Necromancer's Second-Original Chat Group

"You saw it too?" Wan Qi pointed to the advertisement video for "1999".

"Is...this...could it also be some kind of mystical art?"

Anyone who suddenly finds themselves transformed into a character in a game would question their existence, and that's exactly how Virtue is right now; she's feeling uneasy.

"No, no, no, this is just a mobile game, a mobile game." Wan Qi then explained the "world mirror mapping theory" to Wilting. After listening, the latter immediately calmed down. She was just startled by the sudden influx of information. After a short while, Miss Sichen quickly regained her composure. Seeing that Wilting was alright, Wan Qi continued, "However, this game is indeed not available in our hometown."

"Are there no mobile games in Wanqi's hometown?"

"Yes, there are some, but in my hometown, the most developed area is single-player games."

"Is there any explanation for this?" Veldine asked.

"It can be considered part of the national cultural strategy. After the South China Sea standoff ended, the United States began a comprehensive strategic contraction, and the dollar system collapsed. Due to the economic crisis caused by the collapse of the dollar, the cultural moat of the Western world also collapsed. President Ibrahim believed that this was a good opportunity for China's cultural field to go global. Therefore, he vigorously supported domestic single-player games and proposed the concept of edutainment and cultural revitalization in the new era. Single-player games are regarded as works of art that transcend reality and virtuality. It was from 1990 that our country's single-player games exploded. Real-time strategy game 'World War,' first-person role-playing game 'Age of Revolution,' real-time tactics game 'Workers' War,' farming game 'I Am a Farmer,' and a large number of AAA single-player games that could compete with similar games in Europe and America emerged and were quickly ported to mobile platforms. After 2008, smartphones became widespread, and these classic single-player games followed suit, which in a sense can be considered a new form of mobile games."

"So, how are the mobile games in this world different from the mobile games you know?" Veltin asked.

"The biggest difference is here." Wan Qi opened the recharge interface of "1999" and said with a look of disgust, "They actually dared to raise the recharge amount to 648 yuan. In our country, this is considered gambling. They would be summoned by the police. All these kinds of mobile games that require recharge cannot exceed 100 yuan of labor coins per month. Character gacha must be completed within ten draws. Character performance cannot be modified. In short, there are a lot of restrictions. I heard that they were all proposed by Chairman Yi. It seems that he foresaw what kind of messed-up things those streetlights would do in advance and blocked the way in advance."

Wilding: "Won't those mobile game companies go bankrupt if they don't make money?"

Wan Qi shrugged: "Of course not. In reality, mobile games in our country are just a side business for large single-player game companies. They just do it casually. Some mobile games are more like a way to give players benefits. After all, the overseas market is so big, and these companies can do whatever they want. Therefore, domestic game companies are honestly in the service industry, but they are treated like royalty overseas. Anyway, foreign companies can't compete with them in terms of technology. They've come up with all sorts of things like character constellation splitting, weapon single pulls, and no pity system. Take it or leave it. The main income comes from overseas."

Wilting: "In other words, it means you can't harm your own people, right?"

"This is the most basic conscience, okay? Companies that don't even have this much conscience will be subject to mandatory measures in our country. At the very least, the relevant stakeholders will be sentenced to at least five years of hard labor."

"Doesn't the false god feel that your country gives people a very unrealistic feeling?"

"Really? Isn't this all just common sense?"

“People who are living in happiness think all of this is normal,” Virtue remarked.

Wan Qi thought about it and realized that if you take away his experience of being imprisoned in the Red Sea world, Virtin's life was indeed much harder than his own. It turns out that he lived in a honey pot in his previous life.

I've decided to find some time to collect information about this world, and then compare it with my hometown to see why the two worlds of Cinta are so different.

After that, Vanchi and Virtin focused their attention entirely on the game "Back to the Future: 1999".

If this is a mapping of the world where Veldine lives, then how much exactly does it map?

Just as the two were preparing to launch "1999", a news article caught Wan Qi's attention.

“Vildin, look over there.”

A brand new promotional video for "1999" appeared on the big screen, announcing a massive offline "1999" Cosplay competition to be held in Shanghai, with the top ten winners receiving early access to the new version of the game.

The storyline is now available ahead of schedule!

Wanqi and Virtin exchanged a glance, feeling that they couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

"Wanqi, let's go to Shanghai."

"No problem, I'll arrange it right away."

