Infinity Armament Volume 3 Chapter 3

Book 3, Chapter 3 – Collective Enhancing Part 1

The Thunder Gauntlet could be said to be the best Rank D equipment Shen Yi had seen so far aside from Vampire Touch. Aside from not being able to be leveled up and upgraded, the other aspects were quite good.

Scarface said, “The Thunder Gauntlet is an equipment I got from a Difficulty Level I world; it has brought me great help. Unfortunately, because it cannot be leveled up and upgraded, the current attack damage is a bit too low. For the Difficulty Level I, it should be just enough. But I can’t sell it to you for only 3000BP. This is a unique item, if you want, I’ll give you a cheap price; 5000BP.”

Anything not sold in the store could not be estimated in accordance with the standard pricing, Shen Yi had long been clear of this fact.

But, for a 5000BP price… he shook his head.

“I just bought a skill, and now have a little more than 8000BP left. The Thunder Gauntlet, although it’s good, but my Strength is only 4. And I also did not learn Fighting Forte. To meet the conditions to wear it, I need to spend a lot of BP. Couple it with reserving some BP for preparations before entering a mission, I will have barely any BP to enhance my other attributes. If your Thunder Gauntlet was cheaper, I would consider buying it.”

Shen Yi’s words made Scarface hesitate.

He wanted to sell The Thunder Gauntlet for a period of time now, but this equipment was quite tasteless.

In the Difficulty Level I worlds, it was a good weapon. But to Difficulty Level II worlds, it obviously had an insufficient power. But, the adventurers in the Difficulty Level I level that could afford this gauntlet’s price was very rare. For a Difficulty Level I adventurer, a reward in a mission normally only allowed them to learn a skill and add a few attribute points. Some may be even worse, not being able to afford even a skill.

Today, this newcomer was obviously quite powerful. Even after buying skills, he still had 8000BP left. In the entire Slums District, it was rare to see someone like him. If he missed this chance, maybe there would be no other chance left. And to wait for another strong adventurer to take a fancy to his Thunder Gauntlet, he didn’t know until when he would have to wait. Selling to the store? He wouldn’t even get 2000BP.

Thinking of this, Scarface said to Shen Yi, “Well… 4500BP, this is a fair price.”

Shen Yi still shook his head, “4000BP. I will only pay that much.”

Scarface’s face became ugly.

Shen Yi’s price touched his psychological bottom line. He said, “4000BP is too cheap. If I went to the Slums District, there will be someone willing to pay a higher price to buy it.”

“If no one buys, you will lose 200BP for transit fees.” Shen Yi laughed.

He thought and then said, “For your gauntlet’s attributes and skills, 4500BP is not too expensive, but I’m a bit low on BP… So be it, we will make a contract again. I agree will with your 4500BP price. But for the first payment, I can only pay 3000BP. After I come out alive from the next mission, I will give you 1500BP more, how is it?”

Scarface was shocked.

This time, Shen Yi didn’t mention 5 times the profit but simply agreed to his asking price. In turn, he asked to be granted 1500BP in credit.

Scarface was stunned.

If it was 5 times the profit, Scarface would definitely continue to invest in Shen Yi. But the return now made him somewhat hesitate.

With the first risky trade, Scarface had more confidence in Shen Yi. The confidence has increased, however, the rate of return has declined. This made him greatly unhappy.

Shen Yi grinned and said, “You have trusted me once and got a return. Now I have reason and qualifications to ask you to continue to trust me. Either sell it to me for 4000BP or allow me to owe you 1500BP, you choose.”

While saying that, Shen Yi showed his b.l.o.o.d.y Crest to Scarface.

Looking at the Private First-Cla.s.s Military Rank, Scarface’s eyes were wide open.

Scarface was the clearest about Shen Yi’s origin of all people.

Raising his rank to a Private First-Cla.s.s in two missions, there was only one possibility—he had two Perfect Evaluations.

A newcomer with two consecutive Perfect Evaluations, what did this mean?

Don’t look at Scarface, who was now in the Difficulty Level II area and had a Sergeant Rank. He has experienced more than ten missions, his performance was also quite good, he continuously got several Excellent Evaluations. A considerable part of the adventurers were not strong, and when completing missions, they could only get an Ordinary Evaluation. Five Ordinary Evaluations could also bring about a rank promotion, but the income was absolutely impossible to be more than a Perfect Evaluation.

