Chapter 92 Faith Module [VIP]
The players were horrified.
Is this right? Why does the countdown start when there's a disagreement?
Player Lin Chen's mood at the moment was similar to that of someone who had worked so hard to defeat the BOSS, but the server was undergoing maintenance and was reverted to the time before entering the dungeon.
What era is this? How can there still be NPCs forcing limited-time quests into the game? They're simply living fossils of the gaming world, living specimens of idiotic planning!
This kind of death warrant is the dregs of game design, significantly reducing the joy of free exploration! What genius planner came up with this? Drag them out and send them to Aruba a hundred times!
"Ten minutes?" She repeated to the chatty NPC on the other end of the communicator, her tone full of questioning, "Are you kidding me?"
It's just a lab, so why rush it? E isn't the player's property anyway. After she's done, she might be able to go in and pick up some loot.
[Clone] The bright red "09:58" before the mission beats mercilessly.
"Tsk." Lin Chen curled his lips, and the [Fishing Ritual] card he got was no longer attractive anymore.
I had been wanting to study whether this card could summon a fire-breathing Godzilla or a laser-spitting SpongeBob, but now all that's been ruined.
Also, she hasn’t gone to see the campus life of Squinty-Eyed Cat and Little Butterfly yet!
"Can I not go?" the player tried to negotiate with the system, or rather, to bargain with another part of his consciousness. "Players have the right to refuse this kind of forced mission, right?"
The system, or rather her consciousness that diligently managed the farm and occasionally acted as a navigator, answered her with a silent countdown of "09:45".
Damn it, he's pretending to be so cool!
The player showed a contemptuous expression and made a harsh "tsk" sound.
She took a deep breath indignantly, opened the task interface indignantly, found the [Clone] task indignantly, and clicked to track it.
The task tracking function is very thoughtful. A conspicuous red exclamation mark flashes on the map. Hmm... it seems to be called "Aomori" or something.
Where is the nearest anchor point… Found it!
A blood-red light flashed, and Lin Chen, who was feeling the sea breeze (and the resentment of the NPC) at the Yokohama beach in the last second, appeared at the edge of a lush forest in the next second.
Well, the teleportation anchor point is set up in this remote place as always, making it convenient for players to appreciate nature (and run around).
"09:12".
Time was running out, and the player couldn't care less about the suspicious-looking, faintly glowing mushrooms and herbs along the roadside. Well, they'd just pick a few up anyway, just in case they were quest items? Worst case scenario, they could just toss them into a pot and cook, so it was worth it. Then, they'd head in the direction of the quest arrow and run.
As a completely free open world player with an agility of 157 and no stamina bar at all, running in a straight line is the way to go!
No matter whether it is a rugged mountain road or a steep cliff, as long as the angle is right, there is nothing that cannot be solved by a slide + double jump.
Lin Chen ran so fast that a cloud of dust billowed up, and the leaves behind her were rustling in the strong wind she created.
On the way, I also "by the way" dealt with a few wild boar-shaped red-named monsters that jumped out to block the way. The damage was not high, they just suddenly jumped out and hit the player when the player was moving at high speed.
The staggering player who was hit was furious!
What was so blind as to bump into me!
Ten seconds later, the player jumped up and continued running as if nothing had happened, but there were some more fangs, meat and animal skins in his backpack.
"07:53".
Finally, a building that looked heavily guarded and full of the style of a "high-tech villain base" appeared at the end of the field of vision.
The main color is white, and the exterior walls have a metallic texture. There are also several security NPCs patrolling the door wearing uniform and looking very capable.
Why build a lab in the middle of a forest that looks so out of place? And then there's patrols, which makes it even more out of place?
Never mind, just consider it as a game requirement.
Lin Chen braked suddenly and stopped a few hundred meters outside the base gate. He skillfully took out a telescope from his backpack - this was a reward for a previous mission. It had night vision and thermal sensing capabilities and was very useful.
The chatty NPC (Vermouth) seemed to have calculated the time accurately, and the communication came in again: "Ms. Player, have you arrived? The clone has broken through the third line of defense, and Master Grappa is almost unable to control her!"
Her voice was still gentle, but with just the right amount of urgency. Wow, she really sounded like the quest guide in traditional RPGs who urged players to die quickly.
"Grappa?" Lin Chen asked casually as he observed the patrol route of the security NPC at the base gate. The name sounded like a brand of some kind of soda.
"Yes, that's the chatterbox NPC who explained.
Oh, that experimental NPC with fanatical eyes and a happy face!
Lin Chen remembered that he had taken a lot of good things from her at that time.
