Chapter 15

【The script has been completed, rewards are being settled.】

【Experience gained: 450, Game coins: 4500】

【Item/Equipment obtained: Drowsy Tibetan Macaque】

【Missions completed/accepted: 0/0】

【Special, hidden missions completed: 0, Worldview cracked: None】

【Scare value spikes: 0 times, Maximum scare value: 0%, Average scare value: 0%】

【Your fear rating is 'Fearless', you have earned an additional reward, please select it later.】

【Skill points gained: 100】

【Skill points experience bonus: 100, Game coins: 1000】

【Script completion reward: Skill card * 1】

【Settlement complete, please proceed.】

Feng Jue read through the settlement list in the login space and then heard, "You have leveled up to level 5, your stamina cap has increased, currently at 500/500." His current experience was 150/500.

From the experience gained, the difference between single-player survival mode and training mode was not significant. Feng Jue and Wang Tanzhi were at levels 1 and 2 respectively when they played the multiplayer training mode. Without considering the extremely difficult outcome of killing a boss, the experience gained from completing that script would be around 300, not 500. This single-player survival mode script was generated at level 4, and based on the experience ratio, he could earn close to 400 experience points.

At this point, the rewards in survival mode were clearly more generous. Compared to the training mode, which only provided experience, Feng Jue now had skill points and their experience bonus, game coins, and additional rewards for completing the script and his fear rating.

However, one line in the settlement data puzzled Feng Jue. He had previously brought out an item, a "one-time syringe," from the training mode, but the "Item/Equipment obtained" section of the settlement list showed "None." This time, the monkey was included in the settlement.

He was quite confident that this situation was never mentioned in the game materials he had seen before. Of course, the official game guide was more of an advertisement and general overview, and wouldn't cover every specific detail.

Unsolved mysteries were like fish bones in Feng Jue's throat, especially small, seemingly insignificant issues that made him uncomfortable. He didn't bother checking the forums because the information there about system-related issues might not be accurate. Instead, he contacted the online customer service directly through the screen in the login space. The customer service representative was stumped by the question and took a while to respond: "Items of the 'consumable' type, such as medicines, bandages, crafting materials, and mechanical parts, with a quality of 'common' (including common) or below, will not be listed in the settlement list if obtained and brought out of the script. Equipment of 'junk' quality follows the same rule."

Hearing this, Feng Jue understood. There could be many such items in team scripts. If someone with a large inventory decided to pick up a bunch of useless items like rocks, branches, weeds, bricks, and sticks during the last 60 seconds of the countdown and brought them out of the script, the settlement list would have to record all these useless items. Hence, this rule was implemented.

After understanding this, Feng Jue wanted to take a look at the monkey he had obtained in his inventory. However, when he tried to take it out, the monkey disappeared and was replaced by a card similar in size to a tarot card. At the same time, a system prompt appeared before his eyes:

【After completing a script, players may obtain 'plot items that can be brought out of the script.' These items are usually related to secondary missions or were not used in the main plot due to various reasons (such as the player overcoming the plot requirements with their own abilities). When such plot items successfully enter the login space, they will be converted into 'puzzle cards' and added to the deck system (not yet open).】

Feng Jue read the system prompt and looked at the puzzle card in his hand. Although the card felt like paper, it couldn't be bent. The edges of the card glowed white, and the pattern on both sides was the same, with no front or back. The card in his hand depicted a monkey, drawn in an ink-wash style.

【Puzzle Card: Monkey】— This was the only annotation on the item, just a name with no other details.

Feng Jue glanced at Wang Tanzhi's status in the friend list; the kid was still in the game. He didn't rush to claim his settlement rewards and instead contacted customer service again.

"Let me explain the deck system in general terms..."

Before that, we need to understand the concept of equipment quality grading, as provided by the official website:

Junk: It's difficult to get this worthless piece of junk to function properly.

Broken: Old, defective, but better than nothing.

Common: This equipment is in good condition and will be helpful if used properly.

Uncommon: A reliable, good piece of equipment, like a trusted companion. (Uncommon quality equipment has at least one attribute or one special effect)

Perfect: A flawless, top-tier piece of equipment, rare and powerful. (Perfect quality equipment always has a special effect, but not necessarily attributes)

Legendary: A coveted artifact that can significantly enhance the user's capabilities.

From this grading, it's clear that uncommon quality equipment will be the mainstream in the mid to late game, and most players will be able to obtain this level of equipment.

As mentioned earlier, the main way to obtain equipment in Horror Park is by "finding" it. But what if a player can't get uncommon equipment and falls into a vicious cycle of lacking equipment, which leads to weaker capabilities, which in turn makes it harder to obtain equipment?

The deck system is the game company's solution, providing players with an alternative way to obtain equipment in the late game: by collecting a series of puzzle cards, players can exchange them for equipment, with a guaranteed minimum quality of uncommon, and a chance for perfect quality.

What is a "series"? The answer is random and infinite.

For example, with the 【Puzzle Card: Monkey】, if you also have puzzle cards: Monk, White Horse, Pig, and Cannibal, these five cards can be considered a series.

Similarly, if you have puzzle cards: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, plus the monkey, the twelve cards can also be considered a series.

As long as the system determines that a set of cards can form a "series," the concept is valid, and the series can be used to exchange for equipment.

From this, it's clear that any puzzle card can theoretically join multiple series. The creation of any card also has a certain randomness. For example, the monkey Feng Jue brought out might not have become the 【Puzzle Card: Monkey】; it could have become a puzzle card: Ape, Kong, Furball, Peach, or Hidenori Toyokawa, etc. Similarly, if a player brought out a pair of straw shoes from a script, they might become a puzzle card: Foot, Straw, or Uncle, etc.

This diverse setting ensures that every plot item can become a useful puzzle card. In the late game, if players are strong enough to overcome most challenges with force, the attribute of whether a plot item can be brought out of the script might influence their strategy for completing the script.

Therefore, players who lack equipment can enter single-player survival mode, complete only the main plot, and skip all side missions, leaving behind all plot items that can be brought out of the script as puzzle cards.

Of course, players cannot commit suicide to leave the script after taking what they want. To get a puzzle card, completing the script is the minimum requirement. If a player dies during any mode, they can take their equipment and items, but any plot items obtained within the script will remain in the script, preventing the death of one player from hindering others in team mode.

That's about it. Feng Jue had finished his inquiry and ended the communication with customer service. He then performed some operations in the menu to store the puzzle card as data in the login space. Next, he prepared to claim his completion rewards and additional rewards.

He never had high hopes for the scare value rating, as the script's horror level was average. However, he was more concerned about the additional draw opportunity.

The random skill from the completion reward would definitely be something he could use, either a general or a gadget specialization skill. As for the additional reward for the fear rating... he had to choose equipment again because he was still unarmed after completing the script.

Feng Jue walked out of the elevator and entered the bright metal room, which, like last time, contained two hollow glass columns.

First, he went to the completion reward side and claimed the random skill through the virtual menu. A skill card gradually formed in the glass column with white light. When Feng Jue took out the card, he remained calm, but the moment he saw the skill description, a loud, anguished cry echoed through the room: "What a rip-off!"

{Piaotian Literature}