If you only use sensors, although you can see the same scene and appear in the same place, the user only gets a single visual effect. Moreover, the image quality is like comparing the earliest twelve-inch black-and-white TV to today’s highest-definition plasma TV—there’s simply no comparison.

Waving his hand, he seemed to feel a gentle breeze. Taking a deep breath, it was as if he could smell a faint scent of jasmine. He sighed inwardly—this really is luxury!

No wonder so many people choose to log into Skynet using a gaming pod. Indeed, after experiencing the difference between the two, going back to logging in directly with sensors is almost unbearable.

“Hey... so, what do you think? Stay here, or go to the intermediate zone?” A hand landed on his shoulder—no need to ask, it was definitely Schneider.

“Intermediate zone?”

“Yeah, if you want something fun, of course you have to go there.” Schneider shrugged and said, “Everyone here is a newbie, it’s boring.”

“Intermediate zone? That’s right, I can already enter the intermediate zone.” William Carter muttered. If not for Schneider’s reminder, he really wouldn’t have thought of this.

With the advancement of technology, human development itself has also reached a climax. After thousands of years of survival of the fittest, the gap in human physique, neural response, and mental strength has gradually widened.

Among them, when it comes to using computer equipment, humans with high-level mental strength have an unparalleled absolute advantage.

Powerful mental strength allows them to withstand the intense impact brought by the optical computer running at high speed. To put it simply, they are like the latest Pentium computers, while the vast majority of people with mental strength below level five are like the oldest 286s.

If you put these two computers on the same network, the only result is that either the Pentium user can’t stand the snail-like speed and smashes the computer,

Or the 286 can’t handle the high-speed operation and completely crashes.

To solve this, the Human Alliance tried countless methods, but ultimately decided to implement a tiered system.

Although this system was met with fierce criticism from politicians led by representatives of the common people as soon as it was introduced, it was retained in the absence of a better solution.

Skynet is humanity’s largest wireless network. In this network, the largest area is the ordinary zone, where the people active are ordinary people with mental strength or physical ability between levels 2 and 5, which covers the vast majority of the population.

Above that is the intermediate zone for those with mental strength between levels 6 and 10, then the advanced zone for levels 11 to 15, and finally the legendary special zone for those above level 16.

Level 16 is a beautiful dream for all humans. Whether it’s physical ability or mental level, once you reach this level, you can no longer simply be called human.

Humans at this level, if equipped properly, are already powerful enough to take on a space battleship single-handedly. And once an individual’s power reaches this level, a single space battleship is no longer a match for them.

Fortunately, there are very few people who reach this level—so few they can be described as one in a million.

Chapter 8: Intermediate Zone

“What’s wrong?” Schneider looked at William Carter, who seemed absent-minded, and asked with concern.

“Ah, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

Schneider moved quickly and was gone in an instant.

William Carter glanced around, as if trying to imprint the scene in his mind, then chose to enter the intermediate zone.

In the next instant, the scenery before his eyes changed dramatically. It was as if he was in a space sliding at high speed, with the surroundings rushing past at lightning speed.

His thoughts raced through Skynet at extreme speed. This exhilarating sensation was one of the privileges brought by his mental strength breaking through level five—he could enjoy the thrill of high-speed travel in Skynet’s virtual space.

Although it was his first time in the intermediate zone’s virtual space, William Carter controlled his virtual body without the slightest discomfort.

With level seven mental strength, adapting to this intensity was no problem at all.

The scenery before his eyes gradually returned to normal. He looked around curiously. The buildings here weren’t much different from those in the ordinary zone. If there was any difference, it was that people here seemed much busier, and it was rare to see small groups idly chatting.

It seemed that the lives of ordinary people and those in the intermediate zone really were quite different.

“Oh, my friend, what took you so long?” Schneider appeared behind him like a ghost, complaining.

“Really? I thought I was pretty fast.”

Schneider shrugged, not wanting to argue about it, and instead led him, clearly familiar with the place, into a virtual cabin.

Just before entering the cabin, William Carter saw the large characters on the cabin: “Karim AOA Training Camp.”