Ten years ago, he had indeed been a professional gamer, and the game known as CS (Counter-Strike) had brought him countless cherished memories. However, the career of an esports player was brief, lasting only three to four years before he retired.
After retiring, Edward had led a mundane life, working at a small company and earning a meager salary to get by. Though gaming still held some appeal, it had become little more than a leisure activity, and he occasionally played a couple of rounds at an internet café, reminiscing about the friendships of his youth.
But times had changed. With the advent of the full-dive virtual game pod, Star Wars World entered his life, and it swept him off his feet.
Compared to Counter-Strike, Star Wars World was worlds apart. Back then, he played on a computer with a handful of guns and limited shooting knowledge. Now, the game was fully immersive and offered an overwhelming variety of weapons, many of which he had never encountered before.
Edward's passion for military themes had intensified. With his rich shooting experience and knowledge of firearms, he found it easy to adapt to Star Wars World. However, becoming stronger in the game was another story. His first month was plagued with bad luck, compounded by the fact that he had chosen the expensive gunner class.
He chose the gunner class not only because he had a profound love for firearms but also to relive the glory of those bloody battles he fought in Counter-Strike.
His old comrades had long since gone their separate ways, and some were no longer in contact. But every time he thought of them, Edward felt his blood boil. He recalled the unrealized dream of standing atop the world stage, holding the championship trophy high.
Edward had often consoled himself, reminding himself that dreams were just dreams. If they were attainable, they wouldn't be dreams, right? But now, with Star Wars World reigniting that ambition, he felt it might just be possible—dual Desert Eagles, an AK in each hand, grenades at his waist, flashbangs on his chest; enemies to kill, obstacles to overcome, sniping at his fingertips—everything could be his.
Yet, reality was harsh. A month had passed, and he had only reached level 13, his equipment abysmal. Nevertheless, Edward remained undeterred. He believed that with determination, intelligence, and faith, breaking through was only a matter of time, just like he once transformed from a rookie to a legendary gun god.
With that thought in mind, he recalled the 1,000 credits that the girl had promised him. He quickly put down his bowl. "Jie Ge, you eat. I'm full; I'm off to the game!" He headed toward his room.
A Jie watched his retreating figure, shaking his head helplessly. "Ah, this kid…"
Lying in the game pod, Edward waited for the lid to close, the indicator lights to illuminate, and the series of retinal scans and identity confirmations to take place before he was once again immersed in the virtual world.
When he logged in, he found himself at the revival point in the Federation Administration Hall of Dream Star City.
The revival point was incredibly sci-fi; above him hovered a hexagonal flying saucer, reminiscent of an alien UFO, casting a massive beam of light that allowed the deceased to materialize from within.
The hall was bustling with players returning from quests.
As Edward emerged, he noticed a few female players giggling and gathering around him.
"Look at this poor guy."
"Ha! He died and only has his underwear left!"
"Hey, buddy, where were you hunting to end up like this?"
…
Edward sensed something was amiss. Looking down, he felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
He was completely naked except for a bright red pair of underwear. His brown vest was gone, his camo pants were missing, and even his shabby shoes had disappeared. He stood barefoot on the ground, and the most frustrating part—his sidearm had exploded during his last encounter with Malagobi.
"Malagobi, you son of a—!" Edward shouted to the heavens, causing those nearby to jump in surprise.
"Tsk, tsk, this guy's gone crazy; he's talking nonsense now."
"Poor thing."
"Let's get out of here; it'll be fun until he loses it!"
…
The more Edward thought about it, the more depressed he became. He hadn't died often, but when he did, it was catastrophic. If it wasn't one thing, it was another.
After venting his anger, he suddenly remembered he had grabbed two items when he died and quickly opened his backpack to check.
First, he sighed in relief when he saw the sensor device was still there. If that had been lost, he would've considered deleting his account.
Next, he discovered that of the five boxes of 7.63mm ammunition, three had exploded—each box was worth three credits, and the thought of losing them made Edward's heart ache. His money was hard-earned.
But when he finally spotted the two items, he was no longer on the verge of tears; instead, he wanted to shout, "Long live the homeland, long live Malagobi!"
"Fire Dragon Armor, purple equipment, level requirement 25; Defense 210, Durability 1221/1500, General Resistance 24.5%, Fire Element Resistance 62%, Additional Attributes: Spell Proficiency +1, Ranged Proficiency +1, Elemental Proficiency +4."
With a fire resistance of 62%, Edward finally understood why Malagobi had been "waiting to die" in the cave. The reason was all due to this armor. Typically, equipment with a resistance of 40% would halve the damage from that element. Malagobi had somehow acquired armor with a fire resistance of 62%, which explained why he could stand in lava without losing HP from the extreme heat and temperature. Plus, with an Elemental Proficiency of +4, it was no wonder he could manipulate the lava so effortlessly.
Acquiring this armor proved that Malagobi was quite a formidable player.
The armor also featured a hidden compartment for gem inlays, allowing for further enhancement of its attributes. This indicated its high value; while it might not seem significant as most players leveled up and upgraded their gear, in a world where the average level was only around 20, its rarity was undeniable.
"Malagobi, you really are unlucky. You ran into me, and it's your own fault for getting wrecked," Edward chuckled to himself.
The second piece of equipment was also purple:
"Fire Dragon Boots, purple equipment, level requirement 25; Defense 40, Durability: 120/300, Resistance 7.4%, Additional Attributes: Spell Proficiency +2, Strength Proficiency +3, Movement Speed -8%."
The stats on these boots were relatively disappointing, but they still held value in the grand scheme of things.
Suddenly, everything that had puzzled Edward began to click into place. With the combined defense of the boots and the armor totaling 250 points, it was no wonder that bullets from his 576 joule shotgun and 630 joule MP5 could only inflict minimal damage in such harsh environments.
Realizing this made Edward break into a cold sweat. He understood just how big of a gamble he had taken. If he hadn't discovered Malagobi's weak point, he couldn't even imagine the consequences; even if he, the hot girl, and Mommy had charged in together, they would have been like moths to a flame.
Overall, this mission was a mixed bag for Edward, but in reality, it had turned out to be a windfall. He felt an exhilarating sense that his bad luck would be washed away with this victory, and that his time for prosperity had finally arrived.
Just as he contemplated this, the announcement system in the hall crackled to life, the melodic voice of an NPC resonating through the air: "Greetings, esteemed player 'Crazy Exploder.' Your friend 'Hot Girl' wishes to meet you. She is waiting for you outside the Federation Administration Hall at T3 Street. Please make your way to her promptly. Repeat: Greetings, esteemed player 'Crazy Exploder'…"
Edward perked up, his spirits lifted. He dashed out barefoot, eager to meet her.
Behind him, a chorus of voices murmured, "Wow, this guy's actually named 'Crazy Exploder.' No wonder he ended up like that!"