This Game Is Too Real

Along the coast of Linghu Wetland Park, sits the Dawn City Seventh Research Institute affiliated with the expedition corps.

This dedicated research unit was established by the expedition corps for the topics related to "South Gate Two and the pioneers' civilization," and it was officially put into use at the beginning of the month with 227 people on staff.

By wasteland standards, this number is already quite sufficient, especially for a newly established research institution with few projects.

Not only is the manpower substantial, but the budget is also ample, and the senior researchers at this institute are adept individuals within the alliance's research system.

For instance, Director Dai Huaian, aged 35, from Refuge No. 276. His research direction is high-energy physics, and he once served as a professor at Camp 101 for a period.

Later, recommended by Dr. Method, he joined the alliance's expedition corps and held important positions in relevant research institutions. His capabilities and track record can be described as excellent.

Additionally, there are physicist Ayrick from Shelter No. 337, and former F-level prospector Lin Dong from the Wandering swamp science committee, among others.

Although the resumes of these researchers may seem thinner compared to Director Dai's, their knowledge and abilities are not inferior and in specific research directions even surpass, belonging to specialized talent.

Currently, only the alliance and the academy on the wasteland show a strong interest in high-energy physics, a "future discipline" with little short-term economic benefit.

If we also include those willing to spend money and have the conditions to spend money, it seems only the alliance remains.

Coupled with the alliance's reputation outside, they hardly need to deliberately recruit as these talents who are useless elsewhere naturally come in, ready to do a big job.

After all, the Wasteland Era is about to end, so if not rise now, when else?

Combining his expertise in high-energy physics, Director Dai quickly set the research institute's general direction—to research the cosmic membrane separating universes.

In fact, he hardly had to set this direction as the remnants of the pioneers' civilization almost pointed out the road ahead, clearly telling them this world contains a creator and the universe is nested like layers.

Just like Matryoshka dolls.

Though this is the "cultist" civilization's understanding of the universe, this cultist nonetheless far exceeds human civilization, just like human civilization far exceeds the Doma people's civilization.

As long as they can continue to explore following the clues left by the pioneers' civilization, they will undoubtedly be able to comprehend their truth, just as the Doma people understood the Tree of Yenshof!

Moreover, it is belongs to materialists!

Director Dai has full confidence in this.

And just then, Night Ten returning from South Gate Two brought a great gift to the expedition corps' "Seventh Institute"—the "Universe Transection Instrument!"

This relic was the work completed by Dr. Qiu Shiye inspired by the pioneers' civilization!

It can even be said that the latter taught the former hand by hand to complete it!

Its effect is that after inputting a certain amount of energy, it can transport the matter of this universe to the Creator Universe.

Although its principle is too advanced for current human civilization, the visible parts and invisible parts alike feel like mysteries hard to decode, this does not affect its direct use by those who obtained it.

Just like a black box!

Later, a Burning Legion soldier named Night Ten mastered spiritual energy and got inspired by Dr. Qiu Shiye, understood the method to use the transection instrument in reverse, to "borrow" energy from the Creator Universe.

Though they use the word borrow, actually the borrowed energy does not have to be returned.

According to the clues left by the pioneer civilization, a beam of light from the Creator Universe, placed into the "created universe," becomes energy comparable to a star.

In other words, what they borrow from the Creator Universe is so small like a speck of dust, it can be almost ignored.

Believing the "creator" won't mind either.

Therefore, after a few small attempts, the Seventh Research Institute found no safety hazards and immediately maximized the experiment frequency, working overtime enthusiastically.

It is not that Director Dai and all researchers are too impatient, mainly because the prospects of this technology are too enticing!

Even researchers from the refuge who are indifferent to money can instantly discern the economic value within.

Once the mysteries within are understood, they will genuinely grasp boundless energy, even changing the way energy is acquired!

They will no longer need to rely on the light and heat of this universe but can borrow endless energy from a higher universe!

The heat death of the universe will be reversed at this moment!

