…System selection interface…
[Tip: Please set your nickname.]
Typed in "Eighth Level Gale."
[Tip: That nickname already exists, please set a new one.]
"Damn, troublesome... Forget it, I'll just use the account given by the club. System, I'd like to apply for the use of the professional player exclusive account name rights.]
[Tip: Detected that you own a virtual game B-level league professional player account, account nickname 'Guarantor Human Soul', would you like to activate the exclusive name account?]"
"Activate."
[Account activated, based on the 'Beta Character Preference Form' you filled out previously, we are now randomly selecting an initial birthplace for you... due to the beta test agreement, your birthplace is: Bell Federation-Duchy of Lancaster-Lancaster Territory-Oby Village.]
[Neural connection function activated, thought acceleration system started, direct connection succeeded, being born now, please wait...]
…
Oby Village, one of the few villages mainly placed in the first round of beta testing.
When Guarantor Human Soul came to his senses, he found himself here.
After getting up, he noticed he was lying on a patch of grass.
The warm sunlight made the lawn a bit hot, lying there, one could vaguely catch the scent of rotting grass and trees.
Wait a minute... scent?
Guarantor Human Soul looked surprised.
He looked up to take in the surrounding scenery and then glanced at his own body clad in a hemp garment.
"Wow... this is getting interesting, new technology, huh? No wonder it has been pre-selected as the best game of the year before the public test."
He scanned the surrounding environment and saw that the grassy area was already filled with many people.
Seeing the curiosity with which that group was examining their surroundings, it was expected they were players.
Many of them were hopping about the grass like unleashed Siberian retrievers, as if they were afraid the grass beneath their feet would scorch them.
Others were gesturing in the air, clearly unfolding the system panel to understand its features.
He even heard a guy who just got up next to him mumbling about why he couldn't create a female character, and mid-attempt to take off the hemp clothes, he vanished into light and disappeared.
Guarantor Human Soul, who had been staring at that guy, felt a pain in his eyes and was almost blinded by the Holy Light that the guy emitted when he was kicked offline before it could fully fade.
"Fuck, Holy Light... I can't see anymore."
Guarantor Human Soul covered his eyes and rolled on the ground, it took a while for him to feel his vision returning.
He was still too young.
As a young player who had successfully joined the B-level league team TCK through an esports club training camp and served as a substitute, Guarantor Human Soul's entire being radiated with the youthful vigor of a greenhorn.
Clearly, Guarantor Human Soul, who had been well-protected, aside from maintaining high-intensity neural reaction training, did not have a clear understanding of how naughty other players could be.
After all, even this closed beta slot was handed down to him by a senior in the team who was too lazy to try out the new game.
He attempted to open the system panel.
…Personal panel…
Nickname: Guarantor Human Soul
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Level: 0
Profession: [Main Profession-Civilian LV0 (0/500)] [Secondary Profession: None]
Free Attribute Points: 0
Health: 1000/1000 (The lower the health, the closer to death)
Vitality: 100/100 (Vitality is similar to stamina, the lower the vitality, the harder it is to act)
Mana: Not activated (Different professions will have differing energies represented by mana)
Attributes: Strength 0.8, Agility 0.8, Stamina 0.8, Perception 0.8, Intelligence 0.8, Will 0.8
——————
Specialty/Passive Bar: None
——————
Skill Bar:
"[Reconnaissance]-You can recon part of the enemy's secret information, but if the level difference is too big or the target has anti-recon skills, you might be detected and arouse their animosity (Be thankful, you originally didn't even have a basic skill)"
Evaluation: Every player is a future lord... what I mean is, right now your combat strength is that of a goose.
...
Guarantor's mouth twitched, nearly bursting into laughter, but after the failed chuckle, he felt his pride slightly wounded.
He lifted his head to look at the distant medieval countryside that was partly hidden and partly visible, vaguely seeing traces of smoke and fire.
Seeing more and more players gathering around, he rolled his eyes and, with a mischievous grin, loudly said:
"This nearby forest is so big, is there anyone who wants to team up and go monster hunting in the forest, so we can watch each other's back?"
As soon as the words were out, some of the nearby players reacted, and those who already knew each other started calling friends, planning to venture deep into the wilderness to see what the game's wilderness was all about.
After shouting that, Guarantor quietly slipped out of the crowd and walked unhurriedly in the direction of the village.
Halfway there, he suddenly realized that three people were silently following behind him.
He warily glanced back at the three of them, then after a moment, he asked with some suspicion, "Traveling together?"
The young man at the front wasn't annoyed, he laughed heartily and said, "Sure thing, bro. You're quite the trickster, eliminating the competition as soon as the game starts. I like your style."
Having said that, he added, "Strange Power Chaos God Club, just call me by my in-game nickname 'God of Wealth'."
Guarantor paused for a moment, "You're the investor behind Strange Power Chaos God...?"
God of Wealth spread his hands with a sigh, "If you want to say I'm an easy mark, just say it. Ha-ha, I don't mind that. After all, everyone needs hobbies. Paying a bit of a price for it? No problem, absolutely no problem!"
Facing the heavy burden of his financial power, Guarantor felt the weight on his knees grow heavier.
Investing in an eSports club, nurturing a hobby, spending a fortune?
Are these three things really equivalent?
He could only picture God of Wealth, sitting in an executive chair, casually holding a stack of cash and saying to him, "Don't challenge my pocket money with your salary."
Luckily, God of Wealth seemed to understand the other's apprehension about his identity. He patted Guarantor's shoulder and said:
"Relax, buddy, I'm not that scary, I still have two eyes and a mouth, look – aside from a fortune-bringing face, I'm no different from a normal human."
Fearing Guarantor wouldn't believe him, he leaned in closer, pointing at his own face trying to convince Guarantor.
Guarantor took a deep breath and whispered, "Are you following me because you need something?"
God of Wealth smiled and said, "Let me introduce first. This is a new player our club is training, Qing Ya past the Cold Pond, just call him Qing Ya."
A tall guy who looked a bit young and bashful nodded at him.
God of Wealth slapped him not too lightly or heavily on the shoulder, causing the guy to shudder.
"Qing Ya, we're all of the same age. Show some spirit! How are you going to become a pro player if you don't speak up?"
"Okay! Hello, I'm Qing Ya past the Cold Pond, just call me Qing Ya or Xiao Ya!" his decibel level shot up a notch.
But after speaking, his face turned slightly red, and he wilted a bit, looking somewhat distressed as he said to Guarantor, "If you need help, as long as it doesn't affect our club, you can come to me."
It looked like if God of Wealth said any more, Qing Ya would have a mental breakdown right there.
"Well, for now, being able to do this much is quite good, huh?" God of Wealth spoke with some hesitation but ultimately didn't force Xiao Ya further.
Seeing this, Qing Ya exhaled with relief.
God of Wealth then pointed to the girl who was a bit shorter than him and said, "This one here is a friend of mine in real life, not a member of the club. Her in-game nickname is Lone Wanderer of the Empty Mountain, just call her Xiao You."
Lone Wanderer of the Empty Mountain was a lovely girl who showed cute dimples when she smiled.
Although the circle of eSports players has become much more open these days, the percentage of female pro players is still relatively low.
Guarantor, despite being talkative online, giving unsolicited advice, didn't have many direct interactions with strange girls and felt a bit restrained for a moment.
God of Wealth didn't seem to mind and looked at him very seriously and said, "I can see you're a smart guy, so I have a mutually beneficial proposal to discuss with you."
"Hmm?" Guarantor paused, "You can go ahead and tell me."