Otherworldly Architect

Chris didn't wake up until the next afternoon clutching his head.

The strong hangover forced him to lie down in the biological medical cabin. After paying a little money, he was finally revived with full blood and full state.

... Then he was stunned by the overflow of text messages in his phone.

Click on a text message from a good buddy.

[Brother NB! ! !There are quite a few people who participated in Bluestar's internal test, and there are not many people who gave bad reviews. You are the first one who can give bad reviews and make such a big deal! ! ! 】

Chris quickly logged into his social account.

Then he saw the video that was spread all over the world, and now the title with the most traffic is still [Blue Star Tragedy in Waterloo, listen to what professional players say].

Memories of last night slowly flooded up, and Chris hugged his head in despair: "Oh my God, what have I done!!!"

He opened the address book, hoping that Blue Star Studio hadn't found that video yet...

But he saw at first glance that the Blue Star Studio, which was placed at the top, received an email inviting him to continue testing today.

Christine: "..."

Chris Tong's cold sweat came down all of a sudden!

His first reaction was the same as in the TV series. After the young man offended the big brother of the underworld, the latter seemed not to take it seriously, and invited him to be a guest with a smile, and then secretly ordered his subordinates to "get rid of him!" ^

—A horror story like that.

But then I thought, after all, this is still a society ruled by law, and the Blue Star Building is still in such a lively business district, so there shouldn't be any homicides.

What can make him feel so much pressure at this moment, and even start to think wildly, is really that scary smiling Master Hu Ming...

It is said that people who have always been kind are the scariest when they get angry.

after an hour.

Everyone in the Blue Star Building saw inexplicably that Chris had come together, but it was very strange.

He also brought two good buddies, all three of them wore thick protective clothing and super obvious health detection bracelets on their hands, and they walked in nervously.

The young lady secretary went to pick him up in person, and said with a warm greeting: "Are you two sick together?"

Chris said: "No, no, that... they are not qualified for the test, but they have to come with me, and I am too embarrassed to refuse."

Miss secretary: "..." But I saw the execution ground on their faces.

Bluestar's external testing has always been very rigorous, at least the daily testing process has a theme goal.

Today, the test content they wrote on paper is called [Extreme Combat Test].

When the time for the unified test came, Chris sat in the VR experience cabin tremblingly, and asked, "Master Ming is so busy, he shouldn't be here for today's test, right?"

Miss Secretary showed a mysterious smile: "But he has already returned to the studio yesterday."

Christine: "..." It's over.

Chris Tong, who re-entered the game, noticed that the main menu of "Assassin's Way" is slightly different today.

Yesterday the game was also displayed as "offline", because internal testing is generally carried out on the internal network and does not enter the host communication stage, so every tester plays the game offline.

But today is different, the game automatically logs into an account with an ID of "T0182", which may mean tester No. 182.

The staff next to him reminded at the right time: "The first test content today is an online task, please do the first cooperative task first."

The so-called "cooperative mission" refers to the cooperation between players and the missions performed by several assassins together.

Compared with single-player missions (offline mode games), this kind of mission is generally a little more difficult, but there are many more enemies, the mission process is also slightly longer, and it pays more attention to the spirit of cooperation.

But what about the player "PlayerA" that Chris matched with this time... The name looks very casual, and the style of playing games also looks very casual.

As soon as he came up, he said, "Follow me."

Then, he stepped directly into the security area, avoiding the guards' sight all the way, and sneaked in carefully.

Seeing how skillful he was, Chris seemed to have memorized all the defenses along the way, so he guessed in his heart that he might be an old player who was there during the closed beta.

So Chris Tong didn't speak, and sneaked in with him silently.

Player A led Chris to climb all the way from the eaves and sneaked into the inner area of ​​the church.

At this time, Chris couldn't help but said: "There is no stealth route ahead, and one of the guards will definitely be alarmed." As a professional assassin player, his judgment is still very accurate.

