The First Class Advancement

Coordinates: Storm Abyss - "Dawn" Fortress Resurrection Plaza.

"Connecting neural signals... Synchronization Rate: 100%."

"Resurrection countdown reached zero."

A flash of white light.

Vanguard Across the Realm's figure reformed in the Resurrection Plaza. The hollow sensation of his soul being pulled away had just faded, replaced by familiar clamor.

"Brother Feng, you're finally online!"

Brute Force Yields Miracles, who had revived earlier, came over with a bitter look. "We got screwed hard in that last wave. Dying once cost me half my experience, and I still have to run back and pick up my shield."

"That's the price of challenging enemies above our level."

Vanguard Across the Realm's face darkened as he checked his status.

Though he had revived in a safe zone, he had a [Weakened] status effect lasting thirty minutes, reducing all attributes by 10%.

"That flame giant..." Brute Force Yields Miracles still looked shaken. "That thing is impossible to fight. Its aura damage is way too high. No amount of skill can make up for it."

"That thing was probably meant for the late game."

Vanguard Across the Realm did not lose heart. As a professional player, he had seen plenty of cases of accidentally entering high-level areas.

Opening the system interface, Vanguard Across the Realm fixed his gaze on the very bottom of the [Gene Shop].

The special item called [Titan Blood (Diluted Version)] still lay quietly there, priced at 3,000 Bio-Energy.

Most crucially, its unlock conditions were written in red:

[Unlocked after the first player on the server completes class advancement.]

[Available for purchase after first class advancement.]

[Limited quantity.]

Thinking of his earlier guess, Vanguard Across the Realm's heartbeat quickened slightly.

"Since we can't beat it, we'll get stronger and come back."

Vanguard Across the Realm closed the interface, his voice icy. "Brute Force, how much money do you have left?"

"Huh? The resurrection just took a lot. I've only got a little over two hundred left."

"Spend it all on [Town Portal Scrolls] and potions."

As for [Town Portal Scrolls], they were items the system had quietly updated yesterday. Although each one cost a whopping 50 Bio-Energy, their appearance had drastically changed the game's pace—players no longer had to waste time on tedious map traversal.

"I'm not sleeping."

Vanguard Across the Realm drew the spare Bone Blade at his waist and pointed it toward the endless sea of monsters outside the fortress.

"The others can take turns logging off to rest. I'll lead the team. As long as I'm still standing, we keep farming."

"I'm hitting Level 10 within twenty-four hours. Then I'm testing that item."

Brute Force Yields Miracles froze for a moment, then grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "Fine! You're the boss, so your word goes! I'll go crazy with you! I want to see what kind of divine treasure this so-called 'Titan Blood' really is."

Blue Star time, the ninth day after the second beta began.

The entire Titan server fell into a strange frenzy.

Players who had been obsessed with building infrastructure and sightseeing suddenly discovered that the aloof top-ranked player, "Vanguard Across the Realm," had gone mad.

Like a tireless killing machine, he led his elite team around the outskirts of Storm Abyss, clearing monsters day and night.

Under his influence, the server's leveling atmosphere was pushed to an extreme.

"God of Blades is about to hit Level 10. What are we waiting for?"

"The first class advancement has special rewards!"

"Grind harder! For class advancement!"

The monsters of Storm Abyss suffered terribly. It had originally been monsters surrounding players, but now players were camping spawn points. A Flame Poison Golem had barely appeared near the fortress and had not even had time to roar before dozens of burly men surrounded it and chopped it into rubble.

In-game time, hour twenty-two.

Storm Abyss, Zone E7, a dangerous farming point called "Rotting Canyon."

Squelch!

The Bone Blade in Vanguard Across the Realm's hand was now covered in cracks.

One final sidestep, slide, and backstab.

The Level 8 elite Crawler before him let out an unwilling shriek and collapsed into a pool of black blood.

A golden pillar of light shot into the sky from this abyss filled with gloom and poison gas.

[Congratulations!]

[Level increased: LV.9 -> LV.10 (class cap reached).]

[All attributes +2. Free attribute points +5.]

[Hint: You have reached the limit of your initial form. Your experience pool has been locked. Please proceed to "Sighing Corridor" and find the mentor "Watcher Zero" to begin the Class Advancement Trial.]

"I made it..."

Vanguard Across the Realm looked at the experience bar that had finally filled and slumped against a rock as though all strength had left him.

