Chapter 1 Starting Over

Late at night in Tranquil Meadows Estates, Evergreen City, Eric Parker sat quietly on the soft leather sofa, holding a stack of documents in his hand, gazing out at the swimming pool through the windows, filled with a sense of loss and regret.

As the leader of ShadowForge Studios, one of the four major game studios in Evergreen City, Eric oversaw tens of thousands of players in the guild. He was a renowned expert swordsman in the game as well, yet now he could only sit at home, drinking to drown his sorrows.

With ten years of gaming career and bloody battles, after enduring countless pains and hardships, he finally led ShadowForge Guild to establish ten major city-states in "Divine Realms: Legends." They were ready to compete with top guilds and bask in endless glory. But all of that vanished in the blink of an eye with a single document, as if it were all just a fleeting dream.

Eric never fathomed that his decade-long dedication would be in vain. He had sacrificed so much for the game, only to end up paving the way for others. It was all because of his opposition to ShadowForge Studios merging with the super guild Supremacy Alliance. Before the next day arrived, the Phillips Group swiftly responded to Eric: they deleted his meticulously cultivated Level 200 Sword King account and asked him to settle his salary at the financial department.

What Eric received in return was a mere five million credits and a luxury mansion. Compared to the ten city-states and the immensely profitable virtual kingdom, it was a mere drop in the ocean.

Eric contemplated the significant contributions he had made to propel the Phillips Group into a major conglomerate, only to be discarded like trash in return. The blatant betrayal by the Phillips Group fueled Eric's determination to retaliate.

"I will not let this slide. I'll start over if I have to." Eric's eyes gleamed with confidence and determination as he shredded the termination document. He then grabbed a bottle of red wine from the table, gulping down a few mouthfuls.

Even without his Sword King account and team support, Eric knew that his game expertise and knowledge would not fail him. As long as his skills remained, he believed he could rise in Divine Realms: Legends and establish another virtual kingdom of his own.

At dawn, as the sun began to rise, the incessant ringing of his phone irritated Eric, roused from his rest by a lingering hangover.

"Hello, what's up?"

"Eric, it's Tonny Carter. What do you mean, 'what's up'? We agreed to become professional gamers, and today is the recruitment day for ShadowForge Studios at school. Haven't you always wanted to be a core member of ShadowForge Studios?"

Eric felt a sense of confusion. Having just been dismissed by the Phillips Group, why would he even consider partaking in ShadowForge Studios' recruitment?

"Eric? Are you there? They're starting the tests at ten. Hurry up, or you'll miss it!"

"Tonny, don't joke with me. I was just fired by ShadowForge Studios."

"Fired? Eric, how much did you drink yesterday? You're still out of it. ShadowForge Studios hasn't even begun recruiting yet. How could you have been fired? Hurry up and come over."

Before Eric could fully grasp the situation, Tonny hung up the phone.

Drowsy Eric glanced at the phone beside him and realized that the worn-out iPhone 6 was not his; his phone was the latest iPhone 13.

Looking around the room, Eric found himself in a cluttered space of less than 161.46 square feet. The small bedroom was scattered with game strategy books, an outdated laptop resting on the corner desk, and a wardrobe overflowing with clothes. In the wardrobe's mirror, he saw a familiar face.

Witnessing this inexplicable transformation, Eric was taken aback. "How did I become younger?" Eric immediately stood up and walked to the mirror, inspecting his reflection again and again until he was sure he had indeed become younger.

Yesterday, he had slumbered in a spacious, luxurious bedroom. Today, he awoke in this ramshackle place, now seemingly younger.

Memories flooded back to Eric regarding this place. It was a small house he had rented a decade ago when he was in his senior year, striving to conquer Divine Realms: Legends. After residing here for over half a year, he had earned some profits from the game and eventually secured an apartment in the city.

Back then, life was incredibly strenuous. His family circumstances were difficult, with significant debts accrued for Eric's college education. His parents toiled every month to send him enough money to sustain himself and shield him from hardship.

Eric was determined to make money to change his family's circumstances, but decent-paying jobs were hard to come by for a college student. Thus, he turned to the most lucrative option—virtual gaming. Investing in a virtual headset, he set his sights on becoming a professional player, diligently honing his skills within the virtual realm.

