Having already pulled out the UltraDream Simulator, Lin Mo decided it was the perfect time to use today's simulation opportunity.
Normally, unless something out of the ordinary happened, he preferred to run simulations at night, allowing him to prepare for any potential events the following day. This habit had become second nature, helping him plan his day in advance.
If things went according to plan, tomorrow—Sunday—he'd be heading back to Jig-Jig Street, the place where his childhood had been shaped.
[Simulation Initiating]
[Tomorrow morning, you'll be awakened by the customized alarm bot. Half-asleep, you'll slap it into silence, only to realize five minutes later that it has a built-in water spray feature, soaking you awake. In 2075, alarm bots have one mission: no wasted time for anyone, especially not corpo drones.]
[Reluctantly getting up, you'll enjoy a lavish breakfast, courtesy of the Whole Foods Corporation's premium synthetics. Unlike the run-of-the-mill synthetic foods common on the street, these dishes could easily be mistaken for organic, perhaps even better.]
[You'll think to yourself, sometimes synthetic food really does outclass the real deal. Each bite costs you 700€, nearly ten days' wages for the average citizen of Night City, but you won't care.]
[After breakfast, you'll gather your gear, strapping on your katana and pistol holster. You'll order a Delamain cab and head for Jig-Jig Street.]
[Eight years have passed, and you've changed. The street urchin you once were has long been forgotten by those who still dwell there.]
[Upon arrival at the Pachinko parlor, you meet Wakako. She recognizes you and begins negotiations as previously arranged.]
[Wakako connects you with a hacker, Sasha Yakovleva, an independent operator and frequent visitor at the Afterlife bar. Skilled and trustworthy, just what you need.]
[Sasha answers your holo-call without hesitation, her avatar a cute cat. Though her real face is blurred out, you can tell she fits your 'type' just by her voice and silhouette.]
[The deal with Sasha goes smoothly. She gets the job done, and by the end of it, she's intrigued by you—who wouldn't be charmed by a good-looking kid with deep pockets?]
[After the call, Wakako notices your loadout. Realizing you're about to dive headfirst into the world of edgerunners, she offers you a small contract.]
[Your first job involves a minor skirmish—nothing you can't handle after years of training. It's your first real firefight, but you get through it easily.]
[Later that night, a few more complications arise, but you manage to handle everything without too much trouble.]
[Simulation Summary: First Blood – A Taste of Action]
[Rewards: +1 Attribute Point, Combat Experience, +1 Mastery Point, and a Basic Upgrade Component for Hacking software.]
Seeing the text scroll through the simulation results, Lin Mo couldn't help but smile. Nothing had caught him off guard so far—he'd planned most of tomorrow's activities ahead of time. But then he spotted the parts about the combat job and the unexpected rewards.
A surge of excitement hit him.
"1 Attribute Point, 1 Mastery Point, Combat Experience, and an Upgrade Component?"
This was easily one of the best hauls he'd ever received from the simulator since that early day when he'd first used a training chip for virtual combat. That time, he had received an Attribute Point and some basic blade skill experience.
Reflecting on the simulation's rewards, Lin Mo began to see a pattern. First-time experiences in simulations seemed to yield the best rewards. After the initial occurrence, the gains would steadily diminish, eventually plateauing.
"But a Mastery Point… now that's something new," Lin Mo thought as he eagerly opened up the database.
Every time the simulator introduced something novel, a brief summary would pop up in the database.
[Mastery Point: You may spend Mastery Points to unlock and enhance skill proficiencies.]
[Current Attribute Mastery List:]
**Body: None (Insufficient Attribute)Reflexes:
First Strike (You're quick to act, often moving before your enemies can respond.)
Perception of Danger (You sense when you're about to be ambushed.)
Adrenaline Rush (The worse your injuries, the faster your reflexes.)
Reactive Cover (When on the verge of being detected, you'll instinctively find a place to hide.)**
5...10. Eagle Eye (Your vision has evolved beyond normal limits, enhancing dynamic focus. You see the world through the sharp eyes of a predator, like a falcon hunting its prey. +50% enhanced dynamic vision.)
20. Heart of Lightning (When using Sandevistan, your blade strikes are lightning fast, and damage is increased by 100%. Nothing can withstand your blade.)
Tech: None (Insufficient Attribute)Intelligence: None (Insufficient Attribute)Cool: None (Insufficient Attribute)
"These skill specializations… they're like the perk system from the game, but there's so much more here." Lin Mo pondered while scanning the interface.
The Mastery Points seemed similar to the skill tree mechanics in Cyberpunk 2077. Once your attributes hit the required thresholds, you could unlock and invest points into various skills.
However, many of the specializations here were clearly unique to the simulator, offering far more depth than the in-game system. After all, the game never had 20 specializations under a single attribute like Reflexes.
And Mastery Points were rare, evidently. This was his first after 16 years, and not even the starter package had included one.
"Better be careful with how I spend this," Lin Mo thought as he browsed the available skills, feeling a sense of urgency to make the best possible choice.
After weighing his options, he focused on the Cool attribute—specifically those under the Reflexes tree.
He needed something that would enhance his abilities on the battlefield, especially considering the stakes in Night City.
Finally, he found what he was looking for.
[Perk Chosen: Bloodlust – Each kill grants 10% movement and hand speed for 10 seconds, stackable up to three times.]
"Let's go with Bloodlust."
It was a no-brainer. In a world where a split second could mean life or death, the ability to stack speed boosts would give him a vital edge.
Smiling, Lin Mo felt the surge of potential flood through his veins. His journey as an edgerunner was only just beginning.
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