dognovel Chapter 17 Is this the real game?
Chapter 17 Is this the real game?
A new system notification popped up without warning, filling his entire field of vision.
The "Rebirth of Zhaocheng" scenario campaign is now complete.
The new player tutorial has officially ended, and the new player protection mode is now enabled.
A series of blue characters announced that this thrilling journey through the dead city had finally come to an end.
Before Chen You could even catch his breath, his gaze was firmly drawn to the last line of text.
Newbie protection mode?
He focused his mind, and a detailed explanation of the pattern unfolded automatically.
[New Player Protection Mode: Lasts for 30 calendar days.]
During the protection period, you will be immune to all proactive attacks from other adventurers.
[Warning: If you attack other adventurers, the newbie protection mode will be immediately disabled.]
Adventurer? That's probably what players are called.
Chen You's mind was racing.
Thirty days! A whole month of absolute safety!
This means that for the next month, he won't have to worry about being stabbed in the back while walking down the street, nor will he have to fear being easily killed by some high-level player.
It seems that, aside from the numerical and narrative designers, the system designers at least have some brains!
His heart, which had been pounding wildly because of the BOSS battle, finally began to calm down.
He was enveloped in a sense of security, an unprecedented sense of security.
However, before the joy on his face could fully bloom, another notification popped up.
[New Quest Triggered: The City Lord's Summoning]
[Mission Details: The City Lord of Zhaocheng is awaiting your arrival at the City Lord's Mansion. Please proceed as soon as possible.]
City Lord?
What kind of city lord is in this dead city?
The moment Chen You began to have doubts, the whole world changed.
boom!
A surge of sound broke the silence without warning, violently filling his ears.
The cries of vendors, the chatter of passersby, the clanging of hammers in the blacksmith's shop, the hearty laughter emanating from the tavern...
Countless sounds intertwined, forming a torrent called "clamor," which instantly engulfed Chen You.
He looked up in surprise.
The gloomy black fog that had shrouded the city had completely dissipated at some point.
Instead, a soft, bright light source illuminated the entire city.
The once dilapidated and empty streets are now lined with all sorts of stalls, adorned with colorful flags.
What shocked him most was that the streets were teeming with people!
Those "other players" who previously only existed in imagination have now become real figures, thronging together in a continuous stream.
Chen You stood frozen in the crowd, feeling like a viewer who had suddenly stumbled from a black-and-white silent film into an IMAX movie, his brain briefly shutting down due to information overload.
It turns out that the lifeless Zhaocheng we just saw was just a "dungeon" or "plane" for a beginner's quest.
Now, has he truly entered the grand map of the "Origin Realm"?
"Lakuda!"
A harsh voice rang in my ears.
Before Chen You could react, a tremendous force came from his shoulder.
He staggered and almost fell.
[You have been physically struck by the adventurer "Manlei," damage -0 (Newbie Protection Mode activated).]
He steadied himself and looked up.
The person who hit him was an extremely large and imposing "person".
He is described as a "person" because he barely maintains a human form.
But he was at least 2.5 meters tall, with bulging muscles all over his body and skin that had a grayish, rocky color.
Its arms were particularly thick and long, almost reaching its knees, making it look more like a giant ape that walks upright.
The "Ape Man" player seemed somewhat surprised that he hadn't managed to knock the seemingly frail little guy away.
He stopped, turned his fleshy face around, and glared fiercely at Chen You with his large, round eyes.
He snorted out two thick breaths, then continued walking forward, grumbling.
Chen You clenched his fist.
It seems the players in this game aren't very friendly.
He silently watched the back of the player named "Manlei" and stopped thinking about it.
The most important thing now is to survive and then become stronger!
He suppressed his displeasure and began to carefully observe the real world that had just unfolded before him.
Upon seeing this, his heart was filled with even more turmoil.
The "people" on the street were all different shapes and sizes, a veritable exhibition of alien creatures.
Not far away, a stall owner had only one huge eye, located in the center of his face. He was moving his enormous eyeball and enthusiastically promoting bottles and jars of medicine to passersby.
A voluptuous female player walked past him, with a pair of delicate, antelope-like horns on her forehead and skin so white it seemed to glow.
There was another bald man—wait, he wasn't bald. His entire skull protruded upwards, forming a smooth dome, making him look incredibly intelligent (or rather, eerily).
Chen You subconsciously touched his face.
Smooth, symmetrical, with all facial features in their normal positions.
He suddenly discovered a horrifying truth.
On this bizarre and wonderful street, he, an ordinary, unremarkable pure human, is the most conspicuous anomaly!
There isn't a single "person" here who looks like him.
"So... the profession of 'Immortal' really is exclusive to civilization..." Chen You murmured to himself.
He finally understood the meaning of the system message he had received.
These oddly shaped players likely come from different civilizations and have their own distinct class systems.
He is the sole representative of Chinese civilization.
Just as he was feeling excited, he noticed a new icon that hadn't appeared before in a corner of the game interface.
It was a pair of crossed swords, sharp in design, emitting a faint red glow.
Below the icon, a row of constantly changing numbers deeply stung his nerves.
[PVP Protection Countdown: 29 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes, and 17 seconds]
The sense of security he had just gained, enough to make him feel at ease, was instantly replaced by a strong sense of urgency.
One month!
The countdown reminded him that comfort is fleeting, and the bloody law of the jungle is the eternal theme of this world.
"Damn it, we can't waste any more time." Chen You exhaled a breath of stale air.
He must seize every minute and second to transform the country's unlimited budget into real combat power in his own body!
He forced himself to stop looking at the various "gods" coming and going, and with a focused mind, he opened the interface of the loot he had just acquired.
The three items lay quietly in the backpack, emitting a blue glow that signified their "rare" quality.
【Wraith Blade (Rare)】
Type: Two-handed sword
[Class: Warrior]
[Equipment Requirements: Level 10, Strength 80]
Attack Power: +120
[Special Effect: Resentment Slash - Each of your attacks has a 15% chance to inflict the "Resentment Corrosion" negative effect on the enemy.]
hiss!
Chen You gasped.
Such powerful attack!
It's a whole level better than his beginner's iron sword!
It also comes with the "resentment corruption" effect that had previously given him a headache.
However, the equipment requirements and class requirements are equally striking.
He's not a warrior, and his level isn't high enough.
He shifted his gaze to the second item.
【Torn General's Armor (Rare)】
[Type: Heavy Armor (Breastplate)]
[Class: Warrior]
[Equipment Requirements: Level 10, Constitution 60]
Defense: +80
Maximum Health: +200
[Negative Effect: Burden of the Dead - Reduces the wearer's movement speed by 15% and increases stamina consumption by 20%.]
A piece of equipment with powerful attributes but obvious side effects.
Chen You frowned slightly, temporarily putting the two pieces of equipment out of his mind.
"Anyway, I can't wear them. I'll just let Director Li and the others take a look when we get back."
His attention fell on the last item.
It was a bronze tiger tally about the size of a palm, with an ancient and simple design. It had a seal script character "昭" engraved on it and felt cold to the touch.
[Zhaocheng Military Token (Quest Item)]
Type: Token of Love
[Description: Possessing this item will grant you official recognition in Zhaocheng. It serves as your credentials to meet the city lord.]
It turned out to be the case.
Chen You gripped the cold military token tightly, raised his head, and looked towards the end of the street.
There, a more magnificent and imposing mansion than any of the surrounding buildings stood silently.
The three large characters on the plaque, written in a vigorous and elegant style, read "City Lord's Mansion".