Chapter 507: Using all the winnings for upgrades
After settling the debt with the system, Mark had roughly a little over 859 million gold coins in his account.
He decided to convert most of it.
"System, exchange 800 million gold coins with credits," he said.
*Ding! 800 million gold coins will be exchanged for 160 million credits. Confirm?
"Yes"
*Ding! 800 million gold coins are deducted.
*Ding! 160 million credits are added to the account.
"Good, now unlock Battle Robots of Rank-6 and Rank-7"
*Ding! 240,000 credits are deducted from the account. Rank-6 Battle Robots are now unlocked.
*Ding! 1,600,000 credits are deducted from the account. Rank-7 Battle Robots are now unlocked.
"Hmm… what's next… Yup, that's right… System, open inventory."
He scrolled to the right until he found the image of a battle tank in one of the slots.
He clicked on it to see the details.
Battle Tank-I
Grade: N/A
Length: 4.5 meters
Width: 2 meters
Height: 1.5 meters
Weight: 5550 kilograms
Elevation Aiming Angle: -1 to 30 degrees
Primary Weapon: Assault Rifle
Secondary Weapons: None
Additional Attachments: None
Maximum Speed: 30 km/hr
Cruising Range: 150 km (Fuel-based)
Maximum Firing Range: 500 meters
Autoload: Manual loading is required.
Accuracy: 70% up to 100 meters; 30% from 100 meters to 200 km; 10% from 200 meters to 500 meters
Description: Battle Tank-I is a humble and budget-friendly armored vehicle designed for simple tasks and basic reconnaissance. With minimal firepower and mobility, it is suitable for training exercises and low-intensity conflicts.
Skills: None.
Upgrade >>> 1000 credits
*
"Expected it. So, no complaints. But the fact that it automatically comes with an assault rifle means that it can still do damage to 3-circle realm Spirit Warriors. Anyway, let's see how strong it could become after a few upgrades."
*Ding! 1000 credits are deducted. Battle Tank-I is upgraded to Battle Tank-II
*Ding! 4000 credits are deducted. Battle Tank-II is upgraded to Battle Tank-III
*Ding! 20000 credits are deducted. Battle Tank-III is upgraded to Battle Tank-IV
*Ding! 120k credits are deducted. Battle Tank-IV is upgraded to Battle Tank-V
After upgrading it to platinum grade, Mark took a good look at its details. A smile appeared on his face, seeing a familiar-looking tank with familiar skills and features.
It was the first battle tank he used in this world. Battle Tank-V had to be sacrificed as a part of the deal, but seeing it again made him remember how he took down the Song clan and hurt the arrogance of these major nobles, who crush the commoners on a daily basis.
He remembered how he used it to take down the beast king, Cerberus, and how it went on to become the key factor in developing a friendship with his righteous half-brother, Shang Wen, who is currently missing.
Of course, that doesn't mean he will continue to use it. That kind of Battle Tank is no longer helpful to Mark.
After going into memory lane for a brief amount of time, Mark continued with the upgrade.
*Ding! 840K credits are deducted. Battle Tank-V is upgraded to Battle Tank-VI
*Ding! 6,720,000 credits are deducted. Battle Tank-VI is upgraded to Battle Tank-VII.
He could go with one more upgrade, but since there is the missile defense system he intended to upgrade later, Mark managed to hold down his urge and stopped it.
But the details of this semi-divine armored vehicle surprised him quite a bit, exceeding his expectations. "Man, its range is damn high. Not even Missile Defense System is a match."
Battle Tank-VII
Grade: Crystal
Length: 14 meters
Width: 5.5 meters
Tunnel Roof: 3.5 meters
Weight: 124,000 kilograms (approx)
Elevation Aiming Angle: -20 to 90 degrees
Primary Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore ether cannon
Secondary Weapons: Quad-barrel 20 mm Gatling gun, Anti-Air Missile Launcher.
Additional Attachments: Advanced adaptive camouflage, Energy Shield Generator, Tactical AI Integration
Maximum Speed: 250 km/hr
Cruising Range: Unlimited (Ether energy as fuel)
Maximum Firing Range: 500 km
Autoload: Automated loading system for all weapons
Accuracy: 100% up to 50 km; 90% from 50 km to 100 km; 50% from 100 km to 200 km; 10% from 200 km to 500 km
Description: Battle Tank-VII is a marvel of technological superiority and celestial craftsmanship. Boasting unparalleled firepower, impenetrable defenses, and cutting-edge features, this tank is a symbol of awe and fear on the battlefield. It is also durable enough to block every attack under 8-circle.
