Enchantment

Coordinates: Lower Esophagus - Cardia Defense Line.

"Help! I'm stuck!"

Dozens of Divine Guard players from Dragon War Guild, shields and all, were sucked into that Abyssal maw covered in barbs. A teeth-grating crunch followed.

[Gluttonous Maw](LV.23) protruded half its body. Its pink surface was coated in a thick layer of mucus, causing any ranged attack to deflect on impact.

"Physical immunity and magic resistance?" Dragon Fighting in the Wild cursed. "How the hell are we supposed to fight this Ox Demon?"

Just then, the sound of something cutting through the air came from overhead.

"All Dawn personnel, listen up!"

Vanguard Across the Realm's voice rang through the channel.

From the folded cliffs high along the esophageal wall, three formations swooped down like bats.

"Third Regiment, use grappling hooks to secure the BOSS's back and establish footholds!"

"First Regiment, follow behind them and handle close-range armor breaking!"

"Second Regiment, clear the tentacles around the perimeter and protect the healers!"

This was Dawn Guild's first full-scale deployment. The precise coordination between the three regiments was as though they had rehearsed it countless times beforehand.

Swish, swish, swish!

The Third Regiment, led by Thunder King, displayed exceptional tactical discipline. Three hundred grappling hooks latched precisely onto the giant worm's spiracles, constructing a rudimentary "Bug-Climbing Net" within seconds.

"The path is ready! First Regiment, move!"

Brute Force Yields Miracles roared and led several hundred high-level Divine Guard players charging up the net.

"Smash the bastard!"

Watching Dawn Guild's maneuver from below, Dragon Fighting in the Wild gritted his teeth.

"Should we go too?" the vice guild leader asked.

"Go my ass! Can we climb ropes?"

Dragon Fighting in the Wild glanced at the balance in his inventory.

"Vanguard Across the Realm is playing with skill, so I'll play with explosives! Go buy out every High-Explosive Alchemical Bomb and Strong Acid Neutralization Bomb on the Exchange!"

"Guild Leader... we can't buy them."

The logistics minister in charge of procurement wore a bitter expression. "We already bought out all the stock on the market earlier. There isn't even a single bomb left on the Exchange now. We can't spend money even if we have it!"

"What?!" Dragon Fighting in the Wild froze.

For the first time, he realized that production capacity in this game was limited. Even if tens of thousands of life-skill players made bombs day and night, they still could not sustain a war of attrition at this scale.

"Then use what inventory we have left and blow the hell out of it!"

Eyes bloodshot, Dragon Fighting in the Wild hesitated before adding, "Conserve them! Throw them at the weak points!"

The battlefield had reached a fever pitch.

Above, Dawn Guild's three regiments clung to the BOSS's back like parasites. The Third Regiment was disciplined and flawlessly coordinated, drawing the BOSS unit's attention, holding aggro steady, and securing their position. The First Regiment had superior levels and excellent equipment, handling the frenzied damage output. The Second Regiment intercepted the harassing lesser monsters, preventing them from disrupting the main battlefield while protecting the healers.

"Breathing hole! Dharma King!"

Vanguard Across the Realm stood atop the monster's head.

"Received!"

Lei Zhen knelt on one knee atop the giant worm's back and shoved the Thunder Magnetic Floating Cannon in his hand directly into a spiracle that had just opened.

Purple lightning exploded inside the spiracle.

"Roar—hic—"

The BOSS's roar was forcibly choked back by a devastating shockwave!

"Now!"

Origin Fang in Vanguard Across the Realm's hand had already absorbed its fill of the BOSS's blood. Seizing the moment, he turned into a black drill and burrowed through the blasted-open spiracle!

A Hunter had to strike at weak points!

[Shadow Kill!]

The explosion from within instantly shattered the BOSS's fragile organs.

A few seconds later.

"Shriek—howl—!!!"

Gluttonous Maw let out its final death cry. Its insides had been churned into mush. Its enormous body suddenly stiffened, then crashed heavily into the acid pool below like a collapsing skyscraper.

[Defeated Companion Boss: Gluttonous Maw (LV.23)!]

[Cardia Defense Line... held!]

"What are you standing around for?! Repair the gate! Grab the lesser monsters!"

[Campaign Settlement: Constructing the "Great Wall of Cardia"]

NO.1 Dragon Fighting in the Wild (Dragon War Guild)

Evaluation: Saturation bombardment secured the victory.

