150. The Hope of the Village
Looking at the ratio data, it's easy to see: in all games, players who can be called pros are always in the minority. Those truly skilled and proficient in game mechanics account for only about twenty percent.
Among them, excluding casual players, the true experts, big streamers, and top-tier players rarely exceed five percent.
Professional players are considered the best in the game, and globally, there are only a few thousand registered.
Online games are a microcosm of society. To excel, one must first understand their role.
As an amateur player, Jia Renlu clearly knew his position. Among ordinary players, his talent was decent. Though his strength was limited, he ranked within the top twenty percent.
With this level of talent, if he were lucky enough to join a major guild and receive resources and training, he might rank in the top three percent of the Yanxia region, roughly in the tens of thousands. By sharing gameplay highlights with music and effects to impress less skilled players, he could earn some traffic income each month.
"If only I could join a major guild, I'd gain access to resources and rarer quests. The video quality would improve, and my income could triple."
Unfortunately, players like Jia Renlu were akin to non-fresh graduates in the job market. The top 500 companies wouldn't consider him, and local firms couldn't meet his needs. Stuck in between, he was at an impasse.
Recently, he'd been applying to a major guild he admired. The guild was an established studio that started with boosting and accompanying services. Jia Renlu had a good voice and solid skills, and he hoped to expand into this field. Yet, despite submitting his application for days, there was no response, as if it had vanished into thin air.
"There probably won't be any news today either. Forget it, let's focus on editing the video I'm working on."
[Arrival Completed]
Logging into the game, Jia Renlu woke up in a cafe on a street in Frost-Plated City. He stretched, then instinctively opened his private chat inbox.
[Unread Message: Tianxia Qiyuan Guild•HR Department]
"Hmm? What's this?"
Jia Renlu froze. Tianxia Qiyuan? Wasn't that the guild he'd been applying to recently?
They hadn't replied before. Why now?
Could it be an acceptance—no, with no prior response, it was likely a rejection. But who knows...
Nervously, he opened the letter. It contained only a single line: "Equip your best gear and come to the Triangle Town Arena immediately."
Jia Renlu was stunned. He quickly jumped up from his seat and left Frost-Plated City at lightning speed. Hours later, he arrived at the Triangle Town player settlement.
Triangle Town had undergone tremendous change. The influx of players provided abundant labor, reclaiming idle land and enabling Lord Oakland to purchase barrier generators from the Four Kingdoms. Now, it was one of the most prosperous independent city-states, with clean streets and orderly houses, radiating vitality.
Stepping out of the vehicle and entering Triangle Town, Jia Renlu noticed many players heading towards the arena. The previously quiet streets were now bustling with activity, crowded with people.
Though the residents, accustomed to players, were unbothered by their presence, the simultaneous gathering of so many locals and players at the arena was unusual.
Some wild-party players were still debating outside. Even the nearby taverns were packed. Those unable to secure seats in the arena resorted to watching live broadcasts in the taverns, where betting cries rang out.
"Fight! Activate invincibility and rush his face!"
"Ah, another one-punch KO. These newcomers aren't great, are they? Could they be shills?"
"Anyone counting? How many wins so far?"
Jia Renlu sensed something was off. It seemed everyone was focused on challenging one person. Before he could investigate further, he found himself in front of the Tianxia Qiyuan Guild's base. A dozen formal guild members sat together, their faces clouded with frustration.
Jia Renlu cautiously approached and asked:
"Hello, seniors. I'm Jia Renlu, responding to the notice—"
"Finally, another one arrived."
Before he could finish, a [Shaman] player stood up:
"Show your stats—hmm, not bad. Level 30 Alpha tier, pure [Martial Artist]. Good strength."
Confused, Jia Renlu focused on the [Shaman]'s name, which had a prefix: [Guild Leader].
What?! Was this the legendary Tianxia Qiyuan studio leader? He commanded over twenty elite players providing services, and the studio's monthly tax payments exceeded Jia Renlu's annual income!
"Old Xu, add him to the guild," the [Shaman] Guild Leader instructed. A sour-faced vice leader immediately added Jia Renlu to the guild.
Just like that, he was in?
He'd applied for days, expecting interviews, only to join directly?
Jia Renlu, bewildered, nervously asked:
"Guild Leader, why are we all gathered here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the Guild Leader snapped. "Haven't you seen the news? A cheating player is dominating the arena here. Each challenger gets one chance. Win, and you'll receive 1 million Galons. No class, gear, or item restrictions."
One million Galons!
Jia Renlu held his breath, his mind blank.
In "Star Abyss", with its robust economy, players could earn money through gameplay or trading. Currently, 1 Galon in Frost-Plated City equaled 11.5 Derbies. A million Derbies was unimaginable for players, let alone the even more valuable million Galons.
The crowded arena, the bustling spectators, the betting cries.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Excitedly, Jia Renlu asked:
"Guild Leader, with our guild's strength, we must have tried, right?!"
Everyone looked at him like he was an idiot.
The Guild Leader's face was expressionless. The sour-faced vice leader explained:
"Everyone in our guild has already tried."
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed overhead. Jia Renlu turned in shock to see a figure launched sky-high from the arena. The figure flailed in the air before crashing headfirst into the ground.
Splat!
[Recognition Filter Activated]
The scene was so brutal even the system couldn't bear to watch.
Then, the arena's large screen lit up, and an electronic announcement blared:
"Congratulations to Isaac Maxim for a crushing victory, achieving his 49th consecutive win! An unprecedented powerhouse!"
"Is there anyone left? Can anyone stop Isaac's rampage?! My god, someone stop him!"
"Challengers, the 1 million Galons are calling for you!"
Jia Renlu gaped, feeling a sudden chill down his spine.
Turning around, he found the entire Tianxia Qiyuan Guild staring at him with hopeful eyes.
Smack.
The sour-faced vice leader patted Jia Renlu's shoulder and said gravely, "Now, you're our only hope."
Jia Renlu looked at the group, then at the unrefreshed player corpses, and gritted his teeth.
"Fine! I'll give it my all. It's now or never!"