Chapter 335: Proof of a Hero

Wu Chang took a deep breath; if there were a complaint button on his player panel, he would've filed a formal complaint against the administrator right away.

He had assumed the difficulty of his matched dungeon, while somewhat high, wouldn't be wildly out of line compared to other players—for instance, the dungeon he encountered at level 10 was at most equivalent to the difficulty of a level-20 player's.

But according to Shi Ning's data, the vast majority of Deep Abyss players, from entering the game to reaching level 30, never faced a dungeon as difficult as his trial dungeon.

Angry, trembling, cold—where was the presumption of innocence? Why was the administrator treating him like a criminal just for suspecting he was cheating?

If not for his sweat and hard work, surviving countless true dungeons that could kill max-level players, the administrator would've succeeded in destroying him.

Compared to Wu Chang's fury, the overwhelming majority of Bureau members reacted to Shi Ning's data with fear.

This included not only ordinary members who had impulsively wanted to test their luck, but also high-ranking officials like Director Gao and Lei Huo, who had some understanding of true dungeons.

Before Wu Chang publicly revealed the existence of world dungeons, Shi Ning's data was kept secret from all members.

Members without clearance couldn't see it; even players who had been screened and deemed eligible for qualification dungeons couldn't see it.

This wasn't done to withhold information for fees or deliberately deceive members—it was out of fear they'd refuse to participate if they knew the true difficulty.

Even Director Gao and Lei Huo, after viewing the data and charts and directly grasping the difficulty of true dungeons, couldn't help but feel uneasy.

True dungeons, especially high-contamination true dungeons, were far harder than they had imagined.

Among those present at Wanghai Branch, excluding Wu Chang, the one with the most experience in true dungeons was Xiang Jianxing.

In just the past two or three months, Xiang Jianxing had entered two true dungeons, one of which was an A-rank dungeon on the verge of going out of control—he not only completed it effortlessly, but also briefly claimed the top spot on the A-rank speed-clear leaderboard before He Ping did.

If we want to know just how difficult true dungeons really are, why not ask Xiang Jianxing, who has so much experience?

Feeling the eyes of everyone on him, Xiang Jianxing forced a stiff smile, his body twitching uncomfortably, as if sitting on needles.

How could he explain that in his two true dungeon runs, the first one he basically did nothing—just spent a day in jail—before He Ping carried him through the dungeon's resolution?

The second one was even more absurd: he directly encountered the dungeon's hidden NPC, whose native inhabitants unleashed overwhelming power—he spent the entire time assisting, didn't even understand what was happening, yet still completed the dungeon's resolution and earned the top spot.

In a daze, he recalled what had happened after he and the Negotiation Master completed their dungeon and returned to the organization to write reports.

They had been questioned repeatedly for a long time before they could finally clarify they hadn't deliberately concealed anything—they genuinely hadn't known.

It seemed the same thing was about to happen again.

Shi Ning briefly explained the data to everyone, then said:

"This world dungeon differs from all previous ones; the greatest difference is its scale."

"After each world dungeon, players' permissions within the Deep Abyss increase, and the number of new players the Abyss absorbs grows as well."

Shi Ning opened a new set of data, which recorded the maximum player capacity of past world dungeons.

In earlier world dungeons, due to limited permissions granted by the Wasteland Realm, the number of participants never reached full capacity.

But in the last three world dungeons, the four major organizations had found stable methods to open qualification dungeons and determined the upper limit of player capacity for world dungeons.

The data shows the full-capacity numbers for the previous three world dungeons were 700, 1000, and 1500, with a total growth rate of about 1.5 times.

But this world dungeon is different: through temporary administrative permissions from the Wasteland Realm, the four major organizations learned in advance that the participant count would reach ten thousand.

This growth rate, compared to previous ones, qualifies as explosive.

Shi Ning looked directly into the camera and said solemnly:

"Based on current intelligence, we have reason to suspect this world dungeon is a crucial turning point—for the real world, for the Wasteland Realm, and for the entire Deep Abyss game."

"The difficulty of this world dungeon will certainly be higher than ever before, and the rewards it offers will certainly be greater than ever before."

"It is not only a turning point for the world, but a turning point for every player."

Shi Ning paused, adjusted his pace, and lowered his tone:

"No one knows what the world will become after this world dungeon—even I, or any member of the Bureau's high command, cannot make a judgment."

"Precisely because of He Ping's actions, we are returning the choice to you."

"After understanding all the risks, any member still willing to enter the world dungeon may fill out an application form after this meeting."

"We will establish a sprint training camp for members who apply, to increase your survival rate in true dungeons and help you leave the dungeons as safely as possible."

After speaking, Shi Ning closed all data; his image shrank into a small window and moved to the corner of the remote meeting screen.

The main meeting screen switched, and Hou Jingchuan appeared on screen.

He looked out at all Bureau members through the screen and said loudly:

"Professor Shi Ning has already covered everything that needed to be said about qualification dungeons and world dungeons; his research into the Deep Abyss is profound, and I have nothing to add."

"What I wish to say concerns neither world dungeons nor the Bureau—it concerns each of you."

