The Tribulation of All Races

On a Friday evening in summer, the sunset cast its golden glow over the narrow street. Luo Ji, who had just finished his summer job, dragged his tired body back home. Today was the last day of work, and with school starting in just over a week, he planned to fully enjoy the remainder of his final summer break before his senior year. Stripping off his sweat-soaked T-shirt, he took a cold shower to refresh himself, then grabbed a quick dinner. As usual, he brewed a cup of coffee and turned his old fan to its highest setting. With everything in place, he sat down, powered on his computer, and clicked on the game icon for his favorite game, Savage 6. As the opening CG animation played, the weariness on Luo Ji’s face faded slightly. He perked up as he moved the mouse, selecting the highest difficulty level and starting a new game. With the game underway, his tired body seemed to rejuvenate, and his foggy mind became clear and agile. He methodically expanded his territory, negotiated deals, conducted trades, built armies, and formed alliances, all with a practiced efficiency. After all, he was a seasoned player in this game. Just as he was about to click "One More Turn," a message popped up in the lower-left corner of his screen: "Wanna play a game?" The message was from a gaming friend he had met playing Savage 6. Although they didn't chat much, this friend often invited him to play online matches. Despite his odd personality, Luo Ji enjoyed these challenging battles, finding them immensely satisfying. After another intense match, Luo Ji looked at the victory screen with a smile, finishing the last sip of his coffee. Despite winning most of their encounters, each victory felt rewarding due to the difficulty. Usually, his friend would log off after a match, but this time, a surprising message appeared: "Interested in a more exciting strategy game?" "??" Luo Ji replied with two question marks. "Build city-states, develop civilizations, deploy armies, the real deal!" Reading this, Luo Ji's first thought was that his friend was joking, but the idea intrigued him. Despite his mature demeanor due to early family hardships, he was still a student at heart, prone to impulsiveness. Besides, the monotonous days had indeed made him a bit restless. "If it exists, I'd like to try it," he replied. As soon as he sent this message, a voice echoed in his mind… System prompt: A qualified host has been detected. Would you like to install the 'Rise of Civilization' program? "Huh? This voice…?" Luo Ji instinctively looked around, realizing the voice was coming from his mind. Caught off guard, his usually composed face showed a hint of surprise. Just then, another message from his friend appeared, "Accept." Seeing this, Luo Ji realized he might be in over his head. His heart raced with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Impulse urged him to accept, while logic warned him that rejecting would be safer. Taking a deep breath, he decided to take the plunge, knowing he had little to lose. He boldly chose to accept. System prompt: The 'Rise of Civilization' program is being installed. Please remain conscious… System prompt: Installation complete! As the system prompt ended, Luo Ji’s vision went black. Before he could open his eyes, a biting cold enveloped him, making him shiver uncontrollably. "What's going on? It's freezing…" Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was a burning campfire. He instinctively moved closer, seeking warmth. Just then, another system prompt echoed in his ears… System prompt: Player 'Gao Su' has sent a friend request. Do you accept? "Player? Gao Su?" Momentarily bewildered by the cold and the sudden changes, Luo Ji's quick mind faltered. After a brief pause, he snapped back to reality, realizing he had directly entered the game. He promptly accepted Gao Su's friend request. Almost instantly, a flurry of messages from Gao Su appeared: "Messaging consumes 'Civilization Points,' the most crucial currency in this game. New players earn points slowly, so you don't need to reply. I'll explain some key points. Pay attention." A series of messages followed swiftly… "You’ve entered a primitive civilization world, a completely real world. Don't be confined by Savage 6's game framework. As a new player, you have a six-month newbie protection period during which other players can't invade. Use this time to farm and develop your civilization." "But don’t underestimate the natives. They can be tough. Be cautious, but also explore the world for potential rewards. Check your attributes panel first and develop based on your strengths." "Lastly, avoid logging out unnecessarily. Both logging in and out consume Civilization Points. Stay in the game as long as possible. Good luck!" With that, Gao Su went silent. Luo Ji tried sending a message, but as Gao Su said, each message consumed ten Civilization Points and had a character limit. Unfortunately, Luo Ji had zero points left… Luo Ji was still processing the information Gao Su had given him when he slowly lifted his head, only to find himself surrounded by a group of barbarians wrapped in animal skins! "Holy crap!" he cursed inwardly at the sight, completely shocked. "What the heck? Did I just start the game surrounded by barbarians?!" "What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?" His mind went into a chaotic whirl, and his face began to pale. He couldn't shake the feeling that these barbarians were staring at him with menacing, red-glowing eyes. "Are these guys cannibals?" The thought made his heart clench. If they were indeed cannibals, his fate would be too tragic to contemplate. As he spiraled into a panic, an old barbarian with a messy beard like a patch of wild grass slowly approached, leaning on a wooden staff. "Chief, everyone is waiting for your decision." Luo Ji was startled by the old man's sudden approach. But after hearing the words, he froze, pointing at himself in disbelief. "Chief? Me?" Even before he finished speaking, he realized the system had planted some basic background information in his mind. He was indeed the chief of this small tribe. A devastating blizzard five days ago had destroyed their settlement, and now he was leading his people to find a new home. That explained a lot. Thinking about it, this scenario was quite similar to the start of *Savage 6*. Once he understood that these barbarians were his people, Luo Ji noticed that their seemingly red, malicious eyes were actually filled with respect, worry, and a sense of helplessness from being displaced. Slowly standing up, Luo Ji felt all eyes on him. It was a bit uncomfortable, but knowing these barbarians wouldn’t harm him, he relaxed significantly. He took a moment to inspect his own attire: animal skins, just like his people. No wonder he felt so cold in this snowy environment. Pushing aside concerns about his clothing, since it was the ancient times and such details didn’t matter much, he focused on the task at hand. "It seems the first mission is to find a new settlement…" Luo Ji observed his surroundings carefully. "Finding a good spot for the first settlement is crucial. In a game, you'd look for trees, food, and a nearby river. Strategic resources and luxury items would be great too, but in this icy wasteland, we need to settle quickly before someone freezes to death." Looking at his tribe, Luo Ji estimated about thirty people, including elders, women, and three children. 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