Chapter 394: Hero Seats (1/2)
Chapter 394: Hero Seats
Translator: Strivon
Area A of Frost River Reality was forever a place bustling with excitement. Though it might not have the most amount of people compared to other areas, thousands of figures rushed and clamored within the space. There were also large amounts of cheering, shrieking, and screaming coming from the onlooking personnel. The noises never ceased, not even for a moment..
This was the place where reality technology was the most unbridled. Guided by immersion equipment, players instantly arrived to an ocean region or the Wilderness from the bustling metropolis filled with skyscrapers. Danger lurked around every corner as they struggled to escape under the giant jaws of Mutants. They displayed their capabilities to the fullest, achieving success, winning respect, venting their emotions, and searching for challenges in this interactive hypnosis. However, the ultimate gain was the true thrill.
Indeed, the thrill was something that could be produced by the mere secretion of dopamine. It didn’t matter whether or not the experience was real, people were just that easy to trick!
Besides, who doesn't like playing games?
Luo Nan stood within the buzzing atmosphere of area A. He looked around at all the players completely lost in their games and was unable to say words of refusal.
Well, actually, there was an itch in Luo Nan's heart. Though virtual achievements, respect, and the like were meaningless to him, an ability user who tread the line between life and death countless times, being able to interact closely with his friends was quite the compelling force.
Luo Nan opened his mouth and was just about to respond when Xue Lei went, ”Oh my god.” He slapped Luo Nan's shoulder with ample force, but the force wasn't enough to represent anger. He said, ”What are you hesitating for?!”
”Oh?” Luo Nan had an expression of innocence.
”He's not wearing a helmet, and besides, what are you expecting from a rookie?”
Papercut didn't know if he was helping Luo Nan talk or harming him. Then, he explained to Xue Lei, ”There are two empty simulators available at the hero seats. Leister wanted to snatch the spots, but by the time you finished talking you two missed your chance. Actually, there are a thousand eyes keeping watch over there. It isn't that easy.”
Xue Lei retorted, ”I heard the probability of snatching one with a luxury room is several times higher than having a normal room. You never know, we might have gotten it?”
Hero seats? Snatching probability?
Luo Nan believed he had heard of these terms before, but there wasn't a precise memory. He once more felt the deep malice of the normal human world.
In the end it was Tian Si who was able to read his body language. She walked up to him and explained. Tian Si's voice was quiet, so she naturally leaned closely to Luo Nan's ear in this noisy environment. Her actions were very intimate.
Luo Nan felt the soft hair lightly brush across his cheek and collarbone. A faint aroma entered his nose as well. Everything was soft and fine if one were to not deliberately take in the sensations, as if there was nothing at all. This was in line with his taste.
Therefore, the sensation made Luo Nan feel quite comfortable. At the same time, Tian Si clarified the ins and outs of the matter quite clearly.
The so-called hero seats referred to the center of area A. One hundred simulators were laid out there, each with six degrees of freedom. These simulators seamlessly connected to the interface of the equipment worn by players. While giving a true sensation of reality, the simulators were able to allow the players to do more audacious actions without worrying about being overly immersed and injured in reality technology.
In addition, there were series of control indicators, such as accuracy and sensitivity. These simulators were fully upgraded as well, giving players the upper hand in battle. It was because of this that players called them Hero Templates. They naturally rushed like ducks toward them.
But the circumstances of area A were quite peculiar. There were a thousand players seeking to snatch the one-hundred seats every day. The supply and demand was seriously out of balance. It was because of this that Frost River Reality made the cost for using these seats to be on the highest level. On the other hand, they didn't accept reservations or bids. They just had random flash sales through their system, being nominally fair and open at the very least.
As for the probability for those who possessed luxury rooms versus normal rooms, these were just rumors passed down between players. The business never once confirmed this.
Luo Nan stated his own understanding, ”So you might not be able to play even if you wanted to?”
Xue Lei sighed, ”It doesn't matter if you aren't able to snatch a hero seat. In any case, do you want to play or not?”
