This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 185: Indeed, the Exalted are More Hated

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Indeed, the Exalted are More Hated

The announcement hadn’t been out for three seconds when the official forum lit up with activity!

Compared to the event announcement, the birth of the first Level 10 player didn’t evoke much feeling from everyone.

After all, Strength Types generally level up faster than the other systems, and Old White had been around since the Alpha 0.1 version of the server, so it wasn’t surprising that he leveled up quickly.

Everyone who’d been on the forum since OB knew just how difficult the early stages of the game were.

More hated than the players who got strong on their own merit were those damned lucky Exalted ones.

The only thing that really puzzled everyone was why reaching Level 10 was a big enough deal to mention on its own.

In most MMORPGs, isn’t Level 10 just when you leave Novice Village?

What’s so special about that to mention it?

Or does Wasteland OL’s Level 10 come with some new changes?

Makabazi: "Level 10?! Damn! Old White is too fast!"

Midnight Chicken Killing: "+1, as a fellow Strength Type, I’m only Level 8. (￣ー￣)"

Stop Bullshitting: "Isn’t Level 10 when you can buy that Miner Type I Exoskeleton?"

Canyon Fugitive Mole: "You need Citizen + Level 10, but usually if you hit Level 10, you’ve got enough Contribution Points to qualify as a citizen."

Battlefield Atmosphere Group: "2000 silver coins... Even if you meet the requirements, I doubt anyone could afford it. (looking up at the sky)"

Elena: "Not necessarily, Crow Boss might be able to. I’ve seen her constantly selling mushrooms and never buying equipment. Could be filthy rich. (amused)"

Night Ten: "+1, let’s rob Crow Boss then. (amused)"

Crow: "Enough already, I’m already unemployed, go rob Teng Teng instead. o(╥﹏╥)o"

Teng Teng: "!!?"

For most players on the server, savings were just in the triple digits; those who had made it to four digits were among the elite of the server.

Even without that threshold, indeed, very few could afford it.

Then, someone brought up the Exalted one from the last expansion pack—the one who got an Exoskeleton—suddenly the thread filled with voices of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

So infuriating!

Just because of good luck, they got the strongest God Equip of the version!

Is that even fair?

Is that reasonable?

Shouldn’t they get a nerf?

Don’t nerf them unless you’re also giving me a set!

The unwittingly implicated Spring Water Commander didn’t dare make a peep on the forum, just cursing and complaining in the little group they had created.

"Damn! Why am I the one who gets hurt when Old White levels up to 10! Weren’t us early access players lucky enough? Go take it up with him!"

I Max Black: "Relax, it’s definitely because you’re not strong enough, and everyone thinks it’s a waste to give you such good equipment."

Battlefield Atmosphere Group: "+1, why don’t you let me use the exoskeleton then? I’m from the Agile system, quick reflexes, and I don’t die easily."

I Max Black: "Better give it to me, I’m the rookie with potential and also a Perception type, danger always lags a step behind me, guaranteed not a scratch lost."

Battlefield Atmosphere Group: "How about we take turns using it? Definitely better than giving it to someone from the Intelligence System."

I Max Black: "Couldn’t agree more."

Spring Water Commander: "Like hell I would! (#`Д´)"

...

The next morning, bright and early.

The hardworking little players were gathering in front of the square at Outpost Base, queuing up for the task of exploring Shelter No.117.

The NPC triggering the quest was the deputy commander of the security—the one with a horse-like face, Liuding.

After logging on this time, players were surprised to find this guy had equipped an exoskeleton.

"Damn? The commander of the guards got an exoskeleton handed down from the Manager... but where did his come from?"

"Picked up in Shelter No.117?"

"According to the official website’s setting, the correct explanation should be—it is because of our Manager’s outstanding work performance that the organization deep underground decided to support him with a new set of equipment."

"So, you’re saying as long as we work hard enough, our Manager will soon be able to get a brand-new set of power armor?"

"Damn! When you say it like that, why do I feel like I’m being farmed?"

"Cut the crap, guys, the event convoy is about to leave, anyone still needs to pick up the quest? Let’s go together."

"Me me me, please take me with you, boss!"

To avoid cramming too many players into Shelter No.117 at once, causing traffic jams and drawing the attention of Variants in other areas of the tunnel, only 50 spots were released every hour.

