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Chapter 5 - The Advantage of Being the First Player

"About getting bio-energy… it's written here too.

You can convert corpses directly in the wild, at a 1% rate.

Or bring creatures back to the Bio-Energy Terminal.

The terminal is level 1 right now, so the rate is 10%.

There's even a main quest in the task list to upgrade the terminal.

Rewards are distributed based on personal contribution."

Huoyanyan continued reading.

"So far there are three known conversion values:

Hilichurl: 0.01

Small Electro Slime: 0.01

Large Electro Slime: 0.15

…That's it?"

He felt his scalp go numb.

Did this mean…

he'd have to kill a thousand small Hilichurls

just to earn ten bio-energy to revive himself at level 1?

There was no death penalty, yes—

but coming back to life was too hard!

"Genshin: Ignite is way too hardcore…"

If only he knew

the reason the game was so hardcore

was because Liang Chuan took 99% of every gain.

Liang Chuan wasn't worried about players complaining.

He took their bio-energy—

which let him summon more players.

If they complained? Ban them.

He had infinite replacements across infinite universes.

"This game is too hard… I can't survive alone. I need teammates."

Huoyanyan sighed.

"At least a tank, someone to hold aggro while I hunt monsters for bio-energy."

Guurgle…

His stomach rumbled again.

Satiety dropped to 20%,

and a Hunger debuff appeared.

"Hunger debuff? All stats −1, and HP drains 0.1%?

What the— I really can starve to death in this game?!

Nope. I need to log off and pull in reinforcements!

After I get my people online, we'll go hunting!"

He logged out.

Beside him, Liang Chuan had overheard everything.

After thinking for a moment, he asked the system:

"System, the players I summon—where exactly do they come from?"

[From all universes containing lifeforms modeled after the host.]

"Can I choose the specific player to summon?"

[You can, as long as the chosen individual has the will to enter the game.]

"The will to enter… that shouldn't be a problem.

Deduct ten bio-energy.

Summon the teammate of that Huoyanyan guy."

Better to have friends play together than random strangers.

A squad of acquaintances was always stronger.

Ding!

Bio-energy −10.

Awaiting player response…

With everything done, Liang Chuan returned to the hut and fell into deep sleep.

Somewhere in another universe—Blue Star.

Li Huowang (Huoyanyan) exited the game with a satisfied grin.

"Damn, that was good! A true 100% immersive game!

So fun! So addictive!"

But then a thought struck him.

A 100% realistic game…

Why had no one heard of it before?

Did the developers spend all budget on development and none on marketing?

And in the game, he had only met one NPC and zero other players.

His UID was…

0000000001.

"Wait… does that mean I'm the first player?!"

His smile spread so wide it practically snapped his face.

Being the first player meant what?

It meant he could farm resources before anyone else!

With that first-player advantage,

he could gather thousands—tens of thousands—of bio-energy.

When the player base grew,

he could sell it and become rich in real life!

And there was no chance this game would flop—

100% realism, supernatural powers from the moment you log in…

For players, this was heaven.

Even if he could only produce a tiny flame,

that still counted as supernatural power!

To Li Huowang, Genshin: Ignite wasn't just a game.

It was money.

White, shiny stacks of money.

A gold mine.

A treasure pot.

"I need teammates. Fast.

We're going to monopolize launch-day resources!"

He grabbed his phone and called his best friend.

"Zhao Ji, what're you doing?"

"Gaming."

"Whatever you're playing, close it.

Right now.

Then click the link I sent you and pre-register."

"Hold on, we're about to push high ground—

…okay, lost.

What game did you want me to—

Oh. Genshin: Ignite?

Never heard of it.

Judging by the art, it's some isekai magic-and-swords game.

Aren't those outdated?"

"Forget the genre. Look at the realism rating!"

"…100% realism?!

What company is this?!

Aren't they afraid of being arrested for false advertising?!"

"That's the thing—

it's NOT false advertising.

100% realism is real!"

"Sure it is…

Is this your new job?

Are you promoting the game?"

"Quit talking nonsense!

Just pre-register!

When it's daytime, hop on with me.

Once you enter the game, you'll understand everything!"

"Why daytime?"

"Because going hunting in the forest at night…

I'm scared."

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