The Lucky One: Guaranteed Monster Drops

[Brains are a waste when overused; better let me keep them safe.] … [Congratulations, you have entered the World of Gods and Demons!] [I am the Way of Heaven!] [This is your sole opportunity to attain immortality!] [All healthy humans aged 16 to 60 across Blue Star—7 billion souls—will descend together into this world of gods and demons.] [Here, death is commonplace. Your only task is to survive—but along the way, immense opportunities for evolution await, leading ultimately to eternal life. Good luck!] … “Ugh!!!” Clang, clang. Inside a train hurtling through the void, Ye Chuyun gradually awoke. He looked around. Every carriage was filled with passengers. Many had already regained consciousness, their faces pale with panic upon realizing their predicament. They tried to shout, only to find their voices silenced, as if some mysterious force had seized control. A flicker of alarm crossed Ye Chuyun’s face too. Yet alongside the fear was an unmistakable spark of excitement and exhilaration. “I’ve been reborn! I’ve actually returned to the very day, ten years ago, when I first arrived in the World of Gods and Demons!” But his exhilaration lasted only a few seconds before he forced himself to calm down. In this world, extreme composure was essential. Only with a clear mind could one think strategically. Ye Chuyun gazed out at the void beyond the train. Pitch-black emptiness stretched endlessly. Others might not know where the train was headed, but he did. Seizing the moment, he recalled the events of his past life with startling clarity. From the beginning, the train had delivered them to the so-called newbie village—a poisonous swamp. Then, the voice claiming to be the Way of Heaven spoke once more, ordering them to hunt ferocious beasts and reach level 10 within a month—or face annihilation. A self-mocking smile curved Ye Chuyun’s lips. In his past life, paralyzed by fear of the monsters, he had hidden alone for three full days, daring not to hunt. By the time he resolved to hunt, he had already fallen far behind the others. Through a series of grueling events, he barely reached level 10 on the twenty-ninth day, surviving by the skin of his teeth. By then, the top-ranking players had already surpassed level 15. Treasure chests, elite monsters, first completions of dungeons—he had missed them all. One slow step had doomed him to fall further behind with each subsequent stride. But now, everything was different. He possessed ten years’ worth of memories and experience—a unique advantage, a golden hand only he could wield. As Ye Chuyun immersed himself in recollection, a flash of white light banished the darkness, and the train arrived at a grim forest. “Ugh!” The train came to a stop. [All passengers must disembark within ten minutes, or face annihilation.] The doors opened automatically. Ye Chuyun snapped out of his reverie and dashed out without hesitation. Others, wary of challenging the mysterious voice, followed suit. Fortunately, time was ample, and all disembarked safely. The passengers gazed at the utterly unfamiliar landscape, exchanging bewildered looks. “Ugh!” Once everyone had left, the train disappeared into the void. [Welcome to Trial Zone 118: Poisonous Swamp. Each trial zone currently accommodates 1,000 participants.] [Personal Panel Activated.] [Zone 118 Chat Channel Activated.] [Notice: Every three days, the train will return to the Poisonous Swamp. Level 5 is required to board and proceed to the next location.] [Notice: Newbie Assessment Quest Activated. All participants must reach level 10 within one month. Failure will result in annihilation!] [Tip: Rest assured, this is a perfectly fair game. The swamp teems with ferocious beasts; hunting them yields rewards and strengthens you.] [Additional opportunities abound in the swamp, but acquiring them depends entirely on your skill.] [If you cannot reach level 10 within a month, your existence will be deemed unnecessary.] [Do not rely on luck; exert every effort and take this seriously.] Information flooded Ye Chuyun’s mind. Rusty long knives appeared in everyone’s hands—the starting weapons. Ye Chuyun’s attention snapped to his Personal Panel, and a luminous screen materialized before him: Name: Ye Chuyun Level: 1 (0/100) Strength: 6 Agility: 6 Constitution: 6 Spirit: 6 Skills: None Combat Power: 50 (48+2) Equipment: Novice Cleaver (Attack +2, Tier 0) [Tip: 1 point in any stat = 2 combat power points.] [Tip: Each +1 to attack or defense increases combat power by 1.] Ye Chuyun was unsurprised. The initial stats reflected his physical condition. A homebound otaku, little exercise, daily takeout—such low stats were inevitable. Combat power was a composite of these stats and his weapon, a rigid metric. Chaos erupted around him. “Family, who understands! I was on a 996 grind for thirty years, saved 4 million, ready to retire early—and now I’m in this hellhole! I’m losing it!” “I just won 10 million in the lottery and was on my way to claim it—how does one cope?” “Ever been shitting when this happened? Pants down, standing naked—anyone lend me some trousers?” “This place… it’s insanely unfair!” “Damn, I was happy collecting rent daily, and now look—too baby to handle my success.” “Heartbreaking, truly heartbreaking… help me!” “Hehe, I must be dreaming… dinosaurs resist wolves, resist wolves…” “Hey, my panel says my combat power is 60. What about you?” “I’m weak, only 55.” “Haha, I was a Sanda champion, 83 points.” “Whoa, pro, let me ride your coattails!” Ye Chuyun lingered in the corner, quietly listening, thinking: “It’s time for the lottery.” The mysterious voice resonated once more. [Before the beasts arrive, you will each receive one lottery draw. This may shape your future.] [Talents, equipment, skills, rare items—anything can be won, subject to your luck.] The crowd erupted. Before discussions could start, golden gift boxes appeared before each participant. “Open!” Without hesitation, Ye Chuyun activated his box. He knew precisely what awaited—he had opened one in his past life, receiving a special item: a bag of buns. Those buns had allowed him to avoid hunting for three days—yet had cost him any chance of joining the top tier. “Buns will do… better than nothing,” he muttered. The golden box slowly opened. [Congratulations! You have drawn the one and only SSS-tier talent, with a 100% drop rate.] “Ah?” Ye Chuyun froze.