Chapter 2

1. Personnel Changes in a Legendary Team

A gentle breeze slipped through the window gap into the airship's cabin, playfully weaving past the passengers and leaving behind a hint of warmth stolen from the sun and a faint, elusive fragrance.

Li Ang loved taking afternoon naps in such a breeze, basking in the sun; there was no better way to kill time during a boring journey.

But a pair of passengers nearby kept talking, making it hard for him to fall into a peaceful sleep.

"... Do you know? The top team kicked someone out."

"Which one?"

"Soul Apex."

"Huh? Isn't that the knight order that just conquered the Ancient Night City and rose to number one? Soul Apex is red-hot right now, and everyone in the team is a hero. Why would they kick someone out?"

"I don't understand. I heard it was a ten-year veteran member who got kicked."

"You know that for sure? Couldn't it be that they achieved success and are returning home to retire?"

"It's definitely first-hand news. I just came from the Holy City, and I heard it from a Soul Apex member himself at a tavern. Although he didn't give details, the fact that they were kicked is absolutely true."

"Let me see, the Knight Gazette also wrote it: 'Soul Apex is now recruiting a Great Knight for the entire airspace.' Are the requirements that high?"

The passenger flipped through the newspaper with a rustling sound, the noise growing louder.

"They just rose to number one, so it's not strange for the requirements to be high."

"Let me look at their member list... A spellcaster is missing."

"A spellcaster? That kind of fringe profession could actually mix in a top team? They probably want to optimize their member structure now that the team has become number one, right?"

In his ten-year career of air travel, Li Ang had long since become accustomed to treating the conversations of others as background noise while sleeping.

But if the discussion involved him, it was still hard to completely ignore.

Mainly, as they talked, the sanctimonious face and mocking tone of the Soul Apex captain would surface in Li Ang's mind again.

A freeloader? Fringe? Optimization?

Arguing with passersby who didn't know the truth would only make him look like a madman.

He sat up from the lounge chair, lifted the window's shade, and looked out at the clear, boundless sky.

This was the Floss airspace; whether in the civilized world or the natural world, it was the most stable and prosperous place in the entire world. Floating islands were covered in flowers, and even the wind between the islands drifted with a delicate fragrance.

Ten years ago, he had set off from here.

He was a transmigrator from Earth, but he hadn't received the heaven-defying ability collectively known as a "Golden Finger." Apart from being a few years younger when his body transmigrated, he was completely an ordinary person; even the language had been learned syllable by difficult syllable.

And this other world was exactly the same as a game called "Newbis Fantasy."

Newbis was the name of this world, the collective term for the many floating islands above the clouds.

Adventurers piloted airships, active between the floating islands. They had the beautiful reputation of "Sky Knights," exploring the world's secrets and gaining rich rewards.

Individual ability was limited, so Sky Knights often formed squads, and squads would grow into teams.

Particularly powerful Sky Knight teams were praised as "Top Teams."

Li Ang had no special talent. Starting from zero and finally becoming one of the members of a top team standing at the pinnacle, he himself couldn't count how much hardship and bitterness he had tasted.

"... Everyone, as the number one ranked Sky Knight team, we will adopt a brand-new contribution algorithm to re-evaluate everyone's strength and optimize the team structure to stabilize our hard-won status."

"Li Ang, your contribution is actually so far below the average line. I didn't expect that you had been holding us back all this time."

At the full team meeting, when Captain Rams suddenly pointed the spearhead at Li Ang, he was still customizing support strategies for each team member.

"Are you serious?" Li Ang raised his head.

"This is a full team meeting. Would I joke?" The captain's expression was serious.

Li Ang's gaze swept over the other team members; they were either dodging his eyes, closing them to rest, or wearing mocking smiles.

Li Ang put down the pen in his hand: "Hard-won status? As the captain, you still don't know how it came about? When I joined, Soul Apex was just a small team with a mid-range ranking."

"That's right, you are a veteran, but if the old members can openly slack off, how can this team be led?" Rams had an intriguing smile at the corners of his mouth.

Playing dumb?

"The last few key tactics were all centered around my support magic—"

"That's right, that's why everyone was tired to death." A team member interrupted Li Ang.

From just a moment ago, he had been sneering while Li Ang was speaking.