Wan Qi took out his phone to buy tickets. Luckily, when he was getting his own identity sorted out, he also got Wilting's ID sorted out at the same time. Regardless of whether the process was legal or not, since you have no magic resistance, we'll use the magic privilege channel, hehe~

Just then, Wan Qi suddenly burst out laughing.

"what happened?"

"I suddenly remembered a classic joke."

"What joke?"

"Ahem." Wan Qi cleared his throat, then pretended to be serious and said, "Congratulations to student Virtue for winning second place in the Virtue Imitation Contest! Pfft, hahahahaha!"

Virtue got angry and puffed up her cheeks.

"Sorry, sorry, it just came to mind suddenly. Don't be angry, my little pufferfish."

Wan Qi reached out and pinched the other person's cheek.

It feels so good!

That afternoon, the two boarded a plane to Shanghai, 12 hours before the comic convention started.

It was already late at night, but fortunately Wan Qi had already booked a hotel, so the two of them could just go there directly.

As for the uniforms for Cospl/ay, Wanqi could easily hand-make a set for Virtue, and the quality would even be better.

As long as you don't get hung up on what these materials looked like in their most original state, it's fine.

The two of them booked a double room and didn't encounter any situations where only single rooms were available. Shanghai is so big, and there are so many hotels. Unless you're squeezing into a crowded hotel during a special holiday, you'd have a hard time sleeping on the street.

"Get some rest, we're going to the Cospl/ay convention tomorrow... What are you doing?"

"Let's sleep together." Virtin casually patted the bed next to him and extended a team invitation.

"Get some rest." Wan Qi turned and left.

I want to emphasize again, she's only 16! 16! 16! Stop having your head full of pornographic nonsense, you idiot!

"Just kidding, let's study the plot of '1999' together, it's too early now."

"Good morning? Do you think the sun's relatives are on duty in the sky right now?"

"For meditation, three hours is enough."

"That's true. Okay, by the way, where are you playing now?" Wan Qi walked over and asked.

"I just met Snyder."

At this point, "1999" did not have a story skipping function, but the two were indeed seriously going through the story, so whether or not they skipped the story did not affect their progress on the main storyline. After all, others were playing a game, while they were watching the changes in the world line.

"I didn't run into Wan Qi." Virtue was disappointed.

"I think this is quite normal."

"why?"

"Because games need balance, but reality doesn't, and for me, this game is really too unbalanced."

Wan Qi shrugged; this was no polite way of putting it.

Although the best games in his hometown in his previous life were mostly single-player games, games share many commonalities and are similar in genre, especially games with story, character development, and combat systems. If your character can fight the boss right after logging in, would you still want to play? It's like the Soviet Union collapsing right after its founding, and you're speedrunning through it.

Chicago says: Yes, I am the one whose balance has been disrupted!

"Can't we add Wanqi in?" Virtue asked.

"It's not impossible, but given how this game is going to develop, when I enter the game, I'll either have to trade one for one with Arcana, or I'll be completely paralyzed from the waist down in one battle, and then I'll have to fight as a support character, instead of being a cheat that can attack, heal, tank, boost the turn meter, chase, and has an infinite number of ultimate abilities."

"What a pity, I thought we could train him." Virtin said disappointedly, then looked at Wan Qi with longing.

Hey, what's with that "let me grow up a bit" look on your face?!

"What do you think of this game?" Virtin asked while playing. The game currently doesn't have an auto-battle feature.

It is rated as inferior to Bengtie (Gong Huo).

Regarding this issue, Wan Qi bluntly stated: "Well, the gameplay is mediocre. As a mobile game, its core function should be relaxation and less about operation, but the current configuration is completely in the 'I teach players how to play the game' posture. This issue will definitely cause a scandal later. As for the plot, it's so-so, involving many common sense errors."

That's normal. This world has neither mystical arts nor magic. It would be strange if there were no common-sense errors in the extraordinary power derived solely from imagination.

As for DeepBlue Interactive, the company behind "Back to the Future: 1999," it was only founded in 2020, making it less than three years old at the time. However, considering the average lifespan of internet companies, it is already considered long-lived.

"I think that without Wan Qi, the story might have really gone exactly as described in the game."

"It's not that exaggerated. Even if the general direction is the same, there will be many differences in the details."

"But the result was not good."

According to the game's storyline, the torrential rain will take away Sofby's butler, Carson, and the Snyder sisters and the mafia members who came with them will disappear. Virtin tried his best to protect everyone, but only achieved a partial victory.

