Chapter 2: The Awakening Begins
The jade pendant glimmered faintly in Adrian's inventory, its surface catching light that wasn't really there.
He stared at it for a long moment, his heartbeat thundering. This wasn't just any trinket — it was the same Azure Jade Pendant he had possessed in his previous life. The very artifact Nathan Reed had once spoken of with greedy arrogance.
But only now, reborn, could Adrian truly take in its appearance.
He materialized it into his hand. Cold. Heavy. The surface was milky white, veined with a dragon carved so finely it seemed alive. Its serpentine body coiled in eternal vigilance, claws extended, eyes gleaming with divine authority.
Adrian's breath caught. The sight triggered something buried deep in his memories.
He had seen this carving before — not in the game, but in reality.
On his mother's old laptop.
A fleeting image on her desktop wallpaper, one he had dismissed back then as an odd family keepsake. Now, staring at the jade in his palm, he was certain. It was the same dragon, etched in the same fierce pose.
Mother… what did you know?
The thought lingered, but there was no time to dwell. He forced himself to focus and pulled up the pendant's properties.
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[Item: Azure Jade Pendant (Heavenly Dragon)]
Quality: Super-God Tier
Status: Bound
Description: One of the twelve Zodiac Glory Jade Pendants. Holders of a Zodiac Pendant awaken two talents of at least S-rank or higher.
Innate Holders: Those who possessed the pendant before entering Glory of the Gods. Dual talents are highly likely to be God-tier or SSS-tier.
Acquired Holders: Those who obtained the pendant after entering. The strength of the second talent is determined by the first.
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Rules of Awakening:
Players with talents below S-tier cannot bind a Zodiac Pendant.
The weaker the first talent, the higher the chance of an extraordinary second.
If the first is God-tier → 50% chance of SSS-tier, 50% chance of God-tier.
If the first is SS/SSS-tier → 60% chance of SSS, 30% God, 10% Super-God.
If the first is S-tier → Second talent guaranteed Super-God.
Additional Effects:
Pendant holders can sense others with Zodiac Pendants within the same map.
Slaying another holder reveals their pendant. Each pendant collected strengthens the wielder's talents.
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Adrian's hands trembled. His breath came shallow and fast.
The jade pendant that awakens two supreme talents… and it came back with me.
Even Nathan Reed had lusted after this. Now it was his once more.
A thrill coursed through him, but it was tempered with regret.
"Unfortunately, my first talent will always be the King's Avatar," he muttered under his breath. "God-tier. Which means, at best, my second talent can only rise to SSS… or if I'm lucky, another God-tier. But not Super-God."
If anything, it was cruel irony. An S-tier base would have guaranteed him a Super-God awakening.
Super-God talents were in a league of their own, eclipsing even two God-tiers combined.
Still… the pendant meant power. Power meant survival. And survival meant vengeance.
Before he could dwell further, a crisp chime rang through the square.
[System Prompt: First Job Change Mission Unlocked. Proceed to the Awakening Stone to awaken your talent and complete your first profession change.]
The announcement echoed across Novice Village No. 10010.
Almost immediately, the crowd stirred. Streams of players surged toward the massive Awakening Stele in the plaza's center.
Adrian followed their movement, his gaze sharp.
"Who are they?" someone whispered nearby.
"They're from the big guilds," another player answered in hushed awe. "Every new game, they're the first to mobilize. Recruiting elites, scouting mechanics…"
"Look at that one," a boy pointed. "Middle of the front row. That's the Tyrant Guild — the strongest in Dragon Country. Anyone who joins them becomes a giant in gaming."
The mention sparked envy. "If only I could join…"
"Don't even dream. Tyrant doesn't recruit just anyone.
They keep a global list — top 2,000 seed players ranked by spiritual power.
Only those people stand a chance."
Adrian listened silently, lips curling.
In his last life, these guilds had risen like empires, carving up territory, building their dynasties on the backs of geniuses and traitors alike.
