Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The price he had to pay in order to choose the billion-level update was the loss of the creation and training ground functions, as well as the possibility of a new hundred-million level function appearing.
Su Mo might not have said anything about this but, inside, he was filled with anticipation.
Thanks to the pivotal role he played in the situation on the wasteland, he was able to become the ‘leader’ of the human race within a very short period of time and become an important influence dictating the fate of Earth’s humans.
This was a change that was recognized by the system.
As such, even without thinking about it, Su Mo was able to guess that this function update was either connected to the future of humankind or related to his future development!
[Host Su Mo, there are only thirty seconds remaining before the completion of the system update. Please be patient…]
(Host Su Mo…]
As he was thinking about certain matters while waiting, a few minutes passed in a blink of an eye.
He watched as the countdown began, and Su Mo decided to just put down whatever he was doing. He sat down on his bed and calmed himself down quietly.
[Host Su Mo, the system update is now complete. The new functions have been added. Please restart your system panel before using them.]
[The current update includes the hundred-million-level functions. Please read the manual provided by the system patiently.]
[The hundred-million-level functions have been successfully added. Creation, training ground, and modification have all been deactivated. They require the host’s survival points to surpass one hundred million for them to be unlocked.]
[There are changes to the method of obtaining daily points. The new method for obtaining them will require a pause for 48 hours before automatically restoring itself]
Following these four prompts, Su Mo did not hesitate any longer. He called out silently for the system panel to restart.
A faint greenish-blue light flashed and, when the progress bar increased to 100%, an entirely new system panel began to appear in front of Su Mo.
There were no other complicated functions. The only thing on the entire panel was an oval-shaped upgrade function.
It looked like an activation button. Two slightly smaller icons than the oval-shaped button were situated right above it, representing the two functions of the daily points announcement and the system’s message inbox.
Right then, the message inbox was flashing with a golden light, so Su Mo ignored the upgrade function temporarily. Instead, he tapped onto the message inbox function and began reading.
[Host’s current leadership rating: 92% (More than 90% of humans approve of your leadership)]
[As the host, Su Mo has become the human civilization’s spiritual leader in advance, the system has generated a level-surpassing upgrade to activate this function in advance. However, this upgrade does not mean that the host has achieved the required standards. The host is reminded not to slack in
terms of strength enhancement.]
[The original name for the current upgraded function: Race, which involves the modification of an entire race and requires a large expenditure. In consideration of the host’s current strength, which is not yet up to standard, the system reserves the right to accept or reject an upgrade.]
(When the host’s survival points reach one million, ten million, and fifty million, certain permissions will be unlocked which will display different operational modes.]
[Current Operation Mode: Civilization Upgrade]
[Note: The original upgrade function has been retained to a certain extent, but certain aspects of the function have been modified or removed. Please try it out in order to familiarize yourself with the new upgrade function.]
[Please tap on the upgrade button following the prompt to begin to explore the new upgrade function.]
It was a notification prompt that had a human touch it. After spotting the word ‘race’, Su Mo was enlightened.
‘The few times he had acted in a godly manner previously propelled him into the limelight, and he became the spiritual leader for the humans on the wasteland. As a result, the system had judged that he was advancing too quickly, almost like skipping a level.
However, if things had proceeded normally, if he had not been so lucky as to have drawn the DF-17 missile from the prize draw, he would not have been able to deal with the gods of the foreign races.
In that case, the prospects of him gaining more than 90% of humankinds’ approval would be
Nearly impossible!
Still, it was truly a coincidence that their approval had come at the right time, and also at such an early stage.
During the early stages, at a time when everyone was panicking and had not yet formed a solid concept of what wasteland survival truly entailed, all one had to do was provide a small spark of hope in order to gain their approval and allegiance.
However, at the later stages, those who survived up to that point would be people who had experienced the Doomsday wasteland for a few years.
‘Their determination and independence at that stage would make it difficult to earn their approval and allegiance even if they were given sufficient benefits!
