Chapter 681: Chapter 440 The Stranger Returns_2
The opening scene unexpectedly gave Chen Lun a close-up.
The camera zoomed in on his slightly upturned face, as sunlight bathed his handsome features, and the mysterious, meaningful smile in his eyes left the players stupefied.
“No more talking, screenshot for wallpaper!” “No more talking, screenshot for nighttime use!” “No more talking, I’m logging off…” “Hey, the one in front, control your hands!” “Everyone, tone it down, it’s too much!”
Polaris was also startled by his NPC teacher.
He hadn’t expected the 2.0 version’s opening CG to not only feature Jack again, but also to give him a close-up.
“Doesn’t this indirectly imply that Teacher Jack will still hold an important position in the 2.0 version?!”
Polaris laughed happily.
He believed that Dongyang, Su Keying, and others had also seen this scene, and they must be excited as well, feeling a strong sense of superiority.
The opening CG continued, and as the camera panned around, the viewpoint shifted to mid-air behind the prince, making the players feel as if they were standing on a high platform alongside those important figures, gazing down at the countless citizens of Royal City.
The background cathedral organ music steadily climbed in pitch until a high note, like tinnitus-inducing white noise, darkened the entire scene.
The notables on the platform vanished.
The crowd below turned into a horde of grotesque Insect People, while the prince’s backdrop was replaced by the silhouette of a withered and gaunt stranger.
Two sets of steel wings, formed by countless long swords, unfurled as the stranger lifted a Beheading Sword radiating golden light, and brought it down hard.
The white noise transformed into a deep bell toll, deafening.
White light filled the view, erasing all Insect People into nothingness.
Then, the screen stayed completely white for a few seconds.
Polaris was a bit dazed, unsure of what happened. The comments flooding the screen showed that the other players were just as confused.
“Sudden change in style?” “Who is this?!” “Feels like it’s hinting at something bigger…” “Ah, I remember now! This silhouette appeared in the 1.0 version beta CG!” “Right, right! I remember too!”
As Polaris read the comments, he too recalled that scene.
While he was speculating about the identity of that withered and gaunt figure, a holy female voice narrated:
“The Spirit World is in turmoil, and the mortal realm stands on the brink of dusk… With the continent embroiled in war and the dark rising once more, does hope lie in the hands of the Sun Prince, or within you?”
The white screen slowly revealed the face of Princess Anna of the Sun.
Her eyes were downcast, hands clasped as if in prayer.
Her lips slightly parted:
“It remains to be seen…”
The bell rang out once more.
But this time, the players understood that it was not the sound of a bell, but the strike from the stranger within the darkness…
By the time Polaris snapped back to reality, he realized he was standing on the side of the street.
People bustled all around, carriages clattered past with the ringing of bells.
Even a child being led by his mother kept turning back to look at him, as if he found this daydreaming odd uncle amusing.
Once Polaris recognized his surroundings and realized he was still in Peacock City just after logging out, he couldn’t help but shake his head in amazement. The opening CG was so stunning that he was still immersed in it.
A notification popped up on his dashboard, and he quickly opened it.
It was from Dongyang and Su Keying, suggesting they meet somewhere to plan their next steps. Naturally, Polaris wouldn’t decline, and after closing the panel, he headed straight to the agreed-upon location.
A group of high-level players convened in a restaurant.
“So, you all saw the opening CG just now, right?”
Doghead Gold opened the discussion eagerly, gesticulating animatedly.
“That was thrilling! Our Main Quest must be related to that!”
“Yes, we’ve discussed this before, and it does seem related to the western wars… but I didn’t quite understand the second half, though it’s probably about combating those Insect People from the darkness,” Dongyang nodded and said.
“Aren’t you guys focusing on Jack? He’s all I can think about…” Wei Yin rested her cheeks in her hands, blushing.
“I’ve missed him so much these past days, I just want to run to Royal City and throw myself into his arms…”
“Cough, that might not be very realistic. It’s at least two State Cities from here to Royal City; even by train, it would take half a month, maybe longer… By then, the Main Quest could have started a while ago,” Horseman explained from the side.
Wei Yin promptly shot him a fierce glare.
“Our first priority is to acquire the Supernatural Knowledge for advancement. With the new version, the level cap has been raised to 80, which is enough for us to advance all the way to Sequence Seven…”
Polaris tapped the table, speaking softly.
“As for the Main Quest, there’s usually a prompt, so it’s not too late to discuss it when it appears.”
“Polaris is right! We’ve been stuck at Sequence Nine for an entire version now; I’ve longed for the feeling of flying and escaping the mundane. What are we waiting for? Let’s hurry to the Immortal Realm and get it!”
Dragon King’s Greeting leaned in and chimed in.
“Exactly! What if the Supernatural Knowledge is limited and we’re too late? Those little devils act fast. Haven’t you guys forgotten the scramble for the Flintlock Rifle skin?”
Kuchan Nana, Honey Pomelo, and others also chimed in agreement.