[Script completed, rewards being calculated.]

[Experience gained: 5500, Game Coins: 55000]

[Acquired item(s): None]

[Completed quests: 22]

[Special/hidden quests completed: 0, Unlocked world lore: None]

[Fear value surge: 0 times, Highest fear value: 0%, Average fear value: 0%]

[Your fear rating is Fearless, you may receive an additional reward, please select later.]

[Technique Value gained: 323]

[Technique Value bonus experience: 3230, Game Coins: 32300]

[Script completion reward: 100% base experience bonus: 5500]

[Calculation complete, please continue.]

After Twenty-Three bid farewell to Feng Bujue, he was passively teleported away. But a question was deeply planted in Feng Bujue’s mind, he couldn’t help but think… As a set of data born with self-awareness and a certain degree of intelligence, should Derivatives also be regarded as a form of "higher life" and receive a certain degree of respect, or at least… no longer be hunted down because of their "existence" itself.

The answer to this question cannot be solved by reasoning. Not everything in this world can be divided into right and wrong, should and shouldn't. So some things have no answer, only results. Feng Bujue is just an ordinary person, he has no ability or power to manage such things, all he can do is probably just think about it.

[You have leveled up to level 13, stamina limit increased, current limit is 1300/1300]

The system prompt brought his thoughts back.

"Jue-ge, are you okay? Why did it take you several minutes to exit the script?" Wang Tanzhi's voice also rang from the communication channel.

"Don't worry, I didn't die," Feng Bujue said. "Haven't I already reached level 13?"

Wang Tanzhi said, "Eh? I'm only level twelve with two thousand experience or so. I've even played one more script than you. Is it really the difference in Technique Value?"

"The difference in Technique Value is actually okay. Even if the total Technique Value I get in several team survival modes is 300 or even 400 more than you, it's only a difference of 3,000 to 4,000 experience points. The main thing is that the hidden quest reward in my last script was also experience. Also, I received a current level 40% experience bonus from the fear rating once," Feng Bujue explained.

"Hey… Jue-ge, if you keep playing single-player survival mode, guaranteeing completion, and constantly getting that 40% experience, wouldn't you level up super fast? You might even be the first to reach max level on the server!" Wang Tanzhi said.

"I've indeed considered this. If I'm determined to do it, I should succeed. But I'm playing this game with some 'cheating' tendencies after all. Becoming the first max-level player is a high-profile thing that would make me a target. Besides, there's no special reward for being the first max-level player. For a non-professional player like me who doesn't want to be famous, taking it would only bring a lot of trouble," Feng Bujue replied.

Wang Tanzhi said, "The closed beta only capped at twenty, maybe there's an element of chance, but the public beta has fifty levels, and account registration is open. Maybe the first max-level player will get some heaven-defying prize?"

Feng Bujue laughed and said, "Actually, there's no difference. This pattern won't change when the public beta comes. The game company knows very well that the players who are far ahead in levels are basically the result of studio teams operating. Ordinary players simply can't participate in this kind of competition. After all, the available resources are different. Just the game time alone makes it impossible for casual players to compare with professional players. So you see, that 'Yongzhe Wu Ju' (Fearless Warrior) who reached level twenty first in the closed beta didn't get any substantial rewards officially granted, except for an announcement on the forum."

Later facts proved that Feng Bujue's guess was correct. Dream Company did not give the first max-level player any substantial rewards. Of course, that player and the studio they belonged to got what they wanted: attention.

In fact, in these years of online games, as long as the game is technically strong and has strong playability, the upper structure is basically occupied by studios. It's not until the game has been operating for several years and is on its last legs, and the studios withdraw one after another, that some individuals or casual players may emerge. Of course, by then, it is likely that not many people are playing. Then comes closing registration, merging servers, and finally closing the game.

As for some more "brain-dead" games, the overall pattern is relatively clear. It's all about who has more money. Besides using scantily clad female characters to sell flesh and doing some vulgar publicity, the only noteworthy thing is the game's graphics. The game's playability itself is really not worth mentioning. In such games, studios are instead at the grassroots level, playing the role of working for the rich, doing almost mindless, repetitive assembly line operations, which is a bit like using human plug-ins.

The lifespan of such games is often even shorter. Generally speaking, players who don't spend money can't continue playing in the early and mid-term, and a few people who persist until the later stages are also abused and defeated. And because the content of the game itself is empty and lacking, players who have spent money will gradually feel bored and tired after too long, and finally choose to leave.

Such online games are emerging one after another in 2055, like a consumable. First-class publicity, third-rate games, and substandard operators. However, this type of commodity is ultimately recognized by the market, because there is nothing wrong with consumables, people need such consumables. Players who don't want to spend money get a novelty, and players who spend money can enjoy the game better; the operators just want to make a quick buck and leave, and don't plan to last long; the studio's blue-collar and newbie players can also rely on leveling and farming to survive. Everyone gets what they need, and in at most half a year, new consumables will be replenished.

"That's good. If you level up too fast, no one will carry me," Xiao Tan replied. "By the way, Jue-ge, the Winchester is still with me. I'll give it to you in the next script." In fact, Xiao Tan had also picked up two pistols in the gun store and kept them in his inventory, but in the basketball hall, using the Winchester was obviously more appropriate.

"Keep it for now, I'll organize my stuff and go offline," Feng Bujue replied.

"Huh? But it's only half past two now," Xiao Tan said.

What he meant was that it was still early. Even if he played until four o'clock before going offline, there would still be an hour and a half of real-world time, which translates to fifteen hours of game time in sleep mode, enough to play another script of similar length to the previous one.

"You said you were level twelve with two thousand experience or so, right?" Feng Bujue said. "That means you're still less than ten thousand away from leveling up to thirteen. Go play two more scripts in a while, and if possible, refresh a title or something." He paused for a second and continued, "As for me… I need to calm down and think about something…" This reason wasn't very convincing.

But Xiao Tan accepted it. He knew Feng Bujue's temper. He would say what he wanted to say without reservation, and wouldn't say anything if he didn't want to, so there was no use asking further: "Okay, then I'll leave the team."

"Okay, bye-bye," Feng Bujue said goodbye to him.

Xiao Tan responded and left the team.

When Feng Bujue opened the friend list again, three of the four names in it were already offline: Long Aomin, Siyu Ruoli, and Bei Lingxiaogu. Wang Tanzhi's name quickly changed from "Idle" to "In Game."

He consciously checked the "Recently Played With" item. In addition to a few friends, there were also Yongzhe Wudi, Atobe-shao, and Nanzi Zhen Nan Qu (Names Are Really Hard To Choose) that he had encountered after logging into the game this time. The nicknames "Unrivaled General Pan Feng" and "Thousand-Man Slayer Hua Xiong" were also prominently listed, but they showed that they were offline. Feng Bujue strongly suspected that this was a kind of "invisible" illusion, but he didn't have the idea of sending an email to confirm. He estimated that no one would reply even if he sent one, and it was even more impossible to accept friend invitations.

Feng Bujue was a little upset by Twenty-Three's matter and temporarily lost the mood to play the game. He didn't rush to claim the rewards, nor did he do any organizing. He directly opened the game menu and chose to go offline.

When logging off in sleep mode, the system also gives an extra prompt to players who don't want to continue sleeping: [Do you need to be awakened?]