"When you were in Crimson Courtyard, you must have often heard people whisper behind your backs that players from the four major organizations have grown too complacent, losing the sense of crisis and hunger that solo players possess."

Hou Jingchuan assumed a thoughtful expression and said: "They've even coined a term for us: Deep Abyss civil servants."

"As Director of the Bureau, I've always believed maintaining your safety isn't wrong; a sense of crisis and hunger isn't something to be praised—but now, everything is different."

Hou Jingchuan leaned forward, closer to the camera, clenched his right fist, and lightly tapped his desk.

"Though we are civil servants, called Deep Abyss civil servants, you must understand: our true identity is seekers of the Dao on the path of evolution."

"The strength of the organization relates to each of you—and yet, it doesn't."

"Though I don't agree with He Ping's reckless revelation of the world dungeon's existence, I agree with one thing he said: for each of you, this world dungeon may be your only chance in life to turn things around."

"Whether or not to seize it—please decide carefully."

The meeting ended. As the screen went dark, every Bureau member received an application form to join the world dungeon.

Simultaneously, members of the other three major organizations also received similar application forms after concluding their own remote meetings.

For a moment, members of all four major organizations were caught in turmoil.

Inside Wanghai Branch, the atmosphere was especially solemn.

As a branch in a second-tier city, the number of members qualified to open qualification dungeons was limited, and most of these members' combat power remained at the upper-middle tier of the Bureau.

Their strength was sufficient to survive in ordinary dungeons, but entering true dungeons meant risking their lives.

Everyone was burdened with worries, pondering how to choose so as to leave no regrets.

Yet those members who had already been screened and previously informed of the world dungeon's existence did not hesitate.

For example, Xiang Jianxing, and also Wu Chang.

Especially Wu Chang—for someone bearing the title of True Traveler, True Copies are routine, while Projected Copies exist only in legend.

The two men's ease stood in stark contrast to the heaviness of others; to avoid disturbing the rest, they had been spending most of their time together lately.

Two days passed in a flash, arriving at the final deadline for submitting World Copy applications.

Members of the Wanghai Branch would make the biggest decision of their lives today, but for Wu Chang, something even more important awaited him.

That was collecting the other half of his payment from Hou Jingchuan.

Originally, Hou Jingchuan, representing the Four Organizations, had hired him to enter the Cursed Realm and kill Lin Jiang, offering a reward of 200,000 Rot Silver Coins and one A-class consumable item.

Hou Jingchuan had said he needed five days to gather the items from all factions and synchronize them into the Crimson Courtyard.

Today was exactly the fifth day.

He entered the Crimson Courtyard on schedule, going to the private room where they had met before; Hou Jingchuan was already waiting inside.

Hou Jingchuan acted decisively: after brief pleasantries, he led Wu Chang through the commercial space into a temporary private chamber.

Inside the private chamber was a vast exhibition hall, styled similarly to the fifth basement level of the Bureau, filled with transparent display cases.

Wu Chang roughly counted—there were no fewer than fifty display cases in the hall.

He was initially startled by the number, but after circling the room, he realized not all items here were A-class consumables; many powerful A-class items, as well as three or four B-class growth-type items, were also displayed.

According to Hou Jingchuan, he could exchange the reward for two A-class items, or one B-class growth item and one B-class consumable.

The Four Organizations had designed their options comprehensively: for solo players, one A-class consumable might be less practical than two powerful A-class items.

But for Wu Chang, he wasn't short on items—especially those below S-class; if he opened his personal space, its value could crush any single organization.

He didn't need mediocre items—he needed a trump card to replace the Wooden Statue of Wuqu Star Lord.

He wandered through the hall, pausing before each display case, where a label briefly described the item's effect.

The descriptions were brief not to make selection difficult for Wu Chang, but purely for secrecy.

Items housed here were all the Four Organizations' most precious treasures; even if they didn't fear Wu Chang, they had to guard against each other discovering secrets.

Wu Chang had to rely on his intuition, combining the descriptions to decide.

He walked through the hall twice, finally stopping before one display case.

Inside the case lay a liquid-like flame; when Wu Chang stared at it, its shape shifted, transforming into whatever he envisioned within his mind.

The label beside the case was simple: A-class consumable item. After use, grants inexhaustible power for a limited time.

Wu Chang's intuition told him this was exactly what he needed.

He informed Hou Jingchuan of his choice; Hou Jingchuan processed the paperwork and transferred ownership of the item to Wu Chang.

The item's origin appeared to be the Bureau; during the transfer, Hou Jingchuan's face was tightly drawn, as if desperately suppressing something, until he finally sighed and said to Wu Chang:

"I knew you'd pick it. No one in the Wasteland Realm is better suited to use it than you. I have a feeling it will achieve unprecedented power in your hands."

Wu Chang shrugged—he could tell the man was barely holding back laughter; the Bureau seemed delighted he'd taken this item.

But it didn't matter—he trusted his own instinct more than Hou Jingchuan's reaction.

"I hope so."

Once ownership was transferred, as Hou Jingchuan opened the case, the liquid flame surged toward him, coiling around his wrist and forming a golden-red bracelet.

