(Before the play, I emphasized that this novel was published by my other pen name, Zhao Zi Long, and I have moved it all here now, thank you for your understanding)

Three minutes before midnight, there was a knock on the door. The sound of persistent tapping, one after the other. Seth looked up from his knees and looked blankly through the dark living room to the door. The knocking stopped.

This could be a bug. Even if it's not ridiculously late, it doesn't look like there's a visitor waiting in line to meet him. But no one here knows him.

He put his head back on his arms and closed his eyes. His bed was in the hall, but he felt more comfortable where he was – sitting on a soft carpet with his back to the wall, unpacked cardboard boxes piled up on either side of him like a fortress. It feels safest here.

Someone banged on his door again. Louder and more persistent - whoever it is, clearly not planning to leave.

Sef wondered if the man was drunk, but he sighed wearily and stood up. He paced past his living room and stopped at the door. He leaned over and looked through the peephole. What he saw made his eyes widen. Immediately, he took a step back, unlocked the door, and pulled it open. "Uncle Finn!"

The people in the hallway stopped, their hands half-raised ready to knock on the door. He was tall and thin, and despite being only in his forties, he stood hunched over as if carrying a huge burden. His chestnut hair, which was already turning gray, looked like it hadn't been combed in three days.

When he saw Sai, the man smiled. "Seif, you're here. I'm sorry, I know it's late. Can I come in? “

"Yes, of course." Sef moved to the side. He watched Finn come in, noticing for the first time that he had a black box under one arm. "What's going on? I thought you wouldn't have time to rest until next month. “

"I didn't." Finn dragged his hand across his face. He looked tired, and the bags under his gray eyes were more noticeable than usual. "There was a plane that left at seven, so I ...... as soon as I got off the shift"

"It was a four-hour flight!" Seth stared at his uncle in disbelief. "Why are you doing this? How are you going to get back? “

Despite his visibly exhausted appearance, Finn's lips curled. "There's a flight back in two hours."

"You're crazy!"

"I'm talking about the kid who's been moving into the apartment for almost a week and has to unpack." His uncle looked around very cautiously, his attention resting on the boxes stacked on the far wall. "Are you allergic to light, or what? It's dark here. “

Plug muttered quietly, reaching out and flipping the switch. The light immediately flooded the room, causing him to squint. "I was about to look for it."

"Yes," Finn said, his tone clearly unconvinced. "I wonder if you're going to look for it before I come back next month."

The heat warmed Plug's ears, and he suddenly turned around and ventured deeper into the depths of the living room, where the light was not very bright. "Why the hell are you here?"

"To give you this." Swapping the box under his arm for holding it in both hands, Finn offered it as if it were filled with priceless treasures. This made Seth both curious and wary.

Finn travels around the country overnight just to give him this box? Maybe someone else wondered if he was asleep and was having those strange dreams.

"What is this?"

"A rare opportunity, kid." His uncle sounded strangely longing.

Sev stared cautiously at the box. It doesn't look anything special, except for the dull, matte black color. It also doesn't have anything printed on the side either.

"Can't you wait a month?"

"Definitely not."

Finn moved the box to the living room. He glanced disapprovingly at the wall in the distance. At least he didn't say anything more about the fact that the box was still unopened. Instead, he placed the strange box on the old coffee table in the middle of the living room. There is nowhere else to put it. Ha ha.

This table is the only furniture in the apartment, except for the bed and dresser in the single bedroom. All three pieces of furniture were spare pieces of furniture from Finn's own home.

As he glanced around again, Uncle Finn's brow furrowed.

"Is everything alright? Is there anything wrong with this place? “

"Nope." Sai hurriedly shook his head. "It's good." That's what he said, too. Even if mold crawls down from the ceiling and rats run out of holes in the wall, his answer won't change. The apartment far exceeded his expectations.