During that time, he survived on rye bread and instant noodles. Eric avoided social gatherings and school events to cut costs. Consequently, he became the most inconspicuous figure in his class, derided by male peers and ridiculed by female classmates. With less than ten credits in his wallet during grocery visits, Eric couldn't even afford a one-credit sausage. The female cashier, feeling sorry for Eric, would recommend discounted sausages. Although tempted by the sausages, Eric would touch his wallet and still gritted his teeth in refusal.

'Could someone be playing a trick on me?' Observing his familiar surroundings and his youthful reflection in the mirror, Eric shook his head, dismissing the notion.

Even Celestria, the most advanced society, lacked rejuvenation technology of this magnitude, making it improbable for someone to jest about reversing his age.

Glancing at the time displayed on the phone—April 19, 2129—Eric jestingly pondered, 'Could it be a rebirth?' He vividly recalled that today was August 5, 2139, not April 2129, when he was a senior in college.

Shaking his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts, he still held onto a glimmer of hope. Could he have really been reborn, returning to ten years ago? With this hope, he walked over to the desk and turned on the old laptop.

If the time on his phone could be deceitful, the information online could not be fabricated.

After a few minutes of browsing the internet, Eric was thoroughly stunned as all the information he found online confirmed that today was indeed April 19, 2129. Even the official launch date for the globally anticipated Divine Realms: Legends was clearly stated on the website, with a countdown showing six days remaining until its release on April 25.

"I have truly been reborn! Have I really returned to ten years ago?" Eric stared fixedly at the news articles regarding Divine Realms: Legends, tears of excitement streaming down his face.

At that moment, Eric's emotions were indescribable, intermingled with regret, sorrow, and joy. It felt as if everything before him was but a dream. However, the buzzing of cicadas outside the window and the cool air from the air conditioning served as reminders to Eric that this was undeniably real.

Upon examining a family photo from his university days on his phone, Eric noticed for the first time that Jothan Parker had gray hair; Katherine Parker had creases at the corners of her eyes. Truly, they had aged, no longer full of vitality as they once were.

The realization that his parents had aged struck Eric after a year and a half into the launch of Divine Realms: Legends. The burden of substantial debts, overwhelming labor, and stress had led to their severe illnesses, with the treatment costs demanding millions of credits. Yet, at that time, Eric was merely a minor squad leader at ShadowForge Studios, unable to afford such exorbitant expenses.

Eric tried every way he could to raise money, but it was never sufficient. Despite his efforts, his parents eventually passed away within a few months.

The previous life left him with the pain and regret of not taking good care of his parents. Who could understand his agony?

Even after amassing millions of credits later on, his parents' deaths remained a perpetual anguish in Eric's heart.

Fate had played an unexpected trick on him, thrusting him back to square one with a chance to begin anew.

'It is marvelous! Since I have been reborn, I must alter everything. I will earn enough to curel my parents and free them from the burdens of life,' Eric declared amidst wiping away tears, silently pledging to himself.

As Eric contemplated his future plans, Tonny's phone call interrupted him, persistently urging him to undergo evaluation at the university.

However, Eric remained unperturbed, dressing himself meticulously before proceeding to Evergreen University.

Eric knew ShadowForge Studios very well.

During his university days, Jack Phillips, scion of the Phillips Group, established ShadowForge Studios, providing substantial funds and organizing skilled students from Evergreen University to conquer Divine Realms: Legends. Eric had participated in the evaluations back then, becoming a core member, while Tonny assumed a peripheral role—an experience that had brought him much joy.

Three years later, under Eric's leadership, ShadowForge Studios, backed by the Phillips Group, amassed significant wealth within Divine Realms: Legends, transforming into a major conglomerate. However, Eric was ultimately ousted by Jack himself.

Given his rebirth and unrivaled advantage in Divine Realms: Legends, Eric had no intention of rejoining ShadowForge Studios. He didn't want to be anyone's tool or make money for others. He aspired to forge a different path, to strive for his own livelihood, without relying on is parents for living expenses, and to pay off all debts. Therefore, he determined to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, create his own studio, establish his company, and craft his virtual empire for a better life.

Arriving at the entrance of Academic Building No. 1, Eric encountered a tall, lean young man with dusky skin, pacing anxiously—a sight familiar to him as Tonny.