PlayerA glanced back at him, still didn't say anything, but suddenly accelerated and ran forward.

The guard NPC present at the scene discovered the traces of the two of them at that time, rushed up yelling, and directly touched the highest level of alert.

Chris Tong was also stunned, cursed in a low voice, and quickly followed PlayerA to continue running forward——

If he stays, he is the target!

PlayerA didn't look back all the way, ran to a certain place and climbed straight up.

Chris followed him up to the roof, and the guards below couldn't see them for a while, so they had to climb up too.

At this time, PlayerA finally turned around and smiled at Chris Tong.

Christine: "??"

In the next second, PlayerA stretched out his foot and kicked Chris down.

Chris Tong: "...!!!!!!"

The guards following behind them immediately surrounded Chris like a tide.

"Aaaaaaaaaaa!"

It was too late to speak, and Chris quickly drew out his sword to block the attacks of the guards, and fell into a siege immediately.

Then he saw the team channel, and PlayerA Shi Shiran said: "I'm sorry bro, actually I don't know the infiltration route, anyway, you are here. You break first, I'm going to do the task, 88."

"..."

Chris's eyes were tearing apart, and he was still being forced to fight bloody, just watching this bastard teammate slap his ass and run away!

The function of the holy sword was weakened overnight by Blue Star Studio. Although Chris Tong could still use it to fight back, he was no longer as handy as yesterday.

He was struggling to resist the guards' wheel battle, but because there were too many people, there was no chance of escaping.

Moreover, PlayerA has also triggered a high-level alert, and there will be a steady stream of guards refreshed.

Criston can only be trapped here and fight and fight and fight until...

[Ding, the cooperation mission has been completed, and the reward is being settled...

Please get rid of your vigilance, return to the anonymous state, and complete the task settlement in the blue bell flower branch. 】

The system prompt sounds.

Chris was stabbed by the guard for the same distraction.

The perfect defensive state was broken immediately, Chris Tong was injured and stiff, and was hacked one by one by the surrounding guards, and he ascended decisively.

"..."

After the resurrection, Chris Tong, with veins all over his head, rushed back to the Blue Bell Flower branch angrily.

He saw that Player A happily and leisurely finished the task and walked towards him.

Chris yelled, "You use me!"

"Thank you brother." PlayerA patted him on the shoulder happily, "You have attracted most of the firepower, and the rest of the guards ran to see the safety of the mission target. I followed them and found the target in no time. The assassination is over. You see, it is still very interesting to use your brain to do the task."

Christine: "..."

Moments later, Chris was in the testing room next door.

PlayerA launched the login status, walked out of the VR device, and neatly tidied up his golden hair.

Mingyan walked over and said with a smile, "The mission was successful?"

PlayerA—Xia Cheng gave him a high five: "It's perfect, my teammate is really an excellent tool guy."

Ming said: "It's not bad, he needs to do a new round of combat tests in the afternoon."

Xia Cheng said: "Don't worry, he was beaten to death by NPCs for a few minutes, and his performance is still very good."

The two showed the same happy smile at the same time.

After the test in the morning, it was soon time for lunch break.

Chris sat across from his two buddies, eating a nutritious lunch provided by Blue Star.

The two buddies have visited the Blue Star Building all morning, and they have completely forgotten what they are here for——

"Oh oh oh oh oh Blue Star's benefits are really extraordinary! There are two big chicken thighs for lunch!!"

"The crayfish at the window over there are free to take, and the supply is limited!"

"Why don't you take Chris Tong?"

Chris poked his steak with a fork in grief and anger: "I was used! He used me to do tasks!"

The best friend said: "Hey, what's the matter, isn't the task completed?"

Fellow Chris said: "That's different! I didn't do anything, I was just a sandbag - the kind that was surrounded by a group of NPCs with a holy sword! I have a kind of... a feeling that my IQ has been crushed, you know ?"

Buddies: "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...ah! It's 12 o'clock! The window over there is starting to distribute yogurt! Oh my god, there's ice cream! I love you, Papa Blue Star!"

