novelraw #472 - Intelligence Station (known)
#472 - Intelligence Station (known)
When I wrote this book, my goal was to create an epic battle-focused story, but due to my limited writing skills, it gradually turned into a slice-of-life narrative.
However, the setting is still being constantly expanded and is now relatively complete. I need to summarize it briefly so that everyone can better understand the book after reading it~
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----- The Otherworld -----
Thirty-one years ago, the first [Dimensional Gate] appeared on Earth—the Alpha Dimensional Gate, also known as Gate No. 1. Since then, one has appeared randomly on Earth every year.
The shape of a Dimensional Gate is a sphere with a diameter ranging from five to ten meters. Each time it appears, half of it is exposed to the air, and half is buried underground.
Initially, people discovered that passing through it could take them to an unknown world. That world was vast and inhabited by countless new races, some highly intelligent, others simply wild beasts.
Because the technology at the time couldn't reach its boundaries, it was temporarily called the [Otherworld].
Most of the animals inside have their own [Talents] and can use a special energy from the Otherworld called [Source Power] to change the material world in unique ways, such as breathing fire, growing larger, hypnotizing, and so on. Therefore, they are called [Otherworld Beasts], while the more intelligent ones are called [Otherworld Races].
Later, as the second and third Dimensional Gates appeared, people entered them to explore and found that the terrain each gate led to was different, including the atmospheric environment, gravity coefficient, geological features, and so on.
Therefore, researchers believe that each gate leads to a different Otherworld.
However, astronomers discovered that the sky behind each Dimensional Gate always had seventeen moons. By observing their positions relative to the single sun, they concluded that all the Otherworlds belong to one giant planet.
Because of the existence of Source Power, this planet was named [Source Star], but the name "Otherworld" had already become widespread and continued to be used.
It wasn't until the appearance of the 23rd Dimensional Gate, the Chi Dimensional Gate, that people came into contact with the friendly Sai race and exchanged information about the Otherworld with them.
The most important piece of information was:
Dimensional Gates are subtly expanding and growing larger every year.
Dimensional Gates are like the mouths of Source Star, generating on other planets every year and slowly growing larger until all the Dimensional Gates completely encompass and devour them, becoming part of the Otherworld.
This process takes about a thousand years and is called [Star Devouring].
Once Star Devouring begins, it will not end until the entire planet is annexed, and each Star Devouring will only occur on one planet at a time.
The existence of Source Star dates back to a time beyond investigation, and Earth is already one of its countless targets.
After many attempts, people finally discovered that humans cannot resist the appearance and expansion of Dimensional Gates. Therefore, they came to the prediction that "Earth will inevitably be swallowed by Source Star within a thousand years."
But the Otherworld races and beasts are very powerful. To ensure the survival of humanity, they must find a way for humans to survive within a thousand years.
Currently, there are 31 Dimensional Gates, seven within the country's territory, one occupying an island nation, and one in the Arctic.
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----- Abilities -----
Initially, people discovered that after touching a Dimensional Gate, a sentence or a word would automatically appear in their minds, and they would gain an ability corresponding to it. So, they called it [Ability].
Originally, they thought this was a unique mechanism between humans and Dimensional Gates, but later they discovered that other animals also gained Abilities after touching Dimensional Gates, so they began a lot of research on this.
Research found that only some larger animals can obtain them; plants and microorganisms cannot.
Therefore, people concluded that:
Sentient beings gain Abilities upon their first contact with a Dimensional Gate.
Although this rule is correct, it is narrow.
Due to some reasons, people have obtained its essence:
[Intelligent creatures crossing two worlds gain Abilities]
However, the awakening of Abilities is completely random. Only a small probability of the Abilities that each person awakens is useful, and even fewer have combat power.
Currently, people only know that Ability awakening is only related to subconscious thoughts in the brain and will not be detrimental to oneself; everything else is unknown.
However, the appearance of Abilities has still brought about huge changes in reality. Some can use Abilities to achieve longevity, some can use Abilities to build houses, and some have gained unparalleled combat power.
But without exception, each use of an Ability will strengthen it and consume the Source Power within the body.
