Chapter 361 Ch. 361 - Rusted Steel

The outskirts of the Sea of Miracles.

A colossal vessel was slowly advancing under the pull of dozens of smaller boats, traveling at a speed of approximately 15 knots.

If any player saw this scene, they would recognize the ship immediately. It was none other than the Iron Heart.

It was just that its current condition was somewhat miserable.

Apart from the conspicuously thick gun barrel at the bow, most of the hull was covered by a layer of light-blue plastic sheeting, practically wrapping the entire Iron Heart.

If one looked closely, one would also notice that the gun barrel was covered in rust, looking as though it had not been maintained for decades and had been severely corroded by seawater.

As for the blue plastic sheeting, it was actually a rare ship equipment item. Its function was similar to the Twilight Veil, allowing it to block detection.

However, since it was not actual invisibility, once other ships came close enough, they could still observe the Iron Heart with their naked eyes or through telescopes.

But right now, this ship's equipment was being used as an isolation membrane, because a terrifying plague had broken out aboard the Iron Heart.

............

Inside the bridge.

“Cough! Cough! Ptooey!”

Yu Dawei coughed dryly several times. Only after spitting out a rusty screw covered in engine oil from his mouth did he finally stop.

He picked up the barrel of engine oil beside him and, gulp~ gulp~ gulp~, directly drank it all in one go. Then he burped and began checking his status.

Yu Dawei (Transcendent)

Transcendent Path: Mechanization 【37%】

【Mechanization: Parts of the body are transformed into machinery, replacing the original organs and tissues and performing their functions. However, the functions may undergo changes, and attributes and abilities differ significantly between individuals. Grants the ability — Mechanical Body (Moderate)】

Status: Rust Disease 【Moderate】 『A large human-shaped icon, yellow』, Height: 174 cm, Weight: 342 KG

【Rust Disease: A type of plague, a subspecies of Death Plague.

After infection, the body's bones, organs, muscles, and skin will gradually transform into mechanical components and rapidly rust. It can be transmitted to nearby living creatures with physical bodies or to metals. The higher the grade of the metal, the more difficult it is to rust.

Currently at the moderate stage. Causes moderate mechanization, occasional decreases in sanity, impaired movement, Constitution -2, Agility -3, Perception -1.

Consuming engine oil can alleviate the symptoms and temporarily restore Agility. High Spirit attributes provide resistance.】

Note: Death Plague is a special type of plague that cannot be cured through normal means. Patients will not die and will live forever in suffering. Subspecies of Death Plague are variants of Death Plague, and patients have great difficulty dying.

Strength: (8) 12 (3149/16000)

Spirit: (8) 6 (9202/16000)

Agility: (7) 5 (429/8000)

Constitution: (8) 10 (792/16000)

Perception: (9) 10 (6819/32000)

【PS: The numbers in parentheses are the base attributes.】

Sanity: 83/100

Energy: -/-

Vitality: 100/100

Mana: 4/4

Talents: Eagle Eye, Artillery Faith

Spells: None

Abilities: Mechanical Body

【Mechanical Body (Moderate): Immune to most diseases, no longer requires food, reduced sense of pain, Strength +4, Agility +1, Constitution +4, Spirit -2.

Infinite Energy, Mana Capacity -50%, emotional fluctuations are diminished, and high Spirit attributes provide resistance.

Can consume engine oil, gasoline, metal, coal, magic stones, and other substances. The mechanical body requires regular maintenance and cannot regenerate or repair itself. It needs to regularly consume coal, gasoline, magic stones, and other substances for energy; otherwise, it will shut down.】

“Mechanization has deepened by another 1%...” Yu Dawei muttered to himself.

Nearly half of his body had now been transformed into machinery, including his left eye, left side of his brain, some of his internal organs, his left hand, and half of his left leg.

“Zhang Zhi!” Yu Dawei called out. His voice also sounded like rusted metal scraping against metal, making one feel uncomfortable from the bottom of their heart.

“Here!” Zhang Zhi quickly responded and walked over, still wearing that iconic pair of glasses.

