Part 1: Unscientific, But Logical
The Goblin's corpse didn't decompose like a biological entity. Instead, within seconds, it dissolved into countless grey data fragments and vanished. Only two items remained on the ground: a rusty dagger and an orb emitting a faint white glow.
Su Wen bent down and picked them up.
[Rusty Goblin Dagger (White)]
[Attack: 2-4]
[Note: Aside from cutting fruit, it's only good for giving your enemies tetanus.]
[Skill Orb: Basic Stealth (White)]
[Effect: Consumes 10 Mana to enter a state of low visibility. Movement speed reduced by 20%.]
"It really dropped loot..." Wang Dapao leaned in. The fat on his face was still trembling from the earlier fright, but his eyes were drawn to the dagger. "Su Wen, how did you do that just now? That mop... how did it suddenly start glowing?"
Su Wen didn't explain. He simply tossed the dagger to Wang Dapao.
"Take it."
Wang Dapao fumbled to catch the dagger. "For me? What about you?"
"You have the [Thick Fat] Talent; you're a natural meat shield. Tanks need aggro. Even though this dagger is trash, it'll at least make you look like a threat," Su Wen said as he crushed the Skill Orb in his hand.
Particles of light merged into Su Wen's palm.
[Skill Learned: Basic Stealth (Lv. 1)]
Su Wen glanced at his attribute panel. His Spirit was a staggering 18 (the limit for normal humans was 10), which meant he was prime material for a Mage or Assassin build. Wang Dapao, with his thick skin and flesh, was the perfect complement.
"Listen, Dapao." Su Wen pushed up his glasses, his tone terrifyingly calm. "The situation is simple: the world has been digitized, and social order has collapsed. If you want to survive, put away your fear and treat this like a hardcore game where you can't save your progress."
By this time, the surrounding students had finally reacted.
The scene of Su Wen insta-killing the monster was too shocking. A few bolder male students tentatively gathered around.
"Um... classmate, do you know some insider info?" "Bro, take us with you! What is going on?" "The door over there won't open; we're trapped!"
Fear had turned these usually proud students into headless flies. Instinctively, they sought to cling to the strong.
Su Wen scanned the crowd.
The labels above everyone's heads were laid bare: [Selfish Jock], [Confused Honor Student], [Class Monitor Who Wants to Guilt-Trip You]...
"I'm not a babysitter," Su Wen said coldly. "If you want to live, find a weapon yourself. Chair legs, fire extinguishers, even heavy hardcover books in the library can be used to smash monsters."
With that, he ignored the crowd and turned toward the library's main entrance.
It was sealed by a layer of pale purple light barrier.
[Beginner Spatial Lockdown Barrier]
[Durability: 1000/1000]
[Description: A protection mechanism of the God-Forsaken Land to prevent novice players from accessing high-danger zones too early. Duration: 1 hour.]
There were still 50 minutes before it would automatically lift.
But the spatial rifts inside the library were expanding. If they didn't get out, this place would soon turn into a sealed coliseum.
"We can't get out. Someone smashed it with a fire extinguisher for ages, and it didn't even scratch it," a boy with glasses said despairingly.
Su Wen ignored him. He reached out a finger and gently touched the light barrier.
His fingertip met a cold sensation, like an invisible wall.
"The System says this is a protection mechanism, but to me, it's just a piece of code restricting access."
Blue data streams flashed through Su Wen's pupils again.
[Beginner Spatial Lockdown Barrier]
His gaze locked onto the word "Lockdown."
His Spirit surged again, bringing the familiar stabbing pain to his brain. The resistance this time was much greater than modifying the mop. After all, this was a magical barrier, not physical matter.
"Edit."
Delete [Lockdown]. Input [Open].
[Warning: Target authority is high. Modification difficulty increased. 30 Mana deducted.][Warning: Insufficient Mana! Current Mana: 8/18. Forced modification will result in unconsciousness.]
Su Wen frowned and immediately stopped the modification.
"Damn it, my level is too low."
He was just a Level 1 rookie. Trying to directly modify the attributes of a System-generated barrier was clearly biting off more than he could chew.
"Su Wen, what's wrong? Can't do it?" Wang Dapao gripped the dagger, looking nervously behind them. More monster roars were coming from the depths of the library.
"Brute force cracking won't work, so I need a different approach."
Su Wen took a deep breath, his brain racing.
If he couldn't change the attributes of the "Barrier" itself, then he would change the relationship between "himself" and the barrier.
He looked at his hand.
Or rather, at the student ID card he was holding.
[Ordinary Student ID Card]
[Description: Access pass for the Jiang City University Library.]
The corner of Su Wen's mouth curled up slightly.
"Logic Editor, activate."
He selected the words [Jiang City University Library] in the ID card's description.
Delete. Input [Spatial Lockdown Barrier].
This time, the Mana consumption was negligible—only 2 points. He was merely modifying the text description of a plastic card, not changing its physical properties.
[Ordinary Student ID Card] -> [Ordinary Access Pass][Description: Access pass for the Spatial Lockdown Barrier.]
This was a classic "spoofing" modification.
