250. Slight Derision Proverb
When you lift your head to gaze at the stars, the once-unimaginable Star Abyss is now within reach.
The calculation of time in the universe is incredibly chaotic. Such vast territory leads each civilization to have its own calendar, making communication and contact extremely difficult.
It's said that the origin of Narrative-level civilizations was to solve this problem, and the ultimate result was the inherent time domain.
In truth, the emergence and significance of the inherent time domain have far surpassed the original purpose for which it was discovered.
After the gods beyond the Abyss fell one after another, the Narrative-level civilizations seized ascension divinity, monopolizing the path to godhood.
Now, a Narrative is no longer a simple technology but a symbol, representing a new era of hegemony.
In today's world, even though the Narrative-level civilizations no longer worry about that issue, not every civilization wants to join a Narrative.
Weak civilizations can't protect their inherent time domain and might instead give invaders a "highway" to devour and conquer them rapidly.
Meanwhile, powerful Narrative civilizations can quickly protect their citizens and use this as both a springboard and sugar-coated weaponry to expand outward.
Long ago, these were called colonial governments. In Star Abyss, it's known as "being absorbed into a Narrative."
The current layout of the Star Abyss, on the surface, is already very clear:
Join a grand Narrative. Use your civilization as paint for illustrating their dream.
Or establish your own faction, becoming the saint who writes a new Narrative.
Of course, there's another forbidden and absurd path…which is to be corrupted and degenerate, becoming part of [Society].
As an individual among the masses, how will you choose?
——[Slight Derision Proverb]1.99.ver
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Tap.
Closing the tablet, Jiao Ziniu let out a deep breath:
"Phew…finally, the day has arrived."
"What are you so nervous about? It's not like you're competing in a team event—it's just a solo match. Didn't you already appear many times during the domestic qualifiers?"
Nearby, Xia Yubing glanced at him with mild annoyance:
"That said, I'm not telling you to play recklessly. Relax, don't be tense."
"But it's my first time on the international stage, and I'm facing experienced opponents from various colonies and exo-provinces. They include stunt experts, technical stream top streamers, and professional studio-tailored players."
"Haven't you often played with them in pick-up matches? You should understand their tactics and skills well."
"That's different!"
Jiao Ziniu tugged at the collar of his tracksuit, looking at the competing players and spectators converging from all directions around the sports center. His nerves hit the roof, and he started trembling as he spoke rapidly:
"Usually it's Cumin Powder, Garidun, and the others carrying me. Aside from those five, I don't really know anyone else, especially so many foreigners and aliens. There are so many people—I feel like I'm dying, I can't breathe. Maybe I should quit now and go home…"
Xia Yubing was speechless. She raised her hand and gave his rear a smack.
Smack!
"Ow! What was that for?" Jiao Ziniu jumped, though it didn't really hurt. He mumbled a complaint.
"Just a reminder."
Xia Yubing spoke calmly:
"You've come this far with great difficulty, beating all those domestic players. If you surrender now without a fight, watch out—domestic netizens will bombard your DMs, harassing you until you quit the game."
"—That's awful!"
"And they'll label you as someone who's strong in domestic competition but weak in foreign events, and you'll never shake that off."
"No, no, no! I'll do it!"
Goosebumps rose all over Jiao Ziniu's body. Imagining being cursed out both online and offline, his face instantly turned pale.
"Now that's more like it." Xia Yubing nodded in satisfaction, patting him on the shoulder and rising on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear: "I'll be in the stands. If you make the top eight, I'll give you a special gift…"
"I'll try not to be eliminated in the round of sixteen…"
Jiao Ziniu forced a wry smile, then took a swig of his sports drink and strode into the arena. He arrived at the athlete entrance and handed over his credentials.
[Check-in complete, data being recorded…]
[Please verify your identity:]
[Athlete Name]: Jiao Ziniu (Gio Zio)
[Gender]: Male
[Age]: 19
[Nationality]: Terra Federation – Primordial Homeworld – Yanxia Nation
[Event]: E-sports – "Star Abyss" – Individual PvP
[Competition Character]: "Caramel Snail"
[Chikyo Number]: #2403 (Beta)
[Transferring your character data from "Star Abyss" to local…]
Everything looked fine, the data was clear and in order.
