C1 First Arrival in the Otherworld

In the quiet of the night, Xiao Xiaofan sat in front of his computer, lost in thought as he gazed at the screen. Emblazoned across it was the word "Victory," a reminder of a once wildly popular game known as 'Alliance.' Over the years, this game had been a constant companion, witnessing Xiao Xiaofan's transition from a carefree teenager to a bustling young adult.

The game's popularity had waned, and the avatars of friends who used to join him in virtual battles rarely lit up anymore. Tonight marked Xiao Xiaofan's farewell to 'Alliance'—the demands of life left him no time for games. He had just played a round against the computer, choosing Galen, the hero of holy might, without selecting any talents and armed only with the summoner spells Ghost and Heal. It was a full-circle moment, returning to the first hero he ever played, providing a fitting conclusion to his gaming journey.

"Can you still hear my voice, Summoner?"

As Xiao Xiaofan was about to shut down his computer and head to bed, a voice, ethereal and faint, reached his ears. Startled, he glanced at his screen to see a dialogue box had appeared, echoing the words he had just heard. Curiously, the box posed a question but offered no options for a response.

Xiao Xiaofan shook his head, wondering if 'Alliance' was attempting to keep its long-time players engaged with this new tactic.

"Summoner, I ask you, do you have any regrets about the days you spent battling alongside heroes?"

The voice returned, as otherworldly as before, and the game interface transformed. Gone were the previous options, leaving only the dialogue box without choices against a stark blue background.

Hearing the question, Xiao Xiaofan shivered. A single thought dominated his mind: Had he ever felt regret? Indeed, his gaming had come at a cost. During his school years, he often chose gaming over studying, leading to all-night gaming sessions and a plummeting academic performance. Once among the top of his class, he had fallen to the very bottom, culminating in a disappointing college entrance exam result that dashed his hopes of attending his dream university.

Now, he could only watch as his classmates who had diligently studied years ago landed their dream jobs, while he continued to struggle at the bottom rung.

Did he harbor any regrets?

The answer was a resounding no. He had never regretted a single moment!

Sure, he had lost a lot because of his dedication to the game, but he had gained just as much!

The days spent battling alongside heroes and the joy of gaming with friends were irreplaceable experiences he wouldn't trade for anything!

"Summoner, are you still willing to fight alongside the hero?"

The ethereal voice echoed, prompting the interface to change once more!

This time it was different; two options presented themselves.

Willing and unwilling!

Xiaofan was taken aback. The system's timing was impeccable, changing the interface just as he formed the thought!

Had he not outgrown his fanciful years, he might have believed the system could read his thoughts and offer him a different path in life!

His hand hovered over the mouse, guiding the cursor to the option marked 'unwilling.'

Though he didn't regret his time with League of Legends, the pressures of life meant he had to let go...

Yet, his hand hesitated to click.

A montage of memories began to play in his mind!

The thrill of his first kill, the progression from feeding the enemy to balancing his score, and eventually carrying the whole game, the voices announcing double, triple, quadra, and pentakills echoed in his head!

The happiness of mastering a new skill, the thrill of watching the World Championships, the joy of climbing from bronze to the pinnacle of Challenger!

And the brothers he'd sat with in internet cafes, the friends he'd only met in-game, even the arguments and complaints during tough matches!

All these moments flickered through his mind like scenes from a movie, bringing a mist to his eyes.

Ultimately, his mouse drifted unconsciously to the 'willing' option, and he gently clicked.

Suddenly, chaos ensued!

The dialogue box vanished, and a blinding light burst forth!

Xiaofan closed his eyes against the glare, feeling an inexplicable lightness.

Then, in an instant, he vanished, leaving only the glowing computer screen behind.

But the League of Legends logo had disappeared from the screen, and at that very moment, the game's icon mysteriously vanished from computers all around the world!

Players in the game were abruptly logged out, leaving everyone in a state of confusion!

In the bustling city of Sylhasera, located on the Lukish Continent, the streets were teeming with life during the daylight hours. Merchants were energetically hawking their wares to passersby.

On the side of the road sat a young man in ragged clothing, his hair unkempt and filthy. He was hunched over, his head down. Slowly, his eyes cracked open, and his parched lips muttered, "Damn... League of Legends has really screwed me over... Why did they have to crank up the brightness like that?!"

"I just hope my poor, low-end monitor can handle it without burning out!"

As the young man gingerly moved his arm, he suddenly stopped, stunned. "What... What's happening?" he whispered to himself. "Is this my body? How did I end up here?"

This young man was none other than Xiao Xiaofan, who had vanished with the mysterious light.

A sharp pain shot through his head, bringing with it memories that were not his own. It took some time for the pain to ease, leaving Xiao Xiaofan feeling completely drained.

A wry smile crept onto his face despite his reluctance to accept such a fantastical reality. He had, without a doubt, transmigrated into another world!

The original owner of this body was also named Xiao Xiaofan, a name given to him by the beggar who had taken him in. Yes, he was a beggar by circumstance. As the memories of this body revealed, he had been an orphan, picked up and cared for by an elderly beggar. That same beggar had vanished days ago, likely dead.

Thus, the former owner of this body was left alone. Despite his status as a beggar, he had fallen for a young lady from a prestigious family. Today, after giving her a couple of extra glances, he had incurred the wrath of her admirers, who had beaten him severely.

The frail body of a beggar could not withstand the thrashing from a group of servants trained as Apprentices. The unfortunate beggar had succumbed to his injuries, which had, in turn, provided Xiao Xiaofan the opportunity to take over his body.

In the original beggar's memories, the continent was known as Lukish, a place where individuals could awaken their Holy Marks and cultivate their Battle Aura.

However, the young beggar lacked extensive knowledge. He only knew that practitioners of Battle Aura were ranked from the lowest to the highest as follows: Apprentice, Warmaster, and Grand Warmaster, with each major realm further divided into ten Star Levels.

The young beggar, of course, didn't have the means to awaken the Holy Mark and cultivate Battle Aura. Now fifteen, his physique was inferior even to that of a typical child!

Once he grasped the basics, Xiaofan couldn't help but give a wry smile. It seemed that others who found themselves transported to another world at least had the advantage of a decent family background before they began their extraordinary rise.

But why had the script flipped for him?

Forget a family; he didn't even have relatives!

His body was a complete mess, he was clueless about how to cultivate, and he was penniless...

Just then, his surroundings grew dim. He sensed someone standing before him, accompanied by a subtle, pleasant scent.