Volume 5, Chapter 13 – The Beginning of Chaos
Volume 5, Chapter 13 – The Beginning of Chaos
Anran was still alive.
The message had come from Zhou Jieyu.
Although it contained only a few simple words, Li Zhuying, who had been sitting weakly on the bed, suddenly straightened up.
Was this real?
Was she actually dreaming?
However, the status display on her bracelet showed that she was awake, and pinching the flesh on her arm really did hurt.
So this was not a dream. But what if it was a hallucination…
The bracelet showed that she was suffering from sleep deprivation, dehydration, and mild hunger.
Li Zhuying waved her hand, and the message window vanished from midair.
Wearing only a camisole, she struggled out of bed. With a clatter, one of her slippers was kicked under the bed. She wanted to bend down and retrieve it, but the moment her hand touched the mattress, she gave up.
She would let the cleaning robot take care of it.
She went to the bathroom, combed her disheveled hair, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and ate a breakfast that the kitchen quickly prepared.
The bracelet still displayed: Sleep deprivation.
Barefoot, Li Zhuying returned to her bedroom. She sat down at her desk and slowly put on the game helmet.
It had been seven days, six hours, thirty-five minutes, and seventeen seconds since she last logged in.
[Although not becoming addicted to games is worthy of praise, we still hope our dear player will come back and visit often.]
Skip.
Consciousness immersion.
The next moment, Li Zhuying found herself back at the familiar login screen.
She stood on a transparent platform. Above her stretched a tranquil, boundless starry sky, while beneath her lay a sea as calm as blue sapphire. However, in the lower-left corner of her vision, the version number had changed from V1.01 to V1.10, and a new line of text had appeared:
Order begins to collapse within the fog.
It was familiar, yet different. What left the deepest impression was probably the fact that the water screen ahead was still playing that trailer.
To ensure that her consciousness would not experience any problems, the safe loading period was one minute.
It was still the same familiar sensation.
The soundtrack was incredibly stirring and the scenes were unbelievably cool, but apart from the narrator, the trailer contained no other voices. Although she understood the general background, she did not even know the names of the characters appearing in it.
One minute later, a portal appeared beneath the water screen.
Li Zhuying rushed through without hesitation.
Current character level: 22.
Current location: No. 1886.
Objective: Anran.
Splash.
Her figure was swallowed by the portal.
…
Add 1 point to Intelligence.
Analysis progress stalled.
Add another point to Intelligence. Still stalled.
Add 2 points to Intelligence. Progress increased by 7%. Add more…
After spending 285,000 EXP to raise Gale Sword Saint to Lv. 15, Anran began adding the extra attribute points to Intelligence one at a time. When her Intelligence reached 219, analyzing Maggie’s suit finally stopped feeling unsustainable.
At that point, Anran added all seven of her remaining attribute points in one go.
Six attributes: Strength 132, Agility 143, Endurance 135, Intelligence 225, Spirit 100 (+22 Mental Barrier), Charisma 10.
She also raised Intermediate Analysis to Lv. 3, further increasing her analysis speed.
“Ding-dong! You have successfully obtained the blueprint [Bespoke Source-Power Suit: Maggie Exclusive Model].”
Although Anran had originally planned to make the [Anti-Gravity Mechanical Battle Suit] first, no one was disturbing her now, so why not complete everything in one step?
She chose to synthesize the newly obtained blueprint with the mechanical battle suit blueprint and the AI-Assisted Visor blueprint.
After gambling away more than 120,000 EXP, Anran finally obtained a satisfactory result.
As someone who was traditionally considered a lucky “European,” even she had spent 120,000 EXP and made more than sixty attempts. If she had been an unlucky “African” Mechanic, she might never have obtained it in her entire life.
QAQ.
[Bespoke Source-Power Combat Suit]
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Its appearance largely followed the style of Maggie’s suit.
It was still form-fitting, with blue and violet as its primary colors.
