After the bloody training, Xiao was taken to a chamber filled with a recovery solution. The recovery took 2 hours. The cut healed but the pain remained.
There was one machine modification room in the base. Because Xiao showed the talent of a machinist, he was allowed to use the room. Tools, machine parts and modules were all over the room. A monitor was hanging near the roof watching him 24/7. Xiao was not surprised. The researcher should record and study his behaviours. There was a bookshelf too. Xiao found several books about basic knowledge of machinist.
Blue Planet, SL-year 687, is one of the planets for new players. It was not long since the civilisations on this planet to explore the universe. The exploration was limited to low planet space stations. The development of technology was close to Earth. The best knowledge one can expert for superhuman was advanced knowledge.
The knowledge of super power can be divided into five levels: basic, advanced, high-end, top-end, ultimate. A certain level of knowledge was required for players to enter a higher power class. The opening of the knowledge tree required players to find basic knowledge in the game. To level up talents, players needed free talent points which can be obtained by levelling up or completing special missions.
Xiao planned to hold his 2 free talent points in case of emergency. Luckily, he was free after training every day. Xiao spent all his free time on the machine...
Time flew. Xiao gained experience through machine assembly and modification. As he became more and more familiar, the perfection rate could be maintained over 90%. Repetition of the assembly of one machine, the experience would gradually reduce to 0. Fortunately, there was a weapon room in the base which offered him plenty of samples to study.
The sprout took no precautions on Xiao - a brain-washed subject with no memories of the past. This carelessness also resulted from Xiao's dumbness. The organisation pinned all hopes on him, but he knew that it was wise to stay low. He saved all experience and didn't level up.
The researchers were soon disappointed with him as a quick machine/handgun assembly was easy for normal agents. This improvement was not what they expected from Warki solution. They needed warriors. After one month, they stopped watching Xiao 24/7 and drew the conclusion that he was a failed subject and spent their effort on improving the Warki solution.
Xiao was relieved that he didn't have to act dumb under the monitor any more. Because of his slow improvement, the sprout paid less and less attention to him. Only Gramme and Ballotta still had an eye on him. Gramme was curious about Xiao's improved learning ability and applied the permission to cut his skull many times. But all responses were 'not yet'. Ballotta was keen on torturing people. However, he was forbidden to torture other colleagues. Thus, the 'dumb' subject was perfect for his kinky. Because of the recovering solution, his kinky was not banned.
Xiao remembered the pain of every cut and he stayed low, waited for the chance....
One day, an armed guard came in and took away many materials.
"The organisation is disappointed in you. From today, the resource for you will be cut by 80%."
Meanwhile, a bold headman stood in front of Xiao. His eyes were full of scorn and pride. He was One, the second surviving subject.
"I hear that you are the subject before me and the organisation spent loads of resources on you. But you can only play this useless shit. You are a failure. It is wise for the organisation to let me replace you" One spoke with contempt. He was fully brainwashed and the organisation was his belief. He saw Xiao as a competitor but Xiao ignored his provocation and stayed low.
The birth of One was as expected. He was strong and could be trained as a warrior, future Deadpool. As there were no other logistics in the base, Xiao was allowed to keep the machine modification room. But the materials and parts he got were far less than before. Several guards walked past and discussed them in ridicule right in front of their faces.
"Two poor worms!"
"Subjects, Deadpool and 'happily' brainwashed. I would rather die!"
"Watch out, they are here."
"Easy, they are brainwashed anyway."
....
Half a year passed, Xiao figured out all the passages and guards. There were three floors in the base which was hidden in the forest. Sixty armed guards were responsible for the security here. Hela was the commander of the base and Gramme was in charge of the lab. The organisation sent some 'human subjects' whose memories were erased to the base per month by helicopters.
47 successful subjects were produced during the time including Xiao and One. Most of them were transferred to other bases to be studied or trained. One and other 8 best subjects stayed and were trained as a squad.
Since the organisation paid less attention to Xiao, he became invisible. The guards would ignore him when he passed by. This freedom was exactly what he wanted. A great amount of experience is gained in the machine room. Xiao was like a viscum album that extracted nutrients from the Sprout. When the experience from the assembly reached its limit, Xiao started modifying. He was cautious. Every time he modified a weapon, he would disassemble it into pieces. So no one could trace it back to him. With training from Hela and Ballotta, Xiao managed |basic fight| and |basic shooting|. And unlocked a special talent |Well trained| - extra 100 points of health which was great for him. Profession |Agent| was unlocked too which brought the character level to 4.
With all the efforts, |Basic repair| and |Basic modification| went up to lv.4. |basic fight| and |basic shooting| went up to lv.2. One of the limitations of machinist as players was a lack of resources. Luckily, Xiao had all the materials 'free' from the Sprout. Finally, all the gun-related weapons in the base had been studied by Xiao and his experience pool went to 600,000! The time ratio between the 'real life' and 'in-game' was one to six. The half year he spent in base was like one month of game time on earth. 600,000 was extraordinary in one month for new players.
....
"The request from Gramme was allowed, He can have Zero" The leader said on the call.
"You always say no." Hela frowned.
"The resource the organisation put into him needs to make its value." The leader's voice was cold."The value of a failed subject was to be recycled. Zero failed."
"Understood."Hela bit her lip and answered.
"Anyway Zero is not important. How is the squad lead by One?" The leader asked.
"Getting stronger with great potential."
"Great! Take them to the Owl base for more training. I have sent the owl squad to take them. They will arrive in two or three days."
"That's... the time for me to visit my sister." Hela's voice got cold.
"Your companion is not necessary."
"Clear."