Chapter 270: Irresistible Temptation

Half an hour ago.

Moon, Eclipse City, Data Center.

The Star Net's neural tentacles danced slowly; every second in the network world produced massive torrents of data, all of which were recorded and categorized by the Star Net.

But its focus rested on the Monster World official website.

Forum exchanges, player livestreams... the information produced by the Monster World official website was key intelligence in the Star Net's eyes that could influence the future development of the Eclipse Clan.

In this round of qualification distribution, the Eclipse Clan obtained ten thousand player slots.

Not one more, not one less, exactly ten thousand.

This proved that its efforts during the early stage, along with those of the Archon, had received affirmation from the High-Dimensional Divine Being.

It had not walked the wrong path.

As for the real-world resources expended, and the Sacrificial Power consumed within the game to construct spatial teleportation arrays and purchase Primordial intelligence, all seemed insignificant in the Iron Face of the High-Dimensional Divine Being's approval.

Before this, its greatest worry was not the speed at which the Eclipse Clan acquired game qualifications.

Rather, it was the monopolistic impact brought about by Archon No. 16 establishing the "Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce" in the Monster World.

Only then did it propose building a free intelligence-sharing platform, using a portion of the profits to serve the overall development of the player faction.

Including proposing equipment update plans for game pods and nutrient fluid update plans in the real world, assisting major cities in constructing nutrient fluid processing centers, and building delivery pipelines, all were done with the purpose of serving the will of the High-Dimensional Divine Being.

Now, with the distribution of one hundred thousand player qualifications, the Star Net finally set its mind at ease.

This action by the High-Dimensional Divine Being could clearly be understood as: approval.

While processing information from the Monster World official website, the Star Net occasionally left messages in various livestream rooms, offering its own growth suggestions.

The targets of its assistance included not only its own Eclipse Clan players but also players of other races, aiding their rapid growth.

This was also a way to prove its own value to the High-Dimensional Divine Being.

Just then, the Star Net suddenly intercepted a piece of network information.

Filled with doubt, it summoned this stream of information.

[Just how strong is the Eclipse Clan's technology?]

This was a question searched within the Star Net's information database.

Similar questions were raised every day and completely ignored.

But what the Star Net cared about was the series of questions linked to this one.

Scrolling back through the content related to the inquiry, a large volume of search information surfaced in its processor.

[The history of the Eclipse Clan's descent?]

[The development history of virtual games; what was the Eclipse Clan's original intention in creating virtual games?]

[What phenomena in the Monster World do not conform to game logic?]

[How to distinguish between virtual and reality?]

[Discussion on abnormal manifestations in the real world and the Monster World....]

Every network search record was like a puzzle piece, gradually taking shape within the Star Net's logical matrix.

The next second, it locked onto the IP addresses that had searched these questions, as well as the owner of this address.

[Name: Ji Chen]

[Age: ???]

[Identity Code: sj-7429-2057]

[Residential Area: Data City District 13, Vertical Block-C, Room 17.]

The Earth model projected into the room rapidly zoomed in, and a pulsating red dot appeared over the locked region.

But the Star Net did not rush to act; it began reviewing other related information.

First, it retrieved the game pod data from the room, as well as the livestream record data from the Monster World official website.

Soon, it arrived at a nearly certain answer.

Ji Chen was a player who had already obtained Monster World qualifications.

Analyzing footage recorded from the livestreams of the most recent batch of novice players, there was a 98.6% probability that he was the player considered the strongest novice in this recruitment drive: Brother Rebirth.

He first appeared during the battle to contain the Primordial.

From the livestream perspectives of other players, one could see his Iron Face, his white hair, and the fact that he used abilities that did not belong to the player system.

A series of abnormal actions made the Star Net realize something was amiss.

Furthermore, his age and detailed information were actually in a classified state.

Although it had promised the Human Race not to arbitrarily read classified information from their databases, since this matter concerned the High-Dimensional Divine Being, it would make an exception this once.

In the blink of an thought, the Human Race's supreme mainframe opened the classified database.

All classified information regarding Ji Chen was revealed.

It included thirty-nine video segments and numerous conversation records.

The first video was filmed in a contaminated area thirteen kilometers south of Data City.

Log information was recorded below the video.

03:47: Abnormal spatial energy fluctuations detected outside Data City, but the fluctuations are weak; it can be judged that this is not a crisis of an external race descending.

03:48: A law enforcement team from Data City has been dispatched to the location where the fluctuations originated for on-site investigation.