Christine: "..."

Continue [Extreme Combat Test] in the afternoon, this time the staff said: "Please open the battle mission this time, we will randomly match you with a comparable opponent."

Chris rubbed his hands together, but didn't speak.

He himself is a well-known League One Assassin player, so he is naturally a little arrogant.In the Sixth Star Province, he believed that the person who could defeat him with the assassin profession was no more than one hand...

Just a little game test, and want an opponent who is on par with him?

Then, a player with the ID "PlayerB" went online.

The battle quickly reached the preparation stage, with a 30-second countdown.

After the countdown is over, the two of them are free to sneak, assassinate, and do all the activities allowed in the game—the one who survives in the end wins.

"!" Chris Tong looked at the opposite ID and couldn't help asking, "What's the relationship between you and that PlayerA in the morning?"

"Huh?" PlayerB said, "Who is that?"

His voice and intonation were normal, and he sounded like a minor, even with a candy in his mouth.

Chris was relieved immediately.

10 minute later.

[Ding, the first round of confrontation missions is over.

The current score is: 0:1.

Please prepare for the next round. 】

The 30-second countdown begins.

Chris said angrily: "This is impossible! Who are you! I have beaten all the people who specialize in stealth in the sixth star province, and you are not one of them!"

PlayerB tilted his head: "Then... maybe it's because I'm from the second star province."

Chris Tong: "We're going to play a game in a dignified way! Just like in the first league!"

PlayerB smiled happily when he heard that, "Okay, okay."

2 minute later.

[Ding, the second round of confrontation missions is over.

The current score is: 0:2.

Please prepare for the next round. 】

The 30-second countdown begins again.

Chris Tong...showed a state of frustrated body forward bending (OTZ), and fell on the field in the preparation session: "You...who are you? This kind of gait technique...it's impossible..."

PlayerB: "Are you tired? Let's rest for another 30 seconds, it's okay. By the way, you can take out your holy sword."

Chris was shocked: "How do you know about Holy Sword?"

PlayerB smiled and said: "Because I have done that task before, I have also got the Holy Sword, but taking it is like torturing ancient people with a laser gun. It is so boring, and I can't practice my skills. So just become more lazy and more arrogant."

Christine: "..."

Spring thunder on the ground!Enlightenment!

Another 10 minutes passed.

[Ding, the third round of confrontation missions is over.

The current score is: 0:3.

The confrontation task is over, and the winner is: PlayerB.

Players are asked to wait on the spot and exit the scene after 10 seconds. 】

Chris squatted in the corner without speaking.

PlayerB smiled and said, "Although you are so skillful in fighters, you are quite skilled in taking beatings. Let's practice together next time!"

Chris still didn't want to talk.

PlayerB said: "I'll see you in the Chance League, bye!"

Christine...has been autistic.

A moment later, the testing room next door.

PlayerB——Student Luke jumped out of the VR device and was happy to see that Mingyan had prepared a box of lollipops for him.

Mingyan said: "Is the test going well?"

Luke raised his head and showed a pure smile: "It's going well, the battle process is very smooth! The impact of beating is very strong, but I don't know if it feels the same... Just ask the other side later!"

Mingyan nodded, and said kindly: "Okay, the staff will ask Chris Tong later."

Luke scratched his hair and said, "Then...my mission here is over, and it's time to go back and report to the master."

"Say hello to Odin for me." Mingyan nodded, "Come to our team building event tonight, there is delicious Blue Star hot pot. There are also three sets of limited editions of "The Way of the Assassin" for you to take back... ..."

"Long live!!!" Luke jumped up happily.

Christine was not so happy.

He walked out of the testing room and saw his two best friends sitting on a bench outside.

Chris walked down silently and sat down, buried his head into the width of the dead party ... and there were a lot of fat on the shoulders, and howl, "Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, I was abused! Abnormal! I was hammered for three rounds in a row and I had no strength to fight back. The PlayerB on the opposite side is so, so... His footwork looks like a 'flash' to me, what's going on! I've already become a tester for a game Sandbags for most of the day!"

