At the moment, Gao Yang saw his poor resistance to psychic damage as his biggest weakness. The brainwashing shockwave Zhuang Mei unleashed in life monster form, for example, was so powerful that outside of Dragon and Qilin, no one could endure it for more than half a minute.
Considering that he could become antagonistic and even hostile with Qilin at any time, it was imperative that Gao Yang improved his psychic resistance as soon as possible.
Although Gao Yang had more than 2000 Luck points at the moment, Level 4 Lucky allowed for only a maximum 1000 points in each stat, and 1000 in Charisma was not enough to resist Qilin’s Eidos or a psychic attack from an enemy at the level of a life monster.
Gao Yang thought for a while and looked at the number under Psyche-type: 4.
“It will take you 960 points to try to comprehend a new Talent,” the system, in Li Weiwei’s form, said gently. “Do you confirm an attempt to comprehend a Psyche-type Talent?”
Gao Yang was a little surprised. As expected of my system, I only have to glance at you for you to get me.
“I confirm.”
“Understood. Comprehending.” Li Weiwei waved her hand.
Whoosh. The number 4 spinned quickly like the spinning symbols of a slot machine. Ding. Five seconds later, the number stopped at 4 again.
“Unfortunately, the comprehension fails.”Gao Yang wasn’t surprised. “Again.”
“Will do.” Li Weiwei lifted her hand.
Whoosh. The number 4 started spinning quickly again until it was a blur. Ding! The number became 3 after five seconds.
“Congratulations,” Li Weiwei said with a smile. “You have comprehended Psychic Armor.”
Gao Yang was glad. He had gotten exactly the Talent he wanted!
Li Weiwei started to go into the Talent in detail. “Psychic Armor, serial number 82, Psyche-type.”
“It grants a certain level of resistance to all psychic damage and can temporarily buff, adjust, and close off one’s mind and emotions.”
“Level 1 Psychic Armor, grants 5% resistance to psychic damage and may shield one’s mind and emotions for 10 seconds with a cooldown of 120 seconds. Stats bonuses: Willpower + 20, Charisma + 30.”
“Level 2 Psychic Armor, grants 10% resistance to psychic damage and may shield one’s mind and emotions for 20 seconds with a cooldown of 90 seconds. Stats bonuses: Willpower + 40, Charisma + 60.”
“Level 3 Psychic Armor, grants 15% resistance to psychic damage and may shield one’s mind and emotions for 30 seconds with a cooldown of 60 seconds. Stats bonuses: Willpower + 60, Charisma + 90.”
“Level 4 Psychic Armor, grants 20% resistance to psychic damage and may shield one’s mind and emotions for 45 seconds with a cooldown of 40 seconds, as well as grants the skill: Idiot. Stats bonuses: Willpower + 100, Charisma + 150…”
“Wait.” Gao Yang noticed the key point. “What kind of skill is Idiot?”
“In the literal sense, it will turn you into an idiot for a short duration.”
The skill hurts me? But everything exists for a reason. Perhaps it’ll be of use one day.
Li Weiwei continued to explain the detailed mechanisms of the Talent, and Gao Yang fell into thought.
It would take 1920 points to comprehend a Talent next time. The cost was getting higher and higher. With more unclaimed Talents in the pool of the Talent Pantheon, though, the odds of comprehending a Talent would be greater too, and he had a chance to acquire a Talent with a single pull.
That would be a great temptation to villains without a moral code. For survival and ambition, they would certainly choose to go after other awakeners in pursuit of power.
Gao Yang sighed.
“Take me back, System.”
…
Late at night, Gao Yang quietly left his dorm room and went to Degenerate Street. It was three in the morning. There were a lot less pedestrians, and most shops and restaurants had closed down. Without the usual hubbub, the place seemed dirty and desolate, the street only filled by trash that hadn’t been cleaned.
Wearing a gray hoodie with the hood on, Gao Yang walked toward Amon’s boardgame cafe with his hands in his pockets.
Since there was still time, he swung by a twenty-four seven convenience store to get energy-boosting drinks for himself and the rest of the team.
“Welcome.”
Gao Yang walked in. The automatic door rang. Inside the brightly-lit store, the cashier was using her phone at the counter, looking drowsy.
Gao Yang walked to the shelves of drinks with a basket, picking up drinks and throwing them in. Instinctively, he noticed someone near him.
He glanced to the side and saw a young girl in black baseball cap; the shorter hair revealed under the cap was a gradient of pink and white. She was dressed in an oversized oldschool baseball jacket with the number 4 sewn on the back, going down to the thighs and leaving her slim calves uncovered. Her shoes were a pair of converse.
Half of her profile was covered by the hem of her cap and her pink to white hair, revealing only her delicate chin and full pink lips. She had a lollipop in her mouth as she browsed the unpackaged snacks.
She picked up a chocolate stick and twirled it twice in her hand like a pen. Instantly, the chocolate stick vanished.
If Gao Yang hadn’t had his keen vision, he would’ve thought she was doing magic.
She continued to browse the unpackaged snacks casually, picking up a snack every once in a while, including a pack of dried clove fish, a pack of dried plum, and a small cookie.
They all vanished seconds after she picked them up.
Soon, she walked away from the snack shelves, satisfied, and walked out of the convenience store like nothing had happened.
Gao Yang paid for the drinks at the counter with his phone, adding 10 yuan extra. Then he quickly walked out.
On the dirty, bleak street, the girl with a baseball cap walked in front of him with her hands behind her back, skipping her way and humming a song in a good mood.
I couldn't wait for you to come and clear the cupboard
But now you're gone and leaving nothing but a sign
Another evening I'll be sitting reading in between your lines
Because I miss you all the time…[1]
She stopped singing when she noticed someone following her. An elongated shadow cast by the lamplight approached from behind.
She turned around to see Gao Yang catch up to her openly.
She took off her cap, her bright grayish blue eyes blinking. The barcode tattoo under her left eye curved with the folds under her eyes.
“Ah…you’re!” The girl recognized Gao Yang. “A friend of Boss.”
“Gao Yang.” Gao Yang introduced himself. “Freshman of Li City U, the computer engineering department.”
“Wang Shu, fresh out of college,” the girl responded easily. “Work night shifts at Borderrunners.”
1. I Really Want to Stay at Your House from the animated series, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. ☜
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