You received Kurinth's Biotic Tome
You received Body Surgery: Retroactive Eezo Exposure and Asari Alpha Implant
You received Savant M
You received Skillbook: Pistol Proficiency
!!!
Let's start with the worst one.
Alex takes a quick look and recognizes an item he has already encountered in the past: [Skillbook: Pistol Proficiency]. It's a Blue-quality skillbook teaching him the Pistol Proficiency skill. However, since he isn't currently in the Realm and lacks a mobile skill station like Rishi, he can't learn it.
He recalls the details of the skill station and renews his intention to quickly acquire one for himself. Despite the expense, having an additional skill would have been incredibly useful during this mission.
I'll buy a [Mobile Skill Station] next time.
[Mobile Skill Station]
World: Fantasy Realm
Quality: Purple
Effect: For the cost of 10,000 FC, create a temporary Skill Station that is active for 24 hours. This effect can be used once a month.
Note: Old, clunky, uncomfortable, slow. These pathetic second-rate products are made accessible to players who can't do without the miracles of the Realm, even on missions.
Note: You still have to pay the regular fees to upgrade and unlearn skills.
[Skillbook: Pistol Proficiency]
Quality: Blue
Effect: Teaches the skill: "Pistol Proficiency"
Note: Dropped by Benezia
Alex then shifts his attention to the incredibly rare Golden Skillbook: [Kunrith's Biotic Tome].
[Kunrith's Biotic Tome]
World: Mass Effect
Quality: Deep Gold
Requirements: In Utero Eezo Exposure and a suitable Implant of at least Light-Purple Quality.
Requirements: Basic Endurance lvl 5, Basic Meditation lvl 5, Basic Long-Range Combat Prowess lvl 5, Basic Concentration lvl 5
Leveling Requirements: 1 Soul Crystal (small), 1,000 Fantasy Coins + 500 per level
Effect: Grants the user access to basic Biotic abilities and unlocks the Biotic Power resource at lvl 0.
Effect: Grants one Biotic skill per level, starting at lvl 1. The user can influence the skill they're receiving. Uses up a skill slot.
Effect: Rapidly drains the Stamina of the user when applied in battle.
Note: Kunrith is the Goddess of war and hunting. This Tome is a sacred treasure, accessible only to highly accomplished Matriarchs.
A Biotic skillbook! It doesn't explain Biotic Power clearly… Is that another resource, rather than a new stat? According to this item, it is. It's somewhat mysterious since it doesn't specify exactly which skills I'll gain. However, at lvl 10 I'd have 10 skills! That sounds awesome. Yet… Eezo Exposure and an implant. Normally, humans develop Biotic abilities only if exposed to Element Zero in utero, and then they require risky surgery and an implant before puberty. Asari are natural biotics, so they need neither implants nor surgery. However, this is strange—Body Surgery: Retroactive Eezo Exposure and Asari Alpha Implant. What exactly is this? For humans, there are five known implant types.
L1 implants are very stable but too weak for combat, and they're implanted post-puberty. L2 implants have a lot of potential and enable powerful biotic abilities, but they're unstable with dangerous side effects. L3 implants grant average yet stable abilities. L4 implants were used by children in the Ascension project, slightly more effective than L3s. Finally, L5 implants—like the one Shepard will eventually have—are rare and highly effective. But what exactly is this Asari implant? I'd better check it out.
[Body Surgery: Retroactive Eezo Exposure and Asari Alpha Implant]
World: Mass Effect
Quality: Gold
Requirements: 20 PHY, 20 SPR, 16 SNS, 14 INT
Effect: Retroactively changes the body to mimic the effects of in utero exposure to Element Zero.
Effect: Increases the Power and Duration of every Biotic ability by 30% and reduces the Cooldown of every Biotic ability by 10%.
Effect: Increases Recovery of Biotic Power by 20%.
Note: The remnant of an abandoned Asari experiment that aimed to create a Biotic Implant specifically for Asari.Has been modified by the system to work on humans.
Note: Can't be traded
I see… Given my bullshit-level luck, this shouldn't surprise me! I guess L4 implants are probably Light Purple, and L5 implants might be Deep Purple or Light Gold. But this Asari Alpha Implant is only Gold quality—does that mean there's something even more powerful? Perhaps Prothean or Reaper technology. Anyway, this is already more than I could have hoped for! But the damn thing can't be traded! The Tome is useless without the implant and the surgery. The only way I could use it… is on myself. Still, that's risky! I don't fully understand how Biotic Power works. I have some ideas, but using both the surgery and the tome without confirmation is dangerous. I'll need to ask Glimmerwhisk. However, I can't see any obvious downsides—I even have an open skill slot!
So, what's left?
[Savant M]
World: Mass Effect
Quality: Gold
Type: Biotic-Amp
Durability: Can't be destroyed
Effect: Increases the Power of every Biotic ability by 40%.
Effect: Increases the Duration of every Biotic ability by 40%.
Effect: Reduces the Cooldown of every Biotic ability by 40%.
Note: The Strongest Biotic-Amp available. This version is exclusively produced for Matriarchs and is even more effective than the base model, which is the best available product on the open market.
