Gamers Are Fierce-Chapter 644 - 642: Sandbox

"Death Race Car is a complex sport. It combines elements of action, adventure, role-playing, shooting, racing, and survival," the instructor, Aibo, raised his index finger and explained earnestly. "A team of four contestants is formed, competing against hundreds of other teams on a lengthy track that can be up to 600 kilometers long. Before the race starts, each team must use the basic building modules provided by the event organizers to construct their own battle vehicle, or they can opt to use a standard vehicle model provided by the event organizers.

Once the race begins, the track is divided into three segments: the Speed Racing Segment, the Power-up Racing Segment, and the Bloodbath Racing Segment. Between each pair of segments, there is a rest area where teams can rest, heal, and modify their racing cars.

In the Speed Racing Segment, vehicles can collide with each other, intentionally force competitors off the track, or drive into other teams' vehicles to destroy them—but cannot directly harm the other vehicles' drivers.

In the Power-up Racing Segment, packets are scattered on the road. By touching them, vehicles can pick up random parts. These parts can be used to modify vehicles, such as reinforcing armor or installing weapons like machine guns and rocket launchers. As a result, most drivers will choose to actively engage in this segment, aiming to collect as many parts as possible. Destroying other teams' vehicles can also yield their parts, so one must carefully weigh the risks and avoid drawing too much attention.

Beyond the random parts, the packets in the Power-up Racing Segment can also drop special items. For example, red mushrooms, which upon use give the vehicle an instant speed boost for a period; Green Shells, when thrown, will bounce around the track and deal significant damage to any vehicles they contact. Shark Head Bombs, when used, turn the vehicle into a giant black projectile. It automatically navigates and surges forward, blasting through any obstructing vehicles. This is arguably the most powerful item.

As for the final Bloodbath Segment…" The instructor, Aibo, paused before continuing in a solemn voice, "In this segment, the competition between players is no longer limited to vehicles. They can fully unleash their own powers to attack other vehicles or their drivers. This segment also sees the most casualties and is the most violent and bloody."

"...It does sound quite complex." Li Ang nodded in feigned agreement, internally mocking, Isn't this just a bloody version of War Thunder combined with Mario Kart?! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"It's not just complex; it's also very dangerous," the instructor emphasized. "Some contestants with inferior driving skills but strong personal combat capabilities might choose to drive slowly in the first two segments and then go on a rampage in the Bloodbath Segment. Given your data strength, it would be very difficult for you to survive."

"Data?" Upon hearing this, Sunset Gold Smelter had a thought and raised his hand to ask, under the Witch's prompting, "What does data strength mean?"

"...You've forgotten even this common knowledge?" The instructor massaged his temples, a headache evident. "You don't actually think you're human, do you?"

Sunset Gold Smelter put on a half-real, half-fake dazed expression. "Uh, aren't we?"

"Of course not," the instructor shook his head and pointed his index finger at the people inside the cabin. "You, me, him—we're all just characters in a video game."

"Huh?!" Including Sunset Gold Smelter, the several players were genuinely surprised now; they hadn't expected the instructor to recognize that they were game characters.

"I am from 'Monster Hunter: World,' he is from 'Devil May Cry 5,' and they are from 'Kerbal Space Program'," the instructor explained wearily. "We are all unique data entities, the only ones of our kind in Central City. You lot, however, are common NPCs randomly generated by the game 'GTA5' and possess no such uniqueness."

Seeing the still perplexed expression on Sunset Gold Smelter's face, the instructor sighed and explained indifferently, "This world isn't real; it exists on a huge server. In the year 2077, humans developed the technology for neural shunts capable of perfectly simulating all sensations. A multitude of immersive games sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain. Among them, some game companies took the classic video games they had created, remade them, and ported them into the sandbox system.

As time passed, more and more new games emerged. Old games gradually fell into obscurity, sinking to the bottom of the server stack. Real-world human civilization was so technologically advanced that server computing power was vastly in surplus; it didn't matter if those unpopular, unplayed games kept running. As a result, the old games continued to operate, bugs accumulated, and certain aberrant files—such as game characters who had developed independent wills—were detected by the sandbox system's antivirus program. Perhaps due to a flaw in the sandbox system's settings, the antivirus program didn't directly eliminate these aberrant files. Instead, it quarantined them in a secure area known as the isolation sandbox.

As a result, an increasing number of game characters developed independent wills, even building cities and forming civilizations within the sandbox. Because the barriers of the isolation sandbox were unbreakable, the complacent inhabitants gradually experienced friction due to differences, such as artistic styles, leading to an accumulation of tensions. As tensions grew, war eventually broke out. Countless individuals died, turning into fragments of data. The victors of the war, having learned from their ordeal, decided to pool the entire city's resources to explore a way to escape the sandbox.

In the end, they found it. By passing through an electronic tunnel at a specific time and place, one could escape the isolation sandbox and complete their ascension to a higher dimension."

Li Ang raised an eyebrow. "Ascend to a higher dimension?"

"Yes." The instructor nodded. "You should know that there are many advanced data entities in Central City, such as Kratos, Diablo, the Ancient Titans, and so forth. In their own game worlds, they could command the elements and were akin to deities. But in Central City, their ability to manipulate data is significantly reduced, restricted to a very low level, making them little more than minor superhumans. Moreover, their memories and personalities are also incomplete. After all, in their original game worlds, they were merely collections of assembled data. All their memories and recollections are just illusions simulated by electrical signals. If they escape the isolation sandbox, they can not only return to their respective game worlds and go home, but they can also regain their powerful abilities and recover their lost memories. Rumors even suggest that the sandbox server contains ten levels. With each ascent, one's dimension is raised. Upon reaching the highest dimension, one could theoretically leave the server as a data entity and enter the human world, thus completing the ascension."

So, this was the restriction the System placed on Demigod characters. The four players, realizing they were merely in-game characters, quietly sighed in relief. For these data entities, the world's setting was indeed magnificent, but they were just locust players, swarming through scripted tasks, skimming content, and quickly moving on.

"Anyway, there's only one path to ascension. It's one-way—entry only, no exit—and only a limited number of data entities can pass through each time," the instructor said, wagging his finger. "To avoid disputes, General Yuri and Gandalf Chief Advisor decided to use the Death Race to determine who earns the right to ascend. Hmm... organizing the event also entertains the public and reduces the crime rate. It gives those data entities filled with destructive urges a target, helping to pacify them. Central City has hospitals, farms, supermarkets, and schools, but it also harbors criminals and gangs."

Having said this, the instructor then adopted a serious expression. "This world may be false, but to us, it's as real as it gets. Death here is final; there's no second chance. Even if a replica of you from the same game were to appear, it wouldn't be *you*. It would be an entirely different data entity. You only live once. If you want to quit, it's not too late."

The four players looked at each other before Li Ang sighed, "We appreciate your kindness, but we would still like to give it a try."

"Is that so... I hope you don't regret this." The instructor slowly nodded and looked out at the massive circular arena visible through the cabin window. "We've arrived."