"Item Name: Token of the Hero"

"Item Type: consumable"

"Item Grade: A"

"Item Skill: Unyielding"

"Note: This item can only be used in the Wasteland Realm, and the user's level must not exceed Level 30."

"Skill Description: After activating Token of the Hero, lose 1 maximum HP per second. This effect cannot be reversed by any skill or item until the copy ends or you enter the next copy; during Unyielding, you are immune to all control effects, tireless, and free from all restraints, achieving your optimal state."

"Item Skill: Reverse Despair"

"Skill Description: Burn all current physical attributes, locking all except Inspiration and Willpower at 1 point. All burned attributes condense into a single Reverse Despair strike. After releasing the attack, the Unyielding state automatically ends."

"Skill Note: Even in the most perilous despair, one can still become the key to reversing everything—that is the Hero's Moment."

Staring at the golden-red bracelet in his hand, Wu Chang's mind went momentarily blank.

Hou Jingchuan was right—this thing truly suited him best.

A hero is typically someone who achieves what ordinary people cannot.

As the item's name suggests, Token of the Hero differs from other consumables—it has strict usage conditions: usable only in the Wasteland Realm, and only by users below Level 30.

For most players, whether restricted to Level 30 or the Wasteland Realm, it meant they could never touch divinity—the user would inevitably be mortal.

This fact sealed its upper limit.

Because no matter how many buffs you give a mortal, you cannot bridge the gap to divinity; mortals cannot harm gods—this was nearly an accepted rule.

But Wu Chang was an exception—he bore the title of Godbreaker and possessed divine thunder specifically designed to counter gods; for him, the upper limit of Token of the Hero was infinitely raised.

If Token of the Hero had no hidden upper limit, its two skills became utterly monstrous.

First, Unyielding: burns 1 maximum HP per second, and the lost HP cannot be restored within the copy.

For a typical max-level player, this restriction made Unyielding awkward.

If it was a tank player with high HP, he could last long enough—but tank builds inevitably lacked damage; even with immunity to control, tirelessness, and optimal state, these benefits couldn't translate into offensive power.

On an offensive player, whose frame was already fragile and strength low, Unyielding's duration was short, and constant HP loss made him vulnerable to AoE damage, easily killing him.

But Wu Chang's True Form: Sea Giant transformation perfectly balanced both scenarios.

After consuming the Deep Sea Source and entering Sea Giant form, he simultaneously boosted both Strength and HP; the Sea Giant's innate skill, Body of Strength, also granted temporary HP equal to his current Strength.

Massive HP, combined with the Titan title, allowed him to maintain endurance without sacrificing tankiness.

The remaining Unyielding buffs, paired with the Sea Giant's immense strength, meant that even facing an entire nation, as long as Unyielding lasted, he could turn the copy into a slaughter.

As for the second skill, Reverse Despair—it was practically tailor-made for him, even more suited than Unyielding.

Burning all body attributes, condensing them into a single strike to reverse a desperate situation.

The strong physique he had cultivated through effort and sweat, under normal conditions, not counting inspiration and will, added up to 565 points.

If he added the bonus from Master of Breaking the Game, and then the amplification from the Sea Giant transformation, this number would break a thousand.

Wu Chang did not know what effect a strike converted from burning over a thousand attributes could produce; he only knew that at this moment, he was not worried about any desperate situation he could not reverse with this strike—he only worried the situation was not desperate enough to let him fully display his heroic moment.

Just looking at this skill, he was already构思 his MVP结算 animation.

He repeatedly confirmed the two skills, and understood why Hou Jingchuan had almost laughed out loud when he chose earlier.

If the Hero's Proof were given to other players to use, producing the effect of a B-rank consumable item would already count as the user having a solid foundation.

If two core members of the Management Bureau each used one—one using the Wuqu Star Lord wood carving, the other using the Hero's Proof—the Wuqu Star Lord, once summoned, would probably only need 1 second to kill the target, and the remaining 29 seconds would be spent spacing out.

But in Wu Chang's hands, let alone the Wuqu Star Lord wood carving, even an S-rank consumable item would be no more than this effective.

Having finished the procedures, Hou Jingchuan walked up to Wu Chang and asked, a little guilty:

"How is it, are you satisfied with it? If you're not satisfied, I can personally decide to let you choose again."

Wu Chang raised an eyebrow, secretly thinking Hou Jingchuan was still quite considerate, and immediately said: "No need to change, it suits me very well."

The acquisition of the Hero's Proof not only perfectly compensated for the missing trump card after the Wuqu Star Lord wood carving was consumed, but also made his trump card stronger than before.

He stroked the red-gold bracelet on his wrist, and thinking of the Abyss Game Administrator's targeting of him, he couldn't help but want to laugh.

When he unleashed the moment of reversing the desperate situation, he would let the administrator know that what was strong was not the cheat, but himself!

He successfully received the final payment for the commission from Hou Jingchuan; next, he should set off for the Underground Shelter to scout ahead.

Then he'd make another trip to the Spirit Realm to check, wondering if Xu Dejun's side could still hold on.

(End of this chapter)