Translator: AnubisTL
This innate ability... well, it had potential, but it wasn't immediately useful.
Scar Dog's ability was similar—only helpful when fleeing for his life, and even then, it was random.
As a result, for the first three months after arriving in this world, they lived no better than scavengers, constantly on edge. It wasn't until they crafted their own weapons and established a few small strongholds that they finally felt a sliver of security.
Chen Jiang lowered his gaze to the hand cannon in his hand.
[Item Name]: Rapid-Fire Hand Cannon
[Item Tier]: One-Star Item
[Item Effects]: Magazine capacity: 7 rounds. Firing rate: 1 round per second. Effective range: 30 meters. Recoil: 5 kilograms.
[Item Description]: The forearm-thick barrel greatly enhances its power, guaranteeing a one-shot kill on a bull.
[Modifiable Parameters]: Caliber, magazine capacity, firing rate, barrel length, and recoil.
A/N: Recoil isn't typically measured in kilograms, but for the sake of numerical representation and easy understanding, all recoil values in this story will be expressed in kilograms.
The final stat on the hand cannon's information panel was visible only to Chen Jiang himself.
This was a capability granted by his innate ability, "Unrestrained Modification."
He had already enhanced the caliber and recoil once each, consuming a significant portion of the materials and items he had brought back.
[Caliber Enhancement +1]
[Effect: Caliber increased to 5cm. Bullet size automatically adjusts to match the caliber.]
To further enhance the caliber, he would need to sacrifice three one-star items.
"Brother Jiang!"
Just as Chen Jiang was studying his hand cannon and pondering further modifications, Scar Dog's eyes gleamed with excitement as he stared at the nearby Steel Sword Autonomous Rotating Turret, a particularly menacing-looking contraption.
"Brother Jiang, use your innate ability to modify this turret too!"
"Then we'll get an armored vehicle, mount the turret on the roof, and we'll be unstoppable! We'll be killing gods and slaughtering Buddhas!"
"At the very least, we'll be able to roam the wasteland without any trouble. Then we can finally get back at Ma Zi."
"Damn it! He almost got us killed! I won't rest until I've made him pay!"
[Steel Sword Autonomous Rotating Turret]
This was an automated firing turret. Once deployed and activated, it would automatically engage any hostile creatures within its range.
Item Name: Steel Sword Autonomous Rotating Turret
Item Tier: Two-Star Item
Item Effects:
Ammunition Capacity: 1000 rounds
Rate of Fire: 1000 rounds per minute
Effective Range: 500 meters
Recoil: 50 kilograms
270-degree rotation design
Whitelist programming: Once activated, the turret will indiscriminately fire upon any non-whitelisted individuals entering its lethal range.
Item Description: This contraption will ensure you get a good night's sleep in the wilderness.
Modifiable Parameters: Caliber, ammunition capacity, rate of fire, barrel length, and recoil.
Chen Jiang stared thoughtfully at the menacing Steel Sword Autonomous Rotating Turret before him, a flicker of desire stirring within him.
The turret was entirely silver-white.
A tripod at its base allowed for secure mounting. Atop the tripod sat a barrel as thick as a man's calf, with a white ammunition magazine—roughly the size of a cigarette pack and non-removable—inserted into its rear. Tangled power cords snaked around the device.
It resembled a Maxim machine gun.
The craftsmanship was simply more refined.
Just moments ago, Chen Jiang had been pondering how this turret distinguished friend from foe. He hadn't expected it to use a whitelist system—a surprisingly convenient method that minimized the risk of friendly fire.
"We still need to get a vehicle," Chen Jiang sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice after a moment's thought. "With a vehicle, we could mount this turret on the roof and pull off some big heists."
"Too bad we used up that energy block we worked so hard to get."
"Getting another one won't be easy."
"My idea..." Scar Dog's eyes narrowed as he paused, then rasped, "We carry this turret straight to Ma Zi's junkyard and give him what's coming to him. We'll take back his vehicle too."
"And that old bastard has been swindling us for too long. Time to settle the score, old and new."
"Carry it? Who's carrying it?"
"Me?"
"You?"
Chen Jiang sized Scar Dog up and down. "Your frame can handle the recoil of a fifty-kilogram weapon?"
"It'll shatter your bones."
"Brother Jiang, you can modify it, right? Reduce the recoil."
Chen Jiang frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before turning his gaze to the modification panel for the Steel Sword Autonomous Rotating Turret.
[Modify Recoil]
[Materials Required]: Five one-star items.
[Enhancement Effect]: Recoil reduced from 50kg to 45kg.
The other modifiable options required the same number of items.
For one-star items, upgrading a single attribute from +1 to +2 only required three one-star items.
However, for two-star items, simply upgrading to +1 required a full five one-star items.
The material cost was on an entirely different scale.
Chen Jiang hesitated, then shook his head. "No, the material cost is too high. It's not worth it just to reduce the recoil."
"We need to deal with Ma Zi, and the turret needs upgrading too."
"But not the recoil. We'll upgrade the ammo capacity instead."
"Then we'll find a spot, set up the Steel Sword Autonomous Rotating Turret in the bushes, and ambush that old bastard's men."
"Let's inventory all the items we seized this time."
"Got it!"
Soon, the two had finished sorting through the stolen items.
"Brother Jiang."
Scar Dog placed the last item on the table and looked up at Chen Jiang. "Twenty-six items in total, all brand new, never used, and in perfect condition."
"Half are everyday items, half are weapons, and a few are single-use items."
"Isn't it a bit wasteful to use brand-new items to upgrade the turret?"
In the past, they had modified their firearms using salvaged, half-broken items from the junkyard. But Ma Zi, ever wary of them, had kept them away from the junkyard.
They could only occasionally sneak a few items out when Ma Zi wasn't paying attention.
These "half-broken" items were damaged beyond repair, some even posing a risk of self-destruction, yet not completely destroyed.
Such items were useless to others.
But to Chen Jiang and his group, they were excellent upgrade materials.
Chen Jiang's eyes narrowed as he reluctantly scanned the brand-new items on the table. He murmured, "No guts, no glory. Once we take down Ma Zi and claim exclusive control of the junkyard..."
"...we'll have an endless supply of half-broken items to upgrade the turret."
(End of the Chapter)
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