Mu Lan pulled off his VR headset. He couldn't actually enter the game yet—Defying the God wouldn't fully launch for another two days. Character creation was just the first step.
Moments later, Beng Zeng removed his own headset and turned to Mu Lan.
"So… what's your in-game name?"
Mu Lan met his gaze.
"Godslayer."
"Whoa," Beng whistled. "So you're really going with Godslayer? That's… intense. Hope it doesn't bring us bad luck."
"Don't be silly," Mu Lan said with a smirk. "What's your name? Please tell me you picked something worthy of a Paladin."
Beng puffed out his chest. "Skullhunter. Pretty cool, right? Not as epic as yours, but still badass."
Mu Lan froze for a second.
Skullhunter?
In his past life, Beng had never used that name. Back then, he'd played a Warrior and called himself "Real Man." But now—Paladin, Skullhunter…
The butterfly effect has already begun, Mu Lan realized. Small changes now could ripple into massive consequences later.
Still, he smiled. "Great name. Godslayer and Skullhunter—we'll dominate the server. No one will stop us. We're going to Defy the God. What do you say?"
Beng blinked, stunned. "Defy the God? That's… huge. Do you really think we can collect all 100 Challenge Scrolls? And even if we do—can we actually beat him? That could take years!"
Like every player, Beng had read the game's lore. It stated clearly: only those who gathered all 100 scattered scrolls could challenge the God. No one knew who—or what—the God truly was. That knowledge was locked behind the final scroll. It was the game's greatest mystery.
Beng hesitated, then asked, "By the way, Mu… do you know how we should allocate our stats? I read a bit, but as a Paladin, I have no idea what's best. You made me pick this class—so you must have a plan, right?"
Mu Lan didn't miss a beat. "You're dumping everything into Defense. Leave stat optimization to me. I'll make you unkillable. You don't even need to deal damage—I'll take every hit for you."
He paused, a quiet thought crossing his mind:
He really did choose Paladin… It's amazing to have a friend like this.
Then, aloud: "Since we can't log into the game yet, let's put our martial arts training into practice. We'll condition our bodies and shape them for combat. And tonight—set your alarm for 5 a.m. We run 10 kilometers, shower, then head to school. Deal?"
"Deal," Beng said firmly.
And so, they began.
—
They trained for another hour or two until their clothes clung to their bodies, soaked through with sweat. Exhausted but satisfied, they showered and collapsed into bed—knowing tomorrow's real test would begin at dawn.
—
5:00 a.m.
The alarm blared—annoying, relentless, perfect for dragging anyone out of sleep.
Mu Lan and Beng stumbled out of bed, half-asleep, and shuffled to the sink to splash water on their faces. In the hallway, they nearly bumped into each other, eyes heavy, muscles aching. The techniques they'd practiced were advanced—brutal on untrained bodies. Right now, they felt like they could sleep for two straight days.
"Morning, Mu."
"Morning, Beng."
They opened the kitchen cabinet, grabbed light snacks, and sat at the table in silence, chewing slowly.
Mu Lan groaned. "I'm dead tired… I hope we can actually run 10 kilometers. If I collapse and die, engrave 'Real Man' on my tombstone."
Beng snorted. "You'll be fine. Remember: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Pain builds a man."
Mu Lan's words struck a chord—they echoed Beng's own personal motto. Suddenly, Beng felt a surge of energy.
"Come on, Mu! Finish your snack! We've got 10 kilometers to run!"
Mu Lan grinned. Just moments ago, Beng had been whining—and now he was fired up. Inspired, Mu Lan quickly finished his food.
They stepped outside and headed to the park. The streets were empty in the pre-dawn hush. A few early risers jogged nearby—just like them, chasing strength before the world woke up.
Without wasting time, they assumed their running stances and began. They applied the breathing and stride techniques from Old Martial Arts.
By 1 kilometer, they were already gasping—this was their first real run. But they didn't stop.
9 kilometers to go. They had to do this.
At 2 kilometers, their legs burned.
At 3, they could barely lift their feet—but their minds refused to quit.
They believed they could finish. And so, they pushed forward.
4…
5…
8…
10…
Exactly two hours after they started, they crossed the 10-kilometer mark.
They hadn't run perfectly—they'd walked, rested, adjusted—but they'd finished. Their bodies weren't ready yet… but victory wasn't about perfection. It was about showing up, again and again.
Drenched in sweat, they headed home to shower before school.
Beng felt like he'd already lost 3 or 4 kilos—shedding the weight of his old self. Mu Lan, leaner to begin with, felt only about 1 kilo lighter. He'd never had much fat to lose.
After quick showers, they set off for school. It was only two blocks from their apartment—convenient, and perfect for their new disciplined life.
The journey had begun.
And this time… they wouldn't fall behind.