Chapter 3

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The parcel was a meter tall, half a meter wide, and was rather heavy. It felt like one of those boxes that contained computer equipment. But wasn’t it too heavy for computer equipment? The parcel was a meter tall, half a meter wide, and was rather heavy. It felt like one of those boxes that contained computer equipment. But wasn’t it too heavy for computer equipment?

Chu Ge sent off the courier, then carried the parcel into the living room. After unwrapping the package, he looked at what it was and was speechless. There was a computer CPU inside the box, and it looked exactly like the old-type, big and bulky computers of the early days. It was wrapped well and tightly, no wonder the box was so huge!

But why would his uncle send him a computer CPU? What did he want Chu Ge to do with it?

There was a letter attached to the computer CPU. It was his uncle’s handwriting, and the weak scrawl somehow looked very familiar and comforting to Chu Ge.

To my dear oldest nephew,

I am your uncle, Xie Tiankong. I hope you still remember who I am. It has been many years since we met, and I’m afraid you had already forgotten what I looked like.

Come to think of it, out of all the younger generation in the Chu and Xie families. You were my favorite nephew. Just before my departure, when we last met, I had agreed to take you along on an adventure after my return. Unfortunately, I was held back by some circumstances that I am still sorting out even to this day. I’m afraid I would not be able to return within the near future.

However, I have always kept my word, and I would never forget my promises. During this adventure I’m in on now, I chanced upon something very interesting, which is the CPU in the parcel. If you still have not changed your mind since our last conversation, and you are still longing for a life that’s exciting and full of adventure, then I urge you to use it. The CPU is very simple to use. However, if you are no longer yearning for an adventure, then I say you had better keep the gadget and never, ever use it. If I may say, the CPU is very dangerous. 

P.S. If you are planning to use it, make sure that your first Instance Dungeon setting is set to the Noob Difficulty level.

Your ever-loving uncle, 

Xie Tiankong

What in the world was going on? Chu Ge looked extremely confused after reading the letter. Why would there be an Instance Dungeon mentioned? Could the gadget in the parcel be a game? But why would games have any danger? It was all so puzzling and confusing!

Chu Ge still retained a vague memory of the promise made in the café ten years ago. For a long time, he had even looked forward to the adventure. But unfortunately, after waiting for a few years, Uncle Tiankong had not returned. So, he gradually forgot about the promise. 

As he grew older, he had also lost his thirst for adventuring. Perhaps, he had succumbed to reality. But after reading the letter from his uncle, the thoughts that he had buried with time were dug back out from the trenches of his mind. However, he had never imagined that Uncle Tiankong would still remember their promise. But, could it be that Uncle Tiankong’s so-called adventure was a game? Wasn’t that too shallow and superficial?

But with his uncle’s solemn and serious tone in the letter, it made him feel that things were not that simple. Even if it were a game, it was probably not any ordinary game. If not, he would not say that the CPU was very dangerous.

As Chu Ge thought about it, he quickly took out the CPU from the parcel box, eager with excitement. He connected the CPU to a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. After switching on the CPU, there was a whirling sound, and the monitor screen lit up. 

It was even running on Windows 98! On the simple blue wallpaper, besides the usual standard factory set programs of My Computer, My Files, and the Recycle Bin, there was a glaring red skeleton image that suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.

He did not rush headlong to double-click on the icon, but he went to take a look at the programs and other directories in the hard disk. It was empty, except for a folder that was named “Multi-universe Instance Dungeon System.” In the folder, there was only one file, which was the red skull icon on the desktop. What made him feel odd, was that the file size was actually reflected zero bytes. That was even more strange because, on the right, an icon size would not be in bytes. It made him feel a little curious. 

“Fine, it seems like the skull icon is it,” Chu Ge muttered to himself, and double-tapped the mouse cursor on the skull head. 

Soon, a strange page sprang forth on the monitor screen. It did not look like any game, but more like a game editor in the form of a game. There were many options and statistic-looking figures. In the blank areas under the editor, a sentence suddenly appeared. System: Welcome to the Multi-universe Instance Dungeon System. Please insert your name.

Chu Ge tried typing his name: Chu Ge.

Suddenly, there was a glow of light that emitted from the monitor screen. It frightened Chu Ge, and he did not have a chance to evade the light when it swept over his body quickly before he could react. At the same time, there was new information that kept appearing on the page. 

“New biological sample found.”

“Detecting DNA in progress.”

“DNA detection complete. The biological sample is a male, human-shaped organism with intelligence. Body is healthy and meets requirement. Establishing connection with meeting stone now.”

