Even to this day, Ling Ke still clearly remembers what happened in the final moment before he transmigrated.
That day, he just wanted to buy a watermelon from the fruit shop downstairs to beat the heat. For some reason, he looked up — and saw a streak of blue light plummeting from the sky, growing larger and larger in his vision.
To this day, he still has no idea what the hell that thing was that smashed straight into his forehead.
But...
"Logically speaking, anything that can smash someone into another world should come with a golden finger, right?"
"System? Inheritance? Old grandpa? Demon god pill? Or the core of a star beast?"
All those ultra-clichéd possibilities — the old Ling Ke had fantasized about them countless times.
Because they were his hope of escape.
Unfortunately, throughout nearly four years of torment and despair, no matter how desperately he called out, there was never any response.
But similarly, until today...
[Detected special region meeting binding conditions for the "Reincarnator Room." "Top Player System" fully activated.]
[Please select your future development path: "World-Saving Top Player" or "World-Exterminating Top Player."]
Staring at the classic semi-transparent rectangular virtual panel in front of him, after a brief moment of daze...
Ling Ke slightly narrowed his eyes.
Without a doubt, if it had been the him from a few years ago, he would have unhesitatingly chosen to become the "World-Saving Top Player".
But now, the fire in his heart had long since burned out.
So, equally without a doubt...
[Host has selected: "World-Exterminating Top Player."]
[From this day forward, for every sapient life that dies due to the host's direct or indirect actions, the host shall receive 1 point.]
[Points can be used in the system to randomly draw "Game Character Templates." The host may load these onto themselves, gaining the corresponding template's "Character Traits," "Game Skills," and "Background Talents."]
[Initial process complete. Rewarding "Newbie Gift Package" ×1.]
Ling Ke quickly scanned through the information.
Soon, he had organized his thoughts.
First...
"If we completely ignore humanitarian concerns, the difference between 'World-Saving Top Player' and 'World-Exterminating Top Player' lies in where their strengths are focused."
"The way 'World-Exterminating Top Player' gains points is obviously far simpler."
"Just kill directly."
"But for 'World-Saving Top Player,' repeatedly saving the same person from danger multiple times would yield repeated points."
"One is explosive short-term growth; the other is steady long-term accumulation."
At this moment, even Ling Ke himself hadn't noticed...
The way he analyzed problems had already become extraordinarily cold-blooded.
Or, to put it another way: absolute rationality based purely on self-interest — rational to a terrifying degree.
And on that foundation...
"As the host of the 'Top Player System,' while simultaneously being this era's Herrscher of Domination..."
"This means the Game Character Template loading function — originally limited to 'one' person — can now be expanded directly to 'a thousand.'"
"And this Theater of Domination..."
Ling Ke glanced around him. "After being bound by the system as my 'Respawn Room,' it has become an absolute domain completely under my control."
He remembered that in many games he'd played before transmigrating, a "Respawn Room" was almost always an inviolable safe zone.
Like in Left 4 Dead.
Or Overwatch.
Therefore...
"Now that the Theater of Domination possesses 'Respawn Room' properties, no one can force their way in unless I personally allow it."
"Operations like the one in the original plot — where Kiana used the Herrscher of the Void's powers to teleport a warship inside — are impossible."
"Thus, as long as I stay inside the Theater of Domination, I am invincible by default."
With that in mind...
["Newbie Gift Package" opened.]
[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the Game Character Template — Amby.]
Seeing this result, the corner of Ling Ke's mouth curved upward.
He immediately pulled up the system's detailed description:
[Game Character Template: Amby] [Source: Zenless Zone Zero] [Character Traits: Leveling system, HP system, infinite stamina, indestructible equipment, electric attribute, stagger mechanics, character switching...] [Game Skills: Normal Attack: Volt Rush, Normal Attack: Falling Thunder, Dodge: Slide Step, Dash Attack: Arc Slash...] [Background Talents: High Ether Aptitude Physique...] [Background: Age unknown, real name unknown. Current alias: Amby Demara. Suspected to be former Obol Squad "Zero" operative...]
"Zero, huh..."
Ling Ke couldn't help but sigh wistfully. "That number really suits the current me."
"Now then..."
A dangerously cold, psychotic grin spread across his face. "Let's begin my first revenge."
"This West Asia Branch no longer needs to exist."
Regarding the Authority of the Herrscher of Domination, Ling Ke had discovered several key points.
First — perhaps because he was an outsider transmigrator — as the core host of the Thousand-Man Herrscher, he no longer needed to hijack the consciousness of other sapient beings to expand the collective.
All one thousand instances of the Herrscher of Domination were him.
This was, without question, perfectly aligned with Ling Ke's current mindset.
Because right now, he trusted no one but himself.
Building on that...
"While I can open portals to freely travel between the Theater of Domination and the outside world at any time, when there's no one outside, I can only open portals in locations I've personally visited after becoming a Herrscher."
In this regard, it was far inferior to the Herrscher of the Void's free spatial manipulation.
For example, right now — having only just awakened as a Herrscher — Ling Ke could only open a portal inside the cell he was confined in.
Of course, a simple electronic barred cell door could no longer hold him.
He could just reach through the bars and open a portal on the other side.
Or leave a mark on a small object and throw it...
It was somewhat similar to the Flying Thunder God Technique from Naruto, but portal version.
And furthermore...
"The base Herrscher of Domination, aside from using the Theater of Domination and portals, can also steal the Authorities of other Herrschers and fight using those special 'threads.'"
"And all abilities I possess — including the above — can be used by every single Domination Puppet."
"Thanks to this trait, even though I've only obtained one Game Character Template so far..."
With that thought, Ling Ke loaded the "Amby" template.
In the next instant, all 999 Domination Puppets inside the vast Theater of Domination changed form.
Every single one transformed into silver-gray-haired girls wearing black-and-green outfits and headphones.
Upon closer inspection, each of the 999 "Domination Puppet · Ambys" had a number on the battery pack module on their backs.
The original Amby was labeled: 123.
The 999 puppets present were numbered from 001 to 999.
As for Ling Ke himself — his number was: 000.
Truly, in every sense, "Zero."