Chapter 1: Strategy, Starting from Choosing One's Background [Please add to favorites and recommend]

“Creatures from Earth, welcome to the era of the Global Lords.”

“We will now begin loading your regional module and generating your initial attributes…”

Listening to this ethereal voice echoing in his ears, Zong Shen felt certain he must be dreaming.

At this moment, he was standing inside a square room that was entirely snow-white.

It left him feeling quite bewildered.

Just a moment ago, he had clearly been on his way to work.

The next moment, he had arrived in this godforsaken place.

The surroundings were empty, devoid of any markings.

However, after this voice appeared, a light screen suddenly manifested before Zong Shen.

It displayed several items.

【Name: Zong Shen】

【Age: 21】

【Race: Earth/Human】

【Strength: 5】

【Agility: 5】

【Intelligence: 5】

【Charisma: 4】

【Remaining Assignable Attribute Points: 4】

【Remaining Assignable Weapon Proficiency: 10】

【Detailed Attributes: (Click to expand)】

【Weapon Proficiency: (Click to expand)】

【Click “Start” to enter background selection and begin your life as a Lord!】

Zong Shen stared at the contents of the light screen, stunned.

This was clearly a game!

“Lord Survival—could this be a game played by gods?”

Zong Shen muttered to himself.

He had already realized that his environment was real; everything he saw and heard was not a dream.

Just as his mind wandered, a notification sounded in his head once more.

【Detected Gaia’s Will blessing you. Strategy Talent acquired. Loading talent module…】

【Strategy Module, loading complete.】

“Gaia’s Will?”

“Gaia? Isn’t that Earth?”

Zong Shen regained his focus, feeling that everything had become even more cryptic.

The light screen in front of him was still flickering.

Especially the “Start” button at the very bottom.

However, when he stared at that line of text at the bottom, he noticed a line of golden notes appearing beside it.

It made him unable to resist looking over.

“(Don’t waste time, hurry up and click Start. PS: This is your first strategy tip.)”

Zong Shen withdrew his gaze and walked to the edge, touching the snow-white, solid barrier.

The light screen moved along with him.

The barriers on all four sides were flawless, without any cracks, entrances, or exits.

“Sigh, it seems I have no choice but to click ‘Start’ and see.”

Zong Shen sighed, reluctantly accepting the facts.

He reached out and tapped the word “Start” on the light screen.

The entire screen suddenly brightened.

“Hum!”

The surrounding space began to distort, eventually turning into complete darkness.

Just as Zong Shen felt a sense of uncertainty, the light screen appeared again.

【Please select your gender】

【Gender: Male/Female】

(Male: Strength +1, Charisma +1

Female: Agility +1, Intelligence +1)

The first option was gender, and the same line of golden prompt text appeared below it.

Zong Shen looked at the choices, then at the small text, and finally began to understand what this so-called Strategy Module actually was.

These golden prompts completely revealed the corresponding results of each choice.

However, there wasn’t much to choose from for the first option.

Zong Shen’s psychological and physiological identity was male.

He decisively chose Male!

The light screen changed accordingly.

The second option appeared.

【Who was your father?】

(This is a very important choice!)

【A fallen knight who lost his glory】

(Intelligence +1, Charisma +1, Weapon Master +1, Power Strike +1, Riding +1, Trainer +1, Leadership +1, One-Handed +10, Two-Handed +10, Polearm +10, Renown +100, Dented Old Round Shield, Starting Gold +100)

【A traveling merchant who roamed the continent】

(Intelligence +2, Charisma +1, Riding +1, Leadership +1, Trade +2, Inventory Management +1, Two-Handed +10, Renown +20, Starting Gold +250)

【A battle-hardened veteran】

(Strength +1, Agility +1, Charisma +1, Ironflesh +1, Power Strike +1, Weapon Master +1, Leadership +1, Trainer +1, One-Handed +10, Two-Handed +15, Polearm +20, Throwing +10, Renown +10, Dented Simple Kite Shield, Starting Gold +50)

【A poacher in the forest】

(Strength +1, Agility +2, Power Throw +1, Tracking +1, Pathfinding +1, Two-Handed +10, Bow +30, Starting Gold +30)

【A nomad from the great grasslands】

(Strength +1, Agility +1, Power Throw +1, Horse Archery +1, First Aid +1, Pathfinding +1, Riding +2, One-Handed +10, Bow +30, Throwing +5, Dented Flat Cavalry Shield, Starting Gold +15, Renown +10)

【A thief lurking in the city streets】

(Agility +3, Athletics +2, Throwing +1, Inventory Management +1, Looting +1, One-Handed +20, Throwing +20, Starting Gold +25, A pack of throwing knives)

Zong Shen looked at these choices and the golden strategy prompts below, feeling a bit confused.

He didn’t understand these attributes, but with his years of gaming experience, he could still guess most of it.

Suddenly, he remembered something and asked tentatively.

“Any good recommendations?”

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, another line of golden text appeared before him.

(1, 3, and 5 are all good; the attributes they add are more suitable for early survival.)

Seeing this strategy tip, Zong Shen’s gaze swept over those recommended choices again.

They really were the options that provided more comprehensive attribute bonuses.

After thinking for a moment, the third option, 【A battle-hardened veteran】, seemed the most suitable.

So, he chose that one!

The light screen changed again, entering the third option.

【What did you do during your youth?】

(This is also very important!)

【A noble’s attendant】

(Charisma +1, Strength +1, Power Strike +1, Persuasion +1, One-Handed +15, Polearm +5)

【An apprentice craftsman】

(Intelligence +1, Strength +1, Engineering +1, Trade +1)

【A street urchin】

(Agility +1, Intelligence +1, Spotting +1, Looting +1, One-Handed +15, Throwing +5)

【A child of the grasslands】

(Strength +1, Agility +1, Horse Archery +1, Power Throw +1, Bow +15, Renown +5)

【A merchant’s assistant】

(Intelligence +1, Charisma +1, Inventory Management +1, Trade +1)

This time, Zong Shen felt he had a handle on things and decisively chose the first option, 【A noble’s attendant】.

There was no other reason; the attributes added by this option overlapped with his previous choice.

Operating on the principle of maximizing his starting advantage, Zong Shen decided to choose options with consistent attributes as much as possible.

Only after entering this so-called “Lord Survival” would he be able to further study the secrets of the attributes.

Moreover, Zong Shen had already roughly realized that perhaps not everyone could see the hidden attributes behind each choice.

The reason he could see them was entirely due to the so-called Gaia’s blessing he had activated earlier!

Even if the background choices were the same, being able to combine them reasonably would undoubtedly greatly increase his early-game advantage!

Thinking of this, Zong Shen’s spirits lifted.

(End of chapter)