Or rather, could that be considered a victory?

Compared to Virtue's real experiences, the story in the game seems to be the closest to reality because it better reflects Virtue's perception of the world and the sense of powerlessness she has faced since childhood.

She knew very well that she was not qualified to confront Arcana as a chess player. Just like in the story of "1999", she was valued because of her special immunity to rainstorms, and there might be other reasons as well, but these were the reasons why the other party valued her. If it were a matter of equals, Arcana and Constantine would be the chess players, and she would at most be a relatively important piece on the chessboard. Within the rules, chess pieces cannot harm chess players.

But Wan Qi's appearance was like taking himself off the chessboard, putting himself in the lead against Arcana and Constantine. It was like having Emperor Jing of Han appear while playing chess, and the opponent's physical qualities were on par with Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu.

And so the story took a completely different turn.

Forget-Me-Not joined, Snyder was saved, Carson the butler was unexpectedly protected, and Psyllium became a member of the Sichen team. In the subsequent game, he even had a huge advantage from the start that no one else had, and he could use this advantage to directly exchange for benefits and become the player.

The more oppressive and agonizing the story depicted in "1999" is, the more she can feel the changes brought about by Wan Qi.

It's like a person falling into the sea and about to drown, and a passing aircraft carrier pulls him out of the water.

“Wilding, don’t forget, this is your story, my story, and our story. Without anyone in this story, it wouldn’t have developed in a positive direction. This is the result we all worked hard for. Don’t forget, without your last desperate call, I would have really given up. You helped me cross that line, so I want to give you a positive answer.”

"Ah."

Virtue nodded gently, then silently hugged Wanqi tightly.

No matter what the future holds, whether it be trials or tribulations, I am happy now, much happier than I am in the game.

It's only natural for a small boat to linger in the harbor.

Now, let me just stop here for a bit.

Section 62: Virtue is still young, take safety precautions.

(First update! One more update to come (?一▽一)?)

Fate is like a river; only bystanders can see its course, but only those who are in it can make choices.

In another world, in the 2020s of the 21st century, after 1999, Virtin put on her most familiar clothes. The moment the top hat was placed on her head, the familiar Miss Sichen returned.

However, when she turns around, she smiles, because that is her haven.

"How about it?"

"Vildin asked with a smile."

"The goddess of beauty has descended."

Wan Qi gave her a thumbs up.

Next, it's time to head to the exhibition. Don't worry about wearing strange clothes; these are quite common in Shanghai. Just don't be too unconventional. The biggest characteristic of coastal cities is their openness and inclusiveness.

Except for the dragonfly (I dislike it, but not its territory).

"Checking out, thank you."

"Okay, please..."

The receptionist froze, glancing down at her phone which she had been idly using. The screen displayed the title of the novel, "1999".

He lowered his head, raised it, lowered it again, and checked it over and over.

"Oh, so you guys went to the '1999' offline Cosplay convention, right!"

“Yes.” Wilting nodded.

"Oh my god! I can't believe it, is Miss Si Chen really out of the game? Can we take a picture together?"

Veldin looked at Wan Qi, who responded with a smile.

"can."

"Great!"

After the photos were taken, the receptionist's enthusiasm noticeably increased by more than three levels.

"It's incredible, they're exactly the same! Especially the aura, how did they do that?"

Virtue could only smile politely, while Wan Qi tried to suppress his laughter.

Do you like our Sichen's temperament? You'll know once you talk to Arcana face-to-face.

This was just a minor incident, but after the two left, the receptionist immediately shared a photo of them together on her Weibo account, with the caption, "Super realistic Virtin Cosplay, stepping into reality, amazing, irresistible even with all my efforts."

However, there aren't many players of "1999," so it's just luck if you happen to run into one in real life. Anyway, the taxi driver didn't recognize them, but he could tell where the two were going.

He's a local driver; he owns three houses in Shanghai.

The assessment is: work is fun, collecting rent is life.

The offline cosplay exhibition for "1999" was packed with people, and all kinds of cosplays were everywhere. All the cosplays were characters from "1999", but most of them were just there to participate. The cosplayers who were actually competing had already registered at the exhibition, and their cosplays were of higher quality.

The general once said: Professional cosplay must be professional.

For example, Virtue was particularly professional. The moment he got out of the car, all eyes were on him. Everyone went through a process of shock, then doubt, and finally exclamations.