PFC Chapter 5: The Novice's Iron Sword Stuns the Expert!
Chapter 5: The Novice's Iron Sword Stuns the Expert!
Chen You sat in an ergonomically designed soft chair, surrounded by a vast and unsettling space.
The air was filled with a cool, clean smell, unique to filtration and circulation systems.
This is a huge space with a diameter of probably several hundred meters.
The dome was so high that it seemed to have no end, with only rings of soft lights illuminating it from above.
Directly in front of him, on a huge wall, four large characters were sprayed in the most striking red.
Safety first.
Chen You's Adam's apple bobbed.
These four words gave him a strange sense of peace, but also brought him immense pressure.
He, Chen You, an ordinary office worker, is now the primary target of this "safety first" protection policy.
He was completely isolated by a transparent wall several meters high, forming a huge circular "cage".
Through the transparent wall, he could see many people standing outside wearing white coats or military uniforms.
They were busy in front of a circular command center, with countless screens flashing data streams he couldn't understand.
This spectacle was more exaggerated than any sci-fi blockbuster he had ever seen.
He felt like he wasn't going to play a game, but rather like an astronaut being launched into outer space.
No, even astronauts don't get this treatment.
Li Guoan stood at the very center of the command platform, with a densely packed document displayed on the screen in front of him.
A middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a white lab coat and gold-rimmed glasses, walked up to Li Guoan, pointed to the data on the screen, and reported to his supervisor in a low voice.
"Director Li, Comrade Chen You's comprehensive medical examination report is in. All indicators are very healthy, vital signs are stable, and his mental state is also very good, except..."
The doctor adjusted his glasses and continued speaking in an academic tone.
"From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, you have a slight spleen deficiency. This may be due to long-term irregular eating habits and excessive thinking."
"It's not a big problem. We will prepare special nutritional meals for him and take good care of him."
These words were clearly transmitted to Chen You's ears in the center of the venue through a miniature megaphone.
Chen You's cheeks instantly felt hot.
In this futuristic and high-tech secret base, in front of a group of top experts, my biggest problem is actually... spleen deficiency?
Isn't this art style a bit too off?
Li Guoan simply nodded calmly, seemingly unsurprised by the result.
"The treatment plan must be done to the best of our ability. His health is our most important strategic resource right now, and we cannot afford any mistakes."
"clear!"
The doctor stood at attention, saluted, turned, and quickly left.
Just then, another elderly man with gray hair and a sprightly spirit walked over carefully, holding a specially made metal box in both hands.
He looked at Li Guoan's expression, which was full of excitement and reluctance.
"Director Li..."
The old man's voice trembled slightly as he opened the box. Inside, lying quietly, was Chen You's beginner's iron sword.
"We've analyzed it using the most precise spectrometers and proton microscopes available... its atomic structure is a perfect crystal lattice we've never seen before!"
"Dense and stable, theoretically capable of withstanding energy shocks and physical cutting forces an order of magnitude greater than the strongest existing alloy materials!"
This top materials scientist in China was like a child who had received a beloved toy, or a lovesick person about to part with a dear one.
"This is just a beginner's iron sword! A beginner's weapon! Its internal microstructure is perfectly natural, it doesn't look like it was cast or forged at all, it... it 'grew' out of existence!"
"Director Li, give me three more days, no, just one more! I'm sure I can..."
"Old Qian."
Li Guoan interrupted him, reached out, and took the iron sword out of the box.
"No rush."
Li Guoan moved steadily. He weighed the sword in his hand, then handed it back to Old Qian, asking him to put it back in the box.
"In the future, you'll have even more and better things to research. I guarantee it, so many that your lab won't be able to hold them all."
Mr. Qian's breath hitched. He suddenly raised his head, and an astonishing light burst forth from his cloudy eyes.
Is this really true?
"I never joke."
After Li Guoan finished speaking, he picked up the box containing the iron sword, turned around, and walked towards the huge circular isolation area.
The heavy alloy door opened slowly with a soft "hiss".
Li Guoan walked step by step towards Chen You.
In the entire vast space, everyone stopped moving, all the equipment went silent, and only the steady footsteps of Li Guoan remained.
He opened the metal box and handed the beginner's iron sword to Chen You.
"Are you ready?"
Li Guoan's question was calm, yet it carried an immense weight, pressing down on Chen You's heart.
Are you ready?
Chen You looked at the iron sword in front of him, then at Li Guoan's unfathomable eyes, and then at the experts and soldiers outside who were watching him nervously.
He suddenly realized that what he was holding in his hand was not a weapon from a game, but the future and hope of a country.
This is too heavy.
A tremendous sense of tension gripped his heart.
But now that the decision has been made, there's no point in hesitating!
He reached out and took the iron sword.
"Take it back."
The next second, the iron sword, which top scientists regarded as a divine object, vanished into thin air right before Li Guoan's eyes.
Li Guoan's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing.
After putting the sword back into his game inventory, Chen You let out a long breath and then nodded solemnly to Li Guoan.
"I'm ready."
Whether it was for his own survival or to live up to the expectations of those outside, he had to be "prepared".
Li Guoan gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to walk away.
Soon, several staff members wearing sterile gowns came in and began connecting various sophisticated monitoring instruments to Chen You.
Heart rate, blood pressure, brain waves, subcutaneous electrical activity... all the vital signs that can be monitored are connected to the external command center.
Chen You sat on the soft chair, letting them do as they pleased.
Being monitored by so many instruments made him feel a little uncomfortable, but it also gave him an unprecedented sense of security.
At least, if something happens to him in the game, in the real world, the country's top medical team will provide immediate assistance.
Pay to survive, the government will cover your losses.
This is probably a unique treatment in the world.
The alloy gate closed again.
Chen You was left alone in the entire circular area once again.
He could see that Li Guoan had returned to the command post and was picking up a communicator.
Li Guoan's last words came through the loudspeaker, clearly echoing in the empty space.
"Remember, safety first."
"Your life is the highest priority. In any situation, preserving yourself is the primary task."
"You're allowed to abandon any mission, you're allowed to use any means necessary, all we want is for you to come back alive."
Chen You's heart skipped a beat.
He closed his eyes, shutting out all external distractions.
The silver bracelet on my left wrist had a slightly cool touch.
[Enter Game]
This time, he represents more than just himself.
He will be the only "player" from China to embark on a formal exploration of that surreal world full of unknowns and dangers.
A thought triggers.
Welcome back to the Origin Realm.
[The beginner's guide quest is complete. Please leave the starting village to accept the next quest...]