Welcome to Rewind World Game
Chapter 168 - 166: "You Call Yourself the Number One Player?

Chapter 168: Chapter 166: "You Call Yourself the Number One Player?

Atop the buildings, glass-like objects of an unknown material glistened like colored glaze, reflecting the hues of the sunlight. The differently colored districts were bustling with the to-and-fro of countless people.

It was a fantastical world, with bold and dreamy use of color that made the entire city seem like an exquisite oil painting.

On the city walls, somewhat indolent guards were chatting with each other.

"...Do you think we can really withstand this?" asked a young man dressed in the Revolutionary Army’s uniform, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, his posture relaxed.

"What’s the rush? We’re on the safest section of the city wall. There are people out there sacrificing their lives; if the sky falls, there will be tall ones to hold it up," replied another.

"I just don’t get it," the young Revolutionary scratched his head: "With those surging Demon Beasts and the false army, there’s no need for us to keep throwing ourselves at them like this. Those powerful ability users could just set up a Defensive Barrier and that’d be it, right? And those big shots who are usually in the central colored glass building seem like they do nothing at all."

"Having strong abilities is always good, since there are weaker ones to blaze the trail," said the black-haired young man: "It’s always been this way with those in power. They’re probably dying for us to dedicate everything to them, to remain loyal to the last moment."

"Hmph, even if this world was really invaded by Demon Beasts and we were completely wiped out by that fake army, those big shots would easily survive," said the original young man: "They never had much reason to care about us. Their present act is just to vie for faith— the people outside treat them like guardian gods, but when a real crisis comes, the upper class will still treat the public like cannon fodder... Hey, you agree, right, Bell?"

Next to them stood a man who was also a part of the Revolutionary Army, yet his demeanor was timid and shrinking. He seemed very nervous, and his hands clenched tightly around an old spear. When suddenly addressed, he jerked in response.

"Ah, yes," Bell hastily nodded, his thoughts far from the conversation at hand, facing the two NPCs.

Originally named Gao Ang, he was just an ordinary otaku student. After witnessing the Apocalyptic World of the Underworld in the First World, he was too scared to enter again. Only hearing that the Fifth World was the legendary Otherworld did he decide to become a Player, driven by a passion for the second dimension.

However, his capabilities were reset, and he became engrossed in forums and various comics and novels during the Second to Fourth Worlds, barely preparing anything for himself. When first assigned to the Revolutionary Army in the Fifth World, he was terrified—after all, his current strength wasn’t much different from an ordinary person.

But thankfully, as a city guard who didn’t have to leave the city or fight the Regular Army, standing here was all he had to do. Although the Contribution Value he received was small, at least his life was not in danger, and this gave him peace of mind for a long time.

In this way, if there was no threat to his life, perhaps becoming an active Player wasn’t too bad...?

Gao Ang’s daily entertainment was watching what everyone was talking about in the channel chat. Although he didn’t dare to venture out in search of opportunities, the channel was full of talented people with interesting things to say, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Marls: The Seventh Day, the Seventh Day... I’m still moving stuff in the square.]

[Wo Zhengyang: Old porter here. Why do I feel this World Replica is so simple it leaves me speechless...]

[Charles: Indeed, it doesn’t feel that grim.]

[He Le: Have you guys heard the latest news? Weren’t a bunch of people hunting down the Number One Player in some forest recently? What now?]

[Mala: ...Is there still a question about that? Just look at the leaderboard, Su Ming’an’s faction has all moved to the Revolutionary Army.]

[Hu Zhen: Ah? The Revolutionary Army? Why leave a high-ranking position in the Regular Army to join the Revolutionaries?]

[He Yan: So, I guess that’s the difference between us and the Number One Player. They can move around with ease, and I’m still bumbling around in the Revolutionary Army...]

[Zhai Hui: Damn, I just ran to the Regular Army to switch my faction, and now I have to run again...]

[Wield: Guys, stop chasing the Number One Player, they won’t even give you the time of day.]

[Dobin: That’s not necessarily true. What if it’s like Lv Shu in the First World... everything one could wish for.]

[...]

As Gao Ang focused on the channel chat, enjoying the refreshing breeze of the legendary Otherworld, he suddenly heard a call from behind.

"— Hey. You three!"

He immediately turned around and saw a person resembling a squad captain approaching them on the city wall.

"Someone is looking for you." The squad captain waved at them, "Follow me."

