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--- Chapter 517 ---
DND Online, Tower of Ascension — Forty-First Floor.
In a vast, murky swamp virtual environment, two young figures engaged in a fierce battle against a colossal beast that practically shadowed the sky.
The creature was a massive, armor-clad amphibian encased in dark-gold plates, roaring with deafening fury as it thrashed across the mud.
"Sister Xi, Switch!" A black-haired youth shouted, deflecting a sweeping blow from the monster's spiked foreleg.
"Leave it to me!" A spirited voice echoed from above as a blinding streak of white lightning split the gloom.
"Gladiator's Dance — Second Form: Lightning Cutter!"
A silken, silver-haired girl descended straight from the sky, her massive white longsword crackling with terrifying electrical energy. She swung the heavy blade downward with all her weight and momentum.
SLASH—!
The lightning-coated blade cleaved straight through the toad's golden armor, slicing deep into its core.
ROOOOOAAAR—!
The colossal beast unleashed a last, reluctant roar before its enormous frame dissolved into a fountain of shimmering virtual particles, scattering a pile of drops across the muddy ground.
The black-haired youth moved like a shadow, catching the falling girl mid-air in a smooth princess carry to prevent her from taking fall damage.
"Sigh... you're always so reckless," Han Yuan grumbled helplessly.
"Hehe, it's fine! I knew you'd catch me~!" Mu Xi purred playfully, rubbing her head, cozying against his chest.
A full year had passed since DND Online first opened its doors to players, granting them a chance to become divinity.
Over that time, Han Yuan and Mu Xi had explored, farmed, and conquered its depths, firmly establishing themselves at the true apex of the player leaderboard and earning widespread renown.
Han Yuan had earned himself the moniker Dark Hero, a title born from his indestructible, tank-like combat style and devastating, tide-turning finishers.
In the eyes of the ten thousand DND Online players, he was an immortal tank who could hold the line against hopeless probabilities before turning the tables in a single stroke. His most famous feat was soloing an entire World Boss.
Mu Xi, meanwhile, was known across the DND Online as the White Flash. It was a precise title, demonstrating her blinding movement speed, lethal white lightning strikes, and wild, dancing heavy-sword techniques that left many players and monsters utterly helpless.
"Let me put you down so we can check the drops," Han Yuan said, setting her gently back onto her feet.
Mu Xi nodded eagerly. "Yes! Let's see what this Armored Titan Toad dropped! I'm really hoping for a new heavy armor piece!"
However, before either of them could touch the glowing pile, a resonant, synthesized chime echoed throughout every region in DND Online.
DING! DING! DING!
[DND ONLINE HAS REACHED A SYSTEM BREAKTHROUGH POINT!]
[Global Achievement Metrics Confirmed:
Metric 1: All active players have mastered the foundational power system and reached level 20.
Metric 2: All active players have cleared at least the 10th Floor of the Tower of Ascension.
Metric 3: 10 players have unlocked Unique Advanced Classes.
Metric 4: 10 players have slain at least 3 Field Bosses.
Metric 5: 3 players have slain at least 1 Unique Boss.
Metric 6: 2 players have cleared the 20th Floor of the Tower of Ascension.
Metric 7: 2 players have cleared the 30th Floor of the Tower of Ascension.
Metric 8: 2 players have cleared the 40th Floor of the Tower of Ascension.
Metric 9: 1 player has solo-slain a World Boss.]
[All expansion prerequisites have been fulfilled...]
[Initializing Server Expansion Version 2.0!]
Notice: A new regional gateway will be opened and connected to the world, introducing over 20,000 new players into the world!]
[All players will be temporarily disconnected for maintenance. System maintenance compensation will be distributed upon next login.]
Then, the booming, booming voice of Xu Deming, the mysterious Game Master, echoed across the sky above all servers:
"Congratulations, young gems! The stage is about to grow much larger! Soon, you shall encounter waves of new rivals and fierce enemies on the path to Godhood!"
"You possess a head start, but do not grow complacent... otherwise, you will be overtaken and swallowed whole!"
"So show me! Will you get consumed by this new wave, or will you reign supreme until the very end?!"
"Hahaha, I can't wait—!"
Logging off all active players in... 60, 59, 58...] Gnosia's monotonous voice chimed in.
Han Yuan gazed at the system window with a calm, knowing look. He had anticipated this expansion.
One year was plenty of time to gather preliminary behavioral data from the initial ten thousand players while stabilizing the ambient power grid across Douluo Star. But that initial pool was merely the beginning, and they needed far more volume to scale the system.
