One Hundred Thousand Players!

Blue Star, time: the seventh day after the third beta test began.

An invisible storm is sweeping across the globe.

At first, it was just scattered rumors: a patient paralyzed for years suddenly able to walk; a construction worker snapping steel bars with his bare hands; an elderly professor with Parkinson's not only stopping his tremors but becoming active in academia once again.

But when the number of these individual cases exceeded 2,000, quantitative change led to qualitative change.

Dragon Kingdom internet, a popular forum.

A thread titled <An In-depth Investigation into the Abnormal Physical Enhancement of Titan: Genesis Players> has been pushed to the top of the entire site.

The original poster claims to be a private investigator, listing dozens of real-life cases and even attaching secretly filmed videos. In one video, a frail-looking man in glasses (suspected to be a Hunter player in the game) jumps three meters into the air to save someone while crossing the street, soaring over a speeding car like Superman.

The comment section exploded.

"Special effects, right? This is too fake!"

"I'm a doctor at the City First Hospital, and I can testify. We've admitted several miracle recovery cases recently. Their common denominator is—they all play that Titan game!"

"Holy crap! No wonder the activation codes for this game have been scalped up to 500,000 each! So it's actually an entry ticket to immortality?"

"Need a code! Need a code! I'll go bankrupt for a code!"

Panic, fanaticism, greed.

Humanity's desire for evolution has been thoroughly ignited.

Dragon Kingdom Security Bureau, codenamed Wall Breaker task force.

On the large screen in the conference room, big data monitoring reports from across the country are scrolling in real-time.

"Team leader, as of 8:00 this morning, the number of citizens confirmed to have experienced significant 'transcendence' in physical function has reached 1,982."

The technician's voice trembles slightly, "Among them, three have reached an A-level danger assessment. According to our investigation, their game IDs are Feng Xing Tian Xia, Thunder King, and Dali Chu Qiji."

Ban Jianguo sits at the head of the table, holding a top-secret document that just arrived.

It is the <Regarding the Liver War Zone Exploration Plan and Material Requirement List for the Titan World> sent by Lei Zhen (Thunder King).

"This kid, he's treating us like his logistics department."

Ban Jianguo lets out a bitter laugh, but his eyes are exceptionally sharp.

"Approve his request," Ban Jianguo says in a deep voice. "Additionally, initiate the Great Wall Project."

"From now on, the military, research institutes, and top-tier athletes will fully intervene in the Titan game."

"Since this is the fast lane to evolution, our Dragon Kingdom must be in the driver's seat."

At the same time, across the Pacific Ocean.

The underground bunker of a mysterious consortium.

A group of white men in suits, wearing fedoras and sporting beards, are sitting around a round table, looking at the game icon labeled "Titan" on the big screen.

"We can't trace the server... we can't trace the capital flow... the signal source is even coming from outer space..."

A blonde old man taps the table, "But this thing can make people regain their youth; that much is true."

"Buy it."

The old man issues the order, "At any cost, acquire accounts. If you can't buy them, find the people. Even if it means kidnapping, control those high-level players for me."

Higher-dimensional space: Titan Divine Body.

Gu Yuan does not care about the undercurrents surging on Blue Star.

To him, whether you are an agent, a billionaire, or a commoner, once you enter my body, you are just my cells.

"Energy reserves are sufficient; it's time to expand the scale."

Gu Yuan looks at the bio-energy numbers constantly jumping on the backend and waves his hand.

[Server-wide system update: Fourth beta test initiated!]

[Additional slots: 50,000.]

[Current total server capacity: 100,000.]

[New version features: To help new kin better adapt to the environment, the beginner tutorial process has been optimized.]

In-game, Blackstone Fortress - top-floor conference room.

The atmosphere is somewhat heavy.

Thunder King sits in his chair, looking at the four teammates he has lived and died with, and takes a deep breath.

"Feng, everyone, I have something I must confess."

Lei Zhen's voice was low, "Yesterday, I submitted a report regarding the Titan to my old unit—the Dragon Kingdom Security Bureau Special Operations Group."

The air went silent in an instant.

Dali Chu Qiji widened his eyes, Data Maniac's hand froze in mid-air while adjusting his glasses, and Yun Zhong You looked at Feng Xing Tian Xia with a hint of nervousness.

