Run!
That was the only thought in Zhao Mingwei's mind.
Just like his coach had said—
In the real world, he was just a regular guy. A net-addicted youth…
His only option when facing these monsters was to run.
And so he did.
Terror surged through him as he followed the panicked crowd, sprinting in the opposite direction.
But then—he faintly heard the cry of a baby.
Zhao turned. Behind him, a woman had fallen amidst the chaos, knocked over by the scrambling crowd.
The monsters were close.
If he went back now—he'd be walking into death.
Someone else will help her… maybe the police… the fire department…
That's what Zhao told himself.
He was an ordinary person. He shouldn't act recklessly.
But then—he saw the Junlin Esports logo on her clothing.
The Crown That Never Falls.
The girl was a fan.
It made sense—Junlin's HQ was only two stops away. Fans often loitered around the food street, hoping to run into their idols.
Damn it!
Zhao came to a hard stop.
His legs trembled, but he forced them still—and ran back toward the fallen girl.
This is the dumbest decision I've made in my life.
Even dumber than joining Junlin back then!
"Get up."
He reached the girl and extended a hand.
Just as she tried to rise—
Glass shattered overhead.
The massive orc—three meters tall—had smashed a nearby building.
Chunks of concrete and glass rained down.
It's over.
Zhao closed his eyes.
The debris missed him…
But crashed down on the girl's legs.
"Are you okay?"
Zhao braced a hand against the debris and tried to lift it.
Blood welled in his palm—
But the slab wouldn't budge.
Damn it! If I had even half—no, a tenth of my game character's strength…
But he didn't.
"Forget me!"
The girl shouted, realizing she wouldn't make it.
Zhao looked up—
They were surrounded.
A nearby car exploded, throwing the monsters into disarray—
But also slamming Zhao into a wall.
He collapsed.
His vision blurred.
But the crowd's panicked cries still rang in his ears.
So powerless…
Wait. Real world… game… Could this be what Abyss Hunt really means?
He looked up.
Monsters were closing in on the girl.
His right hand—bloodied—reached for his phone.
The [Descent] button was lit up.
Could it really…?
A massive orc raised its club to strike her.
Zhao smashed the Descent button.
And at that instant—his consciousness was yanked away.
It was just like logging into the game.
When Zhao opened his eyes again—
That familiar power surged through him…
Nian Qi.
"Weak human…"
A guttural orc voice echoed.
Zhao looked up—
And punched the orc cleanly through the air, sending it flying three meters.
"Xiao… Xiao Ye?"
The girl murmured in disbelief.
That figure—
It looked just like him from the game.
But he only existed in the game.
"You're tired. Rest now."
Zhao effortlessly lifted the rubble pinning her, carried her to a safe spot, and laid her down gently.
Then—he turned back toward the Abyssal Rift.
Zhao looked at his hands.
The Nian Beast tattoo glowed on his arm.
His muscles—his body—it all looked like the in-game avatar.
He had summoned his game character… into reality.
The orcs surrounded him again, snarling.
Zhao didn't flinch.
"So this is the Abyss Hunt event, huh?"
Zhao raised his left hand to his chest—half-clasped in a traditional stance.
His eyes narrowed. Lightning flickered in his pupils.
"Hope you're ready… to turn into EXP and loot."
"You're the one who's dead!"
The monsters charged in with a furious roar.
But Zhao's roar was louder. It cracked the air—
Electric arcs and Nian Qi exploded from his body.
The shockwave blasted the monsters into surrounding walls.
Zhao's skin turned a pure, glowing white.
Lightning danced in his eyes.
Behind him—a phantom beast emerged.
It was the Roaring Tiger-Dragon.
Its snarl shattered the monsters' weapons with thunderclaps.
Nian Beast Skill: Tiger-Dragon Roar (念兽·龙虎啸)!
The phantom hovered behind Zhao, fangs bared, eyes glowing—
It glared at the trembling orcs.
None dared move.
Until one stepped forward—
A giant, nearly three meters tall, wielding a massive hammer.
Each step it took made the ground quake.
Zhao raised his right hand.
Dark blue Nian Qi began to swirl.
When it grew so dense he could no longer contain it—
He thrust it forward—
Qi Cannon (念气炮)!
A radiant blast—shaped like a roaring tiger-dragon—
erupted from his palm, slamming into the giant orc.
The blast struck its chest.
Lightning arced through its body.
Its balance broke.
It collapsed—
Crashing down onto a car, smashing the vehicle beneath.
The orc's chest was mangled—flesh and bone scorched black.
-234
Zhao saw the system damage prompt.
But unlike the game—
This was gruesomely real.
(End of Chapter)