The goggles had been redesigned into an AI-Assisted Visor, while the stylish over-ear headphones had been replaced with more convenient earbuds.
The suit covered the wearer up to the neck. Near the collarbones was a dark-blue metallic strip shaped like a stretched-open V. Together with the metal rings around the arms, wrists, thighs, and ankles, it formed a miniature shield field that left Anran extremely satisfied.
Short fins extended from the rear sides of the waist. These housed the central components of the miniature field that counteracted gravity.
Overall, it was still a combat suit made primarily from metal. Although it looked very thin, it was not like D.Va’s or Asuka’s combat suit. The gauntlets possessed an obvious metallic texture and could deploy sharp claws, while one “decorative” strip on the back of each hand could instantly flip outward to become a keen blade.
In Night of the Stars, clothing blueprints purchased with money or synthesized using enormous amounts of EXP were never lacking in appearance.
Energy: 1,260/1,260
Wearing requirements: Endurance 70, Spirit 50
Armor: 1,050/1,050
Standard attribute bonuses: Strength +50, Speed +10, Charisma +1
Flight Mode movement speed: 670
Additional skills:
- Impact Blade
- Micro-Field Shield (Shield value: Energy × 5)
- Kinetic Burst
Okay.
Now came the problem.
Because of its special design, Anran could manufacture the combat suit now, but she did not have enough energy sources.
Psionic cores.
Perhaps the Star Hunter Guild sold them.
Anran currently had only two, both dismantled from Maggie’s suit.
Without its psionic cores, Maggie’s outfit was now little more than a rather ineffective set of armor.
There was no helping it. The outfit was slightly too large, and the front was relatively revealing. Anran had tried it on. If she were placed inside it and compared with Maggie…
Hmm…
On Maggie, the outfit emphasized an enticing figure. On Anran, it merely hung from her shoulders while leaving her entire chest exposed.
What the hell?
It would be far too wasteful to dismantle the whole thing, but the requirements for giving it to someone else were also extremely high. The wearer would need a figure similar to Maggie’s.
Anran did not know anyone like that.
The chest section alone eliminated every woman she knew.
Besides, apart from Aila, why would she ever give equipment to someone for free?
She would store it for now.
She could always find an opportunity to sell it later. A personally worn battle suit, still carrying the scent of Maggie, the youngest daughter of the Governor of Sea Blue Forest…
Add some Lig Alloy, some Yulan Metal, and some Zelo Crystal…
Blend them together in the correct proportions and order.
Then process them with drilling, grinding, and cutting equipment.
Then…
“Ring, ring, ring. Contact request received from Leading the Escape. Accept?”
The spaceship’s AI suddenly alerted Anran.
“Accept it.”
After leaving Kleber Star, Anran had temporarily separated from Zhou Jieyu and the others again. She was currently parked on a nearby arid planet with an extremely harsh environment.
Bzzzt…
Blue light immediately projected down from the cabin ceiling. Then the figures of Zhou Jieyu and Lin Yumo appeared.
“What is it?”
Anran removed her tools and visor as she spoke.
“I think we should ask for your permission before doing this,” Lin Yumo said.
“???
What is it?”
As a player, she actually thought she needed to ask an NPC’s permission before doing something?
Although Anran knew that Lin Yumo’s personality was somewhat unusual, she was still surprised.
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“Leading the Escape told Monster Mountain Hermit that you’re still alive. Monster Mountain Hermit wants your contact information, but I thought we should ask for your permission first.”
Li Zhuying’s figure immediately flashed through Anran’s mind.
“By the way, where did she go before this?” Anran asked.
Lin Yumo replied, “I heard that after you disappeared, she logged… she left this world. Leading the Escape sent her a private message saying that you were still alive, so she came back.”
“…”
To build her image, Anran needed to find a few trustworthy players who could help her handle matters.
Li Zhuying had quit the game after hearing that Anran had died. Although she sometimes behaved like quite the pervert, she seemed like a decent candidate.