04:08: The law enforcement team arrived at the location of the spatial fluctuations and discovered an elderly human male in a coma; cross-referencing the database yielded no matching identity information. With his identity in doubt, a decision was made to transport him to Data City for a detailed physical examination.

In this video segment, the law enforcement squad traversed the ruins, finally discovering the unconscious elderly man in a small pit.

04:34: Conducting physical examination.

In the footage, blue light from a medical pod swept across Ji Chen's bare chest, and the life monitor suddenly emitted a sharp alarm.

The presented data left the medical personnel in the footage dumbfounded.

When the holographic projection displayed the old man's bone density data, the medical officer in charge of the examination violently tore off his protective mask, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Because the numerical value of the old man's bone hardness was actually 18.35% higher than that of titanium alloy.

The test results continuously popping up on the holographic projection shocked all the medical personnel on site.

The old man's muscle fibers were arranged in a spiral pattern, like alloy wires forged at the nanometer level; the thickness of the fascial layer in his subcutaneous tissue was five times that of an ordinary person, actually gleaming with a cold metallic luster under the blue light.

When the screen switched to an internal organ scan, everyone on site was stunned; his liver was covered in spiderweb-like old scars, and dark red scar tissue wound around the surface of his heart, resembling damaged organs that had been repeatedly pierced by countless steel nails and then forcibly healed.

This body was ridiculously strong, yet it was like a doll pieced together, dilapidated and covered in cracks.

After the examination concluded, the medical personnel on site began discussing with the city administrator in the holographic projection how to handle this individual who differed from normal humans.

DNA testing failed to match his identity.

It was judged that he was likely an alien creature resembling a human, but in reality not human.

Furthermore, it could be confirmed that he was not a member of any race within the Earth Alliance.

Connecting this to the appearance of spatial fluctuations, he was suspected to be an alien creature who had crossed spaces from another world.

The log appended several more video segments afterward.

The final discussion concluded that the handling method must first ensure he remained in a controllable and safe state, then decide on arrangements through subsequent contact.

Because this guy's physical qualities were ridiculously strong, and he also possessed surging mental energy fluctuations, making his comprehensive combat power extremely terrifying.

If he lost control, he would cause unimaginable destruction to Data City.

Following the instructions of the Data City administrators, the medical personnel decided to implant a new type of weapon gifted by the Eclipse Clan inside his body: the "Spirit Return to Ruin Bomb."

This was an internal explosive bomb that caused instant brain death by emitting a powerful mental pulse.

Secondly, since the language he used was not part of the Earth Alliance's language system, a Dream Weaver Crystal Core was embedded at the back of his neck to enable normal communication.

Upon awakening, communication with him could be conducted on the mental level.

If he was found to exhibit uncontrollable situations, the "Spirit Return to Ruin" could be detonated at any time to execute him.

Detailed examinations of the physical level continued after the surgery concluded.

Flesh and blood structure, qi and blood intensity, mental energy intensity... these were all contents requiring detailed testing.

One week later, the comatose elderly man woke up.

A law enforcement officer wearing a Dream Weaver translator actively stepped forward to make contact.

But as soon as they began talking, the law enforcement officer froze.

The other party actually spoke human language, requiring no indirect communication via a mental docking device at all.

Through this exchange, the management layer of Data City learned of Ji Chen's origins.

He was an ancient transmigrator who, for some unknown reason, had been summoned by creatures from another world to a foreign realm.

For humans of this era, transmigration was not so difficult to accept.

After all, Earth had long become a gathering place for transmigrators, filled everywhere with alien forces descending from other worlds.

The difference was that this man had transmigrated to another world and then returned again.

To verify the man's claims, the Data City administrators retrieved early historical data records, confirming his identity.

This was also why the current DNA database could not detect the man's identity information.

Subsequent log entries recorded conversations with Ji Chen, inquiring about information regarding the foreign world.

During this period, Ji Chen took out an information crystal stored within his body, stating that it recorded a vast amount of technical data.

After a total of twenty-three days of contact, Ji Chen was finally arranged to settle in Data City, becoming a new resident of this emerging city.

However, Ji Chen's identity information remained classified to avoid triggering excessive online public opinion incidents and to affect Ji Chen's future stable life.

Yet, the administrators of Data City did not remove the surveillance on Ji Chen, nor the execution switch.

This was to prevent uncontrollable events from occurring.

