When the game shut down, I took my skills with me.

The "Ark Project" is expanding globally at an unprecedented pace.

In China, countless drones and transport planes shuttled over urban ruins, precisely delivering "amulet of hope" tied with red strings to every survivor gathering point.

In North America, Ivanov's "Red Bear" troops personally escorted and distributed these "miracles" from the East to various shelters.

Europe, Africa, South America... When the first survivor donned the amulet amidst the torrential "data rain" and emerged unscathed from the bunker, long-suppressed cheers coalesced into a global wave of celebration.

"God! We are saved!"

"This is the mysterious power of the East!"

"I heard this only costs one dollar..."

No one believed the price. In everyone's mind, this little amulet was worth as much as life itself.

Just as the gratitude and worship of the mysterious Eastern "Mr." among the global survivors reached its peak, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice rang out simultaneously in the minds of every "player" and "non-player" on Earth for the first time.

[World Announcement: Anonymous behavior was detected, which has a decisive positive impact on the stability of the "real world," successfully preventing the malignant evolution of the "World Event: Elemental Rampage."]

[World Announcement: World Contribution Settlement in Progress...]

[World Announcement: Individual "Anonymous" receives 99% of the world contribution. Dragon Shield receives 0.5% of the world contribution. Individual "Ye Tian" receives 0.1% of the world contribution. The remainder is distributed equally among all rescued individuals worldwide.]

The three consecutive announcements plunged the world into a minute-long silence.

Immediately afterwards, an invisible, vast energy, like a golden ocean, surged from the void and pierced through heaven and earth.

On the beach, Lu Yuan, who was idly drinking cola, suddenly felt as if he had soaked in a hot spring. His whole body was warm and comfortable, and an indescribable sense of comfort spread throughout his body. The "world origin" that he had consumed when modifying the world's rules was not only instantly replenished, but its total amount also increased more than tenfold.

"Huh?" Lu Yuan was taken aback, opened his GM panel and glanced at it. "There's such a good thing?"

Meanwhile, on the command ship a hundred miles away, Qin Shiyue and a group of high-ranking officials from Dragon Shield felt a warm golden light pouring in from above.

[System Notification: The Dragon Shield faction has received the world-class buff "Guardians of Civilization," increasing all members' attributes by 20% and increasing damage against Chaos faction creatures by 10%.]

Qin Shiyue clenched his fist, feeling the powerful force surging within him, and was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes.

"This is...this is a blessing from the Master! It is our reward for participating in 'creation'!"

On the beach, Ye Tian, ​​as the "Guardian of the Divine Realm," was directly struck by a much more conspicuous golden light. He floated up, and his level skyrocketed like a rocket, instantly breaking through the level 50 mark and becoming one of the highest-level players in the world.

[System notification: You have obtained the world-class title "Messenger of God".]

After landing, Ye Tian looked at his attribute panel and was so happy he almost fainted.

I came up with an idea, ran an errand, and I actually got so many benefits – what a steal!

However, just as everyone was immersed in this unexpected "merit," the sky suddenly darkened.

The sky, which had just cleared after the "data rain" stopped, was once again shrouded in even deeper darkness. A massive vortex, exuding an aura of sulfur and corruption, slowly took shape directly above "Divine Realm Number One".

A fierce and furious will swept across the entire coastline.

"Who! Who dares to steal my 'harvest'?!"

A handsome yet sinister-looking man dressed in medieval noble attire slowly descended from the vortex. He was Mephisto, the Abyss Lord, one of the seven lords of the demonic faction.

"The Rain of Data" was originally a crucial part of his plan after his arrival, intended to collect despair and fear to accelerate the world's corruption. Just when he was about to succeed, a maverick appeared out of nowhere and wiped out his "achievements."

Stealing someone else's achievements is worse than killing their parents. Mephisto's mentality completely collapsed.

He spotted Lu Yuan, the most unfathomable figure on the beach, and the pile of talismans emanating the aura of law at his feet.

"It's you! You despicable thief!" Mephisto pointed at Lu Yuan, his anger barely contained.

Lu Yuan frowned.

Another one.

Can't we even enjoy our barbecue in peace?

"Hmph! Mephisto, the primordial... bah, Earth's opportunities belong to the capable! Get lost!"

When Ye Tian saw that his master had been disturbed, he subconsciously shouted out a line he had read in a novel.

Mephisto thought he'd heard the biggest joke in the world and was about to mock this reckless mortal when he saw Lu Yuan glance at him impatiently.

Just one glance.

Mephisto felt as if he were locked onto by the will of the entire world. His prized abyssal magical power was instantly suppressed and rendered completely unusable. His soul, capable of manipulating people's hearts, was gripped by an invisible hand, almost crushed on the spot.

"You...you..." Mephisto's anger was instantly replaced by endless fear.

He was furious, but now that he's sober, he realizes what kind of person he's messed with.

This is not some powerful being; this is the "rule" of this world itself!

"Sir, please forgive my rudeness." Mephisto reacted quickly, immediately putting on a humble smile, bowing deeply to Lu Yuan, and then turning to try to disappear back into the vortex.

This turmoil came quickly and went even faster.

Seeing him about to leave, Lu Yuan thought for a moment and then casually said, "Wait a minute."

Mephisto's body stiffened abruptly, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his dress.

Lu Yuan pointed to the still-open abyss vortex in the sky and said, "Take your trash with you; it's blocking my sunbathing."

"Yes, yes!" Mephisto felt like he had been granted a pardon. He used all his strength to close the spatial passage and fled in a sorry state.

Ye Tian watched in stunned silence.

So-called virtue is nothing but fists. That's certainly true.

As he was reminiscing, before he could even help Lu Yuan back to the beach chair, Qin Shiyue's call came in.

"Comrade Ye Tian! He has protected us once again! We...we must do something in return!"

Before Ye Tian could reply, Qin Shiyue's voice became extremely solemn.

"Sir, your contribution this time has been truly outstanding. Please accept this small gift!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a small drone carefully flew to the edge of the beach and placed a box made of a constant temperature and humidity material.

Lu Yuan was a little curious, so he walked over.

The box was opened, and inside lay a simple, ancient calligraphy scroll.

"This is... the original Shenlong version of the 'Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion'?" Lu Yuan recognized it. He thought he had already earned enough, but he didn't expect there would be an additional reward.

"Thank you." Lu Yuan casually put the national treasure away, intending to use it to weigh down instant noodles later.

"Great powers are generous when they act; we can't be stingy either." Ivanov's heavily accented voice suddenly came through the communicator. "Mr. Lu, as a sign of respect, on behalf of 'Red Bear,' I present you with the final launch key for 'Tsar'! It's yours now!"

Immediately afterwards, another drone delivered an even heavier metal box.

Lu Yuan opened it and found a red button full of violent aesthetics and a strangely shaped key inside.

Lu Yuan looked at the national treasure and nuclear launcher in his hands, then at the unfinished skewers next to him, and fell into deep thought.

He just wanted to have a quiet weekend.

How did he inexplicably become a savior and incidentally acquire the most valuable and dangerous things in the world?