Chapter 1: Awakening

Deafening music pounded against the eardrums while neon lights scattered freely in the darkness. In a shadowy corner, a young man clad in a black trench coat sat within a plush red velvet booth. His face, framed by tousled black hair, was strikingly handsome, yet his long, narrow phoenix-like eyes showed no interest in the scantily clad, seductive dancers on the stage. Instead, he silently fiddled with a crystal octagonal glass, downing drink after drink in silent gloom.

When he awoke two days ago, his eyes were met with flying shuttles and colossal warships suspended in the sky. For a moment, Han Feng thought he was dreaming. That illusion shattered the moment he stumbled, half-dazed, into an open sewer where someone had stolen the manhole cover. The stinging, overpowering stench taught him the true meaning of reality.

That rank odor was one hundred percent real, and the swelling on his forehead was undeniable; a gentle press sent a searing pain that made him suck in a breath.

Later, he activated the portable light-brain on his wrist, reading the standard information on its virtual screen:

New Era, Year 1022.

Dragonrise Republic.

Soltes System, Soltes Planet One, System Security Level 0.3.

Seeing the date, the familiar nation’s name, and the somewhat recognized star system, Han Feng finally understood his predicament—he had crossed over.

He had actually transmigrated into the world of “Stellar Apex,” the fully immersive game that had taken the world by storm in his previous life!

And it was even the just-launched 1.0 open beta version!

This game, with its boundless open-world gameplay, vast star maps, and immersive design, had conquered the global market the moment it launched. Its extensive skill trees and limitless freedom allowed players to experience anything imaginable—if you could think it, you could do it.

There were no fixed classes; you could specialize in combat skills—abilities, transformation, martial arts, arcane arts, firearms—or master starship piloting, electronic decryption, manufacturing, cooking, bartending, or even street cleaning if you so chose.

Most people picked a specialty to master, which became their main profession, with other learned skills forming their secondary professions. Human energy is limited; dabbling in everything led only to mediocrity.

Skill points, needed for leveling up, were also limited. Earning more required immense time, effort, and exceptional skill.

In his previous life, Han Feng had been a seasoned professional gamer, naturally choosing the combat path—what man doesn’t crave the thrill of battle? Since the first closed beta, he had always topped the universe’s personal power rankings and was intimately familiar with every patch and update.

He believed that his knowledge of the game and his foresight into major events would be enough to thrive in this both familiar and foreign world.

More than that, he had crossed over with another game—the card-drawing game he’d just registered for but hadn’t yet played. It now existed as a card system within his mind.

Han Feng’s character panel appeared as follows:

Name: Han Feng
Level: 0
Strength: 80
Speed: 50
Constitution: 70
Psi: 0

Basic Training:
Intermediate Swordsmanship Training, Proficiency (1/50000) (Increases melee weapon attack power and speed by 30%)
Intermediate Firearms Training, Proficiency (1/50000) (Increases ranged weapon attack power, firing speed, and accuracy by 30%)
Intermediate Martial Arts Training, Proficiency (1/50000) (Increases strength, speed, stamina, and combat skills by 30%)
Cards: None

Strength directly affected his attack power; speed determined agility, movement, and attack speed; constitution influenced health, stamina, and defense; psi governed total energy, skill potency, and energy recovery.

The body’s previous owner had been a bounty hunter who made a living capturing interstellar pirates. Although he had never awakened any special abilities, years of training and combat gave him impressive sword, firearm, and martial arts prowess. Unfortunately, he fell to a pirate captain who had awakened powers, losing his life and all his credits.

Of course, this gave Han Feng the chance to resurrect in this new world.

To cross over with a game-turned-system into another game’s world—he couldn’t help but marvel at the strangeness of fate.

Perhaps because his predecessor hadn’t awakened any abilities, or due to other reasons, the system’s panel was different than he expected. There was no sprawling skill tree as in the original “Stellar Apex,” only the card system’s attribute panel.

And now, with the timeline at open beta, there were no players in sight. This world was a fully independent, real universe, a parallel cosmos—meaning he would never meet the friends and brothers from his gaming past.

Thankfully, his prodigious memory meant that, with his vast knowledge of this world, it wouldn’t be difficult to quickly master everything he needed.

Han Feng also understood there was no way back. Without even a chance to say goodbye, he would never see his family or friends again. Alone in this shadowy corner, he could only toast his sorrow in silence, drinking to the past and to whatever tomorrow might hold.

