Longcheng University.
The New Year's Eve party hadn't ended yet, but Jiang Yan had already left early.
Just moments ago, his girlfriend Li Shiyin, under the gaze of nearly a thousand students, was dancing intimately on stage with the handsome Student Council President, Liu Bo. Amidst the raucous cheers, Li Shiyin even gave Liu Bo a fierce kiss on the cheek as the music ended.
Jiang Yan wasn't being cheated on, because before the party started, he had already received a unilateral breakup text from Li Shiyin.
It was decisive. After sending the breakup text, Li Shiyin blocked Jiang Yan, as if afraid of being tainted by something unclean.
"I hope you won't regret it in the future!" Jiang Yan walked along the winding path under the night sky, feeling somewhat unwilling, but what could he do? Liu Bo was the only son of a publicly listed company's CEO, destined to inherit billions. Among the thousands of university students, there were fewer than a handful who could compare to Liu Bo, let alone someone like him who grew up in an orphanage.
Returning to Dormitory 1818, Jiang Yan's three roommates were at their computers, checking out the class information of "Pinnacle" and some game experiences from closed beta players.
About a hundred years ago, virtual online gaming technology had matured, and various virtual games flooded the world. Until a year ago, a game called "Pinnacle" emerged, claiming 99% virtual realism, and during the closed beta, it conquered elite players from all over the world!
With the release of "Pinnacle," the stock prices of major gaming companies were halved. They frantically tried to sabotage it, hoping to kill "Pinnacle" before the closed beta ended. But the final result was that "Pinnacle" received full support from over two hundred countries worldwide, with advertisements spreading like a plague, sweeping the world. Major gaming companies had no resistance, either changing industries or going bankrupt!
And tonight at midnight, "Pinnacle" would open globally!
"Jiang Yan is back, did you win Li Shiyin back?" Dormitory Chief Zhao Shanshan asked with concern when he saw Jiang Yan.
"Cut it off when you need to, or it might affect the game!" Lei Hu said in his rough voice, always disliking Li Shiyin, thinking she was too much.
Sun Cairen also said, "Jiang Yan, 'Pinnacle' is an epic global game. If you play well, you can achieve financial freedom just by selling a few pieces of equipment or skill books. What kind of woman couldn't you find then?"
"Thanks." Jiang Yan felt much better inside.
A girlfriend might betray him, but his "godsons" wouldn't.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to perk up, "Li Shiyin is history. After midnight, you boys will follow your godfather here in conquering 'Pinnacle'!!"
"How dare you turn the pecking order upside down!" Zhao Shanshan and the other two were furious, rushing over to give him a good-natured beating.
After some horseplay, Jiang Yan lay on his bed, a bit tired, with a silver-white, high-tech-looking virtual gaming helmet by his pillow.
Jiang Yan touched the helmet and asked, "You've been researching for half a year, what class are you planning to play?"
Zhao Shanshan immediately flexed his biceps, "Lei Hu and I are both choosing Warriors!"
"I'm going for Archer!" Sun Cairen said with a shy smile, "You know, I'm particularly good at shooting."
Jiang Yan laughed, "That's great. Little Hu and Little Shan can tank the monsters in front, and Cairen, you can shoot them from the back!"
"Pfft~ Hahaha..."
The group burst into laughter.
"Jiang Yan, what about you?" Lei Hu asked.
"Why not choose Priest, to heal me and Lei Hu!" Zhao Shanshan suggested.
"With me shooting from the back, you still want healing? Shameless!" Sun Cairen was displeased, "Jiang Yan, pick Mage, just focus on burning!"
"Assassin is good too, to help us lure monsters," Lei Hu chuckled.
"I'm fine with anything, not picky." Jiang Yan had played several virtual online games before, with no particular preference for any class.
"Then just decide based on the situation," Zhao Shanshan said.
"Wow, another closed beta player just leaked some juicy info!" Sun Cairen suddenly exclaimed, "In the Novice Village's mine tunnels, besides small monsters, you can mine, and the deeper you go, the better the quality of the ore!"
"Damn, these closed beta players are such bastards, not revealing anything until the last minute!" Lei Hu cursed.
"I'm just afraid some are still holding back," Zhao Shanshan sighed, "Luckily, the closed beta only opened the Novice Village, so once we get out, we'll all be on the same starting line!"
Chatting and joking, time quickly reached 23:59.
Putting on the helmet, Jiang Yan took a deep breath, silently counting down.
"Brothers, let's do this!!"
"'Pinnacle,' here I come!"
The faint sounds of excitement seemed to come from outside, as Jiang Yan's consciousness slowly sank into darkness.
Suddenly, a dazzling starlight blossomed before Jiang Yan's eyes, and he felt his consciousness traversing countless light-years, finally arriving at an ancient altar.
The altar floated in the darkness, and an angel with long silver hair and an elegant demeanor descended from the sky.
Above the angel's head was a white exclamation mark!
"Welcome to 'Pinnacle,' I am your Guide Angel. Please name your character," the Guide Angel said with a smile.
"Jiang Taigong!" Jiang Yan immediately replied. "Pinnacle" used a one-player-one-name system; if he was late, someone else would take it.
"Name successful." The Guide Angel waved her delicate hand, and stone sculptures rose around the altar: "Please choose your class."
"Pinnacle" had only five initial classes: Warrior, Mage, Priest, Archer, and Assassin!
Jiang Yan's gaze moved back and forth among the statues, first ruling out Warrior and Archer. As for Mage, Priest, and Assassin, he didn't really care. Just as he was about to randomly choose one, he noticed the white exclamation mark above the Guide Angel's head was flashing.
What is this?
Jiang Yan stared at the white exclamation mark, and to his surprise, a string of text appeared: The Guide Angel loves poetry. If you recite a passionate poem, she might generously offer rarer classes.
This is... Jiang Yan looked at the text, first shocked, then delighted.
Have I awakened a cheat?
Could it be because I live in Dormitory 1818, so I've awakened the Golden Eye?
Suppressing his joy, Jiang Yan took deep breaths, quickly recalling all the poems he had learned.
Soon, he made his choice and recited aloud, "On the vast sea, the storm gathers the clouds! Between the clouds and the sea, the petrel flies like black lightning, proudly soaring..."
"The petrel cries, flying like black lightning, piercing through the clouds like an arrow, its wings stirring up the spray of the waves..."
"This is the brave petrel, flying proudly over the roaring sea, amidst the lightning; this is the prophet of victory shouting: Let the storm come more fiercely!!!"
The poem "The Song of the Stormy Petrel" resonated across the altar in Jiang Yan's rhythmic, high-pitched, and steady recitation, bringing a human-like surprise and joy to the Guide Angel's formulaic smile!
[Ding: The Guide Angel's favorability towards you +100!]
"Please choose your class." The Guide Angel smiled and waved her hand, and the five gray-brown statues seemed to be painted with color, now radiating brilliant golden light.
Jiang Yan widened his eyes to look.
The Warrior statue had become a rare class: Berserker!
The Mage statue had become a hidden class: Thunder Tyrant!
The Priest statue had become a rare class: Light Praiser!
The Archer statue had become a rare class: Crossbowman!
The Assassin statue had become a rare class: Night Walker!
Jiang Yan was overjoyed.
One hidden class, four rare classes!
This is too awesome!
He was thrilled, his gaze moving back and forth among the five statues, almost without hesitation, fixing on the only hidden class statue!
"Thunder Tyrant!!"