Blue Star, time: the seventh day after the third beta began.
An invisible storm was sweeping across the globe.
At first, there were only scattered rumors: a patient paralyzed for years suddenly got back on his feet; a young construction worker snapping steel rebar with his bare hands; an elderly professor with Parkinson's whose hands had stopped shaking, allowing him to become active in academia again.
But when the number of such cases surpassed 2,000, quantitative change became qualitative change.
On a popular forum in Dragon Kingdom's internet sphere.
A post titled <An In-Depth Investigation into the Abnormal Physical Enhancement of Titan: Genesis Players> was pushed to the top of the entire site.
The poster claimed to be a private detective. He listed dozens of real cases and even attached secretly recorded videos. In one video, a frail-looking bespectacled man, suspected to be a Hunter player in the game, jumped three meters straight into the air to save someone crossing the road, flying over an oncoming car like Superman.
The comment section exploded.
"Special effects, right? This is way too fake!"
"I'm a doctor at the City First Hospital, and I can testify. We've recently treated several miraculous recovery cases, and they all had one thing in common—they played that Titan game!"
"Holy shit! No wonder the activation codes are selling for five hundred thousand each! They're tickets to immortality cultivation?"
"Code wanted! Code wanted! I'll sell everything I own for one!"
Panic, fanaticism, greed.
Humanity's desire for evolution had been completely ignited.
Dragon Kingdom Security Bureau, the special task force codenamed "Wall Breaker."
On the large screen in the conference room, big data monitoring reports from across the country scrolled in real time.
"Team leader, as of 8:00 this morning, the number of confirmed citizens whose physical functions have shown clear signs of 'superhumanization' has reached 1,982."
The technician's voice trembled slightly. "Among them, three have received an A-level danger assessment. According to our investigation, their game IDs are 'Vanguard Across the Realm,' 'Thunder King,' and 'Brute Force Yields Miracles.'"
Ban Jianguo sat at the head of the table, holding a top-secret document that had just been delivered.
It was <Titan World Liver War Zone Exploration Plan and Supply Requirements List>, sent by Lei Zhen, Thunder King.
"This kid is treating us like the logistics department."
Ban Jianguo gave a bitter smile, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
"Approve his request," Ban Jianguo said in a low voice. "Also, activate the Great Wall Project."
"From this moment onward, the military, research institutes, and top athletes will all fully enter Titan Game."
"Since this is an express lane for evolution, Dragon Kingdom must be the one in the driver's seat."
At the same time, across the Pacific.
Inside an underground shelter belonging to a mysterious consortium.
A group of bearded white men in suits and top hats sat around a round table, staring at the game icon called "Titan" on the large screen.
"We can't trace the servers... can't trace the money flow... even the signal source appears to come from outer space..."
A blond old man tapped the table. "But it can make people young again. That much is real."
"Buy."
The old man issued the order. "Acquire the accounts at any cost. If you can't buy them, find the people. Even if you have to kidnap them, get those high-level players under our control."
High-dimensional space: Titan Divine Body.
Gu Yuan did not care about the undercurrents on Blue Star.
To him, whether they were agents, billionaires, or ordinary citizens, once they entered his body, they became his cells.
"Energy reserves are sufficient. It's time to expand."
Gu Yuan looked at the constantly rising Bio-Energy number in the backend and swept his hand.
[Server-wide System Update: Fourth beta begins!] [Additional slots: 50,000.] [Current total server capacity: 100,000.] [New version feature: To help new Kinfolk better adapt to the environment, the beginner guidance process has been optimized.]
In-game, Blackstone Fortress - Top-Floor Conference Room.
The atmosphere was somewhat grave.
Thunder King sat in his chair, looked at the four teammates who had lived and died beside him, and took a deep breath.
"Brother Feng, everyone, there's something I need to confess."
Lei Zhen's voice was low. "Yesterday, I submitted a report about Titan to my former unit—the Dragon Kingdom Security Bureau Special Operations Group."
The air instantly fell silent.
Brute Force Yields Miracles widened his eyes. Data Maniac's hand froze halfway through pushing up his glasses. Cloud Pomelo looked nervously at Vanguard Across the Realm.
