Chapter 2: A Decade Back, A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
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The weightless sensation had yet to fade when Adrian Li jolted up from the ground, his sharp gaze scanning his surroundings.
A gentle breeze brushed against his skin, the air crisp with the scent of fresh grass and damp soil. Verdant fields stretched endlessly before him, and in the distance, a small but familiar village stood serenely amid the plains. Villagers bustled about, welcoming the new day. The rhythmic clanging of a blacksmith's hammer echoed through the air, merchants shouted as they peddled cheap beginner gear, and life moved as if nothing in the world had changed.
His pupils contracted, his breath hitched, and his heartbeat pounded violently in his chest.
This wasn't a wasteland. This wasn't the apocalypse… This was Dawnlight Village?!
He had really returned to ten years ago?!
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Shock and Elation: The Restart of Fate!
It wasn't a dream. It wasn't an illusion!
He immediately looked down at his own hands—youthful, strong, unmarred by the thirty-five years of hardship and suffering he had endured.
His clothes—basic linen tunic and rough leather sandals—were exactly what he remembered from Eternal Sanctuary's beginner setup.
Taking a deep breath, he gazed toward the village. Dawnlight Village stood untouched, its people living in peace, unaware of the impending catastrophe. There were no monsters, no dimensional rifts, no destruction or death.
Everything hadn't happened yet!
Shock, exhilaration, disbelief, and urgency—emotions surged through him like a flood, almost overwhelming his mind.
Fate had given him a chance to rewrite everything!
This time, he would never let the apocalypse happen!
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The Ultimate Advantage: Knowledge of the Future!
Adrian forced himself to calm down as his mind raced.
He knew what the future held—
In five years, dimensional rifts would tear through the world, unleashing legions of otherworldly creatures upon Earth. Civilization would burn.
In seven years, 90% of the population would perish, and even Awakened fighters would be unable to halt the tide of destruction.
In ten years, humanity's last line of defense would crumble, signaling the fall of civilization.
But this time, everything was different!
He possessed knowledge that no one else had!
He knew who would become the strongest Awakened in five years, where the greatest hidden treasures lay, and which dungeons contained the world's most coveted artifacts.
Most importantly, he knew of a secret hidden deep within the game that no one had ever uncovered.
The Unique Class—Holy Light Summoner!
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The Secret of the Unique Class
Adrian rapidly recalled everything about Eternal Sanctuary.
As the lead developer, he knew of Holy Light Summoner, a class so deeply hidden within the game's mechanics that no ordinary player would ever have discovered it!
The requirements were absurdly stringent:
1. Only brand-new accounts, entering the game for the first time, could trigger the quest!
2. At the break of dawn on the first in-game day, the player had to enter an abandoned hut in the western side of Dawnlight Village and locate a hidden NPC—the Nameless Priest!
3. During the conversation, they had to say a specific key phrase: "Burn yourself to illuminate the world."
4. To complete the trial, the player must reach the Ancient Temple and ignite the "Flame of Holy Light" without using any weapons or attacking any enemies!
If they missed the precise dawn timing or failed the trial, the class would be lost forever.
This was why no player had ever obtained it!
But this time, he was here. He knew every condition. He wouldn't let this opportunity slip away!
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The Road to the Hidden Quest!
In the western outskirts of Dawnlight Village, an old, decrepit hut stood in isolation.
The wooden door was covered in moss, its windows shattered, making it look like a mere background prop—one that every player had ignored in the past.
But Adrian knew better. This place held one of the game's greatest secrets!
He walked forward and pushed open the heavy wooden door.
A musty scent filled the dimly lit room. Strange runes faintly glowed on the aged wooden walls. Sitting in the middle of the room, wrapped in a gray robe, was a hunched old man. His presence was ancient and solemn, as if he had been waiting in this forgotten corner of the world for eternity.
The Nameless Priest!
Adrian's heart pounded wildly. He forced himself to remain composed, took a deep breath, and approached the elderly figure.
With unwavering determination, he spoke:
"Respected priest, I wish to become a true warrior."
The air in the room froze.
The old man slowly opened his eyes, murky yet deep, as if seeing through Adrian's very soul.
For a long moment, silence filled the space. Then, the priest's lips curled into a mysterious smile.
"Youth, are you willing to burn yourself to illuminate the world?"
Hidden Quest Triggered!
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The Trial of Holy Light
——[Hidden Quest: Trial of the Holy Light]——
Quest Objective: Only the purest souls can carry the will of the Holy Light. Without using any weapons or attacking any enemies, travel to the Ancient Temple beyond Dawnlight Village and ignite the Flame of Holy Light.
Failure Conditions:
If you attack or use weapons, the quest will fail permanently.
Reward: Unique Class—Holy Light Summoner!
Adrian's eyes gleamed with determination.
This would be the first step toward rewriting the future!
He turned toward the outskirts of Dawnlight Village, where the forgotten ruins of the Ancient Temple awaited.
This time, he would not fail!