Volume 3: Deep Blue Sea
The promotional video ends here, and below are the detailed game requirements and an explanation of the game background location for “Deep Blue Sea.”
According to the official information provided, the entry requirements for this game are more stringent. Not only is the highest level of the nutrient pod required but it is also emphasized that the game will no longer feature virtual replicas created by the nutrient pod. Instead, players will be directly transported into the game world through the nutrient pod, and they can choose to log out at any time. However, once logged out, they cannot log back in—a one-time login game. Players entering the game even need to sign an electronic agreement regarding the risks of unforeseen events in the game.
This electronic agreement is not a new concept; it has been present since the early days of real survival games. Some survival games even involve risks to life, but they remain niche and have strict development and review conditions. It’s unexpected that StarPlay Entertainment would bring such an electronic agreement to a mainstream platform.
Regardless of whether they meet the entry conditions or not, curious onlookers still perused the electronic agreement. The agreement precisely details the possible risks in the game and the occurrence rates of unknown accidents, accurate to five decimal places. It also provides recommendations for dealing with these unforeseen situations. At the same time, the agreement assures that if any accidents occur, StarPlay Entertainment will take responsibility for its due share.
This electronic agreement is remarkably detailed and explicit, laying out all responsibilities and obligations between the game participants and the developers without any evasion. Seeing such a rigorous electronic agreement, people realize that StarPlay Entertainment is once again challenging history. The success of “Winter’s End” is not the endpoint for StarPlay Entertainment, and it seems that “Deep Blue Sea” is not either. This mysterious and seemingly miraculous game operator is continuously creating wonders.
In correspondence to such high risks, there are undoubtedly enticing game rewards. Even the most basic reward, the interstellar points for surviving each game day, has been multiplied by ten. In addition, the restrictions on the materials that can be brought back after completing the game are lifted. This means that any materials discovered and obtained in the game are no longer constrained and can be entirely owned by the individual. This is an unprecedented precedent in the gaming world. Of course, there are other customary game rewards, and players are encouraged to explore these hints on their own. Similar to “Winter’s End,” “Deep Blue Sea” lacks any hints about completing the game or rewards after completion.
At the bottom of the page is the public beta test date for “Deep Blue Sea,” scheduled in four days. It comes with a note: “Deep Blue Sea” will eliminate player-weakening functions, meaning all players will enter the game world in their best states.
Originally eager players, upon seeing this last note, feel a sinking feeling in their hearts. The introduction of player-weakening functions aims to better maintain the balance of the game’s native world, minimizing the impact of evolved cosmic races on the game world. It can be said that the weaker the era in the game world background, the more the players are weakened, and vice versa. Not weakening player abilities implies that, according to the judgment of the game developer, the level of danger in the game world is on par with the present-era background.
Actually, from the promotional video, everyone realized the mysterious and formidable background of the game world this time. After all, even the entire fleet led by Di Lan Shu was seemingly powerless, indicating the opponent’s strength. However, the more mysterious and powerful the presence, the more it stirred their fighting spirit and enthusiasm. Along with the release of the “Deep Blue Sea” promotional video, the sales of the special-grade SSS-level nutrient pods also entered a frenzy.
Ye Jian and Shu Xun also watched the “Deep Blue Sea” promotional video. Ye Jian had a mission that required him to enter the “Deep Blue Sea,” while Shu Xun, with his adventurous and treasure-seeking nature, not to mention looking at his almost empty spiritual space, was already awakening his collecting tendencies. The cancellation of player-weakening functions meant that Shu Xun’s spiritual space could be used, effectively allowing him to carry a gigantic game backpack. Shu Xun stretched his little arms and legs, showing a posture ready to showcase his skills.
During the few days of waiting for the game’s public beta, Ye Jian and Shu Xun collected and organized relevant information. Ultimately, the two reached a consensus and listed their speculations: First, something suddenly happened in the game world of “Deep Blue Sea,” forcing StarPlay Entertainment to advance the public beta. This could likely involve completion conditions, but insufficient information prevents further speculation.
Second, the game world is extremely dangerous, threatening even the evolved races. Judging from the promotional video, Di Lan Shu’s interstellar fleet didn’t detect any invaders until it went missing. The decision-making during the crisis, coincidentally and mysteriously resolved by an unknown force, even with the remarkable execution capability of the fleet, suggests the existence of highly advanced life forms with extraordinary mental powers.
