Page 15
The morning sun, a vast golden disc in a vibrant, pale blue sky, cast its light over the vast, rolling hills of a newly revealed world. The air, now free of the acrid smell of smoke and decay that had lingered the night before, carried the clean scent of damp earth and the distant whisper of a gentle breeze stirring the undergrowth. The dark, smooth asphalt road stretched ahead like an unbreakable ribbon, without visible cracks or imperfections, reflecting the morning glow. John, immersed in the holographic interfaces of his HUD, pondered the next steps in his arduous journey of survival.
"Loli, I can buy kitchen utensils and upgrade them to see what comes out, right?" Jhon thought, his mental voice, though toneless, carrying the same surgical precision as his movements. His bid for a large pot at the Auction was still active, a sort of lead magnet floating in the ether of the system. However, the prospect of upgrading items intrigued him. The possibility of transforming something mundane into something extraordinary was a trait that resonated with his optimizing nature.
"Of course, Jhon!" Loli replied, her virtual voice filled with infectious enthusiasm. "Buying basic items and upgrading them is a strategy that can yield incredible surprises! Often, a common item, with the right upgrade, can transcend its original form and become something rare, or even epic, with completely new and unexpected properties and abilities! Remember, Jhon, you can upgrade items 50 times, or transform them. But already upgraded items cannot be upgraded further."
Jhon accessed the System Store. The interface floated before his eyes, presenting intuitively organized categories. He navigated to "Kitchen Utensils." There, displayed like ethereal diagrams, were small, battered pots, basic cutlery sets made of dull metal, a cheap plastic colander, and a dented aluminum kettle. He selected a Cast Iron Pan (Regular), its texture visually rough, and a Kitchen Knife Set (Regular), their simple, dull blades. The cost, displayed in a corner, was nominal, expressed in a handful of gold coins he would hardly miss.
"Loli, upgrade the Cast Iron Pan and Kitchen Knife Set," he instructed, the image of the items disappearing from his view to be processed by the system.
A pulsing white light enveloped the item icons in his virtual inventory, like an orb of energy that consumed and transformed. The Cast Iron Pan, once a mere utilitarian item, reappeared as a Multi-Purpose Pan (Rare): A sturdy, almost futuristic-looking pan capable of cooking a variety of foods with surprising efficiency. Its interior surface featured a coating that seemed to optimally retain heat and a subtle sheen that suggested nonstick properties. It allowed for faster cooking and optimized ingredient utilization. The Kitchen Knife Set, once common, emerged as a Survival Knife Set (Uncommon): Blades with a sharper sheen, an ergonomic handle, and a notably higher metal quality. They seemed more robust and capable of withstanding intense use, not only in food preparation but also hinting at a more sinister utility in close combat against smaller targets.
"Wow! What a sight, Jhon! A Multi-Purpose Pot and Survival Knives!" Loli exclaimed, her voice vibrating with almost childlike enthusiasm. "Great additions to your culinary... and combat arsenal! You're becoming a true war chef!"
Jhon's expression didn't change. He had what he needed to cook now, a small luxury amidst the chaos.
He then accessed the Auction tab again. His offer of 10 Car Parts (Armor) for a large pot was still floating there, unbidden. He decided to keep it. In a world of scarcity, persistence was a virtue, and he had plenty of parts to afford to wait for the best offer.
His attention then turned to another type of resource, more elusive and coveted: Badges.
"Loli, let me know if you have any Level 1 Badges in the Auction or the Shop. I'll buy them all," Jhon thought, a barely perceptible smile on his lips. "If anyone wants to exchange them for badges, I'll exchange them too. Since I can upgrade them 50 times or even upgrade them, why not use that against the God system? (Laughs)."
"John! That's a brilliant strategy!" Loli replied, a note of approval in her voice. "The ability to multiply or enhance the common items you obtain is a huge advantage. This will give you unprecedented control over the Level 1 Badge economy! I'll keep an eye on the offers for you!"
Page 16
The armored bus, a softly rumbling metal colossus, continued its relentless journey under the setting sun. The green hills and lush vegetation cast ever-longer shadows, and the atmosphere began to thicken, a harbinger of impending darkness. Jhon, at the wheel, stared at the unbroken asphalt road, but his mind was divided between the outside world and the questions Loli was bringing him.
"Loli, why was I attacked if there's a 24-hour rookie rule against being attacked?" Jhon thought, the question laden with cold logic, bordering on accusation. He clearly remembered the claws ripping through the bus's bodywork, the smell of burning flesh, the primal fury of the monsters that had ambushed him.
"Ah, Jhon, that's a question many newcomers ask, and it's a common misconception!" Loli replied, her voice a little more serious, as if preparing him for an uncomfortable truth. "The 24-hour newbie protection protects you from other players, that is, from PvP attacks – player versus player. It ensures you won't be ambushed or looted by more experienced players in those crucial first moments of adaptation. It's a shield against human malice, you know? But unfortunately, it doesn't protect you from the monsters and creatures of the world! They are part of the environment, Jhon, the predatory fauna and flora of this new and dangerous place. They have no 'rules' or 'grace periods.' If you get in their way, or if they sense your presence, or smell your bus, they will attack. They are the PvE – player versus environment – part of the game. It's the real world that's attacking you, Jhon, not other survivors."
Jhon absorbed the information. The distinction between threats. He was safe from others like him, but the planet itself was a death trap. His vigilance, already second nature, intensified, becoming an even stronger flame within him.
"I get it," Jhon thought.
His mind then turned to the question of gasoline, a lingering question he needed to resolve. He glanced at the multiple 300-Liter Plastic Fuel Cans, with their easy-to-use filler hoses and pumps that prevented spills and overfilling, stacked neatly in the bus's cargo area. There were also two shut-off valves on the connections, ensuring safety and allowing the tank to be easily shut off using the car's power.
"Loli, about the gasoline... how did I get so many of those 300 Liter Fuel Cans?", Jhon asked.
"Ah, John! I told you, you had incredible luck with the supply crates!" Loli exclaimed, her tone almost triumphant. "At the beginning of your journey, as you drove the roads of this world, the system would periodically 'drop' supply crates randomly in your path. You must have noticed those crate icons floating around on your radar, right? Every time one appeared, you stopped the bus and collected them. And, by pure luck, many of them contained these 300-Liter Fuel Cans, already complete with hoses and pumps! And when you activated the multiplication skill, all those basic cans multiplied by 50, turning what was a small reserve into a veritable mobile fuel tank! You have the largest stockpile of gasoline I've ever seen in a beginning player, and with the ideal equipment to use it!"
Jhon just kept driving, his eyes scanning the road. Luck. He didn't believe in luck, but in calculation and opportunity. The multiplication, yes, was a calculation. The appearance of the boxes, perhaps luck, but exploiting them was an opportunity he didn't ignore.
The bus was now a fortress on wheels. Enhanced armor, with the Adaptive Raging Beast Skins, gave the vehicle a dark sheen and remarkable durability. Jhon felt safer, but he knew safety was an illusion in this world.