Chapter 25 – Fiery Sign-Ups

Perhaps due to the delayed game update, the Huaxia operators had launched a series of online and offline events—selfie contests, raffles, and more. Among them, the cross-server PvP tournament was one of the grandest, involving all servers in the game, with generous rewards covering everything except gear, such as Huaxia Coins, materials, cosmetic skins, and so on. Though each Legion could only field one team, and each team was limited to seven players, those seven represented the entire Legion in battle. So aside from prizes, the tournament results would directly impact the Legion’s ranking points.

A saying circulated among players:

The farthest distance in the world isn’t life and death, but you being on Netcom while I’m on Telecom. ╮(╯_╰)╭

Thus, the PvP tournament was still divided into Netcom and Telecom regions, with the top three in each region receiving corresponding rewards. The eventual champions of each region would then face off in a final showdown, with additional prizes, of course.

In the regional grouping chart, all thirteen servers were clearly listed—even the ghost server Mirage, which existed in name only. Fang Zheng looked closely and confirmed that Mirage was indeed in the same region as Huaxia Summit.

Following the regional chart was the list of registered teams. At that time, twenty-three Legions had signed up, but upon closer inspection, those twenty-three only came from six servers. In other words, seven servers had no participants at all, while these six averaged nearly four Legions per server.

Prosperity or desolation, clear at a glance.

Fang Zheng stared at the big fat zero under Mirage and felt a pang of bitterness. Once upon a time, countless accounts had scrambled to make a name for themselves on Mirage. How many forum posts had proudly proclaimed their origins from “Mirage”? But now, searching for posts related to Mirage, seven out of the top ten were nostalgic reminiscences, and the other three were account sales.

Games weren’t without emotion, but those bonds were fragile. A server transfer, a new account, and all connections were severed. Who played games for anything other than camaraderie and shared thrills? Battling NPCs all day was called single-player RPG. Thus, ghost servers grew emptier, and god-tier servers thrived—human nature at work.

Huaxia Summit had the most registered teams among all servers—five in total, named after their Legions: Huaxia Dominion, Five Peaks Pavilion, Meteor Blitz, Icewind Stronghold, and the Anti-Romance Alliance.

Fang Zheng glanced at the schedule. The tournament would run from May 20th to May 31st—eleven days in total. Registration opened on April 20th and closed on April 30th, leaving just two days.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: What’s up?

[Whisper] Polly: Emei.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Stop bullying those poor monkeys. I’ll post a link on the YY public screen—go check it out.

[Whisper] Polly: Why not just tell me over voice chat?

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Wanted you to look first. If it seems good, then I’ll show the others.

[Whisper] Polly: But you already posted it publicly.

“Sister Blood Bull, I call you ‘sister’ out of respect, but I just did the math—you’re at most twenty-six or twenty-seven. Me? A solid thirty. Perfect match, right?”

“Fuck this, can’t we just finish lining up already?! This is worse than buying train tickets!”

“An old ox can eat tender grass, but it shouldn’t gnaw on roots.”

“Ahhhhhh! I synthesized a Gale Pet!!!!!!”

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: I don’t think they have the bandwidth to check the public screen on their own =_=

[Whisper] Polly: …

Three minutes later—

[Whisper] Polly: Want to participate?

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Yeah.

[Whisper] Polly: Must register as a Legion.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Then let’s form a Legion.

[Whisper] Polly: Teams need seven people.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: We can drag Crossplayer or Your Uncle in as fillers!

[Whisper] Polly: Hm?

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Drag Crossplayer in as a filler!

[Whisper] Polly: Deal.

With the core member’s approval secured, Fang Zheng called everyone over on YY to take a look.

2B and Jiang Yang were the second to agree, their enthusiasm burning brighter than the Olympic flame.

Blood Bull wasn’t as hyped as them but still agreed, citing the fact that she’d finished her thesis and had nothing else to do in-game anyway.

Fang Zheng was wondering if two days would be enough to wait for Crossplayer to show up when 438 cast a dissenting vote—

“This is a Legion-based PvP tournament. I can’t join.”

Refined Into a Demon 438 belonged to the Five Peaks Pavilion Legion. Fang Zheng had almost forgotten.

Now that everyone had regrouped on YY for the cross-server PvP discussion, the sudden cold water thrown on their excitement didn’t sit well. 2B was the first to protest: “Dude, are you seriously keeping a chastity pledge for that shitty Legion? How many times do I have to say it—what does it mean to be good to you in-game? Giving you gear, running dungeons with you, playing with you. What kind of friend dumps you here alone?”

“I chose to stay here.”

“Jesus Christ! You and Parrot should swear brotherhood. Back then, he gave everything for Huaxia Dominion—body, soul, blood, sweat—”

“Body?”

