Chapter 2: The Chosen One

[Task: Play three matches on any platform. The system will assess the host's skill based on their performance.]
[Completing the task will grant a random reward.]

Upon seeing the system task, Su Zhe was instantly filled with motivation. He immediately pushed open the bathroom door and sat down at his computer.

He found the Perfect Platform icon on his desktop and logged in. After making sure he could only select Dust II, he started matchmaking.

Dust II, known as Blazing Sand City 2, is a classic map in CSGO, and its influence can be seen in many other FPS games. Having played CrossFire back in elementary school, Su Zhe was most familiar with the layout of Dust II. So when he first started playing CSGO, this was the map he always chose.

Later, he wanted to climb ranks, but he wasn’t familiar with the other maps, let alone how to use utilities. As a result, despite having over 500 hours of playtime, he only really knew how to play this one map.

At that moment, Xiao Guang came over again. Seeing the matchmaking screen, he complained, “Why did you start matchmaking right away? I was waiting for you to duo queue with me!”

Su Zhe smiled and replied, “I just woke up from a nap and was worried I’d play poorly and drag you down. Let me solo queue a few games to warm up first.”

Hearing this explanation, Xiao Guang nodded in satisfaction. “Alright, just make sure to call me when you’re ready to duo queue!”

After sending Xiao Guang away, Su Zhe breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn’t know if it was just superstition, but he always felt that matchmaking with Xiao Guang greatly increased his chances of running into smurfs. Solo queueing, he still faced pre-made teams, but overall, the skill level was more evenly matched.

So, to ensure he could hand in a satisfactory report to the system, he chose to solo queue.

In CSGO, the C+ rank is equivalent to Silver in League of Legends—the rank with the largest player base.

After only a dozen seconds or so, the matchmaking window popped up. Su Zhe was the first to click confirm, but then the confirmation number stuck at [8/10].

Seeing this, Su Zhe cursed under his breath, “These CSGO players, do they have to wait until 9/10 before clicking? If I ever find out who has this weird habit, I’ll give him a couple of good punches!”

Finally, with only five seconds left on the countdown, the last two players clicked confirm at the same time, and the game officially began.

Perhaps thanks to the system, Su Zhe felt unexpectedly sharp. After playing three ranked matches, he ended with two wins and one loss, and even in the loss, he had done his best.

He posted a high 1.34 rating in that game, but his other four teammates all had terrible stats, which was why they lost.

Now, seeing he’d reached the promotion series for B rank, unpleasant memories resurfaced in his mind…

But Su Zhe didn’t have time to dwell on such things. He eagerly summoned the system panel again.

[Task complete: Play three matches on any platform.]
[Reward: Randomizing...]
[You have received a skill reward: Chosen One]
[Chosen One: +20% training efficiency]

The moment Su Zhe saw the skill name and description, he felt a warm current surge through his body…

Well, not really—a psychological effect, perhaps.

The skill’s effect was easy to understand: in traditional online games, it’s equivalent to +20% experience gain!

A true godly skill for early growth!

After drawing such a powerful skill, Su Zhe glanced at his stats panel and noticed several new attributes had appeared.

[Host: Su Zhe]
[Age: 18]
[Team: None]
[Positioning: 31-36]
[Movement: 17-22]
[Gun Control: 19-24]
[Game Sense: 21-26]
[Reaction: 51-56]
[Weapon Proficiency: AK-47 (LV2.5) AWP (LV1.2) ...(expand)]
[Skill: Chosen One]
[Overall Level: D]
[Evaluation: Could you please turn on your monitor while playing? Even a nine-year-old could beat you in CSGO!]
(ps: Weapon proficiency ranges from lv1 to lv10)

Su Zhe: …

Am I really that bad? The system even doubts that my monitor is on?

I’m just one step away from B rank, yet my overall evaluation is only D! And the system even insulted me!

Speechless, he scrolled further down and saw new tasks had appeared in the taskbar.

[Based on system analysis, the host has not played CSGO for at least three years and is squandering his talent. Subsequent tasks have changed...]
[Task 1: Join a professional team as a starting member within one year (youth teams do not count), countdown: 365 days.]
[Reward: S-level reward. Failure will result in the system automatically unbinding from the host.]
[Task 2: Reach rank one on any CSGO platform ladder.]
[Reward: A-level reward.]
[Task 3: Have a skilled player analyze your demo and point out weaknesses in your gameplay.]
[Reward: Unlock daily task system, which will tailor daily training tasks for the host and provide a wealth of growth points.]

Staring at the three new tasks, Su Zhe fell into deep thought. He had originally intended to use the system to mimic the legendary Swordmaster of Ten Miles, maxing out his attributes and weapon proficiency before trying out for the pro scene.

Before receiving the new tasks, he had already imagined maxing out his stats, getting accused of cheating, then proving himself offline with godlike plays—a classic face-slapping plot.

But this task of joining a pro team within a year completely overturned his plans, and youth teams or substitutes didn’t even count!

Su Zhe couldn't help but sigh. To go from a C+ player to a professional within a year—even with the system’s help, was that really possible?

He’d heard that many pros had already racked up thousands, even tens of thousands of hours in the game before going pro.

“All I can do is take it one step at a time.”

Looking at the three new tasks, he realized he wasn’t qualified for the first two yet and could only start with the third.

But who should he ask to review his demo and help him complete the new task?

He glanced at Xiao Guang, hesitated, and asked, “Xiao Guang, do you know when Fatty will be back to the dorm?”

Xiao Guang was currently warming up on the AimBotz map. Hearing Su Zhe’s question, he took off his headset and answered, “No idea. He said he was finally meeting his long-distance online girlfriend in person today, so he might not be back at all tonight.”

A knowing smile crept onto Xiao Guang’s face as he spoke.

Su Zhe sighed inwardly.

Fatty had been his guide in this game, teaching him a lot of the basics. Back in the CSGO days, Fatty was a Gold S-rank player.

That should be good enough for the system. In Su Zhe’s eyes, Gold S players were already quite skilled.

Unfortunately, Fatty wasn’t around.

Come to think of it, Fatty’s real-life meeting with his online girlfriend was closely related to the launch of CS2…

After CS2 updated a few days ago, Fatty was extremely dissatisfied with the changes. He would often complain, “Why does the AK feel so weird now?” “Why can’t I quickscope with the AWP anymore?” “Why did they change the maps like this?”

Eventually, he got so frustrated that he switched to Valorant, and after a few days, he arranged to meet up with his girlfriend in person…

Su Zhe couldn’t really empathize with Fatty’s complaints, since he’d only started playing recently and didn’t know much about CSGO. To him, apart from some bugs that still needed fixing, CS2 was fine.

Compared to flashy FPS games with all sorts of abilities, he still preferred the hardcore gunplay of CSGO.

Now, with Fatty absent, Su Zhe fell into thought again: who else could he turn to?

Suddenly, he remembered that some CSGO streamers and video creators offered paid demo reviews.

Sometimes, outsiders see what insiders cannot. Many players looking to climb the ladder would tip these streamers to review their matches and point out mistakes.

“That should meet the system’s requirements, right? Let’s give it a try?”

With that, Su Zhe pulled out his phone and opened a short video app to search for a suitable streamer.

Because he often searched for CSGO videos, the algorithm immediately served up CSGO content as soon as he opened the app…

“Leon Kai…”