Another Beginning

"Hey, you're awake, huh? Let me tell you, you're supposed to report it if you want to use someone else's space for special training. You didn't know that? Well, since you've finished your training, I won't say much more. You completed your last mission very well. Any five-star mission or below completed within the allotted time earns a random gift. Go to the supply room later to claim it. Oh, right—after you claim it, take a day off, then come see me. They have something for you over in China."

This was Qiming's voice...

Heming rubbed his head, nodded at Qiming, then got off the bed and headed out.

After Heming left, Qiming muttered to himself, "Sigh, this time, I'm afraid it's going to take a while."

On the way, Qiming recalled his days training at the dojo. He didn't even know the name of the Japanese man who had been with him; when they parted, the man had only said, "If fate wills it, we shall meet again."

Forty days was not a short time. During these days, Heming had received guidance from the Japanese man in many aspects, and it was undeniable that Heming had learned a great deal...

He arrived at the supply room. When the clerk saw Heming, he took out a black rose and a new ring. "Give me your necklace and ring. Hold the black rose in your hand and circulate your Pitch Black Heart Method; it will change automatically. Good luck."

After handing over the ring and necklace, Heming took the items and left...

Back at his living quarters, Heming circulated his Pitch Black Heart Method. The black rose slowly dissolved, and a dark purple bracelet appeared in his hand. Then, the bracelet transmitted a message: "Congratulations to this lucky member for obtaining the Chain of Ming. This bracelet features night vision, freshwater breathing, and a twenty-five percent increase in magic power."

Heming gave a bitter smile. This item was exactly the same as the one drawn in the game produced by the Pitch Black Company. Anyone who had played the game wouldn't be very happy to get this; its drop rate was very high, making it a common item.

Heming looked at this unfamiliar home and didn't feel like there was anything to do. He changed his clothes and went out again. When would he be able to return this time?

In the Okinawa pedestrian street, Heming wandered alone. He watched the various people coming and going. Was he any different from them before? And now? Why had he come here to wander? There was a video game arcade in the pedestrian street owned by Pitch Black. Heming went inside and presented his staff credentials. The hostess gave him a gold card very intimately. This card had unlimited use, and even if someone else took it, they couldn't use it...

Heming really didn't know how to describe the current video games compared to the past. The driving games now all had dedicated cockpits, and sitting inside felt incredibly realistic. Heming played a few rounds of each, and—sweat—he had already spent several hours just playing around. It was night now. For someone who only needed four hours to fully recover his stamina, playing here for a few days wouldn't be a problem at all...

Heming had played almost all the games here. Finally, he arrived at the entrance of the Real Combat Room on the second floor. This combat room was a new product from the Pitch Black Company this year. It not only supported massive fifty-versus-fifty battlefields but also perfectly simulated the frantic combat modes of the United Forces and the Terrorists, including weapons, equipment, and formations. Of course, for certain reasons, the Pitch Black Company had enabled the Real Pain Simulation System. Although this system reduced real pain by a factor of ten, vicious injuries like headshots would still deal a significant blow to one's spirit. Naturally, the damage for females was reduced by a factor of fifty.

When Heming arrived, the game was already recruiting players.

Heming had originally intended to join the United Forces, but unfortunately, it was already full, so he had to choose the Terrorists.

By the time Heming sat in the special operations pod, the game had already entered the preparation stage, and he could choose his weapons. Heming selected a Desert Eagle and a TX-2 fully automatic laser rifle (capable of firing one-meter-long laser beams continuously; cannot be reloaded; ammunition: 100).

Once the selection was complete, it began. The battlefield was randomly selected as the pedestrian street. The Terrorists were the defending side, with five minutes allotted for basic defense. No one was intentionally commanding; the fifty people either moved in groups or acted alone, and Heming was one of the latter. He had absolutely no experience in gun combat; now, he could only rely on himself.

The battle began. The United Forces started to slowly advance into the pedestrian street. Clearly, the United Forces' combat style was very disciplined: a five-man squad led the way, followed at a distance by two twelve-man teams, while the remaining six were responsible for intercepting obvious enemies and covering their teammates' advance.

"Rat-tat," "Boom." A skirmish had already occurred; the sound of the explosion clearly indicated the sacrifice of a Terrorist.

Heming couldn't get a read on the battle situation at all. He hid in a small bar; it was cramped and the lighting was dim. If anyone passed by, they would surely fire a few random shots inside.

Gunfire was everywhere, and occasionally there would be a loud bang caused by a Terrorist's death.

Heming hid in a dark corner of the bar. Clearly, if the opponent swept the room with a weapon light, they would discover him. But Heming was not like he used to be; his reflexes were faster than any normal person could imagine.

Footsteps. A five-man United Forces squad, heavily battered by the Terrorists, was walking toward Heming's location. Two of them were already injured. The three leading the way were undoubtedly veterans, maintaining a dispersed formation. Suddenly, a few shots rang out. Heming realized his situation; he could only wait until they appeared at the doorway before acting.

The opponents continued to advance. In a few seconds, they would reach the door. Heming had already gripped his TX-2 tightly, ready to fire mercilessly the moment the point man appeared.

