Volume One

Chapter 1: God-level Hero

20XX. The global economy is sluggish, unemployment is rising, and the situation is turbulent.

The two superpowers, China and the United States, decided to join hands and lead the world out of its predicament. The United States also began a series of major initiatives to cut military spending and generate revenue. Among them, the U.S. Marine Corps' holographic simulation reality supercomputer exercise system, codenamed "Final Battle: Aliens," was converted from military to civilian use. Major game companies from the EU, Japan, South Korea, India, Russia, and China joined forces to develop a holographic reality super game that players from all over the world could participate in together—"Hero Genesis"! A super game that combines fantasy, adventure, war, trade, territory building, navigation, competition, and leisure.

During development, the companies from each country had already started a global publicity blitz.

In the spring of 20XX, "Hero Genesis" was launched worldwide simultaneously! Young people everywhere went wild for it! In China, the local agent for Hero Genesis plastered advertisements everywhere!

—Do you want to compete with world-class players? Do you want to soar freely in a fantasy world? Do you want to become a hero admired by thousands? Do you want to own your own castle and lead your own army with pride? Do you want to become a high-earning professional gamer? Come on! "Hero Genesis" will make your dream of crossing worlds come true!

……

David Carter, a thirty-year-old freelancer working in construction and logistics, and a former casual online gamer, saw the limitless business opportunities in Hero Genesis and decisively joined the ranks of those lining up to buy a client machine.

Where is the business opportunity? This is a game that’s been hyped to the max, a money-making game, a game where the rich lead armies and build castles. Where do the troops come from? What if all your troops die? Gold coins! You know what I mean.

Today is actually the third day since the official launch of the game. If it weren’t for waiting for his year-end bonus to buy the machine, David Carter would have been camping out at the sales point on launch night.

As a professional gamer, to lose three whole days at the starting line to tens of millions of people—what a failure! There’s no other way, just have to level up faster.

David Carter thought for a moment, then called his college-attending Little Sister: “Little Lily, your brother quit his job and found a new high-paying one. I won’t be coming home for the New Year, let Mom and Dad know.”

For someone like David Carter, quitting is easy, and finding work isn’t hard. Because in this world, there’s actually no shortage of jobs—just a shortage of people willing to do them.

A surprised but capable female voice came from the other end: “What? Not coming home for the New Year? How could you?”

David Carter replied helplessly, “Do you know how many jobs are short-staffed during the New Year? The pay for covering shifts during the holiday is three or four times the usual! That’s it, call me when you’re on break, I’ll help you take your luggage to the station!”

“No need, someone else will take me.”

David Carter's heart skipped a beat, and he asked urgently, “Who? Is it that William Clark again? Have you kissed? Slept together? Are you pregnant? Tell that broke loser to get lost! If he spends college just thinking about chasing girls instead of making money, I’ll beat him up every time I see him!”

Little Lily said anxiously, “What nonsense are you talking about! He and I are just regular classmates!”

David Carter snapped, “Regular classmates, my ass! Back in college, your brother said goodbye to all the so-called regular female classmates! Now they can’t even get through the door for rich guys’ matchmaking events!”

Little Lily retorted angrily, “That’s all just your bragging!”

David Carter perked up, “Exactly! It’s all because your brother is such a braggart!”

Little Lily said in annoyance, “I’m done talking to you, hanging up now!”

David Carter sighed inwardly. Sis, I’m just looking out for you!

As the Big Brother of the family, he spent the family’s already limited money to finish college and was supposed to be the family’s hope, but in the end, David Carter only brought disappointment and became the laughingstock back home. On the other hand, Little Sister was smart, capable, got into a top university, and even won scholarships and grants, never putting any burden on the family. How could he, as the Big Brother, not feel ashamed? Back when he got into college, Little Sister was still in middle school and looked up to him so much! But now… sigh!