For humans who spend their entire lives pursuing more material and energy, is there anything more tempting than this?

It is not an exaggeration to say that they will create a brand new era based on the new epoch!

And this era will be more prosperous than the Prosperity Epoch!

It will be the ascension of the entire human civilization!

Any material return and real honor are insignificant compared to this great undertaking.

Moreover, the route to South Gate Two has not yet been opened, and the plan to establish an observation station on Gaia Planet Synchronous Orbit is still in the draft stage. The entire research institute only has this project regarding the transection instrument to study.

After several attempts moving back and forth, the research personnel of the Seventh Institute have evolved from initially "hole through walls for light" to sending various things to the Creator Universe.

Initially it was a mouse, later they tried sending a Multilegged Beast, Mutated Bear, Mucosal Entity, and even the juvenile Claw of Death.

Originally, they planned to send a mammoth, but Dawn City Zoo disagreed, and they haven't yet figured out how to get this thing into the underground laboratory, so the plan was dropped.

Based on a series of tests, the researchers at the Seventh Institute have preliminarily concluded.

The maximum capture range of the transmission beam varies between 5 to 10 meters, its capture range seems positively correlated with the energy input, and is related to the activation time of the perforator.

In other words, the greater the input energy, the longer the hole created by the perforator exists on the cosmic membrane, and the broader the range of interference.

Reasonably analyzed, with sufficient energy, the transmission beam could even swallow an entire planet!

But achieving this would consume energy at astronomical figures, possibly reaching stellar levels!

Moreover, compressing this terrifying energy into the size of a standard fuel tank is also an issue.

Keeping the opening time for three seconds and catching a range with a 10-meter radius is the limit without modifying the holy relic.

Additionally, the matter transported to the Creator Universe will permanently disappear.

According to the description of the pioneer civilization, they will transform into a beam of light or dust in another universe, unable to return from that world, or even if they do return, they cannot maintain their original form.

However, this aspect has not yet been experimentally proven, so the researchers at the institute remain skeptical.

Moreover, only living beings can be transported, or corpses that have been dead for less than 72 hours.

"Dead objects," including electronic products, cannot be transmitted independently, but they can be sent as appendages along with the transporter.

This definition of appendage seems to be related to the transporter's self-awareness.

The researchers attempted to put a watch on the Mucosal Entity, and after activating the perforator, the Mucosal Entity vanished, but the watch fell to the ground.

Immediately afterward, the researchers conducted a control experiment, putting the same watch on a monkey, ensuring the monkey understood the concept of a clock, then proceeded with the experiment, astonishingly finding that both the monkey and the watch traversed into the Creator Universe!

With this discovery, Director Dai Huaian promptly devised a new experimental plan—to wrap a probe in an anti-corrosive film, stuff it inside a piece of meat, and then feed it as food to a toothless giant lizard caught from Baiyue Province.

This toothless giant lizard is a variant of the Komodo giant lizard, with adults averaging four meters in length and weighing nearly 300 kilograms, consuming prey by swallowing whole, then relying on digestive juices to break down the food.

Once this toothless giant lizard breaks down the meat surrounding the probe, it will naturally regurgitate or excrete the indigestible probe.

Subsequently, it will continuously emit electromagnetic signals containing observational information until its battery is depleted.

If they can receive signals from another universe through the "hole" created by the perforator in the next experiment, it would mean the dispatched toothless giant lizard did not transform into light in another universe but still exists in it.

Moreover, they might be able to decipher the returned electromagnetic signals to gain more intelligence about the Creator Universe!

Without hesitation, Director Dai Huaian followed the work protocol and reported the experimental plan to the expedition team before promptly proceeding with the experiment.

On the third underground level of the institute, in the isolation room storing the Cosmic Perforator, staff wearing protective suits led the cage containing the giant lizard beside the perforator, swiftly exiting the isolation room afterward.

Seemingly sensing a threat, the toothless giant lizard hissed while flicking its tongue, restlessly twisting its massive body in the narrow iron cage, causing it to clang loudly.

