Chapter 4

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Treneidi was somewhat worried about Neo, but Neo never dared to voice his concerns. Zhang Yang saw this in his eyes and began to silently think about the mission.

In the upcoming plot, Neo would first go to the Oracle, then he would join Morpheus and Treneidi to rescue the Keymaker, followed by the thrilling highway chase.

Zhang Yang analyzed the mission issued by the system. The main mission of protecting key characters would appear later. Among the other three side missions, the first one, becoming a crew member of a flying ship, was relatively easiest with the Nebuchadnezzar. Morpheus's strong girlfriend, Niobe, was the captain of the Logos, which was more challenging. Roland, the captain of the Hammer, was the only remaining flying ship in Matrix 3, which returned to Zion and released an electromagnetic pulse.

However, the Nebuchadnezzar would first return to Zion, giving Zhang Yang some time to complete the task of joining a flying ship.

The character affinity mission mainly focused on Neo, Morpheus, and Treneidi, which could be carried out simultaneously with joining a flying ship. As for escaping from agents three times, Zhang Yang had no confidence in that.

In the Matrix, human bodies created by machines all had sockets. The sockets on the back of their heads allowed them to quickly copy various knowledge from discs, which was very convenient. In the first movie, Treneidi copied the piloting program for the Bell-212 helicopter in a very short time and then impressively flew the helicopter to save Morpheus.

Besides the helicopter piloting program, there were many other types of knowledge, such as combat training. Neo was more powerful than the others, copying a full ten hours of various combat programs: Judo, Shaolin Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Drunken Fist, and more. Although it couldn't compare to real Chinese martial arts, it was more than enough to handle ordinary people.

When Zhang Yang first watched the Matrix, he thought the fighting scenes were really fake. Although the actors had trained for a long time, they could only perform mechanical movements. People who often watch Chinese movies and TV shows know what real kung fu looks like. In the Matrix, apart from Zou Zhaolong's portrayal of Seraph, which captured the essence of kung fu, the rest were just special effects and the movie's deliberate portrayal of speed, with no real comparison.

But for someone like Zhang Yang, who knew nothing, even the worst was better than nothing, right?

"Hehehe."

Zhang Yang was delighted. Generally, the first entry into a movie world should come with some special benefits. Now he had a rough idea of what it might be. He touched the socket on the back of his head.

Normal human bodies do not have sockets and cannot implant combat or firearms programs, so they cannot fight against computer agents in the Matrix. Therefore, normal humans on the flying ships mainly serve as operators.

The flying ship stopped, and Morpheus docked it in a crevice. The overall shape of the ship was larger at one end and smaller at the other, resembling a large chicken leg. On the exterior of the ship, there were many circular electromagnetic engines, which were the power system of the entire ship.

This technology, known as Zero1's "reverse thrust vector coil technology," uses magnetic energy. It can absorb electricity from the surrounding rocks and also generate electric and magnetic fields. In the plot, the underground world is entirely metallic, allowing the engines to navigate the complex underground environment and change direction. When flying, it emits an electromagnetic pulse to propel the ship, and it cannot fly without these walls, pipes, and ground. The electronic squids might use a miniaturized version of magnetic energy technology.

Morpheus, Neo, and Treneidi lay on chairs, with sockets inserted into the back of their heads to connect to the Matrix. Link monitored the situation at the computer. The screen continuously refreshed with green code, and Link could see the images in the Matrix from the code. He was responsible for helping the humans in the Matrix return to reality. When the "hackers" in the Matrix needed to leave, they would find the nearest phone and return to reality through the microphone.

Zhang Yang stood next to Link, watching for a while but understanding nothing. He asked, "What are Morpheus and the others doing?"

Link glanced at the code on the screen, compared it with an electronic map, and shrugged. "Oh, they have an appointment with the captains of other ships to discuss some matters."

To avoid being detected by the electronic squids, the flying ship had shut down its external power system and hidden in the darkness. Suddenly, Link slapped his thigh excitedly. "Hey, Zhang Yang, want to try something exciting?"

He took out a square disc from the side. "They've all learned it already. I haven't taught anyone on the Nebuchadnezzar yet."

Zhang Yang was suddenly delighted. This was exactly what he wanted. In the Matrix, learning knowledge was very convenient. Seeing Zhang Yang agree, Link had him lie down on another chair, inserted a metal socket into the back of his head, inserted the disc into the computer, and gave an OK gesture.