He is flexible and willing to sacrifice himself for his ideals."
This evaluation mainly comes from the fact that if you mess up her laboratory or dismantle her beloved equipment into parts, she can start studying it again in the next second, and more materials are included.
This kind of NPC is hard to find even with a lantern!
“06:22”.
There was no time to sneak in. Lin Chen put away the binoculars and walked directly towards the gate. Since it was a mission, there must be an official express passage, or the NPC would voluntarily make way.
As expected, the security NPC at the door was stunned for a moment when he saw her, and then as if he had received some instructions, he silently stepped aside and opened the door.
During this time, some NPCs had red exclamation marks above their heads, and they looked like they were about to rush over, but they were quickly pulled back by their companions, and forced to "nothing happened."
Haha, the players thought, you guys are smart.
Lin Shen swaggered into the base. The light here was a little dim, and the air was filled with the mixed smell of disinfectant and metal.
The alloy doors on both sides of the corridor were tightly closed, with only the mission arrow pointing firmly to the depths. Occasionally, dull thuds and shrill alarms could be heard in the distance, creating a rather impressive atmosphere.
"This is it." The player followed the instructions and stopped in front of a huge alloy door. This door looked thicker than the others, and there were several hideous claw marks on it, which were obviously added recently.
"Ms. Player, please be careful. Her strength and speed are almost identical to yours!" The chattering NPC's voice faintly came from inside the door, accompanied by Grappana's unique, slightly frantic scream: "Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Even in her uncontrolled state, she's still so powerful!"
Lin Chen stretched his wrist and took out the sword he used most often from his backpack. Although it was a cheap item bought in the mall, it had been strengthened and smelted countless times, and its efficiency in killing monsters was top-notch.
A clone, right? Same physical qualities and abilities, right?
So what? She definitely doesn't have a system, no tools, no way to stop time, no way to rewind...
In this case, isn't he just a sitting duck?
Lin Chen kicked open the alloy door.
Behind the door was a circular laboratory that was somewhat exaggeratedly wide. Various smashed instruments were emitting sparks, and the walls were covered with cracks and dents.
The clone did not have the player's current black hair and blue eyes disguise, but instead had the iconic white hair and red pupils. His eyes were empty and full of primitive destructive desire, like a soulless beast.
This "Player" who exudes a tyrannical aura is pinching Grappa's neck and lifting her high up.
Grappa's face flushed crimson, but her eyes lit up frighteningly. She struggled to utter a few words, "Data... record it... her anger pattern..."
"Hey," Lin Chen said unhappily, "Fake, let go of that NPC. She's still useful."
The players don’t feel sorry for Grapa, but mainly because this NPC is the type that obviously has some subsequent plot.
Research NPCs like this who follow closely behind the players will definitely research player-exclusive items, potions, equipment, etc. It would be a waste if they died!
The clone suddenly turned its head, staring at Lin Chen with its empty eyes. A roar that was not human came from its throat, and it threw Grapa away like garbage, then turned into a shadow and pounced on him.
It is very fast and powerful, and its data is almost the same as the player's panel data.
Sadly, she's just a replica.
Lin Chen dodged the clone's claw attack and slashed at its wrist with his sword. The clone's health dropped slightly, and it let out a sharp cry of pain, its movements noticeably slowing down for a moment.
"Oh? The pain sensation is retained?" Lin Chen was a little surprised, but his hands kept moving.
She had no interest in engaging in sentimental dramas or philosophical speculation with this soulless replica; a quick and decisive battle was the right path.
The clone obviously inherited all the skills that the player currently possessed, and could use [Vector Manipulation] and [Space Folding] with ease. For a moment, the energy in the laboratory surged and shock waves spread out.
But her fighting style is rough and direct, full of beast-like instincts, and she completely lacks the player's combat wisdom of "doing it in the most labor-saving way" or "doing it in the most insidious way".
Lin Chen relied on her richer combat experience, and more importantly, she had a brain, to easily play with the clone.
Occasionally, you can deliberately expose a flaw to lure the opponent into using a powerful skill, and then use positioning and prediction to avoid it. By the way, you can also test the resistance of this laboratory.
"Boom!" Another wall collapsed by the clone's fireball.
"Why does it feel like your proficiency is higher than mine?" Lin Chen complained calmly in his heart. He tapped his feet lightly to avoid the flying gravel, and at the same time, with a precise [Impact Rebound], he bounced back another energy bomb fired by the clone.
The clone's face was covered with a mess from its own attack. It roared angrily and attacked even more frantically.