The most simple example was in the Operation Market Garden mission. By completing the first and second Main Quests, an adventurer could only get 1500 and 1700BP. Giving up the Optional Quest to head back to the City, he would get an Ordinary Evaluation.

Completing the Optional Quests, the adventurer would get an Excellent Evaluation. Finally, the one that had the best performance got a Perfect Evaluation. Of course, there were exceptions. Fatty completed the Optional Quest, but the evaluation was Poor.

The basis of an Excellent Evaluation was 5700BP plus a skill point, equivalent to more than three times an Ordinary Evaluation reward. But for a rank promotion, an Excellent Evaluation only equaled to two and a half of an Ordinary Evaluation.

A Perfect Evaluation even rewarded valuable awards like a Rank CC award—although Shen Yi unluckily couldn’t use it now.

So, even for the same ranked Private First-Cla.s.s adventurers, rising to a Private First-Cla.s.s through Perfect Evaluations had the highest value, while the strength also was the strongest.

Being able to have two consecutive Perfect Evaluations fully ill.u.s.trated the quality of this guy.

In such a place like the b.l.o.o.d.y City, strength was the basis of trust, followed by interest.

At this moment, seeing the military rank of Shen Yi, Scarface immediately said, “Give me 3500BP, I’ll let you owe 1000BP. You must pay me after the next mission.”

“Good!” Shen Yi immediately agreed.

The two signed a contract. Shen Yi, after paying 3500BP, finally got the Thunder Gauntlet. With this item, Shen Yi could be considered to have a real powerful attack skill.

Scarface’s words were true, just the Thunder Gauntlet’s item skill alone was in fact, stronger than many Rank D skills. But, because it couldn’t be leveled up or upgraded, it was so easy to be eliminated.

Buying the Thunder Gauntlet, Shen Yi was satisfied as he hurriedly went back to the Slums District.

When he just returned to the Slums District, he saw Wen Rou approaching.

Seeing Shen Yi, Wen Rou eyes went bright as she ran over to give him a blow on the chest, “I was looking for you everywhere.”

“What is it?” Shen Yi asked.

“Hong Lang and Jin Gang went to go get enhanced, this time we have earned a lot so we wanted you to go with us.”

Enhancing originally was a very private matter, no one wanted to expose themselves in front of others. But this time, regardless of Hong Lang, Jin Gang, or Wen Rou, all of them wanted to enhance together with Shen Yi.

He didn’t ask too much as he just nodded and said, “Good.”

Coming with Wen Rou to the store, Hong Lang and Jin Gang had been waiting for them.

After talking, Shen Yi knew that the four people enhancing together was Jin Gang’s proposal.

In accordance to the Jin Gang’s idea, although enhancing was a very private thing, but because of the mutual suspicion among adventurers, all of them had their own enhancement directions. So the phenomenon of enhancement duplication often happened. This phenomenon in the last World War II mission’s performance was the most obvious, most adventurers only enhanced melee ability. This led to the lack of support abilities, detection abilities, and other capabilities. Ranged abilities were also rare, the results were that the World War II world caused heavy casualties. If the adventurers’ enhancement had attention to mutual cooperation, then many missions would be much easier.

Jin Gang could not gather all the adventurers in East Region, but he hoped that at least a few people could carry out an agreement to enhance, resulting in a more powerful combination. Rather than “1 plus 1 less than 2” results.

But, behind this proposal, Jin Gang had another purpose. It was to present the four individuals through the enhancing, that a real trustworthy group could form a cooperative team.

Shen Yi, of course, understood the motives behind his proposal. Yet, he didn’t have any opinions on this proposal.

Shen Yi had his head down for a moment, as he then slowly said, “Your opinion is good, but have you not thought of a problem? Since the b.l.o.o.d.y City has a team co-operation mode, maybe there is also a solo mode, a kill each other mode… What if our next mission is not teamwork?”

“At least, I will not choose to become your opponent. No matter what the mode, it cannot be the reason for us to become enemies.” Jin Gang very authentically said.

