Jungle Conqueror!

Boulder City. Inside the cybernetic surgery room of Boulder Military Industries, a completely naked young woman lay on an operating table surrounded by multi-axis mechanical processing cantilever arms. Her skin was smooth and delicate, like flawless mutton-fat jade, while her tranquil, beautiful sleeping face resembled a finely sculpted work of art, radiating a mesmerizing charm from within that made it impossible to look away. In fact, it truly was a work of art. This all-new bionic skin combined the Academy's cutting-edge technology with the Enterprise's engineering prowess, and had been installed using the Alliance's uncanny cybernetic surgical techniques, flawlessly replacing her original skin, which had been ravaged by neutron radiation until barely a single intact cell remained. Judging strictly from sight, touch, and various other sensory inputs, this new skin was utterly flawless compared to the original—one could even say it surpassed it. If one insisted on finding fault, the only trivial flaw was that being overly perfect made it seem slightly unreal. More than that, this bionic skin also focused on strengthening the user's soft-tissue defense capabilities. When longitudinal cuts or punctures pushed the skin's elasticity past a certain threshold, the bionic skin would automatically trigger a hardening effect, forming a protective layer comparable in strength to titanium alloy in a fraction of a second to resist cuts and puncture wounds penetrating into the dermal tissue. Coupled with titanium alloy bones and shock-absorbing components, withstanding the kinetic impact of light firearms on the level of pistols and rifles was no great issue. Aside from the armor inherent to the skin itself, Jiang Xuezhou had gone all the way and performed DIY modifications on top of it. For instance, in order to adapt to deep-space operations and various complex special conditions, she had requested that Boulder Military Industries, while performing the skin graft surgery, implant a series of modules into her subcutaneous tissue—including temperature regulators, positive and negative pressure compensation controls, and other plugins. That way, she could operate normally in a vacuum without wearing a protective suit. This system had been designed by her, and could be considered an improved version of the system on Ye Shi. With so many buffs stacked upon it, her body had truly reached the realm of art. Moreover, it was the pinnacle of cybernetic art achieved through raw technological power! As the cybernetic modification surgery drew to a close, the multi-axis cantilever arms hanging above the operating table like an octopus retracted into a massive sphere. At the same time, vaporized liquid nitrogen hissed out from beneath the operating table, and Jiang Xuezhou opened her eyes at that exact moment, waking amidst a shroud of white mist. The instant she regained consciousness, lines of faint blue loading pop-ups were projected onto the retina of her cybernetic eyes. [Connected to server... Executing cybernetic integrity check protocol...] [Check complete... All components functioning normally.] The faint blue text and loading data vanished instantly, as if they had never existed. Jiang Xuezhou took a deep breath, tested her temperature regulation and positive/negative pressure balancing functions one by one, then pushed down with both hands and leaped off the operating table. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, she admired her brand-new body for a moment, feeling thoroughly refreshed. "Not bad, not bad... It's got about seventy or eighty percent of this lady's peak beauty!" Even though she didn't know what competition she was in, she felt as though she had already won at the starting line. She could already picture someone's jaw dropping in a silly daze. Of course, if his jaw didn't drop, she wouldn't mind doing it by hand and punching it off for him. "Heh heh heh..." The more she looked at her reflection in the mirror, the more she liked what she saw. A grin stretched across her lips that she couldn't suppress; she was just one step away from putting her hands on her hips and laughing out loud like a villain. At first, she was still a bit reserved, shyly pinching a strand of hair by her temple and twirling it around her fingertip, feeling a little embarrassed. But perhaps realizing that there was no one else around anyway, she soon grew bolder. First, she flipped her bangs back lightly, then struck several smug, self-admiring poses in rapid succession. It wasn't until she saw a wheeled medical robot rolling over that she flushed red, hastily ceased her antics, and grabbed the clothes offered by the robot to put them on. The satin-like robe flowed over her shoulders like a light stream, cascading down like a waterfall. It felt as if friction had ceased to exist. Fully dressed, Jiang Xuezhou stood in front of the mirror once more. This time, both her demeanor and expression were far more composed than before. Raising her restored wrist, she looked at the silky, smooth, soft, and unblemished pale skin. Once the rush of excitement subsided, a sudden wave of apprehension washed over her. Was this... truly herself? The person standing in front of the mirror was undoubtedly still the same person as before; her expressions and smiles carried the exact same charm, to say nothing of the specialized knowledge in her head, which had always been what she took the most pride in. If there was any difference, it was probably