Melee laser weapons tend to deal much more damage, Eve sent. While you may be able to take a shot or two of plasma, you would take much more damage if someone cut you with a weapon capable of cutting through steel. My direction and your Knife Fighting (Basic) skill should be sufficient for you to wield this weapon effectively. Combined with the Revenant Armor’s invisibility, we should be able to practically one-shot any enemy close to our level.
All right, I’m all aboard that plan.
Once he was holding the laser knife Eve was able to connect to it somehow, similar to the power armor, allowing him to activate the laser edge with a thought. Normally, the knife looked similar to a basic combat knife made with some dark grey alien metal alloy, but when the laser was activated its blade was outlined in a red glow and the knife looked like a miniature, bladed lightsaber.
Alan tried activating the laser knife while he was invisible, but unfortunately the glowing red wasn’t dimmed at all, revealing him. That meant he’d need to activate it once he was right next to an enemy, or already stabbing them.
Like most of the items in the trading hub, the knife didn’t have a level requirement, which Alan thought was a bit odd for a game. Most items simply had recommended skills to use them effectively.
According to my item database, only rare and powerful items rank B and above have requirements to wield. Many of those requirements are skill or attribute requirements rather than level requirements. Items are also much more important when determining one’s strength, at least compared to most games. A well geared level one player would be capable of fighting on par with a poorly geared, equally skilled level 1000 player.
Huh, interesting. I guess that makes credits much more important, and again explains their real life value, especially if all these different factions need to fund in-game armies.
Having selected the item he wanted, Alan exited the shop, invisible. He briefly considered trying to rob the place, but the shopkeeper probably had underworld connections or something along those lines. Alan also had no idea what level of security these shops had. As soon as Alan stepped outside the store, a message popped up, letting him know the Revenant Power Armor and Modified Laser Knife were now bound to him.
What exactly does that mean? Alan asked.
An unbound item rank E or above will always drop upon death, while any item rank A or above will also always drop upon death, even if it’s bound. Any bound item rank B or below will not drop upon death. Items are usually bound to a player after purchase or significant use. Items may have modifiers that affect these properties. A bound item may not be traded away or sold, and it costs credits to get an item unbound. If items are left unattended by their owner for a period of time, they also become unbound.
Interesting… what rank is the Revenant Power Armor by the way?
I am uncertain, as the item was not in the item database provided. I would guess it was rank C or B.
All right, Alan answered, happy the Game recognized that the armor was his. He was making progress, though he still needed a main weapon. The laser knife would only get him so far.
Alan made his way outside of the trading hub, keeping a vigilant eye out for any suspicious activity, even though Eve would probably notify him before he detected anything. The rebels were up to something here; he didn’t know what.
As San Francisco is a major supply port, they are most likely attempting to sabotage the military base and supplies, Eve sent.
Huh, interesting. What do you suggest we do?
… Too many variables. There are a few clear choices, yet they would result in vastly different consequences.
Oh? What are the choices?
Firstly, we could immediately alert the military, no doubt earning us favor. Unfortunately, they may not believe the threat to be credible, and as an outsider our rewards may not be as great or we may even be detained for questioning. Additionally, the Dark Merchant would most likely revoke our black market status and put a bounty on our head. We are also uncertain what faction he is tied to.
Secondly, we could attempt to join these rebels, potentially with a backup plan of betraying them to the United World Government. The outsider uncertainty applies as well here, perhaps even doubly so, as they are an underground group. Their connections are dubious as well.
Thirdly, we may try to anonymously sell this information, which is most likely what the Dark Merchant will do. However, the chance of detection is rather high.
Finally, we may simply wait and see what happens, taking advantage of the chaos caused, or return to base. There is still the second wave in the Survival Test, whatever it may be, which we should prepare for. These last two options are the most neutral.
Please proceed to the designated point and deactivate your armor’s ability.
Alan followed Eve’s directions, cutting into an office building a few blocks away from the trading hub, crouching underneath the reception desk before deactivating the armor’s invisibility, but maintaining his stealth ability.
Based upon news about current events and the information provided by the Thought Emporium, there are a few major factions that we are likely to encounter. First of all, the various humanoid governments. The Haxlardian Empire, whose ship we will respawn in, are a local alien empire, controlling the space that Earth is in, including but not limited to the majority of the Milky Way Galaxy. They are ruled by a council of seven under the Three. They all wear masks that show off status and rank. Higher level masks provide them with various stats and abilities. On average, Haxlards are twice as strong as humans, while Ultihaxlards are ten times as strong.
The Unified World Government, which you are undoubtedly aware of, is the government that was hastily erected in order to meet the requirements for humanity to join the Game. Their place within the scheme of things is fairly uncertain, both in terms of Earth politics and intergalactic politics, as there are many places on Earth which do not acknowledge their authority. The rulers and rules of the UWG are still in fluctuation. Currently, the primary authority in the UWG is the USA and its NATO allies.
A series of explosions suddenly went off in the distance, rocking the building Alan was in. Alan activated the Revenant armor’s invisibility and raced outside, never more thankful for a series of potentially harmful and devastating terrorist attacks.
Remember, things are very, very complicated, and the universe is a large place! You should leave political dealings and faction choices to me, I’ll be able to calculate our best interests better than you can! Eve shouted into Alan’s mind, but he wasn’t paying attention anymore.
Outside, it was chaos. It seemed more like a full on invasion rather than a simple terrorist attack. Alan watched as hundreds of people fled downtown, while hundreds more were heading downtown in military vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Planes flew in from above, and a series of space fighters materialized out of nowhere in the sky, firing upon various buildings and each other.
Head upstairs for a better vantage point.
Alan readily followed Eve's suggestion; he ran back into the building, racing up the stairs as adrenaline pumped through him. At the top of the twentieth floor he darted into a corner office with a window facing the action. Below, a fleet of sea ships had appeared out of nowhere in the bay, and were launching a series of attacks from the waterfront, while a few well placed explosions had knocked out various anti-ship defenses that had been set up by the United World Government military. There was so much smoke and fire everywhere that Alan couldn’t tell what was really happening.