After some thought, Su Mo felt extremely fortunate that his actions had resulted in this current situation.
He followed the instructions on the prompt and returned to the main system panel. Su Mo focused his thoughts and tapped on the upgrade button at the center of the panel.
‘The next second, a whole new panel opened up.
It was just like using a chatroom. The upgrade panel had been divided into several different upgrade modes.
The first was.
Item upgrade!
[This upgrade retains this original upgrade function. Using it is no different than before. As long as the host focuses mentally on an item that belongs to the host, or an ownerless item, the host will be able to view the same upgrade panel as before.]
[Upgrade details: Spend survival points to upgrade the item. The host can provide the necessary materials to reduce the survival points expenditure of the upgrade.]
‘As expected, the basic upgrade function had not changed. After scanning through the system’s prompts, Su Mo quickly turned his sights to the second upgrade mode.
“Civilization Upgrade?”
He uttered a nearly inaudible ‘huh? as he looked at the word ‘Civilization’ under the upgrade mode. Su Mo felt slightly surprised.
He noticed the system’s prompt did not appear as it did for the Item Upgrade mode. Su Mo focused his thoughts and immediately tapped on it.
‘The next second, he saw a new information panel appear. Once the system’s prompt appeared, Su Mo could not help but shout.
“F*ck!”
“I don’t believe this!!!”
“How d*mned sure is it that this isn’t some civilization game, or even… the Age of Empires?”
Su Mo’s mind was in a mess as he sat on the bed while staring at the information displayed on the panel’s notification prompt.
At this moment, the words that appeared at the center of the panel were ones that he found familiar. The words that were clearly written on it were…
The Stone Age!
Below those words, he could clearly see the upgrade requirements.
1. Manufacturing methods for three types of stone weapons
2. Mastery of stone cave development technology
3. Complete non-reliance on the consumption of raw food
4. Population of 50
5. Build a stone statue with a height of no less than 20 meters. The margin of error should not exceed 50 centimeters (Monument Requirement)
These five requirements were not difficult to achieve given the current standards of humans.
Moreover, Su Mo had already seen that the first four requirements had been marked with a delightful green tick that indicated completion. This meant that those requirements had been completely fulfilled!
As for the fifth requirement, it was not difficult to achieve at all.
A twenty-meter statue could be erected in one day.
As for the requirement for the margin of error to not exceed fifty centimeters, that was even more inconsequential. Even a child’s drawing would satisfy this requirement.
However, these were not really the source of Su Mo’s surprise.
‘What had made him feel truly incredulous was the jaw-dropping information below.
The reward!
[Host Su Mo, the new Civilization Upgrade mode was generated by referencing the information from your memories on Earth. It includes, but is not limited to, Civilization VI, Age of Empires…and other games. Please do not be astonished. This is aimed at helping the host to familiarize himself with this
upgrade mode.]
[Using the Civilization Upgrade mode, the host may lead the humans under your leadership to achieve the conditions for the Civilization Upgrade in accordance with the system’s requirements, thereby increasing the host’s Civilization Level.]
[Once the host’s Civilization Level has been upgraded, the host will receive the complete set of information regarding the new level’s technology tree to guide the humans under your leadership to learn and develop.]
[Note: Learning does not refer to in-depth studying, discussion and research, but rather a broad and overarching grasp of the subject. The duration of learning is based on the inherent differences in candidates’ grasp of pre-requisite skills and knowledge, as well as their individual talents.]
[For example, a master craftsman with tens years of experience will only require twenty seconds to learn how to craft a stone bowl but, for a human who does not possess this experience or knowledge, this will require five minutes.]
[After grasping the knowledge, said human would immediately upgrade their skill proficiency to Proficient Level and they would never forget this skill!)
[Total number of learning opportunities for technical knowledge and skills for humans every day: 3 times]
[Note: Constructing Monuments grants an attribute bonus to people who have pledged allegiance to the host. It includes, but is not limited to, physical fitness properties, comprehension ability, learning ability, stress tolerance, and others…]
Boom!
