As a player, can you be normal?

Chapter 822 The Long Road to Advancement

Advancing as a player grants unimaginable levels of power.

Quasimodo was previously just a low-ranking member of this group, but now he possesses terrifying strength capable of killing Cha Bai head-on, and even Nanami and Li Nuo would find it difficult to survive under his attack.

He didn't hold back at all and didn't hesitate at all. If Cha Bai hadn't had such high defense, he would have been dead long ago.

Even so, Quasimodo could not have foreseen the advanced technology of the "Cairo World" [chip: learning device].

Cha Bai has been promoted.

She gripped Quasimodo's stabbing cane with one hand, and Quasimodo felt as if the weapon was embedded in stone, impossible to pull out.

My sense of alertness suddenly surged.

Quasimodo abandoned the weapon, let go, and immediately retreated several hundred meters.

"Why is it so dangerous..."

When he came to his senses, he realized he had retreated quite a distance.

He could clearly see Cha Bai slowly sitting up a hundred meters away.

The eyeball that he had crushed has already recovered.

Those azure eyes didn't even glance at Quasimodo.

Tea-white neck movement.

My thoughts were still stuck in that one moment.

……

A few seconds ago.

When she decided to get promoted.

The system emitted a sound.

[Maximum Limit Exceeded]

Please listen carefully to what follows.

[Calculating all your values]

[Advanced requirements completed x3 (kill MAX-level player, change the fate of the world, kill extremely powerful life form)]

[Name too long to be omitted...]

【Strength: 409】

[Reaction: 328]

[Spiritual power: 629]

[Physique: 702]

[Insight: 305]

[Medical: 320]

This data is much higher than expected for Cha Bai.

In the vaporwave scenario, she briefly merged with herself to achieve a level 99 experience card.

The data at that time was like this.

【Strength: 222】

[Reaction: 273]

[Spiritual power: 409]

[Physique: 601]

[Insight: 300]

[Medical: 279]

As Cha Bai pondered these things, she clearly felt that time seemed to have stopped for a moment.

Anyway, she won't be beaten to death anytime soon, so I might as well just listen obediently.

[Memory Fragment Extraction: The Witcher, NieR: Automata, Icarus]

[Ability Extraction: Ranged A, Melee A, Spiritual Power A, Mental Power C, Hardness MAX]

[Features extracted: long legs, high heels, big butt]

[Physical fitness level surpasses 1000 (data being calculated)]

[The remaining values are being calculated]

[Possesses a unique attribute value of 100 (This attribute value can be adjusted by resetting stats after calculation)]

[Possesses the Devil Fruit: Icarus]

[Special Calculation: New Game Plus Players]

【…】

This is the World Tree.

How come you also have two "lives"?

[Is this related to the resurrection of player 5900 in "Endless Corridor (Redemption Corridor)" again?]

[In that case…]

[Reward 1.5x increase calculation]

[Calculation in progress; value can be adjusted at any time using specific features]

When Xiao Wu was promoted, she didn't choose to adjust her position because she was worried that it would delay things, so she went straight to fight.

Cha Bai is different. Anyway, she's being beaten, and as the saying goes, she's too tough to be killed in a short time, so she chooses to adjust the values.

So...

The truth behind the promotion only became clear at this moment.

Cha Bai's vision suddenly returned.

But first she heard the sound of waves.

Then I saw the blue sea and sky.

Unbeknownst to her, she entered a special space.

This is a "power storage point".

Cha Bai turned around when he heard the World Tree's voice.

Forests, towns, and airships flying through the clouds—she arrived in Icarus.

What is a player?

The World Tree problem.

Cha Bai read aloud, "I don't know..."

【data】

【life】

[A "wanderer" traveling through different times and worlds]

You have spent your entire lives for only two purposes.

[The identity of the departing player]

[Or become the life that breaks through the barrier of the player.]

That is it.

【main character】

"Is the player the protagonist?"

Once you break through the level 99 barrier, you will become the subject of a sudden, extraordinary thought in the mind of someone in a certain world or space. After that, you will become the protagonist of a media outlet or story in a place you don't know about.

The protagonist's story always needs a place to belong, or a special place that belongs only to him.

This is the place.

Cha Bai raised his head: "Icarus..."

Her obsession with Icarus was very strong, extremely strong.

Even though she sometimes comforted Li Nuo that he didn't need to come back, she still felt a strong attachment to this place.

That's because this world exists because of her; it is her past, and the most beautiful future in the NieR timeline.

And there is...

Here, she experienced "warmth" for the first time.

The town behind us was bustling with noise, the wind rustled through the trees, and flocks of birds flew out of the treetops.

