Chapter 1 The Highest Record

At midnight on September 5th, the number of online players in *Thriller Paradise* easily broke the seven-figure mark, setting a new record since the server opened.

Millions of players had already laid down in their game pods before midnight, logging into the game in sleep mode (matches cannot be played on non-sleep mode servers).

Although most of these people were not participants in S2, and the preliminary match footage was not broadcast to the public (at least until the end of the preliminary round, all match recordings were kept confidential), they were still willing to join in the fun.

As for those players who were qualified to participate in S2, their numbers were definitely not small… because Dream Inc. announced the competition news in early August, and the registration deadline was at the end of August; this half-month period was enough for many players who did not yet meet the participation requirements to level up.

Undoubtedly… the game company made a big profit again during this period.

The sales of game currency steadily climbed; the sales of double experience cards skyrocketed; the official website's monthly visits multiplied several times, and advertising revenue rose accordingly; and in the game… due to the substantial increase in the usage and trading volume of the auction house, the system's handling fees recovered from players also reached a record high.

In short, both popularity and money… were pouring in like crazy, unstoppable.

It can be said that Dream Inc. used practical actions to teach many others in the industry a lesson—the quality of the game itself and the rigorous attitude of the operators determine everything.

Compared with those second- and third-rate online game companies that engage in vulgar hype to attract attention all day long, Dream Inc.'s publicity costs are actually lower, because they don't need to actively "peddle" anything at all. Even if they wanted to hide it, the media would come to their door on their own.

…………

September 5th, 0:05 AM.

Inside a certain landing space.

[Zui Wo Chang Ran, Level 50]

[Sheng Yu Pian, Level 50]

[Meng Jing Chan, Level 50]

[Wu Si Can Xuan, Level 50]

[Tun Tian Gui Xiao, Level 50]

[Please select the game mode you want your team to join.]

[You have selected Pinnacle Showdown S2 - Gathering of Heroes, please confirm.]

[Confirmed. Please select an observer for this battle.]

[Confirmed. Please set your team's "Privacy Protection Options."]

[You have selected "Appearance Normalization Processing" and "Notify the opposing team of this team's name," please confirm.]

[Confirmed. Your team has entered the queue and is searching for other ready teams.]

[Match complete. Coordinating neural connections, script generation in progress...]

[Loading begins, please wait.]

"Gathering of heroes, who dares to claim supremacy? Champions clash, let us see who reigns supreme."

Like the preliminary round of S1, the official preliminary round of S2 also has a unique script opening.

[Loading complete. Welcome to Pinnacle Showdown S2 - Gathering of Heroes.]

[This mode provides a script introduction and has a chance of appearing with side hidden quests and special worldviews.]

[Script victory reward: 3 preliminary points.]

[The script introduction is about to be played. The match will begin immediately after the playback is complete.]

After a series of loading information, "Order Team One" was teleported into the script and began to review the opening CG and plot synopsis.

Obviously, since there is a so-called "Team One," there will naturally be "Team Two," and even teams three, four, five, six, and seven…

For top-tier large gaming studios like Order, as long as they are willing, putting together twenty or thirty teams is not a problem.

Of course, they wouldn't do that. If they really formed as many teams as they had people… then, sorted by strength, the combat power of "Order Team Ten" might not even be as good as the first team of a second-tier studio. Even if this kind of team participated, there would be no chance of advancing, and if they lost miserably, it would damage the studio's image.

Therefore, "Order" only formed four teams this time…

Regarding their second, third, and fourth teams, let's not mention them here for the time being, and let's talk about the lineup of this first team… namely, the five mentioned above.

The four masters of "Zui Sheng Meng Si," plus Tun Tian Gui Xiao, all five have been trained to level 50, and all are ranked in the top twenty of the individual comprehensive strength list.

It is clear at a glance… this team is aiming for the championship. Any one of these five would be an absolute main force in other teams, but in "Order Team One," they still have to choose one of them to sit on the bench every game, which is terrible to even think about…

Currently, in this crucial first game, the captain, Wu Si Can Xuan, chose to watch the game himself and handed over the team's command to the vice-captain, Sheng Yu Pian.

In terms of strength, these two may not be the strongest in the team, but… the other three in their team: one is not good at strategy and likes to talk trash, one drinks scalding wine all day long and is extremely unreliable, and one will transform into a chuuni berserker state as soon as he enters the script… In this case, they have no choice but to "let the capable do more" and take on the responsibility of the captain and vice-captain.

However… to be fair, being the captain of Order Team One is actually a very simple matter. Most of the time, they just need to lead the team to "mindlessly A through" to win. Under the absolute advantage of strength, even if the opponent has a hundred strategies, it will not change the outcome.

…………

Having finished talking about Order's side, let's take a look at their first opponent.