‘The system’s casual explanation seemed ordinary, but the way Su Mo felt right now was no different than experiencing.
A thunderous earthquake!
He had just been researching the possible general developmental directions on paper a few hours ago. He had been cracking his head on how to properly develop science and technology on the wasteland in order to rebuild human civilization.
Now he had been given a huge surprise by the system’s updated upgrade function.
‘As long as he was able to achieve the conditions, he would be able to upgrade his Civilization Level and the survivors would be able to quickly learn the knowledge and skills from that level’s technology tree and, from there, push the development of science and technology forward.
From the looks of things, there was nothing exciting about the ordinary Stone Age level.
Even if the upgrade was completed, it could only allow three people a day to completely grasp the stonemasonry at a proficient level as well as miscellaneous primeval hunting skills.
However, once he thought about the future—Bronze Age, Iron Age, Dark Ages, Age of Enlightenment, Steam Age, Atomic Age, and the most advanced era of humankind
‘The Information Age
He was able to sense just how incredible this upgrade function would be!
‘As long as he achieved the conditions and made his way up to the Iron Age, the shelter’s territories would be able to produce three experienced blacksmiths every day.
‘There would be ninety master blacksmiths produced every month!
‘When the Steam Age and Atomic Age arrived, he would be able to make use of the system’s upgrade function to immediately produce a batch of masters who would not only have research skills, but also production skills!
When that time came, their territories could truly welcome and celebrate the arrival of a prosperous future!
‘As for the lucky survivors in their territories, their conversation topics might go something like this
“What, you made a steam engine by hand!”
“D*mn, I’ve only managed to grasp alternating current today!
“XX is truly incredible. I’ve heard that XX is now able to set up a complete communication network!”
A question suddenly flashed through Su Mo’s mind as he was thinking about this.
“Wait a minute, what comes after the Information Age?!”
[The era that comes after the Information Age is… the Interstellar Age!]
It was quite similar to the previous development pathway of humans. Su Mo clenched his fists in agitation after noticing that the system’s prompt did not hide the information.
Very nice. This was an upgrade that he really liked!
Humans on Earth were unable to reach the stars, yet the system was able to forge a path to space and beyond!
Humans might not know exactly where to begin with their research to achieve this
However, constructing monuments and climbing technology trees were what tactical gamers did best!
To possess such a development path with a definite target was indeed a source of immense happiness!
Not to mention the joys of possessing such eminent knowledge and skills!
If the day came when the survivors on the deep ocean suddenly discovered that the technological standards of the basin area had returned to that of the civilized era, and that cities had emerged in the New World
Su Mo could not help but smile at the thought of that scene which would astound and bedazzle every single person!
He returned to the very first page and found that there was one more mode for the upgrade function.
‘This mode was called Territorial Upgrade.
Unfortunately, perhaps because the system detected that Su Mo was outside his territory, or perhaps because he had no territory to begin with, this function was grayed out and could not be accessed.
He tried a few times to access it, but soon realized that the system’s prompt would not appear because it was locked. Su Mo did not panic, but rather closed the system panel silently.
As long as it was here, it would eventually become available to him.
It was undeniable that the upgrade this time had widened Su Mo’s perspective and enabled him to determine the future path he would take in the New World.
“We’re not waiting any longer. Once the game updates itself tomorrow, I will use the Oracle of the God of the Ocean’s experience card to search for the location of the God of the Ocean!”
“Ineed to settle the matter regarding the God of the Ocean before moving forward toward the New World!”
“Civilization Upgrade… I’ve finally seen hope in returning humankind to the Information Age!”
He sighed and watched as the sun was about to set. There was no sign of gloominess in Su Mo’s heart.
Ina place where no one could see, a ‘rising sun’ belonging to only him was slowly rising within his heart!