Hong Lang also said, “In the team co-operation mode, adventurers can still kill their own people. In a kill each other mode, why would we not be able to cooperate? As long as we want to be friends, there is no reason to make us enemies. Shen bro, you don’t look down on this Hong Lang, right?”

Shen Yi smiled, “I don’t mean that. Jin Gang is right, as long as we want to be friends, no matter what kind of reason and design, it cannot make us become enemies. I support Jin Gang’s proposal, we will enhance together.”

Jin Gang was overjoyed, “Since you agree, it is much easier to handle. First of all, we openly make public our respective attributes for a mutual understanding. We cannot become friends when don’t know the other’s ability, right? Here isn’t the mission world, we don’t need to conceal it.”

Saying that, Jin Gang was the first to open his status screen, revealing all his enhancements.

“ID: E4528, Zhou Lin, Private First-Cla.s.s. Main Attributes—Strength: 15 (20), Agility: 10 (15), Vitality: 30, MP: 25 (30), Will: 15.”

“Psychic Power: Telekinesis (this ability can’t be used on a living body). Psychic Energy: 100 points.”

“Skill: Armor-Eating Attack (Level 2)—After hits the target, reduce 1 point of defense, up to 10 points. Priority: 14.”

“Equipment: Gauntlet of Wind (Rank D)—Attack Damage: 9-18. Item Skill: Strong Wind Blow—Makes the power of the wind wrap around the user’s hands. Increases 20% attack speed, Duration: 1 minute. Can stack with other skills, Cost: 3MP, Cooldown: 1 hour. Can be leveled up, but cannot be upgraded. Priority: 16.”

“Equipment: Bagpipes (Wear Position: Waist)—After wearing: Strength +5, Agility +5.”

“Equipment: Ring of Sap—After wearing: MP +5.”

In the end, he was indeed a veteran adventurer. Regardless of skills, equipments, or attributes, all aspects were quite good. What was especially rare, was that he had a ring which increased MP. This kind of thing and Mana Potions were the same, but could only be met by luck and could not be found.

Hong Lang also opened his own status screen.

“ID: E3216, Hong Lang, Private First-Cla.s.s. Main Attributes—Strength: 30 (36), Agility: 10 (12), Vitality: 20, MP: 15, Will: 7 (10).”

“Skills:”

“1. Strong Impact (Rank D, Level 3)—Deals (1.6 x Strength) damage to a single target, with a 10% critical chance. Cost: 3 MP. Cooldown: 1 minute. Priority: 17.”

“2. Axe Chop (Level 1)—Uses axe-type weapons to make a strong chop attack on the target, deals additional 20 points of damage. When the enemy use weapons to block, 5% chance to cause damage to the enemy’s weapons. Cost: 2MP, Cooldown: 1 minute. Priority: 18.”

“Equipment: Wolf Fang’s Ring—After wearing: Strength +2, Agility +2.”

“Equipment: Skeleton Ring—After wearing: Strength +4, Will +3.”

Wen Rou was puzzled while a smiling, “Hong Lang, you have an axe skill but no axe?”

Hong Lang flushed, “I didn’t buy this skill, I got it from the mission. I wanted to buy a good weapon, but thinking of the current stage, I gave up.”

Wen Rou smiled happily, “I thought I was the only one to have such an embarra.s.sment.”

As Hong Lang was surprised, Wen Rou also put her status screen publicly out.

“ID: E3325, Wen Rou, Private. Main Attributes—Strength: 4, Agility: 10, Vitality: 12 (15), MP: 10, Will: 10 (18).”

“Pa.s.sive skill: Enhanced Hearing—You capture the abnormal sounds from the wind and produce auditory memory. Can clearly distinguish the source of sounds and record other’s voice information.”

“Skills:”

“1. Whip Wrapping (Level 2)—Uses whip weapons to wrap the target, making the target temporarily unable to use skills to attack while causing the target to take 3 damage per second. Skill duration depends on the gap of power between the two sides as well as skill level and the opponent’s Will. The greater the gap, the longer the duration. Maximum Time: 18 seconds. Cost: 3 MP. Priority: 12.”

