Chapter 162-4: Ways to Obtain Game Qualification (4) |
Earth, Yelan City.
Tong Xin lounged lazily in his computer chair, the backrest pressed almost to a 45-degree angle, his whole body sunk into it like a puddle of soft mud.
One leg was casually propped on the armrest, while the toes of the other tapped the floor now and then.
His hair was a mess, having had no time to be tidied in the past two days. His clothes hung loosely, the collar skewed to one side, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows at random.
On the desk sat a half-finished cup of coffee, with dried stains clinging to the rim. A few snack bags lay scattered nearby, some already empty, some with a few crumbs remaining.
From time to time he yawned, stretched, and then slumped back into the chair.
His fingers drummed idly on the tabletop, making a faint tap-tap sound, and Tong Xin’s gaze occasionally swept to the time in the lower right corner of the screen.
There were three hours left until Monster World issued qualifications.
He had been awake for more than 24 hours.
Because sleeping had led to two tragedies, he did not want a third.
Although the chance of snagging a qualification was very low, what if…
Just then, a news alert popped up in the lower right corner, indicating that at the same time Monster World would issue qualifications, the Lunar Eclipse race would issue a batch of Dark Land game qualifications.
Seeing the alert, Tong Xin could not help cursing inwardly.
He could not at all understand the Lunar Eclipse race’s stupid train of thought.
Issuing Dark Land qualifications at this time, what brain-damaged player would go for that? Of course they would go for Monster World.
What are they thinking, choosing the exact same time to issue qualifications?
“We mortals of the dust are destined to be unable to comprehend the thoughts of beings from the upper realm.”
Glancing at the time again, he felt he should do something.
After getting up and performing a self-created Turtle Fist set to wake himself up, he suddenly thought of the luck-changing ritual from the day before yesterday when grabbing Monster World.
Though he was not sure whether the ritual worked at the time, the result was that he successfully grabbed a qualification.
“Why not try again?”
With time to spare and the idea formed, Tong Xin immediately decided to do it again.
As long as there was even the slightest possibility, he did not want to miss it.
He went to the utility room and took out the candles and incense that had not yet been used. He went to the living room, pulled out his phone, and re-read the saved steps of the luck-changing ritual.
Following the steps in the post, he began arranging the candles.
Then he lit three sticks of incense and went to the balcony.
First he bowed to all the gods and buddhas, then to the ancestors. After promising two big meals, he returned to the living room and lit the candles.
Sitting at the center of the luck-changing ritual array, he began muttering incantations.
Finally he added a sentence: Starnet bless me. If it works, then you are my stepdad.
As if suddenly remembering something, Tong Xin froze for a moment, then added another line.
“Emperor’s Sign, big brother, bless me. I often hear those Destined Ones on the forum mention you. As a cyber deity in the game, I hope you can grant me a Monster World game qualification. I beg you, elder.”
With that said, Tong Xin took a deep breath and lit the talisman paper.
Only when the talisman paper burned out did the luck-changing ritual end.
Returning to his room, he bathed and changed clothes, put on a brand new outfit, and sat down at the computer desk.
Time trickled by, and Tong Xin grew increasingly anxious.
Staring at the countdown timer on Monster World’s official website page, time seemed stretched, each second becoming slow.
While waiting, his fingers tapped unconsciously on the desk, the rhythm growing faster, as if doing so could dispel the unease in his heart. His gaze was fixed on the website’s timer. With each jump of the digits, his heart tightened in step, as if gripped by an invisible hand that squeezed tighter and tighter.
This anxiety even made him urinate frequently.
There was 1 hour left until qualifications were issued.
Tong Xin’s mind was a tangled mess, thoughts surging like a tide, good and bad… every possibility churned in his head, making it impossible to calm down. He tried to take deep breaths, but the air felt as if it had been sucked dry. Every breath he drew seemed thin, and his chest felt stuffy and flustered.
He wanted to do something, but did not know what to do.
This sense of powerlessness made him even more irritable, as if trapped in a worsening endless loop, unable to find a way out.
He could only grit his teeth and tough it out, waiting for the unknown result soon to be released, while his mind had already become a numb tangle.
The wind outside the window, the rustling of leaves, even the sound of his own heartbeat, were all infinitely magnified in his ears, making him feel on the verge of collapse.
