System: Name Confirmed.
The moment the name was confirmed, the world around Lin Mo changed.
The empty space trembled.
Fragments of light suddenly appeared from every direction, spinning through the air like pieces of an enormous puzzle. One by one, they collided and locked together, forming seven colossal portals that towered before him.
Each portal radiated a different color and presence. Some shimmered with a gentle, almost sacred light, while others pulsed with an ominous energy that made the air itself feel heavy.
Lin Mo stared at them in astonishment.
Then—
System: Select your race.
The cold, mechanical voice echoed through the mysterious space. Lin Mo's eyes widened. So it was true.
Inside this dream—or whatever this strange world was—he could actually become someone else.
Not merely change his appearance.
Not simply play a character.
He could live as an entirely different race.
The thought sent a strange thrill through him.
For someone who had spent most of his life trapped within the limitations of his own body, the idea of experiencing life through an entirely different form was almost intoxicating.
Seven enormous portals stood before him. Above each one floated a name.
Human.
Elf.
Dwarf.
Beastkin.
Spiritborn.
Demonkin.
Celestial.
Lin Mo did not immediately step forward. He understood that this was a decision he could make only once. Even if this was merely a dream, he did not want to waste the opportunity.
If he truly had the chance to experience life as another race, then he wanted to choose carefully.
After all, some opportunities only knock once.
System: Press the name of the race to view information.
System: Enter the corresponding portal to select your preferred race.
Lin Mo's curiosity got the better of him. He began examining the choices one by one. With a thought, he selected the first name.
Human
《Adaptability and Growth》
- Balanced attributes across all categories.
- Learns new skills faster.
- Has access to a wide variety of classes.
- Possesses exceptional adaptability.
Lin Mo nodded slightly. Nothing particularly overwhelming. But humans appeared to be the most versatile race.
He moved to the next.
Elf
《Agility and Mana》
- Exceptional Dexterity and Intelligence.
- High affinity for bows, spirits, and elemental magic.
- Naturally high mana regeneration.
Dwarf
《Endurance and Craftsmanship》
- Highest natural Constitution.
- Masterful blacksmiths and engineers.
- Strong resistance to fire and earth.
- Exceptional proficiency with heavy weapons and shields.
Beastkin
《Speed and Survival》
- Enhanced senses.
- Superior movement speed and reflexes.
- Can temporarily enter a Bestial Awakening state.
Spiritborn
《Pure Mana》
- Born from elemental energy.
- Extremely high affinity with elemental magic.
- Can temporarily transform partially into an elemental form.
Demonkin
《Power Through Sacrifice》
- High Strength and Intelligence.
- Excels in curse, shadow, and blood-based abilities.
- Can temporarily increase power by consuming personal resources such as health or mana.
Celestial
《Blessings and Protection》
- Excels in holy magic, healing, and barrier abilities.
- High resistance to curses and corruption.
- Gains additional bonuses while protecting allies.
Lin Mo stood silently. The more he read, the more surprised he became.
The seven races were not simply different in appearance. Each possessed unique strengths, abilities, and weaknesses. It was almost as if the game had been designed around cooperation.
Humans could adapt.
Elves could control the battlefield with agility and magic.
Dwarves could stand at the front lines and forge powerful equipment.
Beastkin could hunt and survive in dangerous environments.
Spiritborn could wield the elements themselves.
Demonkin could exchange vitality for overwhelming power.
And Celestials could protect and support their allies.
A single race could never truly excel at everything. But together, they could cover each other's weaknesses.
For a moment, Lin Mo imagined a party consisting of all seven races. Perhaps that was the true meaning behind the game's design.
Not one race standing above the others. But seven different paths eventually converging into one.
Lin Mo frowned slightly as he looked over the choices again. Then his eyes settled on Human.
Among all seven races, humans seemed to possess the greatest freedom.
They had no overwhelming natural advantage, but neither did they suffer from any crippling weakness.
Their attributes were balanced.
Their class options were diverse.
Their learning ability was exceptional.
And most importantly—
They could adapt.
Lin Mo's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Whatever."
He shrugged.
"Being a normal human might not be such a bad thing."
