Chapter 3 (Skyroad)

Chapter 3, 今夕何夕

Wang Jinghai painfully crawled to his feet. The helmet in his arms was so battered the smooth paintwork of it had been ruined. It was only when he got to his feet that he discovered us. He started. “You guys...what do you want?”

“Nothing, really.”

Lin Che softly asked, “You’re a gunman?”

“Yeah, what about it?” Wang Jingfei smeared away a trickle of blood at the corner of his lips. “What have you guys found me for?”

I smiled. “The few of us here plan to form a studio, to campaign in <em>Skyroad</em> when it opens. We need a strong gunman, so we thought we’d invite you as a member.”

Wang Jinghai’s gaze was still proud and wild. “Why the hell should I join you guys? Do you guys even have the qualifications?”

Lin Che grinned, jabbing a thumb at me. “This chap’s Mu Chen, his <em>Skywarp’s</em> ID is ‘Polaris Herder’, better known as the ‘Legendary Horseman of the North’. My name is Lin Che, ID’s ‘Cold Autumn Water’, a magician ranked 17 in this country’s server. Do you think we’re qualified to invite you?”

“Po...Polaris Herder?”

Wang Jinghai looked at me, surprise evident on his face. "You're...that guy who brought Silverfox's squad and slew a path into golden league? The Polaris Herder? Nation's number one horseman?"

"Any doubts?"

I faced him squarely under the lampposts.

Wang Jinghai examined me closely, stunned. "You do seem a little familiar..."

"In this country's servers, the strongest players reigning in the arena only number a hundred. He is among the hundred, and also the only player of the horseman profession. Again, do you think we're entitled to invite you to our studio?"

"If I join you, what benefits do I gain?" Wang Jinghai thought for a while, then asked us.

Lin Che solemnly said, "Besides forming a studio, we also plan to establish a corresponding business company. Our company will employ you at a high wage. Wang Jinghai, are you willing to join us?"

Wang Jinghai seemed to have been bought over by his words. "Your company...does it have the strength to conquer a piece of land in <em>Skyroad</em>?"

"It does."

"Good, I'm in!" Wang Jinghai suddenly nodded.

I extended a hand, smiling. "Welcome to our group. How should we address you?"

"Call me Da Hai."

"Right, 'Da Hai' it is. First time meeting you, hope to get along well with you in the future!"

Wang Jinghai nodded back. "Likewise; hope we'll support each other well!"

~

We brought back Wang Jinghai back to our studio.

Now, we only lacked one crucial point.

The next topic was the purchase of the game helmets.

"<em>Skyroad</em> released three types of hemet beforehand. The first type was an ordinary one, which went for 2,000 RMB. However, the reality level is only 85%, and the sound and visuals may have slight disturbances. At the same time, the helmet requires the user to have one hour of rest every eight hours, or it'll have adverse effects on the body."

Lin Che looked at the magazine in his hand detailing information about the game and continued. "The second helmet was a medium grade helmet, which costs 10,000 RMB for one. The reality level is reported to be 96% and above, and the user can be online for twelve hours continuously. The helmet has no adverse side effects on the body.

"The third type of helmet is the VIP (military) grade helmet. It goes for 50,000 RMB for one, with a reality level nearing 100%. You can be online for any amount of time you want. As long as the person can stand being online for extended periods of time, it's fine. After they released the helmets, the ordinary helmet was almost immediately sold out. Personally, with the eight-hour limit on the helmet, I don't propose we buy the ordinary helmet."

Wang Jinghai nodded in agreement. "Yeah, in the early stages of the game, players who can game continuously for twelve hours and above will have the advantage. Since our studio's focus is to earn money and level up, we should spend money on the knife's edge and purchase the best VIP helmet.[note]'spend money on the knife's edge' means spending money on the important things[/note]

Zhang Wei nodded with him.

"But, we have no money," I said.

Lin Che shrugged. "That's right, Chen Ge blew all his savings providing a villa for his uncle, I gave all my pawned money to my mom and I'm near penniless."

Zhang Wei spread out his hands. "Not only am I penniless, I also have several thousand's worth of foreign debt."

Wang Jinghai shivered. Three pairs of eyes evenly watched him. He spoke up hesitantly, "I...wasn't your company going to give me a high salary? Why...why can't you even provide the basic funds for the helmets? Don't tell me you want me to fork out the money?"

Lin Che spoke to him comfortingly, "Think of it as your payment in advance to this studio. When we get the money, our company will definitely return it with thanks. Don't worry about it."

"Da Hai, do you have two hundred thousand?" I asked.

Wang Jinghai gritted his teeth, his expression tragic. "No, how would I have that much? Even if I did have, it would have been my hard-earned money painstakingly earned from offline PK. If your company doesn't make a profit, I'll go bankrupt."

"You're one of the higher ranked gunman in the country's servers. You need wealth to be useful. Even if a thousand gold is lost, you will still regain your pride and confidence." Lin Xin proceeded to tear down Wang Jinghai's protest.

"I feel that this is not too...reliable, like I've stepped aboard a pirate ship." Wang Jinghai carefully chose his words.

"Actually, as long as you take out a hundred and fifty thousand, it's all good. The last season in the country's server, the strongest reigning player would receive a custom-made VIP helmet as a gift from the Yueheng corporation. I already received one along ago, so you don't need to buy for me."

I opened my backpack and drew out a dazzling golden helmet. On top of it was engraved with the eight words "Zheng Zhe Wu Ju, Yong Zhe Tian Xing" immediately followed by the three words "Ding Muchen". This was a rare laurel of the seasonal champion, the legendary 'golden helmet'. It was fashioned the same way as an airforce pilot's.