Just as Zhang Yang was about to speak, a sudden electric current surged through the back of his head. The data from the disc made Zhang Yang's head twitch, and then he fell into a calm state. Zhang Yang felt as if he was in a green world, surrounded by green code, just like Neo.

The code around him constantly changed and combined, forming human shapes, which then entered Zhang Yang's body and disappeared. After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Yang opened his eyes and realized that only a minute had passed.

The moment he woke up, a mechanical voice from the system said, "Subject 077, after special training, you have mastered basic combat skills, Level LV2. For detailed data, please check the character information module."

Zhang Yang silently thought about the character information, and a pale blue, semi-transparent bar appeared in front of his eyes.

"Subject 077, the digital character information module is activated. Detailed data as follows (parentheses indicate the average values for a healthy 28-year-old male)."

"Strength: 4 (5) - Strength affects your attack power and allows you to use higher-level weapons. AP calculation formula: Strength * 2 = 8."

"Agility: 4 (5) - Agility determines your movement speed and reaction time, as well as your evasion and hit rate. SP calculation formula: Agility * 2 = 8."

"Stamina: 5 (5) - Stamina determines your resistance to damage, i.e., defense, as well as your maximum HP, recovery ability, and maximum stamina and consumption rate. HP calculation formula: Stamina * 3 = 12."

"Mind: 5 (5) - Mind determines your maximum MP and recovery ability, as well as the number of skill uses. MP calculation formula: Mind * 3 = 15."

"Note: Stamina and Mind are very important. When your HP is below 2, you will fall unconscious, and when it is below 0, you will die. Death in this world cannot be revived. When your MP is below 2, you will experience symptoms like nausea, and when it is below 0, you will fall unconscious and temporarily unable to use skills that consume MP."

"Abilities: None."

"Skills: English (Fluent, temporary, forgotten after leaving this world)."

"Basic Combat, LV2."

"When you are in the movie world, your wound healing speed is 300% of a normal person's, and your mental energy recovery speed is 120% of a normal person's. Your body has been digitized, and if you suffer severe injuries, disabilities, or fatal injuries, you will not die immediately, but the affected area will lose function. You can spend universal points to repair in the system space."

In the upper right corner of the character bar, there were three horizontal bars: red for HP 12/12, blue for MP 15/15, and green for Merit Points 0/50.

The skill bar had only two entries, one slightly above the lowest level and one temporary, indicating that Zhang Yang's body was not in great shape.

Link looked at Zhang Yang and smiled. "Hey, Zhang Yang, how was it?"

"Awesome!" Zhang Yang gave a thumbs up.

Sure enough, upon hearing Zhang Yang's enthusiastic response, Link found many more discs on the table, muttering, "Zhang Yang, you don't know. That freak Neo, when he first copied, he copied for a full 10 hours. Oh god, that guy is a freak."

"Let's see what I can find. F-22 piloting program, single-soldier armor driving program, B-212 helicopter piloting, shit, why are they all these things?"

"20XX-era firearms mastery? All flying vehicles mastery? All transportation vehicles mastery? Why isn't there all martial arts mastery?"

"Wing Chun, Sanda, Bajiquan, Shaolin Kung Fu... Look, I found it! Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do."

Many people might not know Bruce Lee, but his other name is Li Xiaolong, the great master who first spread Chinese kung fu to the world. He died young in his thirties, and he had studied under Yip Man, eventually creating Jeet Kune Do based on Wing Chun and other martial arts.

Link held the Jeet Kune Do disc and excitedly waved it at Zhang Yang. The system had arranged Zhang Yang's identity in the Matrix as an Easterner from the distant China. Of course, this was only in the Matrix. Outside, there was only one country, the only human survival home—Zion.

"Zhang Yang, which one do you want to learn?"

Suddenly, the system's voice sounded in Zhang Yang's ear.

"Subject 077, you can choose three knowledge items from the list below to learn, with a maximum level of LV3, proficient level."

"Skill levels are divided into five levels: LV1: Initial, LV2: Beginner, LV3: Proficient, LV4: Master, LV5: Grandmaster."

Then, a long list appeared in front of Zhang Yang's eyes, with all knowledge divided into four major categories, each with more detailed subcategories.

"A: Combat. B: Firearms. C: Transportation. D: Life Skills."

"Please choose."

The page starts with AD and ends with AD.