Chapter 3

Another casualty has appeared on the cross-river bridge. This time, it wasn't due to a fall from a height but rather being crushed to death by a heavy object. The scene was gruesome. And... the victim didn't seem to be human. Of course, this news was quickly denied by the police.

As soon as the report was received, all nearby police forces were mobilized to seal off the entire bridge.

The bridge was filled with the flashing lights of police cars.

Li Changhe had already left the bridge and stopped by the roadside green belt, silently watching the direction of the bridge.

Perhaps because of the so-called "Eagle Eye," Li Changhe could see very far with just a bit of concentration. He vaguely saw the place where the harpy had died, surrounded by many people. Some were police officers, and some were men in black suits.

They were gathered around the harpy's corpse, discussing something.

"An evolution game? That thing was nothing like the games I remember." Li Changhe touched the wound on his arm and couldn't help but wince in pain.

Although he was puzzled, he didn't doubt the authenticity of the voice he had heard.

For example, now, with just a bit of concentration, his field of vision extended very far. The words "Triggered Passive: Eagle Eye" appeared in his mind.

When he picked up the lead ball, the words "Equipped: Bloodstained Lead Ball" appeared in his mind.

"Is this a game? And was that eagle also a player?" Li Changhe muttered to himself, but no one answered him. It was like there was no beginner tutorial in the game.

Only his attribute panel, equipment, and skills appeared. Even when Li Changhe called out from "Overlord" to "Open Sesame," the voice never appeared.

The words "Permission Not Granted" flashed in his mind.

Not only that, Li Changhe also saw the words "Social," "Forum," "Store," and "Exchange," with the last two being grayed out.

"I need to study this." He glanced at the bridge again and saw a familiar face. Xiao Nan's new driver, the middle-aged man with a square face! Xiao Nan had told him his name was Yang Dong.

Li Changhe wouldn't mistake the person he had spoken to that morning.

Now, Yang Dong had none of the demeanor of a servant from that morning; instead, he exuded a commanding presence, directing the men in black. When Li Changhe was about to look more closely, Yang Dong seemed to sense something and turned his head instantly.

"Can he detect spying from 500 meters away? Then Yang Dong must also be a player!" Li Changhe was startled, but he wasn't worried about being discovered. He was hiding in the green belt, and unless someone had X-ray vision, they wouldn't notice him.

After Yang Dong turned back, Li Changhe stealthily crawled out of the green belt, got on his bicycle, and took a side road.

Before the spatial effect ended, Li Changhe broke off the harpy's eagle claw, which was stained with his blood, and took it away, using its blood to cover some of the bloodstains at the scene.

After all, if he didn't want to be dissected, being cautious was the only way. Who knew what the people outside thought of "players"?

If he was discovered rashly, the outcome would likely be dire.

Li Changhe lived in an old neighborhood on the south bank of Yan Yun. Just a few kilometers away were the best high-end apartments in Yan Yun, but this area was filled with decay and desolation.

The only advantage was the cheap rent, 900 yuan a month for a one-bedroom, one-living room, and one-bathroom apartment.

In the寸土寸金 (highly valuable land) of Yan Yun, this was a unique deal.

Back home, Li Changhe rummaged through his drawers and found the alcohol and bandages he had prepared earlier.

He gritted his teeth as he treated the wound on his left arm. Fortunately, it hadn't damaged any nerves or arteries, and it would take about a month to heal.

"If I'm discovered, I'll just say it was a car accident."

"Now, let's see what this evolution game is all about." Li Changhe opened his attribute panel in his mind again.

After seeing "Player: Li Changhe," he noticed a "Nickname" field. When he looked at it, a prompt appeared.

"To ensure your safety, please choose a nickname."

This gave him a lot of information. To ensure safety? That means players are in competition with each other.

Li Changhe experimented for ten minutes and confirmed that this "Evolution Game" was not a human creation.

No sensitive words...

This made it difficult for Li Changhe, who was bad at naming. He couldn't reveal his identity, hobbies, or preferences, or others might find the details.

However, if he thought about it the other way, if someone really had the intention, they would know that the "Nickname" was a form of misdirection.