Wang Jinghai's eyes lit up. This seemed to strengthen his resolve. "Alright, then I'll pull out a hundred and fifty thousand and play with everyone!"

"Yeah!"

Lin Che bought three VIP helmets. This time, everything was set up and ready. All there was left was the three months to <em>Skyroad's</em> release.

~

Time came and went quickly. It was just three days to <i>Skyroad’s</i> release. At midday 12 p.m., people would be able to register for their IDs.

“Remember, I’ll say this for the final time.”

I raised my game helmet, “I’ll select Horseman, Xiao Che Taoist, Dai Hai Gunman and Wei Ge Monk. Don’t choose wrongly. After you’ve formed your character, create your username. Don’t get it wrong.”

“Alright!”

The three of them nodded furiously.

“Get ready to log on.”

“Ok!”

On the second level of the villa, a few camp beds had been set up beside each other. This was our studio, where everyone entered the game together. Words could be exchanged between each other, so this set up was the most convenient.

~

I laid down and put on the helmet before starting it.

“Di~Di~Di~”

The instant I pulled on the helmet, I was met with darkness. A red speck of light floated in the vastness flickering slowly. It seemed to grow closer and closer. After a few seconds, the little speck blossomed into a bright radiance, morphing into the elegant figure of a fine fairy. She was tiny. Dressed in a light miniskirt that accentuated her impressive figure, she wielded a scepter in one hand as she flitted through the darkness and arrived in front of me. “Master, I am your fairy companion. Please give me a name.”

I sucked in a deep breath. “Ding Muchen’s girlfriend!”

I had no choice in the matter. The woes of an older unmarrie male...only I understood them!

The fairy companion started. The words “Ding Muchen’s Girlfriend” quickly appeared above her head. Her lovely face flushed scarlet. As if she understood the words displayed above her, she said, “Master, you’re so bad...”[footnote]Took out ‘awkwardly’ as it doesn’t fit.[/footnote]

My jaw dropped. Fuck, looks like <i>Skyroad</i> had already surpassed the previous generation in certain aspects!

The fairy companion continued. “Master, it is still 57 minutes before registering is allowed. Allow me to help you countdown to the registering.”

“Okay.”

The countdown appeared in the dark space. The fairy flitted to and fro in front of me, muttering to herself. “This formless world shall soon be opened. Can’t wait to see it...”

I sighed inwardly.

Not long later, the countdown quickly ended. The darkness before my eyes began to clear.

“Shua~”



仿佛天地初开一般，黑暗被光明驱散，眼前出现了一片灰暗世界，无数形态佝偻，浑身血腥气息的邪灵出现在大地之上，他们嘶吼不绝，戾气盛旺，足足有五米高的巨兽提着巨岩，一双眼睛血红，战鼓声隆隆作响，怪物军团的前方则出现了整齐的人类铁骑战阵，相互冲锋杀伐起来。

鼓声震撼天地，一场腥风血雨就此展开。

一个个身穿血色长袍的邪恶法师高声吟唱，召唤异世界的邪灵，顿时空中血色气流乱窜，一道道猩红的光柱在人类铁骑群中炸开，血肉横飞，一个个仿佛铁刺车轮般的诡异怪物在人群中滚动，尖刺将骑兵、战骑不断割裂，无比血腥，阵列前方，则是密密麻麻的鬼卒，他们本是人类，但受到了黑暗的蛊惑，成为了邪灵的先锋，浑身爆发出无尽的血气，挥舞利爪与人类重骑兵杀成一团。

整个世界，被血腥所染红。

就在混战之中，一个娇小的身影从人类骑兵、剑盾甲士的人群中走出，那是一位绝美少女，身穿一袭白衣胜雪的长裙，手握一柄云霭缭绕、流光璀璨的利剑，猛然挥出长剑，一道剑气撕开天地，笔直的轰入了邪灵法师的人群中，顿时三名邪灵法师的身躯齐齐爆开，化为一团血雾。

少女一步步向前，无数血色火光撞击在她周围，被护身罡气尽数弹开，她时而停滞，时而咬着红唇，始终一步不退的向前走去，最终，她的身躯被无数鬼卒、凶暴巨人淹没，紧接着，一道剑光冲天而起，将无数邪灵绞杀，整个世界都变成了一片血红。

转眼间，一切化为虚无，空中云霞似血，淡淡的化出了一行字眼——

正者无惧，UU看书 www.uuｋanshu．com 勇者天行。

……

大大的“天行”二字悬挂在天边，而我也进入了创建账号的系统，眼前出现了一座圣殿，系统开始扫描我的身躯、外貌，生成了一个跟我差不多的年轻人站在圣殿中心处，一身破旧的新手打扮，终于，天行世界，我来了！

“滴！”

精灵女官看着我，道：“系统已经检测到你的曾使用名‘北辰牧星’，此名字已经被系统保护，请问是否启用？”

“不。”

我摇摇头，已经不想再用这个名字了。

“主人，请重新为自己命名。”女官身姿轻盈，笑着说道。

我想了想，一个名字悄然从心底深处跳出，便开口说道：“今夕何夕。”

是啊，曾经带领银狐征战黄金联赛，曾经多么辉煌，闭上眼，仿佛还能看到许多人，想起许多名字，夏依然、苏希然等等，她们一个个的身影都出现在回忆里，但此时，一切都已经归于平静了，确实有种今夕何夕、今日何日的感觉。

“游戏名确认为‘今夕何夕’，请再次确认。”

“确认。”