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The Path to Redemption Lies Within

“Zaza, Zaza… Revive, my boss!”

Bai Fu felt somewhat agitated.

For some reason, since just now, a small Biyaizhi had been whispering incessantly in her ear.

I came here to sleep, what do you want?

In a state of extreme anger, she broke through the quilt barrier in less than a second and then widened her eyes to inspect her surroundings.

What met her eyes were mottled stone walls, flickering lights, and the tearful face of a stranger.

“My boss, you finally woke up, that’s great!”

I woke up?

Bai Fu inadvertently glanced at the mirror beside her. The reflection clearly showed a delicate black-haired girl.

Damn.

She was startled.

Just by sleeping, how could her strengths be replaced by flaws? Although her advantages were more prominent, this hardly made up for it!

In an instant, countless memories surged up.

Bai Fu remembered that a few days ago, a game called “Above the Stars” started its public beta test. On her way to buy gaming accessories, she became engrossed in watching other players group up to attack the Planner’s mother on the community. As a result, she stumbled upon something unexpected.

At that time, she experienced infant-like sleep.

When she woke from her dream, she found herself inside the game.

She did not cross over as the main character of the game, nor did she become a villain or the villain’s confidant. Now, she was merely a lowly grunt who didn’t even deserve a dedicated page.

Actually, it wasn’t too bad compared to regular grunts; her status was slightly higher.

After all, she also had a personal follower.

Bai Fu turned her head and looked at the nervous girl staring at her.

Yes, this was her only follower.

Anya, one meter thirty tall, skilled in eating and sleeping, picked up from the trash heap, now joined her in the nearby largest criminal organization, Wildfire Gang.

What a sin!

Especially after reviewing her combat capabilities, Bai Fu felt a wave of despair.

One Fu ≈ Ten Yal.

In this game world, she couldn’t say she was exceptionally strong, but at least she was negligible.

The day before yesterday, when she went to collect debts for the Wildfire Gang, she was hit in the forehead by the old scoundrel who owed money, and she remained unconscious for two whole days.

With such a weak performance, Bai Fu couldn’t imagine herself standing out in this world.

In fact, just surviving was difficult.

You’re right, but “Above the Stars” is a brand-new open-world adventure game set in a dangerous universe.

I forgot.

In short, the player will play as an alien traveler starting from the initial planet located at the distant frontier, gradually uncovering the truth of “Above the Stars.”

There are ferocious celestial beasts, crazed spiritual energy mages, and ambitious evil organizations…

When they make a move, just a bit of the aftermath of their battles can tear apart stars.

Damn it.

Bai Fu didn’t want to get caught in the battle aftermath and die mysteriously.

After much thought, she decided to use that one move.

“Come out, my lucky charm!”

No response.

Wait, it… it’s coming!

Suddenly, a light blue curtain unfolded in front of Bai Fu.

【Name】: Bai Fu

【Age】: 20

【Race】: Human

【Template】: Ordinary

【Experience】: 0

【Main Occupation】: Vagrant Level 2 (421/500)

【Secondary Occupation】: None

【Health Points】: 50/50

【Attributes】: Strength 4, Agility 3, Constitution 5, Intelligence 3, Spirit 4, Inspiration 3

【Skills】: None

【Talent】: None

【Attribute Points】: 0

【Reputation】: 1

It’s a point system?

Strong, very strong!

Bai Fu was delighted.

From a weak maiden to a powerful lady, this was her invincible path!

But soon she realized something was off. How could this interface be identical to a player’s attribute panel?

She quickly flipped through it and indeed found buttons like 【Quests】, 【Map】, and 【Community】.

Bai Fu understood.

She had become an NPC with a player panel. The biggest difference was that her panel had an NPC-exclusive 【Template】.

Templates were good things. The bonuses from advanced templates could easily overpower ordinary templates with the same attributes.

But this wasn’t anything to celebrate. Besides, she lacked any typical NPC functionalities.