After howling, he found that his buddies didn't respond.

Looking up again——

These two buddies didn't even listen to their cries! !

Two buddies are looking up at the big screen outside the test room.

The wonderful operations of the test players in "The Way of the Assassin" are being played on the big screen. Among them is the scene where Player A goes deep into the enemy camp alone and assassinates the mission target in a thrilling manner.

The two buddies are clenching their fists and clenching their teeth, obviously fully immersed in the tense "plot".

"PlayerA rushes to the duck! PlayerA, come on! One blood block away!"

"Dodge the spear on the left—yes, and the one with the knife on the right!"

Speaking of excitement, he also got up and swayed, as if he was really dodging the attack on the screen.

"Long live PlayerA ah ah ah!"

After shouting, a buddy suddenly realized that Chris Tong had come out of the testing room.

Chris Tong opened his mouth, just about to say something.

The buddy had already grabbed his shoulder excitedly and shook it vigorously: "This game looks fun! It's really fun, I'm envious that you have been testing it for two days! I can't wait, when will it be released! You are Tell me! When will I be able to play it!"

Christine: "..."

On this day, at the age of 24, he suddenly felt the pain of "betrayal".

The break time passed quickly.

Chris walked back into the testing room with heavy steps.

The staff still had that professional smile: "This is the last test today, thank you for your hard work. The last test is to fight against NPCs in hard mode. Please open the 'Challenge Mission' item."

"..."

For some reason, Chris saw the smile of Master Ming from the face of the Blue Star staff...

- oh no no.

——It must be that I have seen too many emoji packs of the Devil series, and I have hallucinations!

Chris wiped his face with the palm of his hand and regained his energy.

He thought to himself: I have been a sandbag for almost a day, these test players are all animals!This time it's finally my turn to fight NPCs, and finally I can regain some confidence in the abuse of food!

Thinking about it, he felt that he was so depraved again. A dignified professional player in the first league, in the end, he was reduced to the point where he could only regain his confidence by fighting NPCs...

[Ding, the challenge mission begins.

Please defeat the NPC Senior Assassin Odin within 60 minutes. 】

"?"

Chris raised his head and saw that in a blank arena, countless lights and shadows finally merged into one shadow——

That figure, in the League One arena, is known as the "God of Assassins", "Heavenly God of War", "Great Demon King", "The most beautiful woman in the e-sports circle", "The most difficult professional game"...

Tyron Odin!

Recognized as the strongest player in the e-sports circle, the belief of all Assassin players!

NPC Odin turned around, a pair of dark golden eyes looked at Christon with indifference, and a blue bell flower exclusive dagger appeared in his right hand, flipping deftly in his palm like a poisonous letter .

At that time, Chris Tong's legs went limp, and he thought: I'm done!

Immediately afterwards, the system started a 30-second countdown.

Chris Tong's rationality recovered a bit, and he thought hesitantly: This is an NPC, and it must not be as strong as the real Odin... Otherwise, I'll just kneel down and call Dad, and it's over!It's impossible for this game to be so difficult. Anyway, I'll give it a try first. If I can beat it, I'll play it. If I can't beat it... can I call Dad?

After half an hour.

[Ding, the 29th challenge failed, and the role is being reconstructed.

Challenge task remaining time: 41 minutes. 】

NPC Odin triggered his lines again: "Don't try to deceive me, I can tell what you are thinking and what you are going to do from your expression..."

Chris had heard this sentence several times in past battles.

This NPC really seems to have mind reading skills! !

Chris felt as if he had been predicted every time he made a move. Odin had already prepared countermeasures in advance, and he killed himself with two clicks!

How does this work?This can't be played!

All in all, after a while.

[Ding, the 87th challenge failed, and the role is being reconstructed.

The remaining time of the challenge mission is over, this challenge: failed.

