C10 What a Scam!

"I completely understand why you would think that way. The Realm of Darkness is indeed a fearsome place." Faang Qiubai would never admit that the previous generation had met their end; instead, he offered a reassuring smile, as though he empathized with their wild imaginings.

"Father, have the invaders been repelled?" asked a beautiful elf with emerald green hair, her voice tinged with timidity. She was caked in dirt and dust, her weary appearance masking the grace she normally possessed.

"The dark forces have utterly ravaged our world. I feared all my children were lost until I found you."

The despair was palpable on the survivors' faces. Clearly, they had been clinging to life underground, harboring a glimmer of hope. But Faang Qiubai's declaration seemed to crush the last of their optimism.

"My children, never abandon hope. Though I am gravely wounded and can offer you little, and what stands before you is but my avatar, I have brought forth Brave Ones from other worlds who do not fear death or darkness. With their aid, you will surely vanquish the dark forces and reclaim our world."

Without a moment's hesitation, Faang Qiubai served up some motivational words before starting his persuasive pitch. The change was immediate; hope sparked in the eyes of those kneeling before him.

"Brave Ones from another world?" The diminutive elder's voice quivered as he clutched his hammer, nearly as tall as he was.

A young girl, looking no older than a teenager in her ragged leather armor, held a dagger smeared with black blood. She gazed at Faang Qiubai, her eyes clouded with confusion and longing. "Father, what good is defeating the darkness if most people and creatures have already been destroyed by it? What purpose do we serve in such a world, alone?"

No one faulted the girl for her skepticism of the Creator Deity's plan. It seemed the survivors all shared her sentiment. Faang Qiubai smiled, gently caressing the girl's head. "You are all my children; how could I neglect you? I preserved your information the moment darkness struck, expending so much of my strength that I was overcome by it. Now do you understand?"

The little girl shook her head; she was too young to grasp what Faang Qiubai was saying, but the others understood, especially the old man who leapt to his feet, his voice trembling with excitement. "My God, are you saying... our fallen comrades... they can... return?"

"You are all my children. How could I possibly abandon you? But the world is now corroded by darkness, and even I cannot resurrect them. It will take your collective effort to make this possible."

Upon learning that the deceased might be restored to life, Faang Qiubai saw a profound transformation in the people before him. Moments ago, they were mere survivors, offering him simple reverence as their Creator Deity. Now, their eyes sparkled with hope, their spirits buoyed by the prospect of the future.

"We'll do whatever it takes for those we've lost, no matter how arduous the task."

Noticing their firm grip on their weapons, ready to charge into battle, Faang Qiubai reassured them with a smile. "Ease your minds. Remember, I've already recruited warriors from another world capable of vanquishing the darkness. Your role is to support them, to chip away at the dark forces little by little. The more darkness you dispel, the more my power returns, and the sooner I can resurrect the departed."

"The Brave Ones? When will they get here?" The survivors' excitement surged at Faang Qiubai's promise, their eagerness palpable as they pressed for answers.

"Very soon, perhaps in just a few hours. But remember, these Brave Ones are from a different world, with customs quite unlike our own. Don't be taken aback by their ways. Additionally, I'll outline what you need to focus on for now. Pay close attention—it's crucial."

The survivors hung on every word Faang Qiubai spoke, committing his instructions to memory with the diligence of studious pupils, fearful that any lapse might jeopardize their impending strike against the darkness.

Once he was certain his message had been ingrained, Faang Qiubai vanished as mysteriously as he had appeared, leaving a group now brimming with hope for what lay ahead. Meanwhile, Faang Qiubai had returned to Earth and composed an update announcement for his game. Moments later, the news was live, simultaneously gracing the homepage of the official website and the forums.

[Your World Version 1.1 Update Bulletin (Top Pick) (Featured)]

1. Players like Zhuge Bayun, with their notably confident demeanors, have activated the main quest—Formal Contact with the Otherworld. This is a collective mission, and we encourage all players to participate actively.

Formal Contact with the Otherworld: Beneath the mountain range, survivors who have fled the darkness await rescue. Find them, ensure their safety back to the village, and establish your own stronghold.

Should the mission fail, the world faces destruction. Let's all pull together and give it our best effort!

2. To protect privacy and promote individuality, this update introduces a face-customization system. Players can personalize their character's height, weight, appearance, and more. Note that the face-customization system is a one-time feature per player, so make it count.

3. Characters will now default to a standard set of equipment. For those seeking more stylish or practical gear, you'll need to put in the effort to obtain it. This applies to weapons as well. Remember, our game has no cash shop and no microtransactions.

4. Regarding the starting village: Thanks to the Creator Deity's powers, a 500-meter radius around the village is a guaranteed safe zone where combat is strictly prohibited. Violators will face the wrath of the Creator Deity's punishment.

5. We're introducing a reputation system. Your actions and words will influence how NPCs perceive you. We invite you to discover the specifics through gameplay.

6. We've enabled an in-game camera and photo system. Each use of this feature will consume a certain amount of pure essence.

7. The game is opening up an additional 100 slots. Interested players should fill out their information on the homepage to sign up. Winners will be announced 2 hours later.

8. To enhance your gaming experience, we've added Health Game Management Regulations. Non-compliance may result in warnings, mutes, bans, account deletions, and even police action. Value your gaming journey.

The details above outline the content of this update, which is expected to take 2 hours. Please base your expectations on the actual in-game experience, and we hope you enjoy playing.

Additionally: The next update will introduce hunger, skills, magic, and more. Stay tuned.

The moment this update announcement hit, the forums lit up once again. Some were simply there for the spectacle, impressed by the sheer volume of updates, while the more astute players gleaned a wealth of information from the announcement.

For instance, Black Face had confidently reached out to other first-test players via the forum, and they all joined a chat group. After reviewing the update, he posted a message in the group.

"Holy cow, this game is seriously badass. All the issues we thought were problems turned out to be traps set by the developers. It's just brilliant!"

"????? What are you talking about? Isn't it just a regular update?"

"So it was you jerks who got everyone booted from the game!"

"I'm more puzzled about this 'world destruction' thing. Does it mean they're wiping the slate clean?"

"No, Old Shit, what exactly did you glean from that announcement? Stop beating around the bush!"

"Just call me Foam, okay? Now, listen up, everyone!"