"There are countless supporters who want to join our team. You're still counting your merits? Based on you, this spellcaster?"

A spellcaster is a profession that manipulates the "spirituality" of things. Because the spirituality of all things differs, its ability is unstable and uncertain, requiring a large amount of experience accumulation and experimentation to exert a suitable effect.

Li Ang knew that this profession was not understood by anyone in the entire sky.

But he had no talent or background. Through the spellcaster's ability, exerting some advantages of transmigrator knowledge and thinking patterns, he was able to catch up with other powerhouses in this world.

In ten years, he had almost squeezed the possibilities of this profession to the extreme. The auxiliary results he exerted helped the team overcome one difficulty after another.

"What's the problem with a spellcaster?" Li Ang looked directly at the sneering team member.

"Damage is insufficient, I use elemental gems to supplement elemental attacks; team defense is not enough, I communicate with the earth to summon mud giants to act as meat shields; healing is tight, I also call upon healing power from grass, trees, and blessed ritual vessels."

"Everyone present participated in these battles."

The captain tapped the table with his finger: "Combat power is not enough, there is no support, healing is lacking; why don't we supplement with corresponding powerhouses? Team optimization is to discuss this."

He shook his head: "Moreover, you use up many of the team's precious materials every time."

Li Ang: "Those were materials I saved myself."

"Don't quibble. Without the existence of the team, where would individual interests come from? Individuals should think about feeding back to the team, not what they have gained themselves."

Rams spoke in a high-sounding manner.

Not caring about individual interests?

Li Ang felt it was absurd.

This captain before him, after the team became powerful, would demand "development funds" from every new member, and then act tyrannically because the new members dared not speak out due to sunk costs.

"You are very dissatisfied."

Although Li Ang faced everyone with a blank expression, the captain could "see" resentment on his face.

"These days are a joyous occasion. We will leave you some dignity; don't tear your face off. Leave by yourself."

"Perhaps I was really wrong." Li Ang said.

"No one will care if you pretend to be pitiful now," said the mocking team member.

Li Ang looked at everyone present one by one; their appearances were familiar, yet incomparably strange.

Back then, although he had explored a little bit of how to use a spellcaster, due to people's prejudices, he had no way to apply for a job and could only take low-level tasks.

In one mission, Li Ang got to know the old captain of Soul Apex. The other party was a guy who threw away stereotypes and had a very positive attitude toward life.

At the invitation of the old captain, Li Ang joined the team.

The Soul Apex of that year was built by the old captain pulling people in one by one; basically, everyone had obvious skills and shortcomings.

Li Ang, who wanted to gain a foothold, put in twelve points of effort, relying on the spellcaster's ability to make up for everyone's shortcomings and exert a synergistic effect, assisting the team to successfully complete tasks one by one, and he was also truly recognized by everyone.

The whole team laughed and adventured together; that was his happiest time. He realized the satisfaction brought by mutual achievement among team members.

But years of fighting were also accompanied by danger. The old captain was seriously injured in a battle and chose to retire to accompany his family.

"It's a pity. I believe you can reach the pinnacle of the entire airspace, but I can't be with you anymore. Everyone, take care of our team."

Li Ang would always remember the old captain's sigh of regret and expectation.

And Rams, who succeeded as captain, was the most sunny and outgoing person at the time. The old captain believed in him, and everyone believed in him.

However, in the five years since then, Soul Apex had not been right.

The captain held all power, not even willing to appoint a team leader. He was stubborn and always insisted on executing tactics that many team members could see loopholes in.

And Li Ang was always on the sidelines patching things up.

There were old team members who stood with him before.

"Li Ang is actually no different from the vice-captain, right?"

"Haha, the captain's position can continue to be sat in, but can Li Ang lead the team?"

"You dare to say this? Don't let it be heard."

"Then let's go. If the support wasn't awesome, I wouldn't want to stay in this broken team."

They left one by one, successively joining other teams or quitting adventuring.

Perhaps the happy memories in his heart were too hot, he kept his promise, perhaps he wanted to prove himself, not failing the hot-blooded ideals when he entered adventuring back then, even if he had more friends outside the team than in the team, Li Ang was still dragging Soul Apex to really move toward the pinnacle.