"Brother Feng! That's insane!" Brute Force Yields Miracles (LV.9) roared beside him. "Quick! Use a Town Portal Scroll! Go do the class advancement quest! Don't let anyone else beat you to it!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Vanguard Across the Realm tore apart the expensive parchment in his hand.

Space twisted.

His figure vanished from Storm Abyss and instantly appeared at that white starting point—Sighing Corridor.

Coordinates: Sighing Corridor - Watcher Garrison.

The three-meter-tall golden giant NPC, [Watcher Zero], still stood alone on the high ground.

When Vanguard Across the Realm approached him, the NPC who normally only gave out "dig sludge" quests finally lit up with a golden exclamation mark above his head.

Zero slowly lowered his head, the blue soul-fire in his eyes watching Vanguard Across the Realm.

"You... have touched the limits of this shell."

Zero's voice was hoarse and carried a hint of authority. "But in this long war, you are still as fragile as an ant."

"If you wish to gain greater power, you must prove your worth."

[Key quest triggered: Advancement Trial.]

[Please choose your evolution path:]

Two cards appeared before Vanguard Across the Realm:

1. [Ghost Blade]

Difficulty: Hard

Description: Merge with the shadows and become an invisible reaper.

2. [Venom Ranger]

Difficulty: Normal

Description: Control corrosion and become a hunter on the battlefield.

(Note: Hidden classes require special triggers and have not yet been unlocked.)

Hidden classes were impossible to come by. So far, players had only unlocked one Divine Guard advancement.

"I choose Ghost Blade."

[Class advancement quest triggered: Blade in the Shadows.]

[Quest description: Deep within "Fold Canyon" in Storm Abyss lurks a group of cunning "Stinger Assassins" (LV.10). They are attempting to sabotage our supply lines.]

[Class advancement requirement (Ghost Blade): Enter the canyon in Stealth and assassinate 10 "Stinger Assassins" within 5 minutes.]

[Restriction: If you kill while not in Stealth or are discovered by enemies, the quest will fail.]

Vanguard Across the Realm's gaze sharpened.

This quest... was hardcore enough!

It tested not only damage output, but also skill and awareness.

For the Titan behind the scenes, these Stinger Assassins hiding in the folds of the Alveoli were troublesome concealed lesions. Sending players skilled in Stealth to deal with them was the best use of their talents.

"I accept." Vanguard Across the Realm took the quest.

Coordinates: Storm Abyss - Fold Canyon.

This was an area with extremely complex terrain, filled everywhere with layer upon layer of fleshy folds.

Vanguard Across the Realm activated the temporary skill provided by the system, [Shadow Camouflage], and his entire body seemed to melt into the air.

Five meters ahead, a transparent monster covered in stingers was patrolling.

Huff...

His real-world breathing control carried over into the game.

Vanguard Across the Realm slowed his steps, placing each footfall at the loudest point of the wind to conceal the sound.

Closer, then closer.

At the instant the monster turned around.

He struck!

The Bone Blade precisely severed the monster's vocal organ before piercing its core.

[Stinger Assassin killed (1/10).]

[Alarm not triggered.]

"Nine more."

Over the next four minutes, Vanguard Across the Realm displayed the terrifying dominance of a former professional gaming god.

He moved through the canyon like a Ghost.

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There were no unnecessary movements and not a trace of hesitation.

When the last monster fell, thirty seconds remained on the countdown.

[Trial passed.]

[Congratulations to player "Vanguard Across the Realm" for completing class advancement!]

[Class changed: Hunter -> Ghost Blade]

[All attributes greatly increased!]

[Core skills learned: [Shadow Step] (teleporting backstab), [Execution] (increased execute threshold)]

[Server-wide system announcement:]

[Congratulations to player "Vanguard Across the Realm" for becoming the first player on the server to complete class advancement!]

[Gene Shop LV.2 access unlocked.]

Vanguard Across the Realm ignored the exploding messages in the World Channel.

He opened the Gene Shop immediately.

The item that had once been gray was now emitting an enticing golden glow.

[Titan Blood (Diluted Version)]

[Purchase requirement: Fulfilled]

[Price: 3,000 Bio-Energy]

Vanguard Across the Realm glanced at his balance: 3,050 points.

This was everything he had saved over twenty-two sleepless hours, even begrudging every extra sip of potion.

"Exchange it."

[Purchase successful.]

[Item delivered to inventory.]