After confirming the staff had evacuated the scene, the researchers standing behind the glass wall remotely activated the isolation room's control robot, advancing to press the switch to turn on the perforator.

With the activation of the perforator, a dazzling light instantaneously radiated from its center, entirely enveloping the giant lizard inside the cage.

It made no sound.

When the blinding light faded away, the lizard which had been twisting its body in the cage had vanished, leaving only the chains that restrained its limbs isolated in place.

Gazing at the anomaly occurring behind the glass wall, Ayrick, standing next to Dai Huaian, was moved and remarked.

"No matter how many times I witness this, I can't help but exclaim... this is too incredible."

As a physicist in frozen dormancy at Shelter No. 337, he was researching physics at the forefront of the physics field during the Prosperity Epoch, witnessing many unbelievable things.

Nevertheless, the scene before him still astounded his gaze—

A 300-kilogram lizard vanished right in front of them.

With not a trace left behind.

"...After all, it is the technology of the 'pioneer'; how could they rule hundreds or thousands of star systems without skill?"

Gazing at the cage behind the glass wall, Lin Dong's face was filled with obsession, muttering to himself.

Indeed—

This is the scientific exploration he aspires to!

They are now facing true unknowns, truths not yet discovered by human civilization!

Compared to this, the ruins he previously explored and the black boxes he discovered are utterly insignificant!

Seeing Lin Dong's obsessed expression, Ayrick made a helpless gesture, casting his glance behind the glass wall.

"Whether or not the pioneer civilization ruled hundreds or thousands of star systems aside... this technology far beyond our current civilization's comprehension indeed seems akin to magic."

He felt as if he were a "Doma person" at this moment.

Although he had never truly seen Doma people, he had heard of them in internal reports of the expedition team.

The researchers in the control room were whispering amongst themselves, whereas Director Dai was watching the time with a stopwatch, waiting for the toothless giant lizard to finish digesting the meat in its stomach.

Although the time flow between the two universes may not be the same, this was not the focus of this experiment.

What they wanted to verify was whether the material transported to the Creator Universe maintained its structural integrity.

If they did not receive a signal, they would speculate whether the experiment failed due to a difference in temporal flow between the two universes, thereby causing the probe signal to be lost, and proceed with arranging control experiments to validate this hypothesis.

While he was quietly waiting, the operation room's sliding door unexpectedly opened, and a young man in a white coat walked in from outside.

"How is the experiment going?"

Seeing the unexpected visitor Yin Fang, a surprised expression immediately appeared on Director Dai's face, evidently not expecting such high importance for the experiment that this big figure would personally come to the scene.

However, the surprise only lingered on his face for a moment and quickly transformed into delight and pride.

Director Dai Huaian's face broke into a smile, and he promptly reported.

"We just completed the 1st group of experiments! The experiment went very smoothly, and the probe was successfully taken to another universe by the toothless giant lizard... Next, we will immediately proceed with the 2nd group of experiments to confirm whether the probe is functioning normally."

"Looks like I arrived just at the right time," Yin Fang nodded with a smile and said in a tone of appreciation, "I have a strong premonition that everyone present today will witness history."

This affirmation from the chief scientist of the Alliance encouraged everyone present.

Not only Director Dai Huaian, but almost every researcher showed expressions of excitement and joy.

Not interfering with the experiments of the Researchers at Number 7, Yin Fang merely sat quietly at the edge of the control room as an observer.

To some extent, his working style was somewhat influenced by Chu Guang, preferring not to interfere with the subordinates' work unless necessary; leave professional tasks to the professionals, unless the subordinates are slackers.

Anybody who is fully focused on a venture is extremely averse to having others dictate—or meddle with—it.

This is human nature.

Although he is the chief scientist, in terms of research on pioneer civilizations, he may not be more professional than the others present. Recklessly commanding might end up derailing the entire project, so it's better to quietly act as a mascot, watch from the sidelines, and offer valuable suggestions when appropriate.

