The dim glow of the city lights flickered against the twilight sky as Xiao Feng sat alone in his small apartment. Outside, the streets of Xiangzhou bustled with life, but inside, there was only the quiet hum of his computer and the soft tap of keys. Xiao Feng, a young man who had been blind from birth, had always been seen as weak, helpless, and unable to fully participate in the world around him. He had never known the joy of seeing the vibrant colors of the world, the beauty of nature, or the faces of those around him. To him, the world was a canvas of sounds, textures, and sensations—a world he had learned to navigate with remarkable skill.
But it was in the world of Beast Summoner, an online fantasy game, where Xiao Feng truly came alive. Here, in the pixelated realms of battle and magic, he was not the blind boy from the small neighborhood. In Beast Summoner, he was known as "ShadowCaller," a legendary summoner who had tamed beasts beyond imagination. His blindness had never hindered his gameplay; if anything, it had enhanced his senses, allowing him to hear the subtle whispers of enemies and the cries of his summoned beasts with clarity that no one else could.
Xiao Feng adjusted his headset, the familiar weight of the controller fitting comfortably in his hands. The room was dark except for the faint light coming from his computer screen. His fingers moved across the buttons as he entered the main menu of the game, his mind already in tune with the rhythm of Beast Summoner. It wasn't just a game for him; it was his escape, his domain, where his mind could roam freely—a place where his disability meant nothing.
The Life of Xiao Feng
Growing up in Xiangzhou, Xiao Feng had always felt like an outsider. His parents had done their best to support him, but there was only so much they could do. His father, a simple shopkeeper, and his mother, a kind-hearted seamstress, had sacrificed everything to give him a good life. Still, they couldn't shield him from the harsh reality of being blind in a world that often overlooked him.
At school, he was bullied, ridiculed by classmates who saw his blindness as a weakness. His peers never understood his intelligence, the sharpness of his mind, the abilities he had honed in his isolation. The world treated him as a burden. Even though he had top marks in every subject and an encyclopedic knowledge of history, science, and technology, no one saw past his disability.
The only solace Xiao Feng found was in the world of Beast Summoner. In the game, his blindness was irrelevant. His opponents didn't know that he had memorized every battle map, every creature's ability, and every game mechanic through sound and vibration. It wasn't about sight—it was about understanding the game on a level no one else could. Through his mastery of sound and touch, he had risen through the ranks, becoming one of the most formidable players in the world.
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The Game: Beast Summoner
Beast Summoner was more than just a game—it was a world in itself. Players entered a virtual realm where they could summon, tame, and fight alongside mythical creatures. The game's mechanics were complex, involving strategic thinking, resource management, and precise timing. Players could train their beasts, level them up, and engage in massive battles against other players. But what made Beast Summoner truly unique was the way it blended magic, strategy, and adventure.
As a player, Xiao Feng had mastered the art of summoning beasts. His first beast, a Shadow Wolf, was a creature of pure darkness, able to move through the shadows undetected. Over the years, Xiao Feng had summoned countless creatures—griffins, phoenixes, hydras, and even dragons. He had learned to synchronize his mind with the creatures he summoned, feeling their strength, their power, and their desires as if they were extensions of his own will.
But there was one creature that he had yet to summon—the legendary Thunder Dragon.
The Thunder Dragon was the game's most coveted and feared beast. Its immense power over the skies and its ability to summon thunder and lightning made it a creature of pure destruction. Only those who could harness the power of the storm could summon it.
Xiao Feng had heard of the Thunder Dragon's power but had never dared to attempt summoning it. However, tonight, he felt something in the air—a sensation he couldn't ignore. His fingers hovered over the keys as the announcement for a special event flashed across his screen: The Storm's Awakening. This rare event, only available once every few years, would allow players to attempt summoning the legendary Thunder Dragon.
The event intrigued Xiao Feng. The opportunity to summon such a powerful creature didn't come often, and he had spent years preparing for a moment like this. His heart pounded as he hears the details: only a select few players had ever succeeded, and those who failed faced devastating consequences. Still, Xiao Feng felt that the time had come. The game was more than just a diversion for him; it was a calling, one that could unlock powers beyond his imagination.
The Summoning of the Thunder Dragon:
The arena for the event was unlike any Xiao Feng had feels before. It was a vast, open field surrounded by towering storm clouds. The air crackled with electricity, and Xiao Feng could feel the tension building, almost as if the world itself was holding its breath. The ground beneath him vibrated with energy, and the sound of thunder echoed in the distance. His senses were heightened as he stood firm, his summoning circle glowing brightly before him.
The moment the event began, Xiao Feng's pulse quickened. The air around him became thick with energy. With a steady hand, he began the incantation to summon the creature of the storm. As the last words left his lips, the world exploded in a flash of blinding light, and the ground shook violently.
From the center of the summoning circle, a massive form emerged—a colossal dragon wreathed in crackling lightning, its scales shimmering with the intensity of a thousand storms. Its wings beat the air with thunderous force, and its roar shook. The Thunder Dragon, Lei Long, had arrived.
Xiao Feng's senses flared as he felt the raw power of the beast. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before. The dragon's eyes, glowing with the intensity of a storm, locked onto him, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The creature's voice, deep and thunderous, rumbled in his mind.
"You dare summon me, mortal?" the dragon's voice was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Xiao Feng did not flinch. "I do. I seek the power of the storm, the strength to conquer the challenges ahead. I am not weak."
The dragon circled him, its immense form casting shadows over the battlefield. "You are blind. How can you control me?"
Xiao Feng stood tall. "I may not see with my eyes, but I see with my heart. I have fought many battles, and I understand the forces that drive you. I will not fail."
The dragon's eyes narrowed, its form crackling with electric energy. "Prove it."
With a calm but resolute mind, Xiao Feng reached out, feeling the pulse of the storm within the dragon. He connected with it not through sight but through the storm itself—the roaring wind, the crackling lightning, the very essence of power. He understood the dragon's energy, and in that moment, he became one with it.
The dragon's immense power flowed through him, and with a final roar, Lei Long accepted him as its master. The storm surged around them both, and Xiao Feng felt the storm's wrath and its grace. The Thunder Dragon, now bound to him, settled beside him.
A New World
But just as the dragon's form enveloped them both in a surge of lightning, Xiao Feng's world was engulfed by blinding light. The crackling energy faded into nothingness, and when his senses returned, he realized something had changed. His surroundings were no longer familiar. He was no longer in his small apartment, nor was he in the virtual world of Beast Summoner. Instead, he found himself standing in a vast, unfamiliar land, one that felt ancient and filled with hidden power.
The world around him was unlike anything he had ever known. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, and the air was thick with the scent of magic. He could hear the wind whispering through the trees, and in the far distance, the thunder of a coming storm rumbled. But it wasn't the storm of the game—it was real, and it was powerful.
Xiao Feng heart racing. "Where am I?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
A voice, deep and echoing, answered him from behind. "You have crossed into my world, mortal. You have been chosen."
Xiao Feng turned to face the source of the voice. The Thunder Dragon, Lei Long, stood beside him, its form shimmering with the same crackling energy that had bound them together. But this time, it was different—this world, it seemed, had accepted him.