Source Power is originally a unique invisible and intangible energy of the Otherworld, only existing within the bodies of Otherworld creatures; humans do not have it within their bodies.
But the first time everyone comes into contact with the Otherworld, that is, when they gain an Ability, it will breed within the human body.
Although the [Total Source Power] that each person initially gains is different, it is not much. However, it will slowly increase with the use of Abilities and slightly increase the probability of Ability upgrades.
[Upgrading] is an abnormal phenomenon of Abilities.
Each time an Ability is used, there is a probability of upgrading it, allowing the Ability to evolve and gain new abilities.
The current highest level is Level Five. That is to say, in addition to Level One, which is when the Ability is first awakened, each Ability has the probability of upgrading four times. However, the last two upgrades are only possible within the Otherworld; on Earth, it can only be upgraded to Level Three at most.
The mechanism of upgrading has not yet been discovered, but each time it is upgraded, its probability will be greatly reduced. Currently, there are only thirty-four Level Five Ability users announced in the world, and the number of Level Four Ability users is less than ten thousand.
Although Ability level does not represent combat power, the general direction that the higher the Ability level, the more times the Ability is used is almost correct.
Therefore, in most cases, the higher the level, the greater the Total Source Power and Ability intensity, and the stronger the combat power.
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----- Otherworld Race Invasion -----
[Star Devouring] has brought a large number of creatures to Source Star, including races with high intelligence.
They can also gain Abilities through Dimensional Gates and know the rule that [Intelligent creatures crossing two worlds gain Abilities].
But after [Star Devouring] ends, their planet is swallowed, the Dimensional Gate closes, and they lose the ability to cross two worlds. Their descendants cannot gain Abilities and slowly disappear into the long river of history.
However, some Otherworld races can survive. They know this, and each time they discover Source Star launching [Star Devouring] on another planet, they will occupy that planet to allow their clansmen to gain Abilities and enhance the race's combat power.
Example:
The eleventh Dimensional Gate appeared in the island nation. The Otherworld races inside invaded in large numbers, slaughtering the northernmost island of the island nation. When they wanted to expand, they were all wiped out by the first Ability user, [Hunter] Hong Wei.
The twenty-ninth Dimensional Gate—the Geng Dimensional Gate, the Giant Beast Mountain Range—part of which is the planet fragments obtained from the previous two [Star Devourings], contains a large number of Otherworld races, including many Level Five Otherworld Beasts that still survive.
To prevent the invasion of Otherworld races, highly defensive protective bases are built on the Earth side and the Otherworld side of each Dimensional Gate. When conditions are sufficient, large cities will also be built. When conditions are not allowed, they will be blocked with hard materials to prevent the Otherworld races from discovering them.
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----- Ability Academy -----
When our country discovered that Abilities were harmless to the body, it built corresponding Ability military academies to allow these soldiers to gain higher combat power to resist the invasion of Otherworld races and occupy Otherworld territories.
In the beginning, the Ability military academies were built next to the Alpha Dimensional Gate, which was both a school and an outpost for defending against the invasion of Otherworld beasts.
Later, every time a Dimensional Gate appeared in the country, a campus would be built next to it.
However, the probability of awakening combat Abilities was too small, and the population of Ability military academies could not produce many useful Abilities at all.
So, in the tenth year of the appearance of the Dimensional Gate, the Ability military academy was opened, renamed the Ability Academy, allowing national college entrance examination candidates to awaken Abilities and conduct large-scale enrollment, but still implement semi-militarized management.
Later, for the diversity of people's development, under the reform of a certain principal, the semi-militarized management of the Ability Academy was abolished, and each campus was divided into two.
Half of it is a branch campus of the Ability Academy, implementing a university education system; the other half is a military academy, implementing militarized management.
Currently, seven campuses have been established, named after the Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, and Geng.
Each campus has five departments, which are:
Combat Department: Abilities can directly cause damage to targets; also known as the Ranged Department; for example, Laser Eyes, Words of Power.
Enhancement Department: Abilities can enhance oneself to gain higher combat power; also known as the Melee Department; for example, Beast Transformation, Hardening.
