Chapter 14: A Unique Overpowered Reward?

Chapter 14: A Unique Cheating Reward?

2005.

Although the game "Legend" remained popular, cheats and private servers began to emerge gradually.

With their rise, "Legend" slowly changed from a game demanding long hours and paid cards into something else entirely, as many players joined private servers and used cheats.

For many...

They played games for relaxation and enjoyment, preferring to spend less money while experiencing the same effects as the official version.

Why wouldn’t they?

Why endure a game that consumes both time and money without guaranteed satisfaction?

Zhang Yang had witnessed the original world’s "Legend" craze, and also the rampant cheating and private servers that eventually led to the game’s decline and loneliness.

Years later...

When many spoke of "Legend," some couldn’t help but sigh, lamenting the widespread cheats and private servers, while reminiscing about the glorious past.

In this world, "Legend" showed similar signs.

In fact...

Every world is the same.

You set rules, but someone will always seek shortcuts to break them, gaining the greatest benefit with minimal cost.

"Desert Bicycle" was actually a simple level-based game.

Anyone with basic knowledge could easily crack its code and add cheat software without issue.

"Bro... this is abnormal data!"

Zhong Chongwen handed over a stack of A4 papers.

On them appeared a series of accounts with abnormal data.

Half an hour earlier, when this data began running, Zhong Chongwen had noticed.

He opened his laptop and used this abnormal data to run the game, accelerating the simulated completion process.

He found this data seriously disrupted the game’s balance.

After each level’s code, these accounts flooded in garbled data, affecting the game’s judgment system and causing it to register the player as having cleared the level.

Though the game lasted eight hours, with cheat assistance, simulation finished half an hour early, all at nearly impossible speeds.

"By design, this... this..." Zhong Chongwen stammered, angrily typing on his laptop. "By design, a real player can’t finish half an hour early because some levels require resurrection, which consumes time. The judgment rules are set..."

"Can we trace the origin of the cheat?"

"That’s hard to track. It’s online. At best, we can find the IP, but the cheat creator is probably an expert and likely spoofed their IP."

"Oh."

Zhang Yang stroked his chin.

After pondering, he narrowed his eyes.

"Can the game be patched now? Can we release a patch before cheats spread?"

"Yes... Should we block the cheats? Take them down early..."

"No, blocking cheats is too troublesome. We just need to change the reward judgment and ending screen."

"Huh?" Zhong Chongwen was stunned, confused.

"Let’s give that cheating bastard a mysterious grand prize..."

"Uh?"

…

"Damn it!"

"This 'Desert Bicycle' is so hard. I reach 10,000 points, but always mess up. I’ve used up almost all my revivals earning these points."

"Are you really that weak? I got 30,000 points... but I cashed out. This game is just like gambling—it’s a psychological battle. Earn some and run. No play, just profit!"

"But don’t you want the grand prize? The final prize is 30,000 for just playing, and 50,000 for perfect clearance!"

"Impossible! This game can’t be perfectly cleared. At least, no human can!"

"Yeah, it’s too hard. After 40,000 points, though the controls are simple, the on-and-off bike, dodging storms—this rhythm is insane. Which monster can clear it?"

"This game just won’t let you get the ultimate money!"

"…"

"…"

"…"

Watching countless players in forums discuss the sudden viral money-making game’s brutal difficulty...

In a rented room near Yanjing University.

A disheveled young man stared intently at the screen.

The screen ran "Desert Bicycle," while beside it his freshly written program ran methodically.

In the game, the cyclist hero passed obstacle after obstacle, dodging sandstorm judgments with perfect timing, earning 300,000 points in just five hours.

After seeing the 300,000 points, he switched screens to glance at forum users lamenting their failures.

He smiled excitedly, feeling accomplished.

"Do you even understand the value of high tech? This game’s too easy... just lie down and get rewards!"

"Fools!"

"Playing honestly and being played by the game is too dumb!"

"Humans should play the game, not be played by it!"

"…"

After reflecting, he hesitated but eventually posted a screenshot on the forum.

"Damn, is this for real?"

"How did they clear that level?"

"Oh my god, 300,000 points, and no damage! That’s terrifying..."