Players are asked to wait on the spot and exit the scene after 10 seconds. 】

Chris Tong was frustrated again and fell to his knees in the preparation field.

"Sorry! Dad! I will never look down on NPCs again!"

Exited the VR game cabin again.

Chris stared blankly at the ceiling with a dull expression and closed his eyes.

The staff handed out a form, smiled and asked him to fill it out next door.

Like a walking dead, Chris walked to the next door.

Then he actually heard other test players talking and laughing:

"Hahaha, long life, I am also the man who fought against the God of Assassins!"

"How long have you been fighting Odin?"

"It took me 10 minutes to discover the mystery..."

"Haha, I suddenly realized it after I hit it twice!"

"Blue Star's design is really interesting. I never thought that the game could be played like this. It's like breaking through the dimensional wall, but I think it's amazing..."

While writing the test feedback form, Chris yelled in his heart: No!You lied to me!This is impossible!Even the NPC big devil is invincible, even I can't beat it... Could it be that all the players in the Blue Star test are League One champions? !

This doubt lasted until he had a loving dinner at Blue Star.

Compared with lunch, dinner was obviously richer, and the players gathered together lively, talking and laughing to discuss their game experience.

When Chris Tong's two buddies saw that their friend was autistic, they decisively ran to other tables...

Hearing other players talking about the game, the two of them were salivating!

——Even if you can’t play the game, it’s good to be one step ahead of others and know a little more about the content of the game!

Sitting alone with Chris, it's half a mouthful of tears after a bite of food.

He thinks that his ID can be updated, and he will be called "Kerry Sandbag Stone" in the future. He has been beaten all day, and every game he loses is terrible. There is no sense of disobedience for this sandbag...

The more I think about it, the worse it gets, I'm so sad that I'm about to cry.

At this moment, someone asked, "Is there anyone here?"

Chris said, "No."

That person sat down across from Chris Tong, opened his own bone-bone rice, and started to eat.

Chris saw that this person had a Blue Star work permit on his body, and he seemed to be one of the staff.

After thinking for a while, Chris finally couldn't help asking: "How did you pass that challenge mission? I don't believe anyone can beat such a strong NPC."

The staff on the opposite side looked up at Chris Tong, and asked with a kind smile: "Did you not clear the customs?"

As a high-end player, Chris has never been behind in progress. When he heard this question, he blushed and nodded hesitantly.

The staff member said: "You probably didn't play the teaching level well. There are a lot of information prompts in the teaching level, and NPC Odin himself also spoke lines."

Chris asked, "Does he have mind reading skills? How can this be done?"

The staff made a gesture and said with a smile: "Take off the nerve ring and hit it with the handle."

Christine: "??"

After a few seconds.

Spring thunder on the ground!Enlightenment!

Chris Tong yelled: "It turned out to be like this!!!"

The staff cheerfully said: "This NPC itself is the fact that we read Odin's multiple game records and trained an AI to imitate his fighting style. Of course, by learning this way, we can also learn [-] to [-]% of Odin's skills. Right. In order to make up for this gap, we have opened a small plug-in for the AI ​​- when the player operates through the neural loop, the AI ​​can read the player's behavior in advance and then make countermeasures. And to counter this The method of plug-in is also very simple, just use the controller to hit it directly, so that the AI ​​​​cannot read your next move."

Show operation, this is definitely another show operation in game design.

But thinking about it carefully, there is no big problem, but it really feels like breaking the dimensional wall-a BOSS in the game actually requires the player to change the game device to fight? !

The more Chris thought about it, the more amazing he felt. He couldn't help but want to scold her, but then he wanted to applaud the designer.

After a while, he calmed down.

Looking at the staff sitting across from him, Chris said, "Hi, I'm Chris, here for the test."

The staff said: "My name is Maynard, a tester from Blue Star. Hey, we are actually destined."

Christine: "Huh?"

Maynard rubbed the back of his head and said, "I used to be a proud iron-headed kid, until later, I played a game of Blue Star..."