"and then?"

Tea White asked.

If you wish to skip this step, we will allocate the resources for you automatically. You can then use the "characteristic value" to allocate it yourself later.

"Reality and time here..."

What you call real time is currently paused.

"Then I'll do it myself."

[Rules for Publication]

……

After a player breaks through their limits, their attribute values will increase significantly.

Based on player experience, attribute values vary greatly.

[Some players may only have one attribute value of 1000 points after breaking through the numerical limits, but some players may have two or three attribute values of more than 1000 points, or even more than 2000 points.]

[In our records, the highest record belongs to a player from the "Corridor of the End" a thousand years ago, who, after breaking through, had two stats above 2000 and one stat above 3000.]

But please remember this.

Breaking through limits is a "skill state".

[Your normal stats will be reduced. If this isn't done, the world will descend into chaos, and the beings from the other world we're trying to stop might invade.]

You must have seen similar people in your experience.

[Extract player's 5950 memory fragments]

Do you still remember Dante's stats?

That man's stats are far worse than yours, but in battle, he can unleash devastating power.

We're using this thing.

[This refers to the "unreasonable stat boosting cheat" that only the "protagonist" possesses.]

That concludes the explanation.

[The Path to Advancement Begins]

……

The grass beneath their feet suddenly rose up.

taller and taller.

Until we entered the sea of clouds in the sky.

The town transformed into an island whale, dragging her towards the vanished sky city.

Finally, in just a few minutes, in that sea, Icarus's Sky City rose from the sea, with a pale tower standing in the center of the empty city.

Just like when she first came here, she jumped off the island whale and stood on the cliff, gazing at the white tower that held her memories.

There's a feeling that compels her to go there.

If you want to go, then go.

"World Tree, I have...I have a question."

"What exactly is Schwarzleel doing?"

"Between you two..."

We don't realize that we're just programs, like you used to be.

Our job is to protect an area from being invaded by that immense force, nothing more.

If necessary, we will clean up everything now.

"You mean you can delete our archives, or even the entire world's archives?"

【Can】

But it won't.

But Xiu Farewell might secretly harbor resentment.

With a vague sense of unease, she entered the white tower. Here, she could not fly, but could only walk.

The final gate of the tower remains tightly closed.

This door is as if it were infused with all the defense mechanisms of the world, and it cannot be moved in the slightest by brute force. The only way to open it is by using a "spell".

Cha Bai still remembers that incantation, the riddle that Li Nuo solved.

Just like the first time, she reached out her fair hand and touched the pristine white door.

“Ceádmil adref! (Welcome home!)”

The door slowly opened.

Her slender, soft legs stepped through the door.

Dilapidated walls, white flowers blooming all over the ground like Moon Tears, and a pair of Yoruha tactical goggles placed in the sea of flowers.

"You...you're here?"

From within the flower stood a dilapidated mechanical life form, which transformed into Yakoll in the blink of an eye.

"Yakol, what's going on?"

"I don't know... I was integrating data inside the 'threshold' when I suddenly saw this thing, and then I was teleported here..."

Yakohl put his suitcase down and rummaged through it, casually asking, "This world... is made up of mechanical lifeforms, isn't it?"

"It's human."

Cha Bai said with a smile.

At that moment, Jakoor's eyes welled up with tears: "Humans... what a damn answer."

Cha Bai said, "Then let me use another word: whatever form the things that make up the world take, they are all ultimately 'life'."

“Those who have escaped the cycle of reincarnation are truly different.” Yako took out a [chip] from the box and handed it to Chabai.

Where is Li Nuo?

"It was stolen by a succubus."

"what?"

What surprised Yako was not that Li Nuo had been robbed, but that besides Cha Bai, there was another woman who was interested in him.

"That guy's face is definitely not popular, right?"

Cha Bai chuckled and took the chip.

“Hmm…” Yako pursed his lips: “Even though I’ve already thanked him, I still want to thank him again… If that guy had a slightly better personality, he might have become a savior worshipped by billions of lives long ago.”

“A savior hidden in the world,” Cha Bai said. “That’s even more interesting.”

This "chip" records the things that transformed you.

Cha Bai heard the voice of the World Tree.

Insert the chip into the groove at the back of the head.

In that instant, her entire body burst forth with white light, so bright that Jakoll covered his eyes.

Icarus is a special place for you.

Because of you, this world exists.

Therefore, all information related to you is recorded here.

Only by entrusting our power to you here can we obtain the highest level of advancement.

This is the World Tree.

Your advanced foundational skills are now complete.