Handing over core secrets to the state meant that the Dawn guild might lose its independence or even be placed under official control.

However, Feng Xing Tian Xia did not get angry. He simply wiped the newly acquired weapon in his hand calmly, a faint smile even playing on his lips.

"Well done, Old Lei."

"...Feng?" Lei Zhen was stunned, "You aren't blaming me?"

"Why would I blame you?" Feng Xing Tian Xia looked up, his gaze profound, "With the leakage of Titan Blood, this secret was impossible to keep. Rather than waiting for the authorities to come knocking, it's better to defect proactively in exchange for maximum benefits."

"Besides," Feng Xing Tian Xia stood up, "we need the execution power of a regular army. The map of this game is too vast, and there are too many monsters; relying solely on casual players and studios won't be enough to push forward."

Lei Zhen breathed a sigh of relief: "The higher-ups have already approved it. The first batch of three hundred top-tier retired special forces soldiers have already created their accounts. They will join Dawn unconditionally and follow orders. More resources will be tilted toward us in the future."

"Very good."

Feng Xing Tian Xia nodded, then took out the Weapon Selection Box rewarded for topping the leaderboard.

Under the gaze of everyone present, he opened the box.

A mass of black fluid that seemed to possess a life of its own coiled around his arm, eventually transforming into a sinister-looking short blade that seemed to swallow the very light around it.

[Weapon: Origin Fang (Upgradeable)]

[Quality: Unique]

[Binding Status: Locked to player "Feng Xing Tian Xia" biological signature.]

[Trait: Devour. Evolves by absorbing genetic fragments through the killing of high-level organisms.]

"And," Feng Xing Tian Xia swung the signature weapon, leaving a pitch-black fissure in the air, "as long as we are strong enough, no one will be able to sideline us."

In-game, Heart Core Sanctuary (Newbie Village).

White light poured down like a torrential rain.

Fifty thousand fourth-wave newbies descended.

"We're actually in?"

A salaryman player with the ID "Bu Xiang Shang Ban" stared blankly at his own hands, then pinched his thigh hard.

"Hiss—that actually hurts! This holographic technology is insane!"

He looked up, stunned into silence by the massive heart pulsing like a sun before him.

Around the plaza, squads of Silver Wing Sentinels clad in silver-white light armor marched in perfect unison on patrol.

"Recruit, stop gawking."

A Silver Wing Sentinel stopped in front of him and said coldly, "Go over there to collect your gear, then get to work. The Titan has no use for dead weight."

"Holy crap, this NPC can actually insult people?"

Bu Xiang Shang Ban hurried to the supply point and claimed a bone knife and a set of white-tier newbie gear.

He opened the map and discovered that the current map was countless times larger than it had been during the first beta.

[Safe Zone: Heart Core Sanctuary, Sighing Corridor.]

[Danger Zone: A7 District Bronchus (Purified)]

[Extreme Danger: Liver (Poisonous Labyrinth).]

"I heard A7 District is a leveling paradise, let's go check it out!"

Bu Xiang Shang Ban followed the main crowd and boarded a Crimson Boat.

A7 District Bronchus (Purified Zone).

This place had completely transformed into a bustling "mining area."

Although the major monsters had been cleared out, some Flame Poison Larvae and Mini Slimes still respawned in the corners.

For veteran players, these were mere scraps, but for the newbies, they were perfect for practice.

"Forming a party to farm larvae! Need a healer!"

"Buying Chitin Fragments at a high price! I'll take as many as you have!"

But Bu Xiang Shang Ban felt that sticking with the main crowd was too boring. He knew that some casual players were wandering around in groups on Crimson Boats, and he decided to follow suit.

"Is there a side path over there?"

During the voyage, he spotted a dark, narrow tributary at a fork in the Aorta ahead. The system had not set up any invisible walls, nor were there any warning signs.

His spirit of adventure burned bright. Taking advantage of a moment when two Red Blood Cells collided, Bu Xiang Shang Ban jumped into the blood flow of that side path without a second thought and was swept inside by the rushing current.

Ten minutes later.

