The players arrived at their designated coordinates via teleportation, scattered across a massive island terrain. The landscape stretched farther than the eye could see—an island as vast as three great cities combined, containing nearly every climate and ecosystem imaginable.
Each player was placed in one of five distinct regions:
•The Super Rainforest — Eastern Region
•The Dead Desert — Northern Region
•The Savannah — Southern Region
•The Arctic Zone — Western Region
•The Neutral Zone — Central Plains
The island was no ordinary place. Its transitions between biomes were seamless, as if designed by a god—or perhaps a mad scientist. The air itself felt synthetic, the sky too perfect, the winds too calculated. No one knew where it was located or how the Alpha Organization had gotten their hands on it.
Back at Alpha HQ, rows of lab technicians monitored countless holographic screens. Player data streamed in real-time—skills, vitals, reaction speeds—everything was being recorded. This wasn't just a test. It was an experiment.
---
[Northern Region — Dead Desert]
Denzel blinked under the blinding sun.
Sand. Just sand.
The desert stretched endlessly, an ocean of gold and death. The dry wind stabbed his lungs with every breath, each step crunching like broken glass under his boots.
He looked around. "Great. No monsters, no water, no shade. Just me and heatstroke."
He wasn't part of this project in his previous life, which made this test a new experience even for him. That alone piqued his curiosity.
Still, the silence gnawed at him. He adjusted his gear and exhaled.
"This is going to be a long journey," he muttered, trudging into the blazing dunes.
---
[Eastern Region — The Super Rainforest]
Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the island, chaos had already begun.
The rainforest was unlike anything on Earth—towering bioluminescent trees, rivers glowing with blue mist, and strange luminous orbs floating like living fireflies. The entire forest seemed alive, whispering secrets with every rustle.
Laughter suddenly split the air.
"Hahaha! What a warm welcome! I love it!"
Su Bu Lang, the ever-boisterous monk, flashed his teeth as a swarm of creatures surrounded him.
Dozens of tiger-like beasts and legged serpents emerged from the shadows, hissing and growling.
Lang cracked his knuckles, grinning. "A test of survival, huh? Sounds like fun."
The monsters lunged all at once.
Lang's body blurred—staff spinning in his hands as he released a powerful emerald wave that exploded outward, flinging several beasts through trees. The air crackled with green energy.
The remaining creatures hissed and regrouped.
[Name: Emerian Tigros]
[Rank: C]
[Level: 40–45]
[Trait: Unstable]
[Habitat: Fallen logs, tree trunks]
[Weakness: Blind spot attacks]
[Number Detected: 6]
[Name: Ophicuis Minion]
[Rank: C]
[Level: 35–45]
[Habitat: Damp caverns]
[Weakness: Fire]
[Number Detected: 4]
Lang chuckled. "A little too crowded for my taste. Let's even the odds."
He raised his staff as his shadow began to ripple and split apart.
Dozens of duplicates emerged from his shadow—each a perfect replica of Su Bu Lang, grinning mischievously.
"Let's dance!" the clones shouted in unison before vanishing into the foliage.
A chorus of laughter echoed through the trees, confusing the monsters. They turned frantically in every direction, completely disoriented.
That was their final mistake.
One Lang appeared behind a Tigros, smashing its spine in a single strike. Another clone crushed a serpent's skull with an upward swing.
In moments, the monsters fell, collapsing one after another—until silence reigned again.
But then… the clones began bleeding.
Their bodies trembled violently before collapsing into lifeless husks.
A thin purple mist rolled through the forest, eating away at everything in its path. Even the leaves turned black where it passed.
Lang narrowed his eyes. "Poison?"
From the mist, a massive shadow slithered forth—a colossal black serpent, its scales reflecting faint light like obsidian. Two twisted horns jutted from its head, and its eyes gleamed a commanding green.
[Name: Ophicuis, Serpent Lord]
[Level: 55]
[Rank: C]
[Threat Level: High]
[Intelligence: Elevated]
Lang's grin widened. "Now we're talking."
His eyes glowed a strange pale grey.
The world slowed to a crawl as a pulse of power spread across the forest. Lang could see every twitch of the serpent's muscles, every vibration in the ground.
"You thought you could hide from my eyes?" Lang taunted. "Hehahaha!"
He spun his staff and dashed forward, striking what seemed like empty air—only for his staff to connect.
The hidden serpent screeched, revealing itself. Lang's blow had landed true.
The beast retaliated immediately, fangs bared. Lang dodged with unnatural agility, rolling over its head and landing gracefully.
"You're sturdier than I expected," Lang said, eyes narrowing.
The serpent hissed, releasing a torrent of violet venom. The liquid burned through trees, melting bark like acid.
Lang raised his staff, summoning a spiraling gale.
A powerful burst of wind exploded outward, scattering the poisonous mist. But the serpent didn't relent—it swung its massive tail, tearing through the forest floor.
Lang ducked, moving like a blur. He waited for the perfect moment—then struck.
His staff shot forward, spinning like a drill and slamming into the serpent's midsection. The ground quaked on impact.
The serpent roared in agony, but still stood.
Lang's grin faded into focus. "Alright then… let's end this properly."
He lowered into the One-Legged Monkey Stance, staff held at his side. A heavy emerald aura began to swirl around him, thick as smoke.
The serpent recoiled instinctively—it could feel death approaching.
Lang's eyes snapped open.
The air trembled.
And the real battle began.
END OF CHAPTER
●STATUS WINDOW
[Name: Su Bu Lang]
[Title: •The Laughing Sage
• Windborne Trickster]
[Race: Human ]
[Affiliation: Alpha Organization]
[Level: 53]
•ABILITIES
-Monkey King (M-rank)
-Beserker (SS-rank)
-Wind Reader (A-rank)