Rebirth and a Fateful Encounter

My name is Ye Jue, and I was an ordinary university student—that is, until a certain incident irrevocably altered my life.

As a gaming enthusiast, I had carved out a respectable reputation as a warrior in the recently launched Divine Realm. I had only joined the game a month after its release, right after completing my college entrance exams.

Despite my late start as a Berserker, my natural talent and diligent study allowed me to achieve considerable success. I rose to become the vice-captain and commander of my guild’s elite squad.

Our guild was merely a mid-sized one, ranking in the low twenties, yet it was a harmonious community. The guild leader, a man of gentle demeanor and superior skill, entrusted the command to me nonetheless.

He had simply stated, “I believe your command is superior to mine.”

Profoundly grateful for his trust and recognition, I strove to live up to his expectations, leading our team to considerable renown.

Five years into Divine Realm’s operation, I had also found a girlfriend—a charming and active guild member with a captivating allure.

She had approached me first, and finding her agreeable, I readily entered into a relationship with her.

I had always believed this tranquil life would endure, until one day, with the assistance of several elite guild members, I completed a hidden quest and acquired an epic-tier staff.

It was the very first epic staff in Divine Realm.

The guild leader gravely warned me, “Under no circumstances should you reveal this. Not even to your girlfriend. The brothers here are the only ones you can trust.”

At the time, I didn’t grasp why he specifically mentioned my girlfriend, and I agreed without much thought.

Yet, the secret was leaked, and I found myself cornered by ‘Heaven,’ the top guild. Their aggressive tactics enraged me. Though I had initially considered surrendering the staff to appease them, I chose to resist to the very end.

Not a single guild member flinched from the fight. Even the guild leader assured me, “Peerless Karma Fire, our brothers will not abandon you.”

I pressed, “Leader, have you identified the traitor?”

He met my gaze. “The traitor is the only one not currently with us.”

I froze, glancing around at our assembled brothers. Everyone was present, save for a few who were offline. A chilling possibility dawned on me.

‘Is it her?’

I watched the guild leader in trembling silence, understanding then that it was indeed that woman. I couldn’t believe three years of love had been so callously sold out.

“Leader, this is all my fault. I’ve brought disaster upon our brothers.”

The guild leader calmly replied, “We are brothers.”

Tears welling in my eyes, I surveyed our surroundings and nodded heavily.

Ultimately, we lost that guild battle. Our guild shattered, our members’ morale plummeted, and many chose to depart.

They didn’t resent me for not surrendering the staff; they simply left quietly, unable to bear the humiliation.

****

Suddenly, I received a message from the leader of the ‘Heaven’ guild.

[Surrender the staff, or you can forget about your parents’ lives.]

I dismissed it as a threat and promptly deleted the message.

Yet, days later, my parents were involved in a bizarre car accident, passing away before I could see them one last time.

My heart turned to ash. A chilling realization struck me: that damned woman must have divulged the information.

With a bitter scoff, I silently exited Divine Realm, mailing the staff to the guild leader before I left.

The guild leader, who knew my phone number, called me. His voice was laced with fatigue.

–Peerless Karma Fire, were those your parents?–

The accident had already been reported on the news.

I replied indifferently, “Yes.”

The guild leader hesitated. –Peerless Karma Fire, what do you intend to do?–

I pleaded, –I know your family has some connections, Leader. Can you help me track down that bastard’s itinerary?–

The guild leader fell silent.

After a long pause, he finally said, –I can provide it, but you absolutely must not do anything foolish.– I casually agreed.

I managed to secure a job as a hotel waiter, and when that bastard arrived, I plunged the knife I had long hidden into his heart.

Though his bodyguards drew their guns and shot me down, I saw the terror etched on his face.

I smiled, tears streaming down my face. I knew he wouldn’t survive, nor would I, but I was utterly relieved. My vengeance was finally complete.

****

Suddenly, I awoke, shocked to find myself alive and returned to five years ago, just as Divine Realm was about to launch.

I was overjoyed to be granted a second chance at life, an opportunity to rectify the regrets of my past. In my previous life, I had narrowly missed admission to Z University, a shortcoming I was now absolutely determined to overcome.

I logged into Divine Realm on its opening day. Gazing at the familiar yet hazy login screen, I smiled and swiftly selected my class.

I must have been the first to enter the game. After a brief familiarization with the controls, I accepted a few novice tasks and ventured out.

Though I had joined late in my previous life, my habit of frequenting forums meant I was well-aware of the initial events unfolding within the game.

At the village entrance, I spotted a young girl. She was exquisitely beautiful, like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.

She appeared to be only about fifteen years old. Could she be an NPC?

I knew that NPCs in Divine Realm possessed a high degree of autonomy; for instance, you might find a blacksmith’s shop closed because the blacksmith had gone traveling.

“Hello, can I help you with anything?”

Having found no information about this girl on the forums, I resorted to the standard way of addressing an NPC.

“Are you a player?”

The young girl asked, her small mouth slightly agape.

She called me a ‘player,’ not an ‘outsider’ as NPCs usually did. After a brief conversation, I realized she was indeed a player, albeit one who resembled a loli.

‘She’s lost?’

I was speechless. The beginner village roads were not complicated, merely a few main paths and some small alleys. Moreover, the map was fully revealed, making it almost impossible to get lost while consulting it.

I led her to accept a few quests, and while helping her fight monsters, I discovered she possessed a hidden class.

‘Why had I never heard of such a unique individual in my previous life?’