"I... am I still alive?"

Zhang Luan looked around in confusion, murmuring to himself.

He’d clearly died under a dragon’s breath.

But... what was happening?

Zhang Luan gasped deeply for fresh air. His heartbeat confirmed he was alive!

Only then did he properly scan his surroundings. His pupils contracted—he knew this place well.

The Acamana Library from Yishen.

"Am I back?"

He picked up a book before him and gently sniffed it. The paper scent sent a jolt through his brain, proving this wasn’t a dream.

"Could it be right before Yishen’s launch?"

After a few deep breaths, he silently summoned his character panel, hands slightly trembling.

Instantly, a familiar light screen appeared in his vision.

Character: Zhang Luan

Level: 1

Template: NPC

Series: Not Selected

Race: Human

Strength: 10

Intelligence: 10

Stamina: 10

Agility: 10

HP: 100

Magic/Esper Power/Qi Power: ? (Appears after Series selection)

Luck: A

Class: Not Transferred

Talent: None

Skills/Esper Abilities: None

Items: None

Description: A weakling with 5 combat power. Choose your Series and transfer your class quickly to start your future. May the gods bless you.

Time until Yishen launch: 30 days

Time until Yishen merges with Hailan Star: 395 days

"395 days before? Yishen hasn’t merged with Hailan Star yet!?"

Zhang Luan rushed to a mirror. Staring at the young, handsome face reflected, countless memories surfaced like wind-torn fragments.

Ten years ago, Yishen launched.

As the world’s first full-dive VR game, it drew countless players instantly. Yet none knew a grand drama’s curtain was rising.

On Yishen’s first anniversary, Hailan Star tore apart. Floods, tsunamis, storms—disasters swept human civilization.

The Yishen world changed too. Players found themselves back in reality, inheriting game powers except resurrection.

Civilization collapsed. Top players became elites. Yishen’s natives seized the planet. All Hailan Star factions lost meaning. A true new era began.

He’d joined half a year post-launch, too late. After the merger, he lagged behind high-level players.

Years of struggle ended under an ice dragon’s breath.

Now, he woke here.

He stood abruptly, eyes blazing with excitement.

"I don’t know how, but since I’m back, this time I’ll be the strongest!"

He rechecked his surroundings. His gaze burned fiercely—this library sat in Acamana City.

If luck held, a massive opportunity awaited him.

No time to waste.

Leaving the library, Zhang Luan’s heart pounded harder.

His steps quickened, then turned to a run.

At an abandoned exhibition hall on the city’s edge, in the farthest corner, a stone with faint crimson-gold patterns lay in a shattered display case.

Zhang Luan’s chest tightened. He took deep breaths, walking over with trembling hands.

"Found it."

No one knew this hall held a legendary mythic item—the Esper Stone, granting transfer to the ultimate Esper class: Ultimate Esper.

Zhang Luan stared at the plain stone. He licked his dry lips and smashed the glass case with all his might. He wasn’t worried about being caught.

No one would notice a stone missing from an abandoned hall.

As he reached out excitedly to grab it, the system’s hollow voice echoed.

[Detected mythic Esper-class transfer item. Select Esper Series? (Choice irreversible)]