Vol-3: 071. Public Beta Arrival

071. Public Beta Arrival

[Descent Complete]

[Welcome back to Star Abyss]

Neural network intrusion, visual link synchronization.

Caramel Snail blinked, his eyelashes damp from the morning dew, while blades of grass brushed gently against his ears, the wind tickling his face and making him itch.

"Ugh, my body feels so heavy."

The melodious chirping of birds was like an alarm clock, waking up every cell in his body. Although only a day had passed, he felt as if this body hadn't moved for two weeks. He skillfully circulated energy to loosen stiff muscles, activating blood vessels and opening up his meridians.

"Ah… sunlight."

Sunlight filtered through the purple tree leaves, casting a mosaic of shadows. He raised his hand to shield his eyes until the sunlight sifted through his fingers. His light brown pupils shrank rapidly and then gradually adapted to the brightness.

"Didn't expect that with the new version update, we'd end up on an alien planet. After days of suppression on Azure Star, seeing the sun makes this space trip totally worth it."

Caramel Snail stood up, scanning his surroundings: the system indicated his descent location as White Candle Star-10-98-1 Ruins.

He turned around, seeing that quite a few people had already descended. Guild players had already grouped up, quickly mapping and exploring the new environment. Most of the players who were the first to reach space had team resources backing them, with even a few streamers supported by guild forces.

In a way, he wasn't entirely alone either.

Opening his communication panel, Caramel Snail immediately received friend requests from club members, entering the group chat. When his buddies saw his standout Lv.15 and the unique 'Coordinates: White Candle Star,' they instantly held him in high regard.

"Ah Niu, you're all our hope now," said ID 'Fishing Minister' in a meaningful tone. "I'll take care of the guild in the meantime. You go ahead and explore; don't worry about us."

"Alien Lord, Venmo me 50 for Crazy Thursday and prove your strength." 'Literary Dragon,' an old friend from Weapon Combat, chimed in jokingly.

'Summer Insect Ice': "Hey… anyone got advice for a 'government employee' start?"

Summer Insect Ice shared a video clip. Caramel Snail took a look and said, "The new Frost-Plated Republic president, David Lin, just took the oath of office. The capital is under tight lockdown—no big deal. You're on the government side, so just follow along with your department."

"My character came with a long-standing wish task; should I do it? It's so sad. She comes from a poor background, her sister went missing, she worked her way into the government through sheer effort, ready to change her life, and then collapsed from job stress just before it all began. If I hadn't descended, no one would've ever known she was destined for greatness."

Summer Insect Ice's innocent words reminded Caramel Snail of his own early days in the game.

Back then, he had started as an ordinary dropout hanging around on the streets. After being betrayed and beaten up by friends, he even killed a thief on the road. He kept the sensory system maxed out, fully immersing himself in the experience.

Now, after seeing plenty of unpleasant things, serving on the Azure Star's front lines, he'd grown used to it all.

Seeing Summer Insect Ice's sensitivity brought back memories of those early days.

"I'd say go ahead and do it. Don't worry about time. The sponsor can cover me if we need to make a show." Caramel Snail reassured him.

"Thank you, Zi Niu."

Just as he was about to reply with 'You're welcome,' someone suddenly patted him on the back. Caramel Snail was startled, only to see a brightly colored female character resting her chin on his shoulder, curiously asking:

"Yo? Chatting with your little girlfriend?"

"Hey!" Caramel Snail drew his neck back, then noticed who it was. "XXG Cumin Powder—can't you act normal for once?"

"Sorry, it's a habit." Cumin Powder raised her hand, slinging it around his shoulders like a bro. "I called out to you for a while, but you were zoned out. I figured you were chatting, and sure enough, I was right."

"A normal person would've waited if they saw someone busy, but you had to interrupt—definitely a bit ill in the head."

"Oh, don't mind me. We're bros, right?" Cumin Powder gave him a hearty pat. "By the way, did you think about what I said last time?"

"Last time?"

Caramel Snail glanced at the message history:

XXG Cumin Powder: "Heard you took down three warriors alone—amazing! Even that punk Night Sword only took down six. If you're free, wanna join the youth training? —4 hours 37 minutes ago (Read)"

"About the youth training, huh? Didn't I already respond?" Caramel Snail sighed.

"Ha? Who still uses email these days, young man? Don't blame me." Cumin Powder shrugged, leaning against a wall with her slim waist, revealing cybernetic skin and circuitry. "Besides, it's a big deal; better to discuss it in person."

"Thanks, but I don't plan on joining a pro team for now."

