Chapter 1: S-Rank Talent [Witch]
Pei Hening thought her boyfriend had gone mad.
At eleven o'clock at night, he yanked her out from under the covers to play a no-name, no-brand, no-reputation game called "Gods' War: Starting from Road Survival" with him.
Pei Hening pulled her silk robe tighter around herself and sat on the sofa. Looking at the person before her, she snorted lightly, "You'd better give me a reasonable explanation for disturbing my sleep, or I'll get angry."
Her boyfriend, Chu Xuange, was downloading "Gods' War: Starting from Road Survival" on her phone.
After downloading the game, he handed Pei Hening a cup of hot coffee and sat down beside her.
With his movement, that bone-chilling cold firmly enveloped Pei Hening. Yet, he stubbornly pulled her into his embrace.
At the same time, he also took out his own phone, waiting for midnight to strike.
Chu Xuange rested his chin on the top of her head and gently nuzzled it, making her uncomfortable. She leaned back, sinking deeply into his arms.
Chu Xuange breathed in the rich floral scent on her, his eyes dark and heavy. The oppressive sense of urgency brought by his rebirth eased slightly. Thankfully, there was still time.
"Don't be angry yet, Baby. This game is very important. Let's have some coffee to perk up first. The closed beta starts at twelve and lasts for six hours. We'll both have to tough it out together."
Pei Hening held the steaming coffee cup with both hands and asked slowly, "Chu Xuange, you made this whole fuss just to get me to play a game with you? Can't you play games anytime?"
Looking at her sleepy little face, Chu Xuange got straight to the point: "It can only be played tonight. Six hours from now, this game's closed beta ends. Then, all humans worldwide aged fifteen to sixty will be pulled into this game to begin Road Survival."
Pei Hening burst out laughing: "President Chu, you called me out late at night just to crack a joke..."
Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, the smile on her face suddenly froze.
"Are you serious?"
Chu Xuange nodded silently.
——
Midnight.
The two of them entered the game on their phones right on time. There was no opening cinematic as one might expect; it directly jumped to the character creation screen.
Pei Hening randomly selected a female character. When setting the name, she entered her usual online alias, [Di Bi Di Bi].
Right after she finished typing, a mechanical female voice suddenly sounded in her mind: "Welcome, player [Di Bi Di Bi]. Please draw your Talent."
[Witch] (S-Rank)
You wield ancient magic, capable of crafting potions and items that permanently increase or decrease attribute points. Automatically receive one potion or item every 3 days. Existing outside the rules and order, you can nullify one rule-based skill. Starting from the second time, each nullification of a rule-based skill deducts 30% of your HP.
[Skill 1] Nature Belongs to Me
Upon use, heals living beings, restoring 100% HP, 100% MP, and doubling all attributes. Skill duration: 3 minutes. Cooldown: 6 hours.
[Skill 2] Witch's Code of Practice
Blessing, Curse, Prophecy, and Illusion are all mandatory courses for a witch. Blessing reduces the cooldown of all non-Talent skills by 30%. Curse lasts 1-7 days depending on its specifics. Prophecy foretells opportunities and crises within the next 7 days. Illusion stuns for 6 seconds, damage stacks 3 times with 1 critical hit. After using any mandatory course skill, deduct 25% HP. Cooldown: 12 hours (each course skill has its own separate cooldown timer).
[Skill 3] Companion Dice
Witches cherish life. When facing a powerful enemy, you can summon a creature (such as an undead, elf, or dragon) 5 levels higher than yourself to fight alongside you. After the battle, this creature requires the witch's next 3 acquired potions or items of that day as payment. After using this skill, your own attributes are doubled, but you lose 1% HP per second. Cooldown: 9 days.
[Skill 4] Knowledge Enters the Brain(Passive)
When learning skills or brewing potions, there is a 6% chance to gain sudden insight, instantly mastering the skill or potion. No cooldown.
After reading the skills, her character had already entered a bustling, dream-like city. Skyscrapers pierced the clouds, and all sorts of creatures strolled and moved through the streets. This was the Wandering Main City of Road Survival.
[Character] Di Bi Di Bi (Level 0)
[Talent] Witch (S)
[HP] 100/100
[MP] 100/100
[Strength] 2 (Attack, Carrying Capacity)
[Agility] 3 (Movement Speed, Attack Speed)
[Stamina] 3 (HP, Defense, Resistance)
[Intelligence] 11 (Spell Power, Perception)
[Charisma] 10 (Max) (Social, Summoning)
[Luck] 10 (Max)
After checking her character panel, Pei Heninglooked up at Chu Xuange and asked, "Character created, Talent drawn. What next?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard that familiar mechanical female voice: "Talentconfirmed. Welcome, player [Di Bi Di Bi], to the game Road Survival."
Chu Xuange instructed, "From what I know, during the closed beta period, the roads have no monsters, only treasure chests, shops, Wandering Merchants, and schools. Treasure chests are on the sides of the road. Baby, you need to pick them up and open them. The closed beta chests contain many good items. Everything in the shops, from Wandering Merchants, and school tuition fees costs only one copper coin. Baby, remember to buy a lot and spend a lot."
Pei Hening hummed in acknowledgment and then noticed her game character was sitting in a dilapidated little car. On both sides of the road were two golden chests. She controlled her character to get out of the car and open the nearby chest.
"Congratulations, player [Di Bi Di Bi], for obtaining: space expansion stone*2, Colorful-Tailed Bird Feather*2 (A), Gold Coin*1."
Pei Hening raised an eyebrow and went to open the other chest.
"Congratulations, player [Di Bi Di Bi], for obtaining: Monkey Scholar's Gold-Rimmed Glasses*1 (A), Pink Cat-Ear Hat*1 (S), Silver Coins*6."
[Colorful-Tailed Bird Feather] (A)
Upon use, the vehicle grows wings, increasing travel speed by 500%. Duration: 30 minutes. (Single-use consumable item.)
[Monkey Scholar's Gold-Rimmed Glasses] (A)
When worn: Intelligence +5%, Mental Resistance +10%, Concentration +20%, Strength -9, Stamina -12.
[Pink Cat-Ear Hat] (S)
Reportedly a hat worn by Lord Cat when treating animals. When worn, automatically grants the identity '[Lord Cat]'. Has a chance to attract injured animals seeking help. Rewards are received after treating animals.
Pei Hening continued driving her character forward. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a white flash of light in Chu Xuange's hand, and a delicately packaged jewelry box appeared.
Pei Hening's pupils contracted. She had still harbored some doubts about Chu Xuange's words, but seeing him materialize a jewelry box out of thin air made her believe most of it!
Chu Xuange took out a pair of pink jadeite bracelets from the jewelry box and decisively slipped them onto her wrists.
The bracelets were carved with patterns of white clouds, little birds, forests, rivers, high mountains, small fish, canyons, and various other scenes. The patterns on the left and right bracelets were different.
Once the bracelets were on her wrists, they automatically adjusted to fit perfectly. The pink jade bracelets complemented her fair, slender wrists beautifully. Chu Xuange grabbed her hand and, with restraint, kissed her fingertips.
Pei Hening's voice was hoarse, "Where did these come from?"
Chu Xuange chuckled lightly, "Stole them."
Pei Hening: "!!!"
Pei Hening had a ton of questions, but she also knew the most urgent thing now was to follow Chu Xuange's plan: gather supplies, acquire items, and open chests.
"Accept my friend request, then keep playing. I'll explain more once we're in the game."
"Player [Ning Ning Little Princess] requests to add you as a friend."