Chapter 11 Peeping Screen
The reason he looked so cool was simple.
Not only was the Zhou Ning in the video handsome, but he had a commanding presence that immediately drew viewers in. Even in the heat of battle, he remained the picture of composure, every move executed with a calm precision that suggested everything was under his control.
To put it simply, he looked badass.
As embarrassing as it was to admit, Zhou Ning was thoroughly enjoying the show.
Try it sometime if you don't believe him. There's something amazing about watching a video of yourself while others sing your praises.
The more they hyped him up, the better it felt.
Of course, this wasn't just hype. In his previous life, he had fought over 2,000 battles in the "Apocalypse" arena and maintained an 89% win rate. You could hardly call that empty bragging.
He continued playing the video.
Onscreen, the furious Marion took a deep breath, preparing to unleash a powerful attack.
The players watching the video were all on the edge of their seats, worried for Zhou Ning.
But their worry was misplaced. The Zhou Ning in the video didn't hesitate for a second. He sprinted forward, narrowly dodging Marion's ultimate move, "Banshee's Wail." Instead, the Curse Cult members besieging him took the full force of the attack.
Then, as Marion flew toward him, Zhou Ning casually drew his pistol and fired. When the clip was empty, a shotgun suddenly materialized in his hand. He fired three consecutive shots, finishing Marion off.
The scene was incredibly impactful.
At this point, the video was nearing its end.
As Marion's body collapsed and dissolved into countless small spiders, the comment barrage exploded again.
"Damn it, he's so slick!"
"Such a show-off, but damn, he's cool!"
"He's a natural at this..."
"With a presence like that and his good looks, who wouldn't think he's the protagonist? Right? No way anyone thinks otherwise, right?"
"Everything in this video was computer-generated by the 'Apocalypse' engine. Theoretically, there is no such thing as a 'protagonist'."
"If he's not the protagonist, he's at least a child of the plane! Might as well call him the protagonist!"
The screen flashed.
The scene that appeared was one Zhou Ning recognized: the gates of Wick University.
A black-haired boy with a scar on his face, dressed like a freshman, raised his hands and clenched his fists. "I'm going to be the man who weathers any storm!"
A nameplate appeared above his head: Apprentice Alchemist, Leandro de Pesa.
The screen jumped again.
A girl with orange hair, an impressive figure, and patched-up clothes was managing a street stall, hawking her wares to passersby. She smiled as she fielded a request for a discount. "My clan's motto is 'fair trade and careful bargaining.' You won't get a single extra rochen out of me."
Her nameplate appeared: Apprentice Swordsman/Merchant, Chris Brendan Reiser.
Instantly, the screen was flooded with comments calling her "waifu."
The scene changed again.
In a boundless darkness, a single book lay open. Though untouched by any hand, its pages turned on their own, flipping rapidly.
They were filled with densely packed names.
After a moment, the pages stopped, settling on a single entry.
The first name on the page was Wayne Stewell.
The screen went black. The video was over.
Zhou Ning was left staring at the blank screen.
It's so frustrating to be cut off right there!
He was curious about the book, which gave him a vaguely ominous feeling. Whoever edited this video was a monster for stopping it there.
As for the two people shown before the book, they were very familiar. Their cheesy lines made him cringe a little.
In the original Apocalypse, that overdramatic kid was none other than the game's own Son of the Plane, Leandro de Pesa—a genius alchemist and a clueless meteorologist. And the girl was half a Son of the Plane herself, Chris Brendan Reiser. She was cute, well-endowed, and in his past life, had been called "waifu" by countless players. The fan books featuring her sold out instantly.
As the saying went: The doujinshi section couldn't be without Chris, just like instant noodles couldn't be without a flavor packet.
I seem to remember that those two are freshmen enrolling this year. School starts in a few days. I should try to get in touch with them when I have the chance, see if I can ride their coattails a bit.
Wait a minute… In this video, I appeared alongside these two children of the plane, and my segment was significantly longer than theirs combined. It really feels like they're giving me the protagonist treatment. They're probably the ones riding on my popularity.
If I didn't already know that "Apocalypse" has no protagonist, I might have actually believed it.
Zhou Ning took a deep breath and scrolled down to the comments section.
The video had only just been released, but in the time it took him to watch it, a flood of comments had already appeared.
"Calm, wise, handsome, powerful... a classic protagonist template. I've got a good feeling about this guy."
"Me too. I'm following him as soon as the test server opens."
"This promo was awesome, but can you make them longer?"
"Am I the only one who thinks Leandro is the real protagonist? Overdramatic kid, black hair, facial scar—he's a textbook hot-blooded manga hero."
"Everyone's talking about the closed beta. When does it start? I need to know!!"
Looking at the comments, Zhou Ning figured about half the viewers believed he was the designated protagonist of "Apocalypse."
To be honest, this was a pleasant surprise.
As a former player, he knew exactly how formidable the player base could be. If he could build a solid reputation within the community and leverage it properly, it would definitely help him thrive in the game.
As for the plot...
Whatever, it probably won't change much. The first expansion pack in my past life revolved around the ancient underground god Nyastra. A slight rewrite to change the main character wouldn't hurt anything.
[Ding! It has been detected that you have had a significant impact on the world of "Apocalypse." You have received a bonus of 1 random skill point.]
Zhou Ning froze.
Just as the thought of the time-travel simulator crossed his mind, a surprise notification popped up.
Random skill point +1!
Zhou Ning's eyes welled up.
This is so touching. A game that hands out random skill points so generously is a rare find indeed. Is this one of those legendary player-friendly games?
So it turns out you get rewards for influencing the game world, not just the simulation world...
After a day filled with anxiety and fear, he had planned to get some rest. But now, Zhou Ning was no longer the least bit sleepy.
Let's do this!
[Preparing to travel through time... Time-Travel Coin -1]
[Match found in a parallel space...]
[Do you want to spend another Time-Travel Coin to re-match your talents?]
He had plenty of coins now, a far cry from before. Zhou Ning chose "Yes" without hesitation.
[Please select three of the following ten talents as your matching conditions]
[1. Sports Genius (Blue): You have excellent athletic abilities.]
[2. Crooked Mouth Dragon King (Purple): Every time you smirk, problems just seem to solve themselves. Just do it.]
[3. Zidane (Purple): You possess the same amazing football skills as Zidane, but at a price: your hairstyle will be exactly like his was at age 35.]
[4. Tony Stark (Purple): Like Iron Man, you are a typical playboy—sharp-tongued but intelligent, resourceful, and a genius of science. While not quite on his level, you're not far behind.]
[5. Love Across Races (White): You're a natural-born furry. When you played World of Warcraft, you were particularly fond of the Tauren.]
[6. Sail-Like Back (White): Your back muscles are unusually developed.]
[7. Tai Chi Master (White): Your Tai Chi skills are perfected. Specifically, the kind that involves verbal sparring.]
[8. No Doubts at Forty (Green): You will become wiser by the time you reach forty.]
[9. Mechanical Ascension (Purple): Flesh is weak. It is time for mechanical ascension. Note: You may find that this world does not have the parts you want.]
[10. Honest and Reliable (Green): You never lie.]
[Please select!]