“Connection with meeting stone established. Adventurer, you are welcome to start your journey with the Multi-universe Instance Dungeon System.”

Chu Ge looked at the words on the monitor screen flabbergasted. The blue light just now, wasn’t his imagination…or was it?

It felt a little mystical and out-of-this-world. 

After the shock, it took a while for him to get back to his senses before he sat back down in front of the monitor. He kneaded his face hard with his hands, calmed his heart and mind, and organized his thoughts, confirming to himself that he was not dreaming. At that very moment, it suddenly occurred to him that his uncle had left with him, a very amazing gift.

First, he had to get to know and understand the use of the Multi-universe Instance Dungeon.

As he was thinking, Chu Ge started gave the Editor-like System page a closer look.

Besides the information panel located at the bottom of the page, there were also a few options at the side of the editor.

They were: View Character Stats, View Instance Dungeon Records, and Create New Instance Dungeon.

Chu Ge clicked on the View Character Stats option. 

Character Name: Chu Ge

Occupation: Trespasser

Occupation Introduction: You are an adventurer that does not belong to any Adventure World. So you will be treated as a Trespasser in all Instance Dungeons. You are unable to gain experience by killing monsters to level up. But similarly, the skills you can learn and equipment you can use will not be restricted by any race or occupation. However, you must still fulfill the stat requirement for equipping. 

Character Stats

Strength: 10

Endurance: 9Agility: 9

Vitality: 11

Intelligence: 12

Charisma: 11

Luck: 9

“My word! Why are my stats so terrible?” Chu Ge wondered. 

Based on the introduction text above, an average human’s stats will be roughly around ten points. His intelligence, vitality, and charisma stats were just a tiny bit higher than the average human. And his endurance, agility, and luck stats were just a little bit lower than the average human. 

On the whole, his stats were extremely ordinary and passable allocation for an average human. 

After checking out his stats, Chu Ge clicked on the View Instance Dungeon Records option. 

Character Name: Chu Ge

Current Trespasser Level: Level 1

Instance Dungeon Started: 0

Instance Dungeon Cleared: 0

Monsters Killed: 0

Boss Killed: 0

Loots Obtained: Nil

Accumulated DKP (Dungeon Kill Points): 0

That’s a lot of zeros. Chu Ge sighed to himself, then clicked on the third option—the Create New Instance Dungeon option.

System: Please select the Instance Dungeon level you wish to create.

Below, five options appeared. 

1. Noob Level Instance Dungeon: Even an innocent passerby can clear the Instance Dungeon. It is the most accessible Instance Dungeon.

2. Expert Level Instance Dungeon: An Instance Dungeon with normal difficulty. Suitable for Adventurers who have professional skills and some Adventuring experience. 

3. Elite Level Instance Dungeon (Locked): Normal people stay away. Only Elite Adventurers can handle the high difficulty level of the Instance Dungeon. 

4. Heroic Level Instance Dungeon (Locked): For the difficulty level of this Instance Dungeon, the enemies you face in it will not be normal monsters. Often, they would be Fallen Gods who have turned evil and wish for the destruction of the world or Demon Kings, who are seeking world domination. Hence, only a hero can save us. 

5. Godly and Demonic Level Instance Dungeon (Locked): No explanations are needed. If you do not have Godly or demi-godly strength, you had better stay away from this Instance Dungeon. Don’t come seeking death. 

Besides the Instance Dungeon levels, there was also the Instance Dungeon difficulty level, which were Easy, Normal, and Hard. That meant that even within the same level of Instance Dungeon, there were also varying levels of difficulty. 

Chu Ge, of course, still remembered his uncle’s reminder from before. So, he selected the Noob Level Instance Dungeon difficulty without hesitation. 

System: Do you wish to add in keywords? Once you add a keyword, the Instance Dungeon created would be affected by the keywords selected. 

Chu Ge wondered, “Does it decide the type and difficulty of the Instance Dungeon?” Chu Ge thought for a moment, then typed in the word “Easy.”

System Notice: Adding a keyword would cost 20 DKP. 

Chu Ge looked at his DKP amount, which was zero. In that case, he could only do without the keyword.

Deleting the “Easy” word that he had typed, Chu Ge clicked on Confirm.

System: Instance Dungeon level selection completed.

System: Instance Dungeon keyword selection completed.

System: Searching for Instance Dungeon map.

System: Randomly selecting Instance Dungeon difficulty level.

System: Creating Instance Dungeon.

At the same time, Chu Ge suddenly heard a whirling sound coming from behind him. He turned back and was quickly stunned speechless. He saw a giant, two meters in diameter, rounded glowing curtain slowing forming in the center of his living room, just after he turned around.