"Then why don't you do anything? We've already talked about that. I helped you get here, but I can't help you take care of yourself. That's up to you. A heavy sigh. At least get yourself a goddamn chair, kid. “

"I know. I'll do it. "His ears were so hot that he was so ashamed that he crawled up like a gnawing rodent." I was just...... There are so many things to get used to. “

Finn watched him silently. Then he shook his head. "Just make sure to have at least one pillow next time for my bones to rest on. I'm too old to sit on the floor. “

He cracked a weak smile. "Okay."

"Good. Now let me show you what I have before my next flight departs. “

Finn knelt on the ground and opened the box. Inside was a whole bunch of gray bubble wrap. Seth watched closely as his uncle carefully pulled it away. Two items are safely hidden inside. A flat, rectangular case made of shiny black metal and what looks like slender wrap-around sunglasses.

Sai leaned in. "What's that?"

Finn carefully placed them on the table. Then he reached into the box and pulled out some connector cables and power cords. These were placed next to the first items. With that done, he sat back on his heels and looked at Seth with a childlike excitement.

"These," he said, "are your keys to Elliona." “

Sey looked at them dumbfounded. To him, they didn't look like keys at all. His thoughts must have been clearly on his face, as Finn smiled softly.

"It's something we've been working on," he explained. "It's been years in the making, but we can't say anything until now. The closed beta starts tomorrow – well, actually starts in a few minutes – with about 8,000 keys released. That's one of them. He patted the thin metal box on the table.

Sev didn't know what Finn was babbling about. Remi

so

g I

dust

IES is a small tech company where his uncle works. They make parts for computers, and that's all he cares about. The technology is far beyond his imagination. It was only a year ago that he had his own mobile phone.

He folded his arms, feeling a little bitter. Finn knew all this, so why did he bring something that Sev didn't have a chance to understand? He was grateful because his uncle had blazed a trail for him, but it was just his way, but it didn't make sense.

"Don't give me that look." Finn grinned at him. "It's not that hard. I've done all the setup for you. All you have to do is put it on and play. “

To demonstrate, Finn held up his strange sunglasses and put them on. They wrapped tightly around his eyes and over his nose, as if they were tailor-made for his face. Two small silver dots protruded from the side and rested gently against his temples.

"See?" Finn pulled them down. "It's not hard at all."

Wear it and you're ready to play, huh? Sef raised his eyebrows, a little confused. "Is this a game?" The amount of pride that emanated from Finn was almost as strong as his excitement. "Oh yes. It's completely different from what's out there, it's a first, and you'll be one of the first pioneers to try it. “

I, a pioneer? It was stupid, Seth thought, but he would never say something like that out loud. Won't say to Finn anyway. "Why me? I don't know anything about the game. Mom never let me do those things. “

His uncle's smile vanished, and something akin to pity entered his gaze. "I know, kid. You never had a chance. That's why I'm giving this to you. You deserve it. All I'm asking is, you give it a try. Can you do this for me? Sev couldn't help frowning. He wasn't interested in that, but he couldn't say no.

"Okay. I'll try, but I'll probably mess it up. “

The smile he got was so bright. This time, Seth didn't bother to hide his frown.

"Great!"! It's going to be amazing Seth as you'll see. Once you set foot in Elliona, you'll never want to leave. Finn picked up the cables and began to plug them into the little box.

"It works best if you're in bed before putting on your headphones," Finn told him. "Trust me, okay? Like I said, you don't have to worry about the oil, "Just trust me, okay?" And like I said, you don't have to worry about setting up anything. I did all of this before I got off work today. “

Sef rubbed his forehead idly. He thought he might have a headache. "Set what? I don't know what you're talking about. “

"You'll understand." With a vague smile, Finn lifted the power cord. When he asked, "You know what to do with this, right?" There was a provocative light in his gray eyes.

"Yes." Plug rolled his eyes. He's not that ignorant.

"Okay." Finn put it down and stood up. His knee cracked in motion, causing him to bare his teeth. He put his hands on his hips and leaned sideways together to exercise his body. "I'm going to call you and see how it goes, so you're going to have to try, okay?"

"Okay, okay."

