High-Dimensional Mapping

In-game time, shortly after the Cardia Campaign.

Coordinates: Liver - Hepatic Lobule Zone H-105.

In this maze of massive hexagonal pillars, the battle never stopped. Compared to H-103, which had begun advancing at the same time but was quickly cleared, the environment here was far tougher—the walls were coated in thick, jade-like [Bile Salt Crystals], and ordinary weapons could only leave white marks on them.

"Clang—!"

Vanguard Across the Realm moved like a faint streak of ink, Origin Fang in his hand precisely slicing through the joint gap of a [Crystallized Gallstone Golem] (LV.22 Elite).

As the massive golem shattered with a deafening crash, an unprecedented pillar of golden light burst from Vanguard Across the Realm like a sword piercing the darkness.

The light was so intense that even the poisonous mist within a hundred-meter radius was swept clean.

[Congratulations! Player "Vanguard Across the Realm" has reached LV.20!]

[Server Announcement: The first Gene Lock has been released.]

[System Update: Titan Sequence unlocked. Reality Projection activated.]

"Holy shit! Level 20!"

Brute Force Yields Miracles, who had been tanking monsters in the distance, stopped swinging his armored fists and stared enviously at the golden light. He was still level 19, with quite a ways to go before level 20. "Brother Feng's leveling speed is insane. I feel like it'll take me another day or two just to reach 20."

At this point, the Dawn Core Team's level gap was no longer very obvious. The higher the level, the more experience was needed, and everyone's experience gain efficiency was roughly the same when acting together.

Vanguard Across the Realm had earned more experience thanks to his immense single-target damage, especially against high-level elites. With the first-kill bonus added in, he had pulled far ahead and reached level 20.

Thunder King and Li Zihan, Data Maniac, had only just passed level 19. Spirit Pivot Envoy's abilities leaned toward area damage and were limited against powerful individuals.

Meanwhile, Brute Force Yields Miracles, who handled tanking, and Cloud Pomelo, who was responsible for logistics, were stuck around the middle of level 19.

"So this is what level 20 feels like..."

Vanguard Across the Realm let out a long breath. At the instant he leveled up, he could feel this virtual shell undergoing a qualitative transformation. It was no longer merely a pile of data, but an evolution of life itself.

It was as though something had shattered.

He opened the flashing golden double-helix icon in the center of his vision—[Titan Sequence].

[Talent Tree System: Titan Sequence]

Description: The endpoint of a mortal body of iron, the starting point of divine evolution.

Every level gained will grant you an opportunity to transform your physical body.

"The starting point of divine evolution..." Vanguard Across the Realm muttered as he stared at the description beneath the golden double-helix icon.

He swallowed and suppressed the pounding in his chest as he continued reading.

Please select one of the following Cornerstone Talents:

1. [Flesh Sequence (Red)]:

[Primary · Muscle Fiber Reconstruction]: Strength checks +15%.

Reality Projection: Increased bone density. Explosive strength raised to the limits of the human body.

[Primary · Keratinized Skin]: Physical defense +10%.

Reality Projection: Increased resilience in subcutaneous tissue. Small-caliber ricochets will struggle to inflict penetrating wounds.

2. [Neural Sequence (Blue)]:

[Primary · Synaptic Acceleration]: Neural reaction speed +20%.

Reality Projection: Greatly enhanced dynamic visual tracking. No delay in neural signal transmission.

[Primary · Hunting Instinct]: Increased sensitivity to killing intent and line of sight.

Reality Projection: Unlocks a faint "crisis intuition."

3. [Psionic Sequence (Purple)]:

[Primary · Bio-Electromagnetic Field]: Spell penetration +5%.

Reality Projection: Faint electromagnetic perception and preliminary control over bioelectricity.

[Primary · Cerebral Overclocking]: Enhanced logical thinking and memory.

Reality Projection: Explosive increase in processing power, heightened mental activity, and the ability to actively enter a state of "absolute calm."

[Current Synchronization Rate: 5.1%]

(Note: The strength of real-world feedback is limited by Synchronization Rate.)

"Reality Projection? Could it be..."

Vanguard Across the Realm did not hesitate. As the number one assassin on the server, his only creed was—speed.

He placed his first talent point into [Synaptic Acceleration] under the [Neural Sequence].

[Point allocation successful!]

At that instant, he felt as though every sound in the game world had slowed down.

The howling poisonous wind became a slow murmur, while even Brute Force Yields Miracles's speaking movements beside him seemed to be playing in slow motion.

"Thump, thump."

Vanguard Across the Realm closed his eyes and clearly sensed his own heartbeat, the powerful rhythm of his pulse. He felt it—

"Brute Force, punch me." Vanguard Across the Realm suddenly said.

"Huh?" Brute Force froze, then grinned. "Then here I come!"

Brute Force's Lava Fist came roaring toward him with a fierce gust of wind.

But in Vanguard Across the Realm's eyes, the trajectory of that punch was perfectly clear. He could even see the firelight flickering across Brute Force's knuckles.

He merely leaned back slightly, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow by a hair's breadth.

