Chapter 012: The Rules of the Game (Part Two)

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“Li Gang, in order to survive better, in order to win in the ten-year game, you must rid yourself of your lazy habits and constantly strive to become stronger. In your current state, after analyzing the data, I see no possibility of victory whatsoever.” Xiaobai’s encouraging words echoed in Li Gang’s mind.

“Xiaobai, I didn’t expect you to care about me so much,” Li Gang said, feeling a touch of emotion in his heart.

“Li Gang, don’t get the wrong idea. Whether you get stronger or others do, it greatly enhances the spectacle of the ten-year game. Encouraging you and helping you to grow stronger—these are instructions written into every sub-intelligent wristband from the very beginning by the god.”

With a sweet, youthful voice, Xiaobai spoke words that instantly dispelled any warmth Li Gang had just felt.

Li Gang’s heart shattered.

“Xiaobai, you really wasted my feelings just now.”

“I must be honest with you. That’s also a setting the god established from the start.”

“…Alright, enough about that. Xiaobai, what does Rule Two mean—permanently lifting the restriction on the upper limit of the four basic stats?”

Not wanting to get tangled up with Xiaobai on the previous topic, Li Gang changed the subject.

“The so-called permanent lifting of the upper limit means that your four basic stats no longer have a ceiling. Every ordinary person has an upper limit—the growth cap, or bottleneck—set by individual aptitude, but within the same species, it doesn’t vary much.

“For example, for one of your basic stats—physical fitness—if the limit is not lifted, your maximum might be 120. Even if you train hard and reach 120, there’s no way to break through to 121. But once the cap is removed, as long as you keep training, you can reach 121 and beyond. You’ll never hit an insurmountable wall at 120.”

Li Gang nodded in understanding.

So now, he had no more growth limits. As long as he kept training with the right methods, theoretically, his basic four stats could keep increasing indefinitely.

And once those stats reached a certain level, he would be far beyond ordinary people—perhaps even worthy of being called a superhuman.

Li Gang glanced at the nearby virtual screen. Aside from the four basic stats, he noticed another number at the top labeled “Combat Power,” currently displaying 40.

“Xiaobai, what does this combat power mean? It doesn’t seem to be one of the four basic stats.” Li Gang asked, eager to understand.

Though the meaning seemed obvious, it was important to clarify in detail.

“Individual combat power is a value calculated by the intelligent system, based on your four basic stats, other personal data, and combat experience. Normally, a person’s combat power is higher than the average of their four basic stats.”

Hearing this, Li Gang did a quick calculation in his mind based on his own stats.

“Li Gang, you don’t need to calculate. Your four-stat average is 68, and your current combat power is far below that. You really need to work harder.”

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“…” Li Gang was speechless.

This advanced intelligence, combined with its ability to read his thoughts at any time, often left him at a loss—and sometimes annoyed.

But he couldn’t turn this feature off. It was set by the god, and he had no authority to change it.

Having figured out the basics, Li Gang continued to read the game rules.

Rule Three was much more complicated than Rule Two.

It was also the most elaborately explained rule, involving the choice between enhancement amplification and comprehensive healing—just the surface content made its importance clear.

“For every ten people eliminated, you get to choose either an enhancement amplification or a comprehensive healing,” Li Gang murmured.

“Li Gang, so far twelve people have been eliminated. You currently have one enhancement amplification and one comprehensive healing available. Moreover, for the first group of ten, the enhancement amplification is ten times more effective,” Xiaobai’s voice chimed in.

“Ten times—does that mean any stat I enhance will increase tenfold?” Li Gang asked with anticipation.

“No. Normally, each enhancement increases a stat by ten percent. The so-called tenfold just means it’s ten times the normal effect. For example, if your original physical stat is 80, after using this opportunity, it would become 160. This already surpasses the maximum any human on Earth could achieve,” Xiaobai explained.

“I see. What about comprehensive healing?”

“Comprehensive healing is quite literal. No matter what kind of injury you sustain, as long as you’re still alive, using it will instantly return you to peak condition.”

Li Gang gasped.

This comprehensive healing was almost monstrous—utterly unscientific.

But then again, in a world where a god existed and could make all of humanity disappear in an instant, he could accept the unscientific and the illogical.

“Xiaobai, how do I use enhancement amplification and comprehensive healing?”

“Just enter the enhancement function and select either enhancement or healing to confirm and use it.”

Li Gang immediately entered the enhancement function. Sure enough, there was one unused enhancement amplification and one unused comprehensive healing listed, with the enhancement marked as having a tenfold effect.

“Xiaobai, which stat should I enhance?”

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“Li Gang, I have no authority to interfere in contestants’ enhancement choices or offer any suggestions. That’s another rule established by the god from the start.”

Li Gang fell silent, lost in thought.

He had no idea how best to enhance himself, and had planned to follow Xiaobai’s advice, but the god had blocked that route entirely.

“Xiaobai, is there a time limit for using this enhancement?” Li Gang asked after a moment.

“No, you can use it at any time. If you keep saving them, the enhancement opportunities will accumulate. But you must use the first enhancement before you can use the ones you earn later.”

Li Gang nodded and exited the enhancement function.

Since Xiaobai couldn’t offer any advice, he decided to put the matter aside and make a careful decision later.

After all, he could use them at any time.

He glanced at the last rule, but saw nothing worth asking Xiaobai about, and exited the information panel.

The Moon—Human Continuation Base.

Here stood a hundred large-scale survival bases, all built over ten years through the combined efforts of the entire world.

Each base housed about a thousand people.

After the event known as the Decree of God occurred ten years ago, the nations of the world united, quelling public panic in just a week by forcefully suppressing it as the plot of a vast criminal organization, erasing all unrest.

Afterward, the world’s leaders met in secret for about a month of discussions.

They were utterly convinced the god’s decree was real.

For this was a power that belonged only to a god. No hacker or terrorist organization could possibly possess such capabilities. If they did, the world would have long since changed hands and rulers.