After picking up the task, a new event task option would update on players’ VM task bars, and opening it would reveal the following interface—

[Event Task: Our Neighbors]

[Description: Carry a VM to visit Shelter No.117 and check in at all scenes.]

[Notice:

1. Do not carry weapons into the shelter, there is a checkpoint at the entrance where equipment can be temporarily stored.

2. Do not randomly take or destroy props within Shelter No.117. If it is necessary to pick up and observe them, please put them back in their original place afterward.

3. Make good use of the VM’s 3D area map marking feature. There are hidden Easter eggs in the shelter. Find and mark them, and hidden rewards will be triggered after the event ends. (Each player only has one chance)

]

[Sub-quests:

1. Investigate the reason for the abandonment of Shelter No.117: Shelter No.117 remains as it was before being abandoned, with residents’ personal belongings scattered in the rooms. We need to figure out what exactly happened there.

2. Unknown Clues: Waiting for players to explore on their own.

]

[Personal Exploration Progress: 0%]

[Entire Server Exploration Progress: 0%]

Regarding the Easter eggs mentioned in the "Notice," to be honest, Chu Guang himself didn’t know what they were. He mentioned the Easter eggs mainly to stimulate players’ desire to explore.

Whether they existed or not, why not just have a look?

What if his little players found some clues he had missed?

Then there would indeed be Easter eggs, wouldn’t there?

Besides, it didn’t matter if they weren’t found.

When the time came, he would just browse the forum, pick a few posts that were heatedly discussed and seemed quite plausible, and claim them as his own, and that would be that.

Players would never think they had plagiarized their homework. Instead, they’d be ecstatic to discover the Easter eggs left by the planners.

Standing in the hallway of the sanatorium, looking at the crowd of eager players in the square, a sunshiny smile appeared on Chu Guang’s face.

"I am simply a genius."

Sitting behind the bank counter, Little Fish looked up and blinked curiously.

Was this something that needed special emphasis?

She had always thought Brother Chu was quite clever.

On the other side of the square, looking at the old players who were gathered around Liuding and ready to set off for the task, the Alpha0.7 and Alpha0.8 newbies all had envious expressions.

To buy a VM, one needed to reach Citizen level, and to become a Citizen required 2000 Contribution Points. At a fast pace, it would take a week, and a slower one might take half a month.

The Alpha0.7 version players were okay, apart from those who had bugs with their resurrection, most had already accumulated enough Contribution Points. But for the unfortunate little players who were hit by stray bullets in the faction wars, and those who just joined in version 0.8, many barely had four digits in their Contribution.

It was their first time seeing a game where even the system interface had to be bought.

This was so damn ridiculous!

Envy is envy, but complaining was useless with the settings as they were. If they wanted to experience the full content of the game, they would just have to prove their loyalty to the Manager with hard work.

With a longing for a better life, the newbies stayed in the square for a while before going to the Warehouse Manager to get their daily tasks over with.

Of course, not all of them shunned the idea of looking for shortcuts.

For example, right now, in the center of the square, a little player was standing there yelling.

"Is there any brother who can lend me a VM? I, Zhang Hai, will surely repay you generously!"

WC really have Mosquito just happened to pass by, recognized the newbie who had bunked with him in the train car last time, and went over to tease him.

"Bro, if you can’t even afford a VM, what kind of reward can you give?"

Zhang Hai laughed sheepishly.

"I’ll give you a treat."

Mosquito: "Buzz off!"

After shouting for a long time, no second person bothered with him.

Looking at the sparsely populated square, Zhang Hai sighed and shook his head, feeling sentimental.

"The world is deteriorating, people’s hearts aren’t what they used to be... Damn it, I can’t even borrow a VM, this game is too realistic."

Quit Smoking Brother, who had just returned to turn in a task, saw the new guy still shouting in the square and couldn’t help but chime in.

"Give it up, brother, VMs and account IDs are one-to-one bound. Don’t ask how I know; any method you’re thinking of, I’ve tried them. This game’s big bugs are almost unsolvable, and there are almost no small bugs... It’s better if you don’t think about exploiting bugs, it’s pointless."

Zhang Hai was shocked when he heard this.

"Darn! Why has no one told me?"

Quit Smoking was left speechless by his naïve reaction and couldn’t help but retort.

"...Bro, don’t you ever go on the official website?"