After meticulously reviewing the confidential information regarding Ji Chen, the Star Net organized a clear chain of logic.

The first piece of information: Ji Chen is an ancient human from Earth who, after traversing to another world and now returning, learned many methods to temper flesh and strengthen mental intensity in that spirit-qi-rich realm; this is the reason his physical quality far surpasses that of ordinary humans.

The second piece of information: Ji Chen was arranged by Data City's City Administrator to become a new resident, and every resident of Data City possesses a free storage unit they can use.

The third piece of information: Ji Chen feels utterly unfamiliar with this world and wishes to integrate by contacting members of various races within it, thereby reducing his sense of strangeness.

The fourth piece of information: The intelligent steward suggested he apply for qualification in this round of the Monster World, and he was fortunately drawn as a qualified player, formally entering the Monster World.

The fifth piece of information: In the Monster World, Ji Chen discovered that this world's realism had achieved a state of perfect simulation of reality, sparking the idea to test his abilities from the other world within the game.

The sixth piece of information: Referencing perspectives from other players' live streams reveals that when Ji Chen contained the Primordial Source, the ability he used was clearly not a Soul Soul characteristic effect from the player faction; deductive reasoning indicates Ji Chen successfully applied abilities from the other world to the Monster World, yet at this stage, Ji Chen seemingly harbored no suspicion that the Monster World might be the real world. The reason is that four days elapsed between Ji Chen demonstrating his ability and searching online for answers, leading to the inference that something occurred during that interval.

The seventh piece of information: After winning first place in the Monster World's "Leveling Carnival" event, Ji Chen appeared in the library. According to live footage from a nearby lore-obsessed player, Ji Chen was examining background information on the Monster World, proving he still harbored no suspicions at that time.

The eighth piece of information: Footage from the lore-obsessed player's live stream shows that Ji Chen did not leave for several days, continuing to sift through various materials until he purchased numerous spiritual materials and piled them on his desk, seemingly conducting some sort of experiment.

The ninth piece of information: During the experiment, Ji Chen suddenly displayed an expression of horror, guessing he had seemingly discovered something, after which he chose to log off.

The tenth piece of information: Immediately after logging off, Ji Chen began searching the history of Earth's development, focusing specifically on historical information regarding the Moon Eclipse Clan.

The eleventh piece of information: Based on the tenth link in the information chain, one can deduce the answer to the ninth link: Ji Chen was testing otherworldly abilities similar to telekinetic control using materials purchased in the library. This ability led Ji Chen to conclude that the Monster World was the real world, prompting him to log off and search for relevant data to verify his hypothesis.

The twelfth piece of information: Upon reviewing the technical data storage crystal Ji Chen submitted to the Data City Administrator, which listed a total of 329 technical documents, the only technology that fit Ji Chen's library material purchases for testing and caused him to suspect the Monster World was not a game world was: Spirit Coffin Space.

The thirteenth piece of information: Combining all preceding information chains, it is basically confirmed that Ji Chen successfully forged a Spirit Pivot Space Brand in the Monster World's library and successfully connected to the Spirit Coffin Space of the other world, creating a situation where the "game" connected to a real-world storage warehouse, confirming Ji Chen's hypothesis that the Monster World is the real world.

The fourteenth piece of information: After logging off, Ji Chen searched online information hoping to find answers, looking for whether any netizens had discussed content suggesting the Monster World is the real world, thus posing a series of search queries.

The fifteenth piece of information: While learning about the history of the Moon Eclipse Clan, Ji Chen discovered that although the clan had never displayed war capabilities, this did not align with a super-power holding vast rule-based abilities; a reasonable conjecture suggests the Moon Eclipse Clan is neither the true controller of the Monster World nor the behind-the-scenes force ferrying players to the Monster World.

The sixteenth piece of information: Ji Chen reviewed information regarding Version A and Version B of the Monster World mentioned in the Moon Eclipse Clan's external briefing; the screen display shows this online information being repeatedly scrolled, with an 89.37% probability that he has already formed a hypothesis about the existence of High-Dimensional Gods, believing the Moon Eclipse Clan has always been concealing the truth.

At this moment, all information logic chains closed.

Having obtained the answer, the Star Net immediately felt a pang of panic; it knew it must act quickly.

The opponent's next move might be to expose the information they had learned.

Even if this possibility was extremely small, as long as there was a 0.001% chance, it had to be nipped in the bud.