The surrounding light grew increasingly dim, and the air was thick with a nauseating stench of decay.

Bu Xiang Shang Ban was not afraid; instead, he excitedly activated his recording function: "Brothers, I think I've discovered a new continent. It doesn't look like anyone has explored this place yet..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

In the darkness ahead, thousands upon thousands of scarlet eyes suddenly lit up.

This was the [Right Lung Lobe - B1 Bronchiole (Unpurified Zone)].

Unlike the A7 District, which had already been cleared by players, this place remained a paradise for the virus.

"Roar--!"

Countless [Flame Poison Golem]s and [Corrupted Giant Worm]s packed the entire passage. They bred and piled up here, forming a hopeless tide of corpses.

"Holy crap..."

Looking at the overwhelming sea of monsters, even as a player with a microscopic perspective, Bu Xiang Shang Ban felt a sense of despair stemming from the sheer magnitude of their numbers.

Compared to the massive body of the Titan, the victory in the A7 District that the players were so proud of was merely cleaning up a speck of dust.

And there were billions of such specks.

Just as the monsters surged forward, a system notification suddenly exploded in his ears:

[Congratulations! You have discovered a new high-risk area: B1 Dead Silence Corridor!]

[Achievement unlocked: Fearless Pathfinder (White).]

[Reward: Bio-energy +500.]

"Haha! Worth it!"

Bu Xiang Shang Ban let out a loud laugh, only to be torn into pieces by countless giant hands the very next second.

[You have died.]

Server-wide announcement:

[Player "Bu Xiang Shang Ban" has illuminated the fog of the "B1 Bronchiole" at the cost of his life!]

[A new hunting ground has been marked. All teleportation arrays have recorded these coordinates.]

[The Titan encourages every kin to explore the unknown darkness. Even if the abyss lies ahead, you must pave a path with your corpses!]

As soon as this announcement went out, the entire server erupted.

"Holy crap? You get 500 bio-energy for dying once? And you get a server-wide announcement?"

"This isn't suicide, this is martyrdom!"

"Brothers! Stop fighting over mobs here! Let's go unlock the new map!"

"As long as I run fast enough, I can die before everyone else!"

The players who were originally crowded in the A7 District fighting over mobs were instantly diverted.

Countless players, eager to get rich overnight or make a name for themselves, began frantically searching for those unexplored side paths, scrambling to "die to unlock the map."

High-dimensional perspective.

Gu Yuan watched the new light points exploding like fireworks on the map and smiled with satisfaction.

"This is the correct way to use the Fourth Calamity."

"I don't fear your deaths; I only fear that you won't dare to go."

Every death coordinate was a precious pathology report. The players' corpses were the most precise navigation instruments.

Blackstone Fortress.

Feng Xing Tian Xia glanced at the announcement, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems the official side is encouraging expansion."

He stood on the city wall, watching the troops assembling below.

In addition to the original members of the Dawn Guild, there were three uniform phalanxes of one hundred people each in the ranks.

They wore standard beginner gear, but stood tall with strict discipline, exuding a murderous aura even within the game.

Those were the three hundred special forces elites brought by Lei Zhen.

"Old Lei, take your men to get used to the skills."

Feng Xing Tian Xia arranged, "Although the A7 District has been cleared, there are still residual monsters in many small crevices nearby; they'll be perfect for them to practice on."

"Understood." Lei Zhen nodded, a flash of excitement in his eyes. The thrill of regular troops entering the game and delivering this kind of dimension-reduction strike was something he was very much looking forward to.

"Next..."

Feng Xing Tian Xia looked toward the crimson route leading to the abyss in the center of the fortress.

The victory in A7 District was only the beginning.

According to the NPC's guidance, the next stop was the [Liver].

That was the Titan's detoxification factory, and also the place where the toxins were most severely accumulated.

"You Zi, how are the antidote reserves looking?"

"Don't worry, the guild warehouse is packed full," Yun Zhong You said confidently.

"Good."

Feng Xing Tian Xia drew the pitch-black [Origin Fang], the blade pointing straight toward the abyss.

"Although we have only healed a tiny bronchial tube, a single spark can start a prairie fire."

"All troops, prepare! Target: Liver Poison Labyrinth!"