Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator

Chapter 29: Pain! The Price of Becoming Strong
After a few agonizing screams, each gasp seemed to ease the unbearable pain.

Indeed, no miracle pill compares to just howling your lungs out.

Chen Pingchuan felt like he was going to explode. His body and spirit were under a dual assault.

He had assumed that inheriting his physical state would be simple, but in reality, the full force of his genetic enhancements was being loaded into his body. At best, he had expected a surge in his strength, agility, and physique attributes. Nothing more.

But how could becoming stronger come without a price, especially in such a short time?

”What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger!”

”But it really, really hurts! Damn it!”

Chen Pingchuan had always considered himself tough, but right now, he genuinely wanted to die.

Physically, from his internal organs, blood, and meridians to his skin, muscles, and bones, every part of him was undergoing a baptism of pain. Tearing and rebuilding, then tearing and rebuilding again, a vicious, endless cycle. If not for a mysterious warm current constantly repairing his mangled body, his flesh might have been obliterated by the surging power.

Mentally, things weren’t optimistic either. A massive stream of consciousness was pouring into his brain. It included all the diligent practice with the eighteen traditional weapons from his simulations, as well as his deeper understanding and application of strength and physique from his training.

Of course, the most ferocious stream of all came from the purple talent, Parasitic.

I have you to fucking thank for this.

”Aaaargh!”

Chen Pingchuan’s tortured screams jolted Black Demon One from its deep sleep. Seeing its master’s terrifying, twisted expression, Black Demon One seemed to feel his pain. Unfortunately, apart from circling Chen Pingchuan anxiously, there was nothing it could do.

Half an hour later, Chen Pingchuan finally survived the wave of agonizing torment.

He first moved his somewhat stiff arms, then took off his short-sleeved T-shirt and twisted it with all his might.

RIP!

Seeing the shirt he had just ripped to shreds, Chen Pingchuan gave a bitter smile. He had only intended to wring out the sweat-soaked garment, but he never imagined the explosive surge in his strength would be so ferocious. For a moment, the feeling of a tidal wave of power crashing through him was mesmerizing.

Worth it!

WHIMPER...

Lost in the sensation of his new strength, Chen Pingchuan heard a faint cry. Following the sound, he saw it was Black Demon One, its crimson eyes filled with worry.

”Don’t worry, I’m fine!”

After reassuring Black Demon One, Chen Pingchuan wiped himself down with a damp towel. He then sat in his familiar spot and took out his thick notebook.

As he processed the influx of consciousness, the Parasitic talent felt as if it had become an innate part of him. He now fully understood its essence and began jotting down some information.

”Generation speed of the Parasitic Seed; the corresponding seed level for different organisms.”

”The influence of the parasitized creature’s emotions on the host during the link.”

”Methods to avoid being influenced: one is to use a purple-grade Parasitic Seed.”

As he wrote this, Chen Pingchuan felt his hand tremble. That was a top-tier Parasitic Seed that cost ten attribute points. Was that something a little rookie like him could afford? He knew that this kind of expenditure couldn’t be replenished; it consumed the upper limit of his own talent.

Chen Pingchuan inwardly complained about the harsh requirements, but his pen never stopped moving.

”Method two: parasitize organisms with simple minds, like flowers, grass, and trees.”

Parasitize a tree? Unable to move, unable to even die. Choosing option one proves you’re an idiot. Choosing option two proves you’re insane.

Chen Pingchuan decided to shelve this talent for now. He would figure it out later; it could be useful for enhancing his survival methods in future simulations.

After finishing his notes, Chen Pingchuan summoned his attribute panel.

[Name: Chen Pingchuan]

[Profession: Laborer, Weapon Master]

[Age: 19]

[Strength: 10.2] (Talent in effect; 1.0 is the average for an adult male)

[Agility: 3.9]

[Spirit: 5.8]

[Physique: 7.6]

[Skills: None]

[Title: Quickshot - Reckless Biao (Green)]

[Talent: Strength Doubled (Green), Heavenly Dao Recompenses the Diligent (Green), Parasitic (Purple)]

[Remaining Simulation Points: 2,474]

[Remaining Simulation Runs: 6]

The strength of five men was the human limit after taking the basic genetic medicine, yet Chen Pingchuan could now achieve the strength of ten. This wasn’t something that could be compared with simple arithmetic like 1+1=2.

After recording the new values in his notebook, Chen Pingchuan decided to start another simulation immediately. He had already failed four times and still hadn’t found a way to break the deadlock. It seemed it was time to try a new approach. If brute force wasn’t working, maybe avoiding a direct confrontation was the better option.

Just as he was about to begin, he remembered his last experience. He hurriedly changed into a pair of festive red underwear and washed his hands ten times with sulfur soap.

”Spirits of heaven, spirits of earth, whichever gods are listening, please grant me some incredible luck!”

”Enter simulation. Yes!”

[This simulation consumes 10 Simulation Points.]

[Remaining Simulation Points: 2,464]

[Remaining Simulation Runs: 5]

[Simulation beginning...]

[Detecting host’s carried talents: Strength Doubled (Green), Heavenly Dao Recompenses the Diligent (Green), Parasitic (Purple)]

[Random talent draw in progress. Please choose the amount of Simulation Points to invest. 0 points for a White talent, 10 points for a Green talent, 100 points for a Blue talent. All options have a chance to yield lower or higher-grade talents.]

[You have invested 100 Simulation Points. Drawing talent...]

[DING! Congratulations on acquiring the Blue talent: God of Misfortune’s Possession]

[God of Misfortune’s Possession]: Blue special negative talent. Misfortune follows you like the wind. From this moment on, enjoy an extraordinarily unlucky life.

PS: You’ll cry when the wind blows, piss on your own feet, poke your fingers through the toilet paper, and shit your pants when you fart. The God of Misfortune is watching you from above.

Chen Pingchuan stared at the Blue talent’s description. Is this simulator even humane?

”Simulator, are you bugged? I drop 100 simulation points and this is what you give me?”

”Hey! You there?”

”Anyone home? Say something!”

”Simulator, your mother’s calling you home for dinner!”

”*******”

...

After his curses went unanswered, Chen Pingchuan stopped his idiotic behavior and reluctantly continued the simulation.

[In your rented room, you should be happy about your explosive growth in power, but you feel a malevolent gaze fixed on you.]

[You become aware of your spatial talent and retrieve the materials related to the genetic medicine from the simulator’s storage.]

[Faced with the mountain of documents before you, your head begins to ache.]

[You try reading a few random pages and discover that while you recognize every single word, they make no sense when strung together.]

[Unwilling to give up, you continue to grapple with the pile of information.]

[Half an hour later, you feel drowsy.]

[An hour later, your vision blurs.]

[Two hours later, you are snoring like a thunderstorm!]

[Three hours later, you are awakened by a full bladder.]

[While urinating, you are suddenly struck with the urge to defecate. After finishing your business, you discover there is no toilet paper.]

[Not only that...]