Chapter 2: Avatar Simulation System
He secretly cursed in his heart.
Link sighed helplessly but was still somewhat content with what he had. Treating a dead horse as if it were still alive, he prepared to summon his clone, hoping there might be a slim chance of saving himself.
Suddenly, a 'ding!' sound, like that of software starting up, echoed in Link's ears.
> [The Strongest Clone Simulation System is initializing...]
> [Initialization complete!]
> [Binding object: Link's Clone
Level: 1
Experience: 0/100
Occupation: None
Innate Talent: None yet
Strength: 5
Constitution: 5
Agility: 5
Magic: 5
Free Attribute Points: 0
Talent: None
Equipment: None
Overall Rating: None
Remaining Simulation Energy: 0
(Simulation Energy can improve the main body's talents, copy clone talents, and redeem simulation attempts or rewards. It can be obtained by recycling equipment and props in reality.)
Remaining Number of Simulations: 1
(Recovers once a year naturally, or can be exchanged through simulation energy.)]
"..."
Silence.
After a long pause, Link rubbed his ears, thinking he was hallucinating.
But the next moment, a bright light screen appeared right in front of his eyes—so vivid that it was impossible to ignore.
"A system?"
"Is it really a system? I knew it! As a time traveler, how could I not have a plug-in!"
Link stared at the system interface. After a brief moment of disbelief, excitement quickly overtook his face.
However, just as he was eagerly about to explore the system's functions, he noticed something odd in the system description.
He took another closer look at the light screen.
When he saw the words "Bound Object: Link's Clone" in bold, Link froze.
"A clone simulation?"
"Seriously? Why is my plug-in bound to my clone's body instead of my real self? Can't you see I'm alive and kicking?"
The grin he had just flashed quickly vanished without a trace.
After skimming through the 'Strongest Clone Simulation System' manual, Link was filled with a deep sense of humiliation.
It turned out that the simulation system was for his clone, not his real body.
According to the manual:
Link could consume simulation energy to send his clone into a simulated timeline. Regardless of how much time passed in the simulation, only a summary report would appear in the real world. In the simulation, the clone would live an entire life until death. Afterward, Link could spend additional simulation energy to bring the clone's achievements and abilities into reality.
"So basically, I'm just a battery providing simulation energy?" Link rolled his eyes.
He grumbled inwardly but, in reality, couldn't resist the allure of a time-travel plug-in. Without hesitation, he tapped on the simulation button.
> [Ding! Remaining simulation attempts: 1. Please select the simulation level:]
> 1. Free Simulation: No additional energy consumption. Your clone will randomly receive a Black Iron-level talent.
2. Bronze Simulation: Spend 100 energy points. Your clone will receive a Bronze-level talent.
3. Silver Simulation: Locked. Unlocks when the clone reaches level 20.
4. Gold Simulation: Locked. Unlocks at level 30.
5. Earth Simulation: ...
6. Sky Simulation: ...
7. Star Simulation: ...
8. Planet Simulation: ...
9. Stellar Simulation: Locked. Unlocks when the clone reaches level 80.
"Oh my god, you can even carry top-tier stellar talents?" Link's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
But looking at the glaring "0" energy points on the panel, he realized he had no choice.
As a poor kid from the mountains, his pockets were cleaner than his face. Forget recharging simulation energy; even getting food tomorrow would be a problem.
"I'll choose free simulation."
> [Ding! Starting free simulation. Consumed: 1 simulation attempt. Remaining attempts: 0.]
> [Simulation begins!]
> [On September 30, Year 11 of the Awakening Calendar, a day marked by sadness, your clone was born.]
> [Your clone received a gift: Black Iron-level Talent: Enhanced Charge.]
[Enhanced Charge]: A Black Iron-level talent that upgrades the basic warrior skill "Charge" into the more powerful "Enhanced Charge."
---
"Is there even a difference between having this talent and not?" Link muttered, his face darker than a storm cloud.
Among all the Black Iron-level abilities, Enhanced Charge was one of the most worthless sewer talents.
Its only function was to upgrade the basic skill Charge into a slightly better Enhanced Charge, which was about equivalent to a Bronze-level skill book.
Since the advent of professionals, humanity had even reached Sky-level powers.
Nowadays, a Bronze-level skill book's market value was barely around ten thousand yuan.
In other words, this so-called talent was worth about ten thousand yuan—truly garbage among garbage.
For ordinary people, drawing such a talent would essentially mean career death before it even began.
Even compared to other sewer-tier abilities, this one ranked at the very bottom.
Fortunately, this was just a simulation. If he had awakened such trash talent in real life, Link might have considered ending things right then and there.
Shaking his head, Link continued reading.
> [After a night's rest, your clone came to terms with his trash awakening.]
> [He headed to Dungeon Square, hoping to find reliable teammates to enter a dungeon and level up.]
> [However, due to his useless ability, no team was willing to accept him.]
> [After waiting for several hours without finding a team, your clone had no choice but to enter the dungeon solo.]
> [Ding! Your clone has entered Donghua University's exclusive Level 1 dungeon—Bandit Village.]
---
"Soloing a dungeon, huh..."
Link sighed deeply, his barely stabilized mood crashing again.
This was the saddest part for professionals with garbage talents: under the rule that dungeon experience must be divided equally among all members, no one wanted a useless burden on their team.
It was nearly impossible to succeed alone.
Without team support, clearing dungeons became far more dangerous, and defeating the dungeon boss—a necessary step for major rewards—was virtually impossible.
More than 95% of dungeon rewards came from defeating the boss.
Without those rewards, the gap between trash-talented professionals and others would only widen over time.
"It's going to be tough," Link muttered.
As expected, the simulation continued exactly along those grim lines.
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