Just to briefly say, this novel blends elements and concepts from post-apocalyptic, fantasy, and gaming genres, creating not only the cliché plots of showing off, face-slapping, and leveling up but also descriptions of humanity under post-apocalyptic conditions struggling to survive, and their resistance against alien fantasy civilizations. The fight to protect Earth as their home, of course, what it turns into in the end is uncertain in my heart, but I will try my best to conceive it, thanks for everyone's support!
Yang Xiao and others returned to the camp, both excited and worried.
Huang Wen and others had collected over a hundred mutated ant corpses, piled inside the camp.
"Boss, can we really eat these?"
"Um, I've never tried them before, but they should be edible. Let's grill a few and see, probably like roasted sweet potatoes."
Feifei came over and handed a small package to Yang Xiao, all excited.
"Boss, a total of 25 Genetic Fragments."
"Boss, what are these for?"
The girls looked at Yang Xiao.
Yang Xiao took the bag and said:
"I don't know what use they are; I need to visit the Genetic Store to find out. This loot is thanks to Chen Fei, Chen Lu, Dai Yun, and Feifei. Five Genetic Fragments for each of the five of us; come with me to the Genetic Store and let's see what Gu Bo has to say."
Yang Xiao didn't want to keep all the Genetic Fragments to himself. Even though nobody would object if he did, this was a long-term matter, not a one-off deal. Besides, he couldn't have killed so many ants alone.
Upon hearing Yang Xiao's words, Feifei and the others were very excited, not only because Yang Xiao didn't monopolize the Genetic Fragments, but because they saw him as a fair person who respected everyone highly.
Yang Xiao casually picked up a few mutated ant corpses and entered the Genetic Store with the four girls.
Gu Bo stood behind the counter, smiling at Yang Xiao.
"Congratulations, you are this district's first to kill a mutated creature and obtain Genetic Fragments."
"Hehe, is that so? Is there any reward?"
Yang Xiao asked with a smile.
Gu Bo nodded and said:
"As the first to kill a mutated creature and get Genetic Fragments, the Genetic Store will reward you with a Genetic Potion."
After saying that, Gu Bo gestured with his right hand, and a small crystal bottle flew from behind a shelf into his hand, containing
a red potion.
"This is a Primordial Genetic Potion representing Strength; drinking it will increase your Strength."
Yang Xiao was startled, took the crystal bottle, and looked at Gu Bo with confusion.
"This can increase Strength?"
"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"
Yang Xiao hesitated for a moment, opened the crystal bottle, sniffed it, noticed no smell, took a small sip; it was slightly spicy and immediately turned into a warm flow inside his body, making him feel invigorated.
Yang Xiao hesitated no longer, tilted his head back, and drank all the red liquid in the crystal bottle in one gulp, immediately feeling as though a flame was burning inside him, which disappeared after a moment.
He felt as if he was filled with strength and had an urge to vent it.
"Gu Bo, how much Strength can this small bottle of Power Potion increase?"
"The energy contained in the Power Potions synthesized from different species' Primordial Genetic Fragments varies, and how much Genetic Strength Attribute it can increase also varies from person to person."
Hearing this, Yang Xiao immediately handed the bag to Gu Bo.
"I have twenty-five Genetic Fragments here, can you check how many Power Potions can be exchanged?"
Gu Bo opened the bag, looked inside, and chuckled:
"10 Genetic Fragments can be synthesized into one Genetic Potion, but I charge for synthesizing potions."
"Charge a fee? How do you charge?"
"You give me twelve Genetic Fragments, and I'll synthesize a Genetic Potion for you. The extra two Genetic Fragments will be my compensation."
"Uh, that seems fair. I have 25 Genetic Fragments here, so I can synthesize 2 Genetic Potions, right?"
"That's correct. However, Genetic Fragments also have attributes. For instance, the Genetic Fragments you obtained from killing the mutated ants this time are all black, representing Defense. I can only synthesize 2 Defense Attribute Genetic Potions for you."
"Defense?"
Four girls looked at Gu Bo.
"Defense means enhancing the resistance of your body. Once defense reaches a certain level, you will be impervious to blades and spears. Xu Hua's Copper Skin is inherently a high defense gene.
You haven't yet accessed the Genetic Data System. Everyone's Genetic Data System contains Four Attributes: Strength, Agility, Defense, and Wisdom. Enhancing different Genetic Attributes will grant you different abilities..."
Gu Bo carefully explained the Genetic Data System and how to enhance various attributes.
Yang Xiao glanced at the Genetic Fragments in his bag. These were the results of the joint battle of five people, but they could only synthesize 2 Genetic Potions, clearly not enough for five people to share.
Joint battles were a long-term affair, and an unfair distribution once might not matter, but if every allocation was unfair, it would inevitably affect the enthusiasm of the group in future battles. Moreover, each individual's mutation direction was different, and their demands for limited attribute enhancement varied.
Yang Xiao found it difficult to decide how to distribute the two Defense Attribute Genetic Potions.
Gu Bo seemed to see Yang Xiao's concern and said:
"Genetic Fragments can be exchanged for Crystal Coins, one Genetic Fragment for one Crystal Coin. This way, you all can share evenly. Everything in the store can be bought with Crystal Coins, such as Genetic Potions, which cost 12 Crystal Coins each.
Of course, let me give you a suggestion. For instance, your Black Long Sword here, 3 Crystal Coins each, +2 Strength, quite powerful. You should prioritize equipping weapons, which will benefit you in killing Mutated Creatures."
After hearing this, Yang Xiao thought it was a good suggestion and asked:
"Chen Fei currently uses Lightning, which should belong to the Electric Attack Attribute, and Chen Lu uses Ice Ball, which should be an Ice Element Attack Attribute. What kind of weapons should the two of them buy?"
"They can purchase a Magic Wand."
After saying this, Gu Bo gestured, and a silver wand and a black wand flew from behind the merchandise rack into his hand. Both wands were about half a meter long, ordinary in appearance, but with a slight glow flickering on them.
"The silver is an Electric Wand +1 Wisdom, +1 Electric Attack Damage; the black is an Ice Wand, +1 Wisdom Attribute, +1 Ice Element Attack Damage, both for three Crystal Coins each."
Chen Fei and Chen Lu each took a wand, felt a slight tremor in their bodies, immediately ran their consciousness, channeling the energy in their bodies through their arms to the wands, causing the glow on the wands to immediately brighten, indeed enhancing their power considerably.
Both of them were overjoyed.
Feifei immediately said:
"Mr. Gu Bo, what about me? My hair can grow long, what kind of weapon should I equip?"
"You have a mutation of Plant Type vine genes, needing an enhancement in Agility Attribute. This will make your hair attacks more agile and allow you to attack different opponents at the same time."
Finished speaking, Gu Bo gestured, and a purple hair clip flew into his hand and handed it to Feifei.
"This hair clip, +2 Agility, just wear it on your hair."
Feifei joyfully received the hair clip and put it on, ran her consciousness, and a burst of Magic Hair shot forth, feeling indeed more agile, and was very happy.
Dai Yun shifted his hands into Wolf Claws, flicking it in front of Gu Bo:
"Master, what about me?"
Gu Bo smiled slightly, gestured with his hand, and a circular object fell into his hand.
"This is a bracelet, +2 Strength. As a mutated Werewolf, Strength, Agility, Defense are all very important, with Strength as the priority."
Dai Yun wore the bracelet and mutated the Wolf Claws again, indeed feeling a significant increase in strength.
"What about me?"
Yang Xiao looked at Gu Bo.