Li Changhe thought for a moment and saw a donation promotion on his phone that read, "When one is in trouble, all come to help."

The words "Eight Directions Master" appeared in his mind.

After confirming the "Nickname," Li Changhe opened the "Forum."

"Player: Eight Directions Master has joined the Evolution Game Forum."

This was not much different from online forums. The first post was "What New Players Need to Know About the Evolution Game," which was pinned to the top.

"Those who see this post are likely already players.

I won't ramble. The history of the Evolution Game will be automatically informed to players after reaching level 2.

In any case, the known total number of players exceeds 10 million, with 2 million human players. The number increases by 10,000 to 20,000 each year. Perhaps some new players will ask, besides human players, who else can be called players.

This is because you haven't encountered many tasks, or perhaps you haven't encountered any tasks yet.

In fact, besides humans, there are many intelligent beings, and the Evolution Game modifies them based on their intelligence levels.

The first non-human player in China was a monkey. It could tear apart tanks and kick missiles. Players who have joined the Chinese official organization, the 'Great Wall,' might see this monkey at headquarters.

Later investigations found that it often did things that seemed incomprehensible to us in its community.

This was the task given to it by the Evolution Game. When it was discovered, it already had intelligence comparable to humans and could communicate with them.

This is evolution!

The known player races are humans, spirits, fantasy beings, fairies, demons, and a type of divine beings that are still being verified.

As for the tasks you, as new players, are concerned about, they are randomly triggered. Sometimes, while you are eating or sleeping, you might suddenly receive a task notification.

You can choose to accept or reject it.

After experiments by multiple countries, it was found that the longest interval between tasks is half a month.

The shortest interval is three days (excluding some special tasks).

Tasks are generally divided into four types.

Real-world tasks: Triggered when you complete a certain requirement in the real world. If there are other players nearby, they will also be triggered.

Instance tasks: Enter a specific timeline, with real-world time unchanged. Complete tasks individually or in a team.

Story tasks: Enter a story and become a character in it, similar to instance tasks but with some limitations and plot-killing settings.

Conflict tasks: In the above three types of tasks, there is a small probability that other players will interfere. Usually, they are human players, but there are also precedents for non-human players.

As for special tasks, such as immediate tasks and periodic tasks, the former's difficulty depends on luck. It might just be catching a thief or catching an armed robber. You can choose not to accept it.

Periodic tasks, on the other hand, are deadly! So, try to improve your level and strength as much as possible. These tasks are mandatory, and you have no choice but to accept them. They are the most dangerous tasks with the highest mortality rate. Be careful!

As for rewards, besides experience and game currency,

There are three types: equipment, skills, and miscellaneous items.

Equipment: It all depends on luck. If you can draw out something like the Sword of Xuanyuan, Gungnir, or Mjolnir, you're awesome!

Skills are the same. It's not fair! Two versions of the Six Pulse Sword Technique, one by Duan Yu and one perfect. Think about the outcome.

Miscellaneous items: See if you can sell them for some money. Medicines are best kept, as their effects in the Evolution Game are astonishing, far surpassing current human levels by over a hundred years.

As for "Personality Tendency," it is related to the tasks and skills you receive. Before reaching level 5 and obtaining a title, you don't need to consider this. Even at level 10, you don't need to worry about it.

Let me add, this doesn't mean being good or bad. It's the Evolution Game's analysis of how players handle situations.

Even in official organizations, there are players with chaotic evil tendencies, which doesn't mean anything.

Then, the most important part.

Individual players, we generally call them freelancers. I suggest you join your country's official organization. In China, it's the 'Great Wall,' in the US, it's the 'Black Palace,' and so on.

Some underground organizations are dangerous and brutal. Without a backing, freelance players are easily threatened or even killed to steal their player status.

Of course, the advantage of being a freelancer is freedom. Weigh the pros and cons.

Here, I wish you all to survive. You will become stronger, become superheroes, or even touch the power of the divine. But if you fail, it means death.

You have already embarked on the dangerous game called evolution!

Anyway, you have no choice... hehe."

"Isn't this just making things difficult for Darwin?"