Chapter 241: Official Notice

Morning, 6:30.

Yang Yixie was woken by a pre‑set phone alarm; groggy, he fumbled for his phone, squinted, and saw an emergency notice pushed simultaneously by a dozen different social apps.

【Last night, numerous locations reported attacks by unknown creatures; viral videos sparked heated discussion online, and the official response is issued!】

【'Spiritual Qi Revival' or 'Apocalypse'? Experts interpret recent anomalies.......】

【8 a. m.! The official live broadcast will issue the formal notice of the monster attack!】

Sleepiness vanished instantly.

Yang Yixie immediately opened the push; just as he had guessed, the internet was already in a full‑blown frenzy. Though many were speculating, the overall atmosphere remained relatively calm, suggesting the officials had intervened.

The news from Xi Ren Sheng was buried at the bottom, mostly nonsense; the early part was likely posted when the official just released the notice, and later it simply said he had already boarded a plane.

First he got up and washed up; Xi Ren Sheng wouldn't arrive until about nine, but Yang Yixie was already out the door at 7:30.

When he left in the morning, the people guarding the security line downstairs hadn't left yet, and they promptly and loudly shooed away a few early‑rising onlookers.

As Yang Yixie went downstairs, they stared at him for a few seconds, then, seeing he was carrying a grocery bag with no intent to approach, they left him alone.

He first bought groceries at a nearby market, then headed straight to the park where he had arranged to meet Xi Ren Sheng.

He casually set the bag full of groceries beside a park bench, took out his phone, and glanced at the time.

7:50.

Yang Yixie opened the official news live stream page; the countdown on the screen was ticking, and the bullet comments refreshed with tens of thousands of entries each second, as many had logged in early to wait for the scheduled time.

7:59.

The countdown entered the final sixty seconds, and virtually everyone's gaze across the nation locked onto the screen at that moment.

8:00 sharp.

The scene switched, and the camera panned to the press conference podium.

A spokesperson who frequently appears in news footage stepped onto the stage.

He offered no small talk, gazing straight into the camera as if to convey his composure to every viewer.

'Comrades, good morning. Today, we must announce here an incident of game invasion that profoundly affects each of our lives and even our survival.'

'Our world has undergone changes far beyond scientific understanding. According to investigations, we conclude that all these Mutations stem from a game called Wasteland Era.'

'Some among us have been selected as players; their souls have traversed to an alternate world to engage in the so‑called game. Simultaneously, Aberrant Species from the game world are invading our world.'

'Those Aberrant Species emit "Mutation Factors," which, when inhaled, cause adverse effects on the human body. If the Mutation Value becomes too high, humans mutate into Aberrant Species—the monsters we all saw last night.'

'Rest assured, we have already developed means and methods to detect Mutation Values; the detection devices are being dispatched nationwide. Please stay calm, keep away from locations where Aberrant Species appear, and if you spot an Aberrant Species, call emergency services immediately.'

'We also understand the dangers players face in the game world. We therefore urge all players to register at the police station; we will do everything possible to assist you in surviving the game world.'

The remainder consisted of reporters' questions followed by the spokesperson's answers. Perhaps considering the need to explain game‑specific terminology, the officials also set up a website for the public to look up related information.

Yang Yixie clicked into that website and browsed it; it was sufficient to placate the general public, but many details were described rather vaguely.

After all, the officials cannot lay every issue bare; they mainly highlight key points, presenting the information they currently possess to give the impression that everything is under control.

In short, when ordinary people encounter Aberrant Species, the advice is simple: hide and then call the police.

Of course, the officials also explained the so‑called 'people with special abilities': they are essentially players who returned from the game world and should be called Special Ability Practitioners, though the officials have yet to discern the game's selection criteria.

The officials also stressed that the game world is unstable—indeed, crises are everywhere, and death in the game means actual death.

The officials' statements did calm the populace; the world is undergoing Mutations, but the authorities have already issued a series of policies, which have reassured people.

Moreover, although many Aberrant Species appeared last night, the officials arrived on scene promptly and eliminated them, and no large‑scale casualties have occurred so far.

Aside from a segment of netizens who yearn for the existence of Special Ability Practitioners, there are currently no major issues.......

Well, in reality the problems are huge.

Regarding the players, the officials did not elaborate, merely stating that the game world is dangerous and not every player awakens Aberrant Arts, urging people not to submit random beta‑test applications, hoping players will trust the officials, who will provide assistance and such.

What about players who recklessly use their abilities to commit crimes in the real world?

Perhaps related policies are still being prepared, but in such a short time the officials' statements are enough to soothe the public for a while.

As long as no one chooses to cause trouble at this critical moment.

He cannot obtain from the officials any information he doesn't already know, but at least Yang Yixie has clarified the officials' current stance toward players.

The officials presumably want these players to be put to use; otherwise they wouldn't have them appear on the front lines against Aberrant Species.

But cooperating with the officials would restrict freedom, which is understandable—if every Special Ability Practitioner acted lawlessly, would society's order remain?

Yes, it's understandable, but that doesn't mean one must comply.

Yang Yixie understands the officials' constraints on players to prevent random violence and social disorder, yet he dislikes the feeling of all actions being restricted.

Moreover, whether he can now be considered a 'player' is uncertain.

Leaving aside how oddly his brother insists he isn't a player, he himself can't even figure out his own situation.

Others have their souls traversed into the game, whereas he's just playing a pixelated mini‑game.

No wonder when he last went to the police station to report, everyone else stayed there awaiting official instructions, while he alone foolishly went home.

Moreover, he has no clue at all about any abilities he might possess.