Chapter 1: The Age of War Descends!
Chapter 1: The war era Arrives!
Azure Star.
Jiang City.
Su Qiu was sitting in front of his computer screen in his rented room, exploring this unknown world through the internet.
After a period of intensive self-study...
He had gained a general understanding of this unfamiliar parallel world.
Coincidentally...
This world was not much different from Su Qiu's previous life.
Every country was remarkably similar in terms of historical progress and civilizational evolution!
The only difference...
...was that the entire globe had never undergone the military-industrial leaps that Su Qiu's previous life had!
This meant that no country on Azure Star had achieved significant breakthroughs in the fields of technology and military. Artillery was still utilized by many nations, while sophisticated weaponry and ample firearms and ammunition were used as the standards for determining a powerful nation.
The most ridiculous part was...
...that all the countries on Azure Star combined could only scrape together fewer than a thousand tanks, ships, and warplanes!
"The combat power level of this world is way too pathetic!"
It was no exaggeration to say that if any powerful nation from Su Qiu's previous life were brought here, they could flatten every country on Azure Star without suffering a single scratch!
After all, the disparity in military strength between the two was simply too vast!
[Azure Star Daily: Tu State completes the test flight of its first first-generation attack fighter. Recognized by relevant agencies, Tu State is now qualified to join the ranks of first-class powers due to its mastery of land, sea, and air combat capabilities!]
[Military Headline: The five hegemon-level powers of Azure Star completed a military exercise today (April 18th, noon). According to statistics, 312 second-generation fighters, 201 ships, and 320 tanks were unveiled in this exercise!]
[Energy Daily: According to insiders, Winter State is conducting research on third-generation fighters!]
[...]
Looking at the news headlines pinned to the top of the webpage, Su Qiu clicked his tongue in slight disdain.
Was it really necessary to brag so loudly about the successful research of these things?
In Su Qiu's previous life, these so-called second and third-generation fighters were things that had been phased out last century. Who would still use them in the new century? Saying it out loud would probably get you laughed at by the whole world.
"But there's no helping it. Who told the combat power of this world to be so low?"
Shaking his head, Su Qiu withdrew his gaze from the computer screen. He felt there was no point in continuing to read.
Instead of wasting time on this, he might as well think about how to solve his own food and clothing problems.
One must know that Su Qiu, who had transmigrated to this parallel world, had not inherited any assets. Currently, he had nothing but this rented room!
Oh, wait.
The lease on this room was set to expire in three days. By then, he probably wouldn't even have a place to stay.
Thinking of all this...
Su Qiu's expression turned grim for a moment.
When others transmigrate, they get either a winning hand or a cheat. When it was his turn, he was about to become a destitute hobo!
Truly a scam!
Su Qiu grumbled as he turned his gaze out the window. Inadvertently, he saw a recruitment advertisement for a company.
[The epoch-making game "war era" will launch globally on April 19th at 00:00 AM. Apply to become a Dungeon Designer for the game, and you will receive any reward you desire provided by the Skynet Production Team!]
"An epoch-making online game?"
For a moment, Su Qiu couldn't help but be attracted by this advertisement.
Because this advertisement clearly stated...
...that as long as one became a Dungeon Designer for "war era," they could obtain money, power, and even everything they desired from the Skynet Production Team!
Momentarily tempted, Su Qiu turned his attention back to the screen and used a search engine to look up a series of information about "war era" and even the Skynet company.
But...
The final search result was "None."
"Heh."
Seeing this, Su Qiu gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I knew it was fake. What kind of game isn't made to make money?"
Furthermore...
Given the technological level of this world, how could it be possible to develop the game in the advertisement in such a short time!
This was nothing more than a small trick used by scammers to deceive people.
Thinking this...
Su Qiu leaned back into his computer chair and pressed his fingers against his temples.
Gradually, he fell asleep.
Time passed quietly.
Soon...
The clock pointed to 11:59 PM.
"Ring ring ring ring ring ring..."
The ringing of the alarm clock woke the sleeping Su Qiu. He turned off the alarm with some displeasure. "How strange. I clearly didn't set an alarm, so how..."
Before Su Qiu could finish his complaint, the peculiar scene in the sky outside the window caught his full attention!
A massive Skynet logo hung in the sky.
Its light was dazzling...
...enough to illuminate the world plunged into the darkness of late night!
"What the hell..."
Su Qiu was very familiar with this logo. This was exactly the advertisement company he had seen outside the window earlier!
Su Qiu instinctively turned his gaze toward that spot.
But the game promotion that had been hanging on the high-rise building opposite was gone.
In an instant...
A feeling of his hair standing on end surged into his heart.
He felt...
...that this world was undergoing a change in some way.
Just as Su Qiu thought.
At the moment the clock hand officially aligned with 00:00 AM on April 19th...
The strange phenomenon in the sky changed instantly.
A grand, vast, and cold notification sound, enough to resonate throughout the entire Azure Star, came through, echoing in everyone's ears.
'Skynet has completed its link to Azure Star!'
'The epoch-making game masterpiece "war era" has been completed by the Skynet Project Team and officially launched at 00:00:00 AM on April 19th, Azure Star time!'
'All citizens of Azure Star can enter the Skynet Creation Space by shouting "Dungeon Creation." By completing the creation of a war dungeon, you will become a Skynet-certified Lv.1 War Designer. Simultaneously, you will receive a mysterious reward bestowed by Skynet.'
'The reward is closely linked to the content of the dungeon you create.'
'The more powerful the War Designer, the higher the strength of the dungeon they can create, and the richer the rewards they can receive.'
'If you are unfortunate enough to fail the creation of a war dungeon, you can select the Decipherer faction.'
'Decipherers can obtain items from the dungeon upon successful completion. After ten successful completions, the dungeon will be destroyed, and the War Designer's level will drop.'
'The minimum level for a Designer is Lv.1. Any further level drop will result in a death sentence by Skynet!'
'Similarly, if a Decipherer fails ten times in the dungeon world, they will also face the death penalty imposed by Skynet.'
'A new era has arrived.'
'Whether to become a prestigious War Designer or an adventurous Decipherer... the choice is yours.'