Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

Clack.

"Long Yuqiong, originally named Ou Shen, a Fiery Summer person. One of the Twin Stars of the major e-sports guild 'Qiongyu'. Three years ago, he was discovered from the Youth Training Camp by the club owner Yutianxiao. Just a year after his debut, he shone in 'Hunting World', especially with a remarkable personal strength. After winning the world championship, he immediately transitioned to the currently popular 'Starry Abyss' circuit and with his formidable individual prowess, he clinched the personal championship."

A stack of contracts landed on the table. Lai Anding slowly paced around, sat down in the boss's chair, and looked at the young, deeply charismatic man in front of him with a smile:

"Such an outstandingly excellent e-sports veteran who also maintains great relations with the guild's superiors — why have you suddenly decided to submit a resume to us at Qiqiao Network and apply to become an internal staff member?"

Long Yuqiong, or rather Ou Shen, was a young man of about twenty-three or twenty-four. He appeared quite ordinary, of medium stature, with black and gray hair streaked with a few strands of deep blue. His deep black eyes seemed like black holes, irresistibly drawing one's gaze further inward.

"I'm twenty-three this year, still considered young for a human, but as an e-sports player, I'm already on a decline."

Ou Shen said matter-of-factly:

"Perhaps I can still compete, host streams, or coach now, but when I'm in my thirties or forties? What can my previous skills do for me then?"

"Prudence in peace is an excellent consciousness." Lai Anding nodded.

"I want a retirement job, you're recruiting, so I came."

Ou Shen said:

"I reviewed your hiring requirements, and in terms of age, education, work experience, and past achievements, I meet them all perfectly."

"Don't rush, Mr. Ou Shen."

Lai Anding raised a hand and asked curiously:

"Actually, those are secondary — I am curious, your professional athlete career is flourishing, having just won a season championship and not even a team award, you plan to retire and take up a staff position?"

"I checked; your company has a suitable position for me, one that doesn't involve game balancing but badly needs professional-level players for testing."

Ou Shen spoke straightforwardly, or rather he disdained wasting time on pleasantries.

"You did your research thoroughly... But you are right, we do need talent like you. Some empty test maps require excellent testers at professional player level to check before opening to players."

This way of speaking was somewhat familiar to Lai Anding.

"Your candor and focus on efficiency remind me of an old acquaintance."

"Who?"

"A pitiable yet hateful little guy." Lai Anding shook his head: "Not to mention him, that guy has already paid the price of death for his past mistakes. Lanan might not be over it yet."

"Condolences." Ou Shen nodded: "Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"You should know that Qiqiao Network and 'Starry Abyss' are not so simple, we are not just a game company."

Lai Anding straightened and walked toward Ou Shen. Despite her towering figure, she radiated not oppression but a maternal warmth due to her long braids and plump thighs.

"To join Qiqiao Network as a formal employee, you need to be mentally prepared."

She leaned down and softly spoke in Ou Shen's ear:

"The last question."

"Tell me, child, do you wish to live in a flawed, even terrifying reality, or spend your life in a beautiful lie?"

"Feel free to answer, regardless of the result, I will employ you."

Ou Shen squinted his eyes, propped his chin, and pondered for a long time before saying:

"I want to live in reality."

"Why?"

"Because I am strong."

Ou Shen's eyes slightly glowed with red-black hues:

"I am strong, a falsely beautiful world holds no challenge for me — I participate in competitions because ordinary people can't compete against me, I crave more challenging opponents."

"Whether the real world is perfect doesn't matter; a strong person can survive in any environment."

"Rather than succumb to death in a virtual paradise built on dopamine, I'd prefer to struggle for survival in the cold reality."

"Either be destroyed by the world or conquer it! The strong must become the sovereign of all."

"Desire, domination, evolution, strength, beauty, exclusivity, sovereignty."

Lai Anding smiled, turned to the desk, and sighed:

"Although you've lost the mandate and divinity, compared to Leoz, you are indeed the true Sovereign God Clan."

"Yet, devoid of desire and with an empty heart, you've ironically become the Sovereign of Sovereigns — infinity being infinitely small, infinitely small paradoxically infinite, existence full of paradoxes, truly chaotic."

Lai Anding shook his head:

"Well, I will find a replacement child for you, to rebuild the Dominating Universe, a world of a true dominator."

"What are you talking about?" Ou Shen frowned: "Leoz... the name feels so familiar to me."

He waved, and two burly bodyguards entered the door.

"Minister Lai Anding—Your Excellency."

Lai Anding's eyes emitted a blue-pink glow as she calmly said:

"Kaidi Luola, Adel Stonepeak, go and remove Lord Oushen's filter."

Before Ou Shen could react, the two muscular bodyguards immediately crowded in from his sides, one on each, lifting his arms.

"It might hurt a little." One bodyguard advised.

"What do you mean by a little—uh ahhhhhh!"

Ou Shen convulsed all over, fell to his knees as the world spun around him, his retina like windows under impact, constantly fracturing, propagating, and breaking apart.

Crack—

"Ha... ah... hoo..."

He knelt on one knee, gasping for breath, his consciousness gradually restored, attention focused on the ground in front of him.

"Whew... This feeling."

Ou Shen raised his hand, white sand slipped from it, the coarse grains rubbing against his porcelain skin, making a rustling sound.

"...Five thousand years."

Ou Shen—Oushen clenched his fist, red-black tendrils swayed on the deep blue armor, his voice tinged with sorrow and pain:

"My homeland, my Sovereign — everything that belonged to us will never be seen again."

He clenched his fist, blue-gold water ripples constantly surging on the armor.

"Morphederia Your Excellency, why did you have to die... Did you insist on fighting alongside Leoz till the end?"

He shook his head:

"It's all my fault. I thought taking away the Primordial Soil would make Leoz abandon that crazy plan, but — it's also all Charlgarnia's fault! If the 'Goddess of Truth' Charlgarnia had returned in time, if I could guard the Primordial Soil from Him..."

"The past is no longer mentioned."

Lai Anding's voice reverberated across the endless wasteland:

"'Evil God of Deep Water and Sea Beast' Oushen, you are quite senior, having endured countless battles, a valuable warrior among the Sovereign God Clan."

"Once victim to Leoz's political persecution, wrongfully accused as an Evil God, you always resisted 'Society', never participating in Leoz's autocratic governance."

"Loyal to Starry Abyss, courageous in battle against enemies, loving towards your compatriots."

"Oushen, you are an invaluable talent to Starry Abyss."

"Now, in the name of the 'Redemption Sprite', I announce: a special pardon for the charges against the Sovereign Executer, 'God of the Present World' Leoz sentencing Oushen, and the punishment of relegation to Evil God."