had E for Workmanship. If he could raise the mastery to D during the next scenario, then he would fit the requirement.

Currently, his inventory space was 7/10, and it contained: Mario's Wrench, The Eye of Hostility, a kitchen knife, a baseball ball, a flashlight, an M1911A1 Pistol, and Echo Armor.

The Jazz Shoes were equipped on his feet, so they did not count. The items in the log-in lobby was the same—a spare flashlight and Puzzle Card: Monkey.

After equipping everything, Feng Bujue returned to the elevator and called Wang Tanzhi. Xiao Tan handed the team leader position to Feng Bujue. Then the two of them started the queue and entered the second Team Mode for the night.