Chapter One: Stormy Night

2028, South Sea, Anping Island.

On the vast expanse of ocean, wild winds swept up dark clouds, churning relentlessly. Lightning exploded with dazzling brilliance between the roiling masses, thunder rolled over everything, as if all the waves in existence had been set ablaze, the wind and surf converging, rushing towards the island.

Anping Island, a large landmass with tens of thousands of inhabitants, belonged to the South Sea archipelago. Over the past decade, it had gradually developed its tourism industry, attracting travelers from across the country.

Yet confronted by this sudden and perilous disaster, both tourists and coastal locals were evacuating toward the central town.

On the island’s edge, dozens of red-brick cottages stood scattered, home mostly to fishermen.

The gale toppled a utility pole, a rapid crackling arc sounded, and then the area plunged into darkness.

Inside the cottage’s living room, a young man rose from a wooden chair, switched off a black-and-white television older than himself, walked to the modest bathroom, tore up last year’s summer homework book, and soaked the shreds in the basin, slowly pulping them into paste.

The mirror reflected his figure—handsome features, upright build, the muscles beneath his short sleeves pronounced and hard.

Jiang He, seventeen, fresh out of high school.

He was waiting for a courier, two days overdue, to deliver his university acceptance letter.

“If we don’t run now, we’re doomed,” came a voice.

Jiang He’s mouth twitched. He turned toward the bathroom door, where an old dog with glossy, jet-black fur spoke in grave tones. The dog stood nearly half a man tall, eyes glimmering with a hint of intelligence.

Since a year ago, ever stranger things had begun to happen. At first, Jiang He paid little mind, until his twelve-year-old dog suddenly began to speak. Only then did he realize the world seemed to have changed in mysterious ways.

But on a personal level, aside from finishing his studies, he simply began to exercise with more purpose in his daily life.

Jiang He shook out his hands, scooped up the paper paste, and walked to the living room window, carefully coating the gaps to keep rainwater from seeping in later.

He spoke calmly, “The boat is still docked. Without it, we’d have trouble eating. I plan to head out to sea. The bigger the storm, the less we can afford to stay put.”

The old dog hesitated. “Not the wisest idea.”

They hadn’t caught a proper haul of fish for over a month. The fishermen divided the fishing grounds, and crossing boundaries led to inevitable conflict—just like the village squabbles over water.

Something had clearly changed in their fishing area.

Jiang He found a jar of sugar and a large bowl, mixed them with water, and drank it all down. The sweetness was cloying, but it provided much-needed calories.

“You stay here. Maybe you’ll get to collect my corpse afterwards.”

The old dog scratched the floor and spoke up, “Let’s go together. Honestly, if we lose the boat, we can borrow money and get by.”

Jiang He’s expression didn’t change. “Sorry.”

The old dog fell silent, making himself a bowl of sugar water. He knew that someone who’d been eating dead fish found on the beach since age seven was unlikely to lower his head and beg—and besides, they might not be able to repay any debts. Official lending required the borrower to be over eighteen, with full legal capacity.

Jiang He packed up. The hooks, ropes, nets, and harpoons were all on the boat; he only needed his headlamp and fresh water.

“If only we could just rob someone…”

The old dog showed his sharp teeth, sighing, “The prison does provide food and shelter.”

One man and one dog left the red-brick cottage. The sky was dark and deep. Rain fell in large, heavy drops, hammering the tin fence in a relentless rhythm. The air was thick with the scent of salt, damp and oppressive.

They passed the wooden corridor and reached the shore. The sea roared, fishing boats tossed wildly, as if any moment they would smash against the coast and shatter.

Jiang He boarded the boat, gave the engine a fierce kick, gripped the crank and spun it hard several times. White mist sprayed in his face, soaking his clothes instantly. The engine sputtered, then began to smoke.

The fishing boat pushed forward, slicing through the waves like a sharp blade.

Once away from shore, the old dog ceased his disguise and stood upright. His limbs were powerful, claws and teeth sharp, and he took the helm in Jiang He’s stead.

Jiang He couldn’t help but glance at him a few times. He remembered the dog had gained intelligence a year ago. After some questioning, he learned that the mountains on Anping Island hid secrets; a certain canyon led to an unknown wilderness. But he couldn’t enter—the locals called it Yu King Valley, and its end was just a cliff.

“Turn the rudder!”

The storm was too fierce; Jiang He had to shout.

