Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Departure
In the end, it was just one simple line with no follow?up announcements.
Voices rose all around the platform: “Damn, that’s it?” “At least explain the game and how to play!” “Yeah, how are we supposed to play? This makes no sense.” Someone scoffed: “Tch, a bunch of idiots. Are they your dad? Do they need to tell you everything? Can’t you figure it out yourself?” Another snapped: “What did you say!” A calmer voice cut in: “Alright, stop arguing, isn’t there a beginner guide inside the wristband?” Someone huffed: “Hmph.”
After complaining, the players lifted their wristbands to check.
Long Ming raised his hand and tapped his wristband. A Blue Tier virtual screen popped up, and a prompt hovered into view: “Read the beginner guide?” He chose: “Yes.”
He had never played a game this real before. [This feels like real life. I have no idea where to start.]
The guide unfolded on the screen: “Dear player: Civilization Paradise is a high?dimensional game. Players will be born in Starlight City. Please note: fighting in the Starlight City area is strictly forbidden and will be severely punished. To help you enjoy Civilization Paradise, each player will receive 10 Level 1 Civilization Random Experience Vouchers. Players can use the space portal to travel to different civilization worlds with these vouchers. After entering a civilization world, you may follow system missions or explore freely to obtain valuable items, as long as you extract within the set time. Each player has an initial backpack and a safe box. Warning: if you fail to extract in time or die during exploration, your initial backpack and all gear on your body will be lost. Items in the safe box will not be lost.”
Long Ming read it carefully, then frowned a little. He understood the basics, but his heart was unsettled. [I get the idea, but I’m still uneasy.] He calmed himself, closed the guide, and focused on the wristband’s main menu.
The screen showed categories: Character, Instances, Backpack, External Warehouse, Quest Log, Friends, and System.
He tapped Character. The panel displayed: Name: ID NO.841221 Civilization Explorer (rename). Race: Carbon?based Human. Gene Level: Level 0. Class: None. Strength: 5. Agility: 5. Stamina: 5. Intelligence: 5. Charm: 5. Skill: Universal Language (Passive).
He studied his stats. They looked like standard starting numbers. Still, something felt off. He stared at his virtual body with a tight brow, then it hit him: [I’m not coughing here. My senses and strength feel better. I feel like a normal person.] A small smile tugged at his face. This game was not bad at all.
He opened Instances. The list showed civilization categories for Levels 1 through 6. Each category opened to rows of gray question marks, even the Level 1 Civilization options were locked. It was clear they needed some condition to enter.
He backed out and opened Backpack. The panel read: Backpack 1 (Safe Box). Use: wristband scan. Volume: 1*1. Note: cannot drop on death. Tip: initial carry weight is 20 kg. If you exceed this limit, stamina drains faster. Carry capacity changes as the character grows. Items in the safe box do not count toward weight.
He glanced over it, then opened External Warehouse. Inside were ten initial backpacks and ten vouchers. He checked the backpacks: Backpack (Physical). Use: carry on your back. Size: 35*20*45 cm. Note: all items drop on death or failed extraction. He checked a voucher: Civilization Experience Voucher: witness the dead silence together and enjoy the delightful thrill of death.
He closed that and opened the Quest Log, but the list was empty. In System, there was only one button: Log Out.
After reviewing everything, he tapped the wristband and withdrew one backpack from the warehouse. A plain 20?liter double?shoulder pack appeared in his hand. He slung it on, then took out one Level 1 Civilization Random Experience Voucher.
A prompt flashed on his wristband: “Activate Level 1 Civilization Random Experience Voucher? Using this voucher will assign you to a random Level 1 Civilization instance.”
He did not activate it yet. He looked up at the many players on the mechanical platform. Most were still reading the beginner guide. [Right now, the fastest readers and earliest movers are likely guild teams or pros. Some might just be reckless. If I act now, I’ll probably queue with them. If there’s trouble, one?on?one I have no edge, and one?versus?many would be worse. Better to wait. Maybe I’ll end up with more ordinary players, and I can watch how others move.]
Minutes passed. Many players began to act. They pulled out backpacks, put them on, took out a Level 1 Civilization Random Experience Voucher, and activated it.
Zzz! The vouchers shone with a Blue Tier halo, then scattered into starlight.
At the center of the platform, the Mechanical Obelisk glowed faintly.
Players slowly rose into the air.
Whoosh! One by one, they turned into white light and vanished.
Excited chatter broke out: “Wow!” “So cool, where were they sent?” “No idea.”
Seeing others start, many more could not wait to activate their vouchers.
Long Ming pressed down the urge to rush. [Stay calm. Wait a little longer.]
Time ticked by. In a little over ten minutes, about three quarters of the players had already activated their vouchers.
Seeing it was about time, Long Ming lifted his Level 1 Civilization Random Experience Voucher. The wristband asked: “Activate Level 1 Civilization Random Experience Voucher?” He said: “Yes.”
Whoosh! The voucher lit up in his hand, and white light wrapped around him. When it faded, he was standing on a small, spinning?top?shaped mechanical platform.
Players crowded the platform. Confused voices popped up: “What’s going on?” “Why bring us here?” “No idea.” Someone said: “Use your wristband. Check the prompt.”
Long Ming looked down at his wristband. It showed: Teleport Platform No. 432. Open Civilization: Wabiga. Civilization Level: 1. Headcount: 845/1000.
The number climbed fast. He understood at once. [This Level 1 Civilization world called Wabiga has a cap of 1000 players.]
The count hit 1000/1000. The lines on the central Mechanical Obelisk lit up and flashed bright.
Whoosh! White light covered everyone on the platform. The world around Long Ming turned blank white, and he could see nothing at all.