With his decision made, Lin Mo walked toward the crimson portal. The moment he stepped inside, his body was swallowed by the swirling light.
Then—
Everything changed. A crimson world appeared before him. The sky was dark. The space around him seemed distorted, as though the world itself had been torn apart.
Lin Mo's expression changed.
Then, suddenly—
System: ERROR!
System: ERROR!
The mechanical voice that had previously sounded calm and emotionless was now distorted by an alarming static.
A blinding red light flashed across the space.
WARNING!
WARNING!
The sound grew louder.
And louder.
And louder.
Lin Mo immediately covered his ears.
"What the hell?!"
The piercing alarm seemed to drill directly into his skull. His eardrums throbbed painfully. His vision blurred. He staggered backward, clutching the sides of his head as the world around him shook violently.
System: ERROR! ERROR!
System: Unstable link detected.
System: Connection between Host and [???] is unstable.
System: ERROR!
System: ERROR!
Red warning lights continued flashing. Lin Mo's breathing became ragged.
"What the hell is this game?!"
His knees buckled.
"Arghhhhh!"
"His heart rate is spiking!"
"He's awake!"
"Call the doctor!"
The hospital room erupted into chaos. Lin Mo's scream tore through the quiet ward. The nurse rushed to his bedside while another immediately pressed the emergency call button.
The cardiac monitor beside the bed began beeping rapidly.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Lin Mo thrashed violently against the mattress, his hands gripping the sheets as if he were fighting an invisible enemy.
"Lin Mo! Can you hear me?"
The nurse leaned close to him.
"Lin Mo, open your eyes! You're in the hospital. You're safe!"
His body trembled.
The nurse quickly checked his airway and breathing before assessing his pulse and blood pressure.
"Heart rate one-thirty!"
"Blood pressure is elevated!"
"He's breathing rapidly!"
The attending physician rushed into the room.
"What happened?"
"He suddenly became agitated and started screaming. His heart rate increased sharply."
"Any seizure activity?"
"None observed."
"Check his oxygen saturation. Start continuous monitoring."
The pulse oximeter was quickly repositioned on Lin Mo's finger. His oxygen saturation remained acceptable. That was reassuring.
But something was clearly wrong.
The doctor examined his pupils, checked his level of consciousness, and attempted to orient him.
"Lin Mo. Can you hear me?"
No response.
"Lin Mo, look at me."
His eyes remained tightly shut. The doctor glanced at the monitor.
"Keep monitoring his vitals. Don't restrain him unless he becomes a danger to himself."
For nearly an hour, the medical team remained at his bedside.
They monitored his heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation while repeatedly assessing his neurological condition.
Eventually, Lin Mo's agitation gradually subsided. His breathing slowed. His heart rate began returning toward baseline. The tension in his muscles finally disappeared.
"He's stabilizing."
The doctor exhaled quietly.
"Continue observation."
No one in the room noticed the faint movement of Lin Mo's fingers.
Nor did anyone hear the final whisper that disappeared into the darkness of his unconscious mind.
System: Connection Stabilized
When Lin Mo finally opened his eyes again, the hospital room was quiet. The monitors beside him displayed stable readings.
His breathing was calm.
His body felt exhausted, but there was no immediate pain. He stared at the ceiling for several seconds.
Then he slowly closed his eyes again.
Whatever had happened—
He was too tired to think about it. And this time, he fell into a peaceful sleep.
A week passed. Fortunately, the strange episode did not happen again. Lin Mo's condition remained stable throughout the week.
His vital signs were consistently within acceptable ranges, and his surgical wound continued to heal at an extraordinary rate.
The nurses changed his dressings regularly. The wound showed no obvious signs of infection.
There was no purulent drainage, no significant erythema spreading around the incision, and no persistent fever.
His blood tests also showed no alarming signs of systemic infection.
Even his pain had decreased significantly. But the medical staff remained puzzled. His recovery simply did not make sense. The amount of blood he had reportedly lost.
The severity of his injury.
The trauma his body had endured.
Under normal circumstances, his recovery should have taken considerably longer.
Yet his body seemed to be healing at a pace that left even experienced medical professionals scratching their heads.
Eventually, the day of his final medical evaluation arrived.