Facing waves rising like mountains, only large ships could survive. But seasoned fishermen knew how to choose the right path, cutting diagonally across the sea, using the water’s push to advance.

Three hours passed. Rain pooled thickly on the deck. Jiang He took a hoe and punched holes in the wooden railings, sending water flying out through dozens of tiny openings.

Soon, the largest wave struck. The boat hung half its hull atop the crest, then plunged down. Man and dog nearly floated off the deck. The boat slammed into the water, white spray rising like a curtain.

Clang!

At that moment, the boat shuddered violently. The crack of splintering wood was sharp and jarring. Jiang He moved to the rail and glimpsed a long, shadowy form.

“What the hell is that?” the old dog barked loudly.

Jiang He answered, turning his head, “A snake, more than ten meters long. A supernatural creature, just like you.”

Moments later, a second collision struck. The hull leaked; the situation suddenly became dire. The giant serpent showed its scales and muscular form.

Jiang He stared at the sea. This snake wanted him dead. But from a hunter’s perspective, the creature had every right—never in his seventeen years had he seen anything so beautiful, so dreamlike. Between hunter and prey, only strength made the difference, and the sea was the original hunting ground.

A third collision, close to the previous spot. The hull shattered further, seawater poured in.

The serpent was intelligent, exploiting its advantage.

Jiang He suppressed his impatience, calmly raised two harpoons. In fair weather, there were no rumors of giant serpents, just as the old dog hid his true nature. The serpent wasn’t strong enough—at least under normal circumstances—to hunt fishing boats.

A fourth collision. The hole was now big enough for a man to crawl through. In a few more minutes, man and dog would drown.

Jiang He kept waiting.

The old dog waited too, ready to patch the planks. No words were needed; their mutual understanding was absolute.

Another giant wave, the boat suspended once again.

The serpent’s head emerged, fierce and menacing. Its golden, slit pupils glared at the deck.

The two sides stared at each other.

Jiang He’s arm muscles bulged, breath deepened, knees bent, hips tensed. Like an ancient pine rooted on the deck, power surged to his feet. His body naturally leaned forward, leading his hands. He swung his shoulders back, arms tracing circles. Years of hunting on the sea had honed his throwing technique to brilliance.

Two steel harpoons shot out like lightning, piercing the serpent’s eyes with precision, lodging deep in the skull.

The serpent writhed in agony, its cries deafening. It fled into the distance, moving through water as easily as a man on land.

The thick ropes tied to the harpoon tails were fastened to the mast. With a violent tug, the mast snapped, but the angle wedged it between the cabin and helm. The boat was jerked sideways, water pouring out. The old dog rushed into the cabin to patch the hole, using his claws in place of nails. Blood streamed from his paws.

The boat slammed down onto the water. The serpent, helpless, fell from a great height, its head crashing like a hammer onto concrete. No visible injuries, but it was stunned and dizzy. It thrashed wildly, pulling at the harpoons and ropes, rocking the boat incessantly.

Jiang He gripped the rope, his arms torn and bloody, muscles visible beneath the skin. Cold wind and rain lashed his face, and pain twisted his expression more fiercely than the serpent’s.

He cared little who killed whom. But before his arms broke, a hunter’s dignity forbade him from letting go. Now, the serpent was the boat’s anchor—a lifeline in desperate times.

A second, or perhaps fifteen minutes.

The old dog returned from the cabin and bit down on the rope.

On the storm-tossed sea, man and beast faced off. The first to surrender would become the prey.

At some point, Jiang He roared, “Come!”

In the next instant, the serpent suddenly slackened its grip, hoping to catch its opponents off guard. But man and dog anticipated this, seized the moment, and scrambled around the cabin.

Wave after wave battered the boat, but the outcome was decided.

Several hours later, Jiang He lay exhausted on the deck. A mechanical voice sounded in his ear.

[Player 79**6 detected, slain by a primordial creature; player qualification transfer initiated. New user name: Jiang He. True soul authentication successful.]

[Player Level: LV1]

[Current Experience: 0/100]

[Equipment: None]

[New user detected. Initiating guidance protocol.]

[The void is infinite. Humanity coexists with other civilizations. The tides of the universe return. You are now extraordinary.]

[The old era has ended. The supernatural shall be released. You may manifest before the masses, wield force, or hide in shadow, deceiving the nations of the earth.]

[Worlds beyond the world. Frontiers beyond the present.]

[Reality and future await your exploration.]

[Embrace your soul. Achieve transcendence. This is the Origin Battleground.]

…