"Silent Nocturne, I've entered the dungeon."
"Okay, I'll be right there," Chu You replied as he glanced at the entrance and made his way up.
As Chu You approached the dungeon, the chance of being discovered by other players heightened, as regular players were particularly determined to apprehend those with red names.
For players who were not in a team and looking for activities, their choices were restricted in this 4th-level monster area. This is why most low-level players had no alternative but to form teams for the dungeon.
After a while, Chu You stealthily maneuvered past some players and reached the rear hill of the dungeon.
Observing the empty front, he moved swiftly. In no time, Chu You found himself in the woods overlooking the dungeon. The elevation was significant here, and a fall from this height would be deadly.
Surveying the terrain, he steeled himself, took a deep breath, and leaped down.
A massive red figure descended from above, and Chu You's gaze remained fixed on a specific spot. His feet landed precisely on a small jutting rock, resulting in a minor -400 loss in health. He was now very close to the dungeon below.
Down below, players, particularly those stationed near the dungeon's entrance, received a system prompt alerting them to the presence of approaching hostile red-named players. They immediately became vigilant, anxiously scanning their surroundings.
However, as they surveyed the area, no red-named players were to be found.
"Could there be a skilled assassin employing stealth abilities?" pondered some of the newer players.
It remained uncertain who was the first to spot Chu You clinging to the cliff, but eventually, someone pointed at him, raising their voice to draw attention.
Almost instantly, all the players below gazed upwards.
Chu You descended a few more steps, then gracefully landed. With one hand, he gestured toward the top door of the ongoing dungeon.
Chu You's position was 25 meters above the players below, exceeding the maximum range for long-distance professions.
In the sight of all the astonished players, Chu You seemed to vanish like a ghost.
"Sorry for the wait," Chu You greeted Lin Luoer.
Lin Luoer turned around; she had been waiting for 20 minutes. She shook her head. "It's alright, but something seems amiss here." Lin Luoer didn't realize how challenging it was for an average Red Player to enter the dungeon.
Watching Chu You lose health, Lin Luoer promptly healed him.
Chu You walked over to where Lin Luoer was standing, peered inside the doorway, and an unexpected expression crossed his face.
The dungeon they were facing was, in fact, a novice test. Before them, a corridor extended inward, filled with various traps. One wrong step could lead to injury from concealed weapons and eventually death.
In other words, this was meant to train players to quickly adapt to the game's rules, offer them insight, and hone their reaction abilities. It laid the groundwork for the upcoming war...
In his previous life, powerful guilds and studios had used these simulations to train their professional players.
"This dungeon is best tackled with fewer people," Chu You remarked.
"Hui Ye, keep an eye on the upper left corner of your screen. Do you see a timer?" Chu You asked.
In the upper left corner of Chu You's interface, a timer displayed 00:00.
Nervously, Lin Luoer nodded.
"As per the information I've gathered, the difficulty of this dungeon increases with the speed of completion. The faster we clear it, the more experience we'll gain," Chu You casually shared some of his knowledge about the dungeon with Lin Luoer.
"There are two keys here, one for each of us. Thankfully, there's no other group; otherwise, it could get complicated. Or, maybe not complicated, but definitely chaotic."
On the left side of the doorway, a wooden box held a flashing key. Chu You grabbed one and signaled for Lin Luoer to do the same.
"There might be some traps, but they won't be lethal, just a test of our wits," Chu You assured.
As Lin Luoer stared at the challenge with a determined expression, Chu You's mouth curved into a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, don't panic. Just follow my lead; this dungeon is manageable."
In his past experiences, Chu You had conquered numerous far more challenging dungeons.
"Are you ready?"
Lin Luoer took a deep breath and nodded in readiness.
"As the team captain, press this button to begin."
With her eyes fixed on the glowing green button, Lin Luoer took a deep breath and pushed it.
Instantly, a transparent barrier vanished before them, their weapons were automatically stowed away in their backpacks, and the timer started to count down.
