1.22 This is a shapeshifting weapon.

The car window lowered silently, and a drone delivered the Beretta shotgun into the power armor bay. As the female armored warrior, lying supine in the cockpit, reached out to grasp the weapon, the power armor she wore sensed her movement. Nanite filaments coiled around her arm guards and quickly swirled around the shotgun.

The filaments wove through the air, and the transformation was visible to the naked eye. The wooden stock, the precision steel barrel, and the entire frame of the gun accelerated through a cycle of vanishing and rapid reconstruction. The nanite swarm from New Hong Kong was modifying the Beretta at the molecular level, even fundamentally altering its firing mechanism by upgrading the gunpowder ignition to an electromagnetic system.

Wu Chen suddenly recalled that this Beretta came from the same derivative plot fragment and was Lin Baiyu’s signature weapon. In other words, upgrading the signature weapons of plot characters was an excellent strategy. The AI described the rules behind this modification using a newly retrieved term: "Plot Symbiont."

"Very fitting," Wu Chen nodded with satisfaction.

As the final modifications were completed, the nanite swarm returned to the hive. A Gauss vertical over-under shotgun now appeared before him. The new design closely resembled the latest Beretta DT11 Black PRO competition shotgun. Crafted entirely from superalloys, the upper and lower barrels could spread apart to transform into a Gauss concurrent crossbow.

It was, in fact, a metamorphic weapon, capable of freely switching between a double-barreled shotgun and a concurrent crossbow. Wu Chen, however, did not quite understand the purpose of the crossbow. Since both were Gauss weapons, there was no essential difference between the shotgun and the crossbow.

The AI clarified the reason: "Crossbow Marksmanship is one of Lin Baiyu's specialized skills. The shotgun is for close-range kills, while the crossbow is for long-range sniping."

"I see." Wu Chen understood. The shotgun was for crowd control, while the crossbow bolts were for precise, single-target elimination.

"Master, can we replicate the power armor bay from the AE86 in the tablet base?" the AI asked.

"Is it possible?" Wu Chen would certainly welcome the ability to replicate the high-tech units of the AE86 within his tablet base.

"Although the core unit of the power armor cannot be replicated with the base's current technology, replicating the power armor bay itself is perfectly feasible," the AI replied, having already completed the digital simulation.

"Very well," Wu Chen thought for a moment. "Replicate the power armor bay in the garage on the first floor of the main board."

"Understood." AI A.I. manipulated the drone group, which immediately sprang into action. "Master? Please check Lin Baiyu's Shelter Card in the phone booth."

"Right." Casting a glance at the female armored warrior currently undergoing final system integration within the bay, Wu Chen gently opened the passenger door and stepped into the phone booth alone.

The card pasted on the glass wall remained unchanged. "Do I need to re-read the card?"

Wu Chen removed the card and tried inserting it into the reader. The card-reading sound played as expected. The machine swallowed the card, and Lin Baiyu's Shelter Card appeared on the interactive screen.

The rating had upgraded from "2.5-Star Femme Fatale" to "3-Star Power Armor Warrior." Wu Chen understood immediately. The three movie stills did not necessarily represent three stars; rather, they represented two levels: two-and-a-half stars and three stars.

After entering the Broken Traveler Camp, Wu Chen’s understanding of "Shelter Coins" and "Shelter Cards" had deepened. "Shelter Coins" were actually "Plot Points," while "Shelter Cards" were "Memory Units." The purpose of "reading the card" was to update the guardian's memory and archive it alongside their exclusive shelter. As long as Lin Baiyu did not perish alongside Wu Chen during the Purge Day, she could be "reloaded" and revived at full health after the event.

The significance of this setting was, in fact, to continue the player-versus-player combat from the "Feng Yun Card Club." Compared to post-battle healing, the convenience of reloading was self-evident—revival to full health in mere minutes.