It should be known that the number of teams that signed up for the S2 preliminary round is very large, and the probability of two strong teams meeting in the preliminary round is actually very low.

However… coincidences do happen. Order Team One really did encounter a strong team in their first preliminary match.

This team is also a professional team belonging to a large studio, and they did not use the privacy protection option either. Therefore… the name "Shi Dao First Squad" was prominently displayed in the game menus of the five members of Order.

…………

"Heh… I thought the preliminary round would be as easy as playing practice mode…" Sheng Yu Pian showed a rather complicated smile after seeing the name of the enemy team, "As a result, we encountered a tough bone to chew in the first game…"

"Alas… I wanted to just be a bystander and lie down to win…" Zui Wo Chang Ran sighed and continued, "It seems… we have to be more serious."

"Hic~" Meng Jing Chan had already taken out a wine bottle and poured himself a mouthful, "Don't be careless~" Although he said not to be careless, his expression and behavior were very leisurely.

"Hmph… what a tough bone to chew… what seriousness… what carelessness…" At this time, Gui Xiao sneered, "In my opinion… there is no difference."

"Oh oh~ Our trump card has entered combat (chuuni) mode again." Zui Wo Chang Ran smoothed his instant noodle hairstyle and continued along the line.

"This has nothing to do with my mental state, I am stating a fact." Gui Xiao said in a deep voice, "Whether the opponents are professional or amateur, there is only one thing we need to do, and that is… to defeat them mercilessly and with all our strength." He paused, "Since the goal is the championship, we must have the determination to be 'absolutely undefeated'."

"Hehe, I really can't compare to you young people." Meng Jing Chan smiled when he heard this, "You've made me feel fired up~" As he spoke, he lit a cigarette for himself.

"What's fired up is just the cigarette in your hand…" Sheng Yu Pian squinted his eyes and spat out a cold retort.

[Main quest triggered.]

[Kill four members of "Shi Dao First Squad."]

Just as they were talking, the system prompt rang. This indicated that… the "safe time" at the beginning of the game was over.

…………

At the same time, in another part of the script.

The four members of Shi Dao First Squad upheld the studio's consistent style.

They wore uniform uniforms (imitating the Star Trek style, but the colors were green and black, with the Shi Dao badge printed on the left chest, the pattern was an exquisitely carved skull scimitar, with the words Shi Dao on it), had the same hairstyle (buzz cut), and even the expressions on their faces were very similar (pale complexion, numb expression).

As mentioned earlier, before version v1.10, Shi Dao had always been firmly in fifth place on the guild combat power list, and they also occupied the most places in the top twenty of the player level list. Although these two lists have since been canceled due to the merger, their strength cannot be ignored.

"Oh? We actually met the strongest opponent in the first game." A Shi Dao member named Mori Keishuu read after hearing the content of the mission.

"There is nothing to be surprised about, it's just a matter of probability." Saishuu Keishuu continued, "There will always be a team that meets them, won't there?"

Viewers with good memories will surely remember… these two are the two Shi Dao members who encountered Jue Ge and Kuang Zong Jian Ying in the *Earth Wasteland* arc. That time, the two of them were unfortunately tricked by Jue Ge, and they lost that killing game without even seeing the shadow of the enemy.

Some people may wonder, why are these two guys who don't seem very powerful now in "Shi Dao First Squad"? In fact, this is not surprising… because Shi Dao used the cheating method of "drug assistance," so in essence, their players are at the same level after they have trained to level 50…

Unless these players stop taking the medicine for a period of time like the former Shi Dao Wei Wang, that is, the current Juan Meng Huan, even if they have any personal talent, it will be covered up by the effect of the medicine and become a group of homogenized, cold-blooded soldiers.

And under the premise that the personal factors of these players can be almost ignored, it becomes very easy to arrange the team. As long as the four factors of the character's specialization, title, equipment, and skills are used to try to match a team that can cooperate with each other and maximize each other's advantages. It can be said that… the composition of "Shi Dao First Squad" is like solving a math problem, removing the "uncertainty of human beings," and the rest is simple calculation.

In fact, the selection of their team was indeed completed by the optical brain… The relevant person in charge of the studio just retrieved the information of all level 50 game characters under Shi Dao and let the optical brain calculate an "optimal efficiency" combination.

"I think this is a good thing." A few seconds later, another member whose ID was Hi Gu Wai Ou continued what the two said, "Since we are here to win the championship, meeting them is a matter of time." His tone changed slightly, "Perhaps… this encounter is still a very good opportunity."

At this time, the captain of Shi Dao First Squad, Saki Ya Wai Ou, took over the former's words and said, "I think so too." He paused for half a second, "As a touchstone for the effect of that 'new drug'… the five members of Order Team One are really the most suitable."