Chapter Forty: Bowling
Ember is a man who loves to contemplate. Before making any decision, he weighs whether it is worth the cost. Thus, even knowing that rescuing Cup of Wine Growing Thick might be a trap, he chose to do so without hesitation, simply because he deemed it worthy. However, this does not mean he would act like a fool and plunge headlong into a well-laid trap unprepared. Saving someone is one thing, but self-preservation is another. He spent ten points early on to purchase an improved version of the Basic Evolution Reagent, preparing himself for battle in advance.
[Notification: You have used "Basic Evolution Reagent (Improved Version)," gaining one additional True Core Attribute point and one True Vital Attribute point, respectively. The reagent's effects are not affected by metamorphosis.]
[Notification: Since you have obtained three additional attribute points during the basic stage, you will not be able to obtain any more until you advance. However, you may still use improved Basic Evolution Reagents or other methods to convert additional normal attribute points into True attribute points.]
After drinking the third evolution reagent, Ember's attribute cap reached the limit for the basic stage: thirteen points.
Considering the fierce battle that might ensue, he invested all his remaining points into Strength, bringing his Strength level to a staggering nine points. He had become a Strength specialist nearing the limit, more specialized than the vast majority of players who possessed Strength talents.
"Shuizhongren has surrounded Cup of Wine Growing Thick at the entrance to Withered Vine and Old Tree's territory... Tsk, how interesting!"
Ember mused. Seeing over a dozen players gathered in the distance, surrounding Cup of Wine Growing Thick, he couldn't help but think: "Is it really worth this much effort just to deal with me?"
The next moment, his gaze met Cup of Wine Growing Thick's from afar. Instantly, he saw an indelible look of worry in those expressive eyes. At the same time, Withered Vine and Old Tree’s expression shifted dramatically, prompting Ember to trigger his Golden Sun Body without hesitation.
Ding!
Snap!
Gray mist rose instantly. Not only did it catch Not a Master and Lu Renjia off guard, leaving them stunned, but the dense fog also obscured their vision. With Ember's two levels of Perception, he could not see through the mist, but the sight of the unconscious Little Mantis hitting the ground taught him the terrifying nature of the "Stun Reagent."
[Notification: Your contracted pet, "Reinforced Juvenile Shadow-Eater," has been affected by the "Stun Reagent." With a Willpower level below eight, it will fall into a state of unconsciousness for seven seconds.]
Eight levels of Willpower?
Tsk tsk, to deal with me, they really did go to such great lengths!
Core attributes are upgraded differently from Vital attributes. Most players adopt a balanced approach, and Ember is no exception. Thus, almost no player would mindlessly boost a single core attribute, and even if they did, they might not necessarily push their Willpower to eight.
This was where the Willpower talent proved its worth. Earlier, to counter the Spider Mother's toxins, Ember had raised his Vitality to six. Without the bonus from his Willpower talent, even after drinking the third evolution reagent, he would have been unable to resist the stunning effects of the fog.
[Notification: You have consumed four Vital Attribute points to increase your Willpower level to eight!] (Remaining: 1)
[Notification: Your Willpower level has reached eight, successfully resisting the "Stun Reagent's" effect!]
[Broadcast: University Preparatory Student "U102" has killed University Preparatory Student "U1010"!]
[Broadcast: University Preparatory Student "U102" has killed Foundation Preparatory Member "D788"!]
"Isn't U102 Cup of Wine Growing Thick? As expected of the number one tool, she's actually this impressive! It seems I need to step it up as well!"
Two seconds later, the Golden Body vanished, and the stunning mist showed signs of dissipating. Sensing several figures rushing toward him through the thinning patches, Ember abandoned all illusions and downed a potion.
...
[Basic-Grade Berserk Potion] (Normal Version)
Type: Consumable
Function: Increases maximum Health by 50, increases all Vital Attributes by three levels, and grants the "Crush" effect during attacks, dealing double damage to targets with a lower Strength level than yours. Effect lasts for ten seconds.
Description: This potion can help you launch a desperate counterattack.
[Notification: Once the potion's effect fades, you will enter a state of weakness for three minutes, with your highest Vital Attribute level reduced by three.]
...
This Berserk Potion came from a greedy beta-testing player who had died. This person was so greedy that he twice forfeited stable assessment rewards in pursuit of short-term bursts of combat power. One cannot say this approach had no merits; after all, Ember, pushed to the edge, was forced to rely on this berserk power. Once he used it, he immediately fell in love with the wonderful sensation of surging strength.
[Notification: Five levels of Perception allow your vision to pierce through the stunning mist!]
The most immediate change was that his vision was no longer affected by the fog. Ember could easily see the three players charging toward him and, further away, Cup of Wine Growing Thick preparing to clash with Withered Vine and Old Tree. Simultaneously, he noticed the treacherous guide player had not fled the stunning zone and was standing stock-still nearby. Without a second thought, Ember swung his Active Soft Biological Arm like swatting a fly. The target's life was like that of the fly—the slightest touch ended it instantly.
[Notification: You have activated the active skill "Stick Technique: Headshot," reducing the target's head defense level by one.] (15/2.5=6)
[Notification: You have dealt 36 damage to player "Huashan Yue Buqun."]