“Metaphor, damn it! Can you focus on the point?!”

“Okay, my bad.”

“And what did Parrot get in return? His account got wrecked by griefers. You wanna follow in his footsteps?”

“Uh, why would I get griefed for obediently researching Demon Refining recipes for my Legion?”

“…”

2B had no answer, but Polly picked up the baton with a question of his own: “Why do you have to obediently research recipes for your Legion?”

438 fell silent for two seconds before replying, “Because the Legion needs to grow.”

Polly accepted this but pressed further: “Why does the Legion needing growth mean you have to contribute?”

Without giving 438 time to think, Polly answered for him: “Because you’re part of the Legion. You treat it like family, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then what does the Legion treat you as? Family? Family isn’t you being on Mirage while they’re on Huaxia Summit. Family runs dungeons together, PvPs together, fights in Legion Wars together, spams chat together.”

“…”

“Think back—was it like this when you first joined? Now, participating in an event means performance metrics, missing one gets you labeled undisciplined, and daring to run a dungeon during a Legion War makes you public enemy number one. Don’t ask how I know—big Legions are all like this. No choice—with dozens or even hundreds of people, it’s a mini-society. I watched Five Peaks Pavilion grow step by step. I bet you recognize fewer faces in your Legion than I do. You’ve probably talked less with them than you have with us these past few days in Mirage. And you call that brotherhood?”

“…”

“Demon Refiner, you’re here to play a game, not donate to charity. Paying for subscription time just to be lonely and miserable—what’s the point?”

“It’s not that miserable…”

“I’m not saying all this to force you out of Five Peaks Pavilion and into our group. The reason we can dungeon together is simple—there’s no one else left on Mirage. We’re just a makeshift team, but we clicked unexpectedly and have fun. That’s fate. Even if we form a Legion later, it’s just a formality. We’ll keep playing the same way.”

“…”

“Don’t stress. When you have time, go talk to the core members of Five Peaks Pavilion on Huaxia Summit. Tell them you’re miserable on Mirage and want to return. If they genuinely agree, go back and play with them. But if they even hint at persuading you to stay, they’re not thinking about you. Then just take the opportunity to stay here and join us.”

“I’ll think about it…”

“Sure. Registration closes the day after tomorrow. We’ll wait for you.”

The conversation ended there. The Demon Refiner left YY and seemed to log off the game.

The channel, now down to five people, fell into prolonged silence.

Whether 438 had spoken less with his Legion mates than with them these past few days, Fang Zheng didn’t know. But he was certain Polly had spoken more in those five minutes than in all their previous days combined. Holy shit, was this still the same deadpan, sarcastic, skill-focused zombie?!

2B Fighter Jet: “Parrot, I need to reevaluate you…”

Blood Bulls Don’t Graze: “Art of Life should recruit you as its successor.”

Mad Lad: “Had that speech bottled up for a while? You that miserable too?”

Milk is Mom: “If I were 438, I’d have agreed on the spot. You’re the king of emotional manipulation—every word hits right in the feels!”

Facing the flood of praise, Polly remained unfazed:

“With so few of us, can’t afford to lose a single one.”

……

The next day at noon, the moment Fang Zheng logged in, he received a message from 438.

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: Took you long enough. Where’s the zombie?

A strange question. Fang Zheng mustered all his imagination to decipher it—

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Uh, probably sleeping.

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: Oh. Then let him know I left Five Peaks Pavilion. I’ll join the cross-server PvP. Once you guys form the Legion, just add me in.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: We form a Legion!

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: Heh, yeah!

Ah, such an innocent kid.

Fang Zheng almost wanted to pinch his cheeks and warn him: Stay pure, don’t learn the zombie’s slyness, the assassin’s temper, the Blood Warrior’s recklessness, the Berserker’s aloofness, or the healer’s shamelessness. =_=

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: By the way, did Five Peaks Pavilion refuse to take you back?

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: Not just refused—they called me shortsighted.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: The Guild Leader said that?

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: Nah, I’m not important enough to reach the Guild Leader. Just my division leader.

Division? Was Five Peaks Pavilion a gangster guild? =_=

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: Oh, what’s our Legion’s name? Who’s the Commander?

Fang Zheng froze. He hadn’t actually thought about these questions.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Eh, not important. Give me your ID number first.

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: 48075113

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Got it. I’ll fill out the registration form first.

[Whisper] Refined Into a Demon 438: Then I’m off to the cafeteria.

And just like that, the questions of the Legion’s name and Commander were forgotten.

Until 3 PM, when Polly logged in.

The Little Zombie’s figure slowly materialized amidst the monkeys. By the time Meng Chudong could see his screen clearly, he noticed a familiar figure loitering nearby.

