001 Main Quest - Survive

"Isn't it just because I stayed up all night working on a project? What is this godforsaken place?"

Bai E stood erect within the neatly organized formation, surrounded by a silent crowd dressed in identical black uniforms.

They appeared like statues or wax figures, devoid of the vitality life should possess.

[You silently observe your surroundings, realizing this is an entirely new, unknown world...]

Text akin to a voiceover mechanically appeared in his mind, each word read out loud with an electronic, synthesized voice.

Bai E's sluggish hearing picked up the distant rumble of "roaring" thunder, as magnificent blue and purple lightning rolled within the storm clouds on the horizon.

The ancient howling carried by the wilderness breeze, the air tinged with a grinding sensation, whipped against his fresh face, carrying with it the strange scent of insect secretions...

Insects?

What insects?

As his brain started to function, deeply buried memories were stirred and activated, and inherent knowledge surged forth, burying the memories of working overnight on that project—

Behind humans indulging in desires shimmered crimson eyes; oily steel sparkled with a dark sheen; the mucus-filled nests where the queen insect greedily consumed nutrients...

Acid rain lashed against the metal exteriors of vehicle convoys; a slender elf with pointed ears sliced through the falling rain with a single cut; green-skinned orcs brandished clubs and charged forward with waaaaaaagh at close quarters.

High-dimensional demons, intelligence machine crises, endless insect swarms...

Elves, orcs, mutants...

This world was teeming with countless enemies.

But why did it all sound so familiar?

Bai E's gaze unconsciously swept over everything before him.

Grey steel fences enclosed the vast square he was in, with the exit of a tunnel extending from underground not far behind him—their "birthplace," the underground breeding room.

On the metal plaque, a row of engraved letters shone one by one in the darkness.

"Am I... an artificial human 95B27?"

[You're beginning to accept the identity of coming to this world, and a brand-new world is opening up to you...]

In front of the silent artificial human formation, a young officer with a silver slash shining on his shoulder looked indifferently at the legion before him, his voice echoing through the amplification device around his mouth across the entire parade square.

"Welcome to this cruel world, new recruits!"

"You are born for war, and death is your only destiny."

"Sacrifice!"

"The foundation of the Empire is built upon sacrifice, a proverb passed down from ancient times."

"The blood of martyrs is the kindling of the Empire. When loyal warriors learn to love the whip, only in death does duty end."

"My dearest warriors, please remember..."

"Your life is the currency of the Empire; it never belongs to you. How to make the most of it is your inherent responsibility!"

"Loyalty!"

"Loyal to the Lord of the City! Loyal to the Empire! Loyal to mankind!"

"Your enemies are those notorious insects; you are the nightmare of those high-dimensional demon Believers; you are the eternal nemesis of those forbidden mechanical life forms!"

"With your blood, with your lives, guard the future of humanity forever; this is your sole mission!"

"Familiarize yourselves with your own abilities as soon as possible and get ready!"

"In three days... you will face your first battle of glory!"

"Now, under the leadership of your squad officers, you will register your special skills to determine the specific duties you'll need to undertake in future battles!"

Special vocabulary pulled Bai E back from his confusion.

"Special skills?"

Is it also something familiar?

Bai E's footsteps unconsciously followed those of the person ahead, walking lifelessly in a certain direction.

Countless strange memories tangled with his original memories to death, turning his brain into mush, operating with difficulty and obstruction.

This never-resting spirit tried hard to analyze his current situation—

"I am Bai E... I am staying up late playing a raid..."

"I am an artificial human, my life is the currency of the Empire, I must dedicate everything to the Empire!"

"No... I am just accidentally stranded here, I am Bai E, I am Bai E!"

"I am a warrior of the Empire, and I will be joining my first battle in three days."

"I may not be able to go back, and I also need to face the war in three days."

"Survive! I need to live longer to contribute more to the Empire!"

"Survive! First and foremost, I need to survive to figure out what this place really is!"

[Activate Main Mission—Survive!]

[Survive: Your instinct to live directs your path, the military operation in three days is the first challenge you will face, bravely overcome it! Mission requirements: Successfully survive the military operation in three days 0/1. Mission rewards: 1000 points of universal experience, potential points *3, item reward unknown.]

"Survive! No matter who I am, what I need first is... to survive!"

...

"What specialty?"

The voice interrupted Bai E's thoughts.

Blinking, Bai E suddenly realized that he had unintentionally arrived at a huge dark green tent.

A soldier with a rugged face sat behind a shiny alloy table at the tent entrance, looking indifferently at him.

"What... specialty?"

Still somewhat muddled, Bai E murmured after him.

Strange...

Why are there some weird inscriptions in front of me?

Right above that officer's head?

[??? (Human) (Ally)—Using "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*1800, Combat Experience 1000 points); Likely (Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding level 3, Mastery: Military Weapon Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding level 3); Possible (Specialty: Fortitude Will)]

What's that?

It looked far away, two meters distant, yet seemed almost within reach.

Bai E reached out to touch it but found that his hand passed through the air and the inscriptions.

Not just him, other people had them too—

[??? (Human) (Ally)—Using "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*2000, Combat Experience 800 points); Possible (Specialty: Dynamic Vision)]

[??? (Human) (Ally)—Using "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*1800, Combat Experience 750 points); Possible (Specialty: Danger Perception)]

Even items had them—

[Turret (Neutral)—Using "Lucky Strike" to destroy may drop: Certain (Ammunition*1000, Heavy Weapons Mastery Experience 500 points); Possible (Mastery: Heavy Weapons Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding level 3)]

[Fence (Neutral)—Using "Lucky Strike" to destroy may drop: Certain (Steel*500, Construction Technique Experience 500 points); Possible (Technology: Basic Construction Technique)]

What... are all these?

"Thump, thump, thump!"

The metal pen cap impatiently tapped on the alloy table surface, the pitch-black uniform crisp and cold, "95B27! Answer my question!"

[Please note, different answers will lead to different paths for your development in the military, please treat this cautiously.]