Chapter 66: The Day the World Changed

May 4, 2058.

A fourth beast tide erupted worldwide, the war on the main battlefields of the three great nations continued, and scattered independent bases outside the three great nations, as well as mercenary bases, gradually disappeared over the past year.

Either they were drowned in the beast tide, or they merged into the World Tree.

Yet in this all-out beast tide, the number of monsters appearing on the front lines remains endless, but the situation on the front battlefields is gradually changing.

The proportion of low-rank beast soldiers is truly decreasing at a visible speed, being replaced by high-rank beast soldiers and low-rank beast commanders.

The monsters' overall strength seems not to have diminished with the ongoing war; on the contrary, it is continually growing stronger.

And it is precisely this increase that has raised the beast tide's power by more than one level, causing the casualty ratios on all battlefields to reach an unprecedented figure.

And at this moment, the headquarters of the Two Great Martial Halls, Hongning Base City, Lei Shen Base City, and the two remaining base cities of the Five Great Nations suddenly issued several major announcements.

The Extreme Martial Hall and the Thunderbolt Martial Hall were formally merged into the World Tree.

No one knew the reason behind it, nor did anyone question the cause; it all seemed natural.

The warrior training system led by the Two Great Martial Halls was also incorporated into the World Tree's training system, and the era of martial halls was formally declared over.

That same month, the HR Alliance, due to severe internal production waste, saw worker riots that caused family-led subsidiaries to collapse and massive bankruptcies; worker and warrior groups split apart, and finally, internal strife guided by A Yun served as the spark, leaving the HR Alliance, aside from the last two or three core families relying on their foundation, already a name only.

By this point, the several major powers and choices once much talked about remained only the individual nations and the World Tree.

……

After the fourth all-out beast tide had passed, while everyone was still reeling, the War God Palace also opened an immediate post-war meeting.

Over the past year, the War God Palace also underwent tremendous changes.

Those who died in the beast tide, those harmed in the Earth Net turmoil, or those who completely broke with the War God Palace by aligning with the United States and the European Union—after going full circle, the strong ones in the War God Palace affiliated with the World Tree now account for the majority.

It's not that no one has pondered whether the World Tree is also playing the role of the fisherman, but everyone is clearer that without support from the World Tree and Dragon Gate, the so-called other forces have already been destroyed.

Moreover, the outstanding rising stars of Dragon Gate who performed remarkably this year also gained qualification to attend this meeting, naturally including Luofeng and Jiāng Jiāng.

And Babata, who claims to be a high-intelligence life form, naturally hitched a ride in as well.

"That shouldn't be—clearly it's something so backward it can't get any more backward, so why couldn't I get in before?"

Babata secretly confided his doubts to both Luofeng and Jiāng Jiāng.

But whether it was Luofeng or Jiāng Jiāng, they were unable to give him an answer.

The War God Palace hadn't held such a general meeting for a long time, because beast tides were frequent everywhere, local warriors were overwhelmed and had no chance to support each other, and the War God Palace, aside from providing some updates on the tense situations in various places, could not offer much more expectation.

But by now, the existence of the War God Palace is no longer so lofty nor so important.

However, to everyone's surprise, the chair of this meeting has changed to Hong, formerly the world's strongest, and he still is.

Hong's dignity remains as yesterday, yet the gazes of the crowd below toward him are no longer the same.

In the past, he was the sole straw everyone could cling to in despair.

Today, Hong is a senior worthy of respect and admiration, but he is no longer the sun everyone must look up to, nor the straw everyone must grasp.

When Hong again looked down at the crowd, many faces were gone, and many familiar faces had grown up.

"Everyone, I'm very fortunate to see you all here."

"Over the past year we have lost much, but I am fortunate that after a year we still have so many people standing here."

"Even more fortunate, those standing here today are already comrades who have shared hardship..."

Hong is not one to speak sweet words, but today he unexpectedly said a lot, perhaps because he was reading from a script, or perhaps he truly felt moved.

"Perhaps you think we gathered everyone today because we recently endured a difficult hardship."

"That is indeed the case, but the news I want to announce may differ from what you imagine."

"Two months ago, our Sixth Councilor Gan went alone into the depths of the sea and consecutively slew four beast emperors."

Saying this, the audience below erupted in an uproar, in a place nobody knew.

"One and a half months ago, it was exactly when the fourth global beast tide erupted, and the monsters again displayed a power that amazed us."

"We have lost a great deal in this war."

