Chapter One: Global Monster Online Officially Launches

That day, a single voice resounded across the entire world, as loud as thunder.

“I am Lin Bo. You may call me Dr. Lin. ‘Global Monster Online’ is now officially live. In ten minutes, Earth will enter game initialization... So, enjoy these last moments of peace!”

Such words, sounding like a practical joke, failed to draw much attention.

But—

Ten minutes later, the sky was awash with auroras, howling winds raged, and the ground shook violently.

Humanity was plunged into chaos and terror...

...

Year 3 of the Monster Era.

Zhao Nan crouched cautiously in the reeds along the riverbank, the necessary route to Magic City. As a level 49 swordsman, he had to complete the mission of delivering Cloud Crystals to Magic City before he could accept a class change.

Only by reaching level 50 and undergoing his second class change would Zhao Nan have the ability to survive in this hellish world.

There were less than two months until the next game update. By then, all monsters in the world would undergo varying degrees of evolution, and the difficulty would surge. Anyone below level 50 would be nothing more than cannon fodder.

At the start of the game, bewildered and uncertain, Zhao Nan chose the swordsman class for its balanced offense and defense. However, in this realistic game where stats were based on one’s actual body, his half-indoorsman physique meant his starting stats were already below average, making his later development inherently flawed. As the levels of human players gradually rose, this gap only widened.

Simply put, if someone who was a soldier before the game began also chose swordsman, then at level 49, the difference in base attributes would be nearly double—Zhao Nan couldn’t win even if there were three of him.

“After the class change, I’ll be able to reset my stats and choose another class. Swordsman isn’t suited to me,” Zhao Nan thought quietly.

Right now, he had to traverse the small forest ahead to reach the road to Magic City. That road was a safe zone; monsters would not attack players there. But to cross the woods, he had to pass through the territory of a pack of Lickers.

Lickers—after game initialization, some were humans transformed into zombie-type monsters, and others were automatically generated by the game. Their levels generally hovered around 40. As a level 49 warrior, as long as he didn’t get surrounded, Zhao Nan was confident he could make it through the woods.

It was night—not the ideal time to act. But the mission timer was almost up; if he waited any longer, he’d likely fail. Zhao Nan had spent nearly all his savings traveling from distant Demon City for this mission!

He could not afford to fail.

The river rippled under the cold moonlight, shattering the watery surface into shards of silver. Zhao Nan took a deep breath and sprinted into the woods.

Using the shadows, Zhao Nan activated a swordsman skill called “Swift Step,” which increased his speed by 20% for thirty seconds.

He could hear the Lickers moving in the woods, their guttural sounds getting closer. His heart thudded rapidly.

Suddenly—a snap! He’d stepped on a branch. The Lickers, with their keen hearing, instantly picked up the sound!

“Damn!”

From all directions, dozens of Lickers leapt at him. Their claws flashed in the trees and on the ground.

Lv40, Lv39, Lv41, Lv40...

Zhao Nan gave a bitter laugh—there was no avoiding a tough fight. He gripped his sword tighter, took another deep breath, and activated “Swift Step” once more.

“Triple Slash!”

At the same time, the intermediate swordsman skill burst forth. In the darkness, a shining arc of silver light erupted from his shoulder as Zhao Nan flipped rapidly through the air, slashing three times in quick succession! Three damage numbers flashed before his eyes.

-456!
-439!
-398!

The Licker before him lost a third of its health bar! Landing lightly, Zhao Nan unleashed another “Triple Slash.”

Meanwhile, the other Lickers lunged at him.

“Blade Dance!”

His sword erupted with golden light; a one-meter-wide circle of light appeared at his feet, and dozens of sword beams shot out from its edge.

This was an area attack skill only available to swordsmen after level 40, but it consumed a terrifying amount of mana. One ultimate move, and half his mana was gone. But the effect was clear: dozens of huge damage numbers burst forth, instantly draining the life from any Licker below level 40.

Zhao Nan had no time to check his kill count or loot from the system notifications. Taking advantage of the moment when the Lickers were blasted away, he darted forward at lightning speed.

