Saving the World in an Apocalypse-Style Text Game-Chapter 38 - 41 Invasion Test_1
Chapter 38: Chapter 41 Invasion Test_1
Chapter 38 -41 Invasion Test_1
[You notice a slightly ajar wooden door by the wall of the corridor next to you, through which a faint orange light seeps.]
[You push the door to enter, discovering an aged man sitting alone in the small room. He’s dressed in ragged clothing, the dim light of the candle in front of him reflected in his dull pupils.]
[Do you want to strike up a conversation?]
Finally, an NPC!
Lin Xun’s eyes light up as he quickly clicks “Yes”.
[You approach to chat with him. The old man slowly lifts his head to look at you, a ghostly green light of hunger flickering in his pupils. He then bows his head again, his gaze focused on the candle before him.]
Lin Xun frowns, choosing once more to approach the man and converse.
[You approach to chat with him. The old man slowly lifts his head to look at you, a spectral green light of hunger shining in his eyes. He then lowers his head again, still staring at the candle before him.]
Are all the NPCs in this game this standoffish?
The scene before him seems eerily familiar.
Lin Xun remembers the last NPC who ignored him, perished due to a posterior injury, and he even took possession of its Shell.
Is this old man going to meet the same fate as the blacksmith?
This old man doesn’t seem like a merchant or blacksmith NPC, he’s more akin to the type that provides tasks or clues.
If he straight-up kills him, he might miss out on some important event.
Lin Xun carefully inspects the text; the old man seems to be… hungry?
Does he need food?
Opening his item inventory to search, he finds it filled with items, equipment, and junk.
The only thing resembling food is the “Sunflower Seeds”.
He clicks on Sunflower Seeds, and an option to gift the item appears.
[You hold out the ‘Sunflower Seeds’ with both hands, offering them to the famished old man before you.]
[The old man slowly lifts his head to glance at you, then shakes his head. The spectral green light of hunger continues to shimmer in his eyes as he shifts his gaze back to the candle.]
[The ‘Starving Old Man’ refused your offering.]
“…”
Impressive, refusing food, huh?
Lin Xun frowns. Maybe he didn’t offer the right food, which led to failing in triggering the conversation option with the NPC.
But he doesn’t have any other foodlike items in his inventory.
So, what does this NPC want to eat?
Refusing to give up, Lin Xun clicks on each item in his inventory in turn.
“Half Bottle of Healing Holy Water” is a no-go; there’s no gifting option.
“Silk Women’s Slip” also no…
“Poisoned Throwing Knife”, damn, he almost accidentally hit the throwing option.
Finally, when he clicks on the “Stinky Feces Stone”, a gifting option emerges.
Lin Xun is astonished. Seriously, does this NPC have such exotic tastes?
[You hold out the ‘Stinky Feces Stone’ with both hands, offering the unpleasant item to the starving old man in front of you.]
[The old man suddenly lifts his head, snatches the feces stone from your hand, and crams it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing voraciously.]
[After finishing the food, the old man looks as if he wants more. The eerie glow in his eyes becomes even brighter.]
… There’s no dialogue option, probably because he hasn’t had his fill yet.
Lin Xun continues to gift him. It’s trash anyway, not worth much of anything.
No matter how much you want to eat, I can give you as much as you want. If I run out, I can go outside to the sewers to farm more monsters.
Anyway, I’ll feed you up today no matter what!
After Lin Xun gifts two more ‘Stinky Feces Stones’, the text finally changes.
[The ‘Starving Old Man’ wipes his mouth, pats his slightly bloated stomach, and nods his head, seemingly very content with your hospitality.]
[He pulls out three crumpled, faintly glowing strips of paper and hands them to you.]
[You have received 3 Invasion Bookmarks.]
[A knowing look appears in the old man’s eyes, and you suddenly realize that this special trial will determine your reward based on the outcome of your random invasions of other Apostles.]
[Do you accept the ‘Starving Old Man’s’ challenge?]
Lin Xun’s eyes light up; in this deal, there’s only profit to be made!
According to information gathered from the Apostles’ forum, the game’s random invasion mechanism is based on the number of times an Apostle has cleared a chapter.
In essence, if an Apostle has only passed one section, they might be invaded by another Apostle who has also passed one or twice, but they barely encounter those who have passed three or five times, unless they’re very unlucky or deliberately invaded.
Apostles like Lin Xun, who challenge sections at different levels, and yet have not completed even the initial section, are loaded with top-notch equipment and skills.
For him, using an invasion bookmark is like bullying a weaker opponent. These missions, which essentially give away Spirit freely, are simply too enjoyable.
Without any hesitation, he pressed accept.
[You have accepted ‘The Hungry Elder’s’ challenge.]
[Initiating random invasion…]
Lin Xun quietly waited for a lucky Bingo.
Who would be so fortunate to encounter him?
[Invasion successful! You have invaded an unknown Apostle’s section.]
[A weak Apostle, glowing with white light, trembles in fear at your sight and drops his scimitar.]
[Powerful Apostle, how will you deal with him?]
[1. Force him to kneel; in your great mood, you might spare his life.]
[2. Raise your scepter-gun, let him understand what cruelty is!]
This Apostle seemed like a newbie; Lin Xun didn’t have the heart to look at him and pressed the second option without hesitation.
[You raise your scepter-gun and start chanting the incantation…]
[The weak Apostle, glowing with white light, roars in defiance, picks up his scimitar, and charges towards you.]
[A flash of red light…]
[You defeated the Apostle ‘I-Ice Your Mom’, you gained 55 Spirit points.]
[You are now returning to your section…]
It was like a top-level expert thrashing newbies in a beginner village. There was no challenge at all.
[Seeing your victorious return, the ‘Hungry Elder’ nods approvingly and urges you to commence the second invasion.]
[Belligerent Apostle, do you want to invade again?]
Lin Xun pressed “Yes”.
The second invasion was just as smooth; the opponent gave up resisting and begged for mercy straight away.
Lin Xun cast “Profane Sunlight” instantly to end the battle.
The only regret was he only gained 15 Spirit points this time. It seems the invaded Apostles had learned to preserve their Spirit items.
All of a sudden, Lin Xun furrowed his brows, sensing something was off.
Every Apostle should have learned the trick to preserve Spirit items after one or two invasions.
Then what’s the point of invasions? It can’t just be for the thrill of a duel, can it?
Perhaps there are hidden benefits to invading, he just hadn’t activated it yet.
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Forget it, he needs to continue invading. Only one more success and he’d receive his reward!
[Seeing your return from another victory, the approval in ‘The Hungry Elder’s’ eyes intensifies, urging you to undertake the third invasion.]
[For some reason, you feel this invasion is different from before.]
[Initiating random invasion…]
[You faintly hear a raspy, elderly chuckle near your ear.]
Lin Xun frowned. The text this time made him feel uneasy.
He anticipated something unpleasant might happen.
[Invasion successful! You have invaded an unknown Apostle’s section.]
[A powerful Apostle clad in white light lets out a sneer when she sees you. She lifts her metal fists, moving closer towards you…]
[Helpless Apostle, what will you do?]
[1. Kneel and beg for mercy, hoping that a fellow Apostle blessed by God would show you mercy.]
[2. Raise your scepter-gun, chant your incantation, and let her know that a soldier can be killed but not humiliated.]
???
What was that about?
From the text, it seemed like he had encountered a veteran Apostle.
Weren’t invasions supposed to match based on completion times? How did he get matched up with such an elite character?
The Spirit points he could lose now amounted to 575, there was a high chance they would all be lost in this PK round.
Damn it! The Hungry Elder sure tricked him…