[Now calculating growth data]

"and many more……"

“I am willing to… protect the future with this unwavering conviction, after all, this is the homeland I created, and there is you, Yakor…”

Cha Bai's voice came into Jako's ear.

May the crystal guide you.

[Focusor 2.5 Launched]

[Player 5950, "Focusor" offers no additional boosts for advancement]

Tea was white with helplessness.

……

Everyone selects two key attribute points.

[Player 5950 in "Redemption Corridor": Constitution, Spiritual Power]

[Kill a MAX-level player: Key attributes +100]

[Kill an extremely powerful individual: Key attribute +100]

[Change the fate of the world: Key attribute +100]

[Completing all three will grant an additional 100 key attribute points, and the skill calculation later will provide the "maximum" boost effect.]

[World Tree Reward: Save the souls of players trapped in the Great Labyrinth. This bonus is shared by your equipped "Learning Device". 4012 souls have been saved so far.]

[Key attribute bonus: 40]

[Because you have two "life" records, the reward is calculated with a 1.5x multiplier.]

【Calculation completed】

[Both Constitution and Spiritual Power gained +660]

……

[Own one fruit: Gain 200 attribute points, which can be freely allocated]

……

[Features extracted: high heels, long legs, big butt]

[High-Heel Sprinter's abilities upgraded to MAX]

[High heels' destructive power is increased to MAX]

……

[Capability Extraction: Maximum Hardness]

[Physique +1000]

……

[Special Energy Extraction: The Supreme Sorcerer of Crystal Magic]

[Spiritual Power +1000]

……

[Solution Method Extraction: Patients with Ghost-Based Behavior Addiction]

【Strength +200】

……

[Attribute Value Extraction: Fire]

[Gain the qualification to learn "highest-level fire magic"]

[Spiritual Power +50]

……

[Based on real-world scriptwriting experience, calculate other non-critical attribute values.]

[Calculation Criteria: Impact on the "Real World"]

[Player 5950: Rank B]

All non-critical attributes +200

……

【Characteristic Value Rule: 1 characteristic value corresponds to 10 attribute points, and attribute values can be reallocated using characteristic values】

[Note: Redistributing characteristic values does not mean consumption; the original value can still be used to replenish attribute values.]

Player 5950 possesses a unique value of 100, meaning they have 1000 attribute points that can be allocated and 100 points that can be freely used.

……

The current value of Tea White is already quite inflated.

Strength: 409+200+200 (809)

[Reaction: 328 + 200(528)]

[Spiritual Power: 629 + 1710 + 200 (2539)]

[Constitution: 702+1660+200 (2562)]

[Insight: 305+200(505)]

[Medical: 320+200(520)]

There is an exclamation mark after the numerical value, which indicates "actual value".

True Value: The value obtained when the energy burst after breaking the limit is activated. The activation method is similar to MEGA evolution. Prolonged use will cause "malice to the fate of the world".

The malice of the world's fate: something unknown, but something bad is bound to happen.

The duration of the actual value is related to the strength of the world. In the Borderlands scenario, the duration can last for at least several months. As for how long the duration is and how long the cooldown is, skilled players can also consider using instant switching, but it is unknown what kind of burden it will put on the body. Anyway, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

The concept of true values also explains another issue: some characters can tear the earth apart with their bare hands, but why can't they even open the prison's iron cage in the story? It's because the world's strength determines the activation state of true values.

This is something that the characters in the story, whether main or supporting, like Dante, don't know, but the player does.

Even players are sometimes helpless within this limitation. For example, Lillian, who helped Sauron, was actually extremely powerful as the leader of the guild, but under the world strength of Li Nuo and his group, she could not activate "true stats".

Tea White has two values that have exceeded 2000 points.

However, it's not over yet.

……

[“Corridor Main World” is currently under review]

[Kairosoft World]

[Keywords: Simulation management, humorous and casual, key attribute "medical value"]

[Acquire a special ability based on the strongest "physique": an invisible steel defense. If you encounter a terrifying attack that you cannot avoid, you will be reduced to a paper doll, but you will immediately recover. Similarly, if you are burned by flames, your whole body will turn black, but you can shake it off. More uses need to be verified, but please remember that one of the weaknesses of this ability is that "each time it will deduct one-third of your total medical value".]

……

【…】

There seem to be a lot of monsters lately...

Cha Bai: "Um...it's not over yet?"

Wait, how do you have so many skills?

[We still need to calculate skills...]

【Hold on……】

[Due to a player's unusual progression path... our calculations are somewhat incorrect.]

……

at the same time.

In the world of Pokémon.

Nanami sat on the grass, looking up at the sky with Pikachu.