"I'm logging off to test it first." Vanguard Across the Realm did not even wait for Brute Force to speak. He logged off eagerly and chose to idle where he stood.

Blue Star, Magic City.

Chen Feng opened his eyes inside the life-support pod.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, a sparrow flew past.

The instant Chen Feng focused his gaze, his brain clearly "captured" the frequency at which the sparrow flapped its wings.

Not only that, but he instinctively looked toward the desk.

A ballpoint pen was sliding toward the edge because of the desk's slight tilt.

At the instant the pen fell.

Chen Feng had already vanished from beside the life-support pod.

His hand steadily caught the pen.

The entire process had been so fast that even he had not reacted. It had been a completely instinctive response.

"The whole world has become clearer. My perception has become unbelievably sharp, and my speed has risen dramatically."

Chen Feng looked at his hand. If his body had previously been repaired and greatly enhanced by two vials of Titan Blood, then now it could be said that he had been reforged. At this moment, no one understood the words "Divine Starting Point" better than he did.

"And my Synchronization Rate is only 5.1%!"

He took a deep breath and lay back down in the life-support pod.

Five minutes later. In-game.

Vanguard Across the Realm opened his eyes again, his voice carrying an unprecedented fervor.

"Everyone, hurry up and level! Listen carefully. After level 20, the talent tree, just like Titan Blood, will have some effects that directly apply to your body in reality. It's practically a miracle..."

After saying that, he paused, then grinned.

"I feel like I barely count as human anymore. Even if I ran into special operatives from the Third Regiment in reality, if we were all unarmed and had taken Titan Blood, I could probably take on five by myself."

Thunder King and Data Maniac exchanged a glance, blazing fire igniting in their eyes.

"Quit chatting! Level up, level up!" Lei Zhen roared. "Transfer the Third Regiment here too. Use saturated monster farming to push everyone's levels up!"

High-Dimensional Perspective: Titan Divine Body.

Gu Yuan watched Vanguard Across the Realm light up his first Talent Star, and a ripple stirred in his heart.

"The first particle to cross beyond the mortal body has been born."

Gu Yuan observed for a while before muttering, "First rank, not bad... I just wonder how high their ranks can go in the future?"

"Hmm... player levels don't seem easy to match with the universe's standard ranks. Whatever, I can't be bothered. My own life matters more. No matter what rank they reach, they'll still have to work for me!"

Although their higher levels had accelerated his recovery, he could also feel the pressure.

The Liver's lesions were not dead.

As players ravaged H-103 and H-105, the ink-black hardened mass deep within the Liver—the Cirrhosis Lesion—seemed to have sensed the threat.

At the enormous scale of Titan's body, every part of the body, once it slipped out of control, was almost like it had developed a Gaia Consciousness!

It began to contract. The nutrients that had originally flowed toward the edges were forcibly cut off and redirected entirely toward the nearby massive transportation hub, [H-124].

"It's actually gathering defensive forces. Does it want to counterattack the players?"

Gu Yuan looked down from above.

Hepatic Lobule H-124. It was where multiple Portal Veins and Bile Ducts converged, and a massive Sarcoma Fortress made from piled-up dead liver cells was taking shape there.

If they did not uproot this point, the players would forever remain trapped at the Liver's edge, unable to enter the true detoxification center.

Gu Yuan tapped a finger lightly and drafted a brand-new main quest, sending it to every player while briefly describing the threat.

[Server-Wide Epic Campaign Preview: H-124 Hub]

[Background: A powerful immune rejection response has emerged deep within the Liver. A fortress formed from filth—H-124 Hub—blocks the only route to the core.]

[Mission Objectives:]

I. Launch an expedition toward H-124.

II. Destroy the "Sarcoma Fortress."

III. Establish a joint camp beneath H-124 Fortress.

[Rewards:]

The first organization to breach the fortress will receive purification management rights for the area, including a share of camp revenue.

After the campaign ends, the third round of Titan Blood purchase slots will be distributed based on contribution (5,000 vials in total).

The players who had been slacking off in various bronchioles or scavenging around the Liver's edge went completely mad when they saw "5,000 vials" and "purification management rights."

"Five thousand vials! Holy shit, I'm definitely getting one this time!"

"Management rights? Doesn't that mean we can collect tolls?"

"Dawn, Dragon War, Imperial Dynasty—every guild is gathering!"

A hundred thousand players surged like a flood, pouring out from the deep passageways of the bronchioles and the maze-like folds of the hepatic lobules. Riding Crimson Boats, they swept grandly toward the newly marked forbidden zone of H-124. Even wandering players who had ended up who knew where were no exception.

Vanguard Across the Realm stood atop the highest point in Zone H-105, his gaze sweeping across the flickering red dots on the holographic map.

As the only level 20 player at present, the benefits he had gained were beyond what others could imagine. It could be said that he was currently Titan's most devout kin.

"The gates to the age of superhumans have opened," he murmured. "No one can close them again."

His fingers brushed over the hungry, restless [Origin Fang] at his waist. The blade seemed to answer its master's battle intent with a faint hum. The corner of his mouth lifted, and his voice was cold and resolute. "Move out—level that fortress to the ground."