Chapter 44: Chapter 1: Dream Forest 1
Free to breathe.
The fresh air made Su Ziyu take a deep breath, feeling a bit purified. He smelled the fragrance of grass and flowers, heard the crisp and pleasant sound of birds in the distance, saw a clear stream quietly flowing nearby, and even spotted fish swimming freely.
All around was a dense forest.
After living in the barren wasteland world for about twenty days, suddenly coming to such a picturesque setting, Su Ziyu felt a lot of mental oppression and fatigue dissipate.
He hadn’t felt this relaxed for a while.
"No radiation pollution."
"Clean water source."
Unlike the polluted water prevalent in the wasteland world, the stream here was clean and clear, even slightly sweet. Su Ziyu put away his mechanical wristwatch and casually reached into the stream to catch a fish about half the size of his palm. He was wearing a tight combat suit, carrying a large backpack, with the BTL82M Anti-Material Sniper Rifle on his back, a modified WT expansion pistol on his waist, and a black short blade and tactical dagger on both sides of his waist.
In the final moments in the wasteland world, Su Ziyu had stayed in an armored vehicle, stocked with supplies.
But in the end, he could only bring what he was carrying.
Plop.
Su Ziyu casually threw the fish back into the water and trudged forward.
He was heavily loaded, and the ground was a bit soft.
Fortunately, he didn’t bring the exoskeleton power armor; otherwise, he might have sunk and would have to quickly abandon it in the forest.
"This gun is really heavy!"
The BTL82M weighs thirty kilograms, powerful but heavy, making it inconvenient for Su Ziyu to carry in this environment. He left the wasteland world well-prepared; the large backpack contained nearly half a month’s worth of rations, various medicines, ammunition, and survival supplies, enough to sustain him for a long time. Before leaving the wasteland world, Su Ziyu injected a second anti-radiation serum, aware that it accrues pollution value but unsure of what the next world would be like, carrying radiation pollution value with him was not a wise choice.
What if mutation occurs over time?
"Name: Su Ziyu."
"Race: Human [Divinity Creature]."
"Biological Level: Tier Two."
"Ability: White Crow Swordsmanship LV1, Firearms Mastery LV1, Driving Mastery LV0, Time Acceleration LV4 (Spiritual Energy)."
"Attributes: Physical Enhancement LV6, Agility Enhancement LV2, Power Enhancement LV1."
"Source Power Value: 8."
"Divinity Value: 0."
"Scanning and analyzing data of the current plane! ... Plane characteristics deduction in progress! ..."
The increase in authority level not only opens up the database but also seems to enhance some new abilities, the Space-Time Monitor System is scanning and analyzing this world.
Indeed.
Su Ziyu’s abilities were further enhanced, the Hourglass of Time appears to possess some special power, every time he passes through a world, he gains certain enhancements, though not as much as his own efforts. His Time Acceleration ability upgraded to LV4, and an additional power enhancement LV1 in attributes.
Then, at the bottom of the data stream, there are some selectable directions.
-"Intelligence Enhancement, Perception Enhancement, Charm Enhancement."
These seem to be basic abilities.
-"Power Amplification (Flesh Mutation), Regeneration Amplification (Flesh Mutation), Organ Transformation (Flesh Mutation), Spirit Pollution (Flesh Mutation), Profane Words (Flesh Mutation)."
These are enhancement options available after defeating a super mutant.
However, the data stream clearly suggests that the human form will undergo certain changes with enhancement, and the physical flesh acquires enhancement effects through mutation.
This choice was rejected by Su Ziyu.
He was very against it.
Especially after witnessing various mutant creatures in the wasteland world, he could hardly accept similar changes to his body, even if it could greatly enhance his abilities. Though curious about the ability Profane Words, it requires two prerequisite enhancements, namely Organ Transformation and Spirit Pollution.
What remains are branch abilities that enhance, and Su Ziyu is most interested in ’Master of Language’ and ’Master of Language Text’.
"Master of Language: Quickly understands and speaks most languages upon contact. Consumes 4 points of Source Power Value."
"Master of Language Text: Quickly understands and reads most texts upon contact. Consumes 4 points of Source Power Value."
Apart from these, there are some attribute-based ability enhancements, but many have prerequisites, such as ’Extensive Knowledge and Strong Memory’ and ’Photographic Memory’, which require Intelligence Enhancement LV1 and Intelligence Enhancement LV3, respectively, and must first master Extensive Knowledge and Strong Memory to enhance Photographic Memory.
Similar abilities include ’Reflex Evasion’, requiring Agility Enhancement LV3, and ’Intuitive Evasion’, requiring Perception Enhancement LV3.
Moreover.
There is a rather special enhancement - ’Sixth Sense.’
No prerequisites but requires a full 8 points of Source Power Value; Su Ziyu dares not enhance it, as it would drain him completely.
Precisely because there are too many enhancement choices available, he is unsure how to choose.
The entire enhancement path resembles a massive skill tree.
In the Physical Enhancement branch, there are ’Disease Resistance’, ’Limb Regeneration’, ’Advanced Regeneration’, etc., in Agility Enhancement there are ’Swift Evasion’, ’Reflex Evasion’, ’Dexterous Hands’, etc., in Power Enhancement there are ’Adrenaline Burst’, ’Fury’, ’Rage’, etc.
Even in the additionally unlocked Flesh Mutation skill tree, there are abilities like ’Tentacle Transformation’, ’Double Heart’, ’Scaly Skin’, etc.
Frankly speaking.
Even though Su Ziyu once worked in the gaming industry, seeing such a vast skill tree system at this moment is overwhelming, not to mention these skill trees can be expanded. If whoever designed this system were to create a game, they would definitely be exceptional.
The main skill tree is the enhancement path that comes with the Space-Time Monitor System; the secondary skill tree was obtained in the wasteland world, the Flesh Mutation enhancement path.
Combat, survival, knowledge.
Every aspect of enhancement is present, and there are currently dozens activated, but Su Ziyu’s Source Power Value is a pitiful 8 points, choosing one would drain him completely.
After integrating artificial intelligence, the system’s data stream truly revealed only the tip of the iceberg of its abilities.
"This path is tough! Pah!"
Traveling alone in the forest is indeed exhausting; Su Ziyu spent a morning before emerging from the forest onto a muddy road.
Not bad.
There might be intelligent creatures nearby, hoping to encounter humans.
Su Ziyu took a sip from his military water bottle, then casually ate some compressed biscuits, found a high point, pulled out the military binoculars for a look, and started to choose a direction.
Flip a coin.
Heads, go south; tails, go north.
.........