The Apex White Wolf King

[Quietly posting this here] [Some details might still change]

[Okay, I admit I only posted this so everyone could see the cover I commissioned, hehe] [Looks away]

-

Shi Man has made it his life's ambition to be the world's best at coasting to victory. In a new round of the "Wolf God Game," he draws a white card, which he's not good at.

Luckily, fortune smiles on him and he gets an amazing teammate: Bai Xuexin, the "super-popular little girl" and "genius white-card player" whose hidden ranking is the stuff of forum legend.

Shi Man gets carried to victory while lying back and earns himself a month's worth of meals!

A few days later, Shi Man enters the game again and runs into Bai Xuexin.

This time he draws a black card and can finally enjoy the thrill of fighting, but his teammates are all hopeless... er, none of them are very good with black cards.

With next month's rent on the line, Shi Man has no choice but to fight his way through the whole game and carry his teammates, including little Bai Xue, who was eliminated early.

A few days after the game ends, someone knocks on Shi Man's door. It's Bai Xuexin.

Bai Xuexin: "I have to become number one at the top, but I only know how to play white cards, and I'm still far from good enough... Can you help me?"

Shi Man: ...

You're aiming to be number one in the world, and you're asking a noob who only just scraped into the top thousand at the peak for help?

Shi Man is utterly baffled. "Are you serious? Team up with me..."

Bai Xuexin: "I can cook. Team up with me, and you'll never have to order takeout again."

Shi Man: "...Be my teammate for life. I'm begging you."

-

In the year 3000, the world barrier around Blue Star weakened, and the inner and outer worlds began to overlap.

Influenced by the power of the Wolf God, people are often pulled into the overlapping worlds to play the "Wolf God Game."

Playing earns points.

Players with the highest global scores make it onto the "Virtual Wolf God Rankings," commonly known as the "Peak Rankings."

When players on the Peak Rankings win games, they can receive extra rewards: item cards, real money, advanced technology, and even all kinds of strange special abilities...

The enormous rewards make the game more and more alluring.

A year later, the whole world is caught up in the competitive fervor surrounding the "Wolf God Game." Even universities commonly establish dedicated gaming clubs, and star players are adored by the masses!

In theory, top players have no reason to turn down such enormous benefits. Skilled players have long been working hard to climb the rankings and make it into the global top tier.

...Except for Shi Man.

Though the forums call him the "Divine Gun Black Wolf King," he's got a terrifying 100 percent win rate with black cards and a "glorious record" of beating up number one, messing with number two, and making number three cry.

Yet his Peak Ranking always hovers around one thousand.

"My bed is so comfortable. I wish I could marry it---"

...Because he's lazy.

-

◆ The game is a heavily modified, chaotic version of Werewolf

◆ The story's tone is kingdom-building and thrilling battles

◆ The leads are a 30-year-old man and an 8-year-old (?) girl. In terms of age, Manzi could be little Bai Xue's father; in terms of personality, little Bai Xue could be Manzi's mother. (.)

◆ After the leads team up, they'll also pick up other wolf teammates. Everyone is platonic until the ending. Afterward, two of the teammates they pick up might become a couple, or maybe they won't

◆ The inner and outer worlds and the languages spoken around the world are mutually intelligible. There are no countries, only districts

◆ The cover was commissioned (bounces around)

◆ [Important] This story has no connection to any real people or groups. Best enjoyed without overthinking it. Don't scrutinize or take it too seriously

-

"Things are different now, Wolf King."

"You have to admit that I now have the strength to protect my family and friends, and the confidence to sit across from you at this table as an equal."

"You have to admit that 'unipolar hegemony' is a thing of the past. The history of the inner world is about to turn a new page---"

-

"...I want to live in an age of abundance, where crops grow as tall as trees. I want to live in a peaceful age, where everyone dances carefree around a bonfire..."

"...It's okay, Mother. You're still a child. Children are allowed to cry. But remember, when you grow up, you can't cry anymore, because by then you won't have time for tears. You'll only have time to become stronger..."

"...A birthday wish? I don't think it's necessary... Er, all right, all right. I'll make one..."

Theme: May I live to see you reign supreme