The attending physician stood beside Lin Mo's bed, reviewing his chart.
"Your vital signs are stable," the doctor said.
He glanced at the latest laboratory results.
"Your blood work is also within acceptable limits. The wound has closed well, and there are no current signs of infection."
He paused.
"Your internal injuries have also healed remarkably well."
Lin Mo sat quietly on the edge of the hospital bed. The doctor looked at him for a moment longer.
"Honestly, Lin Mo..."
His expression became serious.
"Your recovery is unusual."
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed slightly. The doctor pulled a chair closer.
"I'd like to perform a more comprehensive evaluation myself. Additional imaging, blood work, and a neurological assessment. We could also investigate why your body is recovering at such an unusual rate."
The doctor's tone was professional. But there was something else hidden behind his eyes.
Curiosity.
Intense curiosity.
Lin Mo noticed it immediately. The doctor wasn't looking at him like an ordinary patient anymore. He was looking at him like a medical mystery.
Like a case study.
Perhaps even — A research subject.
Lin Mo's instincts immediately raised a red flag.
He smiled politely.
"I'm sorry, Doctor, but I think I'll pass."
The doctor blinked.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Thank you for taking care of me."
Lin Mo stood up.
The doctor hesitated.
"I can arrange for your remaining hospital expenses to be waived."
Lin Mo stopped. For a moment, he looked back. But the doctor's gaze only reinforced his suspicion. There was something unsettling in those eyes.
Lin Mo shook his head.
"Thank you, but I'll manage."
He walked toward the door.
"Lin Mo—"
The doctor called after him.
But Lin Mo didn't stop. He had already made up his mind. The moment he stepped outside the hospital, he let out a quiet sigh.
Medical bills.
Right.
He had almost forgotten about that.
His recovery might have been miraculous, but miracles apparently didn't pay hospital bills.
With no family member or guardian there to handle the paperwork, the financial burden would eventually fall on him.
Lin Mo rubbed his forehead.
"Looks like I have another problem to deal with."
He stepped onto the sidewalk. The afternoon air felt strangely refreshing against his skin. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, he was finally outside.
Then something caught his attention.
Across the street, a large crowd had gathered outside a technology store. People stood in a long line that stretched around the corner.
Lin Mo frowned.
"What is going on?"
His curiosity got the better of him. He looked toward the store. Then he saw the massive advertisement displayed above the entrance.
His footsteps suddenly stopped. His eyes widened. The words were impossible to miss.
》ASCENSION ONLINE《
A Full-Dive VRMMORPG
Open-World Fantasy • Action RPG
》Seven Races • Seven Lost Legacies • One Crown《
Lin Mo stared at the advertisement. His heart skipped a beat.
Seven races.
Human.
Elf.
Dwarf.
Beastkin.
Spiritborn.
Demonkin.
Celestial.
The exact same seven races from his dream. Lin Mo's expression slowly changed.
"That's..."
His mind immediately returned to that strange world.
The seven portals.
The race selection.
The crimson portal.
The system errors.
The mysterious connection between him and something he still couldn't identify. But after that incident, nothing had happened.
For an entire week, he had not returned to that strange dream. Maybe it had been nothing more than a coincidence.
Maybe his mind had simply created the entire experience.
Yet as Lin Mo stood there, staring at the advertisement, something deep within him began to stir.
A feeling.
A sensation he couldn't explain.
Then—
Thump.
Lin Mo's eyes widened.
Thump.
His heart beat again.
But this time, the sound seemed different. It wasn't simply the beating of his physical heart.
It was deeper.
Older.
Almost ethereal.
A heartbeat that seemed to echo from somewhere beyond his own body.
Thump.
Lin Mo stared at the words ASCENSION ONLINE.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt as though something was calling to him.
Inviting him.
Waiting for him.
His fingers slowly curled into fists. He didn't know what awaited him inside that game.
He didn't know why the seven races had appeared in his dream.
And he certainly didn't know what the system meant when it said—
Connection between Host and [???] is unstable.
But one thing was certain.
For the first time in his life, Lin Mo felt as though a door had opened before him.
And somewhere on the other side...
Something was waiting for him to step through.