Chapter Fifty-Seven: World of Monsters

As the countdown reached its end, tension gripped every soul on Earth. People gazed up at the sky, awaiting the arrival of the trial’s content.

“The trial content: monster invasion. Every civilization will face hordes of monsters, their strength capped at Tier Three. Once the trial begins, each civilization will confront waves of beasts starting from Tier One, the ordeal lasting an entire year. When the trial ends, the beast tide will cease. Simultaneously, participants will be transported to another world for a survival test. The sole objective in this survival test is to remain alive until the trial concludes. The strength limit in that world is the early stage of Tier Three. All monsters there will freely attack any target. Participants will earn points for slaying monsters. At the end of each month, points can be exchanged for goods in the points marketplace. In the survival world, participants may harm one another, but cannot kill fellow contenders. Injured participants, even when near death, may use their consciousness to return to the main city for treatment by spending points.”

On one planet, what was once the human civilization’s urban landscape had become nothing but ruins, overgrown by masses of vegetation. Many monsters prowled amid these remnants, viciously hunting and slaughtering one another. Larger beasts lived deep within mountains or the ocean’s abyss.

All traces of human civilization had vanished. The remnants of humanity clung to survival, enduring between these monsters with fierce tenacity. They struggled to reclaim their former status, but the relics of their civilization were too few, making survival itself a daunting challenge.

Where was the hope for human civilization? Was extinction inevitable? Every surviving human pondered this question—until a flash of light streaked across the sky, pillars of radiance descending to the earth. Within these columns, they glimpsed hope.

Could they survive in a world teeming with savage monsters?

Sun Meng first surveyed his surroundings. Everywhere were low-growing plants, barely hinting at the ruins of former structures. He sensed numerous malicious gazes upon him, lurking all around.

“Waa—!”

With a shrill cry, a lizard-like monster lunged from the brush. Like a trumpet signaling an assault, dozens more of its kind burst from the undergrowth.

Their sharp claws and fangs, combined with explosive speed, often brought these lizard beasts successful hunts. But this time, they miscalculated.

An invisible barrier formed around Sun Meng—a shield of inner energy—which deflected their attacks, rebounding them.

In his hand appeared a short dagger, ready and waiting. With a flash of silver, Sun Meng beheaded every one of the lizard monsters.

“Only ten points per beast—is it because their strength is merely at the early stage of Tier One?” Sun Meng glanced at the system prompt, then tried selling the corpses to the system, but the price was even lower. Thirty monster corpses together yielded only fifteen points. Still, their bodies contained some energy, making them edible.

Sun Meng could clearly feel that although this world was nominally at the early stage of Tier Three, the level of spiritual energy in the land had only just reached Tier Two. Relying on absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth for cultivation was, for now, impossible.

“This near-wasteland environment is truly a poor start! I wonder if any native survivors remain in this world. Too bad I can’t contact other participants—teaming up with Kokolaru would have been nice.” Sun Meng said, leaping onto a nearby rock.

Earth had already predicted and prepared for scenarios like this nearly wasteland survival world. In such cases, participants with close ties would become allies, helping one another. Moreover, it was believed that Sun Meng and the other participants’ strength gains in the trial world would benefit their own civilizations, so survival alone was not enough. There was always mutual dependence between participants and their civilizations.

At this moment, Earth's wilderness blossomed with wormholes large and small. From these wormholes emerged insects and small animals at first, quickly followed by medium-sized creatures, and then large carnivores.

Upon entering Earth's environment, these animals grew to three or five times their original size within less than a minute. Their eyes turned blood-red, radiating a murderous will.

Yet, biological instinct drove the weaker creatures to immediately flee the portals, scattering in search of suitable prey.

With their arrival, Earth's original fauna suffered calamity. Once discovered, they were swarmed and devoured by the newcomers.

As the invaders consumed Earth’s native creatures, their bodies underwent further transformation. Besides growing larger, they developed new organs, granting greater strength and even special abilities.

Once these alien animals completed an initial mutation and evolution, they stabilized. Unless they encountered Earth’s native species, they would not actively hunt them.

Meanwhile, in half-wild experimental facilities controlled by the major governments, similar wormholes appeared. Animals emerging from these portals, upon completing their initial mutations, were swiftly eliminated by stationed troops.

In the laboratories, scientists rapidly analyzed the slain monsters—not just with technological methods, but also with magical detection.

“So, do these alien species have any weaknesses or pose any hazard?” National leaders, accompanied by the special Sun Meng response team, arrived.

“At present, after death these monsters pose no harm to Earth. In fact, the energy in their bodies nourishes the soil. In sufficient numbers, they could even cause localized increases in spiritual energy concentration.” The chief coordinator displayed preliminary experimental data on the computer screen.

“In essence, they’re just like Earth’s animals, only following the game’s rules and attacking local fauna!” Xiao Xu remarked.

“Correct.” The coordinator nodded. “But their growth rate is rapid, at least in the early stage. According to our statistics, from stepping out of the transfer wormhole to completing their first metamorphosis, it takes less than a minute. At that point, their strength reaches late-stage Tier One, and continues to grow quickly.”

“If such monsters appear in large numbers where humans congregate…” The military leader frowned, and the others’ expressions grew grave.

Despite over half a year of cultivation on Earth, bolstered by several spiritual energy surges and Sun Meng’s various training aids, even the fastest progressing late-stage Tier One cultivators in Huaguo accounted for less than thirty percent. Most were at mid-stage Tier One—primarily the elderly and children.

“Deploy the army. Activate the original formations and defensive walls. Initiate Defense Plan Three. We cannot gamble with our people’s lives! Prepare a global announcement—mobilize everyone. This crisis is a test of our civilization. No one is exempt!” The national leader’s face was solemn.

“Yes!”

Elsewhere, Sun Meng maneuvered through the ruins, slaying over a hundred monsters of late-stage Tier One and below, until he finally encountered survivors native to this world.

It was clear this had once been a three-story shopping mall. Half collapsed, the remaining section was shielded by a golden light barrier, transformed into a camp.

Upon seeing Sun Meng, the people inside became visibly excited.

“You’re one of those who descended in the columns of light, aren’t you? Welcome to the Yuanda Survival Camp!”