Apocalypse: System of lotteries



Ming was in no hurry to continue onward. Instead, he sat in the store and cooked some instant noodles, setting up a stove to eat. This wasn't idle loafing but waiting for the tent's cooldown to finish. 

Though unreliable at times, it remained his greatest reliance. There were also other important matters, like sorting through the talents and skills dropped by the Titan Spirit and Three-Eyed Freak - studying and utilizing them, feeding his war machine, as it were.

Titan Spirit's talent: 

[Divine Talent: Tireless Stamina - As a gym owner, he used to be a protein-chugging coach... Triple physique increases all physical defenses.]

Ming learned it without hesitation. The road ahead was long; the stronger he became, the greater his chances of victory. Next were the talents and skills peeled off the Three-Eyed Freak. Aside from duplicates like Godly Vision, Defense Break, Negate Debuffs, etc, there remained:

[Divine Skill: Dharma Realm] 

[Super Skill: Ascend and Descend, Blink - short range accurate instant movement, costs 500 spirits, 500 stamina, 500 energy each blink, 3-minute cooldown.]

[Divine Talent: My Body Excellent - Addicted to women, yet his body never collapsed, +15% physique and strength.]

"Not bad~" 

Ming learned them all. Though the voyeur's morals were questionable, his abilities were great. No wonder he could fight Raoul and the rest with no weapons or gear.

Of course, skills and talents had no innate morality. In the hands of someone upright, they became upright as well. With learning complete, he moved on to strengthening his weaponry and equipment.

[Triple Spear] + [Divine Staff] + [Twin Divine Spears] = [Giant Divine Staff]

"..." 

The noodles Ming was eating sprayed out... Though he'd imagined countless possibilities for the fusion name, he never expected something so...plain and simple.

[Your Foodie sees you waste food and is outraged - how could you be so wasteful? If Henry were here, he would lick it clean~] 

[Your Napoleon eyes Ao Tian squatting by the entrance, bumping Foodie - there's a dog here too~ Foodie pats Napoleon - don't insult dogs, they don't have despicable ilk like him~]

"Giant Divine Staff..."

Ming admired the shiny, divine staff. He understood that the triple spear and twin divine spears were all polearms, and they remained a polearm called Giant Divine Staff, it seemed apt. Most notably, despite being a bludgeon, it radiated sharp edges, which was interesting. The fusion of three divine weapons caused explosive stat gains.

[Giant Divine Staff]

[Physique +1000]

[Strength +1400] 

[Agility +1100]

[Spirit +300] 

[...]

Just spirit lagging behind.

"Good~"

Ming got up and swung the long staff, stirring gusts of wind. Next, equipment fusion:

[Three-Eyed Freak's Equipment] + [Titan Spirit's Equipment] + [Ming's Equipment] = [Ming's Equipment]

Ming donned the new outfit and stood up. 

[Your Foodie stares at you - can't you dress lower key? Anyone who sees you in this flashy golden getup will want to rob you; too rich-looking~]

[Your Napoleon eyes you decked out in chunky gold chains and rings, leather jacket with gold studs, jeans with metallic embeds, gem-studded belt, metal scale gloves, gold-tipped boots - the epitome of a rocker punk~] 

[Your da Vinci thinks you just need a goatee, all Clos' fault for grooming Ming so clean-shaven~]

[Your Merlin perched on your shoulder says - Ming, you're already plenty handsome; leave some chances for others~]

"Let's go~"

Ming shifted the Giant Divine Staff into a giant ring on his right index finger. He left the store, tent cooled down, and continued onward. Kubo drove along, bobbing his head to the music. 

Ming noticed it seemed much smarter after the 'god blood.' Had it evolved? Ming checked:

[Ming's Puppet Kubo]

[Skills: Mad Overtake - launch to drive super fast, can pass anyone...] 

[Skill: Super Braking - slam them brakes...]

[Talent: Obeys Traffic Rules] 

[Talent: Awesome Driver, zooms in tiny cars~]

[Divine Talent: See Through the Mortal Veil]

[Divine Talent: Favored by the Heavens - always survives desperate straits~] 

[Divine Talent: Utterly loyal to Ming, will only recognize Ming this life~]

[...]

[Weakness: Hard for him to commit suicide~]

"..." Who knew Kubo would finally gain a 'Luck' talent after Ming's influence?

Excellent!

Just then, Kubo slammed the brakes, and Ming smashed into the front seat... Super braking, indeed, stops on a dime.

[Your frogs fly forward, plastering the windshield. Foodie looks at Kubo - you know how much it hurts for a weak little frog to slam into glass unprepared?]

[Your Napoleon flattened on the glass, pained - Foodie, you bump...me~] 

[Kubo looks at you - Boss~ remember to buckle up next time~]

"No worries, I don't blame you~" 

Ming rewarded Kubo with a slap, then looked out the windshield. Ahead were mounds of junked cars, containers, construction debris, and more, forming small hills. 

Flames burned at the foot of each mound, around which punks sat or stood swigging bottles and grilling meat. The men were brawny and crude, the women foul-mouthed. 

Ming randomly inspected one:

[Heavenly Soldier No. 001932]

[Rank: 3-Star King] 

[...]

[Weakness: One punch each~]

"No names at all?" Ming's lips quirked. Cannon fodder didn't warrant remembering, just gone like dust once dead - no, at least dust was called dust...

Now, three points were clear:

First, the heavenly soldiers were 'normal' people.

Second, his number 001932 showed their alleged 100,000 troops might be real, though not that many were present - 1,800 at most.

"Kubo, drive on," he directed.

[Kubo looks at you - Boss, buckle up...]

"Oh~" Obediently, Ming leaned back and pulled the belt across; only then did the car start up and roll forward into the junk hills. The punks eyed them, gazes provocative and mocking... Just then, a burly brute crossed his arms, blocking their way. 

[Kubo looks at you in the rearview - Boss, want me to ram him?]

"No." Ming patted Kubo's shoulder. "We're civilized; let's chat nicely~"

Kubo stuck his head out the window and roared, "Grrr! Grr grrr grrr!"

[Your foodie wonders, Kubo only makes 'grrr' sounds, what's he grrr-ing now?]

[Your Napoleon explains - simple zombie-speak, translates to 'Bro, please move aside, thanks~'] 

[Foodie understands Kubo is a true civilization exemplar~]

"A zombie?" The burly man glared angrily. "Everyone out of the car!"

Kubo opened his mouth. "Grrr~ Grr grrrr grrrr~"

[Foodie looks to Napoleon - come, translate, please~]

[Your Napoleon translates: Motherfucker, move or I'll ram you, believe it or not?]

"~~" Ming shook his head. "Kubo, so unfriendly~"

Raoul descended from above, six blades spinning and hacking the brute into pieces...