My Dream After Having a Do Over Is To Become The Best Player (Patreon)

Chapter 1: Starting Over

Late at night, in the quietness of the Qingzhu Premium Residential District in Jinhai City.

Shi Feng sat silently on the soft leather sofa, holding a stack of documents in his hand, gazing out at the swimming pool through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filled with a sense of loss and unwillingness.

Despite once being one of the leading figure of Penumbra Studio, one of the four major gaming studios in Jinhai City, commanding tens of thousands of active members in the Penumbra Gaming Studio Guild — Duskwalkers Union— as their Guild Leader, and also a renowned expert player in Jinhai City, he now could only sit at home, drinking to ease his sorrows.

Ten years of gaming career.

Ten years of bloody battles.

After experiencing countless pains and hardships, he finally led the [Duskwalkers Union] to establish ten major city-states in [God's Domain], ready to compete with other High-Tier Guilds and enjoy endless glory. But now, all of that had become a fleeting memory with just a piece of paper, never to return.

Shi Feng had never imagined that his ten years of hard work would be in vain. For the sake of the game, he had sacrificed so much, only to end up as someone else's pawn. Everything was because he opposed Blue Flower Consortium — Penumbra Studio parent company—, decision to merge into one of the [Premier Guild], [Warlord Dominion]. The next day, the Blue Flower Consortium gave him a reply: they deleted his LV.200 Sword King account, which he had spent ten years nurturing, and settled his salary at the finance department.

All he could get was five million credits and a luxury mansion. Compared to the ten major city-states he had built and the virtual kingdom that brought in riches every day, it was nothing.

Thinking of how much he had contributed to Penumbra Studio Parent Company, turning the Blue Flower Consortium from some random company into a one of the city entertainment bigwing, most of the credit was his. Yet the result was being discarded like garbage. Shi Feng vowed to retaliate against the Blue Flower Consortium for their actions.

"I will not let this go easily. I'll start over if I have to."

Confidence and determination gleamed in Shi Feng's eyes as he tore the termination contract into shreds, then picked up a bottle of red wine from the table and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

Even without the Sword King account and the support of his team, his skills and knowledge in the game would not betray him. As long as his skills remained, he could rise again in God's Domain and establish another virtual kingdom of his own.

Early in the morning, as the sun was just rising.

Bibibibibp—! Bibibibibip—!

The sound of the phone ringing incessantly.

Shi Feng, displeased at being woken up, reluctantly got out of bed and picked up the phone beside him. He was still feeling the effects of last night's drinking.

"Hello, what's up?"

"Feng, it's me, Hei Zi. What do you mean, what's up? We agreed to become professional gamers. Today is the day when the Penumbra Studio Club at school is recruiting new members. Weren't you always wanting to become a core member of Penumbra Studio?"

Hearing his friend's words, Shi Feng was a bit confused.

He had just been fired by the Gaming Studio Parent company, what use would it be for him to go for the Penumbra Studio assessment?

Even if the team leader of the assessment is the Gaming Studio leader, he wouldn’t even dare to accept him, right?

"Hei Zi, did you go hiking in the mountains yesterday? The Gaming Studio had just fired me, how come you don't know about it?”

"Hah? Fired? Feng, how much did you drink yesterday? You're still not awake? Penumbra Studio hasn't recruited anyone yet, how could you be fired? Alright, hurry up and come over."

Before Shi Feng could react, Hei Zi hung up the phone.

With a heavy head, Shi Feng glanced at the phone and realized that this old iPhone 6 was not his phone at all; his phone was the latest iPhone 12.

He looked around the messy room, less than fifteen square meters in size, filled with books about gaming strategies. There was also a laptop on the desk, a very outdated model. In the corner of the room, there was a wardrobe with many clothes scattered around, and in the wardrobe's full-length mirror, a familiar face appeared.

Seeing this incredibly familiar face, Shi Feng was suddenly startled.

‘Why do I look younger?’ Shi Feng immediately got up and walked to the mirror, repeatedly checking his reflection to confirm that he had indeed become younger.

Yesterday, he was sleeping in a spacious and luxurious bedroom. Now, he woke up in this shabby place, and he was younger.

He still had some memories of this place. It was a small house he rented ten years ago to focus on conquering God's Domain during his senior year. He lived here for over half a year. Later, after earning some money in God's Domain, he rented a large apartment in the city.

Back then, life was extremely difficult. His family wasn't well-off, and they had accumulated quite a bit of debt for him to attend college. Despite this, his parents worked hard every month to send him enough money to live on.

Shi Feng was determined to earn money to change his family's situation. However, with college graduates everywhere struggling to find decent-paying jobs, he realized it was harder than he thought. So, he turned to the most profitable virtual game. To improve his gaming skills, he reluctantly bought a virtual helmet and aimed to become a professional gamer, practicing diligently in the virtual world.

