"Start the draw!"
[Beginning the draw...]
The consciousness submerged upon the panel, the pointer slid swiftly over the hexa-sectioned circular pattern, and eventually slowed to a halt, landing on the yellow area—
Specialty—Self-Restraint.
???
Bai E's face darkened.
I've already entered the game world in my true form, and still I'm stuck playing this unlucky adventurer's game?
Out of the six, five were acceptable, and I had to get the only bad one?
"Can I redraw, please?"
The panel was silent and still, as if mocking without mercy.
[Self-Restraint: To suppress overly sensitive senses, you have learned a method to lessen the sensitivity of your body. From now on, your "will" can maintain "absolute calmness" whenever necessary, no longer affected by the body's primal urges; at the same time, the mental constraints also provide a certain degree of protection for your spiritual body in high-dimensional spaces. (Note: Mastering "Self-Restraint" is a prerequisite for every Elf Race member practicing the "Breathing Skill".)]
Fine then...
I've already drawn, what else can I say?
Let's try out the effect...
[Activating "Self-Restraint".]
Uh... I don't feel anything.
There seems to be some change, yet also none at all.
Damn it!
"waaaaaahg!"
"Holy shit, holy shit!"
"It's got to be you, bro!"
[Lucky Hit energy +5.]
What just happened?
Bai E, with a look of bewilderment, came back to his senses to see his teammates congratulating him.
What does that mean?
Mocking him for being unlucky again?
Or finding solidarity in their shared bad luck, so much so that even the "Lucky Hit" got charged up?
"What's up?"
Bai E asked, expressionless.
The number one fan, Stone, who had previously handed Bai E the water, exclaimed joyously, "Bro! They all failed! No one could withstand a move from the mysterious master!"
Bai E was stunned for a moment, then suddenly it dawned on him.
His own failure was certainly regrettable, but the success of his teammates was ever more vexing.
Seeing the others fail undoubtedly highlighted the value of his own unique success.
So should he be... excited?
Surrounded by his teammates, Bai E felt something exciting being secreted inside his body, but at that moment, he could even feel these substances coursing through him.
It was like fervent agitators, trying to use the body's energy to pay for their decisions.
He could let go and embrace this excitement, or he could... refuse.
The whole process was but a fleeting thought, and the sounds of congratulations from others at that moment sounded elongated and strange in Bai E's ears.
"..."
Is this the effect of "Self-Restraint"?
With every instinctive emotional fluctuation, he possessed the autonomy to choose.
And this decision-making process was completely seamless, without any abrupt or unnatural hesitation.
In the midst of the revelry, Bai E stood as if he were alone in a frigid, snowy landscape, entirely lucid.
"...Accept."
Bai E softly made his decision.
He was not an elf with acutely sensitive feelings who sought pleasure unrestrictedly.
The commotion here had evidently attracted attention from elsewhere.
"I thought he was just starting, but it turns out he's already at the peak."
...
"Didn't that elf lady pull her punches only with him? Otherwise it makes no sense."
...
"Only Bai lasted 5 seconds..."
...
Yue Ying's eyes pierced through space, also focusing on the only man who had lasted more than 5 seconds against her.
Being able to master weapon proficiency with just one training session...
It seems that human cybertech can occasionally create some surprises.
Was this officer holding back his skills?
Watching Weslin's face, dark as a thundercloud ready to burst, Yue Ying sensed an air of profound mystery.
Humans... are indeed full of deceivers.
"Let's start the next phase."
Weslin waved his hand and left with some displeasure.
He never imagined that the warriors under his command would be so weak, incapable of even holding their ground against the enemy for five seconds.
Nor did he expect this Elf Race lady to be so unforgiving, defeating each one with a single move, not granting a chance for a second strike.
The only successful one... on looking back, appeared more like charity.
Feeling the full resentment of the departing enemy, Yue Ying narrowed her eyes, becoming more convinced of her speculation.
Frustrated due to the exposure of the secret weapon?
It seemed that warriors with talents similar to 95B27 abounded in their Artificial Human project?