"02:15".
It's almost time to end.
Lin Chen watched the countdown and decided not to waste any more time. She took a deep breath, her eyes turning serious. Even though the other person was just a soulless replica, it didn't sit well with the sight of him going crazy, sporting the same face and skills as her.
It's like seeing someone else using your top-ranked game account to achieve a terrible score. I feel completely humiliated! This is intolerable!
The player's figure suddenly became erratic, and the clone's attacks all missed. As they brushed past each other again, Lin Chen's sword thrust out at a tricky angle, striking the clone's heart with pinpoint accuracy.
The clone froze, a flicker of disbelief in her hollow eyes. She looked down at the sword on her chest, then up at Lin Chen, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"A fake should have the awareness of being a fake." Lin Chen drew out her sword and watched the clone fall. She did not close her eyes until her death.
The [Clone] mission is complete, and the countdown disappears. Currency and some seemingly useless materials are automatically credited to your account.
Grapa struggled to crawl out of the rubble. She looked miserable, her white coat was torn in several places, and her face was stained with blood, but her eyes were still as fanatical as two burning flames.
She rushed to the clone, leaning over it in a futile attempt to listen to her heartbeat, muttering to herself, "Perfect... even in death it's perfect... Data! My data!"
Lin Chen took two steps back in disgust to avoid being touched by this crazy NPC.
She looked around the laboratory, which had been almost torn down to a bare shell, and rummaged through it desperately. Finding that there was really nothing to loot, she turned around dissatisfied and prepared to leave.
"Wait! Master Player!" The mad scientist suddenly crawled over like a gecko, hugging Lin Chen's calf. "Please... please give me some more of your cell tissue! No, blood! Hair is fine too! Please! For the evolution of mankind!"
"Let go." The player shook her calves, but the scientist held her tightly, showing no sign of letting go even when she was shaken into the air.
“Please!”
The player looked down at the scientist NPC who was hugging his thigh, crying bitterly, and almost kneeling on the ground to kowtow. He felt speechless and wanted to laugh.
You can't get anything from players without paying for it! Want to buy for free? No way!
"I'm busy." Lin Chen flatly refused, pointed a finger at Grappa's forehead, activated [Vector Manipulation], and pushed her into the corner neatly.
Done. Called a day.
The next goal... well, I can try to see what the [Fishing Ritual] does, or find a place with beautiful scenery to fish. After all, the joy of fishing just now has not completely dissipated.
The scientist NPC stubbornly climbed up using his hands and feet, shouting, "I'm willing to give everything I have! Player, please!"
[A once-in-a-lifetime request: Crazy scientist Grappa, cold-blooded, heartless, and indifferent to human life, has transformed countless children into strange shapes and shattered countless families because of her? ...Now she kneels at your feet, willing to give up everything she has, just to win your favor. So, what will you choose?]
Lin Chen's fingertips hovered in mid-air, reading the quest description with great interest. The NPC was a bad guy—this wasn't uncommon. Players used to have plenty of useless NPCs at their disposal. As long as they were obedient and useful, that was all that mattered.
"Everything about you?" She crouched down and lifted the scientist's chin with the tip of her sword. "Including your free will?"
The scientist NPC didn't resist, meekly raising her head as the player pushed. Her pupils constricted behind her lenses, but she answered without hesitation: "Yes! My knowledge, my soul, every second of my existence will be at your disposal!"
The lab's alarm stopped at some point, leaving only Grappa's rapid breathing.
Lin Chen noticed that the "Tamed" icon in the status bar of this mad scientist was flashing rapidly, with a small heart next to it - this UI design was like playing some weird development game.
"Deal~" the player snapped his fingers happily.
【Faith Module Activation】
[First Believer: Grappa (Fanatical Believer)]
[Obtain exclusive skill: Faith Infusion]
Lin Chen curiously clicked on the new skill description:
[Can grant some of your own abilities to believers]
[Currently allocable attribute points: 5]
[Warning: Excessive infusion may cause believers to have a mental breakdown]
"Interesting!" She casually added all 5 points to intelligence and chose the only NPC in front of her to try out this skill directly.
The scientist NPC suddenly twitched all over, her glasses cracking, but her expression grew even more frantic: "I see it! Those patterns! Those truths!"
"Lord..." The scientist NPC knelt on the ground with a fanatical smile, "Please allow me to build a sanctuary for you!"
[New Mission: The Bud of Faith]
[Goal: Build the first temple (0/1)]
[Reward: Unlock the Faith Skill Tree]
Lin Chen curled her lips. Building a house? That was too much trouble. She casually tossed the task to Grappa: "I've given you permission. Remember to build a nice fountain."