Finn walked over and held out his hand, as if to pat Seth on the shoulder. Just as Seth noticed and moved out of range, Finn seemed to think more clearly. He lowered his hand and sighed softly.

"I have to go. I can't miss this flight, or I'll be in trouble. “

"I still think you're crazy, you've come all the way to give me a game," Sey muttered. Crazy or not, he was glad to see his uncle. This makes the dark, empty apartment look less empty.

Finn smiled and headed for the door. Seth followed. "I think you're crazy, kid. Let's go buy something. If you need more cash, just text me, okay? “

It would be the last thing Sey wanted to do, but he nodded anyway. "Of course."

Finn opened the door.

"Wait!" The plug rushed out.

His uncle stopped, turned to give him an inquiring look.

"Are they crazy?" Even when he asked, Seth cringed a little. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to know the answer, he wasn't even sure he wanted to know the answer.

Finn gave a half-smile, but it didn't reach his tired eyes. "What do you think?" He went outside and quietly closed the door.

In his apartment, Sey stood motionless. At this point, he remembered the hellish torture he had inflicted on his uncle when he ran away from home in the middle of the night. At the time, he thought it would be the easiest for everyone. It's so naïve. When it comes to his family, things are never easy.

I'm sorry, he thought, but it's a little too late to say that now.

His gaze drifted across the room and landed on the table in the living room. The little black box and headphones looked back at him innocently.

He wasn't going to try the game anytime soon, but the silence left by his uncle's absence grew louder and louder as time went on. It reminds Seth that he is alone in a completely strange place. Shadows streaked across the floor, forming in the corners, and he could almost hear whispers:

You shouldn't leave.

Sef's jaw clenched. He strode forward, snatched the headphones and box, cables and everything from the table, and went to the bedroom. He didn't know about this Elio

A game is all about, but anything is better than listening to an empty apartment.

He found an outlet on the wall opposite the bed, plugged the box in, and let it sit on the floor. Then he lay down on the bed and raised his headphones. When he turned it over, he noticed a green dot of light flashing on the bridge of his nose.

Ready, it seems to be saying. He grimaced. He's already starting to regret it.

He still slid his headphones on. Dark lenses obscured his eyes, and cold metal fingers pressed against his temples. Somewhere between his eyes, he could see the faintest pulses of green light. He noticed a green dot of light flickering on the nose mirror.

Ready, it seems to be saying.

Now what? He put on stupid sunglasses, but nothing happened......

The world burst into blinding white light.

Episode 2:

-Enroll...

Name: Sef

Title: Outlander

Grade:???

Affiliation: None

Time Remaining: 03:59:27

Warning: Further setup is required to complete the registration...

Sepin lay flat on a bed of wildflowers, frowning at the strange sky hanging over his head. At this moment, hanging over his head. Rows of white text floated in front of him now, and although he wasn't sure what half of them meant, one thing was clear: his uncle lied.

I've done all the arrangement, the guy said.

Just plug in and play, he said.

So, what do these strange floating words tell him, and what is going on?

Gradually, the letters disappeared, leaving him with an unobstructed view of the sky. Despite his doubts, it easily caught his attention because it was so charming. Deep eggplant purple, a sea of twinkling stars, so bright, the surrounding AR immersive surroundings...

He sat up so he could see better.

The tall grass is full of yellow flowers, swaying in the cool breeze, releasing a sweet fragrance into the air. Small pink butterflies flutter among the flowers, their wings catching the starlight in a silver glitter. As thousands of insects make noise into the night, many buzzing sounds are resounded in the grass.

Sef's dark mood eased and was replaced by a sense of awe. He may have come here reluctantly, but he can't deny that the place is actually better than he expected. The smell of the air has never been so fresh, and the mere grass has never been so beautiful. He doesn't know how technology does it, but it's pretty cool.

He curled his fingers in the dewy grass and stood up. The meadow stretched in any direction he could see. There are no roads, no signs, and no one else. Only he sits under an alien sky in a virtual world.

