Long Ming held the helmet and examined it closely. Its outer shell was made of a titanium alloy that felt solid and high-quality. A slightly recessed power button was located by the right ear, but there were no other controls.

Long Ming gazed at the helmet, a sense of doubt creeping in. ’The quality feels nice, but I still don’t buy it,’ he thought. ’Can this thing really provide a completely immersive and realistic experience?’

Then, Long Ming noticed a very thick instruction manual inside the box. He put the helmet back, picked up the manual, and began to read it carefully.

Name: XS-01 Virtual Gaming Helmet.

WARNING 1: This gaming helmet is for exclusive use with Civilization Paradise. Unauthorized disassembly is strictly forbidden. The user will be held solely responsible for any and all resulting negative consequences.

WARNING 2: This game is strictly prohibited for use by individuals with severe mental deficiencies.

WARNING 3: This gaming device is equipped with a function to regulate the body’s metabolism, allowing for a maximum continuous gameplay duration of up to 24 hours. For longer sessions, please purchase a professional gaming pod and the accompanying nutrient injections.

WARNING 4: Please ensure you are in a safe physical space during gameplay. A forced disconnection may lead to unpredictable consequences.

...

A moment later, Long Ming closed the manual, walked over to his computer desk, and sat down. He opened the official website for Civilization Paradise (Mountain City Mountain).

After reading the manual, he had to admit his interest in the game was growing.

Long Ming checked the announcements on the Civilization Paradise website. The game was scheduled to go live at 12:00 AM tonight.

He glanced at his phone. The screen showed 4:30 PM, which meant he could log in in just over seven hours.

Seeing he had so much time to kill, Long Ming started browsing the official website to see if he could find any information about the game. But after searching for a good while, he came up empty. The level of secrecy was exceptionally high.

Just then, the game’s official website was suddenly updated with a new announcement.

"The Civilization Paradise forums are now officially open."

Curious, Long Ming clicked on the new announcement, and a prompt box immediately popped up.

"Notice: You have entered the Civilization Paradise forums. Currently, only the posting function is available. Additional features will be rolled out in the future. Please stay tuned."

Long Ming didn’t pay much mind to the notice and simply clicked it away.

An empty forum interface appeared before him, but in the next second, posts started popping up one after another, like mushrooms after a rain.

"Haha, first!"

"So this is the Civilization Paradise forum. Looks like Sum City finally did something right for a change, developing what seems to be a decent game."

"The guy who posted above, are you an idiot? This game was developed by our Sinful City!"

"Bullshit! It was obviously developed by us in Mountain City Mountain."

...

"Whoa, what’s going on? Are the networks connected now? I’m not seeing things, am I? I’m actually seeing people from other cities."

"I’ll be damned!"

"Stop arguing. Buying a gaming helmet for a high price."

"Selling the latest top-secret info on Civilization Paradise! Only 100 credits!"

"[United Front] guild recruiting! If you’re one of the boys, come conquer the world with us!"

"Cute girl gamer here, looking for an expert to carry me."

...

Long Ming ignored these worthless posts and kept scrolling down.

Soon, he found a popular discussion thread and clicked on it.

AshenFox: Doesn’t anyone else think there’s something weird about the way Civilization Paradise is being promoted?

MountainAngler: I think it’s weird too. Do we even have technology this advanced?

WanderingFish: It’s not a scam, is it?

Overlord: It can’t be a scam. After all, every Sanctuary City has launched this game.

AshenFox: Since when did the Sanctuary Cities get along so well? They’re actually running the same game together. Usually, we’re lucky if they don’t go to war with each other over resources.

Overlord: I’m not sure, but I have a theory.

WanderingFish: What theory?

Overlord: As the saying goes, if something seems too strange to be true, there’s usually a catch. Since every Sanctuary City is involved in this game, there’s a high probability they’ve all reached an agreement to move their conflicts from the real world into the game.

AshenFox: That makes some sense. Does anyone know what this game is even about?

Overlord: That I don’t know. I heard all the details about the content are top secret.

...

Long Ming spent a long time scrolling through the forums. His anticipation for the game grew. Sometimes, the unknown is the most alluring part.

「In the blink of an eye, the time was 11:55 PM.」

Long Ming locked his bedroom door, checked the room one last time, and then used the restroom. He slowly returned to his bed, connected the helmet to a power source, placed it over his head, and lay down.

Then, he reached up and pressed the power button on the helmet.

A virtual projection immediately appeared before his eyes.

"Game launch in: 3 minutes 15 seconds..."

Long Ming watched the timer tick down, his heart beating faster and faster. The instant the countdown hit zero...

A faint electrical current surged through Long Ming’s brain. His consciousness went black, and he felt as if he’d suddenly become weightless, plummeting into an endless abyss.

The next moment, Long Ming’s eyes flew open.

WHOOSH!

A vast, brilliant sea of stars instantly filled his vision.

Only then did Long Ming notice he was standing on a massive, circular mechanical platform. At its center stood a colossal, obelisk-like mechanical pillar, its surface covered in a dense, intricate pattern of stellar runes. The ground was fractured with irregular cracks that emitted a peculiar glow. The entire platform was encircled by three intersecting mechanical rings. Farther out, in the surrounding space, floated numerous smaller, gyroscope-shaped platforms, each also housing a smaller mechanical obelisk.

Just then, countless beams of white light descended, teleporting players in one after another.

The crowd looked around, gasping in awe.

"Whoa, where is this?!"

"It’s so spectacular!"

"Oh my god, am I dreaming?"

"Have we been transported to the future?"

"Wait, this is the game world. Here, try hitting me."

SLAP!

"Ow, ow!"

"Holy shit, this is incredible! The pain feels so real."

...

Long Ming was also stunned by the scene before him. He couldn’t believe a game could be this realistic. For a moment, he found it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.

He raised a hand and pinched his cheek. The distinct sensation of pain felt utterly unbelievable.

Long Ming took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Just then, he noticed a futuristic-looking bracelet on his left wrist that hadn’t been there before.

Just as Long Ming was about to examine it, a synthesized, mechanical voice suddenly broadcast through the area.

"Dear players, welcome to Civilization Paradise. Here, you will be able to pursue the light of civilization and experience a world unlike any other. For detailed rules, please consult the novice tutorial in your wristband. We wish you a pleasant gaming experience."

Upon hearing the broadcast, Long Ming and the other players immediately perked up their ears to listen intently.