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

The cushion slipped off Lu Yuan's face.

The living room was eerily quiet, with only Xiaoya's holographic projection flickering faintly, its cold text floating in the air like a death warrant.

[It is recommended to activate the 'Reaper' protocol.]

"ha."

Lu Yuan let out a soft, ambiguous laugh, then slowly sat up straight on the sofa.

This simple action instantly made the salty smell that had lingered on him for months disappear completely.

He was no longer irritable or impatient; instead, he displayed a focus that even Xiaoya's data model found unfamiliar.

"The Reaper... that doesn't sound like a friendly word." Lu Yuan rubbed his temples and said, "Xiaoya, access all the underlying databases of 'Gods and Demons Era' and cross-reference the entry for 'Reaper.' I need to know what this thing is."

"Command received. Retrieving..."

In Xiaoya's virtual eyes, data streams rushed by like a waterfall.

A few seconds later, a tattered document marked "Mythological background, obsolete setting" was extracted.

This document is not part of the official game content; rather, it's more like some crazy, unintentional background myths that the game creators jotted down while building the world-building.

"Found it, sir." For the first time, Xiaoya's voice carried a hint of seriousness.

"According to the scrapped document G-073, the 'Reaper' is a 'cleanup program' outside the game's universe. When the development of a 'server world' deviates from the 'observer's' preset track, or when an uncontrollable 'virus' appears, which is the highest authority, the 'Reaper' will be activated."

"They... will format the entire server."

Lu Yuan listened quietly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the sofa armrest.

Format the entire server.

In today's context, it would be like formatting the entire Earth.

"So, that little bug I just shot was just a scout. Now, their main force is coming," Lu Yuan muttered to himself.

---

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

Lu Yuan frowned, thinking it was Qin Shiyue who had returned.

But the person shown on the surveillance footage was someone who surprised him.

Moon Priestess, Liandra.

The elven leader stood outside the door, her face pale. Her magnificent priestess robes were disheveled, and her beautiful eyes were filled with unprecedented fear and unease.

Lu Yuan opened the door.

Leandera staggered in, and the moment she saw Lu Yuan, she felt like she had found her anchor, but she was so terrified that she couldn't even speak.

"Don't rush, tell me slowly." Lu Yuan handed her a glass of water.

Leander's hands trembled as she took the drink, but she didn't drink it. Instead, she said in a voice trembling with tears, "Mr. Administrator... I... I felt... the World Tree was crying!"

As a priestess whose soul is bound to the World Tree's bud, she is most sensitive to changes in the world.

"Just now, an indescribable, chilling will swept across the entire world. Before that will, we were like...like a line of code that could be deleted at any time! I heard a voice saying...'Cleanse...'"

Her words confirmed Xiaoya's analysis.

Leander raised her head, looking at Lu Yuan with pleading eyes: "Sir, I know that only you can fight that thing! Please, save us, save this world!"

Lu Yuan looked at her, remaining silent.

His original plan was to designate an "Ark" safe zone, protect the people he wanted to protect, and then lie down and watch the humans outside play their "civilization development" game.

But now, a higher-level player, or rather, a GM, is about to overturn the table.

The "Chapter of Creation" that he personally initiated was nothing more than abnormal data that needed to be cleaned up in the eyes of the other party.

"Get up." Lu Yuan's voice was calm. "You're right, this really is something I have to handle."

He stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window, the entire "Ark" new town was brightly lit.

Inspired by the first "Miniature Law" promulgated in China, countless survivors are building their homes with great enthusiasm. In the distance, the tender buds of the World Tree exude a soft glow of life, elves patrol lightly through the forest, and the energetic clanging of dwarves echoes from the underground forging center.

Everything is full of hope.

This hope, however, is fragile and easily shattered in the face of the "harvesters".

"Order and rebirth..." Lu Yuan murmured the rules he had set for himself, "These alone are not enough."

For a civilization to survive in the cruel universe, it needs to know not only how to farm, but also how to wage war.

"Xiaoya," Lu Yuan suddenly spoke.

"Yes, sir."

"Project the 'World Contribution' ranking into the sky so that everyone can see it."

"Yes."

The next second, all survivors around the world, whether in the safe zone or in the wild, saw a huge golden leaderboard that stretched across the sky.

[World Contribution Ranking]

First place: China - Dragon Shield faction (Contribution: 103,548,210)

Second place: Ark faction (Contribution: 45,789,550)

Third place: North America - Lighthouse faction (Contribution: 12,345,880)

Fourth place: Oracle Sword Guild (Contribution: 9,876,110)

……

The whole world was stunned, not understanding why this mysterious administrator would suddenly do such a thing.

Is this some kind of boasting about the achievements of China and Ark?

Just as everyone was discussing this, Lu Yuan's voice, transmitted clearly through the system announcement, entered everyone's minds.

This time, his voice was no longer the indifferent indifference of before, but carried an unprecedented and unquestionable authority.

[World Announcement: Attention all players and factions.]

The rules of the "Chapter of Creation" game will now be iterated.

From this moment forward, in addition to building and creating, you will have an even more important task—to fight.

[“Global Contribution” will no longer be used merely to exchange for the right to formulate “mini-laws.” It will become a strategic resource.]

Contribution points can be used to redeem: an 'Absolute Defense Barrier' covering the entire safe zone, a 'Star Gate' capable of teleporting troops across space, and even a 'Sky City' floating in the sky...

With each sentence Lu Yuan spoke, a series of astonishing, sci-fi and magical exchange options appeared next to the huge list in the sky, along with their astronomical contribution point prices.

Players worldwide have gone absolutely crazy.

This is no longer building a home; this is building an interstellar fortress!

The announcements are still ongoing.

I don't have much time left for you.

Because, in the near future, we will face a real war.

The enemy comes from beyond this world.

Therefore, set aside your meaningless struggles, unite all forces that can be united, and do everything possible to gain contribution points. Because when the enemy descends, every drop of sweat you shed today will become a bulwark protecting your civilization.

The second phase of the new era—the Era of War—has now begun!

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole world fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately following was a surge of fighting spirit and an unprecedented sense of urgency.

Inside the villa, Leander was too shocked to speak.

Lu Yuan turned around, looked at her, and smiled faintly.

"Don't be afraid. Even if the sky falls, you'll have to ask me first if I agree."

He sat down on the sofa again, but this time, instead of lying down, he picked up a virtual control panel projected by Xiaoya and began to personally design the "defense system blueprint" for the entire Earth.

That salted fish who only wanted to sleep seems to be gone forever.