"Triggered no-damage hidden quest, double points reward? 600,000 points? Already in stage six?"

"My god, isn’t this better than 'I’m the Best in the World'? That guy quit at stage six!"

"A new record incoming? Damn! Could this be the ultimate prize winner?"

"How did they do it?"

"…"

In reality.

He was a meek programmer who made money by writing cheats and private servers for "Legend."

Exploited mercilessly by a studio.

Yet online...

He was worshiped by all forum users, a god who commanded the winds and waves.

He sighed deeply, thinking about quitting the studio once he cashed out the 50,000 yuan prize, selling the "Desert Bicycle" cheat, and then relaxing.

With this thought, he lit a cigarette and shut down the computer.

After finishing, he stretched and lay down.

"Ding!"

"'Desert Bicycle' is upgrading! During upgrade, all data will be immunity to points deduction, auto-saved, and grant revival chances!"

Just as he prepared to sleep, he heard the system alert.

He jolted awake, staring at the auto-update prompt.

"Did it detect my cheating?"

"Is it going to kick me out?"

His joy vanished instantly as he stared at the prompt.

After hesitation, he clicked upgrade.

At worst, after upgrading, he’d crack the game code again and adjust data; the game code was simple and easily changed.

When "Desert Bicycle" finished updating, he planned to relaunch his cheat.

Unexpectedly...

The cheat still ran automatically.

His eyes widened.

What the hell?

I can still use it?

"Points reached 800,000. Withdraw now?"

"Points reached 1,000,000. Withdraw now?"

"Points reached 1,200,000. Withdraw now?"

"…"

Watching points climb steadily through levels, he hesitated.

Had they not noticed the data anomaly?

Well, his cheat was cautious, only exploiting system bugs; everything else mimicked real player actions—undetectable.

Still, he kept his gaze fixed, ready to patch code if anything seemed off.

"Points reached 1,500,000!"

"Points reached 1,600,000!"

"…"

From afternoon until 8 p.m.

He stared intently, watching points soar.

When all hidden quests were completed and points hit an astonishing 5 million, reaching the limit...

He saw "Desert Bicycle" stop by the roadside.

Then, the withdrawal button turned red.

Then...

"Congratulations 'I’m Awesome' master on clearing the game!"

Fireworks congratulatory graphics popped up!

He excitedly clicked the 5 million points withdrawal button.

Then...

"Master, you are too awesome, the universe cannot contain you!"

"To honor your bravery, we will personally assign the beautiful customer service agent Xiao Wei to assist you!"

"…"

He was thrilled!

He immediately opened his QQ messenger and added a coquettish female account.

She was exactly his type.

"Hello, handsome. We will wholeheartedly serve you. As the first user to clear 'Desert Bicycle,' we reward you with a 2005 Lamborghini Murciélago... Please enter your address, and we will deliver the physical prize to your doorstep and transfer ownership on the spot!"

"What?"

His eyes widened!

A Lamborghini Murciélago!

A million-yuan supercar, and a limited edition!

He was ecstatic!

"Would you like the cash reward, with your glory announced network-wide, or the Lamborghini? You can only choose one..."

"Lamborghini! Only fools choose cash!"

"…"

Overwhelmed with excitement, and since the game’s early withdrawals had always been genuine with no consumer deception, he didn’t suspect anything and entered his home address.

"Address received. Please wait twenty minutes..."

"…"

He waited anxiously.

Excited, hopeful, and a little uneasy.

Could this game be a scam?

Impossible!

If it were, why had he been able to withdraw before?

Rumor had it this was a rich second-generation’s money-burning game to boost sales; it shouldn’t be a scam.

Besides, such a publicity stunt would attract huge traffic, helping their next game.

It had to be...

Real!

About twenty minutes later, he heard a knock.

Then...

"Congratulations! Here is your physical prize. Thank you for supporting our game..."

Not a beautiful secretary, but a tall, smiling big man from Northeast China greeted him!

And in his hands was...

Wait!

A Lamborghini...

Model car?

A model car!

"Damn!"

He lost his breath and nearly burst a blood vessel...

(End of chapter)