From the Abyss of Stars

79. Test Begins

 

"Damn, I'm so tired of this job. Why isn't it over yet? The leadership had a sudden brainwave and decided to add an A test."

 

Luo Le grumbled as he plugged a cable into the port at the back of his head.

 

"These corporate executives are idiots, deciding to rush a test within 24 hours—they don't have to plug this stupid cable into their heads, so they don't mind the pain."

 

"Calm down." His colleague, Xue Nian, glanced at the publicity department member clumsily putting on the neural link suit with the help of logistics staff. "Look at that kid from the publicity department; he's more anxious than we are."

 

"He's just another worker like us. He got a midnight task to shoot some PV—just watch, the first time doing a full neural link, the pain is..."

 

Old Luo grumbled as he inserted his employee card into the machine.

 

Beep—

 

【Employee account authenticated, login complete】

 

【Qiqiao Network A12 Game Tester: Luo Le】

 

"I need to check my physical condition—heart rate 119, breathe, don't get angry, don't get angry."

 

A series of physiological information showed that his condition wasn't good. Luo Le took two deep breaths to calm down.

 

"Be content. As criminals, we weren't sent to colonize planets to see primal beasts baring their teeth; the AI showed us mercy. What more do you want?" Xue Nian, also a game tester, was used to it. "Being allowed to stay on the home planet is enough for me."

 

"It's just a new prison—damn it, criminals are people too. Prisons have eight-hour work schedules. Since I was transferred here, the dumbass leadership treats me like a beast of burden."

 

Luo Le raised his middle finger.

 

There was no death penalty these days. The harshest punishment was either being sent to colonize planets or having one's consciousness uploaded to an electronic prison for hundreds of years.

 

He and Xue Nian were long-time comrades, having served in the federal army together, later committing impulsive murder after a quarrel—thinking the worst would be prison.

 

"I'd rather be in jail than be a work dog for these idiots." Luo Le complained.

 

Who knew the AI would transfer them to this game company developing "Abyss of Stars," where they had to work eight or even ten hours a day.

 

And the pay was still at prison rates, damn it!

 

Xue Nian didn't mind the job. As retired soldiers, they were used to idling away their days. Serving time in a different prison didn't make much difference.

 

He connected the brain-machine interface, inserted his employee card, and logged into the internal network.

 

His employee inbox was flooded with various messages. Xue Nian quickly skimmed through and became serious.

 

"Old Luo, check your email."

 

"What is it? Let me see—Qiqiao Network staff will watch the A test live—damn, is the A test that important?"

 

Luo Le was surprised and quickly adjusted his behavior.

 

"Will good performance reduce our sentences?"

 

"Maybe." Xue Nian opened the live stream and saw several high-ranking officials often seen on the news. "Even the vice president is here... this is really important."

 

"Not just our Frost-Plated Republic area—the testers from the Red Arrow and Sky Ring areas said they saw foreign officials and even heads of state." Luo Le marveled. "How did we get the chance to meet these dignitaries?"

 

"Why are so many bigwigs here?"

 

The publicity department kid was almost in tears.

 

"I'm just an intern photographer and designer. Why drag me along?"

 

He was sleeping soundly at home when the company suddenly pulled him, an intern, to participate in the A test with these two scary-looking convicts.

 

God, these two have arms thicker than his thighs, with two service nails on their foreheads. Retired soldiers plus convicts—this double buff was terrifying enough.

 

Now, he had to show his face in front of so many bigwigs—why should a freshly graduated college student bear such pressure?

 

"Because several employees in the publicity department are on New Year's leave, they're short-handed. Besides, Blue Star isn't the only starting planet; other countries need shooting too."

 

Xue Nian greeted him kindly.

 

"Don't be nervous, kid. We're experienced virtual network infiltrators. We'll give you the right filming opportunities—what's your name? I'm Xue Nian, he's Luo Le, just call us brothers."

 

"I'm Lu Run." The publicity kid grimaced. "I thought I was just responsible for photography and post-production, maybe making some CG animations... what do I do now? I've never played games before."

 

"Who needs CG? Just shoot in the game." Luo Le sneered. "Stop dawdling; the Red Arrow area has already started. Old Xue, teach him."

 

Xue Nian nodded patiently, guiding him.

 

"Abyss of Stars is a full-dive neural link game. Simply put, it uploads your consciousness to the game world temporarily, so you need some techniques. First, log into the internal network. The players don't have an internal communication system, so you need to prepare in advance to contact each other."

 

Lu Run learned quickly, connecting to the internal network and joining Xue Nian and Luo Le's voice channel, then selecting the game and logging in.

