For the next 2 hours, Leon forgot himself completely inside a world of his own as he satisfied his curiosity with the suddenly responsive System after he finally unlocked his Mechanist Class and became F Rank.
By now, he no longer thought the System was a narcissistic bastard. Now, he saw it as a darling.
He forgot about his plans entirely as he indulged his engineer's curiosity.
He learned so much regarding the Power System of this world within these two hours, but one of those that especially stuck with him was the Class Modifier. It completed the puzzle, completely explaining his stats.
Every Class had a Class Modifier that determined its Derived Stats.
~----~
[Class Modifiers:]
[Mechanist: STR- 0.8×; AGI- 1.0×; END- 1.0×; INT- 1.5×; WIL- 1.2×; ADE- 1.3×]
[NetRunner: STR- 0.6×; AGI- 1.2×; END- 0.8×; INT- 1.3×; WIL- 1.6×; ADE- 1.4×]
[Gene Augur: STR- 1.2×; AGI- 0.9×; END- 1.5×; INT- 0.8×; WIL- 1.0×; ADE- 1.1×]
[Cyber Gladiator: STR- 1.6×; AGI- 1.3×; END- 1.2×; INT- 0.6×; WIL- 0.8×; ADE- 1.0×]
[Quantum Shaper: STR- 0.8×; AGI- 1.0×; END- 0.8×; INT- 1.4×; WIL- 1.4×; ADE- 1.8×]
~----~
These are the Class Modifiers of all 5 Classes, and it doesn't just determine their derived stats, it also emphasizes each class's playstyle.
It is the reason why a Mechanist and a NetRunner may have the same STR stat, but the Mechanist's physical attack power would still hit with more force once you factor in the Class Modifier during the calculations.
It was an intricate system framework, but after 2 hours of taking his time to thoroughly listen to the System's rambling, Leon understood it all.
The satisfaction that came with it felt like the satisfaction of ejaculating after one of the wildest sex experience you'll ever have.
"Ahh!" He sighed. "This is the joy of being an engineer".
He sprawled himself lazily on the ground, rolling in satisfaction. "What a day to be alive!"
Apart from the Class Modifier framework, he also took his time to learn of the typical stat range for each rank, and it made him understand how special he was right from the onset.
At F Rank, the typical stat range for each stat ranges from 10 to 50. All his attributes were in the normal range except his INT and ADE stats.
His ADE stat was 52 while his INT stat was a mindboggling 62 and this was despite the fact that he just became a Mechanist a few hours ago.
"Maybe I'm more special than I give myself credit for". He grinned.
He also took his time to learn the System's own mechanics and functions.
He realized that the System's Deconstruct and Construct Protocol were the same as the two abilities he unlocked after becoming a Mechanist.
Once he inquired, the System explained. It was exactly the same thing, but with slight differences.
Just like every other class, the Mechanist class works its way up. The Deconstruct isn't an automatic skill, it works based on the INT and the overall theoretical knowledge of the Mechanist using it.
Two different Mechanics may use the ability at the same time, and it may take one of them only 10 minutes to deconstruct a specific gadget into data and materials and to also get its blueprint, while it may take the other Mechanist 20 minutes or more.
The same thing applies with the Construct ability. Multiple factors affects these parameters, but with the System, Leon bypasses all the logistics.
He didn't just learn during the past 2 hours, he also experimented.
Afterall, he was in a wasteland with a lot of wreckage. There was literally no other place better than this for experimentation.
The result of his experimentation told him the true difference between his own ability and the System's functions.
With his ability, it took him approximately 10 to 15 minutes to break down a scavenged gadget that he was familiar with into data, materials, and luckily a blueprint since they're all based on probability and proficiency. But with the System, it takes him between just 2 to 4 minutes.
Of course, with time and proficiency, the time frame it'll take him to break down tech with his own ability will increase, but so will the system's efficiency.
Afterall, the SYS stat was not there for luxury.
Leon smiled. "What a satisfying session this was". He was absolutely satisfied with all that he learned from the System during this period.
And with his curiosity satisfied and out of the way, he could finally progress with his plan.
He stood up and patted his black joggers. "It's time to work".
Well, after taking his time to observe the world and his surroundings since his awakening, and with all the knowledge that he was currently equipped with, Leon settled on one core objective. "I need to build a shelter," he muttered.
From when the System gave him the Power Source mission, it already started hinting at it, and after the encounter with the strange humanoid 2 hours ago, Leon finally fully accepted the plan.