He looked at the crystal test tube in his inventory, filled with pale golden liquid, as a system prompt appeared:

[Instructions: This item is soul-bound. Please consume it directly in-game. The medicinal effect will pass through the neural connection and feed back to your "Source Consciousness."]

"Source Consciousness..."

Vanguard Across the Realm took a deep breath.

Standing at the edge of a cliff in Sighing Corridor, he tilted his head back and drank the golden liquid from the test tube in one gulp.

The instant it entered his mouth, the liquid turned into scorching magma!

Vanguard Across the Realm felt his brain roar. This heat did not enter his game character's stomach. Instead, it surged directly against the flow of the neural network, seeming to pierce through dimensional barriers and strike at the depths of his soul.

"Urgh—!"

He could not stop himself from letting out a low roar. The game screen before his eyes began to twist and blur violently.

[System prompt: Absorbing medicinal effect... Damage detected in Source Consciousness (nervous system). Beginning preliminary repair...]

Blue Star, Magic City.

Chen Feng jolted awake inside the life-support pod.

"Ha... ha..."

He gasped heavily, drenched in sweat as though he had been pulled from water. The burning sensation of his soul being washed by magma still lingered in his mind, splitting his head with pain.

"What's going on?"

Chen Feng instinctively tried to raise a hand and wipe away his sweat.

However, the instant he lifted his hand, he froze.

The movement that was usually accompanied by a heavy sensation, one that required his brain to deliberately issue commands, was now incomparably smooth.

There was no sluggishness at all.

There was no trembling at all.

His hand moved with his thoughts.

Chen Feng stood frozen, staring hard at his right hand. He tried the most basic finger exercise used by professional players.

First set, flexible.

Second set, lightning-fast.

Third set, perfect.

He suddenly turned his head and looked at the stacking blocks on the table.

It was a rehabilitation test he did every day. Normally, stacking five layers was his limit, and his hands would shake badly.

Chen Feng climbed out of the pod and walked to the table.

Take a deep breath.

Reach out.

Pick one up, set it down.

Pick one up, set it down.

Swish, swish, swish!

In just one minute, a thirty-story tower of building blocks stood steadily on the table without the slightest tilt.

Even when he withdrew his hand, his fingertips did not tremble in the slightest.

"Clang."

He crushed the final block between his fingers.

Not because he had lost control, but because he had been too excited to restrain his strength.

Chen Feng stared at the tower, all his strength seemingly drained away as he slumped into his chair.

"It's real..."

"It's all... real."

This was not merely his hand injury being healed. He even felt that his five senses had become sharper than before. He could clearly track a bird flying several hundred meters beyond the window.

This probably was not some holographic game at all.

It was a supernatural miracle.

He glanced at the "Application for Return" on the wall, which he had originally planned to mail out. It had been his final desperate attempt to return to a professional team as a substitute.

Riiip!

Chen Feng grabbed the application and tore it to shreds.

"Why the hell would I play in a professional league..."

Chen Feng gazed at the night sky beyond the window, unprecedented ambition blazing in his eyes.

In that world called Titan, there was power that could elevate him beyond human limits. Even a single drop of blood from that world could create miracles in reality.

If he could obtain more...

His hand trembling, he opened the game's built-in voice channel.

It was a private channel shared between him and his squad members.

At that moment, Brute Force Yields Miracles and Cloud Pomelo were still waiting for him in the game.

"Hello? Brother Feng? Why did you suddenly log off?" Brute Force's voice came through. "What did that potion taste like? Was it good?"

Chen Feng took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice calm, but the tremor at the end of it gave him away.

"Brute Force, Pomelo, Dharma King, Maniac."

"Listen carefully. I'll only say this once."

"No matter what you're doing right now, no matter how much money you have on hand."

"You'd better immediately liquidate all your real-world assets, buy nutrient solution, buy the best immersion pods."

"Trade with other players for Bio-Energy, then devote yourselves entirely to the game and grind like your lives depend on it!"

The channel fell silent for several seconds.

Brute Force Yields Miracles was a little dumbfounded. "Brother Feng, are you okay? Why are you suddenly being so serious?"

Chen Feng looked at his right hand, as steady as a rock, and said each word distinctly:

"Do you remember when I told you I had Synaptic Reaction Delay Syndrome?"

"That Titan Blood directly carried over into reality."

"It healed my hand."

"It healed it completely."

The channel was deathly silent.

Only Cloud Pomelo's rapid breathing came clearly through the static.

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