[Congratulations, host. Mission completed. Talent point reward now being issued]
Su Hang, who was streaming, heard the system notification in his ear.
"My account's forced rest notification has popped up, so that's it for today's stream. Thanks, everyone, for your support. See you next stream!"
Despite tens of thousands of viewers urging him to stay, Su Hang ended the stream.
The moment he went offline, he eagerly summoned the system panel. Sure enough, the available talent points had risen from 5 to 55.
[First-stage streaming mission progress: 20%] [New mission issued: host must raise personal rank to the top 50 on the entire server. Time limit: 90 days. Reward: 100 talent points]
"Top 50 on the entire server?"
Su Hang was momentarily taken aback. This mission was no mere step up in difficulty from climbing from Bronze to Mighty King.
But he quickly realized that the system had arrived ten years late, and its version of Honor of Kings was still stuck in the opening season from a decade ago.
Back then, the requirement for Glory King was to reach the top 50 on the entire server. Compared to now, when Glory Kings were a dime a dozen, there was simply no comparison in prestige!
Su Hang opened the server-wide rank leaderboard and slowly scrolled through it. "It's the start of the season now. To make the top 50 on the server, I'll have to reach at least Legendary King at 100 stars."
For him, this rank-up mission wasn't difficult. Most importantly, the system hadn't required him to stream, so he could devote himself entirely to the game and even ensure he reached 100 stars with a perfect win rate.
But as the saying went, a new account meant new miracles.
The Exalted Emperor account had played a total of 39 matches from Bronze to Mighty King. Not only did it have a 100% win rate, but its match history was filled with top-rated MVP performances. Even across the current Honor of Kings scene, it stood out.
So he wanted to maintain his 100% win rate while continuing to earn winning-side MVP in every match, creating a legendary account!
"From Mighty King to Glory King at 50 stars, I can guarantee winning-side MVP every match," Su Hang murmured. "But from Glory King at 50 stars to Legendary 100 Stars, I can only guarantee a 100% win rate. Getting MVP every match is hard to say."
The reason he couldn't guarantee MVP every match was simple.
Above Glory King, the developers hadn't divided the rank into subdivisions.
From Mighty King at 1 star to Glory King at 50 stars, players had to pass through [Extraordinary King: 10-19 stars], [Unrivaled King: 20-29 stars], [Peerless King: 30-39 stars], and [Supreme Saint King: 40-49 stars].
With four subdivisions in total, the teammates and opponents players were matched with were roughly equal in skill.
But from Glory King at 50 stars to Legendary King at 100 stars, there were no subdivisions, resulting in opponents and opponents of wildly differing skill levels.
In the most extreme matchmaking scenario, all four teammates would be 50-star Glory players who had just successfully crossed their tribulation, while all five opponents would be 99-star Glory players.
Su Hang had encountered this heaven-defying matchmaking system many times when he had pushed for Legendary 100 Stars on his old account. Though he had secured the final victory with his solid gaming skills, his teammates had fed too much.
Even on the winning side, he couldn't get the MVP badge.
Su Hang picked up a can of sugar-free cola, his brow furrowing slightly. "Is there really no way to get MVP every match from 50-star Glory to Legendary 100 Stars?"
"Bro!"
A cheerful girl's voice came from a distance, drawing closer.
Su Hang turned to look. "What?"
Jiang Sui gripped the doorframe and poked part of her head around it. "There's an anime convention at Wuyue Plaza today. Come buy merch with me."
"Busy."
Su Hang turned back around. "Go by yourself."
"You really don't want to go?" Jiang Sui's tone was full of enticement. "I heard they're exhibiting the actual Armor Hero suits used for filming at this convention."
"Oh."
Without even looking up, Su Hang replied calmly, showing no reaction.
"That's weird. Why didn't that work?"
Jiang Sui was utterly puzzled. Usually, the moment her brother heard about Armor Hero, he was more eager than anyone. After all, he was a devoted fan of armored-hero tokusatsu shows and had watched them since he was little.
"All right, then. I'm going."
Completely baffled, Jiang Sui picked up her shoulder bag, opened the door, and left.
As she took the elevator downstairs, she kept thinking about her brother's unusual behavior today.
"Does Bro have something on his mind?"
Ding. The elevator reached the first basement level. It was pitch-black, so dark she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. She took out her key and was just about to wake up her little electric scooter.
A cold-start roar rumbled out, and the nearby sound-activated lights all came on. A CFMOTO 450SR motorcycle glowed purple, and this violet machine was her brother's usual ride to the gym.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get over here."
A black shell jacket outlined the broad shoulders and narrow waist of a lean young man wearing a combat-styled, avant-garde helmet. His hands in his pockets, he leaned against the violet motorcycle.
"Bro-"
Jiang Sui's eyes widened, and she looked as though she'd seen a ghost. She hurried over. "When did you get down here?"
"Slowpoke. I've been waiting for you forever." Su Hang picked up a strawberry-red Hello Kitty helmet and handed it to his sister, then swung onto the motorcycle.
"Sometimes, I really think you have superpowers."
Jiang Sui put on the helmet and sat on the back, wrapping both arms around his waist and pressing herself against Su Hang's back.
"Give me some examples." Su Hang twisted the throttle.
"Falling asleep in an instant, getting up in an instant, showering in an instant, and now teleporting!" Jiang Sui rattled off a whole list. "Anyway, the speed you do things at is always a mystery."
"Finished?"
"I'm fini-aaah!"
The motorcycle roared and shot forward.
"Too fast, too fast! Slow down, Bro, I'm begging you! Slow down! I'm only fifteen! I don't want to die!"
"What are you babbling about? Go tell it to your merch."
Jiangcheng Wuyue Plaza, first-floor lobby.
Jiang Sui's face was pale as she held herself up against the wall, swaying on legs as soft as tofu. God only knew what life-or-death speeds she had endured over those ten minutes. The trip from home to the mall should have taken thirty minutes, but her brother, in pursuit of ultimate speed, had gone straight onto the expressway.
With the Dayun trucks roaring past beside them, she had felt as though she'd brushed shoulders with the Grim Reaper several times.
"My body was racing ahead while my soul chased after it," Jiang Sui said, rolling her eyes. "Bro, I'm never riding with you again."
"Count yourself lucky. Other people want a ride and don't even get the chance."
Su Hang looked up toward the center of the lobby. The stage for the convention performances had already been set up, and there were many game-character cosplayers in front of it. As far as he could see, the vast majority were cosplaying Honor of Kings characters.
"Bro, is something on your mind today?"
Having recovered, Jiang Sui turned her head and asked.
It was true that her brother liked riding fast, but he only rode right at the speed limit like he had today when something was bothering him.
Su Hang didn't hide it from his sister. "Yeah."
"What's it about?"
"Honor of Kings."