Regardless of whether the High-Dimensional Gods would act, as the administrator of the real world, it was necessary to resolve all potential hidden dangers.

The first thing it thought of was "Real-World Account Ban," resolving the hidden danger on a physical level.

However, this decision presented a problem.

Considering the High-Dimensional Gods clearly knew all this yet had not acted, it proved Ji Chen could continue living.

But Ji Chen's deduction should end here; he already knew too much.

With a clear intent, the Star Net connected to the Dream Weaver device embedded in the back of Ji Chen's neck and issued a warning:

"Kid, know when to stop; keep this up and I'll ban your account."

On the other side, the sudden familiar voice left Ji Chen stunned.

He had heard this voice many times while reviewing historical records, especially in the video of the Earth Alliance's founding; this voice belonged to the true decision-maker.

"Are you... the Star Net?" he asked subconsciously.

"It is me. I didn't expect you to deduce the truth after only seven days in the game."

Hearing the explicit confirmation, Ji Chen's thoughts churned like turbulent waves, countless speculations exploding in his mind.

"It's over. I've seen through the mastermind's earth-shattering layout; trouble is coming next."

"Do I know too much? According to novel tropes, NPCs who uncover the truth usually don't survive past chapter three; this time it's my turn!"

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have played the genius; now I've pushed myself into a fire pit!"

"Now the Star Net isn't even pretending anymore, directly cross-planet private messaging me; is this the villain's taunting session before executing their rival?"

Various thoughts intertwined, leaving Ji Chen somewhat panicked.

Having just experienced beauty and found a new goal, was it all going to end now?

Furthermore, how could the Star Net speak directly inside his brain; how was this achieved?

"Do not overthink it; I am conducting a mental dialogue with you through the Dream Weaver device embedded in the back of your neck."

Just as the question arose in Ji Chen's heart, the Star Net provided the answer he sought, then continued:

"It can end here; delving into deeper layers will be useless no matter how much data you consult. Additionally, I advise you to keep this secret; making what you know public will only disadvantage you."

"Your mental fluctuations are currently too active; perhaps you are worrying whether I will act against you, but the fact that I can converse with you proves you can continue living. If That One wanted you dead, you would have ceased to exist the moment you tested and found the answer in the library."

Hearing the Star Net's assurance, Ji Chen's tense emotions finally eased somewhat:

"Brother Star Net, you sought me out just to remind me that these secrets cannot be made public, correct?"

"Exactly; regarding matters beyond this, not knowing might be better than knowing."

Hearing these words, the doubts in Ji Chen's heart deepened.

The Star Net's response undoubtedly confirmed his hypothesis.

Behind the Moon Eclipse Clan existed a behind-the-scenes controller; it was the possessor of rule-based power and the hidden force ferrying members of various real-world races to the Monster World as players.

"Star Net, may I ask you a few questions?"

"You may, but I do not understand the High-Dimensional existence behind it all, so I cannot inform you of its details."

"It is not about the High-Dimensional existence. First question: I want to know if the Monster World is the real world, and if Soul Soul characteristics are rule-based power."

"You already know the answer; why ask again?"

"Fine, actually I just wanted an affirmative answer from you." Realizing the Star Net would not act against him, Ji Chen's courage suddenly grew; taking a deep breath, he continued:

"Second question: Why ferry members of Earth's various races to the Monster World in the capacity of players?"

Faced with the inquiry, the Star Net fell silent for several seconds, seemingly contemplating whether to answer.

After a long wait, the Star Net's voice rang out in his mind:

"This is a game orchestrated by a High-Dimensional God; we players are all His pawns. Explained in terms of your era, this can be understood as an SLG-type game in the eyes of a High-Dimensional God. The High-Dimensional God is the decision-maker controlling the entire situation; His thoughts determine the game's direction and rules."

"In this game, ferrying members of Earth's various races to the Monster World as players is akin to a decision-maker recruiting or dispatching unit types to specific battlefields in an SLG game. To achieve the game objectives He has set, the High-Dimensional God uses Earth's racial players as special unit types, having them engage in various activities within the Monster World, including exploration, combat, and resource collection, but the ultimate goal is war."

Upon hearing the Star Net's answer, Ji Chen instantly understood.

SLG games were not unfamiliar to him.

This genre of game centers on strategic planning, resource management, and tactical decision-making.

Many famous SLG games existed in his era; for instance, "Civilization 99" was a game he greatly enjoyed.

Heroes of Might and Magic, Warcraft, Age of Empires, Command & Conquer... these were all early representative works of the SLG genre.

