Apocalypse: Everyone Levels Up, I Return to the Time Before the Server Opened - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Be the First to Enter the Game

Ding!

[Congratulations! Player ‘One Leaf Knows Autumn’ has surpassed 50 Luck points and triggered a hidden reward. You will receive a random skill.]

Ding!

[You have obtained the skill ‘Heavenly Eye.’]

[[Heavenly Eye] (Active Skill): Upon activation, you can perceive all basic information of objects within your vision, uncover hidden traps, acquire unknown secrets, and detect concealed entities.]

“Whoa!” Ye Qiu’s eyes widened the moment he heard the system notification.

He was extremely familiar with this skill!

In his past life, the ninth-ranked player on the leaderboard had this very skill, and it was unique worldwide!

With this ability, that top-tier player could anticipate monster information, prepare in advance, and even identify other players’ strengths and weaknesses.

Some people disguised themselves as harmless nobodies, only to reveal their true sinister nature when the time was right.

But with this skill, Ye Qiu could instantly see through their stats, exposing them completely!

Character Panel

[Name: One Leaf Knows Autumn]

[Class: Swordsman]

[Subclass: None]

[Level: 0]

[Health: 100]

[Mana: 100]

[Attack: 20]

[Defense: 20]

[Movement Speed: 10]

Attributes:

[Strength: 10]

[Constitution: 10]

[Agility: 10]

[Spirit: 10]

[Luck: 60 (Special Attribute)]

[Fame: 0]

Active Skills:

[Slash (Lv.1): 0/500 XP. Increases attack power by 10 when used.]

[Heavenly Eye (Lv.1): 0/5000 XP. Grants insight into all objects in view, reveals hidden traps, unveils unknown mysteries, and detects concealed entities.]

[Special Skills: None]

[Pets: None]

[Guild: None]

[Fixed Stat Points: 50]

“So… this is what the first player to enter the game gets as their starting stats?” Ye Qiu felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

In his past life, his initial stats had been completely average.

Like most players, he had assumed the ‘Trial City’ was just a highly advanced, immersive virtual game implanted into their consciousness by some mysterious entity.

A simple pastime. Nothing more.

Because of this mindset, when the game shut down after ten days, his character data had been so weak that he couldn’t even find himself on the rankings.

After that, life had been nothing but endless struggle — hiding, fleeing, doing whatever it took just to survive.

He could still remember vividly how those at the top of the leaderboard treated weaker players like disposable pawns, mere tools to be used and discarded.

People like him, who were at the very bottom, were nothing but cannon fodder.

Insignificant.

Pathetic.

A flash of light swept across his vision. Gradually, the world around him brightened.

A fresh, crisp scent filled his nostrils.

Ding!

[Player ‘One Leaf Knows Autumn,’ you are currently in Novice Village #0001. Once you reach level 10, you may leave and explore the wider world!]

The system’s voice echoed in his mind.

Ye Qiu scanned his surroundings.

For now, he was the only player present.

But within minutes…

Flash! Flash! Flash!

A series of white lights flickered into existence.

As the light faded, one player after another materialized.

They were all from the Hanxia Nation server.

“This game is insane! It’s way too realistic!”

“Can someone let me touch them? No weird reason, I just want to see how real they feel.”

“I have a bold idea…”

“If I commit a crime in the game, will I get arrested in real life?”

“You’d have to ask Zhang San about that one.”

“I heard there are in-game rules. Break them, and you get a red name. If that happens, you can’t enter towns and will be struck by divine lightning every day until your name resets.”

“In-game time is 10 days for every 1 day outside. How does that work? Can we survive without eating or drinking?”

“Whoa! I found an insanely beautiful NPC!”

More and more players kept appearing.

Before long, the once-spacious village streets were completely packed!

But Ye Qiu was already ahead of the crowd. He had gone straight to pick up quests.

He remembered how, in his past life, players had to queue up just to receive missions!

That was also why so many casual players existed in the game.

Rather than wasting time waiting for quests, many chose to simply explore and enjoy the experience.

A small but crucial detail: Every new player was automatically equipped with a set of basic gear and a simple, unenchanted linen outfit.

The starting equipment depended on one’s chosen class.

As a Swordsman, Ye Qiu’s gear included:

Peachwood Sword (Beginner Equipment): +5 Attack

Chainmail (Beginner Equipment): +5 Defense

Cloth Shoes (Beginner Equipment): +2 Movement Speed

Before long, Ye Qiu located the first quest-giving NPC.

Unlike other games, where village chiefs were depicted as frail, elderly men, this NPC was much more refined and lively. It was almost like a real person.

Or rather… this world was not just a game.

In ten days, everything within this world would manifest into reality, including the NPCs.

“Excuse me, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?” Ye Qiu asked respectfully.

In his past life, he had never gotten the chance to interact with NPCs in the Novice Village. Simply because there were too many players!

It had been impossible to get close.

The NPC before him was an old man who appeared to be around seventy or eighty years old.

His hair and beard were snow-white, but his complexion was youthful and radiant, without a single wrinkle.

Leaning against the doorway of a small house, he casually sipped from a wine flask, occasionally reciting poetry.

There was an air of elegance and freedom about him.

Ye Qiu activated Heavenly Eye to inspect the NPC.

[Name: Elder Xu]

[Class: Village Chief]

[Subclass: Brewer]

[Level: 10]

Upon hearing Ye Qiu’s voice, Elder Xu glanced at him through half-lidded, slightly intoxicated eyes.

A strange glint flickered within them.

Muttering under his breath, he said, “The Undying Clan has arrived…”

A moment of silence passed.

Then, Elder Xu straightened up and said casually, “My wine is almost gone. I need to brew a new batch. This wine is a rare tonic, and I have nearly all the necessary ingredients. However, I’m missing one crucial component, tiger whips.”

At the same time, the system notification appeared in Ye Qiu’s mind.

Ding!

[Elder Xu has given you a quest: Obtain 20 tiger whips and deliver them to him. Do you accept?]

“Of course!” Ye Qiu answered immediately.

But he didn’t leave.

Elder Xu raised an eyebrow. “Is there something else?”

Recalling a strategy he had read in his past life’s forums, Ye Qiu took a deep breath.

Then, keeping his expression solemn, he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.