"Then let's level up. Although there shouldn't be any danger tomorrow, the stronger my personal strength, the more assured I will be. Even if an accident happens, I won't be afraid."
[Lv.19: 2017/512 (Upgradeable)]
...
[Lv.20: 1505/1024 (Upgradeable)]
Upon reaching level twenty, the feeling of touching the shackles reappeared.
Yang Yuan felt as if a barrier had appeared above his head, blocking him from progressing upwards.
That barrier wasn't just his own limitation; it felt more like a force of nature.
However, this shackle was easily broken by him the next moment.
The instant he chose to level up again, there was a loud boom in his mind, and the invisible shackle was shattered.
In a flash, his energy, spirit, and vigor surged.
Yang Yuan felt a significant enhancement in his perception, while his physique and strength experienced a huge leap.
However, perhaps due to the special nature of the Conceptual System, although he felt a great commotion, in reality, no one noticed except for Jiang Yiyi, who had strong perception and looked over with a look of doubt.
His aura became increasingly subtle, and no one knew that on this night, he effortlessly broke through the first human-level barrier.
[Lv.21: 0/3 (Non-upgradeable)]
Upon reaching level twenty-one, the experience reset once again.
Yang Yuan initially thought that the reset experience would double upwards, yet unexpectedly discovered that this time it did not double but increased by just one point.
'Three points of experience, huh?'
These three points of experience, was it because he was in the third stage of a major realm, or were they derived from adding the initial experience of level one to the initial experience of level eleven?
Just as this thought flashed across his mind, he suddenly saw Jiang Yiyi, who was playing with a little girl at the entrance of the Safe House, starting to flicker, and his heart sank instantly.
Jiang Yiyi also realized her own state. She found herself uncontrollably disappearing and reappearing, as if some force were attacking her.
Due to being constantly in a dangerous environment during this time, her abilities were improving rapidly. Although the enhancement of physical strength was not obvious, in terms of sheer progress alone, it could frighten many people.
"Yiyi, are you alright?" Zhao Jiayan also noticed Jiang Yiyi's condition and asked worriedly.
Jiang Yiyi looked innocent; at the age of eight, she clearly found it difficult to understand her own state.
However, Yang Yuan could roughly guess that her abilities were likely gradually transforming towards a passive type.
The so-called passive type—
Involves disappearing upon encountering an attack, or perhaps automatically hiding, though she should still be able to see the outside world.
Sense of security—
This Rule System ability is truly marvelous.
"Perhaps the radiation power of the Drought Fiend is already starting to have a continuous effect here. We shouldn't delay; you all should go to that Radiation-Proof Safe House now."
Yang Yuan came over and said to the soldier who was watching over the six little girls nearby, "Take these six girls away too, suspend the tasks here for now."
"Alright."
The soldier immediately began transferring the six little girls.
Yang Yuan said to Zhao Jiayan, "Bring all the important supplies, especially food. The space here is layered; I'm worried that during tomorrow's battle, the space might fluctuate here. In case we get separated, it's good to be prepared."
"Understood, I'll pack the things right away." Zhao Jiayan nodded and quickly started packing.
Jiang Yiyi also hurried to help.
"It seems that once this is over, it will be necessary to get a Personal Space device."
Yang Yuan thought to himself; until now, he had very little free time and almost no chance to craft those things that aren't absolutely necessary.
Even the Plum Blossom Dart was crafted purely to gain personal experience.
While Zhao Jiayan and Jiang Yiyi packed, he took out the three metal-constructed crossbows he made last night and checked the experience points on them.
[Crossbow Lv.1: 4073/3 (Effective range one hundred meters; Upgradeable)]
Without hesitation, he directly chose to upgrade.
...
[Crossbow Lv.10: 2540/1536 (Effective range one hundred thousand meters; Upgradeable)]
...
[Marvel · Crossbow Lv.11: 0/6 (Integrates with arm, shoot arrows by thought with no recoil; Effective range one hundred thousand meters; Non-upgradeable)]
'One hundred thousand meters!'
Yang Yuan's mouth curled into a smile.
The crossbow, crafted using the highest quality metal material available in the Safe Zone, achieved a tenfold increase in range over the original wooden crossbow upon becoming a Marvel.
'A hundred kilometers of effective range... let's try.'
First, he integrated the crossbow into his arm, then took a crossbow arrow from the printer's output.
This Marvel-grade crossbow was extremely refined and compact, a mere twenty centimeters in length and with a cross-section no wider than five centimeters.
As for the crossbow arrow, it was only ten centimeters long, with a thickness similar to that of a normal arrow.
Once the Marvel crossbow was integrated with his arm, he picked up the crossbow arrow, thought for a moment, and the arrow vanished, like auto-reloading an arrow, rapidly and seamlessly.
Next, he lifted his arm, tilted it towards the night sky, and fired with his mind.
"Pff—"
A fleeting light streaked across the sky, with the flaming arrow disappearing into the horizon.
It was a perfectly linear trajectory, its speed rivaling that of light.
The soldiers standing guard nearby watched with eyes aglow, looking at Yang Yuan with admiration and eagerness.
Recalling the moment when the arrow was shot, Yang Yuan found that his arm did feel the arrow's departure, but the recoil was so slight that even a baby could withstand it.
'Tsk tsk, let's see later if there's time to extend the range. Even without any special effects, just the speed is enough to create terrifying piercing effects.'
The only drawback of this crossbow, perhaps, is that ordinary people might find it difficult to aim at distant targets.
In fact, even for him, targeting something far away is challenging.
Additionally, even though this crossbow is of Marvel grade, it can only fire one arrow at a time, which might also be considered a limitation.
Fortunately, the reloading speed is quite fast.
'Next time, if there's an opportunity, I'll make one with a scope. I wonder if a scoped crossbow, after becoming a Marvel, will have any assisted targeting features?'
Yang Yuan thought to himself, seeing Zhao Jiayan and Jiang Yiyi about to come out, he upgraded the other two metal crossbows to Marvel grade as well.
"Big brother, we're ready."
Jiang Yiyi came out carrying a small backpack, looking like a schoolbag, filled with jerky and purified water that Zhao Jiayan prepared during this time.
Zhao Jiayan was carrying a large travel bag containing, besides their Spirit Monster Cores, essentials like salt and food.
"You two integrate these two crossbows into your arms, and make sure to bring plenty of metal arrows."
Yang Yuan handed the newly upgraded crossbows to the two women: "These metal crossbows have a range of a hundred kilometers, a great power, and no recoil, but the precision depends on you."