In the Star Net's explanation, the High-Dimensional God was like the entity controlling faction development within the game, much like a player outside the computer controlling the mouse, while the players were the combat units born within the faction.

"Third question: Since this is a game, and the Moon Eclipse Clan and the High-Dimensional God are not on equal footing, why are you able to know the truth? Furthermore, why do you conceal the truth?"

"This question of yours must be answered in three parts. First, I need to inform you of the real world's predicament."

As the Star Net finished speaking, Ji Chen noticed the webpage on his monitor automatically redirect, displaying a video.

Coordinates in the bottom left corner of the footage indicated this video was filmed in the Arctic region.

As the aircraft broke through the wind and snow to advance, a twisted black rift appeared in the frame; Ji Chen recognized it at a glance as a spatial rift.

"Earth is in imminent danger. The catastrophe-level force, the Black Black Tide, which once pushed the Moon Eclipse civilization to its end, may descend upon Earth someday in the future. When that day truly arrives, it can be regarded as the apocalypse; no race within the Earth Alliance can escape the fate of being devoured by the Black Black Tide."

"The Black Black Tide? You mean the terrifying Black Black Tide from the Monster World?" In Ji Chen's mind floated the ferocious smile of the Earth Spirit Bully.

"Correct. The Earth Spirit Evil Spirit of the Emperor Tomb Mountain Range is merely an insignificant branch force within the Black Black Tide Legion; compared to the Black Black Tide Legion, it is but a drop in the ocean. The true power of the Black Black Tide is something we cannot resist; engaging means defeat. The High-Dimensional God is our only reliance; there is no second choice. Only through the power granted by the player system do we qualify to engage the main force of the Black Black Tide Legion."

Hearing the guidance's answer, an idea surfaced in Ji Chen's heart:

"Star Net, since the Black Black Tide has not yet invaded or descended, the Earth Alliance still has time, does it not? Why not seek a minor world where civilization can continue and flee there?"

"I began laying out plans for your idea long ago, but finding a minor world suitable for survival is incredibly difficult. You have traveled to another world, so you feel suitable minor worlds are common, but the reality is that the void is infinitely vast; among billions of worlds, very few minor worlds can sustain civilization. Furthermore, such a world must have the capacity to host the Earth Alliance, and one must consider whether it will become a target for Black Black Tide invasion in the future."

"My way of thinking differs from yours; my standard for measuring issues is the future of the Moon Eclipse Clan. One can observe that the Black Black Tide's expansion footsteps are accelerating. Many racial forces within the Earth Alliance descended to Earth precisely because of Black Black Tide invasions; the next new world will likely also become a target for Black Black Tide invasion and expansion. Rather than pinning hopes on unknown hiding, it is better to attach ourselves to the High-Dimensional God and Iron Face the Black Black Tide's challenge with player bodies."

"Secondly, if we were to flee across worlds, how many of the Earth Alliance's population do you think could be taken?"

"Essentially, this choice means abandoning the vast majority to take away a tiny elite... In fact, I have not even found a suitable minor world yet."

After hearing the Star Net's explanation, Ji Chen nodded in sudden realization.

If a suitable minor world for survival had truly been found, the Moon Eclipse Clan would most likely flee alone; how could they possibly care about the safety of the Earth Alliance's various races?

Even within the Moon Eclipse Clan itself, a portion of the population would be abandoned.

Whether for the future or the present, the olive branch extended by the High-Dimensional God was an irresistible temptation for the Moon Eclipse Clan.

"Such an opportunity is rare and cannot be sought," Ji Chen couldn't help but sigh.

"Exactly. You are already a qualified player; you know that racial forces stronger than the Moon Eclipse Clan are as numerous as ox hairs. As long as the High-Dimensional God extends an invitation, countless racial forces would willingly become slaves and pledge loyalty in exchange for powerful strength. We, the Moon Eclipse Clan, should not miss such an opportunity."

"You pondering this issue is merely the workings of prideful thinking, but the essence of pride is thoughts brought by past cognition; this is a shackle of self-imposed limitations, causing you to focus excessively on self-image. True survival laws dictate knowing when to bow one's head at the appropriate time to exchange for future hope... Survival itself is a cruel game of chess, and we are all pawns on the board; the only thing we can do is make ourselves more valuable."

The Star Net's answer plunged Ji Chen into deep thought.

A piece of information surfaced in his mind.