She couldn’t issue quests, be a mentor, or have an affinity system, meaning she couldn’t use these functions to exploit players like Han Daji.

She was more like a special player who couldn’t respawn!

Fine, fine, fine, let’s play this way. Others play regular online games, I’ll play a one-life-through game.

Bai Fu almost fainted from frustration.

She wasn’t a gaming god and didn’t know the game’s plot like a reincarnated player. Her role template was also ordinary.

To challenge a one-life-through game?

Only some people are still alive, but in reality, they’re already dead.

“I don’t want to play anymore, this game isn’t fun at all, let me out!”

No response.

Bai Fu rubbed her forehead hard.

Now is not the time to panic.

She turned to Anya and asked about the situation outside first.

“Has anything happened recently?”

Anya stared at Bai Fu for a while, confirming she was asking her, and said, “Boss, nothing major happened in the past two days, just a group of people suddenly arrived from the west.”

“Who are they?”

Anya angrily said, “A strange group of people, they all wear similar clothes, each of them is a chatterbox, asking questions to everyone they meet, and even going into others’ homes to rummage through things. Some even play with knives for no reason.”

Bai Fu’s expression turned strange.

Based on the description, aren’t these players?

Anya continued, “Boss, this group is too wicked and arrogant, they even dared to open the Wildfire Gang’s supply boxes. The gang leader says they’re no longer ordinary vagrants; we must deal with them harshly!”

Upon hearing this, Bai Fu’s face turned green.

If you deal harshly with players, they might use tanks to crush you.

“No, we absolutely cannot provoke that group. Let me go find the Wildfire Gang leader immediately and tell him not to think foolishly.”

Anya looked puzzled, “Boss, why can’t we provoke them? The Wildfire Gang leader has personally killed several of them and called us to join in fighting them, saying we can earn money if we participate, the more effort, the more money!”

As she said this, she excitedly waved her fists.

Combat = Earning Money = Fun!

Bai Fu’s heart skipped a beat.

They’ve already started fighting?

Child, this isn’t funny!

It’s over.

Given the behavior of some players who would even chop earthworms vertically, as a member of the Wildfire Gang, she would have to run away early or else she wouldn’t even leave behind her ashes.

The problem is, how does she escape?

Her settlement was called the Abandoned Cooling Plant, located on the新手出生星球 named Origin Star.

A hundred years ago, Origin Star erupted in war.

The war almost destroyed everything, leaving Origin Star in a state similar to the “Fallout” series games, where people lived in settlements, and the outside was filled with terrifying pollution and monsters.

Bai Fu felt that with her strength, she would probably die as soon as she left the settlement.

Even if she was lucky enough to survive for a few more days, she wouldn’t withstand the various disasters in the subsequent plot.

Stay calm, I must think quickly!

“How can an NPC live long enough?”

A very good question, making Bai Fu’s brain spin rapidly.

Strength alone might not be enough; what if she gets sacrificed by the Planner or tagged as a boss?

Ultimately, an NPC’s fate depends on the Planner’s setting.

Numerical monsters are not as good as mechanism monsters.

She remembered a post in the community, which said that during the closed beta, an NPC died shortly after appearing, but due to unexpectedly high popularity among players, the game had to change her death ending.

This kind of thing often happens in games she has played before.

In long-term operation games, once a character gains popularity, it becomes harder to kill them, even if they die, they are likely to be resurrected, and even a minor character might get a significant backstory added to become important.

Ah! Enlightenment!

Bai Fu’s thoughts suddenly opened up.

If she transforms from an unknown passerby to a beloved character of the players, wouldn’t she also be strengthened like the NPC in the closed beta?

It’s uncertain, but it’s worth trying.

Perhaps, the path to redemption lies within!

No NPC understands better than her how to become a character favored by players.

Because she was originally a player and could sneak into the community anytime to spy, she could transform into whatever the players liked, emphasizing listening to advice.

Thinking this, Bai Fu felt relieved.

Kids, I’m going to start my run!

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