The matter itself hadn't changed, but Su Wen had forcibly assigned it a new logical definition. In the System's judgment logic, as long as one held an "Access Pass," they could pass through the corresponding area.
Su Wen took the student ID and walked toward the light barrier again.
A magical scene unfolded.
The indestructible purple light barrier rippled like water the moment it touched the student ID, actively parting to form a passage.
"Holy crap? You can swipe your card to exit the barrier?" Wang Dapao's eyes nearly popped out. "Did the school install this barrier?"
"No, this is called logic deception." Su Wen glanced back at him. "Keep up, don't fall behind."
Part 2: Campus Survival and Human Body Modification
The moment they stepped out of the library, a wave of heat hit them.
The familiar campus was unrecognizable.
On the sports field, several massive two-headed wolves were feasting on corpses; the walls of the teaching building were covered in eerie black vines, from which hung red sacs resembling insect eggs; thick smoke billowed from the direction of the cafeteria, carrying the faint sounds of bloodcurdling screams.
In the sky, suspended in the center of the giant purple cloud layer, was a countdown:
[Time until First Monster Wave: 23:48:12]
"This is literal hell..." Wang Dapao's legs went weak. The bravado he had mustered in the library deflated instantly.
"Don't zone out." Su Wen grabbed him and pulled him behind a wrecked school bus. "We need to get to the Science Building."
"Why the Science Building? That's close to the back mountain; there must be more monsters there!"
"The Science Building has a generator and stocked vending machines. Most importantly, the terrain is complex and suitable for defense," Su Wen analyzed calmly. "Also, my Mana is running low. I need to rest."
The two modifications earlier (the mop and the ID card) had drained a significant amount of his Spirit. His head felt like it was filled with buzzing bees.
Just then, a lone Goblin spotted them.
This Goblin was stronger than the one in the library. Instead of a dagger, it held a spiked club.
[Goblin Warrior (Lv. 3)]
"Gah!"
The Goblin Warrior roared and charged.
"Dapao, tank it!" Su Wen commanded.
"Me? I can't!" Although Wang Dapao said he couldn't, his body instinctively raised the dagger—or rather, he just wanted to use his hands to cover his face.
Su Wen felt a pang of frustration.
This fatty had the god-tier tank Talent [Thick Fat], yet his courage was smaller than a mouse's. He needed some "physical" encouragement.
Su Wen stared at the oversized T-shirt soaked in sweat on Wang Dapao's body.
[Loose Cotton T-Shirt][Defense: 0]
Fighting through his headache, Su Wen activated his ability.
Delete [Loose]. Input [Reflective].
[Warning: Assigning special attribute. 5 Mana deducted.]
A trickle of blood ran from Su Wen's nose, but he succeeded.
Wang Dapao's T-shirt, printed with the words "The Village's Hope," suddenly glowed with a faint, thorny red light. Although the material still looked like cotton, on a rule level, it had become a weapon.
[Reflective Cotton T-Shirt]
[Defense: 0]
[Effect: Reflects 30% of physical damage taken back to the attacker as True Damage.]
Bang!
The Goblin Warrior's spiked club smashed viciously into Wang Dapao's belly.
"Owww—!"
Wang Dapao let out a squeal like a slaughtered pig, his body flying back two meters and rolling on the ground like a ball.
But the Goblin was in worse shape.
The moment the club hit Wang Dapao's belly, a strange red energy surged back up the weapon. The Goblin's arms instantly exploded into a mist of blood, bones cracking loudly as if it hadn't hit cotton, but a steel plate covered in spikes.
"Gah?!" The Goblin rolled on the ground in agony, its arms hanging limply. They were useless.
Wang Dapao rubbed his belly and scrambled up, looking bewildered. "Eh? Although it hurts, I don't seem to be injured?"
[Thick Fat] had reduced the damage. The remaining impact hurt like hell, but it wasn't fatal. The attacker, on the other hand, had its arms destroyed.
"Don't just stand there, finish it!" Su Wen leaned weakly against the bus tire, wiping away his nosebleed.
Wang Dapao looked at the wailing Goblin on the ground. The fear in his eyes was gradually replaced by a strange excitement.
"Damn it, hitting me feels good, huh?"
Wang Dapao charged forward, raised the rusty dagger, closed his eyes, and stabbed wildly.
Puchi puchi!
[Killed Goblin Warrior (Lv. 3)]
[Experience Gained: 35]
[Wang Dapao leveled up to Lv. 2]
Wang Dapao sat on the ground panting, looking at the green blood on his hands. He suddenly turned to Su Wen, his eyes shining.
"Su Wen, did you do something to my shirt just now? I feel terrifyingly strong!"
Su Wen smiled weakly and pointed to his own head.
"Just a little logical correction. Remember, stick with me, and you'll be the toughest tank in this game."
"Now, help me to the Science Building. Unless you want to be spotted by that three-story-tall giant spider over there."
Wang Dapao followed Su Wen's gaze. atop the teaching building, a massive black shadow was slowly poking its head out. Eight crimson eyes scanned the campus like searchlights.
"Holy crap! Daddy! I'll carry you!"