From the Abyss of Stars Part 1

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: In an hour and a half, the first chapter of my new work titled "Apocalypse: Mad Necromancer's Troops" will be published. The publishing schedule will be as follows: 8 chapters per day, at a rate of one chapter every 3 hours, until chapter 48.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

080. Global Manhunt

Fifteen minutes later, after dressing up, Lu Run witnessed two shootings and a gang fight on the street corner. Nervous, he was finally picked up by professional testers Xue Nian and Luo Le.

"This game doesn't even have a teleport function. To contact someone, you need communication tools, and you have to travel on foot. It's such a hassle."

Luo Le's appearance was that of a young man with half of his hair dyed purple and three glowing fluorescent tubes on his left cheek. He walked with his hands in his pockets, and although he had no visible weapons, his intimidating aura was enough to keep the street youths at bay.

"How about it, kid? Shooting here?"

Xue Nian was even bulkier than Luo Le, with shoulders as wide as a door. Sporting a buzz cut, washed jeans, and a worker's vest, he looked like an elephant—gentle in demeanor but capable of crushing a man with a single step.

Watching the NPCs' wary and suspicious glances toward them, Lu Run felt emotional. He knew it was just a game, but the vivid visual impact and the complexity of the characters' expressions were hard to ignore.

Vividly depicted dirt and grime.

The strong smell of kitchen waste full of life.

The poor had rusty prosthetics smelling of engine oil. When malfunctioning, they would just bang on them. Though capable of moving swiftly, they fought each other, indulged in drugs and alcohol, and even engaged in public lewd acts, watching low-budget films on their retinal displays.

Everyone lived absurd lives day by day, and the realism was terrifying.

"Let's shoot here."

Following Xue Nian's instructions, Lu Run activated the camera function and began taking pictures and videos. To the NPCs, he looked like a neatly dressed office worker wandering around, scrutinizing them like rare goods.

"Get lost, you motherfucker." Some NPCs, annoyed by the prolonged filming, flipped him off and cursed.

"Company dog? So what if you're a company dog? Keep staring, and I'll kill you!"

Focused on his work, Lu Run impatiently replied, "Shut up and do your job!"

"You motherf—"

The NPC's eyes widened, pulling a knife from his pocket to stab him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Luo Le raised his hand, his palm skin splitting to reveal a gun barrel. The NPC was shot twice in the chest, momentarily freezing, before a third shot pierced his forehead, spraying brain matter and blood.

"A level-zero street thug, useless, no experience points."

Luo Le muttered.

Lu Run lowered his head, adjusting the angle, practically pressing his face against the gunshot wounds to capture the NPC's final expressions of shock, fear, and slight regret.

Though it still felt disgusting, knowing the NPC's death just translated to experience points greatly reduced his fear.

Moments ago terrified, he now easily accepted the reality of the dead body—it was just a game.