010. "Star Abyss: Blue Star" Beta Test PV— "Narrative Edge"
The beta test is about to begin.
This announcement immediately sparked a wave of celebration in the live stream, though it was unclear how many of those cheering would actually purchase the game equipment.
Li Aozi glanced at the forum, where experts estimated that the 5,000 beta test slots were snatched up instantly, primarily by professional gaming clubs and large state-owned enterprises.
According to Li Aozi's memory, the first batch of beta testers included at least 200 professional soldiers, which increased to 15,000 by version 9.0 when the civil war began.
These soldier players were uniformly trained, strictly disciplined, and had rigorous leveling regimens. Compared to them, professional gamers might have better shooting skills, agility, and reflexes, but in a real fight, pros couldn't match soldiers.
However, soldier players wouldn't be Li Aozi's main customers; war required logistical support, durable weapons, and equipment, not a large quantity of jewelry.
Professional gamers aimed to win competitions and gain fame, funded by clubs and sponsors.
Therefore, Li Aozi checked the forum for the four major clubs officially announced to have obtained beta slots: Jiangcheng Misty Rain, Spicy Beef Noodles, Fragrant Chicken, and Old Gan Grandma.
"It's still these four dishes," Li Aozi sighed.
In the previous life, Yan Xia district didn't perform well in the first season. Blue Star, being a tech-side civilization, struggled against various magic and mystical civilizations early on. Players weren't familiar with their opponents, making adaptation difficult. But among these four clubs, three were sponsored by food companies, and they were mocked for never making it past the top sixteen, earning Yan Xia district players the reputation of being side dishes.
Yan Xia district's league reform happened after version 3.0, when players ventured into the universe and experienced various civilizations' combat styles, finally reaching the top eight for the first time.
Just as Li Aozi was considering how to tap into the beta player market, a rapidly rising post appeared on the forum.
"Breaking News: The veteran esports team 'Sky Universe' has secured two beta slots! Expected to be allocated to the former 'Predator World' championship team."
"Oh?"
Li Aozi became interested:
"In the previous life, Sky Universe Club didn't get beta slots and only officially established a division for 'Star Abyss' after version 10.0."
The beta meant entering the game earlier and faster, reaching the beta level cap ahead of others.
Given this, Li Aozi estimated that his claim of being two years ahead of players might not be accurate. Based on the time flow, beta players would descend about three months later, around April 221 on Blue Star.
Although this was a year earlier than players' initial game exposure in the previous life, accounting for death and trial-and-error cooldowns, it was about the same.
The official public test wouldn't start until 226, roughly five years from now for Li Aozi.
"Five years isn't much, but it's enough to upend an era."
The current host was giving a long, boring speech that Li Aozi found tiresome. He chose to watch the lively forum discussions instead.
Discussions about "Star Abyss" were particularly heated.
Players were eagerly anticipating the game's story and gameplay. The current popular game, "Predator World," focused on competitive combat, which had limited appeal for most casual players. But "Star Abyss" targeted "electronic immigration" from the start, with many players already discussing the application of real-world economic theories and technology in the game.
Amidst these exchanges, the live stream host finally finished the lengthy speech and marketing plan. Executive Director Luo Ming stepped aside, explaining:
"Next, please enjoy the beta version promotional PV produced by our company, with special thanks to the Yan Xia Kingdom players for their strong support for the 'Star Abyss' project. We have designated an independent newbie area—Blue Star, as the server and map for player enjoyment."
Here it comes.
Li Aozi's reaction mirrored the chat's: the screen switched to fullscreen, and he focused entirely on the promotional video.
————————
The frosty night sky enveloped the land with darkness.
A drone quickly ascended, flying over the freezing snowfield.
Terrifying mutated beasts roamed freely, and the red-black sky churned with uneasy embryonic breath.
"Welcome to Blue Star! A planet without sunlight, yet never lacking in cold frost and snow."
The emotionless mechanical synthetic voice mixed with static, like a lone radio broadcast in the apocalypse.
"As you can see, the red-black cloud layer known as 'Calamity' shrouds the sky, completely sealing off the planet. Humanity has lost the ability and qualification to travel to space."
Frozen statues collapsed randomly by the roadside. Passing through the frozen underwater mountains, orcas and dolphins were suspended in the ice, forever frozen in their leap.