 

Bang!

 

His screen instantly went black.

 

"Wow—Brother Xue, my screen went black."

 

"The first startup always has a black screen for a while. Just wait for it to load."

 

Lu Run had to wait patiently.

 

After a long loading time, he vaguely heard a deep male voice in the background.

 

……………………

 

"Why do people keep running?"

 

"To the universe, from the first ape sharpening a stone into a weapon to a starship crossing the universe at light speed with an antimatter drive, it's all a blink of an eye."

 

"We are incredibly small, yet we love running toward the future."

 

"Whether worshiping machines devoutly or turning materialists into demons, we are willing to pay any price to reach the end."

 

"Now, we've unveiled the universe's mysteries."

 

"Abyss of Stars (Stabyss), the end of all things, or our origin."

 

"Now, all meanings become meaningless. Moving forward is our only hope."

 

"Dive into the endless abyss of stars."

 

"May your path be filled with courage and curses."

 

"Don't worry about our eventual extinction. Eternity is insignificant before miracles—the stars will witness us!"

 

……………………

 

【Qiqiao Network presents】

 

……………………

 

"Lu Run! Lu Run!"

 

Xue Nian's call in the channel woke him up. The young man, who had never touched a game before, felt a nameless honor and excitement.

 

"I heard it, Brother Xue."

 

"Good, you should be done with the opening animation. The machine will link to your nerves—now listen to me."

 

"Empty your mind, gradually sense your body."

 

"Start with your fingers, keep trying to move them."

 

"Remember the feeling of airflow brushing your skin, continuously think about and strengthen your awareness of it."

 

Xue Nian's voice grew distant. Lu Run calmed down, his breathing slowing, then speeding up involuntarily. He felt a tidal, moist sensation, as if being pressed through a roller coaster.

 

After a while, a line of text lit up before him.

 

【Transmission complete】

 

【First login, account created】

 

【Enter your ID here】

 

Lu Run blinked, feeling an indescribable sensation, like his body was soaked in some solution but didn't affect his breathing.

 

"Follow the system prompts." Xue Nian said. "Old Luo and I will descend first and wait for you at the street corner."

 

Even a novice like Lu Run knew what to do now. He entered his ID as per company regulations.

 

[CL] Publicity Group 1 - Lu Run

 

Then, the system scanned his body and appearance, asking some strange questions.

 

Like, 'Do you like cats?' 'Can you accept having parents?' 'How would you handle cold violence from a sister?'

 

He wasn't one of those novel characters with dead parents and wealth. Scratching his head, he chose all the options.

 

【A matching individual has been summoned】

 

"Summoned?" Lu Run was puzzled. "What does that mean?"

 

"It means the NPC matching your criteria has been occupied by another player. Choose another." Xue Nian patiently explained. "Don't worry, it doesn't matter."

 

"Wait, wait, you mean I'm not creating a character but... summoning an NPC from these electronic worlds as my body?" Lu Run felt strange.

 

"Don't overthink it. It's work."

 

"Oh, okay."

 

He modified the options slightly, not liking cats much anyway.

 

【A matching individual found】

 

【Descent ready—descend?】

 

【Yes/No】

 

"Descend."

 

Lu Run instinctively said.

 

The next moment, his body suddenly sank, as if launched by something. The heavy load pressed him painfully, but he couldn't make a sound.

 

Vaguely, he heard a faint voice blessing him.

 

"May your courage and faith never fade."

 

Thud!

 

Clenching his teeth, the pain felt like an eternity, then he suddenly felt like he had grown limbs and a body. His skin touched the cold, solid floor.

 

It took a while to recover, struggling to get up from the cold floor. In front of him was a mirror, reflecting a brown-haired, blue-eyed man looking at himself in pain and confusion.

 

Scattered on the floor were his ID documents and clothes. Guided by Xue Nian, he quickly gathered them.

 

The ID showed his name: Lu Ao Wei Ke, nationality: Frost-Plated Republic.

 

Other items included a GTB (Global Trade Bank) work card, a third-rate university diploma, various information showing he was a low-level intern clerk living with his family, in a cold war with his sister, and had a pet dog.

 

He glanced at the messy yet simple room, the strong sense of life leaving Lu Run stunned.

 

"Is this really a game... it's too realistic."

 

"Maybe it's not." Luo Le joked.

 

"Shut up."

 

Xue Nian whispered in the channel.

 

"Good, now the game system and personal panel are activated. Take your phone and dial 012XXXXX090, we'll meet up."