this work of art that was her cybernetic body... Humans naturally loved beauty. She was no exception. Yet what made her uneasy was the persistent feeling that everything from head to toe didn't belong to her, that it had replaced what had originally been hers... Am I still me? Or perhaps— The real me is already dead, and what stands here is merely a replica of me... A sudden chill ran through Jiang Xuezhou's heart, and her hands clenched into fists involuntarily. But she soon released them, taking a deep breath and calming herself down. First of all, that was impossible. Second, her present existence was undeniably real, and she could feel it herself. In the face of rigorous logic, paranoia was meaningless. Yet perhaps she was being overly sensitive, for another question soon welled up uncontrollably in her mind— Where exactly was the boundary between a bionic human and a real human? Or rather— Starting from the replacement of which specific component did a person cease to be human and become an object? And in that very instant, standing in the same shoes, she suddenly understood the loneliness that Ye Shi had borne in silence all along, as well as those hesitant expressions when he stopped short of speaking. "So that's how it is..." Before, she had always thought the guy was ungrateful. She had expended so much effort to save him while he lay comatose and given him the best cybernetics, yet he remained unsatisfied, looking completely reluctant and utterly miserable even when thanking her. Only now did she truly empathize with the emotions he had gone through... Thinking of this, Jiang Xuezhou felt her eyes grow slightly warm. He wasn't the only immature one. She had been immature, too. "You have regrets." A leisurely voice suddenly came from the side. At some point, Ibers had appeared at the entrance of the operating room. "No..." Jiang Xuezhou quickly reined in her slight lapse of composure, sniffled, lowered her raised wrist, and looked at her flawless reflection in the mirror. "I just feel... like a part of what made me who I was has been replaced. Even though it looks like me, it isn't me." "Shall I install it back for you?" Ibers said gentlemanly. "Although it's a bit troublesome, it's hardly difficult for me." "That won't be necessary at all," Jiang Xuezhou blurted out almost without hesitation. Ibers burst into laughter. Hearing that undisguised laugh, Jiang Xuezhou felt a bit annoyed and grumbled under her breath, "What are you laughing at..." "My apologies if my laughter caused you displeasure." Ibers cleared his throat, though his smile carried not the slightest hint of genuine remorse. Jiang Xuezhou muttered in a low voice, "No need to apologize... Thank you for performing the surgery on me." "You're welcome," Ibers replied politely. Then, that thought-provoking smile returned to his face as he continued, "I have a fair idea of what troubles you. Suppose every component of an object is completely replaced—is it still the original object? Did I guess correctly?" "..." Jiang Xuezhou said nothing, but that silence was an answer in itself. Seeing that he had guessed right, Ibers's smile turned cheerful, and he continued unhurriedly: "In truth, there's no need for you people to agonize over such things. The cells in your bodies undergo a complete cycle of renewal in as long as seven years or as short as a few hundred days... and for some, that cycle is even shorter. Even so, in my view, certain things never change." Just as Jiang Xuezhou was about to ask what that was, Ibers continued on his own, as if anticipating her question: "The soul." "I have stayed in this city for a very, very long time. Thanks to that, I possess eyes that can see what others cannot. Some people are merely chunks of meat in front of me; only at the moment of death do they produce a tiny, decent spark. Yet others possess priceless treasures that make me drool with envy. Their souls are like burning torches—one could gaze upon them forever without tiring." Jiang Xuezhou couldn't help but quip, "I think you've simply passed your expiration date..." "Perhaps," Ibers nodded with a smile. "Unfortunately, I am not a bionic produced through conventional channels, but a special product of a special era..." Before Jiang Xuezhou could reply, the lunatic suddenly began lamenting in self-pity once more: "How sorrowful... My master's master designed the final death for my master, yet my master forgot to design an ending for me. Perhaps I should find a corner to crouch in and draw circles." "..." Jiang Xuezhou stared at him in speechlessness, at a loss for words. Still, thanks to him, this interruption had caused what little angst lingered in her heart to vanish completely... ... [...The above summarizes the results of our negotiations.] [The Tree of Life has expressed willingness to establish a closer symbiotic relationship with us, including restoring damaged ecosystems across the wasteland, providing technical services such as establishing biospheres and boosting agricultural yields for our extrasolar development zones.] [In exchange, it hopes we can supply fertilizers or similar nutrients that promote plant growth. Naturally, it would be even better if we could assign a few rangers proficient in both nutrition and psionics.] Dawn City, the Alliance Building. Sitting behind his desk, Chu Guang read Ye Shi's report from beginning to end, his expression three parts gratified and seven parts impressed. "Not bad. The kid really has grown a lot. He's far more