Anran thought for a moment. “Tell her.”
“Mm, understood. Goodbye, then.” Lin Yumo nodded.
Zhou Jieyu muttered softly, “See? I told you she would definitely agree.”
“No matter how certain you were, there was still a chance Anran would refu…”
The image suddenly vanished.
Heh.
Anran picked up a carving knife and patiently engraved a piece of Yulan Metal. With the support of various skills and the game’s simplified crafting system, she worked extremely quickly, so quickly that her hands became a blur.
The normally tedious process of mechanical manufacturing actually looked rather pleasing to the eye.
“Ring, ring, ring. Contact request received from an unknown person. Accept?”
Huh?
Could this be Li Zhuying calling?
“Accept.”
Blue light flashed, and a stranger appeared.
“Hello, Miss Jiang Yi.”
“Who are you?” Anran frowned. She had guessed wrong. Jiang Yi was the alias she had left with the Star Hunter Guild.
“I’m Donald, a customer service representative from the Star Hunter Guild!”
“…”
“Our records show that your total transaction volume with our guild has exceeded ten million Bilu. May I ask whether Miss Jiang Yi would be interested in becoming a bronze-tier client of our guild?”
I…
“#”
Damn it!
It was a sales advertisement!
“Not interested. Thank you.”
She might have to abandon this lousy alias at any time. Who would want to become a bronze-tier client under it?
Anran ended the call and continued working on her combat suit with a dark expression. Yet less than two minutes later, she received another call.
Damn it.
Once was not enough, so they called twice?
She accepted it.
“Hello, Miss Jiang Yi. I’m from the Star Hunter Guild…”
“!!!”
It really was them again.
Another sales pitch. She hung up.
The third call came.
Anran’s face was pitch-black and terrifying.
Once I make it big, I’m going to raid the headquarters of your lousy guild!
After accepting the call, she began with a curt greeting.
“Yes? What is it?”
Her expression looked utterly terrifying.
“Ah?” Li Zhuying, who appeared in the projection, jumped in fright.
Anran’s expression was horrifying. Could it be that Anran actually despised her? Why else would she look so displeased?
While Li Zhuying was feeling uneasy, Anran recognized her and realized that she had directed her anger at the wrong person.
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But it was not a major problem. Anran put away her ugly expression, and her stiff face softened.
“It’s nothing. I made a mistake. I thought it was another sales call.”
“A sales call?”
This game even had sales calls?
Li Zhuying was confused, but she quickly remembered her main purpose. She could not waste time on meaningless matters. As long as Anran did not hate her, everything was wonderful.
“I thought you were dead.” Li Zhuying grew sorrowful.
The mood became heavy under her influence, and she began rambling.
For example:
“I’ve kept everything you gave me in perfect condition.”
As she spoke, Li Zhuying lifted a small bag.
Something Anran had given her?
Anran thought about it. Apart from some equipment she had given Li Zhuying back at Nine Songs, there was also…
Li Zhuying had already displayed the answer for her.
She opened the bag and took out a pair of panties. The bag fell to the ground as she carefully pinched the edges of the panties with both hands, a hint of bashfulness on her face.
Stop, you pervert! Aila is standing right beside me!
Anran’s expression changed dramatically. Aila’s expression shifted slightly as well.
Hiss…
Drawing in a sharp breath, Anran watched as Li Zhuying carefully put the panties away again.
“I’ve always treasured them.”
You could actually choose to throw them away.
Li Zhuying returned to her rambling and finally said that she wanted to come find Anran.
“You can’t come here right now. I’m on an uninhabited planet. How about this? Go meet up with Leading the Escape first. She’s on Kleber Star right now, and I’ll return there after a while.”
“Mm!”
She had not been rejected. That meant she had a chance!
Li Zhuying was overjoyed.
After ending the call, she immediately boarded a ship and headed straight for Kleber Star.