"Zzz, zzz." Two laser beams whistled through the air. The two point men fell instantly, while the other one dodged the laser beams by hiding behind the sign on the left side of the doorway.

Heming immediately changed his cover position after the two men at the door fell. The three point men were all wounded; such a slow movement speed wasn't an act, but a strategy they had adopted because they couldn't move quickly. Clearly, the truly formidable ones were the two walking in the back.

Heming had just finished changing positions when the spot he had been occupying was raked with gunfire.

Silence. Neither side made a sound. Both sides were waiting for an opportunity; Heming was waiting for the opponent's next shot, and the opponent was doing the same...

"Zzz, zzz, zzz." This sound was the same as the one from the gun in Heming's hand. Clearly, the opportunity had arrived.

Heming rolled out and charged. Three United soldiers were hiding around a corner, while the Terrorist who had suddenly joined the fight was using a large wooden sign at a shop entrance as cover. The United soldiers didn't know the exact location of their opponent and didn't dare to fire rashly.

"Zzz." This was the laser beam Heming fired. Unfortunately, the three United soldiers mistook it for a shot from the Terrorist hiding under the large wooden sign and rushed out quickly...

"Zzz, zzz, zzz." Three shots rang out, and the three United soldiers fell.

The Terrorist under the sign also walked out. To Heming's surprise, the person was a woman. Heming signaled to her, and they headed toward the center of the pedestrian street, with the female Terrorist following at a steady pace behind him.

While they were still some distance from the center, gunfire began to ring out incessantly.

Heming's movements followed the rhythm of the gunfire, slowing down until he could see the sparks at the central plaza from the pedestrian street's business building. Heming stopped. He turned his head to look at the female Terrorist behind him and said, "I'll take the lead and clear the way. You follow at a distance where you can hit targets. If I come under attack, you provide cover immediately. No problem?"

The female Terrorist nodded after hearing what Heming said.

"Phew, then let's begin." Heming was very worried inside—what if this woman was a novice?

About seven meters from the staircase of the central plaza, Heming heard a rush of footsteps. Six people? No, that should be six people. Judging by the sound of their footsteps, they seemed to be marching at a quick pace. Heming signaled to the female Terrorist, and they both found a sign to use as cover.

The six men slowed down as they climbed the stairs, but they were still running until they entered Heming's firing range.

"Phew, out of stamina. Let's start here. They definitely won't expect us to flank them from behind to intercept!" one of the six said.

"Hey." Heming sighed on purpose. The female Terrorist must have sensed the signal Heming gave, as she charged out at almost the same time as him. "Zzz, zzz... zzz... zzz." The six United soldiers were instantly shot down to the ground by the laser beams.

Looking at the corpses on the ground, Heming smiled and said to the female Terrorist, "Nice work."

Game over...

The two, who believed they had made a great contribution for the Terrorists, were both stunned. It turned out these six men had been the last of the United soldiers...

In the game results, Heming ranked second with eight kills and three headshots. What was unimaginable was that the female Terrorist who had been with Heming had thirteen kills and seven headshots...

When it came time to enter his name at the end, Heming had intended to use the name Jiang Xin, but in the end, he chose the two characters "Heming."

Just as he stepped out of the special operations pod, Heming received a call from Qiming. Heming, who had wanted to meet the female Terrorist, had to abandon that thought.

Two hours later, Heming arrived at Qiming's office. When he entered, there was already someone else there.

Seeing Heming arrive, Qiming said, "Heming, your vacation is over. A place back home has discovered a real Water Dragon. We were the first to receive the news. Guangcheng Mingqiao will explain the details to you in a moment. You two go ahead; I still have things to do."

Ming Qiao nodded to Heming and then headed out.

In Heming's office, Ming Qiao pulled a file from his clothing and said, "At a relatively large freshwater lake on the border between China and Vietnam, a Water Dragon has appeared dozens of times over the last two months. The number of people who have seen the Water Dragon has already reached over a hundred. Fortunately, we received the news early and have implemented a news blackout, so we estimate there won't be many competitors."

Ming Qiao took out a glass orb and continued, "This is the tool used to capture the Water Dragon. All you need to do is touch the Water Dragon with this item and then circulate the Pitch Black Heart Method. According to the data we obtained last time, the Water Dragon isn't particularly powerful; after all, it is merely a common water snake that has evolved through mutation. With your abilities, it shouldn't be a problem. Headquarters has stated that you are required to stay there for two months. If the Water Dragon isn't discovered within those two months, abandon the mission. If the Water Dragon is captured by another faction, you can seek assistance from our Vietnam branch. If you successfully complete this mission, our zoo will possess two Water Dragons, and you will receive a Thorny Black Rose as a mission reward. That is all. A car will be here to pick you up in a little while, so good luck."

After hearing Ming Qiao finish, Heming stood up and shook hands with him.

On the plane, Heming looked at the strange glass orb in his hand. This world was truly wondrous; such a small object could actually be used to capture a dragon...

Whew, it's great to be able to experience all of this in person... Yes... this is exactly the life I've been looking forward to...