Therefore, Wu Chen's task in the Broken City was simple: earn Shelter Coins, purchase Shelter Cards, build an exclusive deck, participate in player combat, and strive to reach the pinnacle of the "Spiral Zone." Only then could he upgrade his 0326 exclusive branch plot line into the sci-fi main plot of the Broken City, or even the main plot of the four-spiral system. He needed to activate the Reaper's Rules, return to the Shelter, and complete the path of redemption for a VIP player. He had to find Chun-Li and the others, who were scattered in fragments throughout the Shelter.

Specifically, there were three things to do: update the exclusive shelter, archive the exclusive Shelter Card, and renew the record for Purge Day.

The situation suddenly seemed simple.

After re-sticking the 3-Star Power Armor Warrior card, Wu Chen returned to the AE86.

"Master." The voice sounded right beside his ear; the newly promoted three-star female warrior pushed the door open and stepped out.

The streamlined power armor possessed a unique style, a deep fusion of New Hong Kong and Cybertronian technology. With its high-level AI, highly integrated systems, and high-speed information transmission, the hidden "black technology" was enough to elevate the base's entire technological trajectory.

"Please name the power armor," the base AI requested for the newly programmed control system.

"Femme Fatale." Wu Chen clearly chose the name with intent.

"Understood." The base AI created the 'Femme Fatale Type I Power Armor' database. Lin Baiyu, the subject involved, had no objections—after all, it was just a model designation. Moreover, in the Broken City, such trivial matters were not worth worrying about.

"Next is simulated combat training," the AI said. "Once all training modules are complete, Lin Baiyu will be able to accompany you on adventures."

"Very good." Wu Chen accepted this happily. That was the magic of technology: an ordinary, fragile woman could don power armor, carry Gauss weaponry, and transform into a futuristic warrior. It was truly miraculous.

It was a pity, however, that the AI had already confirmed that the current technology in the tablet base could not fully decipher the many tech units brought over by the AE86's second gear. Thus, the Femme Fatale Type I Power Armor was one of a kind. It was a shame it could not be mass-produced.

Of course, Wu Chen only had two Shelter Cards. Finding a way to arm Kotal Vetriss did not seem like a difficult task.

As for the cost, it was merely an increase from one Mocha set to two. Maintaining the tablet base still cost 1 coin per day. That was fine.

Of course, sitting idly and eating away at one's reserves was not an option.

Before the Tidal Alien Aquarium could even be fully repaired, the drone had already delivered the 1-star card of 0427 Ren Shifei: Nine-Chrysanthemum Sect Yin-Yang Spirit Master.

Wu Chen contacted the female player: "An Yin-Yang Master from a 'quasi-realistic plot fragment,' right?"

"Yes." After receiving the card, the female player had not read or activated it due to a conflict in compatibility, and she only had a vague understanding of the true nature of this spirit master.

"Looks alright," Wu Chen smiled.

"Are you willing to accept the commission?" the female player asked, filled with anticipation.

"No problem." Having just acquired a three-star armored warrior, Wu Chen was full of confidence.

"Great." The female player breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she could obtain that fragment scattered in the fantasy spiral, she could complete her exclusive shelter. A full recovery of her strength was within reach. The importance of this commission was clear.

Once it was confirmed that Wu Chen had accepted the commission, the Broken Traveler Camp council agreed to the female player's request and paid the 1-star card to Wu Chen in advance.

"Master?" Seeing Wu Chen lost in thought while holding the card, the AI spoke up.

"A.I., can a fantasy-style Yin-Yang Master be converted into a power armor warrior?" This was Wu Chen's primary concern.

"Yes." The AI's scientific calculation was convincing. "Even an ordinary person can easily operate power armor. Furthermore, when you read the card, it is highly likely that an 'affinity conversion' process will be triggered."

Wu Chen pressed further: "You mean reading the card can change the affinity? Convert fantasy into sci-fi?"

The AI added: "Even if it cannot be converted to sci-fi, it will clear the original fantasy attributes, unless the plot character is compatible with both systems."

"A stat wipe," Wu Chen understood.

What was there to wait for? Wu Chen immediately took the 1-star card and walked into the phone booth.