His body had also undergone mechanization, but it was not as severe as Yu Dawei's. His two ears had simply disappeared, replaced by two relatively thick antennas. Red light glowed from their tips, and they were likewise covered in rust.

“How are those several critically ill patients in the ship's cabins?” Yu Dawei asked.

“They have completely lost the ability to communicate through language, have difficulty moving, and are extremely hostile toward any non-mechanical beings that approach them,” Zhang Zhi replied.

Yu Dawei's brows furrowed tightly. The fatigue was plainly visible on the only half of his face that remained human.

“Commander, I think these few people have already lost their value. We might as well scrap them. They can still be used for the gacha.”

As his adjutant, Zhang Zhi made the suggestion, but Yu Dawei paid him no attention. Instead, he silently extended his left hand. His mechanized index finger opened, and a cigar popped out from inside.

He first smelled the cigar, then used a cannon muzzle that could open and close in his palm to cut off the cigar cap before inserting it into the temple on the left side of his brain.

Electric sparks flew in all directions, and the cigar was instantly lit.

Yu Dawei took a deep drag. Only after several seconds did he exhale, then he asked another question.

“How is the infection situation among the other members?”

Zhang Zhi did not answer immediately. The red lights on the two antennas atop his head flickered, as though he were communicating and exchanging information. Only afterward did he reply.

“Three more people have fallen ill.”

“What about the protective suits and bird-beak masks?”

“They're all in place, but...”

Zhang Zhi did not finish his sentence, but Yu Dawei already understood what he meant.

That meant that all the members had very likely been infected. It was simply that they were currently in the incubation period, and many of them had not yet developed symptoms.

Moreover, these isolation and protective measures might not be effective.

The bridge fell silent for several minutes, until Yu Dawei finished his cigar and issued a new order.

“Pass on my orders. Sink the Iron Heart, then place all the critically ill patients aboard another wooden ship. After that, head for the Sea of No Light at full speed!”

“What?”

Zhang Zhi was so shocked that his mouth fell open, revealing the metal teeth inside.

“Don't make me say it a second time. This broken ship is severely rusted and has lost its power. If we continue like this, it'll only slow us down!” Yu Dawei said decisively.

“Yes!”

Zhang Zhi quickly straightened his expression and turned around to make the arrangements.

Only Yu Dawei remained alone on the bridge.

He wanted to smoke another cigar, but restrained himself. His mind was filled with scenes from a month ago.

Just as the player community had been saying, the Iron Brotherhood had followed the clues and wiped out the headquarters of a pirate group, seizing a huge amount of supplies and provisions—enough, in fact, to upgrade the Iron Heart to Level Five.

But adventure always came with all kinds of unexpected accidents.

While counting their spoils, they discovered a huge metal safe. No one knew how long it had been there. It was already severely rusted, and the outside was wrapped in a layer of special leather-like material. Parts of it had already been damaged, revealing a pattern that Yang Yi had once seen inside the Holy Chest.

(A handsome man wrapped in a robe, his eyes covered with cloth, with his left hand hidden inside his robe.)

Yu Dawei put in considerable effort and led the members of his group in using artillery to blast open the safe, releasing the rusted robot locked inside.

At the same time, the system notified them that they had discovered a clue regarding Steam Island. The two sides then engaged in a fierce battle.

After suffering 20% casualties, the Iron Brotherhood finally managed to win with great difficulty. They blasted the rusted robot until only half of its head remained and obtained a crucial clue about Steam Island by reading the information left inside the robot's brain.

This robot had actually once been a player.

【.....There is only one way to cure the Death Plague, and that is to eliminate the source of infection?

How is that possible? What kind of disease in this world works like that?

You really think I wasted all those years studying medicine?

Go to hell!

Bang! (Gunshot)

What a useless quack. He doesn't know what he's talking about. There's no way I'm going to die!

I need to hurry and find another doctor. There must definitely be another way...】

The moment Yu Dawei picked up this mechanical head, he fell ill. His left hand underwent mechanization, and at the same time, he obtained this information through the connection of cables.

Moreover, after becoming infected, he inexplicably developed a feeling that there was something in a particular direction that seemed to be resonating with him.

That might be the source of the Rust Disease.