During that time, he survived on plain steamed buns and instant noodles. In order to save money, he never attended any gatherings or social events organized by his classmates, making him an invisible figure in the class. The boys despised him, and the girls kept their distance. Whenever he went to the supermarket to buy instant noodles, he barely had ten credits in his wallet. He couldn't even afford a one-credit sausage. The female cashier took pity on him and recommended discounted ham, but Shi Feng, despite being tempted, resisted with gritted teeth.

‘Could someone be playing a trick on me?’

Shi Feng shook his head at the familiar scene and his younger reflection in the mirror, denying the thought.

Even the most advanced technology in Japan wouldn't be capable of reversing aging like this, and even if they do have it, who in their right mind would use it on an old man like him?

Shi Feng glanced at the time on his phone.

April 19, 2129.

Huh, that’s weird, I’m pretty sure my phone isn’t broken, did I accidentally sleepwalk my way into the Doraemon time machine and go back in time?’ Shi Feng's face revealed a bitter smile as he joked.

He remembered today was August 5, 2139. It couldn't be April in 2129, when he was still in his senior year.

Shi Feng shook his head, trying to clear his mind, but he couldn't help but hold onto a glimmer of hope. He hoped he had really been truly sent back ten years. So, he walked to the computer desk and turned on the laptop.

If the time on his phone could be manipulated, then the news on the internet couldn't be faked, right?

After browsing the internet for a few minutes...

Shi Feng was utterly shocked. All the information he searched for online confirmed that it was indeed April 19, 2129. Even the official website clearly stated that the globally popular God's Domain would officially open in six days, on April 25th.

‘I really have come to the past!’ Shi Feng stared fixedly at the news about God's Domain, tears of excitement brimming in his eyes.

At this moment, Shi Feng's emotions were indescribable; there was regret, sorrow, and joy.

It all felt like a dream.

But the cicadas chirping outside the window and the cold air blowing from the air conditioner reminded Shi Feng that all of this was real.

Looking at the family photo from his college days on his phone, Shi Feng noticed something he hadn't before: his father had gray hair now, and there were wrinkles at the corners of his mother's eyes. They had indeed aged, no longer as vibrant as before.

When he realized how his parents had aged, it was a year and a half after God's Domain had opened. The high debt, heavy labor, and stress had caused both of them to fall seriously ill. The cost of treatment would require several million credits, but at that time, Shi Feng was just a small squad leader in Penumbra Studio, and the money he earned couldn't cover such expensive expenses.

To raise money, Shi Feng tried every possible way, but it still wasn't enough. Even though Shi Feng did everything he could to sustain them, his parents passed away a few months later.

In his previous life, he didn't take good care of his parents. Who would understand the pain and regret?

Even though Shi Feng later earned millions of credits, it remained a constant source of pain for him.

He never expected fate to play such a joke on him, actually sending him back to square one, starting from scratch.

"Good, this is great, hahaha. Since I've been reborn, I'll change everything. I'll earn enough money, cure my parents' illness, and relieve them from life's burdens." Shi Feng wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and made a silent vow.

As Shi Feng was planning his future, Hei Zi called again, urging him to go to the university for the assessment.

However, Shi Feng remained calm and composed. He dressed neatly, tidied himself up, and then headed to Jinhai University.

He was extremely familiar with Penumbra Studio.

He remembered during his college days when Lan Hailong, the eldest son of the Blue Flower Consortium CEO, established the Penumbra Gaming Studio and provided a large amount of funding, organizing talented students from Jinhai University to conquer God's Domain. He had also participated in the assessment and became a core member. Hei Zi became a peripheral member. He had been happy for quite some time back then.

Three years later, when the Penumbra Gaming Studio had him as its God Domain  [Duskwalkers Union] Guild Leader, he was able to made substantial profits for the Blue Flower Consortium via God's Domain, instantly pushing the company into becoming a major entertainment company in Jinhai City. However, he was ultimately expelled by Lan Hailong himself.

Since he had time traveled into the past and had an incomparable advantage in God's Domain due to his future knowledge, he naturally didn't intend to join Penumbra Studio again, becoming a tool for others to make money. He wanted to take a different path, to strive for his own life, not relying on his parents for living expenses anymore, and paying off all debts. So, he wanted to start a business, open his own studio, establish his own company, and build his own virtual empire to live a better life.

When Shi Feng arrived at Building 1 of the university, he saw a tall and thin figure with dark skin pacing anxiously at the entrance. It was Hei Zi.

"Feng, you finally came. Fortunately, registration hasn't closed yet. Let's go in and register quickly," Hei Zi said anxiously when he saw Shi Feng.

Shi Feng shook his head and said seriously, "Hei Zi, I don't plan to join Penumbra Studio. I want to open my own studio. Will you come with me?"