Elemental Department: Abilities are various elements, with a minor in physics and chemical reactions; for example, Fireball, Metal Control.
Support Department: Abilities can provide support effects for combat, with a small portion being logistical abilities; for example, Slowing Aura, Healing.
Special Department: Those who cannot be classified into the above departments, but all have an effect on combat, with a large portion being logistical abilities; for example, Repair, Lottery.
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----- Inheritance -----
Every Level 5 Ability User, under Professor He Ruijin's inheritance experiment, will obtain an item that can be called [Inheritance], which may be a method or a physical object.
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----- Known List of Level 5 Ability Users (Domestic) -----
[Hunter], Male, Hong Wei.
Ability: "Hunting", which can increase the damage dealt during attacks; can gain recovery by attacking opponents, and can also obtain a portion of their Source Power and Stamina after killing them; can know their location for a long time when dealing damage, but this ability is rarely used.
He discovered the first Other-dimensional Gate at the age of thirty, and was also the first person to obtain an ability, and the first person to become a Level 5 Ability User, hailed as the [First Ability User], and is recognized as the "Strongest" in the world.
When he discovered the Other-dimensional Gate, he was hunting in the mountains, and many prairie wolves窜 (cuàn, darted out) from it. Due to a leg injury and his daughter in the back basket, he relied on his ability to fight to the death for three days and two nights in front of the Jia Other-dimensional Gate.
Later, he was recruited by the government and became a representative combat force, playing a huge role in various Other-dimensional Gate exploration and defense battles.
Formed a team [Hunter Squad], with seven members, namely Hunter, Headhunter, Falcon, Hound, Rifle, Fox, and Pig.
Currently, he is old, but due to his ability, his vitality is still very strong, but his wife is dying of old age, so after consulting the Saiyi tribe, he embarked on the road to find the Mermaid Pearl that can extend life.
Because Qi Jing drew "Captain Jack's Compass", he obtained a precise direction and has successfully returned.
Inheritance: Source Power Cultivation Method.
[Gambler], Male, Mo Wang.
Ability: "Let's Gamble", can use any possessed item for gambling exchange, including the success rate of this gambling exchange; gambling with other people's lives will make the ability unusable for a long time.
He was a glorious soldier when he was young. When he was stationed in Jia City, he happened to save Hong Wei, who had been holding on for three days and two nights in front of the Jia Other-dimensional Gate, and formed a deep friendship with him.
Gou Dehao, who came out to join the army with him from the same village, was a close friend. Their sons also joined the army under their influence, but both died in missions.
Later, he was resurrected by Qi Jing's "River Bank Flower" and Qin Ling and Li Ru's soul experiment, and he was very grateful to Qi Jing.
Bing Other-dimensional Gate - Deep Sea Islands Garrison.
Inheritance: Synthesis Table Manufacturing Method.
[Mediocre], Female, Unknown Name.
Ability: "Energy", can absorb any energy, release any energy, convert energy forms, etc.; possesses strong vitality.
Therefore, even though she is old, she still looks like she is in her twenties.
She is the only person who has broken through the shackles of the total amount of Source Power by absorbing a large amount of energy, thereby breaking through the level limit and becoming a Level 5 Ability User.
She used to be a Chinese teacher, and her student Kong Shu is Qi Jing's Otherworld Biology teacher, and Kong Shu's personal disciple Zhu Qing'an is a member of Qi Jing's team.
She also presented Qi Jing with an award at the New Student Competition and purified the Source Power in his body.
Jia Other-dimensional Gate - Endless Prairie Garrison.
Inheritance: Source Stone Manufacturing Method.
[Wen Emperor], Male, Unknown Name.
Ability: "Warmth".
The fourth person in the country to become a Level 5 Ability User, once killed the Deep Sea Giant Turtle at the entrance of the Bing Other-dimensional Gate with the first three Level 5 Ability Users, and was once teleported to the Sea of Time with [Mediocre] and escaped.
Ding Other-dimensional Gate - Cold Snow Ice Ridge Garrison.
Inheritance: Constant Temperature Treasure Manufacturing Method.
[Thunderbolt King], Female, Unknown Name.
