Zhao Haiping's post immediately exploded with replies! Before, many players were just impressed by the skill shown in the completion video, as anyone who had tried fighting three or four Northern barbarians at once in this game knew how difficult it was. But after reading Zhao Haiping's post, players realized that the game wasn't just about high difficulty; it had depth as well!
The role of a soldier and the name of the trial "A General's Success" held significant meaning. To be a qualified soldier, one needed well-rounded skills. It wasn't enough to be a mere brute; at the right moments, strategy was needed to defeat the enemy. Most importantly, one had to be resilient. No matter the hardships or setbacks, giving up was never an option. Only through perseverance could victory be achieved.
In the end, perhaps only the leading general would have his name recorded in history as "A General's Success," while countless soldiers became nameless bones buried in the sands, known by no one. But it was precisely because of these people that the fierce Northern barbarians were kept outside the city walls, sparing the people of the Central Plains from the ravages of war.
Was this game hard? Yes, absolutely! But compared to real history, it was already a simplified version.
This newfound understanding reignited the desire to tackle the challenge in players who had previously complained about the game's difficulty.
"So that's why! It seems there's a reason behind the difficulty; it's not just hard for the sake of being hard."
"Yeah, the historical figure achieved that perfect result in one shot, while we can retry endlessly with guidance. If we still can't get it, we really have no excuse."
"But I'm just a weakling raised in modern civilization!"
Zhao Haiping quickly reassured them: "Actually, there's no need to worry about physical fitness. The game has hidden mechanics that quickly enhance your combat skills to the original character's level by activating muscle memory as you continue fighting in that body."
"In reality, I'm just a regular player, not some master of ancient weaponry. I got beaten down at first, too. But after a while, I noticed my abilities improving faster than I'd expected. Both the Soldier and Assassin trials work this way, with each body possessing unique skills. The Soldier specializes in battlefield fighting, while Nie Rang's body is more skilled in swordsmanship and assassination."
After a round of lively discussion, the forum's atmosphere had completely transformed. The complaints about difficulty and lack of enjoyment faded away. Now, all the beta testers were gearing up, eager to be the next hero to complete the game.
Though the Soldier trial's first clear had been taken, there were still three other beginner trials, right? And surely there would be even more exciting content in the game after clearing all four trials!
The only ones left unhappy were the players without beta access. As the game gained more and more popularity, with increasing discussions and excellent reviews, those who hadn't yet tried it were dying of curiosity.
Some players even called for the beta slots to be reallocated. They argued that players who'd been discouraged by the trials should lose their access in favor of more eager players. Others asked for more slots to be opened as soon as possible.
This time, the game's developers didn't stay silent as usual; they issued a simple response. In three days, marking the game's first week of beta, there would be a content update. More beta slots would open, and players with too little playtime or slow progress might have their access withdrawn and reallocated.
This announcement filled those without beta access with excitement as they began the countdown for those three days. Some even planned to sign up for martial arts classes or brush up on historical knowledge, preparing in advance for when they finally got in.
In short, the first-clear video for *Dark Sands*' beginner trial was a shot in the arm for the entire player base, driving them to engage even more intensely with the game.
…
At nine p.m., Du Gang stubbed out his nearly finished cigarette and reviewed the report he'd just completed on his computer. After double-checking, he hit send.
He looked to be in his forties, sporting a bit of stubble and a rugged appearance. He was one of the players Meng Yuan was keeping a close eye on. Based on his in-game performance, Du Gang didn't have any standout strengths, but he was competent in all areas. Meng Yuan suspected, based on Du Gang's actions in the Assassin trial, that he might have a special background in real life. But Meng Yuan hadn't asked Chanshang to investigate further, as it didn't seem necessary for now.
Meng Yuan's guess was correct: Du Gang was indeed in a special occupation. He was a team leader in the security department, with a background in the military and extensive experience. His professional skills were exceptional, which had drawn Meng Yuan's attention.
However, Du Gang wasn't playing this game for fun. He was investigating this mysterious company. In fact, security departments worldwide were conducting similar investigations. A mysterious company had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, hacked into the world's top social and news websites, altered their homepages, and bypassed game platforms to distribute a game that defied current scientific understanding.
How could this not be investigated?
To the average person, it might seem like an elaborate prank, since they lacked insider information. They had no way to access the internal workings of these social and news platforms or game distribution channels, all of which had been ordered to keep quiet. Publicizing it would only cause unnecessary panic. So, the investigation had to proceed in secret.
Du Gang was under a lot of pressure, especially since it appeared that this mysterious company was based domestically. Why else would they make a game centered on Eastern history, with most beta slots going to domestic players?
He lit another cigarette and muttered to himself, "Now other countries think we've developed some new black technology, but we're as clueless as they are. We don't even know what's going on."
"It's bizarre… Could it really be aliens?"
He looked back at his investigation report. So far, it was clear that the game's very existence defied science. Not to mention its mysterious ability to hack top sites, seamlessly integrate advanced neural connection technology, and recognize players through what seemed to be brainwave patterns.
Beyond the black technology, there were more questions. For instance, where was this company actually located? Developing such an extensive game would require enormous manpower, not to mention a server to transmit data.
Yet all attempts to trace the data's origin through technical means, or to locate it through on-the-ground investigation, had come up empty. There were no real-world traces of its existence.
But despite the difficulties, the investigation had to continue. For now, the only way for beta tester Du Gang to proceed was to complete the game. A successful run might draw the developers' attention, possibly even leading to contact with someone from inside the company, potentially answering many questions.
Du Gang never imagined he'd one day have the chance to play games on the clock. But he had to admit, *Dark Sands* was quite captivating. As a specially trained operative, he found himself adapting to it much faster than other players, despite his limited gaming experience. After all, even in peacetime, the missions he undertook were no less challenging than any game.
Currently, he was making good progress in the Assassin trial, though he kept getting stuck at the final step. Since he wasn't particularly skilled with ancient weapons, he'd yet to complete the final task. But he'd trained hard over the past two days, rehearsing his words for when he entered the court.
Checking the time, he saw it was nearly ten p.m. After washing up, Du Gang lay down, preparing to enter the world of *Dark Sands* once again.