[Notification: Because you used "Basic-Grade Berserk Potion (Normal Version)," you have gained the "Crush" effect, dealing double damage to targets with a lower Strength level than yours.]
[Notification: Calculating... Calculation successful! Player "Huashan Yue Buqun's" Strength level is below twelve. "Crush" effect successfully activated!]
[Notification: You have dealt 72 damage and successfully killed Scavenger Preparatory Member "Huashan Yue Buqun"!]
One-shot!
The Berserk Potion gave the Active Soft Biological Arm damage equivalent to the Dire Wolf Gauntlets, allowing Ember to achieve a one-shot kill with a normal attack even without entering a state of Super Armor! This feeling was entirely different from previous battles with players—not just mentally, but physically. The effects of the Berserk Potion triggered corresponding responses in his real-world haptic suit, making Ember feel a hot current flowing through his body, as if surging power were constantly echoing within. He didn't need to exert much effort to achieve explosive results.
Seeing Huashan Yue Buqun, who had failed to flee, Ember felt the opponent was fragile, so he waved his arm and verified his theory.
This light wave not only secured a one-shot kill but also whipped up a gale that stirred the mist, leaving a certain player who had reached the edge of the fog stunned. Through a gap in the swirling gray mist, this Jiu Gua player caught a glimpse of Ember’s burning gaze and immediately knew something was wrong. The excitement lingering on his face turned to terror, and before he could react, the suddenly extended biological arm pierced through the gray mist and killed him in one stroke!
Another one-shot!
The Crush effect of the Berserk Potion made Ember realize what it meant to kill as easily as drinking water. No skills needed, no calculations needed—any strike was a one-shot. Even if the Scavenger players, who generally used balanced builds, had decent HP and defense, they had no room to struggle.
After all, the Berserk Potion was a rare item on par with evolution reagents. The latter provided long-term benefits, while the former lasted only ten seconds. Yet, these ten seconds of soaring combat power made Ember understand why that player had been greedy to the point of death—the improvement was simply too significant. Even if it meant overdrafting the future, it made the present moment entirely under his control!
Facing the two players who followed, Ember remained calm and composed. As the stunning mist dissipated, he met their two pairs of astonished eyes.
The scene gave them quite a shock. They had received orders from Shuizhongren to launch a decapitation strike while Ember and his group were incapacitated. Knowing they had a chance to personally eliminate the top player on the sub-ranking list, it would be a lie to say they weren't excited—after all, Ember’s performance was so eye-catching, not only taking the most kill points but also suppressing Withered Vine and Old Tree to snatch the prize right from under their noses.
Therefore, the moment the Stun Reagent shattered, the three players who had received the go-ahead rushed toward Ember, each wanting to be the one to slay the top-ranked player.
The problem was that reality and imagination were worlds apart. Not only was Ember unaffected by the stun, but he acted like a giant crocodile in the water, waiting leisurely for these ignorant antelopes to walk into his trap. The first antelope to rush in had already paid for his ignorance with his life, and the two remaining, upon realizing the truth, reacted in entirely different ways.
One charged into a desperate fight, while the other retreated to save his life.
The player fighting to the death belonged to the Foundation. At this critical moment, he had no time to consider his companion's choices. With a fierce look, he activated his Flame Badge, entering a state of Super Armor as he dropped his shoulder!
Charge!
How could Ember not know such a familiar starting move?
It was precisely because of inspiration from Ember that Shuizhongren had specifically given this Flame Badge to the only player in the team with the Charge skill, along with a Reinforced Impact Booster to boost his judgment level. Added to his own Strength talent and Strength-leaning build, his Strength level reached an astonishing twelve points in that instant!
"Ember! Come to think of it, I really should thank you! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been trusted with such an important task! It was predicted long ago that your Willpower talent would be a weakness! Without the Reinforced Impact Booster, how could you possibly beat me?"
The aggressive display of the Super Armor Charge filled the Foundation player with confidence, and he indeed had the capital to be confident, as twelve points of Strength was a truly startling number. But he didn't know that Ember, having drunk the Berserk Potion, had a Strength of twelve on his own. Although his waist no longer held a booster, after triggering his own Super Armor Charge in the blink of an eye, he relied on the Strength bonus inherent to the charge to press his opponent back.
Ember, who had started slower, showed no weakness in his momentum. Two steps in, he reached his top speed, and this furious, head-on momentum made the two players colliding at high speed look like two charging wild bulls. In that instant, the world narrowed down to just the two of them, and the only conviction in their hearts was to use their strength to crush the opponent!
Boom!
The sheer force instantly revealed the outcome, rather than ending in a stalemate.
Ember, who lacked a Strength talent, ended up having the last laugh in this contest of power. The crowd-control immunity from their Super Armor states canceled each other out, and Ember’s thirteen points of Strength poured out. Ember only paused for a step, while the Foundation player who had collided with him was sent flying. That wasn't the end; during his flight, he collided violently with the retreating player, the secondary damage killing him instantly, while the latter, unable to withstand the lingering force of the charge, was sent airborne and flew straight into the crowd behind.
Like a bowling ball smashing into a stack of pins.
In the blink of an eye, they fell and rose no more.