Second Closed Beta

Dr. Ruan's video was a fuse that set the mountain of accumulated online hype ablaze.

Within just a few hours of its release, terms like "Warhammer 40K: Pedetia," "the most realistic game ever," and "the pinnacle of hardcore gaming" shot to the top of trending lists across major social platforms. Countless players and armchair gamers fiercely debated the video's contents. Some longed to play, some were skeptical, and others were simply watching the spectacle, happy to see things escalate.

Just as the hype reached its peak, an official forum called Warhammer 40K: Pedetia quietly went live.

The moment word spread, a floodgate seemed to open, and users poured in. The forum's design was extremely simple, even crude, but that did nothing to dampen the players' enthusiasm. Every refresh brought dozens of new posts, covering everything from analyses of the video's details and discussions of game mechanics to pure venting and demands for an open beta.

As the game's sole developer and administrator, Bit had naturally built the forum himself. He browsed the rapidly scrolling posts and saw an astonishing number of concurrent users on the backend. Then he published the only official pinned post in the forum's most prominent spot.

[Notice Regarding the Second Closed Beta of Warhammer 40K: Pedetia]

"Thank you all for your interest in this game. The second closed technical beta will begin soon. In addition to the original ten testers, ninety new players will be selected to participate. Test slots will be allocated randomly among all registered applicants."

The post was like a basin of cold water poured into boiling oil. The entire forum instantly exploded.

As soon as the application link beneath the post opened, the number began climbing at a terrifying rate. A hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, eight hundred thousand... before long, the applicant count broke the million mark. Apparently, despite all the tormenting aspects Robert had described in his video, that unparalleled realism still held an irresistible allure for countless players.

Bit had no intention of deliberately keeping the players in suspense. To him, players were a precious resource, the key to saving Pedetia. If he delayed any longer, the few humans left on that planet might truly be doomed.

Once the number of applicants reached a certain threshold, he closed registration, randomly selected ninety lucky winners, and sent them invitations to the beta.

The familiar sensations of weightlessness and falling struck again. Robert steadied his mind with practiced ease and waited for his consciousness to reconnect with his body. When he opened his eyes again and the darkness cleared from his vision, he was back in that familiar trench, thick with the smells of gunsmoke and earth.

He scrambled up eagerly, ready to greet his comrades, only to freeze a moment later.

Looking around, he realized something was wrong. The trench was deserted. Including himself, only the original ten players were there.

The NPC Astra Militarum soldiers who should have been stationed there, along with Commissar Walter, who always wore a stern expression and kicked people in the backside at the slightest provocation, were nowhere to be seen. The empty position was eerily silent. Only the occasional distant explosion proved that this world was still at war.

What's going on? Did the main force retreat and forget about us players? Or did the game glitch out?

Robert instinctively felt around beside him. Thankfully, the Chainsword named [Xenos Must Die] and his Lasgun were still there, giving him a small measure of security.

The other nine veteran players also gradually recovered from their brief confusion. They exchanged looks, clearly just as uncertain about what was happening.

Notably, the players who had complained before the Q&A that the game was too hardcore and its penalties too harsh, declaring that they were "done playing," had still logged in.

The others had clearly noticed this too. The player with the ID "Flying Eagle" wore a mischievous grin as he teased them. "Well, well, gentlemen. Didn't you say you were done playing? What made you change your minds and log back in?"

One of the players he called out flushed and stiffened his neck, stubbornly retorting, "When it comes to gamers, can you really call it changing your mind?" He paused, apparently trying to find the right words. "Th-this... this is called having the courage to change! I said I was done playing 'before.' I never said I was done 'now'!"

His shamelessly confident excuse had everyone laughing. For a moment, the deathly silent trench filled with cheerful voices.

The cheerful atmosphere in the trench did not last long.

A low engine drone approached from the distance, shattering their brief moment of relaxation. It grew louder and louder, until even the ground beneath their feet began to tremble faintly.

"Something's coming!" Robert was the first to react. He immediately crouched low, gripped his Chainsword, and cautiously peeked over the trench parapet.

The other nine veteran players dropped their joking expressions, found cover, and looked toward the sound.

In the distance, several Chimera armored personnel carriers bearing the Imperium Eagle insignia raced toward their position through billowing dust. Their massive metal bodies jolted over the rough ground with a thunderous clatter before finally stopping a short distance in front of the trench.

The rear hatch of the lead carrier slammed onto the ground with a clang, and a familiar figure stepped out—Commissar Walter, wearing a black greatcoat and a stern expression.

Immediately afterward, the doors of all the other carriers opened in succession. To the trench players' surprise, everyone climbing out was a "recruit" wearing the same standard-issue Carapace Armor as them!

This sizable group of newcomers, ninety strong, was clearly made up of the lucky winners selected for the second closed beta. Most were pale and unsteady on their feet. Some leaned against the vehicles and dry-heaved, while others blankly surveyed the real battlefield around them, thick with the smell of gunsmoke. They were clearly still adjusting to the stomach-churning ride and the tremendous shock this game delivered.

Commissar Walter swept his gaze across the trench, his sharp eyes finally settling on Robert.

"Ruan!" he called.

"Here, Commissar!" Robert instinctively straightened and answered loudly.

Walter gestured with his chin toward the ninety new players staggering about behind him and gave a concise order. "These are all your countrymen. From now on, they're under your command. I expect you to lead them in holding this position for at least one day."

"Huh?"

The sudden appointment left Robert utterly bewildered. A commander? Me?

But his mind raced, and he quickly caught on. This probably was not a random assignment by the system, but the result of his earlier actions. Whether he had taken the initiative to gather intelligence or buried his fallen comrades, those deeds had unwittingly raised his affinity with Commissar Walter.

Looks like this game really does have an affinity system. It's just completely hidden, and everything depends on what the players actually do.

Once he understood that, Robert's confusion vanished, replaced by a weighty sense of responsibility. He immediately stood at attention and loudly assured the Commissar, "Yes, Commissar! I'll see the mission through!"

Walter nodded, seemingly reasonably satisfied with his reaction. He gave Robert one last look and said only, "Be careful. Don't die." It was impossible to tell whether his tone held concern or warning.

With that, he turned and boarded the Chimera armored personnel carrier, calling to the other drivers. Amid the roar of engines, the convoy turned around and swiftly left the position, leaving behind clouds of dust and a hundred players staring at one another.