"Eric, you've arrived! Luckily, the registration deadline hasn't closed yet. Let's hurry inside and register," Tonny exclaimed urgently upon spotting Eric.

Eric shook his head and spoke earnestly. "Tonny, I have no intention of joining ShadowForge Studios. I plan to establish my own studio. Will you join me?"

Tonny and Eric had met in a virtual game, where despite Tonny's lack of gaming prowess, his strong managerial skills had forged a bond akin to family during their days at ShadowForge Studios. Tonny could effectively manage tens of thousands within the guild. With Tonny's assistance, achieving their goals seemed more feasible. However, he would defer to Tonny's choice since he currently had nothing. Tonny's financial situation was not favorable, leading him to opt for a career as a professional gamer, joining ShadowForge Studios to make ends meet.

Tonny was taken aback, lowering his head in silence at Eric's sudden declaration. Eric exuded an aura of confidence and composure, a stark contrast to his previous restless demeanor.

After a full minute had passed, Tonny finally looked up at Eric. "Eric, don't be absurd. Do you realize how much a virtual helmet costs? It's eight thousand credits each. To establish a studio, you'd need a team of at least six people, a workspace, a payroll, and more. Just the initial capital alone would require seventy to eighty thousand credits, not to mention ongoing expenses. It's a substantial sum. Do you have so much money right now?" Tonny knew Eric's situation well, knowing that Eric's poor family background and wanted to dissuade him from this crazy idea.

"You're right. I don't even have enough for a virtual helmet for Divine Realms: Legends." Eric nodded silently in admission. As Tonny mentioned, he didn't even possess seventy to eighty thousand credits. Eric remembered Jason recruiting a hundred-member studio, which had cost over five million credits. Later, Jason invested significantly in enhancing the studio's quality and strength.

"In that case, why take the risk? Wouldn't joining ShadowForge Studios be more stable? At least there, they provide virtual helmets. Without them, we can't even play, let alone become professional gamers," Tonny pointed out the pivotal issue to Eric, seeing that Eric understood it. He sighed in relief and started pulling Eric towards the school building.

Shaking off Tonny's hand, Eric gazed intently at him, asserting, "Nevertheless, I still intend to establish my own studio. I don't wish to be controlled by others. Will you join me?"

Eric wouldn't force Tonny. After all, he had no guarantees and couldn't reveal his secret of being reborn. He simply hoped that Tonny would trust him.

Tonny saw Eric's serious expression and felt that something was off. Today, Eric seemed very different—too crazy. Everyone knew that you couldn't make money in the early stages of virtual gaming. Could Eric have uncovered a method to earn in Divine Realms: Legends? Even if he did, it would take months, and they didn't have that much time to waste..

After much hesitation, Tonny finally relented, saying, "I understand. Since you're the elder brother, I'll join you in establishing the studio. But what about the virtual helmets? Without them, we can't play."

Eric patted Tonny's shoulder joyously, saying, "That's perfect. Don't worry about the virtual helmets. I recall there being a student trial offer for Divine Realms: Legends distributed in every university. By presenting our student IDs, we can acquire helmets for a free ten-day trial. Let's check it out."

"What about after the ten days?" Tonny's complexion turned ashen with apprehension, foreseeing a dark future. Why had he placed his trust in Eric? Was it Eric's unwavering confidence and composure that had swayed him? Was venturing into entrepreneurship alongside Eric truly a viable option?

What could they accomplish in Divine Realms: Legends within just ten days?

Ten days would mean missing the prime recruitment periods for major studios. In the end, they would still need to purchase virtual helmets. But how would they procure the funds?

"Don't worry." Eric reassured Tonny, flashing a confident smile.

Earning sixteen thousand credits within ten days was an unrealistic prospect, but he possessed the determination of a reincarnated individual. No matter what obstacles he faced, he would overcome them one by one.

The opening of Divine Realms: Legends marked the beginning of his ascent.

Subsequently, Eric, accompanied by Tonny, obtained the trial helmets and spent all their money on instant noodles, stocking up enough for over ten days by the computer desk in their rented room. After briefing Tonny on some aspects of Divine Realms: Legends, they quietly awaited the game's launch.

At 9 p.m. on April 25, faint lights flickered in the dimly lit room. Eric lay still on the bed, closing his eyes and gently pressing the start button on the helmet.

"Divine Realms: Legends, here I come."