Translator: CinderTL
As they lay down in the game pods, fresh nutrient solution flowed from the pores, gradually enveloping their bodies.
The translucent blue pod lids slowly lowered, and darkness gradually enveloped their vision.
In an instant, like a cosmic explosion, countless stars burst into view.
Dawn Game's entry sequence delivered an immediate and overwhelming surprise.
The immersive experience was particularly striking, making them feel as if they were floating above the stars, surrounded by celestial bodies.
Next came the initial steps: naming their characters and completing the newbie tutorial.
Once the tutorial ended, the Star Optics Academy's high-ranking personnel found themselves in a bustling cityscape.
They stood at the center of a marble-paved plaza.
Ahead, a musical fountain continuously shifted its water patterns, while to their right stood golden statues of the ten highest-ranked warriors in the current ranked match.
In the distance, towering skyscrapers pierced the sky, while countless black birds and bizarre demonic beasts soared through the air.
Everything felt so real, as if they had truly entered a new world where technology and demons coexisted.
For a moment, it truly felt like they had crossed over into another world.
The plaza was still teeming with Star City Academy students, their game names floating above their heads as they chatted or shouted.
"iron-tier: Need a healer to start. Five-win streak team. No noobs allowed—or face the consequences offline!"
"Pushing for Gold Tier: Pro team needs two frontline tank warriors. Must follow orders!"
"Class Two brothers, get in the room now! Time to show those Class Five dogs what we're made of. I'm holding back in the real world to avoid hurting you, but in the game, I'm going all out to smash your dog heads!"
"10v10 ranked match: Need a carry! Teammate's stuck in a long queue after lunch. Come carry us!"
Hearing the shouts around them, the senior administrators of Star Optics Academy finally believed Old Liang's words.
This incredibly realistic virtual environment truly could simulate real-world combat.
Guo Quan, who had initially vehemently opposed purchasing the high-end virtual pods, constantly scanned his surroundings.
The conviction in his heart had completely vanished.
"Why don't we test out the combat matchmaking?" someone suggested.
Everyone immediately nodded in agreement.
They were all eager to try out the core features of this super virtual game.
Guo Quan created a room, added everyone as friends, and invited the 26 participants to join.
With only 26 players, they could only choose the 30v30 team combat matchmaking mode.
"Let's take it easy, everyone," Guo Quan said. "We're all students here. No need to get too serious."
The others nodded in agreement.
On the other side of the Virtual Main City square in Dawn, a group of bald men gazed around in astonishment, their eyes betraying their shock.
The leader, a powerfully built man with eight Buddhist scars on his head, exuded a palpable sense of restrained power, his muscles bulging with each breath.
"Wow," he exclaimed, "so this is the virtual game Xiao Qi was talking about! It's unbelievably realistic!"
"Boss, should we test out the combat mechanics?" one of the bald men asked eagerly.
Hearing this, Zong Ming, the current group leader of the Prajna Battle Group, nodded decisively. "Let's give it a try. But remember, the game's player base is mostly Star City Academy students right now. Hold back a bit—no need to bully them too hard."
The core team members of the Prajna Battle Group exchanged malicious grins.
The Prajna Battle Group had secured early access to twenty-three virtual game pods. Intrigued, Group Leader Zong Ming decided to bring his core team members to test them out.
They were immediately blown away by the game's immersive realism.
After creating a room, Zong Ming selected the 30v30 match mode.
After a brief wait, the words "Match Found" appeared, followed by the golden Dawn Banner materializing at the center of their vision.
By sheer coincidence, the core team of the Star Optics Academy had been matched against the core team of the Prajna Battle Group.
The leadership of the Star Battle Group was by no means weak. Most of them had frontline combat experience, but they were still far inferior to the Prajna Battle Group's core team, who lived and died on the front lines.
The Star Optics Academy's leaders leaned toward theoretical knowledge, while the Prajna Battle Group's core team were absolute pragmatists.
Their group leader, Zong Ming, possessed command skills honed through relentless combat training that the Star Optics Academy's members could never match.
After a brief familiarization period upon entering the game, the Star Optics Academy's leaders, who had initially planned to take it easy, gradually realized something was wrong.
Despite having numerical superiority, they were completely outmatched.
Left with no other choice, Guo Quan, the team leader, decided to launch a desperate raid on the enemy's main base, determined to fight to the death.
But even with twice the numbers, they were utterly crushed by the dozen or so Prajna Battle Group members guarding the base, ultimately respawning back at their own main base.
After a grueling struggle, they couldn't escape their inevitable defeat.
This was an utter one-sided slaughter, leaving the Star Optics Academy's members questioning their very existence and their morale shattered.
After the match ended, the stubbornly competitive group prepared to start another round.
Just then, the game pod lids slowly opened, forcing them out of the game mode.
Bai Fusheng, who had been watching the entire match from the Main Control Console in the room, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Old Liang, on the other hand, wore a sour expression, clearly displeased.
"We underestimated them at the start and didn't choose our skills properly. Let's go again," Guo Quan, the team leader, immediately declared.
"Come on, guys, the skill gap is too obvious. We watched your entire match from outside with a god's-eye view. Another round would just end the same way... Besides, you've had your turn. It's time for us to play," a Star City Academy teacher standing beside Guo Quan said with a smile.
Reluctantly, Guo Quan and his team climbed out of the game pods.
After some casual conversation, Old Liang led Guo Quan's group out of the Virtual Arena and back onto the bus.
As soon as they boarded, Guo Quan, who had previously vehemently opposed purchasing virtual game pods, immediately turned to Old Liang and said:
"Old Liang, I agree to the purchase. When can we expect the virtual game pods to be delivered to Star Optics Academy?"
"You think you can just buy them whenever you want? I told you, there's a waiting list. We'll have to wait our turn," Old Liang replied gruffly.
"This is so complicated! Which company is manufacturing these virtual game pods? Can't we pull some strings?"
Hearing this, Old Liang couldn't help but roll his eyes. "If pulling strings worked, I would have tried it already."
"As far as I know, after Star City Academy's quota reaches 30%, Star Optics Academy and the other academies will finally get their turn."
"Once all the academies have met their 30% quota, there's only one way to secure more virtual game pods: our students must compete in the upcoming Virtual Matching Challenge. The higher our students rank, the more virtual game pods our academy will secure!"
After Old Liang's explanation, Guo Quan couldn't help but complain, "Doesn't that give the academies that already have virtual game pods a huge advantage? They can start competitive training early, while those who get them later will be at a disadvantage!"
"Now you understand why I'm so anxious, right?"
Hearing this, the senior leaders of Star Optics Academy immediately felt a strong sense of urgency. Having experienced the game firsthand, they now understood its profound implications.
(End of the Chapter)
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