"Apocalypse Base Vehicle (Upgradeable): Length: 10 meters - Width: 5 meters - Height: 5 meters. The base vehicle has two forms that can be freely switched."
"Note: Each transformation will consume a significant amount of psychic energy. Please choose deployment locations carefully to avoid wasting psychic energy."
"1: Safe Zone Form - When deployed, the base vehicle can transform into a fully metallic mobile fortress covering an area of 100 square meters. It can resist light weapons (assault rifles, pistols, melee attacks), and when damaged, it slowly repairs itself by consuming psychic energy. After deploying the safe zone, it can automatically absorb psychic energy."
"2: Armed Driving Form - When the base vehicle is retracted, it can transform into a heavy truck for transportation. Maximum capacity: 10 people. Maximum speed: 200 kilometers per hour. The defensive capabilities are reduced by 50% in driving mode, and it continuously consumes psychic energy."
"Apocalypse Base Buildings: Not yet unlocked."
"A base vehicle that can deploy a safe zone and absorb psychic energy!" Clark's excitement grew as he read the information.
On the holographic screen, a black, high-tech heavy truck with various concealed weapon mounts could be seen slowly rotating. However, no weapons were currently mounted.
At the bottom of the hologram, a three-dimensional image resembling a factory building, constructed from sealed alloy steel plates, exuded a sense of security that made his heart race.
After his rebirth, Clark had rarely experienced emotional fluctuations. But seeing the Apocalypse Base Vehicle, he couldn't help feeling eager.
In the previous life, approximately a year after the outbreak of the apocalypse, the world was divided into four major regions and thirty-six war zones. Survivor players from various countries formed alliances and lived in safety zones, which were their lifelines. These safety zones were not just places to defend against zombies.
Previously, Clark had only thought about creating a place to stay. He hadn't considered establishing a safety zone capable of absorbing psychic energy in the early stages. A true safety zone was one that could strengthen players and awakened beings.
After the apocalypse, not only did large-scale zombies appear, but the Earth gradually became contaminated with a form of energy known as psychic energy. Under the influence of psychic energy, animals and plants mutated into various powerful monsters or precious resources. Players could gradually strengthen their bodies by absorbing psychic energy. Although the progress was extremely slow, it was safe.
For awakened beings who couldn't upgrade by killing mutated zombies when they were weak, the best way was to absorb psychic energy to increase their strength before teaming up to kill mutated zombies.
To extract psychic energy, one had to rely on safety zones to extract the free energy from the air. However, building a safety zone required precious and unique items.
These items were called "Safety Tokens" and could only be obtained through missions issued by the system. These missions were often extremely difficult and time-consuming. They couldn't be completed without a team of tens of thousands or hundreds of awakened beings working together. In the previous life, many small safety zones were actually branches of medium-sized safety zones.
Monica, before her betrayal of Clark, had intended to offer herself to someone in exchange for help, and that person was the leader of a small safety zone.
But now? A base vehicle that could deploy a safe zone and absorb psychic energy was worth several times more than a Safety Token. Clark's joy made his steps light, but he soon realized Lynn had fallen far behind.
Hearing her voice, Clark halted and turned around. He saw that she had been left nearly a hundred meters behind due to the biting wind.
Waiting for Lynn where he stood, Clark suppressed his excitement and quickly adjusted his focus. While he really wanted to claim the rewards for the team mission right away, his top priority was still to increase his strength, defeat [The Stitcher], and save Dirk and Viola. These two were not only the only people he cared about right now but also the ones he could trust.
Dirk came from a reconnaissance background, with basic attributes significantly better than an average person. If he could become an Awakened in the future, he could be a great asset to Clark.
Although the team mission was quite simple, Clark didn't plan to recruit just anyone. The team's functionality had limitations, and although it seemed to improve after leveling up, joining the team would grant a power boost, and it couldn't be changed. Naturally, he intended to choose carefully.
Dirk, Viola, Lynn – two more to go. Clark contemplated, quickly searching through his memories.
Four Emperors and Six Kings. In his previous life, there were ten extraordinary individuals in the HX national war zone, four of whom were Fourth-Tier Awakeneds known as Emperors, each commanding over a billion people. The other six were Third-Tier Awakeneds referred to as Kings, ruling over tens of thousands.
And in LJ City, there was a Third-Tier King with currently modest strength. If Clark could recruit him while he was still weak, it would be a significant help in establishing his influence in the future.
"Um, I still don't know your name. How should I address you from now on?" Lynn ran all the way, not wanting to waste Clark's time. She gasped for breath as she stopped in front of Clark, cautiously inquiring.
"Clark. You can call me whatever you like," Clark didn't mind the name; he didn't have any peculiar preferences. In his previous life, many Awakeneds recruited followers and slaves and had them address them as "Master."
"Then I'll call you Clark, or Captain, okay? We're probably the same age, right? I'm 24, just graduated from college this year."
Clark glanced at Lynn upon hearing this, and indeed, he was also twenty-four years old. They were indeed the same age.
"Sure."
Lynn gradually got used to Clark's aloofness and continued to ask, "You haven't told me why you want me to join yet, and you seem different from us."
"I asked Alvin before. He and I both have the Player template. My Strength is at 3, while his is at 4. How about you?"
Clark nodded and, after a moment's thought, decided not to hide anything.
"First, I want you to join because you're a Mutant. Mutants can provide me with psychic energy, which you can think of as enhancing my strength. People like you are extremely rare, and once someone discovers you're a Mutant, others will fight over you. So, don't reveal that you're a Mutant in front of outsiders."
"Second, I'm an Awakened. Unlike regular players, I have another set of attributes in addition to having the Player template. My strength is probably five times yours."
Lynn was shocked. Five times? Wouldn't that be equivalent to being a superhero?
"Third, my Strength is at 12. No, it's 14.4." Clark momentarily forgot that his overall attributes had been boosted by 20% in the team functionality.
"14?" Lynn exclaimed, her eyes widening in amazement. 14 points of Strength. No wonder Clark could easily smash a zombie's skull with a single punch.
Clark didn't pay much attention to Lynn's surprise. If Lynn knew that after exceeding the 10-point attribute limit, each additional point of Strength equated to a 30% boost, she'd probably be even more astonished.
"Your attributes should also have been boosted. This is one of the benefits of joining my team. Later, you can take a look for yourself."
Upon hearing this, Lynn quickly opened her player panel, her face filled with joy. When she saw the entry "Savior Team Member," her eyes suddenly widened in surprise.
Savior? Lynn was puzzled; this title seemed to carry a special meaning. However, Clark didn't explain it voluntarily, and she didn't dare to ask casually.
Clark, with his already peculiar image, now seemed to have an added layer of mystery in her eyes. Had she encountered someone extraordinary?
"Get on the bike," Clark said without looking back, in a calm tone. Lynn snapped out of her thoughts, obediently following him.
Clark turned around and straddled the motorcycle. Lynn watched Clark's back, her gaze flickering as she took a seat on the pillion.
Roar! The motorcycle roared to life, and the vehicle shook slightly. Amidst Lynn's cries of surprise, the motorcycle sped away. Riding at high speed, the biting cold wind forced her to cling tightly to Clark's waist, providing a warm and comforting feeling. Having not rested for a day and a night and enduring prolonged periods of heightened tension, Lynn felt an unexplainable sense of peace as she held onto Clark.
The motorcycle, like a black phantom, traced a dark line on the highway at high speed. After a while, exhaustion washed over her, and she couldn't resist falling into a deep slumber. However, her hands instinctively clung tightly to Clark.
Sensing that Lynn had fallen asleep, Clark slightly reduced his speed.