Upgrade>>>
Skills:
Active:
Celestial Annihilation: Unleash devastating energy burst from the smoothbore ether cannon with 200% attack power (max: 10.9), obliterating everything in a designated area. Cost: 80% of Maximum Ether energy. CD: 60 minutes.
Shield of Immortality: Erect an impervious energy shield around the Battle Tank, rendering it immune to all forms of attack for 30 seconds (max: 9.9). Cost: 50% of Maximum Ether energy. CD: None
Celestial Wisdom AI: Engage the Tactical AI for unparalleled battlefield awareness, target prioritization, and strategic decision-making. It will go into auto-battle mode. Cost: 5% of Maximum Ether energy per second.
Camouflage: Disappear into the surroundings and become invisible. During this state, it could also attack the enemies. Cost: 10% Ether energy per second.
Ether missile: Shoot an Ether missile from the Missile launcher at enemies with 130% attack power (max: 9.9). Note that this Ether missile only travels in a straight line regardless of aiming angle. Cost: 30% Ether energy. CD: 60 seconds.
Ether Bullet Barrage: Shoot a barrage of ether bullets from the Quadra-barrel Gatling gun with an attack power of 50%. Cost: 10% ether energy per 100 rounds. CD: 180 seconds.
Passive: None
***
"Hmm… it might be crystal grade but its capabilities exceeded other crystal grade, like for example, my attack helicopter. Perhaps, it is why it gobbled up so many credits for the upgrade.
After all, with the same number of credits, I upgrade the missile defense system to Ruby grade.
Anyway, let's put this away and proceed with the upgrade of MDS."
He closed down the window and went on to click on the missile defense system to display its details on a new holographic screen.
He directly scrolled down to the bottom of the screen and clicked on the upgrade without thinking much.
*Ding! 60,480,000 credits are deducted.
*Ding! Missile Defense System-VII has been upgraded to Missile Defense System-VIII.
Mark expected the upgrade of the defense system, but when he saw the result, it felt like the defense system had a complete makeover. If it was a creature, one would call it an evolution instead of a mere upgrade.
But, it came with obvious drawbacks too, as it no longer had the option to fire missiles with below-par power for an army of weak enemy soldiers.
Missile defense system – VIII (bound)
Grade: Mythril (max: God)
Weapon type: Mounted
Missile type: X-4
Launchers: Type-4
Number of missiles: 100
Missile length: 3 meters
Missile weight: 500 kg
Warhead type: Fragmentation
Max. Range of fire: 600 km (100% accuracy)
Absolute range: 2000 km (20% accuracy)
Max. Speed of missile: mach 6.9
Target lock: Yes (only ether attacks)
Blast radius: 1350 meters
Storage chamber: Yes
Description: A missile defense system that can be used as an offense or defense, according to the situation. Moving at hypersonic speed, X-4 could potentially obliterate all targets below the 9-circle in the blink of an eye.
Upgrade >>> 6,048,000,000 credits.
SKILLS:
Active:
Single-target Ether missile: Shoot a concentrated beam of ether energy from the launcher with an attack power of peak-9-circle. Cost: 200 million EP (ether points). CD: 5 seconds.
Multi-target ether missile: Shoot down a wide area with 100 concentrated beams of ether energy from the launcher one after another with each containing 130% attack power of the user (max stat: 11.9). Note: The range should be selected beforehand. Cost: 30% ether energy. CD: 180 seconds.
All-out Attack: Obliterate the enemy by either releasing 100 ether missiles, one from each barrel with an attack power of 100%, at the same time, or combine their power to release a powerful beam of energy with an attack power of 200% of the user (max stat-12.9). Cost: 50% of maximum ether energy. CD: 0 seconds
Invincible dome: Create an invincible barrier with a maximum of 500 meters of radius and block all types of attacks as long as they don't exceed stat 11.9. Cost: 10% of maximum ether energy per second. CD: 0 seconds
Robot mode: The missile defense system shall transform its body into a humanoid Battle Robot while retaining its weapons but not the skill set. Note: In this mode, the missile defense system will be operated by AI and will no longer have to be controlled by the user.
Passive:
Auto attack (Deactivated): When the defensive mode is switched on, the missile defense system will automatically use the missiles in the storage chamber and intercept all types of attacks that are aimed at its owner. Cost: none. CD: 0 seconds.
*
Mark couldn't help but let out a sigh, "Sometimes, being too strong will actually make your job tougher to deal with weak opponents as one mistake will end their life for good and the chances of collateral damage will always be quite high. As a result, whether it is a weapon or underlings, they can only be used against the bosses.
Anyway, there's still something else left to do."
After closing down the details screen and the inventory, Mark spoke, "System, open the Skills section."
