3: Chapter 3: The Essence of Life!!! The Lone Hunter

[Remaining Lifespan: 71 hours 59 minutes 57 seconds.]

[Remaining Lifespan: 71 hours 59 minutes 56 seconds.]

...

As the remaining time slipped away second by second, Li Yuan, lying helplessly in the ruins, could only laugh at himself in resignation.

Working overtime was one thing, but dying suddenly from it!

Sudden death was one thing, but being reincarnated!!

Reincarnation was one thing, but the Zerg have invaded!!!

The Zerg were one thing, but having an F-grade talent!!!!!

An F-grade was one thing, but then a system appeared!!!!!

...

After all that, it turns out I only have 3 days of life left! Are you kidding me? This is just bullying an honest man! Is a corporate slave just meant to be toyed with!

Wait a minute, the system!!!

"System, are you there? Can we talk?"

Li Yuan called out silently in his mind. As a programmer from the 21st century who had read countless web novels, he knew the tropes of systems in novels these days. Those rigid systems that only provided basic services were long out of style. If you didn't have an intelligent customer service agent, you'd be embarrassed to call yourself a system. Big sisters, tsunderes, cute girls—they had everything.

It was just that those seemingly omnipotent golden fingers that lead you to the peak of life might actually be a guide program disguised by some ultimate hidden boss.

Sure enough... after a brief silence.

"Hello, host. Light Redeemer Guide Customer Service, er... Number 1518, at your service."

A voice rang out in his mind, completely different from the cold, emotionless mechanical voice from when he first awakened.

The voice was sweet, carrying a hint of just the right amount of enthusiasm and respect, like a professional customer service agent from a top-tier corporation, yet it felt more lively than those rigid professional voices.

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, this system was 'intelligent'...

He was on guard; countless web novel stories were etched into his bones...

But regardless, this system had arrived at his most desperate moment, and... it had indeed saved him.

"Hello, System. Please tell me, what's with this remaining three-day lifespan? I feel like... my body isn't in such bad shape anymore?" As time passed, his body seemed to have recovered.

However, that remaining seventy-two-hour lifespan hung over his head like the Sword of Damocles, forcing him to figure out the situation immediately.

"Hello, host. Your lifespan is reference data calculated based on your current life origin. If no accidents occur, you will exhaust your life energy and enter a state of death in approximately 71 hours."

The sweet female voice explained in a clear and professional tone, "This system does not have a built-in energy source. All services, including the activation and maintenance of experience cards, are powered by the host. This time, 'Class Experience Card: Dual SSS-Class Class Final Mode' was activated. Due to the host's severe lack of energy reserves, energy compensation mode was enabled to complete the energy payment." The system customer service continued: "To protect the host's rights, all remaining energy from this experience has been recovered and applied as an energy discount. The remaining deficit has been settled using the host's life essence."

Li Yuan's heart sank. As expected, there was no such thing as a free lunch. The price for that god-like power was burning his life.

"So, I paid with my life in exchange for that one strike? And now I'm going to die?" Li Yuan's heart sank. Indeed, there was no such thing as a free lunch.

"To be precise, you paid with your life essence in exchange for the chance to survive." Customer Service 1518's voice remained sweet. "After the settlement was completed this time, the system removed all of the host's negative statuses. At the same time, the class binding for 'Lord of Light' and 'String-Controlling Weaver' has been completed."

"Congratulations, host, you have become a Transcendent!" the system praised in a routine manner.

A Transcendent with only three days to live? Li Yuan smiled helplessly. Oh no, it was [71:52:17]. Li Yuan subconsciously glanced at the translucent countdown in the corner of his vision; the seconds were still ticking down.

"Is there a way to replenish this... life essence?" As a young man heavily influenced by 21st-century novels, he felt things wouldn't be that simple.

"life essence can be replenished through energy conversion, including light energy, electrical energy, nuclear energy, etc., as well as life essence itself," the system replied. "But please note, this system is a pure version and does not provide energy conversion or reception services. The host must acquire and receive energy sources on their own."

Li Yuan's mouth twitched. Acquire and receive light and electrical energy himself? Even nuclear energy? In his current state, where was he supposed to find a nuclear power plant? Besides, the conversion efficiency was unknown and there were risks. This was clearly telling him that the only reliable path at the moment was to 'devour life essence'.

