To this day, Ling Ke still clearly remembered what exactly happened to him in the final moment before he transmigrated.
That day, he had simply gone down to the corner fruit shop to buy a watermelon to cool off from the heat. But at that very instant, raising his head with a strange gut feeling…
He saw a streak of blue light descending from the sky, growing larger and larger in his field of vision.
To this day, he still hadn't figured out what the hell that thing was that hit him square on the head.
However...
"In theory, anything that can make you transmigrate on the spot has to be some kind of portable cheat, right?"
"A system? A legacy? An old master sealed in a pearl? The core of an interstellar beast?"
Ling Ke had imagined all these possibilities — the great classics of the genre — countless times.
Because in his despair, they were his only hope.
Too bad that, for nearly four years of suffering, no matter how much he pleaded on the verge of death... he never received any kind of answer.
But now, finally...
[Special environment detected. Conditions met to activate the "Rebirth Chamber." Initiating full "Player One System."]
[Please select your future development path: "Savior Player" or "Endgame Player."]
Staring at the semi-transparent floating interface, as cliché as it was classic, Ling Ke squinted after going blank for a second.
Without a doubt, if this had happened a few years ago, he would have chosen to be a "Savior Player" without hesitation.
But now, his once-burning heart had long gone cold.
So, without hesitation...
[Host has selected: "Endgame Player."]
[From now on, every time an intelligent lifeform dies as a direct or indirect result of the host's voluntary action, one unit of points will be awarded.]
[Points can be used to randomly draw from "video game character templates," which the host may load onto himself to gain that character's "traits," "game abilities," and "background talents."]
[Initialization complete. Reward: Welcome Package.]
Ling Ke quickly skimmed through all the provided information.In a short time, he organized his thoughts.
First...
"Putting aside any humanitarian considerations, the difference between the Savior Player and the Endgame Player lies in their methods of gaining advantages."
"The Endgame Player has a much more straightforward way to earn points."
"Kill, and that's it."
"Meanwhile, the Savior Player — if they save the same person multiple times — can keep earning points."
"One grows explosively in the short term, the other grows steadily and slowly."
At this point, Ling Ke no longer realized...
His way of thinking had become extremely cold.
Or rather, utterly rational — rational to a terrifying degree.And on that basis...
"I, as the host of the Player One System and simultaneously the Herrscher of Domination in this era..."
"That means the function to load character templates — which normally only applies to one body — now extends to a thousand."
"And this Theater of Domination..."
Ling Ke looked around, "...now that it's been linked as my Rebirth Chamber, it has become an absolute domain under my control."
He remembered that in many of the games he had played before transmigrating, the "respawn room" was a protected zone inaccessible to enemies.
Like in Left 4 Dead...
Or Overwatch.
So...
"Now that the Theater of Domination has respawn-room characteristics, unless I allow it, no one can forcibly invade it."
"Based on that, actions like Kiana's in the original game — teleporting a ship inside using the Herrscher of the Void's power — would no longer be possible."
"Therefore, as long as I remain within the Theater, I start off in an invincible position."
Then...
[Welcome Package activated!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained a new character template: Anby.]
Upon seeing the result, Ling Ke's lips curved slightly.He immediately called up the system's detailed description:
[Character Template: Anby]
[Origin: Zenless Zone Zero]
[Traits: level system, HP system, infinite energy, indestructible gear, electric attribute, specialization in break, character switching...]
[Game Abilities: Normal Attack: Voltaic Rush / Descending Thunder, Dodge: Slide, Dash Attack: Electric Slash…]
[Background Talent: High Ether Compatibility…]
[Description: Real age and name unknown. Current name: Anby Demara. Possible member of the Opulus squad, number zero…]
"Number zero, huh?"
Ling Ke let out a slightly emotional sigh.
"That number fits me pretty well right now."
"Then…"
A dangerous and icy smile spread across his face.
"It's time to begin my first revenge."
"This West Asia Regional Headquarters... doesn't deserve to continue existing."