If it weren't for the strange hues of the night sky and the glowing glitter of butterflies, it would almost be a place of true beauty somewhere on earth

Something brushed his face, and he reached out and pushed it away. It was hair, his hair, but the color was completely wrong. He pinched a lock of hair with his fingers and pulled it to the front. In starlight, it appears silvery white, but its shaded parts appear earthy gray.

You're kidding me. Finn gave me an old man's hair?

Maybe he shouldn't have been so surprised. This man is good at analyzing and organizing complex data, but most of the time he doesn't even put on matching socks. Designing a game character is definitely not going to be his forte.

He may also look like an old man. He was still staring at his hair when a pleasant male voice interrupted him.

"Hello, Sev."

Turn around. Where there was once only an endless meadow, there was now a man standing, as if he had suddenly appeared there.

There is nothing special about this man. He has an unforgettable face, and his clothes are an ordinary short robe with gray trousers on the outside. He stood loosely with his hands at his side, as casual and relaxed as if he were meeting a friend.

"Who are you?" Sef asked warily. He took a step back, still silently frightened by the sudden appearance of someone beside him.

The man smiled. "I'm a system administrator, and my purpose is to help you through the entry process."

"Okay." Say it slowly. He doesn't know what a noodle is, but if he had to guess, the person is part of the game. Maybe even one of those AI bots. Regardless, the entry process for this question must be something that Finn didn't set up. That liar. "What do I have to do?"

"You've completed the initial character design," the face-admin explained. "Now you have to choose your character. I warn you that you can only choose once, so think carefully. “

"Why?" There are still many problems with the plug, but this one word is enough. If you're done asking them all, you'll be too tired. Most of the questions start with "why" anyway, the big question is why would I agree to do this?

The administrator tilted his head. "It's necessary. In order to be in Elio

A survival, you will need the skills of your chosen character. “

"Yes, okay. What are these roles? "To Severance, it sounds a lot like signing up for a job. He didn't know it took so much effort to play the game. Isn't the key word just games, not work?

It was clear that the manager had been waiting for such a question, as he immediately began to talk about it, with an almost wistful glint in his eyes.

"There are three main roles, divided into several levels: defensive, supportive, and combative. With that, the Facekeeper paused and looked at Severance patiently. The light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter. "These are all for you to get acquainted with. But if you need further explanation, ask. “

Coughed and awkwardly pointed at one hand. Can he tell I'm a newbie? "Yes, it's better to explain everything clearly. Please. “

"Of course. Let's start with the defense class. The face-keeper raised a hand, and a miniature hologram of a tall man in heavy armor appeared. He was thin, with gray hair and lilac eyes staring grimly at the outside world. With a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, the man appears elegant and handsome. And, somehow, he retains his youthful appearance even with his hair color.

Wait a minute...

"This is the Guardian," the steward said. "Their purpose is to be a shield for their team. They have many defensive skills to protect themselves and their teammates, but they lack offensive skills. “

The holographic man slung a cumbersome-looking sword on his armored shoulders and assumed a gesture of authority. He looks heroic.

Seif pointed. "That's ...... Is it me? “

"Probably." The face-manager smiled.

"No, I mean that's what I look like now? Without a sword and everything? “

"Yes," he replied patiently. "I'm using your appearance to demonstrate to you."

Plug walked closer, leaning over to take a closer look at his small holographic board. It wasn't as bad as he feared. Uncle Finn has actually done a great job. His pale hair didn't make him look old in the slightest. He poked the hologram with his finger and smiled when the image slipped. "Cool."

The manager cleared his throat.

He jerked his head back, suddenly realizing what he was doing. "I'm sorry."

"Next up is the warrior class. These have a purely combat role. Ranger," said of which, the hologram changed into a version of Sifrans in dark, well-fitting clothes. Tiny mini-Sef slashes through a series of attacks with a pair of twin daggers. "Smart and versatile, they have everything."

This is followed by another version of him wielding a spear. This time, he fixed a metal deck on brown leather, giving him a sturdy look. The spear was taller than him, but he held it in a majestic posture.

