Chapter 2: Well, I'm Not Playing By the Rules

The following day heralded the official testing of "First Era," drawing a throng of players into this cross-age game.

"Cancel, cancel, cancel, reject all terms!" Gu Shanhai barked as he entered "First Era."

Having rehearsed a swift refusal the previous night while acclimating to his newfound physical form, Gu Shanhai, having journeyed from the future, found adaptation swift, thanks to his prior experience.

"Close call. If I hadn't acted fast, I'd be in a bind," he remarked, eyeing the prompt panel that vanished at his command, a wave of relief washing over him.

Semi-digitization left no room for consent. Failure to cancel immediately upon entry constituted default agreement, a subtle trap eluding the grasp of the ordinary mind.

With the rejection duly registered, Gu Shanhai sensed his initial illusion morph into reality, alongside the obliteration of his logout function.

This was his genuine body, not a fabricated player's form. Other digitized players wishing for corporeal presence would have to await the full assimilation of the world by "First Era."

Moreover, the various perks in the player's room gradually faded away—perks befitting a player, not a mere temporary laborer.

A message materialized on the wall:

"Do you wish to enter the novice tutorial?"

"Though the perks of a temporary worker leave much to be desired, the service attitude is commendable," Gu Shanhai quipped, selecting "yes" as this decision bore implications for his future development.

As a reborn individual, he harbored plans for navigating the initial dungeons. And as for the future? Ever heard of the butterfly effect?

In his previous life, he hadn't ventured into "First Era" until over half a year later. Splurging 10,000 yuan on a game seemed extravagant even then.

Furthermore, most game worlds he ventured into were randomized. With a plethora of realms within "First Era," attempting to revisit a past game held a probability akin to stumbling upon an innate treasure.

Yet, exceptions existed—such as the novice tutorial and the maiden foray into primary dungeons—each endowed with a special significance.

The novice tutorial holds a unique feature—it's resettable. In other words, if unsatisfied with the game world presented in the novice tutorial, one can alter it until contentment is found.

Different worlds within the novice tutorial offer varying rewards. For instance, in an urbanized setting, basic gun skills may be acquired, while a martial arts world might bestow Taizu Changquan, and a magical realm might grant fireball skills. However, it's worth noting that these skills, despite their diverse appearances and titles, are largely similar in quality and efficacy according to Gu Shanhai.

Following the novice tutorial, the initial primary dungeon often aligns with the tutorial's theme. This progressive compatibility fosters continuous growth within the system, creating a snowball effect in player development, a strategy employed to nurture players.

This affinity can be reversed naturally. In his previous life, Gu Shanhai amalgamated various systems to form his own.

"Beginner Tutorial: Blood and Fire City."

"Next."

Gu Shanhai noticed the distorted words on the wall and promptly replaced them.

Subsequently, the novice tutorial underwent another transformation. After perusing the options, he opted for another change.

However, this process was random; there was no guarantee of obtaining one's desired outcome. It required patience and perseverance.

"Thankfully, drawing cards doesn't incur costs, or I'd be bankrupt by now," Gu Shanhai grumbled.

After more than half an hour of deliberation, he finally settled on his choice.

"Beginner Tutorial: Baimai Valley · Nameless Cabin."

"At last, luck is on my side," Gu Shanhai sighed in relief. He had spent days contemplating random selections, knowing the plethora of novice tutorial worlds available.

This particular tutorial world was set in an era of immortal beings nearing the end of the Dharma era.

Indeed, most novice tutorial worlds share similar characteristics. For instance, the martial arts realm might resemble levels found in "Lu Ding Ji," where mastering internal strength elevates one to the pinnacle of martial prowess. Meanwhile, the Xianxia world might focus on Qi Refining, with formidable bosses abound, and the magic realm often presents whimsical challenges—casting a fireball may drain one's magical reserves.

In its infancy, "First Era" naturally shielded players from confronting those formidable worlds directly.

Under normal circumstances, the urban class novice tutorial proved most lucrative, particularly in worlds with modern weaponry. Picking up a firearm and familiarizing oneself with its usage provided a stable foundation for navigating the first-level dungeons and subsequent challenges.

The utilization of most active skills necessitated an energy reserve. Given the performance capabilities of players, NPCs, and monsters in these early dungeons, those proficient with firearms enjoyed a significant advantage—swift and accurate within seven steps.

For Mengxin, operating through the first three dungeons under standard conditions posed little challenge, ensuring the swift formation of a system without fear of dungeon torment.

However, most players acted of their own volition, save for professional or strong players. The true measure of strength in "First Era" wasn't solely dictated by game versions but also by one's inherent skill and strategy.

Gu Shanhai couldn't help but marvel at the exceptional treatment afforded to temporary workers in this initial version as he gazed upon the portal before him.

Upon stepping through, he found himself in a desolate hut, where a decrepit skeleton, draped in a tattered green robe, sat in meditation at a table, its bony hands resting upon its knees.

(End of Chapter)