Tug of War

Coordinates: Heart - Heart Core Sanctuary.

The Heart Core Sanctuary was like a boiling international market.

Three hundred thousand new players popped into existence like dumplings dropping into a pot.

As 300,000 global slots were released, countless novice players of different skin colors and speaking different languages descended. They were stunned by the vast, suffocating crimson hall before them. Some sprawled on the ground to touch the floor, while others tried to flirt with the aloof [Silver Wing Sentinels].

The once-serious novice plaza was now packed with recruitment booths from major guilds.

"Dawn Guild's Ninth Regiment is recruiting! Healers and tanks only! Join and get a full set of bone gear! This is the number one guild on the entire server—God of Blades' guild!"

"Dragon War Guild is recruiting! Get 100 Bio-Energy just for joining! We'll carry you through A7 District! Guaranteed leveling!"

"Imperial Dynasty Guild is recruiting high-IQ players! You must pass a logic test! We want brains!"

Besides the three major giants, even more small and mid-sized guilds and solo-player studios were springing up like mushrooms after rain.

"Brotherhood is recruiting! We're all loyal brothers here—no abandoning anyone, no giving up!"

"Gold-farming group recruiting! Daily pay, exchange Bio-Energy for cash! Anyone who wants to make money in the game, come on over!"

A foreign player who had just entered the game was overwhelmed by the spectacle. Before he could react, an enthusiastic Dragon Kingdom auntie grabbed his hand. "Young man, want to join a guild? Our 'Sunset Red' Guild may not be high-level, but we can cook, and our logistics support is first-rate!"

Coordinates: Blue Star, Dragon Kingdom, a second-tier city.

Time: Late night.

Liu Wei was an ordinary food delivery rider, with the game ID "The Man Like the Wind."

He was neither a highly skilled professional player nor someone with the resources of a major guild. But he had gotten into the game early through good luck, and he was hardworking enough. Every day after finishing his deliveries, he logged in to grind, leech assists, and pick through trash.

Finally, last night, he reached LV.20 by scavenging the corpse of an elite monster.

His fate changed from that moment on.

At that moment, he was riding his electric bike to make a delivery, speeding along to avoid being late.

At the intersection ahead, a car that had run a red light suddenly shot out and came straight at him.

I'm done for!

That was Liu Wei's first thought.

But in the next second, the world seemed to have been put into slow motion.

[Talent Mapping: Neural Sequence (Blue) - Primary Synaptic Acceleration]

In his vision, the car's trajectory became crystal clear. He could even see the driver's terrified expression distinctly. Instinctively, he squeezed the brakes, swung the rear around, and lowered his center of gravity.

The heavy electric bike felt as light as a toy in his hands.

Whoosh—!

The electric bike skimmed past the car's bumper without a scratch.

The nearby pedestrians stared in stunned silence.

"Holy shit! A stunt rider?"

Liu Wei pulled over to the roadside, looked at his slightly trembling hands, took off his helmet, and sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

"So this is... being extraordinary?"

He had never used Titan Blood and had not received the all-around boost to his physical attributes, yet Synaptic Acceleration alone was enough to put him far beyond ordinary people.

He stood there thinking for a long time before opening the [Titan Extraordinary Alliance] app and tapping "Real-Name Registration."

Five minutes later.

[Dragon War Guild's New Twenty-Sixth Regiment is recruiting! Stop delivering food—we'll give you a squad leader position and pay you a salary. See you in the game. Log on!]

[Attachment: Contract]

[Message: There's actually a high-level pure solo player? Why didn't you come play with us sooner? We'll carry you!]

Liu Wei could not help swallowing as he looked at the messages. He might have been slow and failed to recognize the game's value early on, but he was not an idiot.

That night, there were quite a few ordinary people like Liu Wei who had just awakened. These superhuman reactions and physiques were quietly changing the fundamental logic of society.

Coordinates: Right Lower Lobe - Duan Bronchus Entrance - [Flame Outpost].

Compared to the laughter and chaos of the novice village, this place was a true meat grinder.

Although the Flame Demon Lord had been killed, the entire Duan Bronchus was still occupied by endless [Inflammatory Sarcomas] and [Lava Elementals]. Relying on the outpost, the players were fighting a difficult tug-of-war battle.

Vanguard Across the Realm piloted [Titan's Fist] and cleaved a LV.30 elite monster in two with one slash.

The mecha's warning light came on. "Warning! Left arm drive shaft wear at 80%! Return to the factory for major repairs recommended!"

"Tch, it broke again."

Vanguard Across the Realm exited the mecha irritably and looked at the smoking steel giant.

"This thing is strong, sure, but maintenance is too expensive. It's just a money pit."

Data Maniac analyzed from the side, "And its combat power is locked at around LV.35. The average level of our first echelon has already reached LV.26. At this leveling speed, the players' own physical strength will probably surpass this prototype within another month or two."