"Fighters have the strongest fighting power, but they are very direct in terms of skills.

"Shooter". The miniature version of Sev gets a bow and a set of green gear that looks very much like Robin Hood. He almost snickered, because he even had a little green hat. Ha ha. Prairie green:! "The most balanced class is perhaps the best at independent survival."

The image changed to him wearing a robe, and as his wrist swiped, a projectile of energy exploded from his palm. Although this part looks powerful, Severance can't help but see the robe as a kind of gown, which he feels kills my heroism. Ha

"Academics are highly offensive and practical, but they are vulnerable. They do their best in the team. “

Face-Keeper paused, just enough for Sef to nod his head, and continued.

"The last one is the support class. A new mini Seve

a

CE appeared above the palm of his hand. He was armed with a wooden staff as tall as him, and his white clothes were plain, about the same as the Administrator's.

"Priest. Their attack is poor, but they are top-notch healers. Only they have the skills to both revive and fully recover fallen teammates. “

With that, the face-manager fell silent.

Sev took the time to think about everything. If you look at it purely from the equipment, he liked the appearance of the fighter the most. It's not a garment, nor is it the overly bulky mass of the Guardians. He stood there majestically, with his spear ready, and the image was impressive.

However, it's not just looks that need to be considered. If he understands correctly, it means that he will sign up for a job at the same time.

"If I choose fighters," he said, "do I have to do a lot of fighting?" “

"All warriors' skills are combat in nature," the face-administrator said mildly. "If you don't fight, it's a waste, isn't it?"

"I think so." Now Plug is a little worried. Why are there so many warrior levels? Why can't there be some simple and easy jobs, such as a coachman or even a farmer? What happened to those jobs? The world is going through a terrible war, do they need so many warriors?

"How are we going to fight?"

"That's up to you," replied unhelpfully. "Your purpose, your actions, and your choices in Elliona are all your own. I can't interfere. “

That's right. Of course you can't. This guy isn't even real. He's just part of a computer game.

Sev scratched the side of his chin. He just wants to look great without all the hassle. What's wrong with that?

"If I may suggest," the steward glanced down at his palm, and the figure of Priest Seif reappeared, "why not try the support class?" If combat isn't your cup of tea, then you may find this character more enjoyable. Fighting was not the main job of the clergy. “

What the administrator said sounds very reasonable. Still, when Sev looked at the little priest, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Of all the classes, its outfit looks the most boring. Even the robes have more highlights. "Do we have to dress like this?" He couldn't help but ask.

The administrator looked at him. Just as Sev realized that he was complaining about the clothes, and that the person in front of him was also wearing very similar clothes, the face manager cleared his throat again.

"What you wear will depend on

"What you wear depends on your attributes," he said.

He said evenly. "So as long as you meet

requirements, you'll be able to wear the clothes you like. “

"I mean, it's not bad, it's just, um, a little plain." Severance tried to explain, but the more he spoke, the more he felt like he was just making things worse. He may be talking to a dummy, but that doesn't stop him from feeling terrible embarrassment. So he hurriedly reversed course and nodded emphatically. "Well, I've decided. I will go with the priests as you said. “

Category updated to Priest.

You have earned: Clergyman's Staff Skill: Compensation

Skill: Small flash cannon

The setup is complete.

Registration is complete. Time Remaining: 03:51:38 "Wow. Seeing the pure white text scrolling in his field of vision, Severance blinked. It will take some getting used to.

"Congratulations," said the face manager. "As the system just informed you, you have now completed your registration. Before you venture into Elio

Before a, please note that there is a time limit of 4 hours per day. This is for your safety, as the technology used is still in beta. If you encounter any issues, you can contact support through the system's messaging feature.

"To access the system menu, as well as other features, voice commands are required. A guide is already in your inventory with a complete list. To access it, just say: system, instruction manual".

The Administrator was silent, and Saitian nodded silently in approval. The wind stirred the grass around them, and the low hum of insects continued.

