September 12.
6:00 AM.
After enduring three days of agonizing anticipation following the beta qualification, the long-awaited server launch day had finally arrived.
Following the tutorial on the official website, Du Mingdao put on his helmet, lay flat on his bed, and closed his eyes.
But seriously...
Could it really be as simple as this?
Yet, just as he entertained that thought, a beam of light pierced the darkness before him.
Even though he hadn't opened his eyes...
Du Mingdao sat up from the damp incubation pod, his once-dazed gaze quickly replaced by astonishment as he took in his surroundings.
This…
Was this the game world?
Sleek metallic walls and floor tiles, futuristic doors brimming with sci-fi aesthetics, wisps of faint steam rising from his shoulders, slowly siphoning away his body heat.
Taking a deep breath, he faintly caught a strange, unpleasant scent in the game world's air.
He wasn't sure if all this was real, but the sheer immersive sensation left him speechless.
This feeling—
Was absolutely incredible!
Just then, a nearby cryo-pod opened, and a creature with a lizard-like snout and skin covered in dark green scales sat up.
In an instant, Du Mingdao was startled.
"What the hell?! What kind of creature is this?"
"What creature..."
"Who the hell are you? An NPC??"
"NPC? I'm a player, you idiot! ID: Junk Collector, Level 99...I should be asking who you are!"
"You're Junk Collector?! I'm Blade Runner! So you're that newbie who joined the group a few days ago? Man, you're hideous!"
"Look who's talking..."
The amber-eyed lizard man stared in confusion, clearly not fully grasping the situation.
Soon, though, his gaze fell upon his scaly green skin, and the dawning realization began to sink in.
He looked down, examining himself frantically, claws scraping over his body, his tail wriggling like a lizard caught in the mud.
Suddenly, his gaze landed between his legs.
A piercing scream echoed.
"What the hell?! Where is my...that?!"
Du Mingdao nearly choked.
"Out of all the things you could be concerned with, that's what bothers you?!"
"Neither this nor that! Damn it, the devs scammed me! I'm a lizard man but can't even have a female avatar!"
"If you don't like it, why not switch places with me?"
"Go to hell."
A physical scan device was connected to each pod, showing their stats and levels, as explained in the official guide.
Junk Collector tapped his finger on the interface, and soon his stats projected onto the screen.
**[ID: Junk Collector, Level 99]**
**Gene Sequence: Mutant • Lizardman**
**Level: Lv.0**
**— Basic Attributes —**
Strength: 8
Agility: 7
Constitution: 8
Perception: 8
Intelligence: 2
**[Talent:]**
**Cold-Blooded (Enhanced stealth, sluggish in low temperatures)**
**Forked Limbs (Greater endurance, poor mechanical control)**
**Regenerative Body (Enhanced recovery, gene-level advancement difficulty)**
Whoa.
These stats were something else!
Junk Collector vaguely remembered that the base stats for an average adult male hovered around 5, fluctuating within a range of ±2.
Evidently, he was above average—aside from intelligence, his stats were extraordinary.
And who cared if intelligence was a bit low?
He could still show off!
Realizing this, Junk Collector grinned so wide he nearly split his lizard face, quieting down with satisfaction.
Sitting beside him, Du Mingdao, observing the silly, grinning lizard man, asked with concern.
"Are...you okay?"
"Fantastic! Let's get out of here and meet up with the others! We can't keep the Administrator waiting!"
With that, Junk Collector leapt out of the pod.
He found that being a lizard had an unexpected advantage—there was no need for clothes, as there was nothing to cover.
Watching the lively lizard prance around, Du Mingdao's expression turned odd.
He noticed a piece of paper stuck to Junk Collector's backside.
"There's something on your...behind."
"What?"
Junk Collector, feeling something foreign, twisted and clawed at his back, eventually scraping the paper off.
The paper was waterproof, thankfully intact.
However, the text on it was neither Chinese nor any language he recognized.
Perplexed, Junk Collector scratched his head and said, "What does it say? Are you some clueless kid? Could you be...a grade-schooler?"
"Oh please. I'm actually a director at a fashion design company. Unlike you, I don't seek validation in games."
"Director, huh? I thought you'd be the CEO of some conglomerate. Where, exactly, does a 'big shot' like you work?"
"None of your business!"
Du Mingdao was speechless.
Both of them seemed like kids...
Naturally, these two weren't alone.
The newly logged-in players, having waited so long to secure their beta qualification, were thrilled, chattering endlessly, exploring every inch of their surroundings.
Some were even banging their heads against the wall, and instead of feeling pain, they giggled to themselves.
Others were grabbing the nearest player, begging to be punched for the sheer thrill, wanting a taste of combat before encountering any monsters.
Du Mingdao felt a chill down his spine.
Was this a game world, or a madhouse?
Just as things were getting more chaotic—with someone even preparing to drop their pants—a voice of authority echoed through the hall, coming from the main door.
"Silence."
Instantly, a profound silence blanketed the room.
The voice held a certain gravity, compelling all players in the hall to fall silent and turn towards the source.
Du Mingdao was no exception.
As he gazed at the figure at the door, a spark of excitement flared on his face.
An NPC!
The opening storyline!
This must be the legendary Administrator!
Though it was his first time in the game, he'd avidly followed the lore and forum posts. He knew the in-game setting well.
The other players, equally captivated, held their breath, awaiting the beginning of the storyline.
When selecting players, Chu Guang considered not only their professions but also their forum activity, engagement time, and demeanor, doing his best to screen out impulsive "kids" and petty bickerers.
They'd be better off hauling bricks on the worksite—not here.
Surveying the gathered players in the hall, Chu Guang, calm and dignified, spoke slowly.
"Welcome to Vault 404."
"I am the Administrator here."
"Codename—Dawn."