She did not have enough money for the ticket?
Top up with real moneyyyyy!
After the call ended, Aila looked at Anran.
“Anran, Anran, why do we have to associate with that female pervert?”
“She may be a pervert, but she can still get work done.” Anran stroked Aila’s head. “Don’t worry. You’re still the one I like the most, Aila!”
Those words were extremely effective. Aila immediately closed her eyes in delight and enjoyed Anran’s touch.
“Anran, do you like men or women?”
“Women.”
“Mm.”
…
“Clink-clank-clink.”
“Thump, thump.”
“Bzz-krrk!”
Fragmented sounds like these rang through the spaceship from time to time. During the days Anran spent manufacturing the combat suits, her seventeenth birthday passed without her noticing.
Aila also grew to Level 31.
At last, in April of the year 8103, both Anran’s and Aila’s combat suits were completed.
They placed their only two psionic cores into the energy slots.
With Aila’s help, Anran carefully put on the combat suit.
“Click.”
The sections around her arms closed.
“Click.”
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The sections around her ankles closed.
“Click.”
Finally, the back began sealing from the neck downward.
The soft lining pressed closely against the underlayer wrapped around her body. Anran stood before the mirror and examined herself.
The combat suit fit perfectly and required no additional fine-tuning. After taking a moment to adapt, Anran began walking.
The combat suit highlighted her figure beautifully. Together with the raised soles beneath her feet, it instantly increased her height to more than 1.60 meters.
If she grew a little more, perhaps she could pretend to be 1.70 meters tall.
Then there was the chest.
After she put on the combat suit, two small steamed buns visibly rose there.
Small steamed buns were fine. At least she was not a flat tablet screen.
Scrape!
The claws deployed.
Swish!
The blades extended.
Then Anran’s body slowly and steadily floated into the air.
…
Whoosh.
The Anran left the dry, sand-covered planet.
The journey to Kleber Star was not far, only four light-years. Once her energy reserves were sufficient and she acquired some man-portable weapons, Anran felt that she could begin targeting Governor Fitch’s businesses.
She had been preparing for long enough.
Inside the Anran’s main cabin, Anran sat leisurely in her seat with a coat draped over the outside of her combat suit, sipping a fruit drink that was a specialty of Kleber Star.
When she had a choice, Anran, who maintained fairly healthy eating habits, refused both alcohol and carbonated drinks.
Celestial bodies drifted past before her eyes, seemingly moving at a leisurely pace. In reality, if they had not been so far away, their speeds would have appeared extremely fast.
There were asteroids, flying fragments, and enormous monsters clustered together…
Huh?
Enormous monsters?
Holy crap.
Anran, who had been thinking so leisurely, abruptly widened her eyes.
Something resembling a living creature was rapidly passing nearby. Upon closer inspection, it looked somewhat like a whale swimming through space.
The thing was heading toward the sixth planet of the star system containing Kleber Star and was about to enter its atmosphere.
“Magnify that area.”
Anran spoke to Aila. Aila nodded, and the image was immediately enlarged more than tenfold.
Wow.
Didn’t that group of things look like members of the insect race clinging together? They seemed to be carrying some kind of creature in the middle.
“…”
In the end, they disappeared onto the sixth planet.
They still had to pass three more planets before reaching Kleber Star.
But…
Those damned insects had mastered interstellar travel. Where exactly had they come from?
Kleber Star was clearly facing a crisis.
Hiss.
The spaceship landed steadily on the ground.
Anran quickly took Aila to the Star Hunter Guild.
She needed psionic cores.
After that, she would meet Zhou Jieyu and the others. However, while she was still on the way, Anran learned from the game forums that the theme of the Sea Blue Forest version seemed to be “The Beginning of Chaos: The Insect Race’s Ball?”
On multiple planets, enormous numbers of people had already been bitten to death by insect-race creatures that had fallen from the sky.
“Ah… Ah… Aaaah!”