That was all Lin Chen requested of his first fanatic NPC. As for the temple's style, materials, and location... those kinds of complicated matters were naturally left to the NPC to handle.
The player is only responsible for acceptance and enjoying the results. The fountain must be large and gorgeous, and it is best if it can spray colorful water, or even directly spray Coke, so as to meet the player's aesthetic taste.
After receiving the approval of the "Master", the scientist NPC's eyes, which appeared sharper due to the shattered lenses, burst into a light comparable to a supernova explosion.
She almost jumped up from the ground using both her hands and feet. The depressed state she had been in after being beaten half to death by the clone disappeared, replaced by a kind of fanaticism that even Lin Chen found a little dazzling.
"Praise be to you, my generous Lord! Your will will be carried out! The sanctuary will stand!" Grappa declared loudly, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
Lin Chen looked at her with some curiosity. This newly activated [Faith Module] and [Faith Infusion] skills seemed more interesting than he had imagined.
5 points of intelligence makes this NPC as energetic as a chicken blood shot. If there are more followers in the future and the attribute points are maxed out, won't everyone be Einstein, making spaceships by hand? Well, making Gundams by hand is also fine. Players are not picky.
Grapa did not start drawing the design of the temple immediately, but started to act in this laboratory that was almost demolished into ruins with an efficiency that even Lin Chen was a little surprised.
Her targets were the ordinary researcher NPCs and security NPCs who had been hiding because of the clones going berserk, or who had just woken up after being knocked unconscious.
These NPCs were still in shock after surviving a disaster, but when they saw Grapa, their immediate superior and mad scientist, coming over, they all had terrified expressions on their faces as if to say, "Don't come over here!"
"Everyone," Grappa's voice was now filled with persuasion. Combined with her intelligence, which had been heightened by her "faith infusion," it was like a dimensionality-reducing attack. "Are you still sighing at the fragility of humanity? Are you still suffering from your own limitations? Now, the true path of E evolution has been revealed before us!"
She pointed at Lin Chen, who was squatting beside him, interestedly studying a piece of material that looked like an "unknown biological tissue sample" that had fallen from his clone, wondering whether it could be eaten or used to make equipment.
"Look! That is the walking truth! A living miracle! She is the initiator of a new era and the only lighthouse that leads us on the path of perfect evolution!" Grappa spoke passionately, spitting everywhere.
Player Lin Chen: “…”
This NPC's dialogue skills are pretty good, much better than those red-named monsters I encountered before who could only shout "For XX".
Hmm...should I give her some charm attribute as well?
What surprised Lin Chen was that those ordinary NPCs who originally had terrified faces actually began to waver under the bombardment of Grapa's highly inflammatory speech and certain scientific theories (which the players could not understand but seemed very powerful).
The fear in their eyes was gradually replaced by a complex emotion mixed with confusion, curiosity and a hint of fanaticism.
The prompt [Number of believers: 1/xx] began to jump slowly in an inconspicuous place on the system interface.
Grappa is converting new believers...
【Researcher A has become your shallow believer.】
Security guard B has shown a keen interest in your faith.
"Oh?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. This NPC Grapa was truly a rare talent. Not only was she strong in scientific research, she was also adept at MLM... no, spreading faith. Could she be entrusted with the ideological development work of the farm in the future?
Looking at Grapa busying himself over there, vowing to turn this laboratory into his "master's" first earthly kingdom of God (reserve), Lin Chen felt a little bored.
She has no interest in managing the believers, as long as they pay their tributes on time (if the belief system has such a function) and repair the fountain.
The main structure of this laboratory has been dismantled by the clones, and I didn't find anything particularly eye-catching when I searched it just now.
However, the player's keen "map radar" noticed that the base seemed to extend underground. Usually, such a late-stage villain base would have some good stuff hidden underground, such as the final boss's secret weapon or some hidden plot clues.
With the mentality of "I'm already here" and "what if there's a treasure?", Lin Chen followed the gaze of the security NPC who occasionally glanced at a corner during patrol and found an elevator disguised as a wall.
The elevator's control panel has been smashed, but this isn't a problem for the player.
She stretched out her little hand and fumbled around on the damaged panel for a few times. Relying on her intuition about "destructible/interactive items in the game", she found several core lines.
Before she could start "brute force cracking", the line was very "intelligent" and connected by itself. The elevator door opened with a "ding", revealing a deep passage leading downwards.
"The production team is quite considerate." Lin Chen muttered and walked in.
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