Chapter 18 : VR Game

After putting on the VR helmet, Yulian found himself in a black void. Slowly, countless colors started illuminating the void. Yulian carefully observed this lightshow. He had a feeling that he might be able to gain insights into the 108 Star Diagrams if he observed.

As the colorful lights flashed, Yulian poured his entire focus onto them, not even turning away when the light hurt his eyes. His willpower carried him through. As Yulian paid attention to the countless beautiful transformations of the light, the show came to an end. The colorful lights gradually faded away, leaving Yulian in a white space.

Suddenly, a blue screen flashed in front of Yulian.

[Congratulations. You have completed registration for the VR Battle Simulator. Your statistics are being analyzed currently…]

Cultivation level – Student – Level 1 (Peak)

Race: Human

Bloodline: Weak dragon blood

Genetic Energy: Flame Element

Strength – 8/10 [This statistic analyzes the force that can be exerted by the body.]

Agility – 7/10 [This statistic analyses the speed, flexibility and dexterity of the body]

Vitality – 7.5/10 [This ability analyzes the life force, the ability to withstand force and defensive power of the body]

[You will be launched into a practice battle in 180 seconds. Kindly choose a weapon and acclimatize with your virtual body.]

Yulian went over his stat screen. Student – Level 1 (Peak) most likely meant the cultivation level of peak Beginner Warrior. He felt rather amazed at the analysis of the AI. It had even figured out the dragon blood in his body and that his genetic energy is of the flame element!

Sweeping his thoughts away, Yulian concentrated on the instructions on the blue screen. Yulian instinctively thought about the 7 foot long training blade he had been practicing with. Suddenly, the same weapon manifested in his grip.

Thinking quickly, Yulian tested the blade with a few swings and thrusts. He realized that it was made from the same weak material as the training blade in the Arena, and probably wouldn’t last a match.

Yulian immediately thought of the best blade he had seen on the internet: a beautiful 7 foot long blade with a red edge and a golden hilt. The blade was created from top grade Ke-luo Alloy and the fangs of a Emperor level monster. Named ‘Dragon Fang’ and wielded by an Existence above Wargod, It was certainly the deadliest blade Yulian had ever seen.

Now, Yulian concentrated on adjusting to the new sword. Even though it’s length, width and weight was the same as his training blade, it was nevertheless a different blade. After barely finishing adjusting, a blue screen flashed.

[180 seconds have passed. New player, please prepare for battle.]

In the white space, a black clothed figure wearing a black mask appeared. Wielding a black sword, he radiated a killing intention. Clad in black, the figure was like a grim reaper. Yulian was not fazed by the gaze of the cold black eyes. He immediately ran to the figure, attacking with a diagonal slash.

The figure swung his sword to intercept the blow. After this, a piercing thrust as aimed at Yulian’s head. Yulian tried to use his spirit force to turn the blade away, but to his surprise, he couldn’t use it, it was as if his spirit force had disappeared! He hurriedly sidestepped the blow. Like this, Yulian and the figure continued to exchange blows.

Yulian realized that the figure was almost identical to him in terms of strength. The only thing that differentiated them was blade technique. Yulian’s blade technique was faster.

Deciding to hold his true techniques in reserve for a surprise attack, Yulian carried on battling with only his blade skills.

Around a minute later, an opportunity arrived. The black clothed man furiously attacked Yulian’s chest with a wide slash. Yulian blocked the strike with his blade and backed away with quick steps, letting the powerful force of the attack dissipate.

Having pushed Yulian five meters away, the man prepared to rush at him. Just then, the Yulian who was only five meters away from him suddenly disappeared.

After this, he suddenly appeared in front of the black clad man. The sound of thunder resounded from Yulian’s muscles, the blade in his hands turned into a golden bolt of lightning and a single thrust pierced the man’s heart.

The seven foot long blade’s tip was red with blood. Exiting from the man’s body, it brought out the red heart flesh with it. Seeing the gory scene created by himself, Yulian felt like vomiting.

The man disappeared in a flash of light. A blue screen flashed in front of Yulian.

[Congratulations! You have won the battle! 1000 star points are credited to you.]

Suddenly, Yulian’s surroundings changed. A fist testing machine appeared in front of him.

[Punch with only your pure muscle power]

3189 kg!

[Punch with your secret technique]

…Like this, instructions flashed on the blue screen and Yulian carried them out. He displayed his blade techniques, agility techniques and force multiplication techniques.

