NPC, but Defeated Champions

NPC, but Defeated Champions

Ling Yi was a well-known bounty hunter in a post-apocalyptic world. During a mission, she unexpectedly traveled to the future. Her old world had been turned into a holographic game, and people from around the globe were eagerly participating. Ling Yi, however, had no interest in it; all she wanted was to relax and live a carefree life. But in the future, everything costs money. Struggling to afford basic necessities, she starts wondering if she should return to her old profession. Just then, an advertisement echoed worldwide— “Season S9 is about to begin! Welcome all players to join! The prize pool has accumulated to 10 billion!” Ling Yi: “...” "One last job, then I’ll go back to lounging around." The new season of Wasteland: Reboot had begun, and players were eager to jump in, all aiming for that 10 billion prize. Major clubs were sending out their top players, while the audience was hyped up for the competition: “AA is the reigning champion; they’ll surely defend their title!” “BB is a three-time champion; this season they’ll return to the top!” “CC, the eternal runner-up—will they finally take the crown this time?” Then, an unnoticed newcomer appeared. She crushed AA, knocked out BB, and unexpectedly took home the S9 season championship. A dark horse had emerged, stunning everyone. And this dark horse had a rather plain ID—“Lurker 01.”

Ling Yi died.

Not long ago, she went to the bounty guild as usual, took on a cleanup mission.

A normal contaminated area, a crazed aberrant species, after killing it with a single strike, Ling Yi yawned, thinking this haul was quite profitable, and she could laze around in the base for ten to fifteen days.

Who would have thought, a mysterious black light attacked, and even Ling Yi’s super S-grade physique couldn’t dodge it.

You can’t walk by the river without getting your shoes wet.

Ling Yi died quite calmly, just feeling a bit regretful—such a large bounty, gone.

When she opened her eyes again, Ling Yi found the light blinding, and as she was adjusting, jeers came from around her.

“Yo, why are you standing still?”

“Giving up already?”

“No way, no way, you’re a training camp player, how can you be this bad?”

The booing grew louder, and as Ling Yi adjusted to the bright light, she saw the situation before her.

It was a very spacious area, like a semicircular stadium, with dazzling lights above and the seats filled with variously dressed spectators, who were shouting loudly.

Normally, with so many people talking, it should be hard to hear what they’re saying, but Ling Yi’s hearing had been specially trained, allowing her to roughly make out their words.

A competition?

A bounty?

This thought struck Ling Yi like an electric current.

She still didn’t understand where she was, but it didn’t matter, for a bounty hunter, money is the best friend, and she’s most willing to go through thick and thin for a friend.

“Countdown begins, the second round of PK will start in ten seconds.”

“10, 9, 8…”

Ling Yi focused and saw her opponent in front of her.

It was a nearly two-meter-tall man, very robust, with muscles bulging all over, veins on his neck standing out from exertion, wearing a helmet, only vaguely visible were a pair of crimson eyes.

“6, 5, 4…”

The countdown made him even more excited, his strong muscles bulging, his fists clenched making cracking sounds, he didn’t carry any weapons, his iron-like fists were his weapons.

“3, 2…”

Ling Yi was slightly stunned, she saw two lines above the opponent’s head—

Name: Li Chui.

HP: 1000.

What the hell?

In this moment of distraction, the man named Li Chui charged, throwing a punch at Ling Yi, gasps came from around, and some excitedly shouted.

Li Chui’s punch must have weighed at least eight hundred kilograms, if hit, his opponent’s brain would splatter instantly.

However, Ling Yi sidestepped, easily dodging.

She was momentarily stunned by the two lines above Li Chui’s head, but Li Chui’s punch was too slow for her, in Ling Yi’s rich combat experience, attacks dozens of times faster and stronger were common.

“Oh ho! Dodged!”

“What’s the use of dodging, she’s only got that much HP left, can’t hold on.”

“Stop struggling, hurry up and get eliminated for the next round, such a no-suspense match, wasting everyone’s time.”

“Yeah yeah, Brother Hammer, hurry up, send this little girl home!”

The clamor from the audience, Li Chui couldn’t hear clearly, he was stunned, by the missed punch.

How did she dodge it?

Li Chui looked at this petite woman, he hadn’t taken this straggler seriously, dragging the match until now was just playing with her like a cat with a mouse.

But for some reason, a chill rose in his heart.

It’s still the same person, but something suddenly changed.

In those few minutes of rest, she seemed like a different person.

The timid and uneasy expression faded, the tearful eyes became as sharp as a leopard’s, even her breathing…

Li Chui was surprised to find, he couldn’t hear her breathing!

Not good!

Li Chui’s heart skipped a beat, instinctively making a defensive move, but soon he felt absurd, what’s there to defend against, a waste who’s been in the training camp for four years, hasn’t even awakened a talent…

A dull thud.

Followed by a splatter, Li Chui was pushed back dozens of steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The entire venue fell silent, no one saw what exactly happened.

Ling Yi had no habit of holding back, one of her favorite jobs was—finishing off.

A figure as fast as lightning flashed by, Ling Yi’s foot landed, the heel stepping on the man’s chest, with the force of a thousand pounds.

A crack, the sound of ribs breaking, the fallen Li Chui felt intense pain, his mouth wide open, blood mixed with fragments of internal organs spilling out, his face turning pale.

Name: Li Chui.

HP: 0.

Ling Yi didn’t look at these two lines, only when the man completely stopped breathing did she ease the force on her foot.

The large venue, the audience seats were dead silent.

Until the system voice sounded: “Player ‘Passerby01’ defeated player ‘Li Chui’, winning this match.”

A white light descended, Li Chui was teleported out.

Ling Yi heard a voice in her mind: “Congratulations on winning this match, one thousand bounty has been issued, please check.”

A ding, followed by the sound of coins clattering to the ground.

Ling Yi was stunned, didn’t see a thousand dollars appear before her, only saw a line of numbers: Coins +1000.

Ling Yi: “?” Where’s the money.

What the hell are coins.

A panel suddenly appeared before her eyes.

At the top were two words—Inventory.

Below were ten empty slots.

At the bottom was a line of small text—Coins: 1520.

Ling Yi tapped, and a dialog box popped up: “Withdraw?”

Ling Yi: “…”

“Please enter the withdrawal amount.”

Ling Yi entered a string of numbers.

The next moment, a cloth bag-like item appeared in her palm, Ling Yi opened the bag, saw a pile of golden coins,

And the detailed information beside it.

Item: A bag of coins.