He frowned again. Is that it? It may seem like a strange place to end the conversation, but he's not a video game designer. He folded his arms and looked at the grass. If only a few years ago he could have found a little paradise like this, a quiet, peaceful place of his own, he could retreat. This may make things more bearable. “

Face-A soft cough from the Administrator broke the silence. "Please give it a try."

Sef's attention flew to the man again. That person hasn't left yet? "Try what?"

"Try going to the system instruction manual. Before you leave here, it's important that you understand the functionality of the system menu. “

"Oh." It turned out that this was what they were waiting for. "Oh well. system, instruction manual. "Just saying it made him feel silly, but a book suddenly appeared in front of him, solid and true.

He gasped for breath and hurriedly backed away. The book rolled down to the grass and crushed a blue flower. He stared at it. This is not normal. Something didn't pop up.

As if he'd seen it countless times before, the face manager hadn't even blinked.

The guidebook lists all the system commands and gives you an overview of how the menu works. Please read it carefully at your convenience. Additionally, it will keep a record of any important information you find, so it may be wise to check frequently for updates. “

He hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward and picked up the book. He torn between smiling and rolling his eyes. Flipping through it, he saw the list of commands in the promise. There are words like inventory, skill table, inbox, world chat room, as well as menus and contact support. Skimmed over them, and turned the page.

It gives a basic overview of how to use skills and even lists two skills he already has as a priest:

Patching – Treats minor injuries and cleanses infections. Cooldown: 6 seconds

Embolus - an attack on medium sexual energy. Cooldown: 2s

It also has a brief introduction to attributes and ranks. Seve

a

CE looked at his attributes and felt as if he was about to be dazzled. He seems to be very smart, but very weak, he has a lot of energy, but no perseverance. What does all this mean exactly? It was something he had to ask his uncle.

Uncle's question.

Current level: 1

WIS-4

INT-1

VIT-4

AGI-1

STR-0

FOR-0By participating in related activities, your attributes will be improved and you will become more powerful. Work hard, out-of-town, and you'll be rewarded.

What exactly is a related activity? He pursed his lips in search of an explanation, when a quiet throat clearing made him realize that he had just completely ignored the man standing nearby.

Ah.

"I'm sorry." He lifted his head from the book and stuck his thumb in the page so he wouldn't lose it. "Anything else?"

"Alright," said the face manager, "that's the end of the introduction." The rest is up to you to discover. Do you have any questions before you leave, though? “

Sev looked down at the book. It takes a few minutes to read it, but apparently all the basics are there. Still, he couldn't help but feel a little too big.

"What the hell am I supposed to be doing here?"

The Administrator smiled. "Elliona's world is open to you. Explore. Found. Learn. Grow. How far you'll go is up to you. “

"I see." Sef wasn't sure he understood. It sounds like a dangerous amount of freedom dumped on someone who doesn't know what they're doing! But he promised to give it a try, so he wanted to try.

"Then I wish you success." Face-Administrator's lips raised. He suddenly erupted in countless purple sparks, and his body disappeared in an instant. All that remains are thousands of bright stars, which float on the grass and then disappear one by one in the blink of an eye.

He watched with fascination. It's like being swept up in the center of a giant fireworks explosion.

When the last spark faded from the Facekeeper's overly dramatic exit, Severance turned his attention back to the guidebook. It doesn't have much to offer other than system commands and an overview of his skills. The rest of the pages are blank.

Somewhat disappointed, I closed the book. Then he carefully opened his hand and let go. The guidebook didn't fall, it disappeared. A small piece of information slipped into his consciousness, and he somehow knew that the book was now in his inventory.

Cool, he thought, even though he felt a little uneasy. It's like the system itself has its threads entanglement in his mind.

He didn't want to dwell on it anymore, so he looked around for an exit. It's not hard to find. A simple wooden arch appeared in the middle of the meadow, not far from where he stood. A dark gray light swirled in the center, making it impossible for him to see it.

"It's weird," he muttered. He walked over, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to touch the light. It made his fingers tingle.

Well, he thought, let's get started.

Sef walked past the light.