"Let's start by jumping. Pay attention to the distance and jump when the stepping rock is about a meter ahead," Chu You instructed, recalling the details he had remembered earlier.
Nervously, Lin Luoer watched the floating rock and took the leap, but to her surprise, Chu You had moved at the same time.
Simultaneously, they both landed on a small rock suspended in the air. Ahead of them lay a corridor filled with various traps, while below was a seemingly endless abyss.
"Jump," Chu You directed when they were about to converge, and once again, they leaped forward in unison.
"Follow my lead and keep running," Chu You urged, maintaining a consistent pace with Lin Luoer.
In an instant, they sprinted toward the corridor.
"Two meters ahead, sprint and jump," Chu You accurately assessed the situation.
The pair soared in a leap, and the ground beneath them crumbled. They landed on the moving rocks in the air, surrounded by darkness beneath them.
"Get down!" Chu You shouted.
They swiftly moved on the rock and then descended, shooting a few dark arrows on either side.
At this moment, the rocks beneath them began to heat up, and they started losing health. Ahead of them, two massive chains swung back and forth, and if they were hit, they would be thrown into the dark abyss below.
Chu You gave quick instructions, "At a distance of 1.5 meters, we'll jump forward simultaneously, catch the swinging chain with our hands, and then, 1.5 seconds later, we'll jump forward together."
The chains swung at a rapid pace, and a first-time player couldn't grasp the rhythm. Remaining on the rocks would only lead to getting burned to death.
"Grab it!" Chu You shouted once more.
Simultaneously, they jumped, and a swinging chain from below appeared right in front of them. The two seized the chain with both hands. With the chain rapidly swinging, they were swiftly carried a meter forward. In front of them were the steps, and failing to jump at this moment would mean being thrown into the dark abyss by the chain.
"I said 'release,' which means let go of your hands and attempt to propel your body forward," Chu You clarified, just as the chain reached a crucial position, and he finished his explanation only a second ago.
"Let go!" Chu You's voice resonated like thunder.
Both of them let go simultaneously, their feet landed on the steps, and they were on solid ground. In front of them was a door, and they proceeded inside.
"Look, the end is just ahead. On the left and right sides of the stone are five stationary monsters. Below are the continuously moving rocks. There are ten rocks in total. Each rock is in motion. If you accidentally step into the air, you'll fall to your death. These rocks may seem irregular, but it's not the main concern. The key is to avoid getting hit by the energy balls fired by the monsters above."
"This is a nightmarish dungeon. The damage dealt is exceptionally high. Additionally, watch the distance between the rocks in front of your feet. As you approach the endpoint, there will be more monsters attacking you from the stone pillars. Let me go first and observe."
This time, a demonstration wasn't feasible. This stage aimed to train players to find shortcuts during PK battles, which demanded a high level of personal awareness.
Chu You prepared, casting a quick glance at Lin Luoer, who was watching him closely.
"Relax your mind and focus on me," Chu You advised. Then, he set off and sprinted ahead. Given that this was meant as a demonstration for Lin Luoer, Chu You had removed his boots, which increased his movement speed. He also controlled his body shape to mimic the initial player's speed and movements.
As he stepped onto the first moving rock, the monsters perched on the stone pillars 10 meters on both sides immediately rose, their eyes glowing red. They opened their mouths and released purple energy balls toward Chu You.
While the rock carrying Chu You moved forward, he was met with a barrage of energy balls from three attacking monsters.
Chu You's keen judgment allowed him to adjust his position immediately, swaying left and right. Simultaneously, he noticed two more energy balls heading his way. The balls' speed didn't seem particularly fast, making it relatively easy to anticipate their trajectories.
Chu You reached the step where the second rock was in motion. There were still four monsters firing energy projectiles at him.
Observing Chu You's performance, Lin Luoer was left awestruck. She couldn't believe how skilled he was in the game, far beyond ordinary high-level play. His posture, his pace, and his game awareness were all on another level. Lin Luoer, who had a solid foundation in gaming and had been a top player in the once-popular Owl League, realized that Chu You was no ordinary gamer.
