Apocalypse: Everyone Levels Up, I Return to the Time Before the Server Opened - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Can I Receive Game Equipment in Reality?!

Hanxia Nation…

In an antique-style study, several elderly men sat at the head of a long table.

Below them, a group of middle-aged men sat in formal attire — some in traditional Zhongshan suits, others in Western business suits, and a few in military uniforms.

Regardless of their clothing, they all had one thing in common: they were at least forty years old.

One of the elderly men spoke first, “The countdown has reached zero. I assume everyone has experienced that world by now. Let’s hear your thoughts.”

A man in a business suit immediately responded, “At first, I believed this was a doomsday countdown, so I proposed the construction of underground cities. However, after experiencing that world, it seems I was overly paranoid. To put it simply, it’s just a game. Nothing more. There’s no need to focus all our attention on it. We should move on to more important matters and put this behind us.”

A middle-aged man in a camouflage uniform, his expression stern, shook his head. “I personally entered the game with two junior officers… and we died. Yes, we hunted monsters, and we were killed. The pain, the sheer despair of being in the middle of it, it was like stepping onto a real battlefield for the first time! If nothing else, the level of realism alone makes it a valuable resource. It could be developed into a training simulation for real combat scenarios, especially since death isn’t permanent in that world.”

The man in the business suit frowned. “Even if that’s the case, is it really necessary to dedicate all our resources to it? No matter how realistic it is, it’s still just a simulation. If soldiers experience death too often, it could have irreversible psychological effects. I stand by my point. We should move on and focus on more pressing matters.”

The military officer’s expression darkened. “Do you not find it bizarre that billions of people across the world suddenly have access to a game with near-perfect realism? Any rational person can see that this is no small matter. How can you dismiss it so lightly?”

The businessman took a sip of water, his tone calm. “I think you misunderstand me. I’m not saying we should ignore it entirely. I’m saying that its level of priority should be adjusted. Ever since the countdown appeared, every department and organization has been fixated on it, while other important matters have been neglected.”

The discussion escalated into a heated debate, with more people joining in, each presenting their own arguments.

“I agree with Mr. Liang. We need to shift our focus to other concerns. The countdown itself caused mass panic, leading to suicides worldwide. Addressing that should be our priority!”

“I actually support Vice Commander Zhao’s proposal. This game could have military applications, and developing it wouldn’t necessarily mean excessive attention or publicity. As for the psychological impact on soldiers, if we can establish proper limits, it could be beneficial rather than harmful. The world may seem peaceful now, but who knows when the next war will break out?”

“This so-called game is far too realistic. Something about it doesn’t sit right with me. We can’t afford to take this lightly.”

“We should invest in further research. If experts from all fields get involved, we might even be looking at a technological leap into a new era.”

“Different countries have different perspectives on this. We need to find a balanced approach, neither ignoring it nor overreacting.”

“This game includes real-time communication, live news updates, and requires no cell towers, no internet cables, no data plans… In other words, the telecommunications industry is obsolete!”

The meeting dragged on for hours.

Until…

Ding!

[Congratulations to anonymous player “xxxx” for becoming the first to kill a BOSS-level monster! This achievement will be announced three times to all players in Trial City to honor their accomplishment!]

Ding!

[Congratulations to anonymous player…]

Ding!

[Congratulations to anonymous player…]

The mechanical voice echoed in everyone’s minds.

The conference room fell silent.

People exchanged looks of shock and disbelief.

After a long pause, someone gulped and muttered in astonishment, “Even while outside the game, where time flows differently, we can still receive in-game notifications?”

The shock was universal, especially among those who had previously downplayed the game’s significance. Many were at a loss for words.

But soon, the businessman from earlier spoke up again. “Now I’m even more convinced that this is the work of extraterrestrials. Their goal is to disrupt human society, hinder our progress, and use this virtual world to sedate us, making us complacent and weak!”

Several others immediately nodded in agreement.

After all, aside from its advanced communication functions, the game itself seemed to serve no real purpose. It was just a game. What was the point?

At that moment, the elders at the head of the room finally reacted.

One of them spoke slowly, “We cannot afford to be careless. Find out which country this anonymous player belongs to. Based on our current understanding, this game is extremely difficult. Even a group of players struggles to take down a single Level 1 monster, let alone a BOSS. That player must have a secret.”

Under normal circumstances, high-ranking officials discussing “games” and “BOSS monsters” in a formal meeting would have seemed ridiculous — comical, even.

But right now, everyone was dead serious.

Another elder, wearing glasses, added, “Vice Commander Zhao, take a team of willing soldiers and begin systematic training in the game. Do not rush things.”

“Mr. Liang, you cannot afford to dismiss this so easily. If extraterrestrials are involved, we must take this matter seriously.”

“Lastly, every department should designate personnel to establish teams in various starting zones. Have them focus solely on leveling up. The goal is to reach the game’s level cap as soon as possible!”

—

Allied Federation…

Inside a high-security military base, hundreds of physically fit soldiers lay inside specialized immersion pods.

Two officers stood nearby, accompanied by scientists and medical personnel, monitoring the soldiers through surveillance screens.

One of the scientists explained, “Colonel Charlie, with these immersion pods, soldiers can remain in the game 24/7. The pods provide necessary nutrients, allowing continuous play for up to 30 days…”

Before he could finish…

Ding!

[Congratulations to anonymous player “xxxx” for becoming the first to kill a BOSS-level monster! This achievement will be announced three times to all players in Trial City to honor their accomplishment!]

Ding!

[Congratulations to anonymous player…]

Ding!

[Congratulations to anonymous player…]

The sudden system notification rang through everyone’s minds.

A stunned silence filled the room.

Then, one of the officers burst into laughter. “This anonymous player must be from the Allied Federation! Our billions in military funding for these immersion pods weren’t wasted after all!”

Another officer nodded confidently. “This game is definitely not as simple as it seems. We’ll see the real truth once someone reaches the level cap!”