Wasteland Development Diary

At dawn, the Kestrel returned.

The advanced signal transceiver was also a small black box, but with two short, thick red columnar antennas, marked with a dictionary symbol, which is also the city logo of Recursive City.

"Zhou, this is the combat seed you wanted."

The drone's mechanical claw delivered a square disc with silver metal pieces embedded in it.

It looked like an ancient disk storage device, with the Recursive City dictionary logo and a serial number printed on the surface.

This was a disposable optical storage disk, specifically for storing combat seeds.

Following the Kestrel's instructions, Zhou Yi pulled open the metal piece.

Immediately, a green glowing object slowly rose from the optical storage disk.

Zhou Yi switched to Machine No. 2 and grabbed it.

...

[Light Seed ★☆☆]

Damage: 8-13

Cooldown: 0.5

Range: 2

「Berserk」: Consumes 40 energy points, comprehensively enhances the mech's strength and greatly increases its size for a short period. Leaves the user weakened after use.

...

The advanced skill "Fatal Strike" had not yet been unlocked, it seemed like it needed to be maxed out like "Alert".

In its initial state, Black Soul's damage and attack speed far exceeded Long-Necked Crocodile's, but its range was shorter, as it was purely a close-quarters combatant.

After Zhou Yi absorbed it, this combat seed fused with [Mech 2].

Next, the Kestrel headed to Wyvern Bay to complete the connection with the Poseidon.

Zhou Yi then began preparing to level up.

In the past, he sparred with Bone Fish, but now he decided to change his opponent.

...

Under the Dead Sea.

Two figures appeared in the drifting mist.

Zhou Yi and Weapon Master Xie Xun stood facing each other.

Both took their stances.

"Let me see the limit of your strength."

"Yes, Leader."

Zhou Yi adopted a boxing stance, and Xie Xun drew his sword and shield from his back.

Both dashed forward.

Zhou Yi took a slash to the neck.

However, his fist also landed squarely on Xie Xun before being blocked by the opponent's shield. The two exchanged blows for a minute before separating.

Zhou Yi calmed his breathing slightly and looked at Xie Xun opposite him.

This kid was really ruthless. If he couldn't break through his defense, he would have been killed by the first strike. There was still pain.

On the bright side, the weapon master's straightforward style of fighting without holding back or letting the leader win was very helpful for leveling up. Compared to the E-grade Bone Fish, the D-grade Weapon Master was of course a better sparring partner.

"Again."

...

Three days later.

On a pile of ruins in the Dead Sea.

Zhou Yi opened two cans of beer and sat with Weapon Master Xie Xun, drinking together to celebrate the completion of the leveling task.

Xie Xun's silver eyes showed a trace of absentmindedness: "Leader, this water is very peculiar."

"It's beer, also called Dead Sea Vintage."

Zhou Yi said, "When you encounter good things, you can have a little. When you encounter bad things, you can also have a little."

"Oh."

Weapon Master was puzzled: "So does it represent good things or bad things?"

This question stumped Zhou Yi.

He thought carefully and took a sip of beer: "The important thing is not why you drink, but who you drink with. I'm very happy to drink with you. Thank you for your hard work these past few days."

Zhou Yi clinked beer cans with him.

Weapon Master also imitated it once, and then he raised the beer and said, "Leader, I don't understand, but this is delicious."

"If it's delicious, drink more, just don't get drunk."

Zhou Yi examined the combat seed equipped on Machine No. 2.

...

[Combat ★★★]

Damage: 101-175

Cooldown: 0.5

Range: 2

「Berserk」...

「Fatal Strike」: Consumes at least 1000 health points to inflict an equal amount of life damage on the enemy.

...

The Black Soul combat seed's damage had exceeded the previous Concertina's main gun, and its cooldown was also shorter.

There was only one problem.

It was only useful in face-to-face combat.

This was its fatal flaw.

But for Zhou Yi, this was not a problem.

For ranged attacks, there were Emerald City and Ridge Hunter, as well as the soon-to-be-commissioned St. Petersburg. He was mainly preparing for the unexpected, to deal with enemies that got close after crossing the defense line.

With this set of self-defense skills, he could go out and see other cities.

Zhou Yi pulled back his thoughts and looked at the Weapon Master next to him, who was carefully savoring his beer: "What material is your shield made of? It has good defense."

During the previous combat phase, although his skills were terrible, his stats were overwhelming.

But to Zhou Yi's surprise, Xie Xun, relying on his rich combat experience, was always able to block with that black shield, although it was often knocked away, he was not seriously injured.

Clearly, there was something strange about that shield.

"Leader, this is my crafted armor shield."

Weapon Master pulled the shield from his back and offered it with both claws.

Zhou Yi observed it carefully and found that this armor shield was also a kind of woven item, made of black strips of material woven together, with a layer of iron sheet inside.

It was beetle armor.

"Yes, Leader."

Weapon Master replied: "The scavenging team goes to the seabed to scavenge, and is sometimes harassed and attacked by Long-Necked Crocodiles, so I wanted to make corresponding weapons."

"I found that the beetle armor material is very strong, so I used the translator to ask Lord A-Feng, who manages the beetle armor. He gave me a lot of beetle armor and discussed with me how to use this material."

"Without special high-temperature shaping tools, I used the simplest hand-weaving and rope knot connections. My claws can't be cut and can flexibly wrap and tie them."