Initially, she had regarded him as an amateur, but as she watched him effortlessly eliminate six enemies, wielding his unique weapon and navigating the challenges with grace, Lin Luoer couldn't help but change her perception. It was clear that Chu You had prior experience with this game, despite his earlier claim that he had never entered this dungeon. This left Lin Luoer wondering why he had misled her.
Chu You leaped onto the final broad platform, walked over, and inserted his key into one of the holes. The hole illuminated instantly, and his timer stopped at 5 minutes and 27 seconds.
Returning to where Lin Luoer stood, Chu You noticed the curiosity in her eyes and asked, "What's up?".
"Have you played this game before?" Lin Luoer inquired.
Chu You paused for a moment, then wore an expression of sudden realization and responded confidently, "Of course, what's so surprising? Who am I? I'm the President of the CNMLGB Group, the influential figure behind one of the world's top 300 companies. While you were eagerly awaiting this game, I was already an experienced player."
"Tianshi" had been crafted using a top artificial intelligence masterbrain and various sub-masterbrains. There was no concept of internal testing at all. The game was released directly, representing the culmination of human scientific achievement. As such, there was no need for internal testing, and the creators were highly confident.
The notion of a rebirth was simply too absurd, a secret that Chu You would carry to his grave.
Suddenly, Lin Luoer had an epiphany. She gazed somewhere, and in a hushed tone, she murmured, "Now I understand."
She looked up, her smile reflecting her realization. "So, am I following the right person?"
"Of course," Chu You responded, his demeanor shifting, and he continued, "Hui ye, I have some crucial information to share with you. Based on reliable information and my risk assessment team, I believe that the world is about to experience some turbulence. Therefore... I think you should stop your current work in real world." He looked directly at Lin Luoer, who was growing increasingly shocked. Chu You adopted a serious tone, saying, "I can provide you with a top-of-the-line gaming capsule. All you need to do is excel in this game, and of course, you'll be compensated for it."
Chu You aimed to secure the loyalty of this god-tier priest with a single move. By presenting it as a business proposition, he believed it would be more effective than approaching it as charity, considering Lin Luoer's past obstinacy.
"Just... playing games?".
"What do you think? I've heard about the Little Bear League. As long as you excel at the game, I can fulfill all your needs. Consider it carefully. If you're interested, I'll have someone deliver a contract to you."
This approach would cement the bond with this god-tier nurse. From a charity standpoint, Lin Luoer's previous stubbornness might have backfired.
Lin Luoer was hesitant, displaying a conflicted expression, her body restless, and her thoughts tangled, reflecting her inner struggle.
"You don't need to give me an answer right now. Take your time to think it over. For now, I'll show you one more thing. You're doing great."
In a short while, Chu You returned and presented a deal to Lin Luoer. "Take a close look. I have a potion here. If you're certain, drink this potion and start the breakthrough. It'll increase your chances a bit."
In the end, Lin Luoer's gaming talent did not disappoint Chu You. She cleared the final obstacle on her first attempt, but her health was critically low. She swiftly healed herself.
"Don't heal, insert the key quickly."
Upon hearing Chu You's instructions, Lin Luoer blushed and rushed to insert the key into the small hole. As both small holes lit up, the compass beneath them began to spin.
System Prompt: Congratulations! Your completion time corresponds to an S-level rating. The difficulty of your achievement is categorized as Nightmare level. As a reward, you receive a Green-level treasure chest. May your gaming experience be enjoyable.
System Prompt: Player Silent Nocturne has gained +6000 experience.
System Prompt: Player Luo Shui Hui Ye has gained +4500 experience.
The system displayed a prompt: "The test dungeon is a one-time challenge designed to help players adapt to the game world. While the test dungeon remains accessible to players, there will be no future experience bonuses or rewards."
At that moment, an mechanic sound resonated from the middle of the platform, as if something had been unlocked. A treasure chest, radiating a blue aura, emerged and hovered about half a meter above the ground.
