Volume 3, Chapter 71 – Active Skill

After spending 50,000 EXP, Anran reached Level 12.

Her stats changed once again.

Health: 398/430

Stamina: 301/336

Six Attributes: Strength 21, Agility 25, Endurance 26, Intelligence 39, Spirit 12, Charm 7

Free Attribute Points: 8

Skill Points: 5

Judging from her stats alone, she had already broken away from the ranks of cannon-fodder NPCs and was beginning to evolve toward the level of an elite monster.

One point into Intelligence, then two points into Endurance and two into Strength.

She kept the remaining three attribute points in reserve.

Anran nodded in satisfaction. This way, using the second-stage burst of her mechanical footgear would no longer put such a heavy burden on her body.

A game was still a game.

Anran touched her ankle. Earlier, it had hurt as though it were about to tear apart, but now she could no longer feel any pain at all.

Mainly because it had not caused any lasting damage. Once the pain debuff disappeared, the lost Stamina and Health would slowly recover.

However, the cuts Sandi had made with his blades would not heal so quickly. Without medicine to assist, they would still take some time.

She could tell just by looking at her status panel. Anran’s Health and Stamina had not returned to their best state.

Before the wounds healed, both her maximum Health and maximum Stamina were reduced.

Anran walked over to her mechanical footgear.

She checked its attributes.

Its Armor had originally been 30.

After the wear and tear of battle, it had dropped to 24.

She picked up the shoe and examined it carefully, discovering that the area near the pressure chamber had suffered a bit of damage.

That made it the perfect excuse to take it to the Research Center for repairs. While she was there, Anran also wanted to try continuing her analysis of the [Crude Exoskeleton Armor].

Her Intelligence had risen again and now reached 40. Maybe there would be a pleasant surprise.

Anran slung on her bag and set out.

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On the way from her residence to the Research Center, she inevitably passed the little 777 shop.

Standing on the opposite side of the street, Anran could see from a distance a few players scattered in front of the shop entrance.

There were not many of them, but the actual income was considerable.

After all, this was not like buying something and leaving after a single purchase.

Players who got hooked might very well dump their entire fortunes into it.

Even after deducting the cost of renting the storefront, it still made more money than selling cakes, and the Urban Appearance Management Bureau would not come looking for trouble either.

Right now, all Anran wanted was to focus on dealing with Morningstar. She had no interest in anything else.

In no time, she arrived at the Research Center.

As she passed Gray’s office, she found Gray talking to Morton.

From what Gray had said before, Anran knew that the two of them did not really get along.

The third week was about to begin.

Anran entered the workshop.

She first removed the outer “disguise” from the mechanical footgear, then took off the connection ring beneath the pressure chamber and installed a new one.

Even repairs could give a few hundred EXP.

Better than nothing.

Before, it was because she was not skilled enough that the mechanical footgear had suffered such heavy wear.

If Anran used it again now, the burden on her body would be much lighter, and she would handle it with far greater ease.

Next came another round of analysis.

Anran used Basic Analysis on the [Crude Exoskeleton Armor].

Analysis started.

Current analysis progress: 41%.

With Anran waiting expectantly, the progress bar began to rise again, slowly.

Analysis progress: 42%.

43%.

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44%.

Like squeezing toothpaste.

Slow, but still steadily climbing.

At last, it crossed the major threshold of 50%.

And Anran heard a pleasant notification sound.

“Ding! The analysis rate of [Crude Exoskeleton Armor] has reached 50%. You have obtained a new blueprint: [Crude Mechanical Armguard].”

56%.

That was the final peak.

The mechanical armguard was equipment that covered the arm and hand, so the area it enclosed was larger than that of the footgear.

Attributes: +20 Strength, Armor 30/30.

Compared with the mechanical footgear, it did not seem especially impressive and was even a bit inferior.

But the key point was that this armguard came with an active skill.

[Charged Impact]: Energy 50/50.

“It can be charged with electricity. When its energy is no lower than 30, you may use the skill Charged Impact.

The power of Charged Impact increases along with its energy level, with a Strength amplification multiplier of 2 to 3 times.

When energy is no lower than 40, Charged Impact gains an additional pneumatic shock effect.”

Apart from Backstab, this was the second combat-type active skill Anran had obtained.

If she used Basic Mechanical Enhancement and Backstab at the same time, then added a fully charged Charged Impact, what would happen when that punch landed?

Anran felt faintly excited.

Compared with the mechanical footgear, the armguard’s weakness was also fairly obvious.

Because of its size, it simply could not be concealed. Unlike the footgear, it could not be disguised as a pair of boots.

Even so, that was enough.

In the early stages of the game, even a Mechanic still had to fight in person. A troop-based playstyle was something you could only use in the mid and late game.

And the mechanical armguard made up for Anran’s lack of Strength. Even when facing martial-arts-type players or esper-type players, she could now kill them with ease.

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Right.

Anran took out the blueprint for the mechanical switchblade.

The mechanical armguard lacked sufficient built-in weaponry. If she integrated the mechanical switchblade into it, the result would probably be quite good.

After spending a little over one thousand EXP, Anran got a satisfying result.

[Crude Mechanical Armguard Improved No. 1].

An ejection mechanism had been added to the outside of the armguard. Once activated, it could quickly spring out a sharp serrated blade.

Time to get to work.

With the experience of making the mechanical footgear already behind her, Anran found it much easier to make the mechanical armguard this time.

She worked all the way until noon, and had just finished forging the model for the hand section.

When she passed Gray’s office, Anran pushed the door open and walked in.

“What is it? Do you need something?” Gray did not seem to be in a particularly good mood.

“I’m here to deliver a blueprint.”

Anran placed the [Three-Axis Power Unit] she had drawn long ago on the desk.

She had not even fully researched the [Crude Exoskeleton Armor] herself, so naturally she could not give it to Gray. As for the [Auto-Aim Code], Anran could only say that she had never seen such a thing in her life.

If she could stall for a while, then she would stall for a while.

“Thank you,” Gray said as he put the blueprint away.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

“Did something happen?” Anran asked.

Gray looked far too strange like this.

Gray straightened up. “After some time, I may be transferred to the Research Institute in New City.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Anran said in surprise.

Being transferred to the powerful headquarters, even if someone Gray’s age could not possibly hold a high-ranking position there, still counted as recognition from the research world.

On No. 1886, the Research Institute in New City was the holy land of engineering.

“The higher-ups may appoint Morton as acting director,” Gray continued.

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“…”

Morton, that very young researcher?

Gray said gloomily, “For me, putting down this burden and going to the Research Institute may be a good thing. But for you, that may not be the case.”

“What do you mean?”

“Morton knows that all of these blueprints came from you. He is quite talented, but too impatient by nature, and he likes taking shortcuts.”

At that point, Anran immediately understood.

Morton had set his sights on her blueprints.

In truth, Anran could always just walk away. But if she did, it would be hard to find another workshop this good in Twinmoon City.

That really was troublesome.

“Thank you.”

Anran was still very grateful for Gray’s warning.

“I know that you now belong to Nine Songs, but Morton also has some backing. His uncle is Twinmoon City’s vice mayor in charge of finance, a true power holder.”

“Oh.”

That made things even more troublesome.

Anran scratched at her hair.

Complicated relationships were impossible to avoid no matter where one went.

But in the end, Night of the Stars was a world where fists did the talking.

…

After leaving the Research Center, Anran strolled slowly along the street.

She opened the forum and browsed through it.

Then she suddenly saw an interesting post.

No. 1886 Section.

[A Letter to the Players of No. 1886].