Chapter 162
The general said, "After the game was launched, we collected a lot of rare items in the dungeons. With the help of these items, we were even able to change the molecular structure of matter, touch higher dimensions, easily achieve anti-physics operations, manipulate elements, and even control concepts. The enhanced body also has an atomic density hundreds of times greater than that of normal organisms."
"Human beings are no longer what they used to be, and the limits of what we can do have long since exceeded the records in the documents and data."
As he spoke, the general looked to his side.
There were many high-precision detection instruments, large screens with projectors, computer equipment arranged in a circle, and silver-white electronic tubes crisscrossing each other.
The logistics and technical team members were monitoring data on the display screen, while other medical staff in white coats were walking around intermittently, which showed the tense atmosphere.
One of the young leaders took out a prop after receiving a signal from the general.
With a flash of dazzling white light, a huge and advanced nuclear-powered special submarine appeared on the vast sea, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
The technicians' eyes gleamed as they looked at the submarine, and they proudly introduced, "Ten thousand meters was the old data. Now, after forging and fusing the top-grade materials collected from the dungeon, the submarine we've remodeled can withstand the pressure of seawater at a depth of sixty thousand meters! Fifty thousand meters is a piece of cake!"
Before he could finish speaking, the elderly and steady professor of underwater engineering stepped forward, his face grave: "But we can't be too happy too soon."
"Although the detector detected the unusual energy reaction at a depth of 50,000 meters underwater, the exact location is unknown. It is very likely that it is not just 50,000 meters below the surface, but 60,000 meters, 70,000 meters, 80,000 meters... Everything is unknown, after all, the target is not an inanimate object, it can move autonomously."
"Once the submarine reaches a depth of 60,000 meters, there is still a risk of implosion due to an imbalance of internal and external pressure. Therefore, if you want to continue, you must leave the submarine before that point and use the tools and your enhanced body to swim to the target by hand."
After a brief pause, the engineering professor continued, "At that time, you will directly face the pressure of deep-sea water. The pressure at 60,000 meters is equivalent to 600 megapascals, while a pressure of only 0.45 megapascals can penetrate an unreinforced human body."
"In other words, people without protective gear and with insufficient physical fitness will explode into a bloody mess the moment they leave the submarine, with no chance to struggle and no time to heal."
"Because no one had explored this mysterious sea area beforehand, and there was a lack of data models and experimental subjects, we don't know exactly how much defense is needed to withstand the pressure. We can only make a rough estimate."
In other words, those who cannot withstand water pressure only realize their inadequacy at the moment of death.
How is this any different from blindly opening a "death box"?
Like a bucket of cold water being poured over their heads, people's high morale plummeted, and many people's faces instantly turned several shades paler.
Instead of comforting them, the engineering professor, with a solemn face, said in a deep voice, "Do you think this is the greatest danger of this operation? No, this is just the beginning."
"After withstanding the water pressure, you will face a completely unknown environment. There is no light source, the temperature is extremely low, there is no sound transmission, and it is extremely quiet. Any one of these factors could take your life without you even realizing it. And in the darkness, there may be countless man-eating monsters of unknown strength. If you encounter them, you will not be able to get help. Your teammates may be too busy to help themselves. Whether you live or die is entirely up to fate."
"I know that all of you elite talents accepted this mission with the determination to die." The engineering professor looked at everyone with a sorrowful gaze, his brows furrowing deeply. "But I must still make it clear beforehand that there is still a glimmer of hope in the previous mission, but this mission may be a certain death."
The crowd was noisy, looking at each other and whispering among themselves.
The general spoke again, his voice flat and even: "So, it's understandable if someone wants to leave."
"However, to avoid intelligence leaks, you cannot leave directly. I will have someone take you to the maintenance area later. Don't worry, the promised reward will be deposited into your accounts as usual. You can leave on your own after this operation is over."
"I'll give you five minutes to think it over. Anyone who wants to leave can step forward now."
A deathly silence descended, and people fell silent, many with expressions of struggle on their faces.
About several tens of seconds later, a rustling commotion arose from the crowd.
Several people came out.
To back down at the last minute is no less than desertion.
They hung their heads, not daring to look at the disdainful and sneer of others.
But the general who was most qualified to rebuke them said nothing, and expressionlessly waved for his men to take them to the teleportation array.
Then more people came out one after another and were taken away.
Five minutes later, the team of 1,500 people had left, and surprisingly, more than 1,300 people remained.
A relieved smile suddenly appeared on the general's wrinkled face.
He addressed the assembled elites, speaking in an extremely somber tone, and continued calmly: "We have made significant progress, but at the same time, many bizarre events have occurred that are enough to overturn the existing physics and science of mankind. Many people have stepped into this deadly game without any preparation."
"To date, the number of dead and injured is roughly estimated to be no less than several billion! Among the dead are our closest relatives, loved ones, friends, colleagues... Our homes are no longer safe, our homeland is in danger, and people are displaced."
"I believe that everyone gathered here has witnessed, and at an extremely tragic cost, this horrific disaster."
Many people shuddered at the sound, clenching their teeth as if recalling some tragic and desolate scene. A look of pain flashed across their eyes, and their eyes reddened with tears.
The general surveyed the crowd, his sharp gaze sweeping over the sorrowful, silent faces: "But are we to simply surrender, hand over our homes and lands, and make all of humanity slaves to this game?"
Before anyone could speak, he answered, "No."
The voice was resolute and firm, like a sharp sword piercing through rock, powerful and unyielding: "Absolutely impossible."
