Chapter 31

Translator: Exodus Tales

Editor: Exodus Tales

In the end, Fang Zheng chose to exchange for only 30 dimensional points, leaving the rest of the crystal energy. The game, Dimensional Codex, wasn’t just about Soul Stones. Judging by the number of times it could be used, it was quite evident that each Soul Stone could be used for a certain number of times. And it was finished once its counter hit zero. Of course, it was not impossible to change this. Because the players could use the strengthening stones and charging stones, the former could increase the counter of the soul stone by +1, and the latter could supplement the number of times the Soul Stone could be used.

As to why these two were mentioned specifically, well, it was because Fang Zheng just happened to have acquired these two… well, it was really a tragic story.

So, back to the original topic, the Dimensional Codex was a battle system with the characters created by the players as the core. In fact, this had broken away from the norms of general mobile games and followed closely to the route of online games; players always needed to strengthen themselves; equipment could be obtained through drops and rewards; skills could be enhanced by completing missions. Above all, crystal energy could be exchanged for; it was about more than increasing some outward appearances. Of course, there were some rare props, for example, accessories that could increase the equipment drop rate or consumables that could improve a player’s stats.

In some instances, crystal energy could even be used to activate some rare functions.

At present, the one Fang Zheng had been gunning for in the store was called Soul Ring. Its function was to give its wearer an additional 30 inventory space + 3% equipment drop + automatic pickup of dropped equipment + a 5% chance to absorb the power of the defeated enemy’s soul. However, the 5% chance of absorbing the soul power was the most important thing. According to the setting of the Dimensional Codex, the Soul Stone used the power of the soul. As long as one could absorb a certain amount of power of the soul, the players could restore its usage count even if the players didn’t have a charging stone.

Of course, there were two ways to obtain this ring according to Fang Zheng’s design, either through grinding, grinding, and grinding an extremely hard instance, and then having a lucky drop, or to just buy it directly; it could be said to have been expensive and yet not that expensive… 520…

As far as the players were concerned, maybe this was the difference between free players and pay to win (P2W) players. But as the game’s designer, Fang Zheng knew very well that every whale had a hidden setting of “luck +1”. In other words, if P2W players and F2P players fought the same Boss, the former had a higher chance of getting the rare drops!

For P2W players, the drop rate of valuable equipment and props with a drop rate of 0.1% was 3%! Furthermore, the players who bought points had a higher chance of drawing Soul Stones than the free players who saved free points!

What!? Under-handed transactions!? Are you kidding me, of course, we have to find ways for the players to enjoy the experience so they spend bucks in the game. Only if they are having a good time will they continue to pour real cash into the game.

As for free players!? Aren’t you the players that ride on other’s coattails and come as you go? You want to be big but without having to spend a single buck!? Not possible! 

Of course, everything will be in vain if you encounter the P2W players. 

It was just about right…

Looking at the two strengthening and charging stones, Fang Zheng mumbled to himself. He was still grasping his own settings for stone pools in his heart. Although it was easier to draw for the P2W players compared to F2P players, as a game designer, he couldn’t make it that obvious. Otherwise, if he let anyone paying 1,000 bucks have the best draw in every 10 draws, anyone with a discerning eye would know that there was a problem. So, one needed to be a little skillful in this.

For instance, if the F2P players, the non-spenders, somehow pulled the best draw in 10 successive draws… Naturally, Fang Zheng wouldn’t worry about these.

Only rich are the masters, as for the free players, you s**ts can go to hell for all I care.

To the P2W players, he might not have been able to give 10 best draws in 10 successive draws, but he could make sure that the P2W player wouldn’t get the best draw in the first nine successive draws but get three best draws in the final 10 draws…This kind of huge contrast would only make those whales happy. This way, the happy players would choose to pour more money into the game. And the ordinary players would not think that the fairness of the game draws was compromised. What was wrong with making everyone happy?’

In the Dimensional Codex, the Soul Stone was divided into four levels based on quality: bronze, silver, gold, and mythical. Among them, bronze and silver were the home for free and unlucky players, while gold and mythical were reserved for P2W and lucky players.

The Arthas that Fang Zheng had managed to pull was a gold-level Soul Stone, which could be credited to his luck. And now, according to Fang Zheng’s design, there was a good chance of drawing gold or mythical-level Soul Stones after the first recharge. The first two I had drawn were consumables, then the last one… would have to be as well! 

Fang Zheng might not have known what it would be, but he prayed that at least it would be something that he could put on the table; an angel or god would be the best. If you can’t make me a wizard or warrior, at least don’t turn me into a lich king. Now, I don’t even dare to make big moves!

While praying silently, Fang Zheng stretched his hand out, again, and placed it on the Dimensional Codex before him that only he could see. Soon, the Dimensional Codex under Fang Zheng’s hand opened, once more, and the round summoning circle under it started rotating slowly. Then, its color started to change, gradually turning from white to blue, and then to gold finally… then, countless golden particles condensed and gathered into the array with a flash of light, forming what looked like a Soul Stone!

Nailed it! It’s a golden legend! 

Fang Zheng, looking at the shining golden stone in front of him, took in a deep breath before he reached out and grabbed it.

In the next moment, everything turned black before his eyes.

Dark, dense clouds covered the entire sky. And below was a huge and extremely dim city, appearing no different than a cemetery. For a moment, heaven and earth seemed to only be black and white, and nothing else.

Then, a voice resonated throughout the sky.

“I am the swarm…”

The next moment, the light suddenly returned to his eyes as a huge monster emerged from the clouds. One after another, insect egg-like things fell from its body, crashing straight into the ground, creating deep, dark pits, one after another. Soldiers pushed forward, attacking and shouting, but in the next moment, their bodies were shredded into pieces by the monsters emerging from the pits.

“Armies will be shattered. Worlds will burn…”

Swarms of insects poured into the city like flesh and blood merging into seawater, destroying everything in sight. Humans formed the last line of defense in the square. Countless soldiers lined up and clenched the weapons in their hands as the giant artilleries behind them raised their cannons before letting out earth-shaking roars. 

One after another, blinding flashes of sparks exploded amidst the swarm before disappearing, like the waves caused by the small stones hitting the sea, small, fragile, and meaningless.

“Now at last, in this world, vengeance shall be mine!”

The blazing fire gradually extinguished; the human barrier was burst like a bubble under the attack of the insect swarms. A towering statue at the end of the square broke into pieces. At the far end of the clouds, a huge battleship fell from the sky, enveloping the entire world in a white brilliance of death.

“For I am the Queen of Blades!”

…

Fang Zheng opened his eyes. At this moment, his entire face was black, staring dead straight at the Dimensional Codex in front of him. He had no idea what to say.

First, it was Arthas, and now it’s Kerrigan. Are you f****g with me? You are pushing me on the path to my own doom.

System, you won’t feel good unless you screw with me, is that right?