Zhang Hai suddenly realized, shaking his head as he spoke.

"Oh, you mean the Forum? I hardly ever go there. There are too many posts, and dozens pop up with every refresh. It’s a pain for my eyes."

Quit smoking: "..."

This guy...

Is he really only thirty years old?

...

In Qingquan City, on the edge of the fifth ring road.

In front of the abandoned commercial complex’s main entrance.

Old White, dressed in light hunting gear, set down the javelin bag he carried on his back, weighed the javelin in his hand, and fixed his gaze on the Eater closest to the gate.

Ten meters away.

For the battle-hardened Old White, this distance virtually eliminated the chance of missing the mark.

He took a deep breath of the chilly air

With a settled mind, Old White focused all his attention on every inch of muscle and joint in his body, then suddenly hurled the javelin in his hand.

Boundary—

Breakthrough!

It was a matter of an instant.

The electrical and chemical signals shuttling through his neurons surged, and his muscles swelled dramatically in a split second.

There was the sound of the air being torn apart!

The javelin left an almost invisible trail in the air and shot into the gate like a cannonball, pinning the Eater to the wall three meters away.

The Eater with a pierced chest did not die immediately but struggled for breath.

Eaters lingering nearby listlessly raised their heads, their frozen necks swinging slowly from side to side, seemingly searching for the attacker, but finding nothing.

Surprised at his own right hand, Old White’s face was written with excited joy.

Before he could speak, Night Ten, who was watching from the sidelines, blurted out.

"Damn! This skill is pretty niubi!"

Earlier, when they had first come online, it wasn’t time for the event to begin yet, and there was already a huge crowd around the event NPC, impossible to squeeze through.

Considering that the event was not time-limited and there was no need to rush in that moment, the Bull Horse Squad followed Fang Chang’s suggestion and came to the edge of the Qingquan City fifth ring road to find a suitable leveling spot and tested the combat power of Power LV10.

It turned out the gap between LV9 and LV10 was not ordinary at all.

Reaching LV10, Old White seemed to have broken through a bottleneck. Both his panel stats and real-world combat abilities underwent a qualitative leap.

"Not just niubi... That power is practically a BUG-level," Wild Wind, standing to the side, said with an envious expression on his face.

Although he could throw a javelin with the same effect as a cannonball, it was with the aid of mechanical prosthesis.

Unlike Old White, who didn’t need any gear enhancement, relying solely on his muscle strength to achieve a level comparable to mechanical prostheses.

If the Strength Type is this niubi, then why even bother with mechanical ascension?

Mechanical prostheses need repairs, maintenance over time, and the risk of complete failure when encountering EMPs. The money earned from missions would be spent on fixing equipment, and if you kit yourself out entirely, your pockets would be emptier than your face.

But physical enhancements are different. Even if you die by accident, it’s not a big loss; wait three days and you’ll be back in good shape. The cost-effectiveness is simply unbeatable.

Just a few days ago, Wild Wind was excited about the upcoming spring for the Intelligence System.

Now it seems the celebration came too early!

Old White chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

"BUG is an overstatement. I think it’s quite reasonable. After all, it’s an early-game profession. If early-game advantages weren’t pronounced, what would you do in the late game—just stare blankly?"

Unable to help himself, Night Ten retorted, "Your ’early game’ seems to be a bit long!"

Old White laughed heartily.

"It doesn’t matter!"

"Without any exaggeration, with the power of that one throw just now, I feel like it would be enough even against a Crawler," said Fang Chang, arms crossed over his chest in a similarly envious manner, "With my dynamic vision, I almost couldn’t see the trajectory of that javelin!"

The Agility attribute influences not only reaction speed but also enhances vision. The fact that a strike was too fast for even him to see was evidence of the terrifying power.

He wondered what Talent the Agility LV10 would unlock.

Having just advanced to LV9, his excitement for the world beyond LV10 was growing.

After listening to Fang Chang’s assessment, Old White thought for a moment and then shook his head, sharing his feelings.

"Using javelins is still difficult, Crawlers move too fast, and the wind-up for throwing javelins is too long. If you’re too far, it’s hard to hit the target. If you’re too close, there’s no time to charge up and aim. But to tell it straight, this Talent would probably be more useful in close combat than a projectile. Paired with an exoskeleton and long-handle weapons, you could deal tons of damage in a short time! Even against Mutants, I am confident I can take them down!"

