Welcome to Beast Evolution

But why would anyone even bother playing such a game? The answer was money.

Beast Evolution was the second game to achieve real-world currency exchange, but the first ended in absolute failure.

However, this time, the infamous BlackLobster company had come out with the game and had guaranteed the exchange rate. Backed up by the largest company in the world, the media and public were a lot more confident with Beast Evolution's success than its predecessor.

The one thing beta testers couldn't say enough about was the number of resources available in Beast Evolution.

In just the single month they had access to the game, the most skilled of the players had earned, on average, 10 Gold coins!

In just the first month alone, players could earn $10,000! In the next months earning money would be even easier and beta testers estimated that it wouldn't be a stretch to say that a person could earn more than a million dollars a year!

This made the game an instant sensation, and players worldwide flocked to their nearest game stores to purchase Beast Evolution. 

But Enzo knew not everything was as it seemed. For starters, BlackLobster wasn't the one to develop Beast Evolution, and they weren't the ones that were backing it with real-world money; the governments were.

As for who made the game? Enzo didn't get to find out in his last life, and honestly, he didn't care. It wasn't important.

What was important was getting stronger; the first step on that path was picking the right starting race.

Looking at the two lines, Enzo only slightly glanced at the line designated for people purchasing capsules for the human race before resolutely making his way toward the unoccupied Beast line.

His choice was simple. Beasts may look like they have a harder time at the start, but people are unaware that humans have a limit!

Humans are the most prolific species in the Universe, but to offset their large number, the majority of them have a power level limit of Tier-5!

To overcome this boundary, a human would have to put in a herculean effort; even then, it would take a monumental amount of time.

Although a Tier-5 existence couldn't be underestimated, as they could decimate an entire city with the wave of their hand, what about some other races?

Every race other than the human race had a chance to increase the potency of their bloodline and eventually reach Tier-9, which some said had the power to destroy an entire planet with their power alone.

However, hope was not lost for humans as they, too, could increase the potency of their bloodline, albeit slightly differently.

Where beasts would have to obtain something called a bloodline shard, which, although insanely expensive, was available for purchase, humans had to rely on treasures 10x rarer and 100x more expensive.

And what did all that hard work amount to? Being less strong than a beast at the same level.

Sighing, Enzo lamented, "Beasts are too OP."

Even though he wouldn't be anywhere near Tier-5 before update 2.0 came out, as he was someone who had a second chance at life, how could he aim for mediocrity?

Getting to the counter, Enzo paused, waiting for the attendant to look up from his phone.

Looking at him with the expression of someone who would rather have his left testicle surgically removed than have this conversation, the attendant said, "I'm sorry, this line is only for players who plan to play as the Beast race. You'll have to go to the back of the line to your left to purchase the correct copy."

"I want the Beast copy," Enzo said, pulling out his wallet.

The attendant stared at Enzo as though he was the dumbest person on the planet. "I'm sorry. Can you repeat that?"

Instead of answering, Enzo handed the man his credit card and a sheet of paper. "I'll also be requiring the latest Gaming Pod delivered to this address before midnight." After thinking a moment, he added, "Make that two."

After finishing his purchase, Enzo left the store and headed home to make preparations for tonight's launch. Enzo glanced at his watch. "I still have a little over four hours remaining, I should make sure I can focus on the game."

"Not like anything else matters anyway."

After arriving at his house, Enzo spent the next two hours canceling all his college classes and resigning from work. As it was the middle of the semester, he had to jump through several hoops but made up some excuses that appeased the teachers.

It's not that he had to do this, but Enzo felt it was better to tie up loose ends than to have the cops randomly show up at his house one day because nobody had heard from him.

As he finished, his two gaming pods arrived and were installed in Enzo's and Ari's rooms. Thankfully Ari wasn't home, so he didn't have to explain anything until later.

After the installation, Enzo saw that there was still an hour before the launch, so he did some pushups and squats to strengthen his body. As his body was pitifully weak, he was only able to do a few knee pushups and four measly squats before his body collapsed.

He dragged himself to the shower rinsing himself off for the second time today and headed towards the capsule.

"I almost forgot," Enzo chuckled, remembering the gem. Clutching it, he stepped inside the capsule and loaded his copy of 'Beast Evolution'.

<Game launch is in 5:06>

Staring at the white text, Enzo waited silently as the numbers counted.

<5:05 >

<5:04 >

<5:03 >

…

<Game is launching>

<Welcome to Beast Evolution>

The white text and background disappeared, and a meadow filled with luscious grass, flowers and a few small creatures materialized around him.

Seeing the familiar scene Enzo grinned. "Looks like the starting test is the same no matter what race you play."

Before entering the world known as the 'Razzar Continent', one would be brought to this meadow for the tutorial. Everything here might seem straightforward, but in fact it was all a test.

Players wouldn't find out about this fact until later, as those who reaped any benefits from the 'tutorial test' as it was later dubbed, were sworn to secrecy.

The truth was only revealed a few months later when a foolish player thought he could get away with selling the information in the real world.

While regular tests might test your strength or wisdom, the tutorial test was a test of character and knowledge.

There were many ways to 'pass' the tutorial test, such as waiting four hours for the guide to appear in the meadow. The guide wouldn't appear until the player first spoke, so if someone with enough patience waited four hours, they would be rewarded handsomely. Enzo knew of only one other way to pass and hoped he was right.

Enzo bowed. "Respectable guide, please share your knowledge with me." Like an angel descending from the heavens, an aged man appeared from above with wings on his back.

He had a grey beard and wore a red tunic. "Greetings, young one." His tone was friendly, and the smile on his face stretched to his eyes, showing a hint of intrigue.

Straightening his back, Enzo stared into the old man's eyes. "May the Universe illuminate your soul and brighten your path."

The old man's eyes widened in surprise, and his eyebrows raised. "The universal greeting? You are a strange one indeed."