"Mechas are just transitional tools, or consumables for tough battles." Vanguard Across the Realm nodded. "The future battlefield will still depend on our own evolution—unless we get more advanced technology."

On the other side of the defensive line, Zhao Kuo was leading a group of people in "feeding pigs."

"Eat! Eat as much as you can! This is our guild's strategic reserve!"

Zhao Kuo directed the logistics team to dump cartloads of [High-Energy Protein Blocks] onto the ground.

Before him sat thirty awakened [Warlords (The Ancient · Macrophages)].

No. 704, the leader, was the largest of them all. It had already grown to twelve meters tall, and the massive chitin shield in its hand had sprouted spikes. Behind it stood twenty-nine equally towering underlings.

[NPC Legion: Ancient Guardians]

[Average Level: LV.27]

[Favorability: Friendly (Additional feeding can increase favorability)]

[As long as there's food to eat, you're my big brother]

[Trait: Phagocytosis Evolution.]

"Burp—"

No. 704 let out a full belch, patted its belly, then roared an unknown ancient language at the underlings behind it.

All thirty giants rose to their feet at once, their oppressive presence like a moving wall.

"Invaders... eliminate!"

Rumble!

The guardian legion charged like a row of biological tanks, smashing several Lava Elementals ahead into pieces before casually grabbing the monsters' remains and stuffing them into their mouths to keep eating.

"See that?" Zhao Kuo said smugly. "As long as you're willing to feed them, these gluttons are fiercer than mechas! And when they break, they can grow back on their own! Hahaha, they're chosen workers!"

If The Ancient were the strategic weapons of major guilds, then the [Pet System] was a source of joy for ordinary players.

Besides the common Slimes (Probiotics) and Berserk Hounds (Eosinophils), some absurdly lucky Blessed One players had begun showing off rare finds on the forums.

"Holy shit! Lao San! What the hell is that thing?"

A player pointed at a floating black orb behind his teammate. Purple arcs of electricity curled around it, and it wore a mischievous grin.

His teammate looked utterly smug. "Oh, I got it while clearing cysts near a lymph node just now. I think it's called an [NK Ghost (Natural Killer Cell - NK cell) · Assassin Type]."

[Pet: NK Ghost (LV.18)]

[Rarity: Epic]

[Skill: Cancerous Cell Identification. Deals 500% critical damage to mutated organisms when backstabbing. Randomly attacks hostile units depending on its mood.]

Before he could finish speaking, the black orb suddenly vanished. In the next second, it appeared behind an elite monster.

Pfft!

Half of the low-level elite monster's health bar vanished instantly!

"Damn it, this game doesn't just test how hard you grind—it tests your face too!"

The unlucky players watching nearby shed tears of envy.

[Server Announcement]

Just as the players were immersed in the daily routine of petting pets, feeding NPCs, and repairing mechas, a new system prompt shattered the calm.

[System Prompt: Due to the players' continued clearing of the Duan Bronchus entrance, various blockages near the outpost have been cleared.]

[Titan Breath Efficiency slightly increased: 0.2%]

"Only 0.2%?"

Vanguard Across the Realm frowned. This showed that the scale and severity of the blockages in this lung region far exceeded their imagination.

Because it was not just the players pushing forward. As far as he knew, the Silver Wing Sentinel Legion had been constantly clearing the smaller bronchioles without rest!

In the next second, a red alarm exploded.

[Warning: Abnormal increase in oxygen concentration detected!]

[The oxygen-rich environment is activating the Duan Bronchus' "Flame Demon Parasites"!]

[Due to oxygen-fueled combustion, the original crimson magma is transforming into high-temperature "Blue Flame"!]

[Server-wide limited-time quest issued: Defend the Flame Outpost!]

[Quest Description: The monsters of the Duan Bronchus are gathering, attempting to reclaim this ventilation opening. Hold the line for four hours and defend the position at all costs!]

[Basic Rewards: Massive experience, Bio-Energy.]

[Special Rewards (ranked by contribution):]

[Rank 1-3000: Purchase eligibility for [Titan Blood (Diluted Version)] x1!]

"Three thousand doses?!"

The players who had been laughing and joking moments earlier instantly saw red.

Who did not know the enormous benefits of Titan Blood? Using Titan Blood was comparable to unlocking the Talent Tree for the first time!

"Everyone, stop feeding! Stop petting cats!"

"Prepare for battle!"

"The monster tide is here!"

Vanguard Across the Realm pointed into the distance.

The sea of fire that had once been crimson was now glowing with an eerie blue.

Countless mutated parasites burning with blue flames surged forward like a tide. Their temperatures were higher, their speed faster—this was the qualitative change brought by oxygen-rich combustion!

"Don't deploy any mechas that haven't been repaired! That armor can't withstand Blue Fire!"

"Divine Guards, get up there! Healer teams, keep a close eye on the healing!"

"Ancient Guardian Legion, clear the way!"

"For Titan Blood!"

"Kill!!"

(I posted four updates today! My butt hurts from sitting too long, I need a break.)

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