"Xiao Yuan! Let me grab the loot so we can return to our house before the log-out!" Mu Xi urged, tugging his arm.
Han Yuan nodded. "Mhm, let's go."
Scooping up the boss drops, Han Yuan and Mu Xi activated the Tower of Ascension's floor-teleportation function, instantly returning to the mid-tier city where they had purchased a private residence.
The house wasn't overly grand, a cozy wooden cabin overlooking a quiet lake, but it served as a perfect shelter for the two of them.
After quickly sorting their inventory into the house's storage chest, they sat together on the porch and let Gnosia's log-out sequence sweep over them.
Real World, Blacksmith Association.
"Hmm... it feels strange waking up so early," Mu Xi mumbled, sitting up on Han Yuan's bed. The night was still young outside their window. "Ah, that boss fight on the 41st floor was exhausting, and it didn't even drop any experience points."
"At least the drops were good," Han Yuan murmured from the bed, lazily staring at the ceiling. "With our current level and skill gap, even if twenty thousand new players join tomorrow, none of them will catch up anytime soon."
"That's true..." Mu Xi agreed, leaning her knees to her chest. "But since DND Online is expanding, which major city do you think the system will target first?"
"There's Mingdu, Shrek City, Eastsea City, and a few other major hubs in the northern and southern provinces."
"Mingdu and Shrek are the least likely candidates," Han Yuan answered after a moment's thought.
"Why?" Mu Xi tilted her head, and then a realization struck her. "Ah... the First Rule of DND."
"We don't talk about it," She whispered.
Han Yuan smiled faintly. "Precisely. 'We do not talk about DND Online.' in the real world."
"It isn't just a rule—it's an unconditional protection to prevent disclosure to major authorities."
"Access to this DND Online is a path toward divinity. If the public or major factions ever caught wind of it, they would try to control or restrict it, diluting everyone's share of resources."
"Though I doubt they could get much power over DND Online when the 'Game Master' is still around."
Over the past year, while DND Online remained entirely unknown to the public, though subtle rumors had begun circulating in Heaven Dou City and surrounding provinces about several youths becoming 'overnight geniuses.'
Their sudden, unnatural surges in Spiritual Power were far too obvious to hide completely.
Yet, no matter how rigorously officials or major factions interrogated or examined those youths, they found nothing unusual, nor could they extract a single word regarding DND Online.
The moment anyone attempted to disclose details about the virtual world, the Game Master's underlying soul-contract would trigger, immediately wiping all memories of DND Online from the offender's mind.
Their 'avatar' would cease to exist! It was both a protective measure and an absolute threat executed without delay.
Fortunately, those selected quickly realized the high stakes and kept their mouths firmly shut, giving birth to the unspoken rule among players.
"If I had to guess," Han Yuan added, "The system will target Eastsea City and the surrounding coastal territories for this second phase."
"The Skysea City... Skysea Alliance, huh?" Mu Xi recalled her hometown, a soft expression touching her face. "I haven't been back in quite a while."
"Do you want to visit tomorrow?" Han Yuan asked gently. "Auntie Bao'er must miss you too, Sister Xi."
"Alright! Let me pack our things, and we can visit together tomorrow!" Mu Xi beamed happily.
While she spoke, Han Yuan quietly formed a mental link with Xu Deming on the side. The expansion required him to deploy his Authority of Dream on a much wider scale again.
Fortunately, over the past year, the ten thousand players had produced an enormous supply of Dream Force, giving Han Yuan more than enough fuel to expand the boundaries of the virtual realm.
Funnily enough, the current player base had mistaken the acronym DND, and Xu Deming never corrected them. Rather than its original name, the players had universally dubbed it Dungeon and Dream Online—because entry was 'only' possible while asleep and dreaming.
Closing his eyes, Han Yuan channeled his spiritual energy alongside the reservoir of Dream Force, executing the Divine Art to wind soul-contracts for twenty thousand new players.
It was demanding work, but the payoff was undeniable.
Twenty thousand new players. Yes, double the initial trial batch.
Choosing the Skysea Alliance area was a calculated strategic move by Han Yuan and Xu Deming.
Rather than the rigid, ingrained power structures of Shrek City or Mingdu, the coastal alliance was far less developed and politically split, making its youth significantly easier to influence.
'Eastsea City... the Skysea Alliance...' Han Yuan mused silently as he entered a deep meditation.
'Let's see what kind of plays you've set up in this era, Tang San.'