"It takes a lot of effort and time to make, but the finished product is very useful. The Long-Necked Crocodile's bite and claw attacks can't break through this shield, and with the defense of our own carapace, it's now difficult to hurt us."

"Since our scavenging team has been equipped with armor shields, now Long-Necked Crocodiles will choose to retreat when they encounter us."

Zhou Yi looked at the armor shield in his hand.

The first application of beetle armor material was actually completed by Xie Xun.

By manufacturing and equipping specific tools, this group of D-level beings directly completed a lower-level victory over the C-level Long-Necked Crocodile.

This meant that Xie Xun and the others had creativity and a strong subjective initiative.

Zhou Yi asked: "Are all of you in this branch good at making weapons?"

"No."

Xie Xun said: "Our innate mech defense is not as good as Hammerhead Soldiers, and our attack is weaker than Dual-Blade Hands. Everyone makes up for innate deficiencies by tempering their own mechs and making tools and weapons."

"I belong to the latter. Because we found that there are many powerful creatures that are beyond the capabilities of the Black Warrior, and we can't help when dealing with them. So we need to find other abilities to gain your approval and reuse, Leader."

Zhou Yi thought, the Weapon Master did have wisdom.

He looked at the scavenging captain in front of him: "I heard you like to read books."

"Yes, Leader, but I can't understand them. I've tried various angles and methods, but I still can't understand them."

Xie Xun honestly said: "Only one book in the office, 'Simple Tool Making' from the Craftsman Guild, can I understand the pictures on it. I asked Lord Gong Zheng and Lord Yuan Tong to understand the meaning of it."

"The book records outstanding wisdom, which is very powerful."

Zhou Yi remembered that this book, which he bought from Cui Mao, was placed in the office of the box house along with the "Dead Sea Illustrated Handbook" for employees to read.

"I believe that even if the Warrior Crab transforms into a Black Warrior, it is still weak. We need stronger tools and equipment."

Xie Xun mustered up his courage and said: "So I and other weapon masters are discussing and trying. If beetle armor can make shields, it can make armor, which is very useful for protecting vital parts. I believe we will make it."

Zhou Yi patted his carapace shoulder: "Feel free to try, get anything you need from Gong Zheng. I'll tell him about it."

"Yes, Leader."

Xie Xun was very happy to be recognized.

"Leader, I want to take the remaining half can of beer back for everyone in the scavenging team to try, is that okay?"

He wanted to share the remaining half can with his companions.

Zhou Yi smiled: "Go find Gong Zheng and ask for Tsingtao beer, one can per person."

"Thank you, Leader!"

Weapon Master's eyes narrowed with laughter, waving his claws.

...

Back on land.

In the howling cold wind, Zhou Yi felt a little melancholy.

After mastering the skills, he couldn't find a suitable opponent.

With "Berserk" and "Fatal Strike" activated, even the Black Warrior could be instantly killed by a minimum of 1000 damage.

The risk was too high.

Zhou Yi's original choice was the Ridge Hunter, after all, it was a B-level creature, so it should be able to take some hits.

However, upon hearing this, Ridge Hunter chickened out.

"Chairman, I haven't been feeling well recently, my condition is very bad. If I spar with you... I might die. Please spare me."

Zhou Yi couldn't force it.

Then Emerald City.

As an architectural lifeform with B-level strength, it had naturally strong defense, so there shouldn't be any problems.

On a dark and windy night.

Zhou Yi asked Emerald City: "Are you ready?"

"Ready, all lighting and water supply have been temporarily turned off."

Zhou Yi directly activated [Berserk], and his entire body suddenly increased in size, his clothes exploded, and he turned into a form nearly six meters tall. The entire surface of his body turned into a black ethereal form, like an ink painting brushed out with a brush.

At this time, his attack range increased to 4, the damage limit value also increased to 200, and other values also increased slightly.

Zhou Yi punched the outer wall of Emerald City.

[Fatal Strike]!

A sizable hole was blasted into the outer wall, and spiderweb-like cracks made of white light appeared on the breach.

The defense layer was broken.

Emerald City feedback: "Main body 1.25% damaged."

This was just 1000 health points of Fatal Strike damage.

Zhou Yi delivered a few more punches of the same magnitude.

"Main body 2.5% damaged."

...

Very stable.

Converting it, Emerald City's health was over 80,000.

Finished work.

One-Punch Man was initially refined.

Zhou Yi immediately reverted, put on a bathrobe, and had Emerald City start repairs.

However, this late-night practice session was still noticed by many employees.

Through the Kestrel's overview, Zhou Yi saw the various thoughts of the onlookers.

A Jin: The chairman even beats up Emerald City, so strong.

Night Claw: What's going on? Emerald City didn't do anything, did it? Could it be because it didn't manage the other little Emerald Cities well?

Gong Zheng: Be careful with words, be careful with words.

A Feng: What happened? Is there an earthquake? Why didn't anyone tell me?

Cao Dayuan: If the No. 1 building can be smashed, other buildings might be demolished by the chairman, so the residents have to be more disciplined.

Yuan Tong: The chairman has been a bit hot-tempered recently, so it's better not to provoke him.

Zheng Tao: The Xenomorph is really durable, it would be great if we could grow food on the Xenomorph... but that might be too wasteful.

Qian Su: He's actually quite big, bigger is better, bigger is better.

...

Zhou Yi thought that it would be better to practice in Wyvern Bay next time.