He was alone, without any overpowered gear to single-handedly wipe out the Lickers. If he didn’t escape, he’d only be courting death.

His heart pounded out of his chest as he glimpsed an opening ahead. He was almost through the woods!

Behind him, over a hundred Lickers gave chase, a desperate race against death.

Two hundred meters... one hundred meters... almost there!

Fifty meters...

Thirty meters...

Just then, a massive figure blocked Zhao Nan’s path—three times the size of an ordinary Licker!

“No way... The Licker King!”

A golden name: King of the Lickers, Lv45!

Zhao Nan nearly despaired. A level 45 boss monster was something only someone with a second class change and decent gear could face alone!

This was a real game, not a virtual one. Death here meant true annihilation!

“I made it this far, so close to success... I can’t accept this!” he roared, quickly pulling a healing potion from his pack—a potion he’d spent nearly all his savings to buy, and only one at that.

Because if a player’s health bar hit zero in this world, it meant true death. The value of an instant-heal potion was self-evident—a literal lifesaver!

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Nan’s mind raced. He was no longer the high schooler from three years ago; his time in this world had taught him to remain calm and think fast.

Lickers, whether normal or royal, all shared a weakness: their exposed hearts. Striking the heart would deal 300% damage. But since Lickers usually moved on all fours, hitting the heart was exceedingly difficult.

By now, the ordinary Lickers had stopped attacking. In the presence of their king, they all crouched low, emitting submissive cries.

Zhao Nan calculated quickly. Defeating the Licker King was beyond his current ability. His only chance was to dodge its attacks and make a mad dash for the safe zone.

All this thinking took less than two seconds, but it felt like an eternity. At that moment, the Licker King moved.

It lunged at Zhao Nan diagonally, its speed so great that even a level 49 swordsman using “Swift Step” would balk.

But this gave Zhao Nan a golden opportunity! All he had to do was sprint in a straight line to the safe zone!

The Licker King was less than ten meters ahead and to his left, crawling at breakneck speed. Zhao Nan clutched his sole instant-heal potion, activated “Swift Step,” and dashed in a straight line like a mad dog unleashed.

Twenty meters—

Fifteen meters—

Time seemed to slow to a crawl.

Hiss—!

An excruciating pain stabbed Zhao Nan’s back—the Licker King’s tongue, sharp as a spear, pierced straight through him. His health bar plummeted into the danger zone. Worse, the tongue was coated in deadly venom, causing ongoing damage; ordinary healing potions couldn’t keep up!

Gritting his teeth against the agony, Zhao Nan downed the instant-heal potion without hesitation, never looking back. All that mattered was reaching the safe zone fifteen meters away!

“Almost there!”

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he checked his health—and his face went deathly pale! His health had only recovered 50%!

At that moment, the empty bottle in his hand changed.

“Instant-Heal Potion (Fake): Instantly restores 50% of health...”

“Damn it, I got scammed! If only I hadn’t gone for a bargain...”

But regret was useless now. The Licker King’s tongue pierced his back again, and his health dropped rapidly to zero.

With a bitter smile, a surge of stubborn fury welled up inside. Zhao Nan spun around, mustering all his remaining strength, and hurled his sword forward!

It was nothing more than a last, desperate struggle before death.

By pure chance, the sword stabbed straight into the Licker King’s heart.

As Zhao Nan fell, a system notification chimed in his ears.

“Congratulations, player Zhao Nan, for defeating the Licker King. You have received money... equipment... a unique hidden item: Double Card...”

“You have received 123,234 experience, but since you did not complete the class change quest, you cannot level up!”

“Player Zhao Nan, dead!”

“Damn—!”

...

“You absolute bastard—!!!!”

A beast-like roar echoed through the air.

“Zhao Nan, what did you just say! If you find my class so boring, then get out!”

In front of him stood a middle-aged man, white with fury, hand trembling as he pointed at Zhao Nan.

Zhao Nan was stunned... Where was this...?

At that moment, from outside the window, the same nightmare-inducing voice thundered again.

“I am Lin Bo. You may call me Dr. Lin. ‘Global Monster Online’ is now officially live. In ten minutes, Earth will enter game initialization... So, enjoy these last moments of peace!”