[Local] Polly: Waiting for me?

Fang Zheng was about to reply when he noticed Birdy had already equipped all three pieces of gear from yesterday’s dungeon drop—

The Hell Judge Leather Tunic, styled like an ancient magistrate’s robe with a dark blue base and golden demonic faces embroidered on the front, paired with the Haunted Forest Zombie Bracers studded with vicious spikes. The Ghost King Leather Legguards were a dark red, as if flickering with ghostly flames, complemented by the Rakshasa Leather Boots—one dark red, one gray-black, a perfect match. And then came the piece de résistance: a pair of suit pants…

Someone save his titanium alloy eyes. TAT

[Local] Milk is Mom: Is your spirit animal Brother Sharp? ¹A homeless man who went viral for wearing interesting layered outfits

[Local] Polly: The dungeon didn’t drop leggings.

[Local] Milk is Mom: Then at least change the appearance!!!!

[Local] Polly: Too much trouble.

[Local] Milk is Mom: Have some consideration for the audience…

[Local] Polly: You don’t like it?

[Local] Milk is Mom: Do I seem that trashy in your eyes? T_T

Clearly, appearances meant nothing to the expert, who quickly got back on topic—

[Local] Polly: How long have you been waiting?

[Local] Milk is Mom: An hour and a half.

[Local] Polly: Not bad.

[Local] Milk is Mom: …

[Local] Polly: Finished the registration form?

Birdy-kun had a supernatural ability to see through everything—Fang Zheng considered this the greatest mystery of the century!

[Local] Milk is Mom: Just missing Crossplayer. He hasn’t logged in.

Other info could be filled in without the person, but the original ID number was impossible to get without logging into the account. And without Crossplayer’s consent, even if they registered him, if he didn’t show up for the tournament, it’d be pointless.

[Local] Polly: We’ll just have to keep waiting.

[Local] Milk is Mom: Registration closes tomorrow night. Will we make it?

[Local] Polly: Probably not. Got any other ideas?

[Local] Milk is Mom: Birdy, sarcasm won’t get you far…

[Local] Polly: Only lies dress in fancy clothes.

So the truth would forever roam naked? =_=

After that brief poetic interlude, Birdy reverted to his deadpan self, continuing to slaughter monkeys in his chaotic, edgy outfit. Fang Zheng stared blankly at his screen, unsure what to do.

Maybe help the expert slaughter monkeys?

[System] Your friend Mad Lad has entered the game.

Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow. This guy was early today.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Not working?

[Whisper] Mad Lad: Got off early.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Didn’t go to Huaxia Summit?

[Whisper] Mad Lad: Just got back from there.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: You got off really early. =_=

[Whisper] Mad Lad: You guys not on YY?

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: No dungeon, no need for YY.

[Whisper] Mad Lad: Typing’s annoying!

Fair point.

Fang Zheng logged into YY, where Mad Lad was already waiting in the channel.

“Zombie’s not with you?”

“Slaughtering monkeys.”

“Did he have a vendetta against monkeys in a past life?”

“Who knows.” Fang Zheng yawned. Afternoons were prime napping time. “Crossplayer still isn’t here. Not sure if we’ll even get this team together.”

Jiang Yang didn’t respond immediately. After a pause, he suddenly said, “Several Legions on Huaxia Summit are trying to recruit me.”

“Wow, popular…” Fang Zheng teased half-heartedly before realizing something was off. “Wait, what do you mean? Don’t tell me you’re planning to represent another Legion in the tournament!”

“Just weighing my options~~” Jiang Yang’s tone was leisurely, unhurried.

Fang Zheng gritted his teeth. “What gear does your crappy account even have that they’d want you? Besides, those big Legions already registered. There’s no spot left for you.”

“God, you’re dense. Accounts are static—people aren’t. I could just pilot one of their registered accounts.”

“…”

“Cat got your tongue?”

“I want to punch you.”

Surprisingly, the usually hot-tempered assassin didn’t snap back. Instead, he helpfully offered a solution: “Actually, I haven’t decided yet. Maybe if you begged, I’d change my mind.”

Fang Zheng frowned, sensing something amiss. Tentatively, he asked, “How should I beg?”

Jiang Yang chuckled. “Call me ‘big brother.'”

Fang Zheng facepalmed. “How old are you, still playing these games…”

A man’s age was his pride, so the assassin generously revealed: “Thirty-four.”

The twenty-six-year-old healer, now certain this was just a joke and the assassin wasn’t seriously leaving, instantly felt youthful by comparison: “I mean, is teasing young guys really that fun for you?”

The assassin gave it some serious thought for a few seconds.

“Yes.”

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  A homeless man who went viral for wearing interesting layered outfits