reliable than before." Xiao Qi happily heaped praise upon him: "Hehe, it's mostly because Master trained him well." "Hahaha, true enough! Who do you think I am?" Chu Guang chuckled, reveling in his satisfaction for a moment. Then he stamped a simple [Read] on the report, set the tablet aside, and went on to handle other business. At the same time, at the southernmost tip of the Mid-Continent, in Port French Fries by the Baiyue Strait. Killing time in the hotel's executive lounge, Ye Shi finally received the Administrator's reply. However, when he saw the single-word response, he nearly spat out the cola in his mouth. "Fuck! I wrote so many words, and all he sends back is 'Read'?!" Seeing his lack of experience, Lao Bai laughed and said, "You're still young. You don't understand the weight of that single word." Ye Shi: "...What do you mean?" Fang Chang, sitting opposite him, gave a faint smile and explained, "Simply put, the Administrator thinks there's no issue at all, and wants you to keep it up and redouble your efforts." Pausing briefly, he continued, "Based on my past experience, the fewer words he uses when replying to a mission debrief, the higher the completion rating. If there's a lengthy, sprawling paragraph, that means he's pissed." Fang Chang hadn't run into such a situation himself, but according to Brother Battlefield, he used to encounter it frequently until he became a millurion, after which it gradually ceased. Ye Shi scratched the back of his head. His expression wasn't dissatisfaction, just a slight sense of regret. "I thought it'd be more ceremonial." Lao Bai teased, "Like pinning a giant red ribbon flower on your chest?" Ye Shi: "Hey, that wouldn't be half bad." Lao Bai: "Hahahaha!" Seeing Ye Shi act spoiled despite getting a great deal, Fang Chang rolled his eyes. "Give it a rest. The rewards you got are already enough to make people green with envy. What more do you want?" Ye Shi laughed sheepishly. "Well... the more the merrier. Who complains about having too many rewards?" Truth be told, he was too embarrassed to mention it, but the very moment he had complained, the trash dev seemed to have heard him, flashing a series of pop-ups across his VM screen: [Congratulations to player 'Getting Up More Than Ten Times a Night' for completing the mission 'Explore the Baiyue Province Broodmother'!] [Mission Completion: 100%] [Rating: S] [Rewards: Exclusive title 'Jungle Conqueror', 10,000 contribution points, and 1,000,000 silver coins!] [Server Announcement: The Baiyue Province broodmother has evolved into the Tree of Life. Its faction relation with the Alliance is now set to 'Ally'; unprovoked hostile actions without authorization are strictly prohibited. The Tree of Life's guardian beast, 'Dragon Lizard', is likewise a friendly unit; hostile actions without authorization are strictly prohibited... Dialogue can be triggered upon awakening 'Psionics'.] [Server Announcement: The map danger level within a 100-kilometer radius around Port French Fries has been lowered to Level 0 and incorporated into the safe zone. The recommended map level for areas beyond 100 kilometers is set to Level 30...] The rest of the announcements flooded the screen. Ye Shi didn't read them closely, only glancing to verify his mission yields. All in all, Ah Guang had been quite generous. Ten thousand contribution points were negligible compared to his seven-digit total, and his contribution tier had capped out long ago. However, the one million silver coins and the 'Jungle Conqueror' title were very sweet rewards. Especially the latter—he could use it to mock Chicken Slaughterer. Putting down his coffee cup, Kuang Feng, sitting by the table, suddenly recalled something and looked at Ye Shi. "Speaking of which, once this trip is over, do you really plan to go look for the ruins of that Precursor Civilization or whatever?" Although the news of forming an extrasolar expedition team hadn't made huge waves on the official forums, it had stirred up a massive buzz in the NPC world. Especially residents of the avant-garde Ideal City—many had even taken flights to the Southern Sea and Port French Fries specifically to ask around about where to sign up. Those folks were genuinely shut-ins, but their drive when motivated was extraordinary. Facing Kuang Feng's inquiring gaze, Ye Shi dropped his joking, clowning demeanor and nodded solemnly. "Yes, I've already made up my mind." At this point, he paused for a moment before continuing, "Sometimes I feel... this game is just like a real world. From the very beginning, there was never any so-called main storyline. What we call the main storyline was uncovered by ourselves as we progressed through the game. Remember back at the start? When we burned cement together." Hearing Ye Shi bring up things from so long ago, Lao Bai couldn't help showing a nostalgic smile. "Of course I remember... Come to think of it, we've been playing this game for so long." "Yeah, it really has been a long time. To me, it feels like... another life, one completely different from reality." Ye Shi nodded and continued, "Actually, ever since back then, I've been searching for what this game means to me, just like reflecting on my life in reality—including why I came into this world, and what the other people here mean to me... Even though I might not have realized it at the time, looking back, I probably stopped treating the people in this world as simple NPCs way back then." If there was a turning point to all this, it was probably the