According to the information currently provided by the System, the rarity levels of equipment items in the Slaughter Game, from lowest to highest, were as follows:
Broken, Common, Rare, Excellent, Perfect, and Epic.
The System had not provided an answer as to whether higher levels of equipment items existed.
Of course, this rarity level was just a reference used to categorize the "unique attributes" of the equipment; ordinary plain equipment was not necessarily worse than excellent quality items.
For instance, a player once found an 800 mm Gustav railway cannon from the World War II era on the shopping mall's shelves. In battle configuration, the entire cannon was 53 meters long, 12 meters high, and weighed 1,488 tons. It had a range of up to 60 kilometers, and its 7.1-ton armor-piercing projectile could penetrate 10 meters of concrete fortification with a single shot.
Such a railway cannon possessed more power than a whole slew of Rare and Excellent equipment items, but it was only considered "Common" quality on the System's shopping mall shelves.
Its price, however, was very high.
So far, the highest-level equipment revealed on the forums was only Perfect-level: a sheath that, despite having no offensive power, could restore the user's physical condition.
Most Lone Wolf players who ventured alone rarely actively triggered regular or script tasks. Even if they did, their completion evaluations usually stayed within the C+ to B+ range. Consequently, they earned far fewer Experience Points and Game Coins than Li Ang. They barely had a few Common-level pieces of equipment, let alone a full set of Rare gear.
Even large organizations established by national entities or transnational conglomerates were limited. Due to the current lack of player manpower and high-end combat power, it was difficult for them to grind for or purchase Excellent or Perfect-level equipment items.
After all, this was an era where such items, though on the market, often had no set price due to their rarity.
Li Ang, who possessed nearly 5,000 Game Currency, spotted a piece of equipment on the shopping mall shelves that met his current needs and bought it without hesitation.
[Name: Phase Boots]
[Type: Armor]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Special Effect: Phase Sprint. Increases movement speed for 10 seconds, allowing you to traverse terrain and units. Most kinetic damage is ignored during the sprint. The solidity of the boots' soles is determined by the user during the sprint.]
[Consumption: 10% total Spirit Power Value]
[Cooldown Time: 5 minutes]
[Equipment Condition: Agility Attribute ≥ 8, Perception Attribute ≥ 8]
[Note: A notorious legendary thief often used this equipment to climb walls and enter houses. Once, after stealing from the Duke's mansion, he slipped and fell into a wall just as the Phase Sprint ended, concluding his less-than-glorious life.]
This Excellent-grade piece of equipment cost Li Ang a full 2,000 Game Coins, but considering its effects, it was well worth the price.
Lower-level players still couldn't ignore the impact of modern light and heavy weaponry. A single large-caliber bullet in the right spot could end a life. Even Li Ang, if facing a machine gun array in an open area, would likely only be able to beat a hasty retreat.
With these Phase Boots, he at least wouldn't have to worry about being gunned down by modern light weapons. Furthermore, when facing supernatural events, escaping through walls would be somewhat quicker.
After confirming the purchase, Li Ang selected a treasure chest from his inventory and retrieved a pair of grayish-black leather boots.
In his living room, he immediately took off his shoes, put on the Phase Boots, and after taking a few steps, found them quite comfortable.
Under Chai Cuiqiao's watchful gaze, he activated the [Phase Sprint] Special Effect. His entire body turned into a shadow, and his hand slid easily through the wooden table.
Li Ang silently counted down seven seconds, took a deep breath, and charged headfirst into a concrete wall, passing through it effortlessly.
According to the System's notes, these Phase Boots could also modify the solidity of their soles.
If Li Ang wished, he could reduce the solidity of the soles to zero during the Special Effect's activation, allowing gravity to pull him down to the floor below.
The only thing to be mindful of was not to remain in contact with any object denser than air when the Special Effect ended. Otherwise, he would end up like the legendary thief mentioned in the notes, his body embedded in the wall, flesh and bricks fused together. Lоvе this stоry? Shоw yоur suppоrt оn
Hmm, for passing through walls and entering homes, they truly were an essential item for the proverbial "Neighbor Wang."
As Li Ang was examining his new acquisition, a message popped up in his friends list.
Mule: Hello.
An Information Broker?
Li Ang's eyebrows rose slightly. What could this information peddler want with him?
Li Rising: What's up?
Mule: Are you still in Yin City? I have a commission on hand and was wondering if you'd be interested.
Li Ang frowned and typed, "Let's hear it."
Mule: Here's the deal. The owner of a small construction company has been encountering some strange occurrences in his home village recently. He contacted me to see if I could help find someone to resolve the issue. The compensation is around five hundred thousand, and I'll take a 10% brokerage fee.
To an average person, five hundred thousand might seem like a substantial sum, but for a veteran player like Li Ang, it was mere pocket change, easily recouped by selling some Game Currency.
As an Information Broker, Mule wouldn't have bothered Li Ang for a mere five hundred thousand reward. What truly held allure for players in this commission were the so-called "strange occurrences"—the scent of a quest.
Being a player himself, Mule naturally treated Li Ang—also a player—differently from the client. He swiftly divulged all the information he had on the construction company owner to reassure Li Ang.
The client, Lu Maodian, was born in Dusheng Village, a remote mountain hamlet. He had come to the city to work at an early age. Relying on his intelligence, physical strength, and eloquence, he became a Foreman and eventually started his own construction company, amassing a modest fortune.
Having achieved success, Lu Maodian naturally wanted to give back to his hometown. He invested in the village, building new roads and houses, which made his father, Lu Gui, the village chief, very proud.
However, seven months ago, strange events began to occur in Dusheng Village.
A drunk villager, while walking at night, fell into a shallow, ankle-deep ditch and drowned, a ghastly smile on his face.
Several days later, another villager slipped while cooking at home, falling toward the stove. His face was seared by boiling oil. He struggled for several days but ultimately died. At the time of his death, his swollen, blistered, and festering face also bore a hideous smile.
The hearts of the villagers were filled with terror.
Half a month later, a villager, thirsty in the night, inexplicably drank a whole bucket of soy sauce, suffered from acute hypernatremia, and died of cardiac arrest.
Two days later, the only rural teacher in the village also died of an illness.
Lu Maodian, the construction company owner who was in the city, hastily invited a highly respected Mage to Dusheng Village to perform a ritual. After this, the frequent deaths finally ceased.
However, ten days ago, people in Dusheng Village started dying again. When Lu Maodian went looking for that same Mage, he was informed that the Mage had already gone abroad.
Out of desperation, the somewhat wealthy Lu Maodian, through his friends' connections, reached out to the Information Broker, who was reputed to have "extensive connections."