Being alone in human territory, facing these cunning beings from the rumors, she had to be as cautious as possible, always preparing for the worst!
...
"Alright!"
Wood bellowed, and despite feeling inwardly pleased, he still put on a stern face and coldly commanded, "95B27's achievement is indeed remarkable, but his effort is also clear to all. I hope that within this team, no one drags another's feet. For the physical training to come, I will not allow any single person to not cross the finish line!"
According to experience, nearly all the warriors would experience a physical breakthrough during the second physical training; consequently, even those who were wasteful in their physical exertion should be able to barely reach the finish line.
"Begin training!"
Bai E, without uttering a word, turned his head and followed the team as they set off.
The final requirement for today's physical training was to achieve at least a 0.3 breakthrough; he had only achieved 0.1.
A higher starting point brought nothing but stricter demands, and he needed to work harder than others to earn the same improvement.
The responsibility was great, and the journey long; he could not slack off even the slightest bit.
And... it seemed the player had been quiet for quite some time now.
Were they resting?
Resting was good; otherwise, every training session brought its own shock, and his heart couldn't take it.
Now Bai E's attitude towards the player was somewhat strange—
Afraid they wouldn't come, yet also afraid of their chaotic interference.
He wished the player's playing schedule were like a regular person's, handling missions at night, causing fewer disturbances during his daytime training...
With mechanical movements, Bai followed the team starting to climb, lost in wild thoughts.
He wondered how far the player had progressed with their mission?
He now had a Leave Camp Certificate and could leave the camp whenever, but obviously, it wouldn't be good to leave several times in one day.
It would be best to dispatch today's mission quota while validating the completion of the tasks.
Inquiring Wood about the day's training plans was Bai E looking for an opportunity to leave the camp.
As for the player, Bai E didn't know if they had taken his advice to heart, to bring along more mischievous friends.
Surely no player was an orphan, playing the game all alone, right? No way, no way...
...
"Goodbye, I need to go back to my mission."
Kuang Xin felt he could no longer afford to waste time with a woman.
Running back and forth with this woman on the charred streets had already squandered too much of his life.
With this time, he could have chopped down several more trees, hehe!
Gong Yan glanced back, her peach blossom eyes rippling.
"What, are you already tired of being with me?"
"It's not that..."
Kuang Xin was at a loss for words, and it took him a while to clumsily object, "It's mainly because these tasks are too tedious."
Foraging in the fields, fishing in the sewers...
This game wasn't about reading progress bars; every activity required a hands-on experience.
The rewards were meager, and the process was tedious.
This kind of meticulous work wasn't suited for him; he was more fitted for the straightforward tasks of chopping trees and fighting.
"What about your food then?"
Gong Yan twirled a key on her fingertip, leaning forwards as she spoke, her breath falling on Kuang Xin's face, "Are you expecting me to feed you?"
Kuang Xin remembered his original intention.
He had followed this woman to complete missions for food.
But...
"But I didn't expect these tasks to be so troublesome..."
Kuang Xin said hesitantly, then his eyes lit up, "How about I buy from you?"
"Buy? Do you have money?"
"I'll have bullets when I complete the mission! I can sell them for money, or directly give them to you..."
Gong Yan raised an eyebrow playfully, "You haven't completed it yet... trying to get credit?"
"Or I can give you cash!"
"You want my real-world contact info? You're quite the schemer..."
Flushed and embarrassed by Gong Yan's words, Kuang Xin didn't know how to respond and simply blurted out, "Then what do you propose?"
"I don't want your money."
Gong Yan took several items wrapped in greaseproof paper from her bag and stretched out her hand towards Kuang Xin, "Here~"
Seeing the girl's blushing smile, Kuang Xin felt bewildered, "Wha... what does this mean?"
The girl shook her head, hair swaying gently, her gaze never departing Kuang Xin's eyes, "It's just a little food. If you want it, I'll give it to you~"
"This..."
"Go on, go on... I know you've been thinking about your trees. You go ahead, and once I've finished my current tasks, I'll come find you~"