His axe was custom-made by Steel Factory No.81, with wide blades on each side, a pointed tip, and a hook capability. It’s great against both humans and Variants.

Fang Chang continued to inquire, "Besides that Boundary Breakthrough Talent, do you feel any other changes?"

Old White pondered for a moment before saying,

"Other changes... are hard to describe. Specifically, my muscles and bones feel stronger than before, and my athletic abilities have improved. But it doesn’t seem to show much on the outside."

At this point, Old White sighed with some emotion,

"Ah, every time I play this game, I can’t help but think how great it would be to have such niubi physical fitness in real life!"

Having the physical fitness from the game in real life would be something.

Upon hearing this, Fang Chang had an expression full of intrigue.

Not to mention anything else, just archery alone—if his physical fitness in real life could match even half of what he has in the game, he’d probably be showing off at the Olympic stage already!

What’s the concept of having agility attributes over 10 points?

Just considering eyesight and dynamic vision, there are very few normal humans who could match him.

Unless they’ve also mutated.

Imagining that scene, Night Ten frowned, "Wait a sec, if that really happened, wouldn’t I be at a loss? My perception attributes would be totally useless."

Wild Wind calmly said, "Not necessarily, try your luck in Macau."

Night Ten was initially stunned, then suddenly realized, "Holy shit! Why didn’t I think of that!"

Wild Wind chuckled, not saying anything.

If they really went down this rabbit hole, his Intelligence System should be the most sought after.

Right then, Old White, who had been staring at the VM screen, suddenly spoke up.

"It looks like I have a new mission in my task list."

The moment a new mission was mentioned, Night Ten immediately leaned in, curiously taking a glance.

"What mission? Let me see."

"Explore Central State Space’s Ecological Experiment Base in the north suburb of Qingquan City; rewards include 200 silver coins, 200 contribution points... Speaking of which, what is an Ecological Experiment Base?"

While talking, Old White switched to the VM map page, scrolling and dragging to where the mission beacon was located with his index finger on the touchscreen.

It was in an unexplored area, located northeast of Outpost Base at a straight-line distance of about 15.7 kilometers.

Considering pre-war maps, there weren’t many urban buildings nearby, and the terrain was relatively high, making it very likely to have turned into a forest after the war.

Wild Wind, also leaning in close, stroked his chin and said,

"It turns out to be a task from the scientific expedition team... Speaking of which, since the official website updated the expedition team feature, this is actually the first time I’ve seen Dr. Yin Fang issue a task."

"Perhaps unlocking the mission requires being Level 10?" Old White’s face showed a look of great interest, as he turned eagerly to his buddies, "What do you guys think? Shall we take on the challenge?"

The third floor of the Greenhouse Ruins had just been cleared, and they hadn’t even turned in the mission yet, and the fourth floor had not yet been triggered; there was no need to hurry with the guide in the next couple of days.

The ruins aren’t going anywhere; might as well see what this new mission is all about.

The name of this research center sounds anything but ordinary!

Night Ten said, "I have no objections!"

Wild Wind added, "Me neither, would be good to check out what the expedition team’s mission is all about."

"+1," Fang Chang’s face broke into a smile, "It’d be too bad to miss out on something this interesting."

Old White laughed heartily,

"That’s settled then! Let’s head back to Outpost Base to switch equipment, and meet up at the North Gate of Wetland Park!"

Night Ten raised his hand,

"Wait, how are we going to get there, it’s so far away?"

Old White replied with a smile,

"Don’t worry about that! The mission states that the expedition team will provide us with a truck to take us near the destination!"

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

A distance of 15.7 kilometers!

If they had to walk there and back, it would probably take up half the day.

As the Bull and Horse Squad headed back to Outpost Base, players who were en route to explore Shelter No.117 had already arrived in front of the alloy giant door located in the subway tunnel.

Ever since it was last opened, the door had remained ajar.

A crowd of people gathered at the entrance, peering inside with looks of curiosity.

The guards stationed at the entrance of the shelter approached the players and announced in a loud voice,

"Players who have received missions, please leave your equipment with me."

"Shelter No.117 is a weapon-restricted area; carrying firearms, knives, explosives, flammable items, or hazardous materials is prohibited."

"There is no limit on exploration time, but please try to keep it within one hour!"

"Good luck to you all!"