”I'll play. You just lead the way.” Luo Nan shrugged as he put on the semi-enclosed helmet he had in his hands on top of his head and followed Papercut's pointers. He went to the branch's gaming homepage and learned the adhoc guidance mode.
After some fiddling around, Luo Nan's mental senses smoothly retracted, no longer spilling out far and wide. This caused the immersion effect to increase substantially, and Luo Nan naturally placed his attention on the translucent face-plate before his eyes. He saw all sorts of real-time information of area A streaming down the screen.
And at the same time, the various AR effects in the surroundings were strengthened as well. The image of the gaming center gradually faded away, and it was as if Luo Nan had arrived at a dusty old town. Streets went left and right here, and there were all sorts of buildings located row after row. There were bars, stores, and training fields surrounding each other. There was also a rusty metal gate in the distance, leading out of the town. All this emerged in his field of vision.
Behind the metal gate was the real battlefield. Right now Luo Nan's current location was merely a service area.
Xue Lei turned his head to look all around. He found quite the suitable place within the complex and realistic AR images. ”If we can't snatch a hero seat, then it doesn't really matter. We will go...hey!”
As Xue Lei lost his voice from screaming, Luo Nan saw an eye catching red message flash across the translucent panel. It said, ”Players, take notice. Seats seventy-seven and ninety-nine are vacant in the hero area...”
”Snatch them!” Papercut shouted from the side.
Luo Nan subconsciously used his mind to make telepathic contact, but he soon realized that this wasn't the HexaEar and the Psychic Wave Network. Telepathic control wasn't worth a dime.
But then an image appeared on his translucent panel the next instant and the sound of alloy daggers clashing with ferocious beasts rang out in the last moment. Sparks sprayed everywhere, and blood-pumping background music entered his ears. There was also a vigorous male voice that spoke in a wild and dramatic manner, ”The brutal battlefield welcomes a new hero. Look, the door to glory has opened!”
Luo Nan was stupefied on the spot, ”T-This means I snatched one?”
”YES!” Xue Lei waved his arm fiercely before facing Luo Nan with delight, ”Nanster, you did it! Today's luck...huh?”
The two were surrounded by special AR lighting effects. They knew each other's identity at first glance. It was in this way that the inexplicable happened. They had both obtained qualifications for hero seats. Achievement 'Double Hero Snatch' Get!
Papercut laughed and gave Luo Nan a push from behind, ”How many old ladies have you helped cross the road these past few days? You with your god damn luck. Haul ass over there. There's a time limit for the qualifications.”
”Luck?” The topic of probability was a mathematical problem. It was too reckless to explain using luck. Luo Nan was one who liked to be serious, his brain crashing for a time, entering into deadlock, but Papercut pushed him forward and Xue Lei led the way in front. The party of people headed quickly toward the hero area. They entered the closed area under the sighs and gazes of the envious.
Papercut and Tian Si were unable to enter this place. They were blocked by a beautiful projection wall.
”We've gotten rid of the people with fucking luck. Let's find a place to kill the time.” Papercut chuckled as he adjusted his helmet slightly. Then he asked for Ten Days in the Wilderness, ”Does Little Tian often play Ten Days in the Wilderness?”
Tian Si wore soft sensing equipment around her body. Her helmet was clasped beneath her elbow, and she gave off a bit of a heroic air under the dim lighting of the gaming area. She drew her lips into a laugh, ”I play it, but I play the mobile version a bit more.”
Papercut then invited her, ”I also like to play mobile games. There's a strategy room here. Let's go play two rounds?”
Light flashed in Tian Si's eyes. She didn't refuse but nor did she agree. Instead, she raised a new topic. She copied the way Luo Nan addressed Papercut and said, ”Brother Papercut. It wasn't luck that the junior brothers were able to snatch seats, right?”
Papercut beamed as he said, ”How could this be luck? They've temporarily bound their HexaEars and made telepathic contact. Then there's also the Psychic Wave Network transmitting and converting the signal. It's the same as installing a flash sale plugin. Who can be faster than them? This is where the superiority of ability users lies.”