If not for his curiosity about the relics of pioneer civilization and the "Universe beyond the Universe," he might not have come to the site to watch; just reading the report on a tablet would suffice.

The time for the second group of experiments quickly arrived.

Perhaps intending to impress the esteemed Alliance chief scientist, the researchers present were also putting in their utmost effort, from the director to the frontline operators, they were all intensely focused on the experiment.

First, they placed a signal receptor inside the isolation room, then adjusted the perforator's parameters from "input state" to "output state," followed by inserting a brand new empty fuel tank into the reactor.

As for the previous fuel tank, because a hole was pierced through it, it can no longer be used.

This is also a subtle detail in using the perforator.

Every time the membrane of the universe is penetrated positively, a cylindrical hole is left on the reactor's fuel tank, much like a punched movie ticket, making it unusable again.

However, if the membrane of the universe is penetrated negatively, that is, "borrowing light through the wall" from the creator universe, there will be no effect.

After completing all the preparations, the staff inside the isolation room systematically withdrew; then the researchers in the control room activated the remote-controlled robot that had been pre-deployed inside the isolation room, systematically started the perforator.

Then, the sun-like radiant light once again filled the entire isolation room, overflowing terrifying energy from the reactor within the isolated room.

However—

This time the experiment seemed to be different from the previous ones, it seemed not only energy overflowed from the reactor, but something else was mixed in.

Yin Fang slightly furrowed his brow.

At the same time, a researcher standing in front of the terminal emitted a surprised shout.

"Gamma rays detected!"

Everyone's face was filled with a joyful expression, while Yin Fang was slightly stunned.

Gamma rays?

Could it be —

This time more than just energy was produced?

While Yin Fang was contemplating, the shining light had already extinguished.

Director Dai, standing beside him, had evidently thought of the same, and when all indicators showed normal, he immediately ordered the staff wearing protective clothing to enter the isolation room to inspect the signal receptor installed next to the perforator.

And the result of the experiment was beyond everyone's expectations.

They did not receive video transmitted back by the probe, but instead received a special signal.

Seeing the solemn faces of people gathered around the terminal, Yin Fang also got up and joined them.

"What's on the signal receptor?"

Hearing Yin Fang's inquiry, Director Dai hesitated momentarily and then spoke.

"We are decoding the signal, the interpretation result seems to be... a string of binary numbers."

As he said these words, a string of binary numbers processed by decoding appeared on the terminal's screen and filled the entire screen.

The operators quickly conducted further analysis of the numbers and, with the assistance of AI for scientific use, converted them into decimal numbers, and soon found a repeatedly recurring sequence within them.

"7444154..."

Lin Dong, a researcher, quietly read aloud the numbers on the screen and suddenly realized something, inhaling sharply and saying.

"Uhh... speaking of which, our perforator just happens to have seven knobs!"

Realizing the same point, Ayrick furrowed his brows, speaking with a serious expression.

"This sequence looks like a key, and it seems tailor-made for us."

"What would happen if we input this sequence into the perforator's dial?" A researcher standing nearby suddenly imagined.

Another researcher shook his head and said.

"No one knows."

This sequence contains too little information; they couldn't even determine the other's intent.

"Should we try to input this sequence into the dial?" The researcher standing by the terminal turned his gaze towards Director Dai.

Instinctively looking at Yin Fang, Director Dai saw that the latter didn't express any opinion, hence he glanced at Ayrick aside and asked.

"Is the risk controllable?"

Ayrick shook his head.

"Too little information... but theoretically it should be controllable."

Director Dai frowned.

"Theoretically?"

"After all, we're using less than one kilogram of Helium-3 fuel," Ayrick shrugged, "it's unlikely that a few hundred grams of Helium-3 would summon a universe battleship."

The maximum 10-meter projection radius clearly wouldn't suffice for something of that magnitude to appear from it.

Besides, it's merely a small hole, one even too small to observe with the naked eye.