Handing core secrets over to the state meant the Dawn Guild might lose its independence and even come under official control.
Yet Vanguard Across the Realm did not get angry. He merely calmly wiped down the newly acquired weapon in his hand, with even a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
"You did well, Old Lei."
"...Brother Feng?" Lei Zhen froze. "You're not blaming me?"
"Why would I blame you?" Vanguard Across the Realm raised his head, his gaze profound. "As Titan Blood spreads, this secret won't stay hidden. Rather than waiting for the authorities to come knocking, we might as well surrender proactively and secure the greatest possible benefits."
"Besides," Vanguard Across the Realm said as he rose to his feet, "we need the execution power of a proper army. This game's map is too large and there are too many monsters. Casual players and studios alone can't push through it."
Lei Zhen let out a breath. "The higher-ups have already approved it. The first three hundred elite retired special forces soldiers have created accounts. They'll join Dawn unconditionally and follow orders. More resources will be allocated later."
"Very good."
Vanguard Across the Realm nodded, then took out the [Weapon Selection Chest] he had received as the previous leaderboard champion's reward.
Under everyone's gaze, he opened the chest.
A mass of black fluid that seemed alive wrapped around his arm, eventually transforming into a savage short blade that appeared capable of devouring even light.
[Weapon: Origin Fang (Growth-Type)] [Quality: Unique] [Binding Status: Player "Vanguard Across the Realm" biological traits locked.] [Attribute: Phagocytosis. Evolve by killing high-level organisms and absorbing genetic fragments.]
"And," Vanguard Across the Realm said, swinging the exclusive weapon once and leaving behind a black crack in the air, "as long as we are strong enough, no one can hollow us out."
In-game, Heart Core Sanctuary, the beginner village.
White light poured down like torrential rain.
Fifty thousand new fourth-beta players descended.
"We're in already?"
A wage-slave player with the ID "Hate Going to Work" stared blankly at his hands, then viciously pinched his thigh.
"Hiss—That really hurts! This full-dive technology is incredible!"
He raised his head, shocked speechless by the massive heart before him, beating like the sun.
Around the plaza, squads of [Silver Wing Sentinels] in silver-white light armor patrolled in orderly formation.
"Recruit, stop spacing out."
A Silver Wing Sentinel stopped in front of him and said coldly, "Go get your equipment over there, then get to work. Titan has no need for trash."
"Holy shit, the NPCs can insult people too?"
If you encounter ads such as "Are you a real person?", ignore them, close them immediately, and do not scan codes or send text messages!
Hate Going to Work hurried to the supply point and received a Bone Blade and a set of basic beginner gear.
He opened the map and discovered that it was countless times larger than during the first beta.
[Safe Zones: Heart Core Sanctuary, Sighing Corridor.] [Danger Zone: A7 District Bronchus (Purified)] [Extremely Dangerous: Liver (Poisonous Labyrinth).]
"I heard A7 District is a leveling paradise. Let's go take a look!"
Hate Going to Work followed the main group aboard the Crimson Boat.
A7 District Bronchus, purified area.
This place had completely turned into a lively "mining zone."
Although the large monsters had been cleared out, [Flame Poison Larvae] and [Mini Slimes] still spawned in the corners.
They were scraps to veteran players, but perfect practice targets for newcomers.
"Party up to farm larvae! Need a healer!"
"Buying chitin fragments at high prices! I'll take as many as you have!"
But Hate Going to Work felt that following the main group was too boring. He knew that some casual players were wandering around in groups aboard Crimson Boats, so he decided to imitate them.
"Doesn't there seem to be a side route over there?"
During the voyage, he spotted a dark, narrow tributary at a fork in the aorta ahead. The system had not set up an invisible wall, nor were there any warning signs.
His death-seeking spirit burned fiercely. Taking advantage of a gap when two Red Blood Cells collided, Hate Going to Work jumped into the bloodstream of that side route without a second thought and was swept inside by the rapid blood flow.
Ten minutes later.
The surrounding light grew darker and darker, while a nauseating stench of decay filled the air.
