Most protagonists start their journeys as either hidden dragons biding their time or wronged underdogs breaking free—blessed with plot armor that lets them crush enemies, gain overpowered abilities, and ultimately build vast harems.
But Bai Shuang? She got the exact opposite treatment.
She wasn't the heroine. She was the ultimate NPC—the kind destined to be humiliated, beaten down, and utterly demolished by the real protagonists.
Born with a silver spoon, her father had ranked sixth among the Seven Great Space Clans. His death left her inheriting everything—most importantly, the sixth-largest orbital city: Whale Fall.
But in just a few months, on the 25th anniversary of Old Lord Bai's passing, Whale Fall would host the legendary "Whale's Decree" tournament. The final victor would become the city's next ruler.
The rules were simple: a combat game where challengers faced off against Whale Fall's AI system. The first to defeat it would claim the city.
Registration had opened 25 years ago. Now, over half of space's population—men, women, even children—had signed up. Earthlings were migrating en masse for a chance.
Each participant received a 10-digit ID. The AI, as the original account, bore the number:
0000000000
Hence its infamous nickname:
"Player Zero."
And here was Bai Shuang's cosmic joke—she was Player Zero.
Once the tournament began, she'd have to masquerade as the AI, standing alone against billions of challengers.
Others progressed by slaying monsters. Her role? Be the monster that got slain.
Eventually, someone would defeat her, seize Whale Fall, and carve their legend across the stars.
Of all tragic fates, hers was uniquely cruel.
And the worst part? She couldn't tell a soul. In all the cosmos, only Wu Qiong knew her secret.
This 25-year ruse was Old Lord Bai's desperate ploy—a delay tactic to stop the six other clans from swallowing Whale Fall whole.
Dinner & Destiny
At dinner, Bai Shuang was finally released by the kind-hearted Teaflower Maiden.
She tiptoed to the side hall, where Wu Qiong dozed in a wicker chair, still in his black daoist robes. The loose fabric draped over his slender frame, lending him an immortal's aura.
"Dad," she whispered, resting her head on the armrest.
The title referred to Wu Qiong, but her heart ached for her birth father—Old Lord Bai, the visionary who built Whale Fall from nothing. A man who died at 73, leaving behind a legacy... and an impossible choice.
If the world learned Bai Shuang's true origins, blood would flood the stars.
So Old Lord Bai devised his gambit: 25 years after his death, any space resident over 12 could compete for the city.
Now, that deadline loomed.
As Bai Shuang reminisced, a hand gently stroked her short hair.
"Me too," Wu Qiong sighed.
No torment compared to watching loved ones die while you lived on.
Old Lord Bai was gone—now a cosmic legend. Only Bai Shuang's presence kept Wu Qiong sane.
"You'd really gift Whale Fall to some... Little Black or Red?" Wu Qiong's voice sharpened.
"I love him!" she protested.
"Stay confined for three months," Wu Qiong said. "Then see if he remembers you."
Bai Shuang deflated. Her life was pure tragedy—destined to be everyone's punching bag, then forced to reward her attackers with power-ups.
Worse? She might have to hand over her home as a boss drop.
The Gathering Storm
Teaflower burst in: "Elder! The Ivory Land lord leads the six clans to our gates!"
Wu Qiong levitated, robes fluttering. "They grow impatient."
With over a billion participants, the clans feared an outsider might snatch victory—and with it, Whale Fall.
"Prepare tea," Wu Qiong commanded. "I'll receive them."
Teaflower stole a glance at the ageless daoist—forever young, forever alone.
Perhaps no one could ever replace Old Lord Bai in his heart.
e storm about to break over them all.
The grand hall of Whale Fall hummed with tension as the six great space clans assembled.
Outwardly, the atmosphere was cordial.
In truth, every faction was calculating, scheming—each determined to claim this lordless city for themselves.
At the forefront stood Habsburg VI, Lord of Ivory Land. The fifty-something European aristocrat cut an imposing figure in his ornate space formalwear, every stitch radiating authority. Beside him sat his wife, Rosa "Little Rose" Robert, whose elegant gown belied her age, framing her in timeless grace.
Together, they exuded regal dominance—a living declaration that Ivory Land ruled the cosmic hierarchy.
"How ironic," came a honeyed voice from across the hall. "The Habsburg men boast of their prowess, yet for trivial negotiations, they need their women to hold the line."
The speaker was Thorns Robert, Rosa's half-sister and matriarch of Dencity Station. Where Rosa was refined, Thorns was razor-edged—a woman who'd built her empire on shattered alliances.
Rosa's smile didn't waver, but her knuckles whitened around her fan.
The sisters' feud was legendary. Once, the Robert clan controlled near-Earth space with Dencity's industrial might and Rosa's thirty thousand orbital relays. Then Habsburg seduced Rosa—and with her, the relays, cementing Ivory Land's supremacy.
Now, Thorns watched her sister defend Habsburg interests over blood ties, her gaze sharp enough to flay flesh.
A clash of dynasties.
Wu Qiong observed it all as he glided into the hall, his black robes swirling like ink in zero gravity.
"Blessings of the Dao," he intoned, clasping his hands in a ceremonial bow. "To what do we owe this… unexpected convergence?"
"Enough theatrics!" bellowed Chang Ming, the brutish CEO of Ferry Corporation. "We're here about the d*mn tournament rules!"
Wu Qiong's expression remained serene. "The Whale's Decree proceeds as ordained."
"B*llsh*t!" Chang slammed a meaty fist on the table. "Ten billion players registered! If someone wins early, the rest of us get screwed!"
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. No clan wanted to lose their shot because of queue logistics.
Wu Qiong spread his hands. "The late lord's edict cannot be altered."
Seizing the opening, Habsburg VI rose. "We propose two compromises: First, a test server to gauge the AI's difficulty. Second, public player IDs to track competition order."
Disaster.
Wu Qiong's palms dampened. These demands would expose Bai Shuang's secret.
Yet chaos bred opportunity.
"A test server… can be arranged," he conceded, watching factions tense. "But we must agree on three terms: who tests, in what order, and… whether test victories count."
Thorns Robert's laugh was glass shattering. "So Ivory Land gets early access? How… convenient."
Habsburg's smile turned glacial. "Each clan sends equal testers. Fairness."
Wu Qiong's sleeves fluttered as he bowed—a puppetmaster cloaked in humility.
Let them tear at each other.
Every feud bought time.
Every second shielded Bai Shuang.