"Go ahead and open it," Chu You encouraged Lin Luoer. She rushed to open the treasure chest, unaware that Chu You was secretly observing to see if she had any thieving tendencies. If she had such tendencies, he would avoid letting her handle any future treasure chest openings.
"Silent Nocturne, there's a skill book in here."
"Damn! Did she just mention a skill book? Did this girl have a knack for surprises?".
Chu You was astonished. He knew just how rare skill books were in "Tian Shi." They were considered precious, often accompanying a player throughout their gaming journey. To put it mildly, they were even more valuable than the Red level weapon he held.
"Oh, really? Show it to me," Chu You said with an air of indifference.
Skill Name: Sweep
Tier: Third-tier skill
Required Level and Class: All classes, level 5 or higher.
Skill Description: After every three regular attacks, you can use your weapon to perform a sweeping attack, dealing damage to a maximum of 8 enemies within a 4-meter range.
Damage result: Personal attribute +100 HP basic damage.
Proficiency: 0/10000. Achieving full proficiency allows you to upgrade this skill further.
Chu You was dumbfounded as he read the skill description. His normally steady breathing became slightly more rapid. A ranged skill that didn't require mana was truly a treasure.
"Hui Ye... Can I call you 'baby'? It's the only way I can express my excitement right now."
"What? Is this skill book really that good?" Lin Luoer asked, somewhat embarrassed.
"Of course, this is a semi-ranged skill book, and it's incredibly valuable."
"Do you need money for it?"
"Well, no, it's extremely rare and hard to come by."
"Oh, I've placed it in the treasure chest. You can retrieve it yourself. The rest of the chest contains silver coins and magic potions."
"You can keep the rest, Lin Luoer. I'm telling you, you shouldn't think twice. Come work for me now and be my exclusive full-time priest."
Being a priest is a god-level job in itself, and Lin Luoer had a spirit of an empress, making her an exceptional catch.
"Let me think about it," Lin Luoer replied. She contemplated her decision for a moment.
In the current societal landscape, many individuals held a cynical view of "university students." Even the students themselves were well aware of this situation. Presented with an opportunity for a stable income, most students would readily set their studies aside.
Lin Luoer, unaware of this truth, felt a sense of unease in her heart. She couldn't shake the feeling that Chu You was scrutinizing her, which left her indecisive. When her thoughts turned darker, memories of her family and the chaos caused by her father's actions cast a shadow on her expression, returning her to her previous demeanor.
As she contemplated the stars of TV movies and the journeys of women who went from humble beginnings to unparalleled fame, Lin Luoer realized that such accomplishments required unimaginable effort and experience. She considered the prospect of simply playing games and found it difficult to fathom what else might transpire. She decided that if Chu You dared to make any unwarranted advances, she would...
With a determined look directed at Chu You, she felt that she was more than ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.
Suddenly, Lin Luoer stood up straight, radiating an aura that left Chu You puzzled.
"What's going on Hui Ye?" Chu You asked.
"Nothing, I'll tell you about my decision tonight," Lin Luoer replied.
"Okay, are you going to rest now or continue with the other two dungeons?"
"I'll carry on."
In a matter of minutes, they both retrieved their individual rewards and exited the instance mission.
Before long, Chu You reappeared at the entrance of the instance dungeon. Observing the players engaged in hushed conversations about him, Chu You nonchalantly settled down to take a break. His name tag once again glowed red.
"Silent Nocturne, the second instance mission is a solo challenge."
"Oh, and what about the third one?"
Shortly after, Lin Luoer's voice echoed, "The third instance mission is a team endeavor, but it requires a group of six members."
"Let's assemble a team then."
___________________________
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"Anyway, please vote and show me that I'm not alone on this journey. While I can manage 2-3 chapters in a day if I didn't have work to do, my work commitments sometimes mean that a single chapter can take anywhere from 3 to 4 days to complete. Any support during this journey would be greatly appreciated."