Note: Manufactured by Serrice Council
Alex's hands twitch slightly. With just one Large Gold Chest, he has received three items that are both highly compatible and effective.
These must be the rarest drops Benezia had to offer! My LUK is truly incredible. If I combine these effects, the power and duration of my biotic skills would increase by 70%, and their cooldown would be reduced by half. How could I possibly not use this?! Biotics are also incredibly versatile. If I can indeed influence which skills I gain, I could choose Biotic Charge and Barrier, which would perfectly complement my fighting style.
Excited about all his future possibilities, Alex spends many hours lost in thought before he finally falls asleep.
Feeling weary due to the effects of [Drakul's Vitality], Alex spends most of his free time resting in bed. Of course, he mails Menchi, telling her about his gains, and sends all of his remaining Credits to her.
Despite his weakened state, Alex eventually stops lazing around, showers, and makes his way down to the Cargo Hold.
There is one thing I need to do. There are no 'side missions' in this world. Shepard and I guess the system is in charge. I need to talk to Wrex and make sure things don't go wrong.
As soon as he arrives, he sees the five Mechs now activated. They are walking around, each carrying an Assault rifle.
What the?!
He notices Shepard, Garrus, and Ashley standing nearby, discussing amongst themselves.
"What is going on?" Alex asks, slightly confused.
Shepard turns to him and responds with a smile, "Tali activated them. She also explained to me that these Mechs are fundamentally different from the Geth. I decided to test them out. They certainly can't compare to any decent soldier, but I suppose they're not bad. As you said, more options—and more importantly, more pawns—could be useful."
"I suppose I like them too. Reminds me of playing with toys back home with my brothers," Ashley comments, looking a bit nostalgic.
"Mechs are strictly regulated on the Citadel. Having these there would get you jailed for life," Garrus remarks.
Alex spots Wrex standing alone in a corner, looking bored. After chatting briefly with the others, he walks over to the Krogan.
"How's it going, Wrex?" Alex asks, looking at the battle-scarred Krogan warlord.
"Not bad, human! Shepard mentioned we might have found a clue. There is also a possibility we've found Saren's hideout. We need to be prepared," Wrex replies.
"You seem a bit worried—I think I can guess why," Alex says, a hint of sympathy on his face.
"Why? You can't read my mind, human!" Wrex responds sternly.
Alex crosses his arms. "But I can wonder why Saren has so many Krogans working for him. He's probably luring them in by promising wild things he'll never deliver—and even if he does deliver them, if the Reapers return, it's all over anyway."
Wrex stares at Alex, clearly a bit surprised. "You are full of surprises, human. I didn't expect you to actually guess my thoughts. Are you worried I might betray you?"
Alex laughs lightly, shaking his head. "No, I'm not. You saw what happened to Benezia, didn't you? Even someone as powerful as her was brainwashed and controlled like a puppet. You would never throw away your pride and become a slave to someone like Saren—especially not if it meant dooming your entire race to eternal servitude and destroying all civilizations in the galaxy."
"...Human, you don't pull your punches, do you? You're right. I would never become a mindless slave to Saren! What use is a cure to the Genophage, when every new child would be born into slavery?" Wrex says, his voice now filled with determination.
"Exactly! Let's get rid of that fucker Saren and steal all the data he has! If he's onto something, we'll just take it for ourselves. Even if it doesn't work, we can tackle that problem later—maybe kidnap some Salarians or something," Alex says with a grin.
"Hahahahaha, I like your thinking, human! You think like a true Krogan Battlemaster does! Let's do it! You're a good friend," Wrex says, visibly cheered up.
Alex and Wrex rejoin the others, and for the first time since the mission began, most of the crew seem relaxed. Even Liara, Kaidan, and Tali join them, and they all decide to head to the mess hall and eat together.
"You know, I couldn't imagine a better crew than all of you, let's finish the job!" Shepard says, looking satisfied.
"Once we've dealt with Saren, we'll become legends!" Ashley says excitedly, her eyes wide open.
"I just want things to go back to normal," Kaidan replies, not sharing Ashley's enthusiasm.
Liara adds solemnly, "For all of Saren's victims… and for the sake of the entire galaxy, we must stop him!"
Garrus nods in agreement, "This is about something that matters. I've been trapped in the swamp of bureaucracy my entire career. This is a real opportunity to create lasting change!"
"When we defeat Saren, I'll return to the Flotilla with everything we've learned and help my people regain our planet. Keelah se'lai," Tali says with determination.
"I will become the ruler of Tuchanka, and Saren's head will be the ultimate trophy!" Wrex announces proudly.
Everyone then turns to Alex, who hasn't stated his ambition yet.
"I suppose after I deal with Saren, I'm applying to become a Spectre! After all, my reputation is ruined, Corporations want me dead, the Alliance is pissed off, and everyone fears me! I wouldn't survive a month out there otherwise," Alex says, before adding, "Also, I'll take my revenge on Aldrin Labs!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Everyone looks surprised but can't help grinning at Alex's desperate ambition.
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