Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Most Terrifying Aspect

Following the last comment, there was a flood of replies.

Zhou Xiaozhou had also paid attention to this comment. Opening the comment section, she saw that it had garnered over 270,000 likes and more than 30,000 replies, clearly indicating a heated debate.

She vaguely remembered the gist of it.

A user named "Old Dream of a Wounded Past," judging by the tone, appeared to be a figure of considerable authority. According to him, the concept of the "close-combat gunslinger" had actually been proposed long ago.

The purpose was to address the difficulty gunslingers faced in advancing to higher ranks.

Since ranged combatants struggled to level up, why not stimulate progression through close-quarters fighting?

The answer was yes, it was possible.

And it did yield some results.

But ultimately, the concept of the "close-combat gunslinger" failed to gain traction.

The reason? The conditions were too stringent.

Moreover, it lacked practical applicability.

First, one must understand that ordinary human evolvers were vastly inferior to battlefield creatures of the same tier.

In terms of strength, speed, reflexes, and recovery, humans lagged far behind these creatures.

Close-combat specialists could stand toe-to-toe with battlefield creatures precisely because they integrated "gene combat skills" from the close-combat gene strains.

These gene combat skills significantly enhanced their power, speed, and endurance, allowing them to rival or even suppress battlefield creatures.

So, without integrating close-combat gene skills, relying solely on physical enhancements from evolution itself—was there a way to match battlefield creatures?

Certainly.

That way was to integrate high-grade "cultivation technique gene strains."

Cultivation techniques also had ranks; the higher the rank, the more powerful the cultivation gene strain, and the harder it was to obtain.

However, for the vast majority of ordinary people, the only cultivation techniques they had access to were the most basic ones.

High-grade cultivation techniques were not casually disseminated.

Don’t ask why… Any discussion must be grounded in reality, and reality is no utopia. Even at the upper echelons of the Alliance, political scheming abounds. Anyone who acquires powerful cultivation techniques first thinks about how to benefit themselves, not about selflessly sharing them with others.

Of course, even if someone wanted to share, it would be difficult, because the more potent the cultivation technique, the harder it is to transform it into a "gene strain."

Rumor has it that truly powerful cultivation techniques are all cultivation cores that require personal practice.

This is the first difficulty—the rarity of high-grade cultivation techniques.

Next, we come to the second difficulty.

Some argued, if cultivation techniques are excluded, gunslingers could still integrate a "close-combat gene strain" and fight up close...

This brings us to the second problem.

A gunslinger's primary mode of attack is ranged combat, and this is indisputable.

After all, no matter how strong a close-combat gunslinger is, can they surpass a true close-combat professional? A heavy-blade warrior? A berserker? Or a pugilist?

The answer is no.

A gunslinger's greatest strength lies in ultra-long-range attacks—an advantage that no close-combat class can match.

Whether on a one-star or two-star pseudo-battlefield, or in a true interstellar battlefield, even on planetary landing operations...

Ultra-long-range striking capability is an extremely precious and indispensable asset.

But to achieve such ultra-long-range prowess, gunslingers must integrate certain gun combat gene strains.

Such as super vision, extended perception, precision, and bullet construction—these auxiliary gene strains.

As well as offensive gun combat skills like "Blazing Fire," "Thunderstrike," and "Armor Piercing."

Only the combination of these forms a true gunslinger.

However, the number of gene strains an evolver can integrate is limited.

Some suggested, since gene strains are limited, why not forgo integrating gene strains altogether and directly cultivate the core that forms the gene strain?

This question is similar to that of cultivation techniques.

First, these cores are nearly impossible to access casually. Most people might never encounter even one core in their lifetime.

Moreover...

Even if one could access them, is cultivating these gun combat techniques really that easy?

There are countless advanced mathematics textbooks online. How many people become great mathematicians?

The cultivation methods of these cores are far more complex than simple arithmetic.

They require vast amounts of time to ponder and comprehend.

Even then, unless one reaches mastery, it is not as convenient or swift as utilizing gene strains.

In a reply, Old Dream of a Wounded Past once remarked:

“Most people believe gene strains exist primarily as a monopoly tool wielded by those in power to consolidate their position. Little do they realize that it is precisely because of gene strains that humanity has been able to withstand and retaliate against threats from mechanical species, insectoid species, and other cosmic races in recent years.”

“Gene strains make learning easier. They allow humanity to focus limited energy on combat rather than on tedious study.”

Some disputed this, but most, upon reflection, had to admit the logic held.

Gene strains only require integration to use, saving potentially years or even decades. They enable inherently frail humans to swiftly develop combat capability.

Therefore, having gunslingers integrate close-combat gene strains is putting the cart before the horse.

Gunslingers exist because ultra-long-range attack capability is needed.

Then, to help gunslingers advance better, they try to integrate close-combat gene strains?

Isn’t that a fundamental reversal?

Some suggested starting as close-combat fighters in early stages, then switching to gunslinger paths later...

But the question is, when exactly is "later"?

Silver rank? Gold rank?

Or post-Gold?

In reality, across the entire human Alliance, Gold rank evolvers are still in their infancy.

What next?

Gunslingers would still face the same advancement difficulties.

This approach, naturally, is meaningless.

At that time, someone proposed another idea: capture battlefield creatures and have gunslingers fight them with protection nearby, thereby stimulating gunslingers and easing their progression.

But the results were less than ideal.

Without close-combat gene strains, gunslingers' speed and strength paled in comparison to battlefield creatures.

Once a gunslinger was caught in close quarters, they were either dead or grievously wounded at the first encounter, forcing their protectors to intervene.

Initially, the adrenaline rush from fear and panic helped, but after repeated incidents, gunslingers realized they would be rescued at critical moments.

This subtle shift in mindset naturally affected them.

Consequently, the difficulty of advancement for that group of gunslingers did not significantly decrease.

In the end, the research was abandoned.

The "close-combat gunslinger" concept faded into historical obscurity, rarely mentioned.

Of course, some conclusions were drawn.

“Close-combat gunslinger is a false concept. The gunslinger in the video undoubtedly possesses formidable cultivation techniques. He was fighting five serrated hyenas simultaneously, likely trying to advance through close combat. Honestly, if he pursued close combat, he might be stronger than a gunslinger. You’re just amazed he can fight battlefield creatures as a gunslinger. But that only proves his cultivation techniques are powerful.”

“What truly astonished me was his combat awareness!”

“His combat awareness is terrifying. He seems to be constantly in danger, yet each time he evades attacks from nearly unimaginable angles… That is the most difficult and frightening aspect!”

“I don’t know about his talent as a gunslinger, but from this video, I can assert that he is a genius in close combat! There are few comparable individuals on Philo Star. If he specialized in close combat… his future would be immeasurable.”

Old Dream of a Wounded Past concluded with these words, his tone strikingly formidable.

Of course, few truly believed him.

After all, the internet is full of self-proclaimed experts. Who knows what is true?

Having read this far, Zhou Xiaozhou withdrew her gaze, then stared blankly at the ceiling.

“Pity that after searching the Thousand Ghost Wasteland for an entire month, I found no trace of the master. I fear he has already left… Sigh, I wonder if I’ll ever encounter him again…”

She lay in the bathtub, her fingers idly fidgeting as she drifted into a daze.