From the Abyss of Stars

7. Time to Wake Up, Warrior, Let’s Burn the Outside World to Ashes—

 

The driver was a bit surprised, thinking the guy in front of him might be a bit crazy. But he honestly clapped his big hands together:

 

"What’s this? I’ll give you an extra box for free!"

 

Li Aozhi didn’t haggle, trading his terminal for ten boxes of ‘Romantis’ cigarette cases.

 

These cigarettes themselves had no special meaning but were part of a chain quest achievement in the game.

 

He had already completed all three [Descent] tasks by speaking with people, unlocking all player functions, including: [Game Forum], [Limited Time Events], [Abyss Auto Chess], [Game Mall], and 19 other functions.

 

Some features, like the [Game Mall], he hadn’t had time to check yet. Icons like [Player Forum], [Limited Time Events], and [Auto Chess] were still gray, meaning they were locked.

 

"Maybe they’ll unlock with a version update. Some features were added in later versions, like auto chess and mini-games, which came after 4.0."

 

However, some functions were available from the start. Li Aozhi had worried that as an NPC template, he might not be compatible with the player system, but it seemed most functions were usable.

 

This included the [Career Achievements] function.

 

In 'Abyss of Stars,' there were hundreds of thousands of achievements, each providing various benefits to players.

 

Li Aozhi knew of a stage achievement that could be completed on Azure Star and wasn’t too difficult, involving these ‘Romantis’ cigarettes.

 

He had already opened the cigarette packs in front of the driver, returned the cigarettes, and kept the cases. He peeled off the foil layers between the cigarettes and the boxes.

 

Under the driver’s disdainful gaze, Li Aozhi folded the foil layers according to the creases, making cards out of the ten sheets.

 

[You have obtained one card of the 'Romantic Messenger' series: Achievement unlocked—Sleep Talk]

 

[You have obtained one card of the 'Romantic Messenger' series (duplicate)]

 

[You have obtained one card of the 'Romantic Messenger' series (duplicate)]

 

[You have obtained one card of the 'Romantic Messenger' series: Achievement unlocked—Lovesick]

 

[You have obtained one card of the 'Romantic Messenger' series (duplicate)]

 

………………

 

[You have obtained one card of the 'Romantic Messenger' series: Achievement unlocked—Crazy Song]

 

[Accumulated three 'Romantic Messenger' cards, obtained permanent specialty: Love Hunter]

 

[Permanent Specialty • Love Hunter]——:

 

Cuisi Di Romantis was a charming and passionate man, a crazy guy who could attract both men and women before becoming a sharpshooter in Nasik.

 

Swearing on his great-grandmother’s name, even robots couldn’t resist Cuisi Di Romantis’s romantic advances.

 

However, a man’s most attractive quality isn’t his looks but his unwavering pursuit of his initial passion.

 

Cuisi Di Romantis abandoned the allure of companions and resolutely carried his gun into Nasik's hunting grounds, facing the fiercest and most evil beasts.

 

Here lies the hunter's true home.

 

[Effect]: Main attribute growth +1.

 

[Permanent Effect]——If the main attribute is [Charisma], main attribute gains +30%.

 

"Great, this is it!"

 

Li Aozhi nodded.

 

Specialties are a direct reflection of a player’s and NPC’s combat power, providing buffs and resistance.

 

A good specialty can even compensate for attribute differences.

 

Thinking about this, Li Aozhi looked at the driver more favorably.

 

If the driver hadn’t given him an extra box, he might not have drawn three different cards.

 

Permanent specialties are rare and only activate under certain conditions, usually related to ability growth.

 

Li Aozhi focused on his main attribute, [Charisma].

 

As a veteran player, he knew that a low core attribute made any profession painful to play.

 

The [Starfall Master] and its initial profession, [Mutant], especially felt like a life sentence without a strong core attribute, producing negligible effects.

 

"I almost forgot, although Frost is a place of poverty and villainy, it’s also where you can get the most specialties!"

 

Many female players from Frost, though their levels were suppressed by players from other countries, each had at least five specialties in arena matches.

 

One professional player even had 24 combat specialties by level 60!

 

Many couldn’t collect that many specialties by level 100, and they were all combat specialties, equivalent to having three extra pieces of equipment in a fight.

 

This allowed that female player to dominate the solo rankings for two versions.

 

The 'Romantic Messenger' series had 13 cigarette box cards. Collecting them all gave a significant [Charisma] boost, perfect for [Mutant].

 

"Also, heading to the shelter, I should be able to get that rare specialty..."

 

Li Aozhi squinted.

 

Although not a [Charisma] specialty, it had an enviable effect that could reverse the early-stage struggles of a [Mutant].

 

"Better get off the truck before it gets too dark and you freeze to death."

 

The driver started urging him out. Li Aozhi didn’t linger, grabbed his luggage, and opened the door.

 

Whomp, whomp, whomp, clang, clang, clang————

 

The howling wind whipped up ice and sand, pounding the door. Li Aozhi, used to this, wrapped his scarf around his head like a bandit, leaving only a slit for his eyes. He calmly stepped out, closing the door heavily. The sound of the door slamming was drowned in the wind, almost inaudible.

 

As soon as he closed the door, the driver hit the gas, eager to leave.

 

Li Aozhi turned, not focusing on the driver’s hasty departure but looking up at the sky.

 

The outside world’s sky.

 

The cold sky was wrapped in eerie black and red gases, no sunlight piercing through the thick clouds. The cold air carried a nauseating smell. Without sunlight, the ground was covered in snow, the low temperatures preventing it from melting, coating the barren gravel with a thin layer of frost.

 

Snow and sand clashed violently in the wind, their fine particles colliding and creating a subtle sound, whispering like voices in his ear. Stepping on the ground, the soft snow and sand deformed, making a creepy creaking sound, twisted by the wind into eerie whispers.

 

Cold, despair, lifeless.

 

This was the world abandoned and exploited by the four countries, covering 70% of Azure Star.

 

The massive atmosphere, surrounded by layers of nano-mechanical particles, intercepted and absorbed sunlight. The four countries established orbital elevators around the oceans, using solar energy collected by the nano-clouds for power, monopolizing resources.

 

"Humanity's cruelty to its own far surpasses that of the void and demons."

 

Li Aozhi mocked, wiping the frozen sand from his eyelashes. The cold made him shiver, the real skin feedback reminding him he was no longer a player in this world.

 

This was his life.

 

Players could restart, but in this deathly wasteland, he had only one choice.

 

Conquer.

 

Not just survival, this wasteland also harbored danger and cruelty. Only the strongest could survive here.

 

"Welcome to the outside world."