Chapter 2: This is the Authentic Version!

Chapter 2: This is the Authentic Version!

The sky churned with hurricane-force winds, dragging crimson clouds into violent spirals. A thunderclap split the heavens, followed by black lightning weaving across the sky like a spider’s web before vanishing into nothingness.

Below, volcanoes erupted in unison, spewing rivers of molten lava that devoured everything in their path. The air reeked of sulfur and ash. Under the blood-red glow of a distant moon, the tallest mountain peak gleamed like a flaming serrated sword cleaving the sky, threatening to pierce the oppressive darkness above.

Monsters roamed unchecked—terrifying, gargantuan beings. An eighteen-headed colossus towering like a mountain. A frost giant whose breath could freeze entire kingdoms. A crimson-winged beast whose wingspan spanned continents. Predators and prey alike, locked in an endless cycle of survival where even the earth itself trembled under their wrath.

This was a world built on terror.

The scene zoomed into a crumbling village, then darkness swallowed everything.

When the shadows lifted, Li Zheng found himself suspended before a towering blue crystalline wall. A voice echoed in his mind:

[Welcome, challenger, to the Monster World. Begin creating your character.]

“Monster World? Isn’t Novice Village in Darklands supposed to be Dark City?” He shrugged. Must be a new patch from Lunar Eclipse Clan.

No matter. The cinematic and this vivid interface confirmed what he’d dreamed of—he’d actually downloaded the pirated version of Darklands.

The thrill was indescribable. A game priced at 128,888 yuan, and he’d snagged it in an hour. The Welfare God really came through!

He no longer doubted its authenticity. Who would spend fortunes crafting such realism? If this were a scam, the production costs alone would be insane.

In the name input field, he typed “Game Bricklayer” with a virtual keyboard. The crystalline wall zoomed forward, revealing rows of empty cells. Only three at the bottom held creatures: a bat-eared stone gargoyle with glowing crimson eyes, a fire-winged owl-like beast clawing at its prison, and a jet-black scaled serpent coiled tightly.

[Choose your starting form.]

Li Zheng studied the Gargoyle first:

Initial Level 1

Attributes:

Physical: 7 | Spirit: 5 | Elemental Resistance: 5

Innate Ability: Petrification (Active)

Effect: Temporarily hardens the body, drastically reducing damage. Effect scales with Physical.

The Hawk-Headed Demon followed:

Attributes: Physical: 3 | Spirit: 8 | Resistance: 4

Innate Ability: Vengeful Howl (Active)

Effect: Detects nearby threats (hostility, presence, auras). Duration/range scales with Spirit.

Lastly, the Black-Scaled Serpent:

Attributes: Physical: 12 | Spirit: 1 | Resistance: 2

Innate Ability: Venom (Passive)

Effect: Inflicts poison on physical attacks.

Venom’s passive makes it beginner-friendly, he decided. The gargoyle and owl faded as the serpent surged forward. His heartbeat thundered—then the scene shifted. A black robe draped his body.

He stood in the ruined village, now surrounded by thick, obsidian mists. Shadows whispered beyond the fog: screeches, crunching bones, and guttural murmurs.

A serpent-shaped illusion floated behind him, mirroring his movements. Suddenly, data flooded his vision:

[Challenger: Game Bricklayer]

Form: Human

Body Forge Rank: 0 (Inherited Life Soul: 0)

[Each Body Forge Rank gained allows full inheritance of one monster’s attributes in human form.]

Stellar Vein Inlay (Level 1):

Slot 1: Black-Scaled Serpent Life Soul Lv1 (Trait: Venom)

[Switch forms via Stellar Vein for 100% attribute boosts. Upgrade Stellar Vein to unlock more slots.]

“Switch forms?” He touched the interface. A surge of tingling energy coursed through his spine. His limbs twisted, his body contorted—moments later, he’d become the serpent, senses sharpened, muscles empowered.

This game’s insane… but I love it.

Shifting back, he tested the realism: pinching his skin, lifting debris, feeling dust slip through his fingers. Perfection. Yet… where were the other players? The village felt eerily empty.

As doubts stirred, space warped beside him. A light-blue Water Orb materialized, rippling with a serious expression.

[Dark forces plague this realm. The Black Tide invades under Imperial Omen’s corrupted rule. You, chosen by Omen’s power, must hunt its lost Primordial Essence to restore balance.]

The orb morphed an arm, extending toward him: [I am Guide, your novice companion.]

Li Zheng shook its hand, then squeezed. “Weirdly squishy.”

[Squishy?! I’ll strike if you keep this up!]

“You’re an AI meant to serve!”

[Your family’s AI! I strike whenever I want!]

Realizing his mistake, Li Zheng apologized hastily. Guide relented, smugly floating beside him.

“Quit being so human-like. Why’d Lunar Eclipse design you this way?”

As he muttered, he remembered his friends waiting impatiently outside.

“Guide, how do I logout?”

[Summon the ‘Function Panel’ mentally. Use its teleport function. 30 seconds of uninterrupted safety required.]

He focused. Darkness enveloped him as a countdown began.

[30… 29…]

Weightlessness gripped him. Li Zheng grinned:

“Bros, we’re finally diving in for real!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end