Shi Feng and Hei Zi had met in a virtual game. Hei Zi had excellent skills, and they had teamed up to conquer challenges. They were like brothers. During their time in Penumbra Studio, although Hei Zi lacked gaming talent, his management skills were outstanding, managing the guild of tens of thousands of people efficiently. If Hei Zi helped, their goals could be achieved even faster. However, Shi Feng would respect Hei Zi's choice. After all, he had nothing now, and Hei Zi's family situation wasn't good either. They had both decided to become professional gamers to make a living by joining Penumbra Studio.

Hei Zi was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but lower his head in silence. Shi Feng's words came too suddenly, and today's Shi Feng felt different. He exuded confidence and tranquility, unlike his previous restless self.

After a full minute, Hei Zi looked up at Shi Feng.

"Feng, don't talk nonsense. Do you know how much a virtual helmet costs? It's 8,000 credits each. To start a studio, you need at least six people, not to mention the workspace and paying salaries. Just the initial investment alone would be seventy to eighty thousand credits, not to mention ongoing expenses. That's a lot of money. But do you have that much money now?" Hei Zi understood Shi Feng's situation very well and wanted to persuade him to give up this crazy idea.

"You're right. I don't even have enough money to buy a God's Domain virtual helmet." Shi Feng nodded silently in acknowledgment. As Hei Zi said, even seventy to eighty thousand credits would be an understatement. He remembered that the hundred-member studio recruited by Lan Feilong cost over five million credits, and later, to improve the studio's quality and strength, they spent a lot more.

"Since that's the case, why take the risk? Joining Penumbra Studio would be more stable. At least they can provide virtual helmets. Otherwise, we won't even be able to play, let alone become professional gamers." Hei Zi could see that Shi Feng understood the key issue, and he immediately felt relieved. He then grabbed Shi Feng's hand to enter the teaching building.

Shi Feng shook off Hei Zi's hand and looked at him seriously. "But I still intend to open my own studio. I don't want to be controlled by others. Hei Zi, will you join me?"

Shi Feng wouldn't force Hei Zi. After all, he had no guarantees, and he couldn't reveal the secret of being reborn. He just hoped that Hei Zi would trust him.

Seeing Shi Feng's serious expression, Hei Zi felt that Shi Feng was acting strangely today. He seemed too reckless. It was common knowledge that it was impossible to make money in the early stages of a virtual game. Did Shi Feng have a way to make money in God's Domain? Even if they made money, it would take several months. They didn't have that much time to waste.

After hesitating for a while, Hei Zi gritted his teeth and finally agreed. "I understand. We are friends, and friends go through thick and thin together, I'll join you in opening the studio. But what about the virtual helmets? Without them, we can't play the game."

Shi Feng's furrowed brow immediately relaxed, and he happily patted Hei Zi's shoulder. "Thank you for having faith in me. Don't worry about the virtual helmets. I remember there's a trial play promotion for college students in God's Domain. They distribute them in every university. As long as we show our student IDs, we can get the virtual helmets for a ten-day trial for free. Let's go check it out."

"What about after ten days?" Hei Zi's dark complexion turned even darker at this point, feeling that the future looked bleak. Why did he believe in Shi Feng? Was it because of Shi Feng's confidence and tranquility? Was it really okay to start a business with Shi Feng?

What could they accomplish in ten days?

Ten days later, they would definitely miss the prime time for major studios to recruit people. In the end, they would still need to buy virtual helmets. But where would they get the money?

To earn 16,000 credits in ten days in God's Domain was a pipe dream. Even a professional player in a team couldn't achieve that!

“As I said before, leave the issue regarding the money to me.”

Shi Feng patted Hei Zi's shoulder, revealing a confident smile.

Earning 16,000 credits in ten days was unrealistic, but he had the courage of a person that came from the future. No matter what difficulties he faced, he would overcome them one by one.

And the opening of God's Domain was the beginning of his rise.

Afterward, Shi Feng took Hei Zi to collect the trial helmets and spent all their money on instant noodles, placing them by the computer desk in the rented room. Two large boxes were enough for more than ten days' worth of food. Then, he explained some things about God's Domain and quietly waited for the opening of the game.

At 9:00 p.m. on April 25th, a few faint lights flickered in the dim and quiet room.

Shi Feng lay quietly on the bed, closed his eyes, and gently clicked the start button on the helmet.

"God's Domain, here I come."

_______________

Tn: For those who are confused on how the chain goes, it's like this.

Shi Feng work as the Guild Leader of [Duskwalkers Union], the Guild on the game [God's Domain], one of the VR game that the Gaming Studio, [Penumbra Gaming Studio], invest their time into, and the Blue Flower Consortium is the name of the company who owned the [Penumbra Gaming Studio]

Basically, Blue Flower Consortium own Penumbra Gaming Studio, Penumbra Gaming Studio own Duskwalkers Union, and Shi Feng is the Guild Leader of Duskwalkers Union