Chapter 76
Chapter 76
After the four oddities from Hiei Studio departed, Feng Bu Jue resumed wandering through the mall. The system shop’s inventory matched his expectations—primarily clothing and consumables.
Clothing was a valuable commodity, offering aesthetic customization without occupying equipment slots, along with minor attribute bonuses. However, since Terrifying Paradise obscured precise character stats, attribute descriptions were vague: "slightly boosts vitality value", "moderately improves firearm accuracy", or "marginally increases jump height."
Clothing categories included tops, pants, full-body suits, hats, shoes, and accessories. Skirts were absent—a deliberate design choice—but stockings and fishnets were available under "accessories", allowing female players to pair them with shorts for a "bare-leg" look.
Each clothing item granted a slight attribute boost. Equipping an entire set provided significant advantages over being naked. To avoid forcing players to sacrifice aesthetics for stats, all clothing had randomized attribute bonuses. For example, buying a beret initially offered no bonuses, but once in inventory, it generated three random attribute options for the player to choose one.
Clothing was non-tradable. To obtain specific bonuses, players had to repurchase items repeatedly—no trading shortcuts. Fortunately, most bonuses were useful, and the three-option system minimized frustration.
This system encouraged players to prioritize aesthetics, reducing "outfit clashes" since even similar tastes resulted in different attribute combinations.
As for consumables, essentials included vitality/stamina boosters, bandages, universal antidotes, and remedies for paralysis, burns, diseases, and frostbite. Ammo, ropes, arrows, batteries, and explosives were also available. Prices were meticulously calculated—down to the last bullet or inch of bandage.
The shop also sold common-tier equipment (no special effects), accessible even to level 1 newcomers. Players lacking proficiencies could still find basic gear, albeit weak.
Feng Bu Jue skimmed consumables—bullets and potions required minimal attention. Clothing, however, intrigued him. Prices were steep, seemingly tied to "uniqueness." A "Panda Suit" cost 300,000 GC (game currency), yet offered the same random bonuses as a 30,000 GC alternative. Worse, bulky designs hindered movement. Does Dream Corporation think looking like a mascot eases horror? he mused.
Regarding currency: Terrifying Paradise used GC, purchasable via Rmb. Exchange rates fluctuated weekly based on player activity, system rewards, and GC circulation. Rates might shift from 100 Rmb:100 GC to 100:120 or 100:85. While players speculated, the system’s weekly adjustments (1:2000–1:3000 range) stabilized the market.
Feng Bu Jue couldn’t afford Rmb top-ups. His 164,300 GC and 843 skill points came from in-game rewards. He briefly regretted discarding garlic earlier—Could’ve sold it for a few GC—but dismissed it. Common loot fetched little; better to farm equipment.
"Time to check the auction house. These clothes are overpriced", he muttered, heading toward the mall’s central information tower.
Near the tower, four directional pillars (marked East, South, West, North) displayed leaderboards. The East pillar showed level rankings. Top 20 included two anonymous players and 18 with guild affiliations in brackets—Hiei Studio and others had already formed guilds post-beta.
Feng Bu Jue skimmed the list. He’d research guild mechanics later. At the South pillar, the "Combat Power Ranking" surprised him: only five level-top 20 players ranked here.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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