Chapter 21: Invisibility +16!
"Dynamic Vision +1!"
"Dynamic Vision +1!"
"Thermal Imaging Vision +1!"
"Flight +1!"
…
A cascade of information flashed through Yang Bo's mind, yet he felt no joy—only a cool, measured contemplation. After a moment's reflection, he found it odd: his radar had scanned the area engulfed by the fire, and it showed no signs of any friendly units. Could it be that there were no allies nearby? As for whether the target might be an enemy, Yang Bo doubted it. After all, this was right next to the base—the high-energy ray emitters, laser cannons, and particle beam weapons atop that 800‑meter high mountain are far too overwhelming for any foe. Moreover, the base's reconnaissance systems are so sophisticated that not only the surface but even underground levels for thousands of meters are completely monitored.
Just as Yang Bo began to worry, a new piece of data suddenly emerged in his mind:
Invisibility +16!
"Uh—could that black shadow from earlier have been a B-level target?" Yang Bo was taken aback, and in that instant, realization struck him.
"Invisibility?" he murmured, mentally invoking his skills. Sure enough, his inner display confirmed a new Invisibility level: Intermediate (16/100).
Quickly, Yang Bo launched the game again. The game screen reappeared…
Meanwhile, in the far reaches of space, at a planet near Base 16, the personnel were baffled. They had just witnessed a mech mowing the grass, then suddenly a mech setting a fire! In the very next second, the entire base defense system roared to life—laser cannons and high-energy particle weapons firing up in unison.
"Alarm! Alarm! High-threat target detected!"
"Defense system, initiate!"
"Target elimination!"
An ear-splitting alarm echoed throughout the base, and within less than a second, the barrage ceased. Only then did the base management begin to react, issuing orders methodically. In moments, debris—remnants of a mech struck by laser fire—was recovered and brought back.
On Yang Bo's end, the game screen had reappeared—but then it went black, displaying "Mech Damaged."
Using the battle replay, Yang Bo scrutinized the footage. He saw that from the fiery chaos, a mech had charged out—a humanoid mech whose material looked oddly unfamiliar. His own mech's blade had pierced into the enemy mech; then, a dazzling burst of light erupted.
Yes, Yang Bo's mech had been blown apart by the base's defense system.
A message then appeared:
"Sir, in light of your detection of a B-level infiltrator, the game officials will replace your Blade mech free of charge. Enjoy your game."
And with that, Yang Bo was essentially dismissed. He wanted to ask a few questions but didn't know how—if others claim it's "just a game," then so be it.
Soon the game screen switched back to the cockpit view. Yang Bo opened his storage and discovered 500,000 gold coins—equivalent to 500,000 credit points. Then, he checked his in-game mailbox. Three messages awaited him:
1. A warning instructing players not to set fires or damage the natural environment, lest they be heavily fined.
2. An apology stating that the base's security system had obliterated the player's mech, and that the officials now extended their apologies—with an invitation to contact customer service for any needs.
3. A reward message: for detecting a B-level infiltrator, a bonus of 500,000 gold coins had been granted.
Yang Bo carefully reviewed the battle replay again. He noted that he hadn't actually killed the enemy; rather, his mech's blade had wounded the foe first, and only afterward was the enemy mech destroyed by the base's laser cannons.
"It seems that if I can at least injure the enemy first, I can secure a reward," Yang Bo mused. He didn't immediately contact customer service, still uncertain about what exactly he needed.
After the fire had been extinguished, Yang Bo decided to check his acquired rewards. He silently invoked his skill display, and his stats appeared:
Swimming: Advanced (125/1000)
Flight: Master (1402/10000)
Disguise: Beginner (4/10)
Sound Wave Localization: Intermediate (18/100)
Dynamic Vision: Master (4032/10000)
Thermal Imaging Vision: Advanced (203/1000)
Electric Energy Control: Intermediate (12/100)
Light Energy Control: Beginner (4/10)
Mech Piloting: Beginner (8/10)
Invisibility: Intermediate (16/100)
Yang Bo suddenly felt extremely hungry, yet his body was tense as if charged with energy. He stood up to stretch—the sound of his bones cracking echoed—and walked to the bathroom. There, he removed his shirt, revealing a perfectly toned physique that clearly betrayed explosive strength.
He then proceeded to recharge—while sipping on a glass of milk.
"My body has truly evolved," Yang Bo remarked, noting that he had consumed 35% of his battery's charge. He wondered how much he'd managed to recharge after work.
"Two master-level skills… I wonder what impact they'll have on me," he pondered.
"Now that I've made some money in the game, I'm not short on funds."
"But what's my next step? In which direction should I develop my abilities?"
"Perhaps I should focus on supportive skills first. In this technologically advanced world, even the strongest combat power pales compared to the might of laser cannons in space."
"Then what benefits can I negotiate from the game officials? Although I know deep down this isn't really a game…"
Wearing his pajamas, Yang Bo stepped to the window and gazed out at the enormous spaceport in the sky. Bathed in starlight, it shone brilliantly—a beautiful yet lethal structure armed with an array of weapons capable of destroying a city with ease.
His mind buzzed with questions. With such advanced technology available, why did the game's world still require mechs to engage targets? Wouldn't a space-based assault be far more effective? Who developed this game's setting—a military organization? And for what purpose? Genetic agent materials, or something else?
So many doubts crowded his thoughts, making him feel that beneath the beauty of the world lay endless abysses.
"Better to improve my own strength first; buying a house can wait," Yang Bo admitted, recalling his earlier impulse to spend his game credits on real estate.
With a renewed sense of direction, he immediately took action—logging into the game to contact customer service.
"Customer service?" Yang Bo initiated a chat directly within the game.
"Dear player, how may we assist you?" the automated voice replied in a mechanical tone.
"Because I was hit by the base's laser cannons—which caused severe psychological trauma—I demand compensation for mental damages," Yang Bo declared, testing the waters with a bit of bluff.
"Apologies, player. Please note that upon entering the game, officials informed all players that Mech World is a highly free-form game, where you must face all manner of unpredictable events. Should any harm come to you, our company regrets the incident," the customer service response came quickly.
Yang Bo was unimpressed—the message was clear: if you want to play, you play at your own risk.
"Then I require a map showing the distribution of animals within the base's radiation zone," Yang Bo pressed on without fear of embarrassment.
"That is available; however, given your current level, we can only provide the highest-grade distribution map for D-level organisms," the customer service replied promptly.
Yang Bo thought to himself, "Could it be that this customer service agent is an actual person with high authority? Otherwise, they wouldn't agree so readily."
"I also require data on common animals, including small creatures," he added.
"Certainly; though please note that animals are mobile—the official data reflects only their status at the time of the survey."
"Understood," Yang Bo replied. He mainly wanted to avoid wasting time scanning manually with his mech's limited radar range.
He then opened his email to view the map. In minutes, he pinpointed the location he needed—a lake about 280 kilometers from the base in the direction of the plains that harbored electric eels.
"Let's see if there are any bombs for sale," Yang Bo mused as he examined the lake's data. Even though his mech was capable of underwater combat, he considered himself a straight-laced individual.
"Or perhaps something to manufacture a potent toxin? If you can set fires, why not poison? This time, despite the warning for arson, the gains were huge—and the game officials haven't prohibited it."
(End of Chapter)