Chapter 16: Players!

"Achoo!"

Yuyu sneezed loudly and rubbed his nose. He had been sneezing since morning, feeling unwell and suspecting he had caught a cold while sleeping. This further affirmed that the game he was in was a real world, and he was now a genuine person living in it.

[Friendship +1]

Yuyu turned his gaze towards China, who quickly averted her eyes and ate her breakfast of grilled salmon without expression.

"China's your cooking is improving," Yuyu initiated a conversation, searching for a topic.

"Hmm," China casually replied, "I learned a new recipe."

Before Yuyu arrival in this game, he had no knowledge of cooking. However, since his arrival, he had taken up the responsibility of solving the food-related issues along with China. She mentioned that she had been living here during the holidays and wouldn't move out until school started. Speaking of the store, the manager should have returned by now.

"the manager hasn't returned yet," Yuyu expressed confusion. The mysterious shopkeeper's whereabouts were unknown.

"Oh, he said his business was concluded, but he wanted to enjoy some time outside before coming back," China finished her salmon and sipped the miso soup.

After a pause, she suddenly turned her attention to Yuyu.

"Who are you waiting for?"

"Huh? Why do you say that?"

"Because since last night, you've been looking outside from time to time," she said. "It's as if you're waiting for someone."

"..."

In truth, her observation was accurate. Yuyu was indeed waiting for something, but it wasn't a specific person. According to his memory, the closed beta of the game was scheduled to start in two days.

The beta of Linking the World was straightforward, lasting only two days for players to familiarize themselves with basic operations and systems. It was a non-deleted internal test, and the official release was expected to follow soon after. If Yuyu remembered correctly, just half a month after the end of the closed beta—right before the Battle City Tournament—the game would be officially launched.

During these two days, he would have the opportunity to interact with other players for the first time. The game also featured an official forum login interface, allowing players to browse strategies, card discussions, and exchange information within the game. However, posting required exiting the game and accessing the forum through a browser.

Even as an NPC with his own game panel, Yuyu could log in to the forum and view comments from other players. However, since the closed beta hadn't started yet, the official forum was locked, devoid of activity and color.

But it wouldn't be long.

The forum should open when the service launches in the next two days, and it would soon become lively.

After finishing breakfast, China suddenly asked, "Have you caught a cold?"

"Just a little," Yuyu rubbed his nose. "But it's alright, not too serious."

China looked thoughtful but didn't say anything. She turned back to the kitchen.

Unexpectedly, she returned shortly with a bowl of herbal syrup in her hand.

Yuyu was taken aback, smiling wryly and feeling touched....Then he noticed China sitting next to him, blowing on the bowl of herbal syrup and sipping it.

Yuyu: "..."

Seemingly aware of Yuyu's bewildered gaze, she said, "Because I'm afraid of catching it, I'm having some soup as a preventive measure. Would you like some too?"

"...No, I don't need it."

...

Tonight, the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!—or more precisely, the world of the game "Linked World"—was about to experience a moment that could alter its history.

It was the arrival of duelists from another world—the players!

They brought with them duel monster cards that didn't exist in this world and introduced concepts like "card earnings" and "card advantage," which bewildered the local duelists. Some even brought unique and ingenious decks and combos that no one had ever thought of before.

But that wasn't all.

These duelists not only possessed a completely different approach to dueling and tactical thinking compared to the existing system, but their... spirits seemed abnormal!

For instance, many of them were excessively verbose, saying things that ordinary people couldn't comprehend.

They also had a penchant for dramatics, parading through the streets in costumes that would seem strange even on Halloween.

Furthermore, their names were often either excessively long or ridiculously absurd, some being unfitting or inappropriate.

And let's not forget their willingness to spend exorbitant amounts of money on things that ordinary people wouldn't consider, and their "helpfulness" that extended to assisting others without expecting significant compensation.

In short, they were a peculiar bunch of individuals whose sole focus seemed to be playing cards!

...

When the player with the username "Xuelang" opened his eyes, he found himself in an open wilderness.

Xuelang felt a bit dazed.

Was he already in the game? It felt so real, almost like reality itself.

He glanced at the Duel Disk on his wrist, confirming that he had indeed logged into the game "Linked World."

Wow, this game feels unbelievably real!

The level of immersion was incredible, from the control over his virtual character's body to the sensation of touch and even the breeze blowing through the night. Xuelang suspected that if he spent a long time in this game, he might genuinely start confusing it with reality.

But here's the thing...

...Isn't this supposed to be a card game?

Despite the game's massive hype and the consortium's claims about its groundbreaking technology and immersive experience, most players believed it was just exaggerated marketing. They expected it to be primarily a trading card game, with MRPG elements playing a secondary role and the game's production not being exceptional.

Yet now, it seemed that the production value of this card game was truly extraordinary!

Xuelang looked around and noticed no other players nearby, which wasn't surprising. The closed beta was said to have only a few hundred slots, so it was normal not to come across other players randomly.

According to the game's official instructions, the closed beta landing location for players should be near the main stage of the animation, Toshino City. Judging by the brightly lit modern city not far away, he deduced it to be Tongshiye City.

With a clear sense of direction, Xuelang wasted no time, leaping and rolling towards the city.