Chapter 1: Oh? Not a Player?

Strange place. Zheng Chen, who could see no traces of the wasteland, continued to follow the marks on the ground. In the world he inhabited, there were not many safe places, especially in the wasteland areas outside the gathering spots. To dare to sleep there would truly be a matter of life and death.

More often than not, it is about discovering for oneself. There are likely many predecessors who wish to preserve culture. With some leisure time to explore, he has found quite a number of things.

In addition to the elderly telling stories, there is another more expensive form of "film"... He endured watching it a few times, one of which was only a little over twenty minutes long, and it was merely a segment from a certain plot

The once-thriving prosperity has long been replaced by wasteland, and Zheng Chen does not know when humanity will be able to return to the prosperous era described in the literature; he does not believe that he will witness it in his lifetime

As he moved forward, Zheng Chen continuously assessed his current state. Apart from his appearance, all the excess marks on his body had vanished, as if he had been reborn.

There was a time when he considered, like those elderly people, to rely on storytelling for survival... Yes, this is much better than wandering in the wasteland; aside from the fact that the gathering place is somewhat safer, other areas are not safe at all

This is not a normal occurrence; the inexplicable anomalies that have arisen have left him quite unsettled. Aside from these changes, he does not sense anything else amiss.

The traces should be left by some kind of vehicle, and the fact that traces remain indicates that someone passed through here not long ago. This is sufficient; there is no need to deliberately choose a direction. Whether it is the end where the other party is advancing or the end where they departed, ... one can find places where people are present ... right ...?

The rest seems to be normal, people are still people, and there is no particularly displayed power. It's just that the people inside are generally capable fighters, and they are particularly... In summary, they appear to have a somewhat excessive sense of justice. After all, it's a movie, so there's no need to pay too much attention to it

So someone is charging straight over... ? ... Well, generally speaking, it's usually a reckless young person looking for trouble

Moreover, the people inside are quite extraordinary... Do women really have such large eyes? Beyond that, it is the kind of shocking power that is revealed from within. After all, it is just a rather peculiar "film"

At that time, the world was exceptionally prosperous and peaceful, with a significantly large population. Technology was developing in various colorful ways, among which the most prominent was the "Internet". The elderly reminisced that during that period, young people like Zheng Chen particularly enjoyed what were known as game novels, anime, and so on

The price is not low, after all, there are not many people who are interested in this area, and those who wish to understand it do not mind spending a little extra money.

Not long after changing their course, the wolf pack suddenly altered their route once again, this time no longer advancing slowly

Withdrawing his defensive posture, Zheng Chen continued to observe his surroundings. It was evident that this was no longer a place he was familiar with. Looking at his own hands, the calluses he had painstakingly developed had also vanished.

An individual's energy is always limited, and Zheng Chen cannot attain a comprehensive understanding of all aspects. Similarly, due to the constraints of time, those remnants preserved in various places are either undiscovered and yield little, or have decayed due to the erosion of time, leaving little that can be comprehended

Then there is what is referred to as a game. In the literature he found, he saw related information, indicating that most games are played using a device such as a computer

The wilderness here is vastly different from his previous understanding; the sky is clear, the air is fresh, and it surpasses what he knew to such an extent that it can hardly be described as merely good. It feels like a story from a book, which is why he previously felt that everything was somewhat unreal.

As he walked, he reflected on past events. In his impression, Zheng Chen's world was quite terrible. According to the stories told by the elders in some gathering places, the world was not always like this.

He touched his waist, well, in a one-on-one fight, facing one or two would still be a challenge. All the equipment and weapons on him were gone, and although they were not particularly good items, their absence significantly reduced his combat effectiveness.

player

Suddenly, Zheng Chen unceremoniously flipped to the back of a makeshift shelter made of several large stones, watching the distance with a hint of vigilance. There seemed to be nothing unusual at the boundary line where the sky and earth met in his line of sight

Zheng Chen's tense face became somewhat rigid once again, as he pressed his entire body against the nearby boulder, his breathing rate quickly decreasing and easing as he adjusted.

However, Zheng Chen still did not act recklessly because of this; he continued to lie in wait quietly, fixating intently on the unusually dark line in the distance. Before long, a large shadow emerged from that dark line.

With a somewhat bewildered expression, Zheng Chen stared blankly into the distance, wondering how the scene had suddenly changed after just closing and opening his eyes for a moment in search of a place to rest. Above him, an unknown strange bird circled.

Even a small knife is better than being empty-handed as I am now

So why did I suddenly appear in this place

In any case, it will not be like it is now, where leisure games consist of playing cards or children engaging in simple games of taking turns.