Not only was Hate Going to Work unafraid, he eagerly activated the recording function. "Brothers, I think I may have discovered a new continent. This place doesn't look like it's been explored yet..."
Before he could finish.
Thousands upon thousands of scarlet eyes suddenly lit up in the darkness ahead.
This was [Right Lung Leaf - B1 Bronchiole (Unpurified Area)].
Unlike A7 District, which the players had already cleaned up, this place was still a paradise for viruses.
"Roar—!"
Countless [Mutated Flame Poison Golems] and [Corrupted Giant Worms] packed the entire passageway. They bred and piled up here, forming a hopeless tide of corpses.
"Holy shit..."
Hate Going to Work stared at the monster sea that blotted out the sky. Even as a player viewing it from a microscopic perspective, he felt despair born from macroscopic numbers.
Compared to Titan's enormous body, the players' proud victory in A7 District was merely the clearing away of a single speck of dust.
And there were billions upon billions of such specks.
Just as the monsters charged at him, a system notification exploded in his ears:
[Congratulations! You have discovered a new high-risk area: B1 Dead Silence Corridor!] [Achievement obtained: Fearless Pathfinder (White).] [Reward obtained: Bio-Energy +500.]
"Ha ha! Worth it!"
Hate Going to Work burst into laughter, only to be torn into pieces by countless giant hands the next second.
[You have died.]
Server Announcement:
[Player "Hate Going to Work" has illuminated the fog over "B1 Bronchiole" at the cost of his life!] [A new hunting ground has been marked. All teleportation arrays have recorded these coordinates.] [Titan encourages every Kinfolk to explore the unknown darkness. Even if the Abyss lies ahead, carve out a path with your bones!]
The moment this announcement appeared, the entire server exploded.
"Holy shit? Dying once gives 500 Bio-Energy? And gets you a Server Announcement?"
"This isn't dying for nothing. He's a martyr!"
"Brothers! Stop fighting over monsters here! Go unlock new maps!"
"As long as I run fast enough, I can die before everyone else!"
The players who had originally crowded A7 District to compete for monsters were instantly diverted.
Countless players yearning to get rich overnight or make a name for themselves began frantically searching for unexplored side routes, scrambling to "die and unlock the map."
High-Dimensional Perspective.
Gu Yuan looked at the new points of light bursting across the map like fireworks and smiled with satisfaction.
"This is the proper way to use the Fourth Calamity."
"I'm not afraid of you dying. I'm afraid you won't dare to go."
Every death coordinate was a precious pathology report. The players' corpses were the most precise navigational instruments.
Blackstone Fortress.
Vanguard Across the Realm glanced at the announcement, a faint curve appearing on his lips.
"Looks like the authorities are encouraging expansion."
He stood atop the city wall, looking at the troops assembling below.
Besides the original Dawn Guild members, three orderly formations of one hundred men had joined the ranks.
They wore identical beginner gear, but stood upright with strict discipline. Even within the game, they exuded a chilling military aura.
They were the three hundred elite special forces soldiers Lei Zhen had brought.
"Old Lei, take your people and get used to the skills."
Vanguard Across the Realm arranged, "Although A7 District has been cleared, there are still monsters left in many of the surrounding cracks. They're perfect for practice."
"Understood." Lei Zhen nodded, excitement flashing through his eyes. The thrilling sense of crushing superiority brought by a regular army entering the game was something he greatly anticipated.
"Next..."
Vanguard Across the Realm looked toward the Crimson Route leading into the Abyss at the center of the fortress.
The victory in A7 District was only the beginning.
According to the NPCs' guidance, the next stop was [Liver].
It was Titan's detoxification factory and also the place where toxins had accumulated most severely.
"Pomelo, how are the antidote reserves?"
"Don't worry, the guild warehouse is packed full of them," Cloud Pomelo said confidently.
"Good."
Vanguard Across the Realm drew the pitch-black [Origin Fang], its blade pointing straight toward the Abyss.
"Although we have only healed one tiny bronchus, a single spark can start a prairie fire."
"All troops, prepare! Target: Liver Poison Labyrinth!"
Before you continue