A day later, at the resting area.
Just then, a new batch of players stumbled through the teleportation gate, their eyes filled with confusion and curiosity about the new world. As a pair of veteran players were about to take the new players out to hunt genestealers for fun, Archer's appearance drew the attention of most people.
After all, a player wearing the red skin of a Tech-Priest was a first, and other players were seeing a player in these iconic robes appear in a public area for the first time. Archer carried a metal box in his hand, walking steadily towards the crowd.
"Come on, guys, try it out!" Archer opened the box he was carrying, revealing a complete set of brand-new Carapace Armor, pure black in color, with sharp lines, looking both simple and full of power.
The players immediately surrounded him, asking curiously, "What is this thing?"
"Does this game have a class transfer system? How did you become a Tech-Priest, buddy?"
"Carapace Armor specifically designed for players," Archer said, opening the box and displaying the various components of the armor. "Its main function is to make it convenient for you to inject medicine."
"As for how I became a Tech-Priest," Archer paused, speaking expressionlessly, clearly indicating that his previous experience had been extremely grueling, "I had to solve a whole set of complex philosophical and mathematical problems, spent two hours performing a ritual to communicate with the machine spirit, and finally, there was designing this set of Carapace Armor... And I'm still just an apprentice."
"Holy moly, that hardcore? Do you really have to study mechanics and math to be a Tech-Priest?" one player exclaimed.
"I'm scared. I'll just stick to being a grunt," another player shivered, rubbing his arms.
Archer coughed twice, trying to steer the conversation back on track: "So, any guys want to try on this freshly made Carapace Armor? You need to have undergone mechanical modification and have a brain-computer interface. This is high-tech; once connected, you can automatically inject medicine with a thought, turning you into a superman on the spot!"
"I'll try!" Name, who was the first to realize that players could boost their combat power through injections, excitedly stepped forward.
"Take off your bulletproof vest; I'll help you put on the armor," Archer said, taking out the various components of the Carapace Armor from the box one by one. He didn't rush to act but instead pulled out a copy of "machine spirit Pacification and Equipment Maintenance Compendium" from his Pregnant, turning to a page and following the diagrams and runes, his movements precise and slow.
With faint hisses of hydraulic transmission and the precise clicking of metal components locking into place, Archer carefully fitted the Carapace Armor's chest plate, arm guards, leg guards, and helmet onto Name.
He occasionally tapped a connection point with his finger, seemingly sensing the machine spirit's feedback, or perhaps just ensuring a perfect fit. The Carapace Armor looked very simple, pure black, with no superfluous decorations. A small backpack was integrated into the back, and the helmet came with a gas mask connected to the backpack.
With a final soft "click," the Carapace Armor closed completely. Name took a deep breath, feeling his connection to the Carapace Armor through the brain-computer interface.
"How does it feel? Any abnormalities?" Archer asked.
"It's alright," Name moved his limbs, the metal joints making a slight rubbing sound. "It's just a bit heavy."
"Due to cost, this set of Carapace Armor is very simplified, removing communication and automatic sensing systems. The life support system has also been replaced with a simple gas mask, and the only weak electrical power is used to ensure smooth liquid injection," Archer explained. "It only has the functions of injecting liquid and purifying air."
"Now, initiate the liquid injection."
Name thought, feeling a stinging sensation from multiple points on his back as cold liquid was injected into his body under high pressure. What followed was an indescribable surge of violent energy.
The feeling of being somewhat heavy instantly vanished without a trace, replaced by the illusion of incredibly light limbs, filled with explosive power.
His senses sharpened several times over in an instant; even tiny dust particles floating in the air before his eyes, and distant whispers, could not escape his perception. His brain felt cool, his thoughts clearer than ever, and all information was collected and processed quickly, as if the entire world had slowed down.
"How does it feel?" Archer's voice came, sounding unusually clear in his ears.
"I feel... very good." Name exhaled, the breath seemingly carrying heat.
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and loudly declared, "Three guys, come fight me!"
The veteran players all chuckled, "Calling for three right away? Looks like his ego's inflated, huh?"
"Seventh Squad guys, stop watching, go fight him!"
Soon, three veteran players stepped forward and took positions with Name in the open space in the center of the resting area. The surrounding players consciously retreated, forming a circle, excitedly awaiting this unequal match.
With Archer's "Start!", the battle officially began.
The three players in the arena were almost simultaneously startled by Name's speed. They only saw a blur, and in less than a second, Name had covered a distance of fifteen meters, pouncing like a predatory beast on the player closest to him.
That player reacted extremely quickly, crossing his arms in front of him, trying to protect vital areas. Name's fist, carrying a whistling wind, slammed heavily onto his arm. Although the first attack successfully landed on a non-fatal area, a clear cracking sound came from the player's arm bone. He grunted, his body staggering, almost falling.
The players immediately realized that the opponent's strength overwhelmed them, so they unhesitatingly rushed forward, no longer caring about fairness, only seeking to restrain this monster. The first player endured the intense pain, desperately hugging Name's leg. The second player pounced on his upper body, trying to grapple him.
However, with the aid of the potion, Name's strength was beyond imagination. He merely struggled slightly, kicking away the player hugging his leg, then delivered a back elbow strike, hitting the temple of the player grappling his upper body. Both were quickly struck down and incapacitated at almost the same time, falling to the ground, but they bought precious moments for the third player.
The third player knew that the opportunity was fleeting. He mercilessly struck Name's neck with his elbow, his movement unreserved, clearly aiming to kill. This full-force blow would have bent even an iron rod.
However, Name seemed oblivious, his neck merely tilting slightly, without even a hint of pain. Immediately after, he ghost-like spun around with a roundhouse kick, striking the third player squarely in the chest, sending him flying like a rag doll to crash heavily against the wall before slumping softly to the ground.
The entire battle, from start to finish, lasted only a short seven or eight seconds.