This time, he would not dance to their tune.
A burly middle-aged man stepped forward, his voice booming across the square.
"Greetings, players. I am Leonar Von Astrin, commander of Novice Village 10010 on behalf of the Tyrant Guild."
The square hushed instantly.
"We have completed our survey. This village houses 2,000 players. Among you, ten have displayed exceptional mental strength."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Li Tianba lifted a scroll. "Those names are as follows: Adrian Cross — spirit power 120. Claire Summers — 109. Kevin Miles — 102. Jason Zhang — 99. Charlotte… and so forth."
Gasps erupted.
"One-twenty? Who the hell is Adrian Cross?"
"Wait, Claire Summers? Isn't she the beauty from Westbridge University?"
"And Kevin Miles — he's the finance heir, right?"
Recognition sparked everywhere.
Adrian heard his name spreading like wildfire, students whispering, gawking.
"Adrian Cross… he's that guy from the E-Sports Academy, isn't he? The one who almost went pro last year?"
"So he's the strongest spirit power in our entire village?"
Adrian ignored them all. The attention meant nothing. Fame was ash. Only power endured.
His gaze drifted through the crowd until it landed on Kevin Miles.
The boy stood ten meters away, tall, handsome, exuding smug confidence.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
In his past life, Kevin had been one of Nathan's hidden loyalists.
He had fought against Adrian in countless ambushes, one of the hounds that hounded him to his grave.
Adrian's hand clenched into a fist. On my list.
Meanwhile, Li Tianba continued. "Those named, the Tyrant Guild welcomes you with open arms. We will provide you the best resources, the fastest growth, the finest opportunities. Your destinies will be forged with us."
Excitement surged among the crowd, their faces lit with hope.
But Adrian's eyes only grew colder.
Tyrant had resources, yes but their leash was heavier than iron. He would not kneel.
Other guild representatives stepped forward, plastering smiles.
"If Tyrant doesn't suit you, Dream Factory will always open its doors," one said.
"The Shamat Guild as well," another added smoothly.
The square buzzed with chatter.
Temptation, ambition, envy all writ large on every face.
Then the Awakening Stele pulsed.
A blinding beam shot into the sky, and a system announcement resonated across the world.
[System Announcement: Welcome to Glory of the Gods. Three foundational rules will now be revealed.]
[Rule 1: Insulting any NPC within this world is forbidden. Violation results in a permanent curse of misfortune.]
The players blinked at each other in disbelief.
"NPCs… protected?"
"So they're basically sacred?"
Jealousy flickered in their eyes. Born with privilege. Born untouchable.
The system continued.
> [Rule 2: Upon death, players will resurrect in the safe zone with full health. Once resurrection charges are spent, death will extend to reality itself.]
A chill swept through the plaza.
"Wait… it affects the real world?"
"This isn't just a game then. It's life and death."
Some went pale.
Others trembled.
But a few were are the hungry ones they only for grinned wider.
[Rule 3: Players may not remain in-game more than sixteen hours daily. Exceed the limit and you will be forcibly logged out.]
The restrictions set in stone, the system pressed on.
[Reminder: Once the first player reaches Level 10, the map of Glory Town will open, unlocking the first currency bank, quests, and higher goods.]
Adrian stood silent as fear and denial rippled through the others. Some muttered about quitting. Others argued about risk and reward.
But he felt no fear. Not anymore.
For him, this wasn't a game. It was war.
The system chimed one last time.
[Talents are divided into Ordinary and Extraordinary.]
[Ordinary Talents: F, E, D, C, B, A.]
[Extraordinary Talents: S, SS, SSS, God, and Super-God.]
[The Awakening Ceremony begins now.]
The Awakening Stele blazed brighter, casting its light across every face in the square.
Adrian's fingers closed tight around the Chenlong Jade Pendant in his pocket.
His time had come.
This life, he would carve his path in blood and fire.
And when his talents awakened, the world would learn the cost of betraying Adrian Cross.
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