“Equipment: Will of Dead Souls (Necklace)—After wearing: Vitality +3, Will +8.”

Compared to Hong Lang and Jin Gang, Wen Rou only experienced a beginner mission, so obviously in all aspects, there was a big difference. But, that she only experienced one enhancing, but already had two skills and good equipment, meant that her performance in the beginner mission was also very good. Since she was now a Private, it was easy to determine that Wen Rou got an Excellent Evaluation in the Beginner’s Mission.

“My two skills and one equipment were from the beginner mission, but the BP reward was little.” Wen Rou helplessly said, “Adding some attributes points, buying guns, and provisional items made me thoroughly bankrupted.”

“So you also took the 100% difficulty beginner mission.” Shen Yi blurted.

Only in the 100% difficulty would the b.l.o.o.d.y City reward you a Rank D skill from the start.

Wen Rou very seriously nodded, and then helplessly sighed, “Unfortunately, I couldn’t complete the quest as good as you. I barely managed to complete the Main Quest, while the Optional Quest failed. Being able to escape, I was really luck.”

Shen Yi smiled, “This result is already very good. When I completed the Optional Quest, I almost died for sure.”

That’s the truth. If Bottle of Holy Water didn’t eliminate Dracula, the only thing he could do was immediately use the Stealth Pill to escape. The result would be all awards being halved, and he also wouldn’t have his current power and prestige.

Saying no more words, Shen Yi immediately opened his own status screen; attributes, skills, and equipment made everyone stunned.

Pointing to Shen Yi, Wen Rou cried: “You… you… you…”

Shen Yi lightly said, “Don’t misunderstand, Arc Trajectory and Thunder Gauntlet are things I just bought, I owe 1000BP because of it.”

“This is enough to make us envy.” Hong Lang muttered, he looked at the Vampire Touch displayed in equipment, and saliva almost flowed down from his mouth. This dagger should be very useful to Agility-Type adventurers, but Shen Yi has put it to use as a deputy equipment. Even in the eyes of a senior adventurer, it also belonged to the luxury category. While Jin Gang stared at the Medal of Honor, Medal of Undead Hunter, and Crystal Tears Pendant, his eyes didn’t even blink.

Wen Rou was more concerned about the Appraisal Skill.

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Shen Yi nodded.

Wen Rou cried, “I’m really mad, why did you get Appraisal while I only got a hearing enhancement!”

Jin Gang immediately said, “It should be the difficulty of the mission world. Wen Rou, your beginner mission was Resident Evil, Shen Yi’s was Van Helsing. Remember the b.l.o.o.d.y City’s difficulty cla.s.sification? Firearms background worlds are the lowest level of difficulty, so Resident Evil world’s difficulty was lower than the difficulty of a fantasy world like Van Helsing. Obviously, the reward would also be lower.”

This was true. When Shen Yi did Main Quest 1, he stood on the verge of life and death, almost being killed by the Silver Werewolf. If he couldn’t borrow a gun from Scarface, or if he didn’t have special bullets, he would have had no possibility of survival.

There were five Difficulty Levels in the b.l.o.o.d.y City. The first four were firearms background, magic background, science fiction background, and fantasy games background. To the fifth Difficulty Level, it’s an unknown background. It’s rumored that the difficulty is extremely high, a small minion is as strong as a Boss at lower levels.

But Shen Yi was still unflinching, “In fact, your skills are good too. Do not forget that, after all, it doesn’t occupy skill bar slots. And different skills corresponds to different needs. In scenes like Resident Evil, in fact, it’s more meaningful. Or when you face a sea of zombies, using Appraisal, the result will be… Hehe.”

Wen Rou also imagined this and grinned.

Hong Lang asked, “Which is your highest reward?”

Shen Yi wryly smiled, “…Nothing of these.”

Everyone was surprised as Shen Yi explained a bit of what happened.

Hearing that Shen Yi had received the Winged Serpent Martial Arts but had no BP to learn, the three people actually laughed together.

Hong Lang patted Shen Yi’s shoulder, “You finally let my jealous heart calm down. Brother, I wish you would never have enough BP to learn it.”

Shen Yi angrily said, “Did you used to be a gangster? Your mouth is so poisonous.”