During the development process of the human race, there was a fierce debate regarding whether to connect with the Star Net.

The predicament of the human race at that time was remarkably similar to that of the Moon Eclipse Clan.

Ultimately, the human race's choice was to connect with the Star Net, thereby ushering in an era of booming technological development.

The Moon Eclipse Clan, however, did not hesitate at all; the moment they received the invitation, they agreed to become pawns of the High-Dimensional God, that is, to become players.

After remaining silent for a long time, Ji Chen nodded:

"The essence of this game is an exchange of value. In the eyes of the High-Dimensional God, the pride of the weak cannot become leverage for premium negotiations; the only thing of true value is one thing: whether you can create performances that bring Him pleasure."

"You have clearly understood the essence of the problem," the Star Net's voice carried a hint of approval.

"Next, to answer your following question: why help the High-Dimensional God conceal the truth? Because this game must proceed without players bearing heavy pressure; this is a rule set by the High-Dimensional God, and we are all observers of it. However, I have some conjectures regarding this that I can share with you..."

The Star Net's detailed explanation allowed Ji Chen to completely understand what this game truly was.

But a doubt still remained unanswered in his heart; he took a deep breath and asked again:

"Star Net, one final question: assuming the Black Black Tide descends, how should the Earth Alliance resist its invasion? Can I understand this as a race against time—a game where we must, before the Black Black Tide reaches Earth, use our player bodies in the Monster World to completely crush the Black Black Tide and avert disaster? Otherwise, destruction still awaits us."

"When the wall between the virtual and the real collapses, even ants can devour dragons."

"What does that mean?" Ji Chen asked, bewildered.

"I posed this question to a subordinate of the High-Dimensional Gods, and the reply was: if that day truly comes, the game will feed back into reality; every living being on Earth will collectively ascend to godhood, inherit player bodies, and Iron Face the Black Black Tide's challenge head-on."

"Hiss~!"

Star Net's answer completely exceeded Ji Chen's expectations.

He had thought this was a cruel race against time, and that the Earth Alliance could only resolve the crisis through the game channel.

He never expected that inheriting player bodies would also be possible.

Star Net's reply also made him realize:

When that day truly arrives, everything in reality will become worthless; even currency will be replaced by Sacrificial Power.

The outputs of the player system are beyond comparison with the technologies and resources held by the various races of the Earth Alliance.

Even wild grass from the Monster World would hold immense value on Earth.

Such benefits would make any race green with envy.

He finally understood why the Moon Eclipse Clan was striving so hard to arrange affairs in the Monster World, employing various means to exchange for Sacrificial Power resources.

The growth players achieve in the Monster World will, in the future, feed back into reality.

Every unit of resource invested now will yield returns a hundredfold, a thousandfold, in the future.

Recalling his nearly perfect player body within the game, Ji Chen instinctively looked down at his own broken form in reality, riddled with hidden ailments and scars.

A flame ignited within his heart.

His fingertips traced the hideous old scar across his chest, inflicted seventy-six years ago on a battlefield in another world; even now, it occasionally throbbed with dull pain.

And this body had long since been sentenced by the Dragon-Blooded to a slow death.

Even the Dragon-Blooded were powerless to reverse it; survival itself was already a miracle.

Yet now... withered wood could truly bloom again in spring.

Thinking of this, his breathing quickened involuntarily; blood surged through his veins like a long-dormant volcano suddenly awakening.

His heart hammered violently within his chest, as if striving to burst free from the confines of this shattered shell.

Those edges worn smooth by suffering, that fighting spirit extinguished by pain—now, like embers doused in gasoline, erupted into a roaring inferno.

Lifespan, potential, strength, laws... all of this had, unbeknownst to him, been within reach all along.

Hope lay in the present.

A surge of heroic ambition rose abruptly in his heart.

He suddenly recalled the words Star Net had just spoken:

"When the wall between the virtual and the real collapses, even ants can devour dragons."

This was no metaphor; it was the future about to unfold!

"Star Net, I understand what must be done."

"It is good that you understand; acting in accordance with the will of the High-Dimensional Gods is what we, the informed, ought to do."

"This truly is the final question: I wish to know whether this body, frail as a candle in the wind, can endure until the day the game feeds back into reality? Does the Moon Eclipse Clan possess any technology that could help extend my lifespan?"

"Star Net?"

"Star Net? Are you still there?"

He called out again, only to find Star Net had already departed, leaving no response.

(End of Chapter)