Also, Di Lan Shu might still be alive. The fleet went missing for twenty-three years, but the holographic recorder was discovered only six months ago. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Given Di Lan Shu’s special status and mission execution, the military undoubtedly spent a considerable amount of time and resources searching nearby after the fleet went missing. If the holographic recorder had been floating in space all along, the military wouldn’t have failed to capture its location and signal. Therefore, it’s possible that, six months ago, someone deployed the holographic recorder into space. Finding the missing fleet and rescuing the survivors, even if not part of the main quest, would still be an extremely important side quest.
Besides these speculations, there are many scattered pieces of information. However, trying to connect them is challenging, so they decide to stop overthinking and wait until they enter the game world to make further speculations based on discovered clues.
While organizing useful clues, Ye Jian and Shu Xun were also quickly mastering their newly awakened abilities. Silently, Ye Jian could now proficiently communicate with Little Bliss and choose to control his five senses. At least, he wouldn’t experience dizziness when Little Bliss acted foolishly and got swatted away. The increasingly skilled General Ye could now perfectly control himself, opening his senses when Little Bliss sneakily approached to nuzzle Shu Xun’s face and close them in the instant it got swatted away.
As for Shu Xun, he had been airborne for several days now. He loved his wings, flapping them around the house almost all the time, except when sleeping. Finally, he could use his wings to fly and move around the room. Even more impressive, he had figured out how to use his wings to handle a kitchen knife. The wings successfully compensated for his lack of height.
However, every time Ye Jian watched Shu Xun wobbling with the kitchen knife, desperately flapping his little wings to maintain a certain height, then chopping away with the knife, Ye Jian couldn’t help but feel extremely anxious. He feared that Shu Xun might accidentally throw the knife or cut himself.
Ye Jian’s feelings toward Shu Xun’s wings were evidently contradictory. The additional pair of wings reduced the chances for Ye Jian to personally take care of the Little Dumpling, but when the little guy circled him with flapping wings, he found it incredibly cute. The conflicted General completely ignored the other little creature, Little Bliss, who often flew around him.
Fortunately, to enhance their abilities, Shu Xun developed a new game to improve their mutual understanding and reaction speed. The rules were straightforward—Ye Jian would throw a grape, and Shu Xun would use his wings to catch it. Of course, with Ye Jian’s abilities, the throwing speed and angle kept changing. After experimenting for a while, the two were surprised to find that Big Bliss’s speed was unexpectedly fast. Even at the maximum speed, it was comparable to Shu Xun’s beast form.
In the spacious room, a streak of blue light flashed. In the blink of an eye, Shu Xun once again held the grape. Due to the inertia of the grape, his small body moved back a short distance before stabilizing, flapping his wings, and landing back on the coffee table. The blue wings on his back transformed into fine sand, then reassembled into a giant blue butterfly.
Shu Xun patted the butterfly’s wings. “Big Bliss’s speed is getting faster. It seems Big Bliss’s ability not only involves carrying the main body in flight but also includes speed. Little Bliss’s speed is not slow, but compared to Big Bliss, it’s a bit lacking.”
The Little Bliss, perched on the edge of a mini teacup, seemed to understand. It twitched its antennae, but quickly regained its energy. As if to prove itself, it flew onto a fruit plate, grabbed a grape, flew to Ye Jian’s hand, dropped the grape into Ye Jian’s palm, and quickly flew away, soaring in mid-air.
Ye Jian watched the mischievous blue butterfly without blinking. He quickly ejected the grape as planned. Little Bliss, full of vitality, rushed up, successfully grabbing the grape but then, due to inertia, smacked into the wall behind, sticking to it.
Ye Jian: “It seems the difference isn’t just in speed.”
Shu Xun: “…” Why does it feel like the force you used was wrong? Watching the pitiful Little Bliss stuck to the wall, Shu Xun felt he could still salvage the situation.
In a moment, Little Bliss, full of spirit, pulled itself off the wall and, holding the still-grasped grape, flapped its wings joyfully. It flew to Shu Xun, handed him the grape, and then flew away happily. Shu Xun was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, hugging Little Bliss and giving it affectionate pats. “Little Bliss is so cute!”
Ye Jian: “…” Is this even allowed?
Clearly, General Ye, who didn’t know how to flirt, suffered his first defeat at the hands of the adorably silly Little Bliss.
Time passed imperceptibly. Not only Ye Jian and Shu Xun but numerous gamers were exercising and preparing to meet the public testing of “Deep Blue Sea” in their best condition.