An astronaut and their spaceship lay crashed in the snow, with mutated beasts trampling over the heroes of the old era, making human civilization seem laughably insignificant in the face of nature.
Snowflakes mixed with sandstorm debris, accompanied by the thunder of the red-black clouds, painted an atmosphere of ultimate despair and indifference.
"Lost petroleum, lost industry, lost sunlight, lost everything."
The view swiftly flew into the endless night, as if darkness was the final destination.
"Yet, on this frozen land, humanity still survives."
Swoosh—
A blaze ignited the night, with a nuclear fusion reactor powering up, erecting a barrier against the blizzard. Mortal men in exoskeleton armor, their electronic eyes agile, raised Kalashnikov rifles and aimed at the grotesque beasts, pulling the trigger.
Bang!
Muzzle flashes erupted, and the fired bullets turned into scarlet arrows, piercing through layers of unequal treaties, embedding into the enemy's capital map. A marshal in a red-black uniform turned coldly, showing arrogance and ferocity.
"In the past, the gentle and kind nation that was invaded, lost territory, and paid reparations has been reborn. She abandoned all her past kindness, donned an iron-blooded crown, transforming into a red arrow aimed at the enemy's heart, tearing apart all unequal shackles of the past."
A mechanized steel tide swept the land, with intricate mobile armor units being deployed from the sky, immediately cloaking and disappearing, then tearing through the landscape with fierce firelines.
An aloof monarch behind the scenes flicked a finger—immediately, the cold outerlands were illuminated by the flames and light of hydrogen bombs.
"The Red Arrow Empire—seeking revenge on the old world. Under the emperor's leadership, the nations that brought injustice and oppression to the Red Arrow will be trampled by the steel torrent."
On the desolate battlefield, a 'Mechanic' draped in a military coat, entwined with numerous cold data chains, slowly stepped into the field. Destroyed armored vehicles and drones were resurrected like undead, their engines reignited by data flow, self-assembling into a mechanical legion following his steps.
"Steel, aluminum alloy, tungsten steel, machinery, data chains—the Red Arrow Empire's accumulation and development nurtured the weak [Mechanic], unleashing all war potential. As a [War Machine Handler], control war machinery to reclaim the land ceded by the incompetent for the empire. For the empire, mechanical slaves will be endless!"
As the [War Machine Handler] rampaged, the scene shifted to a soldier screaming in agony on the ground, his legs blown off by a bomb, and his left eye pierced by shrapnel. The cold trench was filled with the frozen corpses of comrades. His cries for help were answered by an approaching enemy squad.
Shush—
Nanowires instantly formed a net, wiping out an entire squad in a moment. The fallen Red Arrow soldier, startled, felt a heavy white armored hand press on his shoulder.
The soldier looked up, and a nanoinfusion tube pierced his vein, injecting life force into his body, healing his wounds. Small drones lifted him towards a safe zone. He wanted to express gratitude, but only saw the back of a white-caped figure rushing to the battlefield—the cape fluttering like wings.
"If there are no gods in the world, I will replace angels to save you—become a [Healer], don indestructible armor, and charge the frontlines. Use your abundant life force to rescue the sons and daughters of families. You forsake firearms, but the nanofibers for healing others also serve as your protective blades against butchers."
The scene switched to a high-tech Red Arrow city center, showcasing the empire's prosperity and people's busy lives. The rise of skyscrapers and exhausted young workers hinted at both the good times and underlying shadows.
"If you crave the essence of smoke and martial arts, Tianhuan Country—this is the closest place to your dreams."
Shadows were torn by a slender samurai sword, with cherry blossoms gently falling into the water, along with corpses and armor remnants drifting into the abyss.
Samurai in suits sat atop mountains of corpses and blood, drinking sake, using trembling civilians like lambs to demonstrate the sharpness of their swords.
"Ssssh—"
Blood splattered, staining the shadow wall, creating a vivid and gorgeous ukiyo-e.
"Tianhuan Country retains the most exquisite martial arts skills, having taken cold weapons and physical power to new heights. Assassins known as [Samurai] enjoy privileged status, yet are never satisfied. They claim to act for the nation, but their swords never hesitate to sever the necks of ordinary people."