...Could this be an opportunity?

Gao Ang was both excited and frightened, as someone who seldom left his home on Zhai Xing, he preferred to avoid trouble whenever possible.

But if there was a benefit in front of him, he was willing to give it a try, provided there were no risks involved.

Moreover, it seemed... like he couldn’t escape even if he wanted to.

"Move quickly." The squad captain led the three of them towards the city gate.

An NPC asked with some bewilderment, "Captain. We still have to defend the city, and it’s not yet time to switch shifts, so why..."

"Don’t ask too many questions." The squad captain raised his eyebrows and, ensuring they were far from others, whispered into his ear:

"...It’s the Second Commander’s orders."

"The Second Commander?" The NPC’s expression turned serious, and he said no more.

Gao Ang knew of this Second Commander.

Although famous, chatter on the channels suggested she was a young girl, not much older than a teenager. She had the features of an East Asian, not like a beauty from the Otherworld.

But it was said that the Number One Player had already made contact with her...

Gao Ang suddenly felt an ominous premonition.

The city he was guarding, Goka City, was one of the main bases of the Revolutionary Army, not far from the headquarters of the Regular Army and close to a nearby forest. It was a city in a geographically dangerous location and also a proximate defense line for the Revolutionary Army against the Regular Army. It was a large city that could not be lost lightly.

If the Number One Player was to make contact with the Revolutionary Army, then this would be the closest city.

And considering the sudden appearance of the Second Commander in this city...

The sense of foreboding in Gao Ang’s heart grew stronger.

On the way there, he walked unsteadily, as if his legs were weak, his mind muddled like a mess of tangled threads, resembling a student about to deliver a speech on stage but who had forgotten his lines.

The city’s buildings were fragmented and cramped, the space divided into broken pieces, and due to a lack of funds to repair the roads, the journey was bumpy and dusty. Gao Ang coughed a few times from the dust and then looked up to see that building—a building with a glazed roof at the very center of Goka City.

Such a magnificent roof, shimmering in the blue-purple daylight, as breathtakingly beautiful as the waves under the setting sun, stood out starkly against the surrounding sack-like dilapidated buildings.

...Indeed, is this the difference between the poor and wealthy districts?

Gao Ang coughed as he looked at the incredibly lavish building, which seemed completely disconnected from its surroundings as if it wasn’t part of the same city.

"We’ve arrived. The Second Commander has summoned you."

As he observed his surroundings, he suddenly heard the squad captain’s voice.

"Remember, don’t talk out of turn, don’t look directly at the Leader, and be mindful when responding. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your safety."

"Okay, okay..."

The other two city-guarding NPCs seemed tense as well.

And for Gao Ang, it felt as if there was an earthquake inside of him.

As he stepped forward onto the gleaming white stairs, his legs felt as if they were not his own, but as though he was walking on two wooden stilts, his steps unnatural and unsteady as he advanced.

When he slightly raised his head and saw the several people dressed similarly to him standing in the room, he breathed a sigh of relief—luckily, there were quite a few people. The Second Commander must be here to issue some orders; it wasn’t a situation targeting anyone in particular.

But just as he felt a sense of security in his heart, Gao Ang raised his head and saw a person of such stunning beauty sitting in the high seat that it felt like a direct touch to the soul.

Those slightly narrowed, moon-silver eyes were staring right at him, like the milky white lotus flowers that bloom astonishingly in an instant.

He instantly felt that legendary "beauty transcending dimensional barriers," but quickly realized—this nm is a man.

...And, why is this person looking at me?

Gao Ang noticed the door behind him being closed; the thick door could block any sound from being heard outside. The room was filled with ten people dressed like him, some were NPCs, and others must be players like him, cloaked in an NPC skin.

"This batch has arrived."

Suddenly, Gao Ang heard the extremely good-looking man speak, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, as if he was pleased to see them.

"I want to make a deal with you," said the man, and then, a girl with a ponytail appeared beside him.

She reached out her hand, and a burst of force came, forcibly lifting everyone’s head.

"A deal involving points."

Upon hearing the young man’s words, Gao Ang’s already somewhat relaxed mood tensed up abruptly.

...Is this a player?

"How about it?" Gao Ang noticed the young man asking the girl beside him, following which, the girl whispered something back to him.

Subsequently, some of the ten people were asked to leave; Gao Ang noticed that the two city-guarding NPCs were also not kept back.

