When selecting the 'chat' option in his user interface, Kraynnor received a notification.
[This is the chat for apprentice mechanics. Two knowledge points are required to send ten messages. Read the rules to avoid fines.]
"…Fines?" he whispered, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
He decided to take a look at the rules first and was perplexed to discover that he couldn't share blueprints or any kind of technology, including the creation of different energy types.
This rule seemed senseless to him; he didn't understand why sharing technology wasn't allowed.
According to the system, this restriction was meant to prevent mechanics from becoming overly dependent on others to solve their technical and creative problems, which could, in turn, limit their ability to develop new and original technology.
"…?"
Kraynnor didn't understand. If it weren't for the Biomass Energy Saber, he would be lost in some hidden corner of the vast ocean in his quest for resources to follow his original revenge plan.
If his will had wavered, and he had become an individual dependent solely on what the system provided...
Wouldn't he have condemned his own future by just waiting to receive things?
Because if Kraynnor had wished, he could have easily created useless technologies just to accumulate points, without putting in the effort to develop his own talents, and simply be satisfied with what the system provided.
He didn't know if there were users who had reached the top by solely relying on the system, but if that were the case, he considered them weak and pathetic.
As he reflected on these annoying rules, he wondered if they applied in the same way to other classes.
"Hmm, even if they prohibit me from receiving technology from other mechanics, that won't make me any less hardworking. In fact, I'm likely to find a way to improve and optimize any technology they provide. In any case, 'your house, your rules,'" Kraynnor muttered with indifference, shrugging his shoulders.
Still, it seemed excessive that sharing blueprints would result in a fine of a hundred Knowledge Points...
He wasn't allowed to reveal details about a user's life, and if Kraynnor mentioned that he was from Earth, even if the other users had no idea of his exact location, he would be penalized with fifty points.
In general, there was a long list of rules, and absolutely everything was fined. Even talking in the chat required points!
This system seemed to be squeezing every bit of knowledge points from the users, which made Kraynnor question the purpose of this being that seemed like some sort of god. Did it want to raise livestock that would provide Knowledge Points, or was there a deeper purpose behind these unusual rules?
[Do you wish to enter the Lumineos sector chat? (Yes/No).]
This was the message that appeared on the panel in front of him. Kraynnor noticed that in the lower right corner, he had the option to switch channels. There were other sectors available, such as the Chronodis sector, the Orpheus sector, the Nycterra sector, and hundreds more.
Kraynnor was quite intrigued by this Lumineos sector.
He wasn't sure what it represented, whether it was where Earth was located, or if it was a designation of the system itself. For now, it was all speculation that might not make any sense.
By selecting 'Yes,' a small rectangular panel instantly appeared with a short text displaying his username.
[The user God Mechanic has entered the Lumineos sector chat room.]
In less than a second, dozens of messages, each with the username of the sender, began to appear in the small panel. These messages piled up continuously from the bottom of the panel to the top as new messages arrived.
Kraynnor read them with curiosity, but then furrowed his brow to the point where his eyes burned with anger.
[GravitonBuilder: Interesting, someone else got the system in this sector, still, God Mechanic? Who does he think he is? The son of one of the Hundred Galactic Ascendants?]
[QuantumArchitect: I don't think he's familiar with the universe; calling oneself a god is almost the same as challenging countless civilizations...]
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[CosmicEngineer: He's probably some guy who got lucky and got the Universal System; that's what happens to beings with low intelligence. Poor guy, he probably got the mechanic class by mistake.]
[GravitonBuilder: Ha, I doubt he'll become anyone significant, so his username will probably only be known by us.]
[GravitonBuilder: Still, I'll remember it when I'm at the top.]
[NebulaInventor: You guys have no respect for newcomers, eh? We're all just apprentices; the fact that his name is a bit arrogant doesn't give you the right to make fun of him.]
[QuantumArchitect: I agree, even though it's almost suicidal to use that name, he's not inferior to us, we should welcome him, or he won't come back.]
[CosmicEngineer: It won't make a difference if he doesn't come back; he won't contribute anything to us.]
[NebulaInventor: You stress me out; I'm going to build something. By the way, newcomer, don't worry too much about these fools; spending too much time in their workshops, they look for anything to entertain themselves.]
[QuantumArchitect: It's true, they're bitter from being stuck as apprentices for so long, wasting all their points on useless skills.]