The things that would emerge are highly likely to be of the same level as the energy they put in.

"..."

Finally, the decision moment arrived, all eyes were simultaneously fixed on the person in the room who held the ultimate decisiveness.

Looking at Yin Fang, Director Dai of the Seventh Research Institute nervously asked.

"Do you think we should conduct another set of experiments?"

No one knew what was in front of them at this moment. It was a true blind box.

What was hidden inside might be an opportunity, a danger, or perhaps nothing at all.

However, there was one thing that was certain.

If they didn't take this step forward, they could never discover a new world.

Should they maintain reverence for the universe and retreat cautiously?

Or should they bravely take a step forward?

No one could know the result of the experiment beforehand.

Looking at those eyes filled with both tension and expectation, Yin Fang knew he couldn't remain silent any longer.

Alright then.

These guys were looking for someone to take the fall.

"Your eyes tell me that you've already made up your mind..."

Yin Fang paused, glanced at everyone present, and continued seriously.

"If that's the case, then let's give it a try."

Just as he expected, after hearing his decision, everyone's face lit up with excitement.

Someone was willing to take on the risk and responsibility, and had the ability to bear it, making everything suddenly seem easier.

At least it felt that way.

For a moment, Yin Fang suddenly understood how Chu Guang felt.

That guy seemed like he hadn't done anything at all.

And perhaps, what he was doing was precisely the toughest and hardest thing of all...

The third experiment quickly entered the preparation phase.

To err on the side of caution, Yin Fang applied for a temporary increase in the security level of the Number 7 Research Institute from the Guards Corps and deployed a platoon of troops to the laboratory.

The entire platoon consisted of 30 people, with three officers and the remaining twenty-seven made up of Awakeners from Shelter No. 404.

After taking all necessary precautions, the laboratory staff, under Director Dai's guidance, adjusted the perforator's parameters according to the code obtained from the Creator Universe, then withdrew from the isolation chamber according to the previous process, and remotely operated the window via a robot.

It is worth mentioning that if random parameters are inputted, the perforator cannot be started.

This point had already been verified in previous experiments.

Thus, the researchers in the Seventh Institute were mentally prepared for the possibility that nothing might happen during the experiment.

Fortunately, the scenario of wasted expressions did not occur.

At the instant the perforator's button was pressed, radiant white light illuminated the isolation chamber once again.

Staring at the numbers on the screen, the researcher standing at the terminal shouted with excitement.

"Gamma rays are rising! This time... the measurements are stronger than before!"

Yin Fang stared intently at the transparent glass wall in front of him, and amidst his astonishment, a sense of ominous foreboding slowly emerged in his heart.

Something seems...

to be coming out from there.

However, even if he wished to stop the experiment at that moment, it was already too late.

In an instant, the lights in the operation room suddenly flickered and then went out with a "buzz".

"What's happening?!"

"Power outage?! Why now of all times—"

"Wait, do any of you hear something?!"

The crowd was bewildered, unable to figure out what had happened when suddenly, a hissing sound came from the pitch-black darkness, like a low roar from the abyss.

Listening to the sound coming through the glass wall, Yin Fang felt a chill run down his spine, a frightening déjà vu.

It was something that happened before he joined the Alliance.

At that time, he was just a squad leader in an Academy exploration team, doing some scavenging and rummaging work for the Academy.

However, even though he was always fully prepared for each mission, there was one mission that went south, leaving him as the sole survivor.

The operation could only be described as a disaster.

His superiors, to protect their own careers, mercilessly shifted all the blame onto him, forcing him to leave the Academy and escape from the Wandering Swamp.

That incident was nearly a lifelong shadow for him...

And at that moment, that nightmare buried deep in his heart resurfaced once more.

But this time it was different.

He was no longer a mere insignificant figure; he was standing on a completely different ground than before.

Without a trace of hesitation, Yin Fang made a decisive call, shouting loudly to the researchers present.

"Evacuate immediately!"