Chapter 264: ID: Xu Yuan!!
At this moment, the trial had already started.
Outside the Trial Grounds, there were actually no more restrictions from the real HIM stopping players from having disputes.
In other words, even if players and monsters get into conflicts or kill each other, they will no longer be erased like before.
But at this moment, the spectators outside were still watching the trial in an orderly manner.
Although there were occasional small frictions due to standing positions, no one deliberately stirred up trouble.
It's unclear whether it's because they don't know the restrictions have been lifted, or because they never wanted meaningless fights in the first place.
Right now, everyone was standing in their own positions, silently observing the developments inside the Trial Grounds from a god's-eye view…
———
After an unavoidable death, Xu Yuan was reborn at the border between a grassland and a forest.
This time, his luck was actually pretty decent. Grassland and forest terrains are relatively advantageous terrains.
Food, trees, ores, and other resources are rich, quite beneficial for early development. After all, the golden rule of sandbox games is, 'to get rich, first punch a tree.'
If one spawns in a desert or a snowy tundra at the start, it's going to be harder.
However, the real HIM created this trial to test "human nature," not to train special forces. So even desert or snowy environments shouldn't be too harsh. They should at least meet the basic needs for survival.
After being reborn, Xu Yuan first observed his surroundings for a while. He didn't see any other players.
Although deep in the dense forest, a few zombie roars could be heard occasionally, and there were a few chickens scattered around the grassland not far away.
But after watching carefully, he could basically confirm that those were products of the Trial Grounds, not the conscious beings from the Main World who were participating.
For this trial, Xu Yuan had roughly estimated back in the preparation zone, there were around 3000 participants.
The area of the entire Trial Grounds was still quite large. These 3000+ people were likely scattered at the moment.
After confirming that nothing around him posed a threat, Xu Yuan didn't immediately rush toward the oak tree in front of him.
Instead, he opened his character interface. Upon seeing his character's appearance and ID, Xu Yuan couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
His current character appearance was exactly the same as his character in his previous life's MC save.
That appearance was DIY-ed by Xu Yuan himself, very simple, a buzz cut and all-black clothes.
The only difference between this and the one in MC was that in MC, it was a blocky character, and the face couldn't be adjusted.
But now, his current appearance used the same DIY design, and the face was that of Xu Yuan himself in his previous life.
Besides the appearance being the same, the character's ID was also changed to Xu Yuan's real name.
Seeing the name "Xu Yuan" appear as his character ID, Xu Yuan couldn't help but joke, "Thanks for the reminder, I almost forgot what my name was."
Although in this world, the name HIM was something players gave to Xu Yuan through chance and coincidence, that name has been used ever since.
The players of this world only know HIM, but don't know Xu Yuan. But it shouldn't be long before the name Xu Yuan becomes known to everyone.
"Kinda curious what Tyrant HIM and Annoying Village HIM will look like…"
Since the real HIM hid Xu Yuan's original HIM appearance, then Tyrant HIM and Annoying Village HIM are probably the same.
For Tyrant HIM, Xu Yuan could more or less imagine, probably that skin with the armor and mask from Shattered.
As for Annoying Village HIM, Xu Yuan couldn't really imagine. Annoying Village HIM's appearance was the classic white-eyed Steve.
To hide HIM's identity, the real HIM would definitely make his eyes look normal. But if that happens… doesn't that just make him Steve?
Also, Steve is participating in this trial too, wouldn't that cause a face collision?
"Forget it, we'll run into them eventually…"
Although Xu Yuan was curious, now wasn't the time to be wondering about that. He still had to plan for future development. Xu Yuan already had a rough development plan in mind.
First of all, strengthening himself was definitely the top priority. The improvement of his own strength was the foundation for all other plans.
No matter what world you're in, strength equals speaking rights.
Thinking this, Xu Yuan looked up at the sky. It was already evening, the sky was about to go dark.
"Guess I'll spend the first night in a mine."
Xu Yuan quickly punched a tree, crafted a crafting table, and made a wooden pickaxe.
On the way, he jump-attacked a few chickens as backup food, and began his mining journey.
Xu Yuan was the type to fend for himself. Although he saw Black Blade and his group in the preparation area, Black Blade's goal was clear, he was obviously coming for Xu Yuan.
But Xu Yuan didn't intend to find them.
First, because it would be hard to find them, the map is huge, there are so many players and monsters, without prearrangement, finding each other is like fishing in the ocean.
Second, if he did find Black Blade, it would make Black Blade's usefulness drop sharply. Black Blade had the strength to unite and lead a faction. If he stayed beside Xu Yuan too early, he'd just become a gofer rather than a leader.
That wouldn't help development. It'd be better to let Black Blade grow on his own first, and reunite when needed.
While Xu Yuan was focusing on his own development, multiple factions had already begun gathering inside the Trial Grounds.
Although Xu Yuan, Tyrant HIM, and Annoying Village HIM had earlier access to info about the Trial Grounds, other factions still had some advantages over the three of them.
Since the entrance to the Trial Grounds stayed open for two hours, and a full map of the area was displayed, the players from other factions could plan their locations in advance.
They had already decided from outside where to meet and develop.
Steve, being the pillar of the player faction, had naturally planned all of this in advance. Logically, grassland and plain terrains are best for early development. But Steve didn't choose either of those.
Those terrains are good for development but too open, too easy to be ambushed. So Steve chose the desert terrain as the gathering point.
He also told the players to collect as many resources as possible on the way to the meeting point.
Steve was doing the opposite of what others might expect.
The desert isn't good for undead mobs to develop in, this meant the monster threat would be minimal.
And players, unless they were brainless, wouldn't choose to spawn in the desert either, since resources are scarce.
That eliminates most player threats too. Even if some unlucky ones did spawn in the desert, with Steve's reputation, it would be easy to recruit them.
Add to that the players bringing in various resources as they gather, if things go smoothly, it's believed Steve will soon become the ruler of the desert region…
Gotta admit, Steve really earned his current achievements. His strength and brain are both top-tier.
Just like he expected, other factions, even within the player camp, none chose the desert as their gathering point.
On the player side, there were mainly four factions, Steve, Grayfist, Black Blade, and some solo players.
Grayfist chose a jungle terrain near the ocean as their gathering point. Jungle terrain, while covered with vegetation, isn't as tightly packed as a forest.
Abundant plants help early development, even if there are more monsters. But Grayfist and his members were all skilled, those monsters weren't a threat at all.
The monsters could just be used as backup resources. And being near the sea meant rich ocean resources, like sunken ships to loot.
For food, they could farm on land, and assign people to fish every day, not only getting fish to eat, but also useful items.
And if they manage to build a hidden fortress underwater later, it would be extremely safe.
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