In this process, personal ranking, setting up a persona, spreading fame, looking for special professional inheritance... and other personal interests were all dragged down by team affairs.

In the end, what was left in front of him was only things that were casually manipulated by the captain and curried favor with. Li Ang once believed in new members, but under Rams' deliberate management, his was just wishful thinking that fell elsewhere.

I fulfilled them, but they wouldn't speak for me.

This time when conquering the ancient city, it was also Li Ang who relied on ancient rune stones to open the space gate of the ancient magic civilization, allowing team members to avoid the flesh-melting and bone-eroding corruption flowers scattered everywhere by the King of the Ancient City, only then could the victory be secured.

When returning in triumph, praises for Soul Apex spread everywhere in the Holy City. The captain and the team members surrounding him enjoyed the glory and flowers, but Li Ang didn't have much joy. Why was that? He understood now.

Li Ang shook his head: "I promised the old captain to support the team to reach the highest hall, but I forgot for whom my own power should be used."

The captain and the team members present looked at each other and laughed loudly.

"I hope you understand, a spellcaster, it's me who raised you. Old captain? It's me who brought the team to number one; he is already a thing of the past."

Right, then let everything stay in the past.

Leave.

The moment he made the decision, Li Ang only felt incomparably relieved.

He walked out of the Soul Apex team hall without looking back.

The high-level equipment, energy devices, and summon beast crystals obtained after the team's rise were not allowed to be brought in during the meeting; these were all taken back as team assets.

His personal assets were in the bank. The captain used off-field tricks, appealing to the bank on the grounds that he embezzled team assets. The bank opened a long investigation process and temporarily froze them.

However, if there is a good team, the money spent will come back.

Yes, his hot blood had not yet subsided. Almost at the same time as he left, he decided to reorganize a Sky Knight team.

It would no longer be a tool for some people to seek personal gain. He would lead it with his own experience and skills, letting it truly stand proudly and confidently above the sky.

When returning to that highest hall, he would settle the accounts with Soul Apex together.

Li Ang traveled light, all alone, leaving the Holy City of Vitask where various top teams were stationed.

After traveling for several days, he returned to the Floss airspace where everything began.

The airship docked at a dilapidated port that was about to fall apart, and Li Ang got off the ship.

This was Satutus Island, a rural place, which in the Newbis common language meant the island of "Starting Point."

Returning here was actually intended to give himself a vacation, rest for a while, and think about where to start over.

The wooden bridge leading to the sky was stepped on by his boots, making a creaking sound. Looking at the dust and mold around, Li Ang shook his head.

"There wouldn't be no ships coming here after I left, right?"

Stepping onto the solid mud of the island, he looked back at the direction of the Holy City one last time and walked toward the direction of "home."

The so-called home was the hut he built for wilderness survival when he first transmigrated and landed. Later, it was constantly improved and became decent.

Relying on strange yet vaguely familiar memories to cross the grassland, climb over the hillside, and go up the river, he successfully found his hut by a small lake.

Surprisingly, it was not overgrown with weeds, nor had it collapsed, as if someone had maintained it.

"Are these things in my house?"

Looking at the clean and tidy house, Li Ang was slightly puzzled, but the sun had already set near the cloud sea level, so he decided to make dinner first.

Simply weaving a cage with branches, digging up earthworms and putting them in, and then performing the spellcaster's most basic "Spirituality Manipulation" skill, he strengthened the spirituality of the earthworms. They became lively, and their fish-luring ability rose simultaneously.

After the cage was in the water for a few minutes, the fish inside were already full.

Picking the one that looked most pleasing, releasing the others, Li Ang skillfully killed and gutted the fish.

Although after the team ranking became very high, he always ate delicious delicacies and hadn't processed live fish for a long time, the survival skills of ten years ago were like being engraved in his DNA.

Heh, after going around in a circle, finally returning to the basics, it really is like a prank of fate.

Suddenly, Li Ang's temple tightened, as if countless electric currents were flowing on the surface of his brain, and a numbness and itchiness spread rapidly.

His vision blurred for a moment, and then, glowing text and frames unfolded out of thin air in front of him—

What is this? What's going on?

After he saw clearly what was in front of him, he was speechless for a moment.

The interface composed of these texts and windows was clearly the game panel of "Newbis Fantasy"!