READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The First Wave
In recent years, thanks to the efforts of heroes like Jiang Gu, a growing number of people have become deeply invested in studying and analyzing all facets of the Game of Fate—whether it be the secrets of various mission worlds or the knowledge and technology brought back from them.
With his title of Exploiter, Tong Gu relied on his understanding of numerous anime from his previous life to attain unparalleled expertise in mission world intelligence. However, in other areas, there were still plenty of insights from others that he found worth learning.
The Destiny Forum featured three legendary titles:
• The Analyst Xinyuan, known for dissecting the Game of Fate's mechanics and proposing the First Wave Theory.
• The publicly known Savior Wu Zhengyang, called the Shield of Dongxia.
• And The Exploiter Kirigaya, who was renowned for comprehensive guides like "Analysis of the Power System in the One Piece World", "Enemies to Avoid in the Hunter x Hunter World", and "Treasure World: A Strategy Guide to ARM Weapons".
At this moment, Tong Gu was reaching out to Xinyuan, The Analyst. This individual was skilled in divination, statistics, and data analysis, using two centuries' worth of case studies to systematically analyze patterns for the first mission worlds encountered in the Game of Fate. He had coined the First Wave Theory.
In biology, the term "first wave" often refers to the onset of menstruation, symbolizing a girl's maturity and readiness to conceive life. Naming the deadliest first encounter in the Game of Fate after it carried a heavy dose of irony.
But Tong Gu wasn't concerned with any symbolic implications. He only cared about Xinyuan's ability to accurately predict mission world appearances based on portal location and timing.
"?" Xinyuan sent a single question mark, asking what he wanted. Tong Gu surmised the other party was likely young—older generations rarely communicated in such casual terms.
"I need to know the time and location where a portal to the One Piece World might open near Mountain City during tomorrow's Awakening Trial."
Tong Gu swiftly stated his request without any pretense or attempts at small talk. Neither confirming nor denying his direct involvement was characteristic of Kirigaya, The Exploiter.
Tong Gu had ultimately chosen the One Piece World as his entry point for the Game of Fate. For one, the One Piece World was vast and teeming with opportunities, such as the acquisition of Devil Fruits. Additionally, the presence of the globally extensive Navy provided a convenient avenue for integration. Furthermore, the world's martial arts and Haki systems perfectly complemented Tong Gu's powerful physique and open, aggressive combat style.
"Tomorrow at 5:40 PM, a portal to the One Piece World is highly likely to open at Amber Square to the west of Mountain City. Note that the window for this world is extremely brief."
Xinyuan didn't pry into why the embattled Kirigaya had the time to inquire about such information. He was clear about his role: You pay me, I give you information. Your moral standing was none of his concern.
Tong Gu was relieved that Xinyuan didn't ask unnecessary questions. Spending time on explanations was a luxury he couldn't afford.
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Back home, Tong Gu arrived at his 100-square-meter apartment in downtown Shancheng City. The minimalist decor of the space reflected his personality—bare essentials with no superfluous decorations. Apart from a TV and sofa, the living room mainly housed rows of fitness equipment.
He habitually retrieved a genetic enhancement serum from the fridge and injected it into his arm.
The serum, a "Super Soldier V5" from Tiansheng Biotech, had long since reached its limits in terms of efficacy. At a cost of 500,000 Dongxia currency per dose, Tong Gu no longer found it cost-effective. Unfortunately, with his failure to grasp Qi, there was no better alternative for strengthening himself. The serum, however minor its effects now, was better than nothing.
Tong Gu removed the portable gravity generators from his wrists and ankles. Wearing them daily served two purposes: training and self-restraint.
He flexed his body, feeling the immense power within his muscles once the restraints were gone. Daily use of gravity generators was essential, not just for discipline but also to avoid unintended destruction. After all, he could genuinely kick a sandbag into orbit or accidentally crush a classmate's arm if he wasn't careful.
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In Tong Gu's largest wardrobe, there were no clothes—only equipment. The collection ranged from antique cavalry armor to modern bulletproof vests and advanced tech items derived from the Game of Fate, such as portable gravity generators and rapid-healing sprays.
At the center of it all was a secure safe containing his most prized possession. Even among the artifacts directly brought back from mission worlds, this item stood out as exceedingly rare.
The Universal Capsule, a fantasy item from the Dragon Ball world.
When used, the capsule unfolded into a massive backpack. Though considered a basic-grade item in the Dragon Ball world, its technology remained an unsolvable enigma in reality.
The capsule had been awarded to Tong Gu by the Dongxia government through the Destiny Forum in recognition of his high-quality guides, which had increased the survival rate of Dongxia adventurers in worlds like One Piece World and Naruto World by 8%.
Pressing the button on the capsule, a puff of smoke revealed a large backpack. Tong Gu methodically packed it with emergency food, medical supplies, and tradeable items like gold bars—valuable across most mission worlds.
He also included various outfits tailored for different climates and cultures. Finally, after some thought, he retrieved several alloy plates. Though they resembled steel, these were advanced composites of exceptional hardness and weight.
Tong Gu inserted the largest plates into a specially designed vest, choosing this cumbersome armor over modern bulletproof gear. His reasoning was twofold:
1. The alloy vest offered better protection against cold weapons, which might be prevalent if he entered the wrong world.
2. The alloy itself was a valuable resource for potential trade in mission worlds.
Most importantly, wearing the heavy plates in battle allowed him to remove them mid-fight, unlocking a sudden boost in mobility and giving him a critical advantage for escape or combat.
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Once fully prepared, Tong Gu pressed the capsule's button again. With another puff of smoke, the backpack transformed back into a compact blue capsule, which he placed into a custom pocket near his chest.
Now, all that was left was to wait... for the Game of Fate to begin.