*Ding! Attribute skills or General skills?
"System's skills please…"
A list of various overpowered skills appeared before his eyes.
He scrolled down until he found the one he wanted to upgrade.
Enhanced durability (level-1): Increase the user's body durability to receive less incoming damage of all types except for mental attacks. Effect: 1% DR. Limit: Opponents who are no greater than two ranks/realms above the user.
He clicked on the level. The option of upgrading came up.
Upgrade to level 2 >>> 1,000,000 credits.
"Okay, let's do this…"
*Ding! 1,000,000 credits are deducted.
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 2
"Let's continue."
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 3
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 4
.
.
.
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 10
"Oh, there was no cost increase. I thought the cost would increase eventually. Well, let's purchase until I see the increase."
And so, the upgrade of the passive skill continued.
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 20
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 30
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 40
.
.
.
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 90
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 91
By the time it reached level 91, he was only left with roughly more than 310,000 credits in his account.
But, Mark was interested to max it out, in order to be invincible under Saint Realm. He had the offensive strength to deal with immortals and he also had the necessary techniques to defend against them too. However, this is for that unexpected ambush from those beings.
Until now, he only played the arrogance of demigods and immortals against them. But, after receiving a Saint's mark, he wanted to be more careful, just in case.
While he wiped away the mark with a purification stone, Mark knew that it wouldn't stop the enemies from coming to this planet and wreaking havoc. He had to be well prepared.
Being confident to earn lots of money once again, Mark once again exchanged the gold coins.
*Ding! 45 million gold coins are deducted.
*Ding! 9 million credits are added to the account.
"Well, let's continue…"
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level-92
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level-93.
.
.
.
*Ding! Enhanced Durability is increased to level 99. It reached the maximum level. It can no longer be upgraded anymore.
Enhanced durability (level-99): Increase the user's body durability to receive less incoming damage of all types except for mental attacks. Effect: 99% DR. Limit: Opponents who are no greater than two ranks/realms above the user.
*Ding! You reached the maximum level. The evolution has been triggered.
*Ding! Do you wish for your body to evolve into a Divine Physique?
Divine Physique: The body of a mortal cannot cross the limits of Saint Realm (12-circle), no matter what bloodline or talent it has. The Divine Physique will increase the potential to 14-circle.
*Note: Evolving into divine physique requires 1 billion credits
*Note 2: Evolving into a divine physique while preserving the attributes, skills, bloodlines, items, and everything the user owns at the moment, requires careful modification on a cellular level. Hence, the user will go into a comatose state for a period of atleast six months to a maximum of 2 years.
*Note 3: Evolution gives the opportunity to the host to reconstruct his body and have the appearance of any individual he wishes.
"Uhh… No thanks…" Mark rejected it right away. He didn't even need to think deeply, despite the temptation of regaining his face from the previous world. "Thanks for the offer but I like my current self. No need for the evolution."
***
On the dawn of the following day, Mark and his companions checked out of their rooms to return home; Qing Jie was tagging along with them as part of the deal.
Originally, the plan was to split into two groups; one would return to Lunaris while the other would leave for the Xiezhi Empire.
But, upon witnessing the battle between the immortal and the demigod beasts, Mark decided not to take any chance.
Why?
From what he gathered so far from the dead bodies of the mercenaries killed by Song Yun before he sacrificed himself for his daughter, Mark knew that they were related to the Dragon Empire.
Hence, from the start, he planned on using the guilds located in the capital city to issue a secret investigation on those two 5-circle realm experts who died at Western Moon. He wanted to find out who they were connected with.
He expected the dead bodies to have connections with certain guilds or organizations or perhaps even a noble but didn't expect it to be a knight that served the imperial family. And those two demigod beasts are sided with the Void Temple, or more likely, the Tang Dynasty.
Hence, the plan changed to return directly home.
After calling back Zheng to guard his loved ones, he and Steve will travel to the Baize Empire's capital with Qing Jie to talk with the crown prince, drop his partner at his home, and return to the Dragon Empire once again to settle the matter.
He summoned the Divine Throne from his inventory which appeared in the form of the scary-looking spider ship.
While Mark's companions didn't have any reactions, Qing Jie, who was witnessing it for the first time, couldn't help but express his astonishment, "Wow, I only heard the description of its appearance from the manager but experiencing it in person is something else."
"Thanks. Let's get in"
As the door opened, Mark told the others to board the ship, and they were about to do that too, but their movements were halted just after a few steps, due to the sudden appearance of a scarlet barrier covering the sky above the hotel's compound.
"Hmm?" Mark raised his head with a frown on his face.
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