Some unfortunate events always emerge in times of adversity, and the wolf pack suddenly changed direction, approaching Zheng Chen in a straight line

Shaking his head, Zheng Chen repressed the slight sympathy in his heart and turned around without hesitation. It was confirmed that this chosen path was the direction in which those unknown individuals were advancing.

Gently sniffing his own cuff, he found that he had no particularly distinct scent, and the targets of the wolf pack were not in the place where he was.

The appearance of groups of them clearly indicates that they will not speak of any principles, deliberately sending three or four to single him out... Therefore, when faced with the assault of these enhanced wolves, there may not even be many opportunities to fight back.

Why his world has become like this, Zheng Chen does not know. Since he can remember, the world has always been like this, and there has not been much change even as he grew up to be self-reliant

Choosing to flee at this moment is the least rational decision; as soon as one shows their head, those wolves will notice. If one attempts to run, how can two legs hope to outrun four?

It is truly unfortunate

Oh? Why does this guy have no attributes? Huh? Not a player? This group of oddly dressed people is curiously surrounding Zheng Chen, their expressions somewhat perplexed.

The strange bird seemed merely curious about him; after circling for a while, it chose a direction and flew away.

"Dreaming?" Zheng Chen murmured softly, then shook his head. If it were a dream, it shouldn't feel this real. After observing the faint traces on the ground, he proceeded along the two inconspicuous marks on the surface.

Zheng Chen is quite interested in the history of that prosperous era, and during his free time, he pays special attention to it. He is not wealthy himself and cannot always seek out the elderly to listen to their stories

Glancing at the gravel at his feet, Zheng Chen's lips twitched slightly, and he quickly averted his gaze. Each piece of gravel was quite smooth, making it difficult to find a sharp one. Similarly, as long as no traces were exposed, the likelihood of a problem arising was minimal

The old man at the end of that year did not know, and what he knew was only what his elders had recounted

A group of wolves, generally exceeding two meters in size, calculated their options. Zheng Chen slightly shook his head; these wolves were unlike those he had encountered before. Without the advantage of terrain, in such a desolate wilderness, he could at most handle three or four of them.

Most of those who know this are elderly people. In their world, most individuals are struggling for survival, including Zheng Chen himself. These elderly individuals also need to survive, and naturally, one must pay to hear their stories

How to put it, it feels as if I am truly in a dream

What place ... ... ?

They also noticed Zheng Chen, and then proactively came over. He slightly squinted his eyes, as he did not sense any malice from the other party. This reaction was merely a subconscious response; there were no such "enthusiastic" people in the wasteland.

It seems that something has been discovered

This is also the reason why he can instantly open his eyes upon sensing something amiss after appearing here; everything on his body has disappeared, taken by someone. His entire body feels as if it has been reborn, but who has done this? He now has many questions.

Zheng Chen, noticing the giant bird above, slightly lowered his body and became somewhat vigilant, as there was nowhere to hide around him. The other party wouldn't suddenly swoop down, would they

It is of no consequence to turn back if the path is blocked; he is alone, and even if he were to confront a large pack of ferocious wolves, he would be powerless. Moreover, he still has many matters that remain unclear to him

He also learned a rather good word that can quite accurately describe his world situation: wasteland

For instance, how did he actually come to this place

If there are two wheels at hand, Zheng Chen does not mind trying it out in a crisis

stone

The scars that once marked his body have also vanished, and apart from the familiar outfit he wore, everything else seems... particularly artificial

Unable to find the starting point of the tire tracks on the ground, Zheng Chen instead noticed a group of strangely dressed individuals, resembling the armor he had seen in those movies. He had also found records of such attire in the literature he had studied. Were these ancient people from before that prosperous era?

However, it feels somewhat unkind to compete with the elderly for business; such matters can be addressed when one reaches that age. After that... I inexplicably found myself here from a temporary rest point, and the gear I had been carrying with me also vanished without a trace

As the wolf pack drew closer, Zheng Chen's heart involuntarily raced for a moment, but he quickly suppressed it, restraining all extraneous factors. He slightly moved his eyes; there was no wind here, which could be considered a neutral factor, offering no assistance to himself and no advantage to the wolves either

Staring at the wolf pack that had vanished into the distance, Zheng Chen waited a moment longer before emerging from his hiding place. He arrived at the point where the wolf pack had turned, noticing that the tire tracks on the ground had been trampled by large paw prints, and faintly discernible was the indication that the tire tracks had made a turn here