death of an old man named Ji Xiang. Of course, not just Ji Xiang, but many, many other NPCs whose names he could call out. He would rather sacrifice himself than see them suffer the slightest harm. Seeing the rare, serious expression on Ye Shi's face, Kuang Feng raised an eyebrow slightly. "So, did you find it?" "I guess so," Ye Shi smiled sheepishly. "I can't say exactly which day it happened, but by the time I realized it, I had already decided on everything... including what to do next, where to go in the future, and all that." He wanted to see the distant worlds. Naturally, what mattered most was going together with the person he had promised. "Congratulations," Fang Chang said, understanding his feelings and clapping him on the shoulder. "And I support your choice." "Haha, don't make it sound like I'm heading off to some unreachable place. It's just that I probably won't be able to team up with you guys for a while. Besides, I'm not leaving right away. We still have another mission together." Ye Shi laughed bashfully, then looked solemnly at his good brothers. "Thank you... for always standing by my immature self." "Haha, don't fucking make it sound like you're heading off to some unreachable place. It's not like we can't meet offline," Lao Bai chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder and tossing his own words right back at him. Then he added earnestly, "Come back and visit whenever you have time. The Burning Corps will always have a spot reserved for you." Moved, Ye Shi nodded forcefully. "Yeah!" Kuang Feng rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I won't say anything sentimental, but if you find the edge of the map, remember to let me know... consider it satisfying my curiosity." Fang Chang said with a smile, "Why don't you just go with him? He'll have company on the road." "I haven't decided yet, and besides..." Kuang Feng sighed softly. Just as he was about to elaborate, he seemed to think of something and abruptly changed his tune, asking Ye Shi in a half-joking tone, "If I really went with you, wouldn't you mind me being a third wheel?" "What kind of weird nonsense are you talking about? It won't just be me and Jiang Xuezhou on the ship," Ye Shi said with a grin. "Besides, we're planning to kidnap a few scientists aboard. If you're willing to come, that's perfect! Well? Coming with us? If you're shy, just nod, and I'll tie you up and drag you aboard when the time comes." "Kidnapping won't be necessary." Seeing that Ye Shi was dead serious, Kuang Feng didn't answer directly, merely laughing. "We'll talk about future stuff when the time comes. But keeping a bunk reserved for me isn't asking too much, is it?" "Approved!" Ye Shi thumped his chest. "I'll make the call on this!" While Ye Shi and his good brothers were laughing, chatting, and shooting the breeze, a group of bewildered rookies was standing beside the sacred tree on the northern outskirts of Port French Fries, pointing and gossiping about the giant lizard with a cockscomb crest. Strictly speaking, they weren't all rookies; there were also a few less-than-dependable veteran players among them. For instance, [Squirtle], who had already joined the Jungle Corps. As a Level 30 player, though he couldn't hold a candle to the hardcore T1 and T0 players, he was still considered part of the backbone of the *Wasteland Online* server. However, Squirtle wasn't content with just that. Like most players, even if his strength fell short, that didn't stop him from harboring the heart of a powerhouse. With that in mind, he couldn't help eyeing the Dragon Lizard prostrate beside the Tree of Life. Although the server listed it as a friendly unit and prohibited hostile actions—and in truth, he was no match for the beast anyway—the server never said you couldn't abduct it, right? If he could use this thing as a mount, who on the entire server could possibly rival him? Even if the Administrator stepped in, he'd be trampled into mush! *Heh heh heh...* At the thought, his mind rapidly turned Palworld—er, no, sprang into action. "Say, a lizard this huge... how much does it eat in a day?" Rubbing his chin, Squirtle found the idea more and more viable, blurting out the thought without warning. Standing beside him, [Blastoise] and [Hanbagui] stared blankly, exchanging confused looks. "No idea." "Why do you care how much it eats..." Squirtle immediately said, "I want to raise one." Hearing this, the two brothers beside him were instantly stunned. "Holy shit?" "Are you serious?!" Squirtle glanced sideways at these two ambitionless fellows. "Look at how spineless you guys are. The server says hostile actions are forbidden, but it never said feeding it was forbidden! If I feed this guy till we're tight and it recognizes me as its daddy, insisting on following me, can the GM really break us up?" "That's not the point—" Blastoise looked at him, caught between tears and laughter. "Bro, have you ever kept a lizard?" "I have... uh, the palm-sized kind, but that doesn't matter!" Squirtle looked at him gravely, placing both hands on his shoulders and regaining his imposing aura. "You only need to answer one question: do you want to be a dragon knight?" "I do..." "Then go haul two tubs of nutrient paste over here for me! Once I tame this beast, we'll take turns riding it!" Clapping him on the shoulder, Squirtle then turned to Hanbagui, who was standing frozen in place, and slapped his arm as well. "You go too, make it quick!" "Don't let the other bastards beat us to it!"