"life essence... what is it? Where can I find it? How do I devour it?" he pressed.

"Every living organism contains life essence; its purity and total amount vary based on the life form and its strength. The system provides a life essence guidance map."

In an instant, his vision changed.

Overlaid on the actual scene of the ruins was a translucent, light blue holographic map. The map was centered on him and clearly marked the surrounding terrain. On this map, there were dense clusters of light dots.

Li Yuan struggled to prop up his upper body and crawled out from the ruins. Looking around, the battlefield was a field of wreckage.

The surviving Zerg had lost the orderly, frenzied aggression they had shown before, which was like a rising tide. They were like a panicked flock of sheep that had lost its leader, driven by instinct to feast on the corpses of their own kind or simply wander around aimlessly.

Living organisms? Do these Zerg count?

Directly ahead of him, about two hundred meters away behind a half-collapsed barricade, there was an isolated pale green light dot moving slowly. That was the nearest life essence.

He tried to stand up and, moving cautiously, began to shuffle toward that isolated pale green dot on the map.

He picked up a pulse rifle nearby whose energy indicator was nearly empty, and pried an alloy short blade from the hand of a dead soldier. Passing through the charred remains of an armored vehicle, he drew closer to the barricade bit by bit.

Finally, he silently reached the edge of the barricade and carefully peeked his head out.

Indeed, a Zerg!!!

A Drone... the most basic non-combat unit of the Zerg.

It was about half a person tall, covered in a dark brown chitinous shell. Its hideous giant mandibles opened and closed, dripping corrosive saliva and making a 'hissing' sound.

He took a deep breath. As a programmer who grew up in an era of peace, taking the initiative to fight these bugs seemed unreliable.

The rifle could only be used for bluffing. With his physical condition, the short blade would just be like delivering a snack.

"Hello, host. It has been detected that you are about to engage in your first battle. The system will now provide you with class newbie guidance."

Sure enough, intelligent guidance systems were the mainstream these days.

"Silently say 'Class Panel' to call up the Lord of Light and String-Controlling Weaver class panels."

"Class Panel." Li Yuan was primarily being obedient.

Two translucent energy screens appeared out of thin air.

"Class skills support automatic release via thought. Lord of Light is a powerful summoning class; in its initial state, it can summon a Light Guardian." The system continued its guidance: "The Light Guardian is a light energy construct, a melee fighter, and a powerful tank warrior with no fatal weaknesses. Summoning costs 2 energy points. Various modes such as True Qi, internal strength, or energy engines can be used for built-in energy payment, and compensatory payment is supported."

"String-Controlling Weaver is a powerful long-range DPS class. Its class characteristic allows for weaving up to 3 spells or law strikes into a single normal shot or arrow skill attack." The system continued: "Currently, 1st-tier elemental strike spells and 1st-tier elemental enchantment spells can be attached. An attack costs 1 energy point. When there is no physical arrow to act as a carrier, energy arrows can be used as a load, increasing the energy cost by an additional 1 point."

"The host currently has 4.1 energy. Do you require skill release guidance?" the system prompted.

"Yes." Li Yuan, who had transmigrated, had never even touched a bow and arrow before. How would he know how to release skills? Since the system offered a guidance service, it would surely be better than trying to use them himself.

As the confirmation was completed, Li Yuan suddenly felt a flash of inspiration. After the thought of summoning a Light Guardian flashed through his mind, countless light spots appeared, converging beside Li Yuan into a warrior composed of light, equipped with a one-handed sword, a shield, and a full heavy helmet.

[Remaining Energy: 2.1]

With a flash of the intent to attack, the Light Guardian rushed forward and began fighting with the Drone. The Drone actually used venom for long-range attacks. Li Yuan felt lucky he hadn't rushed in, or he probably would have been dissolved into a pool of corpse water.

The Light Guardian was indeed tanky; the Drone's attacks were like itching to him. Conversely, the Light Guardian's attacks hitting the Drone's skin also didn't seem to elicit much of a reaction.

Next, Li Yuan's arm rose automatically, and an energy bow and arrow appeared in his hand.

[Song of Battle - Normal Shot]!

[Elemental Resonance: Fire Element Enchantment]!

[Elemental Resonance - Fire Rocket]!

[Elemental Resonance - Wind Blade]!

An energy arrow shot out!