After the battle between the Imperial Planetary Defense Forces and the rebels, a large number of reports were scattered across the battlefield. Li Qinwu, who possessed the Search, Attack, and Withdraw System, began his own land-grabbing operation.
The laser gun of a fallen soldier? Take it—it fires level 3 ammunition.
Shell armor? Take it—this is level 4 armor.
Even the explosive pistol of a fallen political commissar? Take it—it uses level 5 rounds.
Even a destroyed Leman Russ tank could yield a large battery unit.
Everything could be taken back to the Underhive hideout, sold through gang contacts, and exchanged for building materials to upgrade the base. The hideout could then manufacture advanced machine guns and high-capacity power systems. With upgraded gear and layered power armor, one could launch raids against heretics on the battlefield, gain favor in the name of the Emperor, and rise through the ranks of power.
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The agricultural world 496b, near a hive city along the equator, had its Planetary Defense Forces engaged in a prolonged war against rebels on the vast plains.
Because the neighboring industrial world had been infested with Orks, reinforcements were required, and the planetary governor imposed heavy taxation on 496b.
The planet was already burdened with oppressive taxes, leaving the population struggling to survive. With further increases, half of the farmers revolted in anger.
The rebels initially raided farms, converting agricultural machinery into weapons and launching attacks against PDF positions.
They captured multiple outposts, seized weapons, and rapidly expanded their forces before pushing toward the capital.
Millions of rebels surged across the plains outside the hive city, only to be repelled by entrenched PDF defenses. The battlefield stretched into years of attrition, leaving the land scarred with craters and trenches.
Neither side could achieve a decisive victory, resulting in a prolonged stalemate. This created opportunities for scavengers who survived by looting the battlefield.
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Eighty kilometers north of the capital, a dozen rebel soldiers rested in a trench. Suddenly, a large-caliber shell struck, killing them instantly.
A modified automatic rifle spun across the ground and landed in the farmland nearby, catching the attention of Li Qinwu, who had been crawling through the fields for a long time.
"This gun looks intact… probably uses level 2 ammunition. I can sell it to a black-market contact for at least 1,500 credits."
Muttering to himself, he crawled toward the weapon.
Li Qinwu came from the 3K era. He had once been playing Escape from Tarkov at home when artificial interference and absurd gameplay situations pushed him to rage quit. After repeated frustrations across multiple games and systems, he eventually found himself thrown into this world.
Eventually, after encountering a strange image claiming that anyone who saw it would be sent to serve the Emperor in Warhammer 40k, he woke up on this agricultural world of the Imperium.
He did not dwell on how miserable humanity was in this universe. Fortunately, the Search, Strike, and Withdraw System had merged with him.
The system digitized his body data, allowed him to gain experience and increase attributes, and provided a safe hideout beneath the hive city.
Most importantly, he could resurrect infinitely.
No matter how he died, he would respawn at the hideout in peak condition. However, all equipment carried would be lost.
With no fear of death, Li Qinwu lived entirely like a scavenger in a game loop—entering battlefields, looting, and returning to the Underhive to trade goods for upgrades.
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Returning to the present, Li Qinwu, armed only with a combat dagger, reached the automatic rifle and inspected it carefully.
It was a crude rectangular firearm assembled from multiple parts by rebels. Poor ergonomics, heavy build—around 7 kilograms.
He checked the barrel. Rifling was present.
Good. Rifled weapons had higher value.
He opened the magazine: 20 rounds of improvised ammunition, likely 9×65mm caliber—extremely large and difficult for ordinary humans to handle.
On this world, standard calibers like 5.56 or 7.62 were often insufficient for the brutality of war.
After confirming the weapon was undamaged by the explosion, Li Qinwu activated his system to analyze it.
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Name: Rebel-made Automatic Rifle
Estimated Value: ~2000 credits
Weight: 7.2 kg
Vertical Recoil Control: 54
Horizontal Recoil Control: 42
Handling Efficiency: 41
Stability: 42
Accuracy: 50
Hip-fire Stability: 61
Effective Range: 500 m
Muzzle Velocity: 950
Fire Mode: Fully automatic
Rate of Fire: 550
Caliber: 9×65mm
Power Output: Medium
---
Li Qinwu was satisfied.
The weapon alone was worth about 2000 credits. A farmer in the lower agricultural strata earned only about 150 credits per month. This meant the gun was worth nearly a year of a farmer's income.
He slung the rifle over his back and lay prone for ten minutes, confirming no movement nearby before carefully entering the rebel trench.
Dozens of rebels had been killed by the shell strike. Corpses littered the trench.
Without hesitation, Li Qinwu began looting.
After a quick sweep, he obtained:
One 20-round magazine
60 rounds of 9×65mm ammunition
One dagger
One axe
One wrench
Four packs of biscuits
One water bottle
Total estimated value: 120 credits.
He stored everything in his worn backpack and continued scanning the trench.
The battlefield here had once been held by the PDF before being overrun by rebels and later abandoned during a retreat. Control of the area shifted constantly between both sides.
For scavengers like him, this instability was an opportunity.
After searching further, there was little left of value. Most items were basic supplies, low-value gear, and scraps.
"Tch… useless haul."
He spat in dissatisfaction. No rare items, no high-tier equipment.
Just as he prepared to leave, footsteps approached.
Li Qinwu immediately tensed and raised his rifle.
From the direction of the hive city, a squad appeared—ten Planetary Defense Force soldiers in armor, helmets, and standard-issue rifles. The squad leader carried a laser weapon, sidearm, and grenades.
Li Qinwu's expression changed.
If they saw him here, he would not be given a chance to explain.
He prepared to slip out through the opposite side of the trench.
But the moment he reached it—
Another group appeared.
Over fifty rebels were advancing.
He was surrounded.
"Oh no… double encirclement."
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Emergency Mission
Li Qinwu grew tense.
He was not afraid of death—he would simply respawn at his hideout—but losing the rifle would be unacceptable.
Footsteps from both sides grew closer.
Suddenly, he noticed the massive crater left by the earlier shell strike.
Without hesitation, he jumped into it.
He dragged flesh and corpses over himself, smearing blood across his face, arranging limbs and remains to disguise himself among the dead.
He lay perfectly still.
Moments later, both sides reached the trench at the same time.
They spotted each other—and immediately opened fire.
A brutal firefight erupted.
The PDF squad leader fired a rare laser weapon, instantly burning through a rebel's chest in a single shot. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air.
The rest of the PDF used standard ballistic rifles, while rebels responded with improvised firearms and crude armor. Despite inferior equipment, their numbers gave them an advantage.
Gunfire and screams echoed across the battlefield.
Li Qinwu did not move.
Fifteen minutes later, an explosion marked the end of the battle.
Silence returned.
He waited five more minutes before slowly opening his eyes.
The trench was filled with corpses—rebels and PDF soldiers alike.
"A little meal… secured."
He stood up, wiped off the gore, and began looting again.
This time, he moved toward a PDF soldier and took a helmet.
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Name: PDF Bulletproof Helmet
Estimated Value: 500 credits
Protection Level: 3
Ricochet Chance: Medium
Durability: 30/30
Material: Ceramic-steel composite
Weight: 2.2 kg