Fate's Choice: Livestream at the Start Summoning Billions of Ravens

Late at night, the rented room was brightly lit.

Jiang Ming's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the computer screen, performing tedious video editing.

In the corner of the screen, a chat window persistently flashes a red dot.

It is Party A.

"Xiao Jiang, this film is due tomorrow morning, can you hurry it up?"

"Make the opening transition a bit more dazzling, yes, that's the kind of vibrant, multicolored black."

"The logo at the end gets bigger and bigger! It fills the entire screen!"

Jiang Ming closed the dialog box expressionlessly and continued dragging the materials on the timeline.

He graduated from an ordinary university that was neither particularly prestigious nor outstanding. All the dozens of resumes he sent out disappeared without a trace.

Under the heavy pressure of reality, he could only rely on the editing skills he had taught himself during college to barely make a living by taking on odd jobs online.

With meager income, a meager livelihood, and a bleak future, the situation is dire.

This is his life, one that you can see the end of at a glance.

"Buzz..."

The computer case fans roared under the strain, and Jiang Ming finally finished rendering the last shot.

He clicked send and dragged the file to the client's profile picture.

Almost the instant the file transfer was completed, a strong sense of fatigue swept over me.

The exhaustion from long-term sleep deprivation and continuous mental stress reached a breaking point at this moment.

Jiang Ming felt a violent dizziness, and the world in front of him began to spin.

In a daze, he seemed to see the dense code on the computer screen suddenly come to life.

They twisted and deformed, eventually transforming into countless indescribable black symbols that broke free from the screen's constraints and surged towards him like a flood.

Is this... a sign of sudden death?

Jiang Ming subconsciously reached out to support his throbbing forehead, but felt his consciousness being forcibly pulled out of his body by an irresistible, invisible force.

His vision instantly rose, piercing through the ceiling, allowing him to see the entire building and the city's night view.

No, that's not right.

The next second, his vision plummeted again, passing right through his head.

He "saw" it.

Deep within his mind, in that chaotic ocean of consciousness, an incredibly complex emblem composed of pure light was being illuminated stroke by stroke.

The moment the emblem took shape, a cold, absolutely neutral stream of information, devoid of any human emotion, poured directly into his mind.

[Fate Selection System]

[Binding successful...]

[Host initial activation detected...]

[New player benefits are being distributed...]

The impact of this information flow instantly invigorated Jiang Ming.

Hallucination?

Hallucinations caused by overwork?

He pinched his thigh hard.

"hiss!"

The intense pain was clearly felt; the stinging sensation at the nerve endings was so real that it could not be simulated by any hallucination.

All of this is true.

Just as Jiang Ming was confirming reality due to the pain, a slightly lively voice, completely different from the cold information flow just now, rang directly in his mind.

"Ding dong! Your newbie gift pack has arrived, please check it!"

The sound even had a playful echo.

Immediately afterwards, three cards emitting a soft glow slowly appeared in Jiang Ming's "vision".

Every option is crystal clear.

"Please make your choice within one minute. The countdown has started now. If you don't choose within the time limit, you will be randomly assigned, dear!"

The system's voice sounded again, carrying an undeniable lightness.

Jiang Ming forced himself to calm down.

He is someone who knows how to exploit information asymmetry and human weaknesses. Although he is currently on the defensive, it is precisely in times like these that he needs to remain calm.

He stared at the three options that appeared in his mind and began to analyze them quickly.

The first option card depicts a pile of gleaming gold banknotes.

A. An unexpected windfall of 100,000 yuan.

Following this is a line of small print explaining that the funds will be transferred to the host's designated bank account within the next three days in the form of "lottery winnings," through completely legal channels, without any concerns about the source of the funds.

One hundred thousand.

Jiang Ming's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.

This money was like a godsend for him.

He can immediately pay off his Huabei and credit card debts, pay the rent for the next year, and even have a large sum of money left over, allowing him to temporarily escape the predicament of making a living by taking odd jobs and properly plan for the future.

This is the most direct and effective solution.

Jiang Ming suppressed his excitement and shifted his focus to the second option.

The card depicts an abstract human figure editing at high speed, with countless lines of light and shadow flowing from his fingertips.

【B. Proficient video editing skills】

The explanation is equally concise and clear: After making the selection, the host will immediately master a full set of top-level video editing, post-production effects, and professional color grading skills, making them competent for any commercial project.

Jiang Ming's breath hitched.

If option A is a quick fix, then option B is a permanent solution.

He was very clear about his current skill level: mediocre, relying entirely on staying up all night and piling up materials.

If he possesses master-level skills, he could easily apply for a job at a top-tier GG company or MCN agency in a first-tier city, and earning ten times the salary wouldn't be a problem.

No more serving those demanding and eccentric clients, no more staying up all night for a few hundred dollars' worth of orders.

This is the best way to improve his current job situation and elevate his social class.

The first two options were both very practical, so practical that Jiang Ming found it difficult to choose.

One is cash that provides timely help, and the other is a skill that teaches people how to fish.

Whichever he chooses, his life will immediately take a completely new turn, and he will bid farewell to his current hopeless existence.

His consciousness slowly shifted to the last option.

When Jiang Ming saw the pattern and words on the third card, he froze.

The card's design is exceptionally simple, featuring only a black raven against a dark red sky.

【C. Raven Summoning Spell (Beginner)】

The explanation of the information flow follows: at a location specified by the host (within a current radius of 1 kilometer), all ravens within that area can be summoned, and simple commands can be given to them, including but not limited to [hover], [land], and [gather].

Raven... Summoning spell?

Jiang Ming's heart began to race uncontrollably, pounding heavily against his chest with each beat.

What is this?

The first two options, no matter how tempting, are essentially still within the framework of "reality." They are tools for optimizing one's life, shortcuts for an ordinary person to live a better life.

But this third option is completely different.

Its art style suddenly changed.

This was completely beyond anything Jiang Ming had known in the past twenty-two years.

Summon crows?

What's the use of this?

Is it meant to scare away the barking dogs downstairs? Or is it to help me steal the cured meat my neighbor is drying?

This option is useless in resolving any of his current predicaments.

It brings in no income and does not improve any of his skills that he needs to make a living.

It is a purely "cost-effective" option.

but……

That's a fucking summoning spell!

It's magic! It's the supernatural! It's something that only exists in novels and movies!

Deep within Jiang Ming's heart, the soul of a "fun-loving person" whose edges had been worn smooth by the mundane routine of daily life was completely ignited at this moment.

In my mind, that playful system voice rang out again, with a sense of urging.

"Time remaining, 30 seconds."

"29".

"28".

The cold, digital countdown pounded on Jiang Ming's heart.

100,000 yuan... Master-level technology... Summoning crows...

Three options spun wildly in his mind.

Jiang Ming slowly exhaled, no longer hesitating.

"I choose C!"