To get answers and satisfy his curiosity, he had to go out there. To grow, he had to go out there. But first he had to have a shelter for himself, a shelter that he could fall back to when danger strikes. A fail-safe shelter.
As an engineer, he knew to always make contingency plans, and this was his contingency in the case that his life was truly threatened out there.
Besides, forget external threats, the world itself was deadly.
During the past day since his awakening, he had noticed the sky change from black violet to neon green, to even more unnatural colors as light bent through the ADE haze at times.
He had noticed the air vibrate randomly, and sand grains levitating in small bursts, all of it acting as proof that gravity itself is unstable in this world.
All these pointed back to the one truth… he needed a shelter.
He didn't have to think far; the underground facility though dilapidated was the perfect foundation for a modest shelter. Besides, he already had a Power Source now, making things easier for him.
He had a blueprint in mind, and the system already approved it.
DING!
The HUD screen appeared again.
~----~
[System Tip: Adequate shelter reduces ADE distortion by 47%.]
[Power Source detected – efficiency 43%. Recommend improvement.]
~----~
Leon smirked. "I'll improve it when I'm better. For now, it's enough for me".
Without hesitation, he started working immediately following his system-approved blueprint.
Going deeper into the derelict facility, he scavenged collapsed tunnels for their alloy panels and power cables. With them, he gradually constructed a crude shelter around the glowing micro-reactor, using broken drone plating as insulation.
It was tough, it was tiring, but Leon pushed on.
Besides, with his newly unlocked Mechanist Class, engineering was easier than ever before.
With the Portable Energy Cell blueprint that he unlocked a while ago, he fabricated Cells through which he spread the power of the reactor around his base.
~----~
[Congratulations! You have fabricated your first Portable Energy Cell!]
[You have acquired Class Achievement: Energy Creator]
~----~
Leon smiled as he delved deeper into the work.
Evidence of his work soon showed as light bulbs that he scavenged a while ago lighted up, illuminating the once dark facility.
After that, he did some dry-cleaning as he cleaned the inside of dust and rust, removing the cobwebs to make it livable.
He also installed a surveillance system with the drones that he scavenged. Scavenging a drone chassis was one thing, but bringing it back to life was another thing entirely; the difficulty was on the level of creating the Power Source.
[You have activated System Function: Deconstruct Protocol]
[Please wait…]
BZZZ!
Grayish white energy flowed from Leon's body, encapsulating one of the drone chassis as under his watch, the drone slowly melted into tiny mote-like particles that were absorbed into his body.
This was not his first time doing it, but he never stopped being amazed at how the Deconstruct ability actually worked.
About 2 minutes and 30 seconds later, the HUD screen appeared again.
DING!
~----~
[You have gained another blueprint fragment!]
[Congratulations! You have gained a complete Blueprint: C-5 Drone]
~----~
Leon's smile widened. "Great," he muttered as he finally used Construct. It took two extra minutes than Deconstruct but within approximately 4 minutes and 30 seconds, Leon's first working drone appeared in front of him.
~----~
[Congratulations! You have fabricated your first Drone!]
~----~
With "Construct", he didn't have to fabricate directly in a forge. He could create directly with his ADE.
It was the most fascinating aspect of his Mechanist Class to him so far.
And with his first working drone fabricated successfully, the first element of his surveillance system was created. For the next few minutes, he fabricated a few more drones to complete a working surveillance system.
At the end of it, his ADE was exhausted and he had to wait to replenish it naturally, but it was worth it.
Next time that an invader would appear in his territory, not only the System would alert him, but his own surveillance system would alert him too.
And unlike the System, his surveillance system won't just alert him, it'd also send him footage through the cameras that he already installed.
~----~
[You have fabricated a PZT Camera!]
~----~
Leon rubbed his palms together in excitement.
Sometime later, the HUD screen lit up again.
DING!
~----~
[Structure Registered: Temporary Shelter v0.1 – Stability 62%]
[Congratulations! You have completed a major crafting milestone!]
[You have been rewarded with 20 Data Points]
[Current Data Points: 40]
~----~
4 hours… that was how long it took him to complete the first prototype of his shelter.
Leon smiled in satisfaction and admired his work. "Perfecto".
Walking toward the shattered glass of the stasis capsule that now acted as his mirror, he observed himself. "Now I just need to craft a cloak for myself before I embark on my first expedition outside".
"I can't keep on running around half-naked," he sighed. "I'm a full grown man, dammit!"