He drank two glasses—one for yesterday, and one for tomorrow.

“Ding, your free first draw cooldown has ended. Would you like to draw a card? The first draw guarantees a three-star card, and the first ten-draw guarantees a four-star card,” the system’s voice suddenly sounded as Han Feng sipped his drink.

After three days of waiting, the free first draw had finally arrived. Of course, he would draw immediately!

Why not do a ten-draw, you ask?

Because he was broke!

Damn pirates! If not for finding a few thousand credits in paper currency at home using his predecessor's memories, he might not have even had enough to eat.

“Proceed with the free first draw,” Han Feng commanded, eyes fixed on the virtual screen in his mind. This bootleg card game included every character from all the anime and games he'd ever known. Now that it existed as a system, he wondered what the first free draw would yield.

A flash of dazzling golden light swept across the dim hexagram array, and a blue card quietly hovered in the air.

On the card was a male swordsman with long chestnut hair tied in a ponytail, a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, gentle chestnut eyes, and a petite frame and adorable face that almost looked feminine. He wore a samurai outfit—red on top, white on the bottom—with a reversed-blade katana at his waist.

[Kenshin Himura (3-star)]

Level: 0
Strength: 266
Speed: 351
Constitution: 243
Psi: 140

Skills:
1. Cyclone Flash: Twist the body to evade the opponent's attack, then execute a powerful centrifugal slash. (Unlockable with Basic Swordsmanship Training)
2. Dragon Hammer Flash: Leap high in front of the opponent and slash down with a powerful swing of waist and foot. (Unlockable with Basic Swordsmanship Training)
3. Soaring Dragon Flash: Slash upwards from below, adding extra force with the other hand for greater upward momentum. (Unlockable with Basic Swordsmanship Training)
4. Nine-Headed Dragon Flash: Slash from nine directions at incredible speed, almost impossible to evade. (Unlockable with Basic Swordsmanship Training)
5. Hiten Mitsurugi Ultimate—Heavenly Soaring Dragon Flash: A seamless two-stage attack at blinding speed. The first blow releases a gust that creates a vacuum, pulling the opponent in; the second, using spinning centrifugal force, delivers a devastating strike. (Unlockable with Intermediate Swordsmanship Training and Intermediate Martial Arts Training)

Bonds:
Kaoru Kamiya—Strength +3%
Tomoe Yukishiro—Speed +3%

“Does equipping a card in the card slot activate its attributes for me? Can I use its skills?” Han Feng gazed at the protagonist card from “Rurouni Kenshin,” curious about its effects.

“Yes. The initial card slot is one; every ten levels unlocks an additional slot, up to a maximum of six cards equipped at once. All card attributes are fully transferred to your own stats, and you can use the associated skills when requirements are met,” the system’s mechanical voice replied.

“Can cards be leveled up, advanced, or upgraded?” Years of gaming had taught Han Feng that all card games were the same—money sinks, always out for your wallet.

“Card cultivation is available. Please make a payment,” the system responded curtly.

Sure enough, the world over, crows are just as black. Han Feng glanced at his bank balance on his portable light-brain and silently took another swig.

Equipping Kenshin Himura in his only unlocked card slot, Han Feng immediately felt a surge of power as all his attributes rose dramatically.

System: “Psi activated.”

Psi was the energy source of all superhumans. Ability users and gunslingers called it psi, transformation beast warriors called it bloodline energy, martial artists called it inner force, and magi called it mana. Though the names differed, the energy was the same at its core.

Thus, psi was the foundation for all combat-specialist practitioners.

In his previous life, players who specialized in combat professions—ability users, beast warriors, martial artists, magi, or gunslingers—were collectively known as superhumans.

Meanwhile, those who specialized in non-combat skills could become master craftsmen, top chefs, or other leisure professions.

While Han Feng was still immersed in the system, a loud crash split the air—the bar’s main door was kicked open from outside!

A blast of cold air swept in with more than a dozen burly white men, each wielding a projectile or laser gun, faces twisted with menace and aggression. Several quickly moved to block the back exit, weapons raised and eyes glinting with hostility.

“Rat-tat-tat!” A bald, scar-faced pirate fired a burst from his machine gun into the ceiling. He wore a heavy brown coat, thrown open to reveal a bare, bulging belly, and a fat gold chain hung around his neck. Swaggering arrogantly to the center of the bar, he declared,

“This is a robbery! I’m Barry, leader of the Barry Pirate Crew! Men to the left, women to the right, and anyone in between to the center!”