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

Above the Pacific Ocean, a "wound" that cannot be precisely described by any scientific instrument is suspended at an altitude of 10,000 meters.

Unlike a black hole that devours light, it resembles a data-driven vortex, its edges shimmering with countless fragmented codes and pixelated spots of light. This is the testing ground Lu Yuan prepared for players worldwide—the Pioneer Rift.

Below the fissure, the sea surface has long been covered by steel.

Fleets from major global powers have gathered here at an unprecedented density. The carrier battle group, flying the Dragon Shield flag, sits in the center, its carrier-based aircraft swarming overhead like bees. Further away are the futuristic warships of North America's "Lighthouse" project, their hulls gleaming with eerie blue energy shields. The European joint fleet, the private fleet of the Oracle's Sword guild… even some powerful solo players are cruising along the edge of the fleet in their speedboats, hoping to get a piece of the action.

The atmosphere was extremely tense.

---

Inside the command center of the Dragon Shield flagship, the "Kunlun".

Qin Shiyue's eyes were bloodshot, but he was unusually excited. He stared intently at the huge holographic screen, which was displaying real-time data on the rift.

"The energy readings are still climbing, but the structure is very stable," an analyst reported loudly. "It matches the characteristics of the 'refresh point' described in the administrator's announcement!"

"A low-level projection of the 'Reaper'..." Qin Shiyue chewed on the word, his eyes sharp. "This is the first global 'exam' issued by the Master, and we must get the highest score! Order the 'Dragon Fang' team to prepare; they are the first echelon. Notify Ms. Lin Wei that we need her support at any time."

"clear!"

Just then, at the center of the rift, the data vortex suddenly contracted and then throbbed like a heart.

"They're here!"

Everyone held their breath.

Dozens of points of light were "spit out" from the crack. They stretched and deformed rapidly in the air, eventually coalescing into solid objects.

---

It was a bizarre creature. Its main body resembled a three-legged walking weapon made of black metal and unknown crystals, without a distinct head, only a large, ominous red eye. Its "arms" were two rapidly vibrating energy blades, and wherever they passed, even the air seemed to whistle as if it were being cut.

[Reaper - Sentinel, Level: ? ?, Health: ???]

On the system interface of all players, the following message popped up: a series of question marks, indicating that the level of these units was beyond the detection range of ordinary players.

"Fire!"

Almost simultaneously, the commanders of the major factions issued attack orders.

In an instant, thousands of cannons roared across the sea. Missiles trailed long plumes of flame, intertwining with beams of magical light of various colors to form a massive barrage that swept towards the first wave of "sentinels."

The deafening explosions continued, and huge waves several meters high were churned up on the sea.

"Hit!"

However, the joy didn't last even a second.

---

As the smoke cleared, the "sentinels" hovered unharmed in mid-air. Their bodies were covered by a barely visible hexagonal data shield; the attack that had been powerful enough to level a small mountain had only caused the shield to flicker a few times.

"Physical and energy attacks are ineffective!" The analyst from Dragon Shield's voice changed.

Before anyone could react, the single eye of each of the dozens of "sentinels" suddenly glowed bright red.

The next second, they all disappeared from the spot.

"Caution! High-frequency movement!"

Before the warning had even faded, screams of agony came from the ships of some smaller guilds.

The "Sentinels" appeared as if by teleportation above several warships at the edge of the formation. Their energy blades easily sliced ​​through the ship's armor like hot knives cutting butter. Before the players on deck could mount an effective counterattack, they were torn to shreds by the high-speed "Sentinels" and vanished in a flash of white light.

In just one encounter, over a hundred players were instantly killed.

This terrifying combat power sent a chill down everyone's spine.

---

"Useless! Create distance and use area-of-effect spells!" On the flagship of "Sword of Oracle," Xiao Xue looked at the scene before her with no sympathy on her face, but rather a hint of anger.

Just as the global coalition was thrown into brief chaos by the enemy’s strength, a crimson streak of light shot into the sky from the Dragon Shield aircraft carrier.

It's Lin Wei.

She didn't pilot any aircraft; she simply leaped into the air, stepping on the blast wave, and soared step by step into the sky.

"Well done!"

Lin Wei let out an excited shout, and the giant axe in her hand, infused with enormous energy, burst into flames.

A "sentinel" sensed the threat, locked onto her with its single eye, and instantly appeared in front of her, its energy blade piercing straight for her heart.

Lin Wei neither dodged nor avoided the attack; instead, a crazy smile appeared on her face.

"Whirlwind Slash!"

She transformed into a red storm of destruction, the giant axe in her hand spinning wildly at a speed beyond the reach of the naked eye.

"clang--!"

A piercing clang of metal clashing.

For the first time, the "Sentinel's" energy blade was blocked. Not only that, its data shield developed spiderweb-like cracks under Lin Wei's ferocious slashes.

"Smash it!"

Lin Wei shouted, and her power surged once again.

"Snap!"

---

The shield shattered instantly. The blade of the giant axe cleaved fiercely into the Sentinel's metal body.

-5,487,912!

A huge damage number floated up above the "Sentinel's" head, causing all the players who witnessed it to gasp in shock.

[World Announcement: Ark faction player 'Lin Wei' has dealt the first effective damage to 'Reaper-Sentinel'!]

Immediately afterwards, the "Sentinel" that was struck let out a sharp screech, exploded with a bang, and dissipated into a pure stream of data in the air.

[World Announcement: Ark faction player 'Lin Wei' has achieved the world's first kill of 'Reaper-Sentinel'! Reward: 100,000 World Contribution Points!]

The two announcements acted like a shot of adrenaline, resonating deeply with everyone.

So, they're not invincible after all!

---

Inside the Ark, in the villa.

Lu Yuan was lying on the sofa, while Fatty Wang sat beside him, stuffing potato chips into his mouth while watching the live broadcast on the wall, which was comparable to the highest definition IMAX movie.

"Holy crap! Sister Wei is awesome!" Fatty Wang exclaimed excitedly, his mouth full of potato chip crumbs. "Brother Yuan, this 'Sentinel' looks pretty fierce. I thought they were going to crash."

"Just an appetizer," Lu Yuan said casually, taking a sip of his cola. "The real test hasn't even begun yet."

He had barely finished speaking.

Over the Pacific Ocean, the pulsation of the "Pioneer Rift" suddenly became more intense and rapid.

An energy reaction ten times stronger than all the previous "sentinels" combined was slowly descending from the depths of the rift.