Aris entered the gaming pod, feeling the familiar rush as the world around him dissolved into digital code.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the vibrant realm of Zone 7.
The air was crisp, and the scenery was breathtaking—lush trees towered above him, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze, and streams of crystal-clear water flowed beside him, reflecting the surreal beauty of this world.
As he took in the surroundings, a short man suddenly appeared at his side. "Welcome to the Feng Xian Sect," the man said in a voice that was both warm and commanding. "God has been watching you since the first time he met you."
Aris turned to respond, but before he could ask anything, the man vanished as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving Aris with more questions than answers. He sighed and looked up at the sky, feeling a strange mix of excitement and wariness.
This world, despite its beauty, was filled with mysteries and dangers.He followed the path ahead and soon found himself among a group of players, all of whom were gathered for the induction ceremony.
The atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and boredom; some players looked eager, while others appeared indifferent, clearly having gone through this process many times before.
"Welcome to the Feng Xian Sect," the instructor began, his voice echoing through the clearing.
"This is one of the few Emperor-Level sects in the entire Zone. As the younglings you are, we will train you until you have mastered the art of becoming strong."
Aris felt a flicker of excitement at the instructor's words. He scanned the faces of the players around him, noticing how most of them looked uninterested, as if they were just waiting for the ceremony to be over. It hit him then—these were seasoned players who had seen it all before.
They were just going through the motions, waiting for the NPC to be done.
A boy standing next to Aris muttered under his breath, "Damn, this is so boring. I wish there was a skip button in this game."
"Huh?" Aris turned to him, confused. "Why would you want to skip? Isn't the instructor imparting valuable knowledge?"
"Valuable what?" the boy replied, incredulous. "Bro, he's just an NPC. They always repeat the storyline."
Curious, Aris asked, "So what happens next?"The boy sighed, clearly fed up with the whole process. "He's probably going to say something like, 'We are going to bestow you with an immortal—'"Before the boy could finish, the instructor continued as if on cue,
"So you all will venture into the Grit Forest to look for your cultivation arts!"The crowd erupted with a mix of suprise and groans Aris couldn't help but smirk—It seems this Zone is not like rhe other Zones.The instructor's voice boomed again, bringing the players to attention.
"Okay, you all are going to stay in the Grit Forest for about 72 hours. Use your wits, strength, and whatever skills you possess to survive. Good luck!"
With that, the instructor hopped onto a flying sword and soared into the sky, leaving the players to face the challenge on their own."Fuck you!" a dozen players shouted in unison, shaking their fists at the rapidly disappearing instructor.
But Aris wasn't focused on their frustration. He was already formulating a plan. He noticed a group of new players who looked green, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement. They were perfect—easy targets to manipulate and use for his own gain.A slow smile spread across Aris's face as he approached them, his mind racing with ideas. If he played his cards right, he wouldn't just survive the Grit Forest—he would dominate it.