NO.2 Vanguard Across the Realm (Dawn Guild)

Evaluation: Perfect tactical execution and a lethal final blow.

Looking at the rankings, Vanguard Across the Realm was not disappointed in the least. Instead, he grinned. Dragon War had burned through an unimaginable amount of supplies, so taking first place was only natural. The division of labor between Dawn and Dragon War Guild had been textbook-perfect.

[Gene Shop second restock is now available!]

["Titan Blood (Diluted Version)" stock updated: 2,000 doses.]

[Purchase eligibility: The top 2,000 players in campaign contribution.]

This time, there was no need to compete on speed. The system directly sent the top 2,000 players a [Purchase Right Confirmation Letter].

"I made the cut!!"

A solo Divine Guard player ranked 1,999th looked at the pop-up window and fell to his knees, weeping with joy.

"Hahahahahaha! I can finally defy fate too!"

For the players ranked below 2,000, however, this moment was more agonizing than death.

A certain Hunter ranked 2,001st: Rolling around on the floor. Do not disturb.

High-Dimensional Perspective: Titan Divine Body.

Gu Yuan looked at the defense line sealing shut once more at the cardia, as well as the blocked gastric acid, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

[Gastroesophageal Reflux suppressed.]

[Lung threat eliminated.]

"The stomach problem has been temporarily brought under control."

Gu Yuan shook his head as he watched players try to jump into the gastric acid and swim, only to be scalded to death.

"Players' equipment is still far too poor. It's all physical defense, while magic resistance and elemental resistance are practically nonexistent."

"If we don't solve the resistance problem, they won't be able to enter the stomach at all. They'll even struggle to move through the depths of the liver."

Gu Yuan's thoughts shifted.

The currently accessible liver and lungs could provide many kinds of materials. Wind-, fire-, and poison-element materials were already available. It was time to unlock that system!

[Server-wide System Update: Enchantment and Alchemy Era.]

[New NPC added: Rune Craftsman (Dawn Fortress / Black Stone Fortress / Detoxification Camp).]

[Function unlocked: Equipment attribute enchantment.]

Inside the game.

Players who had participated in the cardia campaign returned to the lungs via the Crimson Channel.

As soon as Vanguard Across the Realm returned to Black Stone Fortress, he noticed a mysterious old NPC standing beside the blacksmith shop.

"Young warrior, your blade may be fast, but it possesses no attributes."

The old man pointed at Vanguard Across the Realm's dagger. "Do you want it to burn? Or would you prefer it to be poisonous? Even a simple speed boost is not impossible."

A brand-new interface unfolded before Vanguard Across the Realm:

[Enchantment System Details]

1. Weapon Enchantment:

[Flame Infusion]: Requires Flame Demon Core Fragment (produced in the lungs). Attacks gain fire damage and are highly effective against plant/insect monsters.

[Venomous Coating]: Requires High-Purity Bile (produced in the liver). Attacks inflict continuous corrosion and suppress monster health regeneration.

...

2. Armor Enchantment:

[Acid-Resistant Film]: Requires Hardened Gallstone + Slime Mucus. Greatly reduces damage from acidic environments.

[Heat-Resistant Pattern]: Requires Ember Ash. Reduces fire damage.

...

"This..."

Vanguard Across the Realm's eyes lit up.

This was the classic method of sustaining war through war!

Want to enter the stomach? Then they had to farm acid-resistant materials like Gallstones in the liver.

Want to venture deep into the liver? Then they had to farm Fire Cores in the lungs and enchant their equipment to withstand the high heat.

The output from these three organs formed a perfect cycle of mutual restraint!

"Brothers! Did you hear that?"

Vanguard Across the Realm shouted in the Guild Channel:

"The cardia campaign was just an unexpected incident. The stomach map isn't suitable for entry yet. If some solo players want to throw their lives away, there's no need for us to follow them."

"Our mission focus now shifts entirely back to the liver and the lung bronchi!"

"We're farming materials!"

"Everyone, change your gear! Enchant every weapon in your hands into magic weapons!"

"When every one of us has an [Acid-Resistant Set], that'll be the time for us to counterattack the stomach!"

With the Enchantment system unlocked, the players who had been somewhat lost found their goal once again.

Gallstone prices in the liver skyrocketed, while Fire Cores from the lungs were in desperately short supply.

The entire Titan body once again plunged into a blazing monster-farming frenzy.