[Assessment Complete]

Blade Technique – D+ Grade (Suitable for Student Level Warriors)

Agility Technique – D+ Grade (Suitable for Student Level Warriors)

Dao Yin Technique – B+ Grade (Suitable for Student Level Warriors)

Force Multiplication Technique – B+ Grade (Suitable for Student Level Warriors)

For perfectly completing body assessment, you have been awarded 500 star points]

[You may insert user name]

[You may rename techniques.]

Yulian immediately renamed the techniques according to the Nine Stage Thunder Blade manual. After this, another screen appeared in front of him.

[You may choose up to 3 Demerits to be applied on your character. All Demerits applied will be compensated with free traits.]

A list of applicable Demerits appeared before Yulian:

[Disabled: A limb is removed from the body]

[Blocked meridians: Genetic energy cannot circulate in the body]

…

Finally, Yulian found a few Demerits he could take.

[100% Pain threshold: 20% Pain will not be applied. 100% pain threshold]

[Body dependent avatar: The strength of your avatar character is copied from your true body. Other methods of increasing stats in-game, for eg. kill bonus, are not applicable]

[Banned (Stat Increasing Traits): Stat increasing Traits cannot be purchased.]

After selecting these Demerits, a blue screen flashed before Yulian.

[For selecting these Demerits on your character, you may select a Mastery Trait for your character.]

Various Mastery Traits flashed on the Blue Screen, but Yulian had his eyes on only one.

[Time Acceleration: For every hour spent in reality, ten hours will pass in-game. Maxed Mastery Trait.]

Among the various traits it was simply the best Trait available. Like this, he will not need to split time between the VR Game and training. Yulian immediately selected the Trait.

[Time Acceleration Mastery Trait selected. You may select more traits in-game by purchasing them with star points.]

For taking three demerits, you have been awarded 1500 star points]

[Before beginning game, calculating star points…

Defeating testing opponent: 1000 star points

Perfectly completing body assessment: 500 star points

Taking three demerits: 1500 star points

Points awarded for beginning game: 1000 points

Total number of points: 4000 points]

[The VR Simulation Game is starting… Area 1 – Hilly Forest. Suitable for Student Level 1 Warriors]

In a flash of light, Yulian arrived inside a small house. There was a bed, a weapons rack and a large board in the small house. Looking around, there seemed to be a kitchen too.

Suddenly, a blue screen appeared before him.

[Congratulations! The VR battlefield simulation has begun! Complete the Quests on the board to gain star points! With star points, you can trade for more Traits or better weapons, armor and pills! Due to area limitations, only three Traits can be equipped! Due to the Demerits you have chosen, you can move on to the next Area only after breaking through to Student Level 2!]

After this, the message screen disappeared, displaying basic commands and inputs. Yulian memorized all the information displayed. After this, Yulian dispelled all the screens and said a single command, “Display Equipment.”

A holographic image of Yulian appeared. The image displayed that Yulian had only equipped two items: Basic Blade and Basic Robes. Their durability was infinite, however any attack and defense bonuses were non-existent.

Yulian wasn’t worried about that. He was planning on relying on the Nine Stage Thunder Blade technique to battle. Now, it was time to check the other important function: Traits.

“Display Trait Exchange.” A blue screen flashed before Yulian where large number of Traits appeared. Yulian saw that quite a few were grayed out. These were all stat-boosting Traits. Yulian ignored them and checked every Trait. Currently, he needed a Trait which could increase star point gain. These star points were, after all, important items for progressing in this ‘game’.

“Purchase Traits: Combo Multiplier and Star Point Booster!”

[Two Traits: Combo Multiplier and Star Point Booster purchased! 4000 star points deducted!]

Yulian could not help his sigh as he read the message he was now completely lacking star points. However, these Traits were good investments.

Combo Multiplier awarded star points for killing an enemy. It also multiplied points gained for continuous kills in a short time.

Star Point Booster outright doubled any star points gained. At certain points, there would be a ‘critical strike’, where the amount of star points gained would be tripled or quadrupled. As it was, these two skills perfectly complemented each other.

“Well, now since I don’t have any star points, it seems to be time to start earning them.” Yulian walked up to the Quest Board. Completing a Quest was the easiest way to earn star points.

He walked up to the Quest Board and touched it. A blue screen flashed before Yulian.

[Quest Board]

[Yulian Starlighter – H-Rank Quester]

[Current Quests: 0/3]

[Available Quests:

1… Slaughter 15 Redfur Mastiffs (Student Rank 1)

2… Slaughter 10 Twinfang Cats (Student Rank 2)

3… Slaughter 5 Gold Monkeys (Student Rank 3)]