From Cannon Fodder to Star Conqueror

Chapter 1: Cannon Fodder in the Lines

Amber was jolted awake by a series of bumps.

When his senses returned to normal, he realized he wasn't lying inside the usual gaming pod.

Instead, he found himself seated in a confined space.

The irregular vibrations beneath him, and the scenery rushing past the small observation window on the opposite wall, all told Amber that he was inside a fast-moving vehicle.

The camouflage padding covering the walls, the symmetrically arranged seats, and the young men beside him in standard Federal officer uniforms, laughing and chatting, made Amber understand one thing: he was most likely sitting in a Federal troop transport.

"Is this a bug? Didn't I just choose to log out?"

Amber froze for a moment before noticing that his clothing looked different from what he remembered—and different from the young officers beside him.

He was wearing a long, black-gray military coat with a silver star-embroidered cape draped over his shoulders. Most notably, he had a hood on his head, and beneath the brim, a smooth, black mirrored visor completely covered his face.

"A Federal Psionic Agent? But isn't this gear only seen in war history museums?"

Amber frowned deeply.

As a loyal player of the large-scale MMORPG Starry Sky, and as one of the top three fleet commanders in the renowned guild Pink Furry Rabbits, Amber was extremely familiar with this sci-fi, space-opera-themed "monster-slaying, level-grinding" game.

While he wasn't omniscient, he knew enough to confirm that the military uniform he now wore had long been relegated to the game's museum archives.

"This isn't right... What kind of 'temporal rewind' mission is this?"

Amber had just finished commanding a major guild battle and was about to log off for a late-night snack. For him, this suspected "temporal rewind" plot mission was hardly appealing. Such tasks, focused on immersive storytelling but yielding little reward, held no interest for a hungry player eager for food.

As usual, Amber tried to pull up the game menu to log out completely.

But after several failed attempts to summon the familiar UI, Amber realized something was seriously wrong.

"Wait a minute... This can't be that kind of cliché, right?"

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a fragmented and blurry memory seemed to surface from the depths of his brain.

Amber's expression twisted as the details from this disjointed memory became clear—though the full-face visor concealed his emotions, leaving the surrounding Federal officers unaware.

This body belonged to someone also named "Amber," a newly graduated Federal officer—specifically, a Psionic Agent.

The current timeline, however, was decades before Starry Sky's in-game setting.

Just last week, the original Amber had attended his graduation ceremony and, along with his fellow graduates, had been assigned to a Federal border agricultural planet. After taking various transports—orbital elevators, ground effect vehicles, large cargo planes, and maglev trains—they had ended up 120 kilometers from their designated base.

Now, Amber found himself in this armored transport, completing the final leg of the journey.

And this was the moment Amber took control of this body.

"What is this? Soul transfer? This is absolutely ridiculous."

Amber removed the mostly decorative leather glove on his right hand and lightly ran his fingers along the cushion behind him and the folding metal seat beneath him.

The sensation of soft padding and cold metal brushing against his fingertips—something Starry Sky could never simulate—was undeniable.

The fresh air flowing from the helmet's filtration system and the subtle friction of his clothing all confirmed it: this was no longer a game.

To prevent excessive immersion, Starry Sky's developers had deliberately limited the game's realism, even though they had the technical capability to make it more lifelike.

As the Chief Operating Officer famously said: "We retained a few game-like elements so players always know they're still in a game."

Furthermore, full-dive gaming regulations strictly prohibited "time travel" plotlines to avoid confusing impressionable players.

Amber had always believed that Starry Sky, backed by state-owned investments and a professional team, would never cross that line.

So, there was only one explanation left: he had truly experienced a soul transfer.

If it were just a simple transfer, Amber might've accepted it—he had no family to worry about, after all. But the real issue lay in his new identity.

A newly graduated Federal officer from the First Military Academy?

A Psionic Agent trained in advanced combat and mental powers?

A warrant officer with a seemingly promising start?

Any of these traits, individually or combined, could be considered a "god-tier starting point."

But the problem was the planet he now found himself on: a border agricultural world.

If the Federal military truly valued someone, would they send them to such a desolate, insignificant location? Of course not.

Amber, who knew the game's lore inside and out, understood the rampant corruption within the Federation.

Graduates from prestigious families were assigned to prime postings in the Federation's core star systems, while those from ordinary backgrounds were randomly sent to outer colonies or the deep-space fleet to fill vacant positions.

Psionic Agents? Perfect! The Federation desperately needed people like them. They'd immediately be dispatched to border planets to "serve the Federation" for the rest of their lives.

This would've merely been an unfortunate start to an otherwise hard life—if not for the timing.

"August 14th, New Era 588."

Amber read the HUD display in the visor.

If his memory served him right, in three days, the Federation's arch-rival—the Star Dragon Empire—would launch a surprise attack.

They would annihilate the orbital defense fleet, seize control of the spaceport, and deploy orbital paratroopers.

The Battle of Planet Robert IV would mark the beginning of the "Dark Age."

And right now, Amber found himself as one of the Federal soldiers destined to become cannon fodder in this battle.

(End of Chapter)