Chapter 886 An Odd Dimensional Rif (1/2)

The Blood Sun of the Bloodmoon Abyss.

The sun's light shone upon the broken scarlet world, granting a hint of life to the Abyssal realm.

Perhaps it was wrong to describe it as broken too: the shattered floating islands had gathered into a single massive continent, with other distant islands yet to combine in the distance slowly approaching the Blood Moon as well. A far cry from the deathly sceneries, this world that now hosts Lifetree and many critters had no Abyssal presence if one did not try to sense it deliberately.

Under the control of the Blood Moon's will, the massive Lifetree had assumed a completely different form as well—if one were to say that the Lifetree gifted by the elves had a similar form to ordinary evergreen birches, the Lifetree of the Bloodmoon Abyss had greater resemblance to the banyan tree. Its great trunk pillared the skies, its crown absorbing all sunlight while its roots piercing the entire continent, even reaching other scattered floating islands.

Countless aerial roots hung, combining with the trunk and ground roots on various spots of the continent. Compared to the craggy topography of ravine and mountains on the continent, the large tree had branches that stretched over the continent, becoming one of the most convenient transport paths.

Such was the sight Joshua saw when he landed with Zero Three on the Bloodmoon Abyss.

The giant tree cared for by the tree gathered the continent into a single form, while countless critters hence made the tree their nest. For its part, the tree did not occupy all sunlight—sporadic radiance was spilling through the gaps between the leaves, creating spots of light upon the land that gifted the creatures heat and light.

Apart from that, even the tree itself was luminous. Beneath its trunk were faint sunlight where milder green light shone, bathing all life with the purest of Nature Power to grant comfort.

Presently, the luminous humanoid's delighted cheers could be heard from the heart of the Blood Moon.

The luminous humanoid was actually Light, but it could not leave and accompany the warrior everywhere because its true form was simply gigantic and itself being the core of the Bloodmoon Abyss. That was why it split itself, creating a little bud that was Light—when the bud played Continental War with the Spirit Terminal, it was actually the true form playing as well. Now, having become the first to clear the entire game, Light was really happy, its consciousness stirring a tide of light in the entire Bloodmoon Abyss.

Amidst the tides, something could be seen assembling and being created in the bizarre scarlet sea of the Blood Moon… having seen through that, Joshua lifted his hand at once and snapped his fingers.

”Stop playing.”

As the warrior unleashed a portion of his power, the Blood Moon quickly noticed Joshua and the others, pausing blankly for a while before happily forgetting that it was creating something.

Joshua smiled and shook his head, before flying up to the Blood Moon.

”Impressive, the first to clear the game in the world. My dear Light is the smartest.”

Luminous tentacles reached out from the planet's core when he arrived on the moon's surface, seemingly intent on touching the warrior who patiently stroked them as he praised it, ”I thought that Nostradamus and the others would be the first to clear. Really never expected it to be you.”

Continental War challenges a person's general ability, their capacity to uncover problems and solve problems, and using the solutions on practical terms. If normal humans cleared the First Phase, it would prove that they have certain ability to realize a problem or what themselves lacked, and pick out the genetic components they needed in a complex environment.

Clearing the Second Phase would make evident that the player could think about what their race lack and what completes them. They must possess a concept in mind and would be an intelligent person even in the real world—it would be trivial for them to rise to Silver advanced if they have the talent, and with the Great Mana Tide now, Gold-tier would not be out of reach.

The Third Phase tests players in their ability to solve unusual situations—it would not be enough to discover and ask questions, since what good was flawed plans? Such was what the Third Phase tested: only those who could realistically get rid of the flaws in their plans counted as elites, and venture further in both reality and supernatural powers.

The Fourth and Fifth Phases tested one's power in to compiling all questions and answers, and to carry out their completed plans under the severe pressure of otherworld invasion. While it was not to say that one would reach Supreme if they could accomplish that since it still depends on luck, but they would definitely not lack in Gold-advanced ability, or authoritative talent in the real world even if they do not have Extraordinary powers.

Naturally, since the servers were in the early service stages, Legendary champions could make mistakes under unfamiliar circumstances which made it unsurprising for them to be unable to clear the game.

Though it appeared to be mere entertainment, Continental War in truth picks the talented amongst civilization, helping Joshua to disintegrate Chaos while improving their powers, hence accelerating the birth and growth of Extraordinary individuals. That was precisely why all Legends did their best to help warrior complete that game.

In other words, it was a divergent set of assessments embedded in the Spirit Terminal, set outside of reality.

Light was the first to clear the entire game, proving its worth as a World Will even though it was partially because the rules were incomplete that it allowed Light to keep its fungal race in puberty for a long time. While it appeared ever in a haze, it had in fact absorbed substantial knowledge to cultivate an acceptable problem-solving mindset.

And aside from praising Light, Joshua had another purpose in visiting the entity.

”I say, Light.”

Patting its luminous tentacles, Joshua turned and gestured at the churning bubbles of energy in the blood sea and said forthrightly, ”That fungi you used to clear the game isn't suitable as your spawn.”

”Eh—ding-dong?”

The luminous humanoid asked in panic. ”Ding? Wh—why?”

”Although the game simulates the process of growing a species, which for worlds such as you and I are the process of growing our children and 'spawn'…”

While Joshua was boorish and a man who had no interest in anything other than battle, he was rather patient with children since he had taught many younglings in his preexistence as the master of a martial arts dojo as well. Though it was too difficult, he weathered it alone… and now, he relaxed his face to speak gently.

”However, a game remains a game. It simplified a great many things, even accelerating evolution and mutation. Just think carefully, Light—if it were you who would grant a gift to a race, how long would it to adjust and perfect it? And how long does it take for the equivalent of switching a gene component?”

Zero Three stared in shock at Joshua and his present demeanor. Though she knew that Joshua had always been kind to those younger than him, but it was still…

Come to think of it, everyone around him including himself was not actually old… could he be…

Joshua was certainly unaware what Zero Three was thinking. He was simply brimming with the sense of duty of an educator and carefully explained things for Light, ”The initial spreading and growth of Mobian fungi would take a few billion years in the real world, and no less than ten billion for them to rise onto land and spread around the globe. Just think about the gene components—could you be really become what you eat in this world, and at once adopt it for yourself? No, and it would be a long period for assimilation, alteration and adapting even if it was.”

From what Joshua could tell, the Mobian fungi was a superior species that could only be created in game, but it would be dozen billion years of development in the real world. The sun could well have died by then, not to mention that the fungi could develop so swiftly and fight so viciously because Light was controlling them. In fact, without the great threat and the assurance that they would not die to hostile environment and natural disasters, the fungi that had no desire would simply stay rooted at a single spot and breed in a smaller range.

In reality, special creatures would evolve, adapted to feeding on the Mobian and hence create a unique ecosystem.