[GravitonBuilder: You!...]
"You say I got the mechanic class by mistake?" he said with a cold tone.
Kraynnor had a high tolerance for many things, but what really angered him was feeling underestimated and treated like a fool. He had always been very proud of his sharp intelligence, and after so many years, it was annoying that a group of strangers would belittle him.
He selected the 'write' option at the bottom of the panel but was denied by a system notification.
[To send ten messages, you must spend two Knowledge Points.]
"Just this once," he reluctantly agreed.
Kraynnor spent his only two points, and a gray holographic keyboard appeared in front of him. He began typing quickly. Although he knew it was a waste of time, at least he would feel better about himself.
[God Mechanic: My choice of username was not random (It was). I selected it with the conviction of representing the peak I am destined to reach. The fact that you all live in fear doesn't mean I should. We are starting from the same point, but soon you'll only see me ascending, tilting your heads up as I progress.]
As soon as he sent that message, the comments started pouring in. He felt like a young again when responding to negative comments online; it was nostalgic and enjoyable for him.
What was he thinking? Now his body and mind were those of a young person!
Kraynnor read what they were saying, and it was mostly people telling him he was too arrogant and probably overestimating himself.
There were also some very kind users who encouraged him.
[CosmicEngineer: I'm sure you spent years trying to advance from a novice to an apprentice, and now you pretend you're an unrivaled genius… I'll just warn you that a true genius completes their first class advancement in a month!]
"Oh?"
But he found a comment that caught his attention, and not wanting to spend more time in this chat, he simply replied, [God Mechanic: Years? It only took me two days to advance to apprentice mechanic.]
With that, he closed the chat and focused on what he had obtained from the system: active and passive skills.
Upon opening the 'skills' panel in the interface, he found a panel filled with thousands of black bubbles, with two options at the top: [Pay a hundred Knowledge Points to randomly obtain a passive skill] or [Pay a hundred Knowledge Points to randomly obtain an active skill].
"…"
Kraynnor looked at it for a few seconds and simply closed it in silence. He couldn't deny his interest in those skills, but he had zero points.
Looking ahead, he noticed a small group of androids that had been waiting for a few minutes. They had their arms extended, displaying seven new creations. He looked at one of the androids' hands; it held a small ten-square-centimeter green device with a small propeller on one side.
As he touched it, the system provided its description.
[Biomass Shield Drone (One Star): Uses liquid biomass as an energy source and can merge with other Biomass Shield Drones to form an adaptable and versatile shield. Product of Zero-Type civilization, the High Humans.]
It seemed simple, but he was sure it would excel on the battlefield. Kraynnor then proceeded to touch the rest of the devices.
The system showed him the descriptions of the [SSF Electronic Camouflage Emitters], the [Electronic Signal Jammer], the [EMI Plasma Detector], the [Decoy Diversion Drones], the [Sticky Biomass Grenades], and the [Explosive Fusion Cells].
"?"
After reading everything, satisfied and in a good mood, he decided to check what the mechanics in the chat had responded to. But at some point, apparently, they had all stopped talking.
It literally seemed like they had all disappeared at the same time!
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[SSF Electronic Camouflage Emitters (Zero Stars): Extend the coverage of the 'SSF' electronic camouflage algorithm, creating an illusion of invisibility that hides the presence of technology in the area. A product of the Type Zero civilization, the High Humans.]
[Electronic Signal Jammer (Zero Stars): Interferes with and blocks enemy ship and equipment communications and electronic signals, disorienting, confusing, and temporarily blocking their transmissions. A product of the Type Zero civilization, the High Humans.]
[Plasma Detector (Zero Stars): Designed to detect plasma concentrations in a specific area using ionizing radiation sensors, electromagnetic radiation, and charged particles. Provides early detection of plasma presence in the environment. A product of the Type Zero civilization, the High Humans.]
[Decoy Diversion Drones (Zero Stars): Designed to provoke friendly fire on enemy ships by disabling the SSF algorithm. A product of the Type Zero civilization, the High Humans.]
[Sticky Biomass Grenades (One Star): Release an extremely sticky biomass substance that adheres to surfaces. A product of the Type Zero civilization, the High Humans.]
[Explosive Fusion Cells (Zero Stars): Contain nuclear fusion energy that, when activated, can trigger a controlled explosion for strategic purposes on the battlefield. A product of the Type Zero civilization, the High Humans.]