Remaining in the room were only him and two others dressed in Revolutionary Army uniforms.

"Alright, now we can speak openly." The young man spoke, his voice extremely calm, "Three players."

Gao Ang suddenly looked up, a possible guess in his mind instantly confirmed.

He clenched his hands; cold sweat slowly covered his back.

"I am Qin Wang," said the young man, the implied meaning clear to all, "You should know who Qin Wang is."

...Since appearing amongst the Revolutionary Army, Su Ming’an’s role had been exposed; now everyone knew that Qin Wang was Su Ming’an.

Gao Ang immediately lowered his head, fearful that his face might appear in someone’s live stream again. As an extremely introverted homebody, he did not wish to show his face at all... let alone in the Number One Player’s live stream.

The Number One Player, his attitude towards them, the ordinary players, could only be described as very average.

To screen out players like this, what on earth does this person want to do?

"My time is short, and I’m not just here for the three of you," Su Ming’an said, his gaze growing ever more serene:

"—No more nonsense. Hand over the equipment and props on you, give them to me."

Cold sweat slowly slid down Gao Ang’s face.

"Hold on." The player next to him frowned and questioned, "Are you really Su Ming’an?"

Su Ming’an didn’t respond, just looked at him.

"I’ve heard about your actions in the channel before." The player said with a cold face, seemingly unafraid of the weight carried by the title Number One Player: "Are you going to start taking action against players now? Provoking infighting?"

"We are not those spectators. If we dare to enter the field, it’s because we also have the heart to venture and challenge." The player to the right of Gao Ang was also unyielding, speaking up to Su Ming’an immediately: "Number One Player, I know you. I’ve seen many of your recordings and roughly understand your theories, but I’m not the worthless person you talk about. Don’t think you can just label others because you’re strong. If you think your reputation alone will make us back down, then you’re mistaken. We’re not like those love-struck girls on the forums."

Gao Ang watched the standoff, only keeping his head down and clutching his hands tightly, not daring to utter a word.

...Joking aside, if the other two players dared to speak up, it was certain they had something to rely on. If he said something, with his strength as a newcomer to the World Replica, he wouldn’t even know how he might die.

"I have no intention of making you back down based on my reputation," Su Ming’an said.

"I know, you compare yourself to a Lighthouse, thinking you can lead everyone," said the player on the left with a cold face: "You are indeed very powerful and have a resounding name. I also heard that in other instances there are leaderboard players concentrating other players’ Contribution Value on one individual. However, this does not mean we have to give up all we have just to achieve your success! Don’t try to disguise your selfishness as selflessness. You talk about fighting for all the Points, but isn’t it you who benefits in the end?"

He spoke bluntly without any intention of concealing his words, knowing that since he had entered the room and seen how much the Second Commander trusted Su Ming’an, there was no escape for him. It was better to clarify the matter, rather than die in ignorance and confusion.

Moreover, perhaps, given how lofty the other party’s position seemed, they would consider his words and spare him.

"I know," Su Ming’an whispered a few words to Dan Shuang who was beside him.

Gao Ang kept his head down, not daring to speak a word.

Then, he heard two crisp "clangs".

As he slightly opened his eyes and saw the player figures being forcefully knelt down at the edge of his vision, he swallowed his saliva, even more afraid to speak.

"—You!"

The player who was suddenly forced down glared furiously, wishing he could charge up and tear the man sitting peacefully above to pieces. He tried to pull out a weapon to fight, yet found himself unable to move. As they reached out their hands as if wanting to use some Skill, they began to feel a drum-like pain gradually spreading within them.

"Su Ming’an, you dare call yourself the Number One Player—" the player shouted angrily.

"I’m not demanding you back down because of my reputation," Su Ming’an said.

His gaze seemed to grow even more calm, as if completely indifferent to the anger and curses from below. As he signaled Dan Shuang to make a move, his eyes shifted to the side, his voice becoming more indifferent:

"It’s because I can defeat you. That’s all there is to it—cut the crap. If you’re no match for me, just go back.

If you hate me and wish for revenge... then make it count. Don’t waste words in the forums, I won’t read them."

Su Ming’an turned his gaze back, his eyes started to hold a trace of a smile, as if he truly looked forward to it:

"It’s just—that in future instances of the World, I’ll be waiting for you to challenge me."

"If you hate me, then just come at me."