Ability: "Electricity".
Once smelted the shell of the Deep Sea Giant Turtle.
Wu Other-dimensional Gate - Dark Abyss Garrison.
Inheritance: Distance-free Battery Manufacturing Method.
[Empty], Female, Kong Que.
Ability: "Space", possesses various space powers.
The global spokesperson of the country, convenient for action, wherever there is a major event, there she is.
Once cooperated with Qi Jing in the Time Whale Cemetery.
Temporarily serves as the North Pole Other-dimensional Gate - Weak Space Garrison.
Inheritance: Teleportation Gate Manufacturing Method.
[Pretty Boy], Male, Yu Ding.
Ability: "Mind", can control objects with telekinesis; can change other people's thoughts; can use telekinesis for large-scale perception; every time someone thinks of him, his Source Power becomes stronger, the more intense the emotions, the more this point.
Therefore, his total amount of Source Power is about to surpass Hong Wei and become the number one person below [Mediocre].
He is the world's number one artist, the strongest performer, the strongest singer, the number one star, and everyone in the world who is connected to the Internet knows him.
He has a professional weather controller, and is usually inseparable from his wife "Flora".
Currently, he is forming the publicity department of the Otherworld Management Bureau.
He values Qi Jing's potential very much and hopes that he can become a big star.
Inheritance: Spiritual Post Manufacturing Method.
[Come On], Male, Unknown Name.
Ability: "A Little Progress Every Day", a little progress is made randomly every day, but this "point" is very random.
However, the "points" in the first four days have all progressed in ability level, breaking the record for the fastest to become a Level 5 Ability User.
Ji Other-dimensional Gate - Saiyi Forest Garrison.
Inheritance: Persistence Treadmill.
[Rogue], Male, Unknown Name.
Ability: "Freedom", can avoid all things he doesn't want to do.
He performs tasks in other worlds all year round, and the number of times he returns to the ball is very few.
Inheritance: Return Talisman Manufacturing Method.
[Carefree Immortal], Male, Xiao Shiwu.
Ability: "Immortal", possesses various immortal methods, including but not limited to Body Transformation into Thousands, Great Imperial Sword Technique, Luck Technique, Harmony between Man and Nature, Deceiving the Heavens, Endless Sword Qi.
Once had a relationship with Hong Wei's daughter, Hong Xiaole, but broke up for unknown reasons.
Used the Luck Technique to remove the luck of all Level 5 Ability Users except [Rogue], and used Body Transformation into Thousands to spread them all over the country.
The main body is a street idler in Qingyun City, and almost no one knows his true identity.
Linked Qi Jing's national fortune, making his luck continuously increase.
Geng Other-dimensional Gate - Giant Beast Mountain Range Garrison.
Inheritance: Carefree Sword.
[Game King], Male, Unknown Name.
Ability: "Game".
Has the game account "Play Prince".
Temporarily serves as the Island Country Other-dimensional Gate Garrison.
Inheritance: Appraisal Chip Manufacturing Method.
[Unknown Title], Unknown Gender, Unknown Name.
Unknown Ability.
Yi Other-dimensional Gate - Sand Wall Wilderness Garrison.
Inheritance: Unknown.
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----- Domestic Other-dimensional Gates -----
Jia: Endless Prairie, Jia City, No. 1 Other-dimensional Gate, City: Lingxiao City
Yi: Sand Wall Wilderness, Yi City, No. 4 Other-dimensional Gate, City: Qiongxiao City
Bing: Deep Sea Islands, Bing City, No. 10 Other-dimensional Gate, City: Bixiao City
Ding: Cold Snow Ice Ridge, Ding City, No. 15 Other-dimensional Gate, City: Xuenuan City
Wu: Dark Abyss, Wu City, No. 19 Other-dimensional Gate, City: Guangming City
Ji: Saiyi Forest, Ji City, No. 23 Other-dimensional Gate, City: Senzhi City
Geng: Giant Beast Mountain Range, Geng City, No. 29 Other-dimensional Gate, City: Qingyun City
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(I really didn't intend to write it as a slice-of-life novel ~ ~ ~)