Jiao Ziniu nodded, and then the screen changed again:
[Please confirm your character data]:
——————————
[In-Game ID]: "Caramel Snail"#2403 (Beta)
[Conscription Character Original Name]: Saga Qi
[Race]: Neo-Human – Tianhuan ethnicity
[Template]: Elite Descender (Deals +7% damage to "Descenders")
[Faction]: White Candle Star – Faithkeep City – Leoz Mercenary Corps (Position: Scout)
[Total Level]: lv.80
——[Primary Class]: [Destruction] system—[Sword Master] lv.60 (MAX)
——[Secondary Class]: [Mutant] lv.20
[HP]: 12,000/12,000
[Stamina]: 9,700/9,700
[Attributes]:
Strength—101
Agility—66
Constitution—98
Charisma—60
Will—15
[Talents]:
[Class Talent·Way of the Sword Intent]—Your cultivation of qi power has transcended the mundane, and your mastery of swordsmanship has reached perfection. Each time you practice "Qi Refinement Technique," you gain the "Qi Surge" effect, granting +15 to [Strength], [Agility], and [Constitution] checks for 10 natural days, stackable up to three times. —From [Sword Master]
[Class Talent·Mutation]—Your genetic potential is initially unlocked, causing periodic [Mutations]. These may change your appearance or grant certain buffs. —From [Mutant]
Current mutation items:
[Turbocharged Lobes]—Your lungs are redesigned, permanently +15 yards to movement speed, +10% sprint speed, +60% stamina recovery rate.
[Enhanced Colonial Body]—Your flesh transforms into a biomechanical armor driven by your consciousness. Each body you inhabit is treated as a "colonial gear" that can be enhanced or altered by adding and transplanting gene fragments.
[Frost Guardian Muscles]—Your muscles will not atrophy or stiffen in cold environments. When hit by "Freeze," "Solidify," or similar control skills, you can remove them by sacrificing 12% of your current max HP, gaining 15 seconds of super armor.
[Specialties]:
[Extraordinary Physique]—As a Gamma-tier (3), you've reached the basic standard of a cosmic citizen. From your cells to your entire body, you surpass human limitations. Damage dealt by lower-level targets is only 80% effective against you. (Includes physical penetration, magical penetration, true damage)
[Crane School·Sanda Stance]—As a [Martial Artist], you've chosen a more direct, efficient path. When making melee attacks on a target, your attack speed is increased by 180%.
[Perpetual·Ruthless Sword Intent]—Long-term interaction with vicious blades has produced irreversible effects on your body. You grow ever more obsessed with tearing enemy flesh and pushing swordsmanship to its limits. When equipping a sword-type melee weapon, the weapon's sword intent is awakened, extending melee attack range to 5 meters.
Perpetual Effect: If your main attribute is [Strength], attack range extends to 12 meters.
[Transcendent Hunt Blade]—When advancing toward a target whose back is turned to you, your movement speed increases by 10%, and your next attack is guaranteed to crit.
[Nimble Moves]—Swift and clean, you know how to distribute your power for greater explosiveness and precision. Fighting skills have no startup delay.
[Perpetual·Tyranny]—You possess formidable Charisma and terrifying ambition. When you serve as team leader, all others' good feelings bind to yours, and no team member may doubt your decision, even if it's wrong—they'll believe without hesitation.
Perpetual Effect: If your main attribute is [Charisma], all attribute checks rely solely on [Charisma].
[Omega Energy]:
Core Omega Energy——[Soul Engraving Sword Saint·Battle Demon]
[Soul Engraving]: When you kill enemies with a blade-type weapon, you gain additional power and technique bonuses. The more enemies you kill, the more the weapon awakens its own consciousness.
[Battle Demon]: The prerequisites for equipping blade-type weapons are no longer determined by your [Strength] and [Agility] attributes, but by your [Charisma].
Development Stage: Contact Level
(Development stage levels: Perception, Contact, Mastery, Proficiency, Control, Domination, Usurpation)
Rented Omega Energy——[Truth Eye], [Sequence Nine·Gravity], [Sequence Fifty-Six • Remaining Moon], [Royal Car Shift]
[Skills Possessed]:
"Qi Burst," "Worldview: Materialism," "Swordsmanship Compendium," "Sky-Splitting Slash," "Meteor Sword Dance," "Shadow Step," "Crane School·Flick Strike," "Crane School·Iaido Slash," "Breakthrough Charge," "Crane School·Super Armor";
[Tier]: Gamma-tier (3)
——————————
"Hmm, everything looks correct. My gear is all set."
Jiao Ziniu nodded.
"If everything is confirmed, please follow the guide to the competition zone."
With assistance from the attendant, Jiao Ziniu soon reached the match room. The cozy interior design relaxed him a bit. After some checks, he was allowed to enter the gaming pod and prepare for today's match.
[Descent Complete]
[Welcome back to Star Abyss]
[You have entered the competition server—Planet Laide-116]
Off in the distance, a windmill turned slowly. The pale pink sky, dreamlike, clearly showed he'd left White Candle Star for this exclusive competition map.
"So the first round isn't at my home field—what a pity."
The competition map was randomly chosen from many servers' initial planets, rarely repeating.
Caramel Snail stood up from the players' waiting area, moving his body while also studying the surrounding terrain.