Caramel Snail shook his head, glancing sideways at the nearby ruins.

"Is that so? No worries. The Star Abyss pro league plans are still underway, so you're welcome anytime." Cumin Powder waved her hand. "Since we're already on an alien planet, want to form a team? Night Sword, Yu Tian Xiao, and Galliton are here. We're making a squad, and with you, we'll have front, scout, DPS, and even logistics."

"Sounds perfect."

Caramel Snail was more than willing.

These pro players or those with pro training had performed incredibly well in the Tianhuan ambush, with impeccable gunplay and close combat as their foundation—every shot a headshot, swift aim switches, rooftop acrobatics during urban fights—their skills and combat awareness were leagues beyond average.

Going solo was tough and high-pressure, so it was better to have backup on an alien planet.

They'd already friended each other; Cumin Powder added him to the team directly.

[You have joined the 'Kendrow' Squad; team-shared experience pool activated.]

Seeing the others busy, Caramel Snail refrained from interrupting, chatting with Cumin Powder instead. As his eyes scanned the mountains, he noticed ruins in the distance and asked curiously:

"Is that 10-98-1 Ruins?"

"Yep, it's the main city for us space players. The respawn point defaults to here—we'll bring in a high-level Redemption player later, so we can set respawn points in the wild, making missions and maps easier."

"Speaking of which, I should complete the main quest I started on Azure Star."

Caramel Snail opened his quest log.

[Main Quest 'Unknown Domain'—Complete]

[Calculating rewards...]

A. 'Brave Legion' — 'Li Aozi' needs a powerful Mutator army to assist in his objectives. Change your class and complete training to level up.

Reward: Main Class—Mutator, 50,000 XP (Non-Domination class players will receive 50,200 XP)

B. 'For Tomorrow' — A hydrogen bomb buried by Beijo Corporation is essential to space travel, and you scouted the area.

Reward: 'Li Aozi' favorability +100, allowing you to rent Omega-level psionic power [Gravity] for 35,000 XP per month.

C. 'Endless Star Abyss' — You've taken your first step in the Star Abyss: the Stratum, a neutral space with neither curses nor blessings, now open to you.

Reward: 'Li Aozi' favorability +100, allowing you to study the Mutator class knowledge [Psionic Refinement Theory] from 'Li Aozi' for 5,000 XP.

——————————

For players, main quest rewards weren't a big deal, but achieving the first quest completion, entering space, and stepping onto an alien planet—this chain of accomplishments added up significantly. The title rewards boosted combat effectiveness tangibly.

"Hey, my favorability with 'Li Aozi' went up to 265 points, reaching the 'Admired' level. That unlocks more options."

Caramel Snail had already raised his favorability with 'Li Aozi' significantly by completing numerous quests.

Learning psionics wasn't essential; he only rented [Eye of Truth] and [Soul-Binding Sword Saint] abilities. But 'Li Aozi' offered more than just these.

"Wow, you've actually built up that much favorability?" Cumin Powder's eyes sparkled, grabbing his wrist. "Come on, let's go find 'Li Aozi' and see what you can exchange for."

"Is 'Li Aozi' on White Candle Star now?"

"Of course, by game time it's only been two and a half months; he should still be on White Candle Star."

The two hurried into the ruins' interior, which looked entirely different from outside—most of the cracks had been patched up, and the interior was orderly. Passing through corridors, they saw small trees and flowers in the garden, farmland, and private tents, adding to the atmosphere.

There were quite a few players inside the ruins, thanks to the NPCs stationed there. Many players who rushed in at launch were now swarming around, looking for quests or info.

As Caramel Snail approached, he noticed it wasn't 'Li Aozi' surrounded by players, but rather a strange woman.

She appeared to be in her twenties, draped in a black cloak with lifeless, grayish-silver hair like dry straw hanging down her shoulders. Only a hint of her pale lips and gaunt jawline was visible.

"Who's that?" Cumin Powder was puzzled. "Where's Li Aozi?"

"Let me check."

Silver runes flashed in Caramel Snail's eyes as he used [Eye of Truth] to look at her.

[Target concealed, cannot observe]

"Huh?"

Caramel Snail was stunned.

The next moment, the woman in the black cloak suddenly lifted her head, her cold gaze landing on him. Meeting her eyes made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

He saw her eyes.

A pair of colorless, webbed eyes with an eerie pattern.

"Uh..."

For some reason, looking into her eyes immediately brought an unsettling feeling to the surface.

"I've seen this before."

Caramel Snail suddenly said.