"I also know how everyone feels now."

"But..."

While Hong was speaking, the global monster detection distribution map appeared once again before everyone's eyes.

The red dots that once covered the world faded little by little, the crimson surrounding the human green points scattered and dispersed, and although the red dots still blanketed the world, they no longer gave a feeling of oppression.

"We, we have won."

Indeed, this is news nobody expected.

Below, Luofeng also urged Babata to inquire about the situation.

"What's going on? You said obtaining information through human detection equipment on Earth is extremely limited, and you also said monsters seem to be using some method to increase their strength in a cramming fashion—what's going on?"

Luofeng wasn't worried that Babata was wrong; he was worried that the War God Palace had misjudged the news, which could possibly bring humanity an immeasurable disaster.

Babata couldn't answer Luofeng.

"Moreover, this is another important piece of news for today's gathering."

"The War God Palace, effective immediately, announces its dissolution."

……

After the meeting ended, many people still hadn't recovered from the two pieces of news Hong had spoken.

For some reason, most people's first thought was to seek confirmation of the news' accuracy from the people of the World Tree.

Of course, most people forgot that not long ago, the Extreme Martial Hall and Hong had already been merged into the World Tree.

The final verification result naturally matched what Hong had said.

The war has ended.

"How is it?"

In the real world, Luofeng was at his hometown in South of the River, and Babata was retrieving information via an external communications network.

"How is it?"

"All the news circulating outside is the same, all originating from the World Tree."

Babata said, his face changing:

"Wait, Luofeng, Earth's magnetic field is very off……"

"Do you remember me telling you? The so-called World Tree uses a network encryption system tens of millions of years more advanced than your Earth's general technology; I can't even detect its existence, let alone intercept its signals."

"Just as I was transmitting the message, that network connected with your people's ordinary network…… Their signals are like black holes; I can't probe anywhere they pass."

"Moreover, the strangest thing is…… this influence seems to have altered the real environment; signals coming from the Universe are also being blocked off……"

Babata was very proud and also very concerned about saving face; Luofeng rarely saw Babata show such an expression.

"If I hadn't stayed here for fifty thousand years, I could confirm this place is in the Universe; I would have thought this was a world opened up by some powerful being."

At the same time, Jiang Jiang, far away in India, was also communicating with Babata about the same issue.

However, as they talked, Babata gradually began to fade, and his speech became indistinct.

Babata's main body resided in the wristband Luofeng carried on his person; although Jiang also had the same model here, as an auxiliary Babata was merely his projection program.

Jiang Jiang didn't mind either, after all she had long known she was using the so-called extra quota.

Babata obviously noticed this as well, and while continuing to supplement, he emphasized the final point:

"Earth's…… magnetic field…… is changing…… rejecting other signals…… source."

Jiang Jiang watched Babata's \"avatar\" completely disappear, yet also did not show too much surprise.

Without Babata, the smart wristband reverted to the most basic smart wristband; according to Babata, this is the most commonplace item in the Universe.

Jiang Jiang tested its functions; most were still usable, and the communication function had no abnormalities.

Jiang Jiang placed a call to Luofeng……

"Hey, Jiang Jiang?"

It seems that only Babata was disconnected from the network.

Is there some secret that Babata cannot know?

Jiang Jiang casually hung up the phone.

Before she could think much, another call came through immediately—a string of numbers very familiar.

"Hey?"

"Hurry home and cook, I'm starving to death."

……

The war ended, or the news of victory spread quickly.

The abrupt ending made many feel somewhat unreal, yet also somewhat relieved.

People who had been suffocated by the war also fell into brief joy; even the martial artists temporarily lacked the spirit to hunt, and perhaps the best relaxation at this time was simply returning to ordinary life.

A few days later, virtual ports related to the World Tree began to appear in the ordinary market; the virtual network named "Heartnet" was officially opened to the public, and simultaneously announced virtual network terminals and their composition were also released.

The so-called Heartnet uses living beings themselves as ports, Earth itself as the platform, and Jian Mu as the server transfer virtual world; it is a world jointly formed by everyone who joins Heartnet.

In just a few days, Heartnet's auxiliary ports, in the form of registrations, "big sale" worldwide.

Moreover, at a level imperceptible to everyone, Earth gradually completed its disconnection from the external "virtual".

————

"Come on, come on, give me a quick mua! I need to test the goods. (。`ω)"

Jiang Jiang pointed at her own cheek and said.