He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself.
All of these emotions were caused by having too many expectations for Monster World.
When there were ten minutes left, Tong Xin suddenly found the world becoming extraordinarily quiet.
The couple upstairs, who had been quarreling just now, had stopped. The TV sound from downstairs had disappeared. Even the noise of vehicles outside the window had vanished… as if the entire world had been muted.
He stood up and walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked outside.
The street was empty, not a single figure in sight. The road that was usually crowded now looked exceptionally wide. Only a few fallen leaves were swept by the wind, spinning alone on the ground. The traffic lights not far away were still mechanically changing colors, yet not a single car was driving on the road, including self-driving cars.
After one glance, he immediately returned to sit in front of the computer.
The inexplicable silence made Tong Xin realize one thing. The entire world was his enemy.
The couple upstairs, the single young lady downstairs, the community security guard… the whole world was his enemy in obtaining qualifications, including the upper-realm beings on the moon.
A silent slaughter would begin in ten minutes.
“Oh my god, how did I end up an enemy of the whole world.”
A fine layer of sweat beaded on Tong Xin’s forehead. His palms were so sticky he could barely hold the mouse.
After understanding his situation, he felt a sudden sadness. He felt that his probability of obtaining a Monster World game qualification was pitifully low.
When the time entered the final one-minute countdown, Tong Xin’s heart pounded uncontrollably.
The numbers on the screen continued to jump mercilessly. 30 seconds, 29 seconds, 28 seconds… Tong Xin’s eyes were locked on the screen, afraid of missing any detail. The intense drowsiness was slammed to the ground by adrenaline. He could even hear his own heartbeat thudding in his ears, as if the entire world had only this sound left.
10 seconds, 9 seconds, 8 seconds… Tong Xin’s body leaned forward unconsciously, nearly pressing up against the screen.
His fingers gripped the mouse tightly, the knuckles turning white from the force. His mind went blank, leaving only one thought: Faster. Faster. Faster.
3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second… his fingers had already entered frenzied clicking mode.
Time then returned to zero.
A prompt popped up.
[You have participated in this Monster World qualification lottery. Remaining lottery time: 4 minutes 59 seconds.]
This was the lottery function set by Qi Sheng.
If there were no waiting time, players could seize qualifications through rapid physical clicking, making the chances for elderly users slim.
The lottery mechanism can ensure that every participant has an equal chance, rather than simply relying on network speed or physical plug-ins to seize the initiative.
As long as you click ‘Obtain Qualification’ within these five minutes, you may be selected in the lottery five minutes later.
Looking at the prompt on the webpage, Tong Xin leaned back in the computer chair, feeling as if his strength had been exhausted.
Monster World uses a lottery system, which means that no matter how fast your hand speed is, it is meaningless. From here on, it was left to fate.
A new round of torment followed.
Time passed slowly, and Tong Xin’s mood once again grew tense.
At this moment, members of all races around the world were the same as Tong Xin. Countless eyes were fixed on the lottery countdown on Monster World’s official website, waiting for the final result to be released.
5, 4, 3… In the last five seconds, Tong Xin pressed his palms together, muttering nonstop.
“Emperor’s Sign, big brother, Starnet, big brother, please bless me. I beg you, ah ah ah.”
At this moment the lottery numbers returned to zero, and the world changed from stillness to clamor in an instant.
The shouting and cursing of the couple upstairs, the cathartic roar of the security guard downstairs, even the dog sleeping downstairs was startled into frenzied barking.
Tong Xin did not speak, his gaze blankly fixed on the computer screen.
[Congratulations. You have obtained a Monster World game qualification. Please complete activation within 24 hours.]
His eyes grew a little moist. The previous torment, struggle, and helplessness all vanished in this instant, like waking from a long nightmare, with everything good arriving one after another.
He took a deep breath. Even the air seemed fresher, carrying a faint sweetness that seeped into his heart.
“Hahahaha, I got it.”
[T/N: Only took him 160 chapters to get it lol. Anyways what are your thoughts so far on the story? I’m really enjoying the route it’s going and honestly can’t wait to see what faction, monster, etc the author will cook up next. This novel has peak world building and I wish I could also get a Monster World qualification too xD.]
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