"Human history has seen countless disasters. The Plague of Justinian in 541 AD killed 100 million people, the Black Death in the 14th century swept across Europe, killing nearly a third of the population, the great plague in Jian'an at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the severe drought in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the great earthquake in Jiajing, the Little Ice Age at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and the volcanic eruption in Iceland in 1783—almost every disaster has brought a fatal blow to the people of that time."
"But did humanity become extinct? No! Not only did it not, but it has grown into a massive and magnificent population of billions! Time and time again, we have resisted those cataclysmic disasters with our own hands, and time and time again, we have broken through obstacles in the torrents of fate. The human will is not so easily broken, it was in the past, it is now, and it will be in the future."
The general declared passionately, "The fact that you and I are standing here today is undeniable proof!"
The crowd fell silent for a moment.
It was as if a flame was burning from within, flowing through the veins to the internal organs, igniting the limbs and bones, causing every cell in the body to swell and throb with excitement. Everyone was so excited that their breathing quickened, their faces flushed, and their eyes burned.
The general roared, "Today we stand here with our heads held high, casting aside all thoughts of life and death, all for one purpose—"
"Find the legendary deity with the ability to rewind time, awaken Him, sign a pact with Him, and ask Him to sail out to sea and lend us a hand!"
"Remember, we are not the only ones fighting. Our nation has successfully summoned the gods three times: the Dragon King and the River God in the south, and the Thunder God in the north. The will of our ancestors still lives on! Others are also working towards this goal!"
The general surveyed the crowd, his voice booming like thunder, each word resounding and powerful: "*Come forth, spirits, rest in peace. The long river is our sob, the green mountains our witness. How can we say we are silent? The mountains and rivers bear witness to our name!"
The crowd was filled with passion, and someone, without saying who, joined in, shouted in unison: "How can we say we are silent? The mountains and rivers bear our name!"
"I will lead this operation; please follow me."
"Gentlemen." The general, who was over sixty years old, stood straight as a poplar tree, his hair was white, and his face was deeply lined. He saluted the crowd with tears in his eyes, "The time has come when the country and the people need us."
...
The deep sea is dark and cold, devoid of light.
Even if players max out their night vision, they may not be able to move freely in places with zero visibility.
But the little black octopus is not subject to any restrictions.
With an expressionless face and indifferent, scarlet eyes, He withdrew His tentacles from the crushed remains of the old general.
He paused for a moment, but eventually reached out again.
Like a grappling hook used to salvage a fishing boat, several tentacles gather all the bone fragments floating in the water and carefully sort and classify them.
—The image I just detected with my consciousness was from several hours ago.
After the Buddhist disciple committed suicide, several rebellions broke out in the same year. The people were affected by the war, displaced, and countless dead lay in the streets, with tragedies and massacres occurring one after another.
The little black octopus always remembered the Buddha's words before he died.
But looking at the world, with its constant division and reunion, its endless cycles of reincarnation, it seems impossible to see a better future.
Human lives are like grass, mercilessly crushed by the wheels of history, becoming cold, hard numbers recorded in historical books.
Countless people sacrifice their lives for a moment of peace, sometimes not even a moment.
The fighting, strife, oppression, and enslavement among humans never cease.
His mindset finally changed, and he became indifferent to all worldly affairs, and ruthless and cruel.
No longer is he the young deity who eagerly clung to the monk's sleeve just to have a taste of pure faith.
However, the deaths of the old general and others were unrelated to Him. Some of these thousands of people died because they couldn't withstand the water pressure, while others were bitten to death by the water monster.
There were also some people who could clearly run away, but for some reason they didn't escape and instead turned around to continue their journey to their deaths.
The little black octopus frowned deeply.
This is probably the generation gap between humans and monsters. Even after traveling through the human world for thousands or tens of thousands of years, it is still difficult for it to understand human emotions.
But He didn't dwell on it for long.
Because I'm too lazy to think about it.
In fact, He has become less active since He returned hundreds of years ago.
Only when it is unbearably hungry will it casually move its tentacles to pick up some of the water monsters' resentment to eat; the rest of the time it remains dormant.
This time too.
Who would have thought that when they woke up and opened their eyes, there would be thousands of corpses in the area?
The water was filled with bits of flesh and entrails, and the fishy smell was so strong that it made Him feel like He was in agony.
If it weren't for the fragments of the old general's memories extracted from his remains, He would have suspected that the system was trying to disgust Him again.
Yes, the little black octopus knows about the eerie game and can sense its arrival.
That arrogant system even came to harass Him, asking if He would be willing to lead the game against humanity.
In return, the system will transform tens of millions of people living near the sea into His fanatical followers, absolutely loyal and obedient, with an inexhaustible supply of resources.
He simply wasn't interested, found it annoying, and unceremoniously kicked the system out.
Who knew that guy wouldn't change his ways and would come over every now and then to cause trouble and annoy Him.
If the system core hadn't been hiding in the void, it would have torn the other party to pieces.
The little black octopus had no idea how these humans found this place, nor did it have any interest in signing a contract with them to fight the game.
I can't explain why, but I'm just annoyed, utterly annoyed. This annoyance reached its peak after reading the old general's memories.
What is the meaning of this seemingly meaningless spirit of death that humanity possesses?
—They didn't even last until they woke up, and they arrogantly thought they could successfully sign a contract with Him.
He frowned and used his mental power to gather all the bones together, preparing to throw them to the humans still alive outside later.
Then he sternly warned them not to trespass into the territory of other gods without reason.
Just then, an arm shimmering with a hazy golden glow suddenly reached out from the side and gently but firmly grasped one of the little black octopus's tentacles in the sudden, narrowed view.
Author's Note:
*Excerpted from the Monument to the Unknown Heroes in Xishan, Beijing.
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