As soon as the announcement dropped, the entire sandbox exploded into chaos.
Most players hadn't even reached land yet. They were still struggling at the starting point, dying over and over in the unforgiving ocean. A lucky few had just crawled ashore, managed to evolve into amphibians, and begun discussing the rumored giant—when it all went to hell.
Swish.
Three seconds later, their vision went dark.
"F*ck!"
In a wave of outrage, players yanked off their VR headsets. Some were seconds away from hurling them across the room.
They didn't know it, but their little complaints had been overheard by the god of their world—Xu Zhi himself. And as the old saying goes: Ask and ye shall receive.
Future Skywhale:
What the hell?! Where's the warning? Fcking devs! First time I've seen a game this bad. I'm done! Who's with me? Let's storm their HQ and drag them out!*
Akina's Speedster:
Relax. This "casual game" has always been hardcore. Welcome to the pain.
Hands Off:
Bet in an hour, all of you will be posting: "Best. Game. Ever."
Despite the furious rants, nobody quit. If anything, their enthusiasm only grew.
Xu Zhi casually scrolled through the forum, expression unreadable.
Let them rant. He wasn't their friend. He was the indifferent, all-powerful Creator—and the free labor could scream all they wanted.
Meanwhile, others were still clamoring for a chance to play.
Crazy African:
If this game's too hardcore for you, hand over your slot! I'm built different. I don't even need sleep!
Demanding Little Beauty:
If you're done, pass the account to someone who's actually worthy. Thanks in advance!
The onlookers waited eagerly, hoping some angry player would rage-quit and free up a spot. But no one did. Instead, the conversation pivoted back to the real topic of interest—the mysterious, godlike giant.
Akina's Speedster:
Did anyone notice? This game is starting to phone in the story. That giant? He was literally eating lunch in someone's backyard!
Hands Off:
It's called realism, genius. If this game is really that detailed, of course bosses eat. Probably has a full AI routine. We just need to evolve and beat him.
Akina's Speedster:
Beat him? Not anytime soon. But hear me out—if he eats, that means he has a weakness. His food.
Future Skywhale:
You're thinking of poisoning him? There's no poison mechanic in the game, bro.
Akina's Speedster:
Then we evolve one! Neurotoxin. Self-destructing bugs. We jump into his lunchbox, he eats us, and bam—God gets diarrhea.
Future Skywhale:
Jesus. That's dark. I'm in.
Akina's Speedster:
I'm going to study venomous bugs, scorpions, snakes—evolve a species that looks like actual crap and sneak into his food. Poisoned poop for the win.
Hands Off:
Legend.
Cute Girl who'll become a Dragon:
This guy's a genius!
Xu Zhi stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Bro... you're bold. This time, you're really leading a crusade against me?"
He chuckled softly. "What did I ever do to you? Last time, you wanted to crap on my head. Now you're trying to poison my lunch? With actual poop?"
He mentally jotted down names. Good luck, buddy. You're going on the list.
With a casual wave, he shut down Spore Evolution and cleared the Land of Genesis. The players were gone.
Then, picking up a white, finger-sized rubber pipe, Xu Zhi headed to his backyard. He was about to make adjustments.
With hoe in hand, he began digging.
"Since I'll be entering the large sandbox as a player... I need a passage."
After half an hour of work, he had connected the two sandboxes using a ten-meter-long buried pipe.
The Cosmic Pathway was complete.
Only he could see it. Only he could use it.
No scheming insects or poop plotters allowed.
Back inside, Xu Zhi returned to his laptop, slipped on his VR headset, and logged into the game.
Username: Vengeful Creator.
He pressed Start.
Darkness fell. He felt a floating sensation, followed by a familiar message:
"Please evolve your eyes."
Not long after, he stepped ashore in a newly evolved body.
Xu Zhi glanced down—and froze.
"What the hell is this body?"
He looked like a crow. Not the elegant kind. A clumsy, long-feathered, three-eyed crow with a vertical eye on its forehead. He couldn't even fly—just glide three or four meters using his wings.
Disappointed, he muttered, "I'm no different from the players…"
Even though he had hoped to do better, it had been nothing more than blind optimism. This species wouldn't survive long in the large sandbox.
Reluctantly, he asked, "Hive Mind, I know it's ugly—but do you think it has the same potential as the Evil Eye species?"
The Tyranis Hive Mind didn't hesitate.
"According to my analysis, the probability of supernatural evolution is extremely low. This is a malformed organism. A failure."
Xu Zhi nearly choked. "You're being a bit harsh, aren't you?"
Still, he accepted it. Evolution was rarely kind. The Evil Eye had been a one-in-a-billion miracle—lightning in a bottle.
"But I'm not asking for miracles. I just need it to move."
With that, he waddled into the secret passage connecting the two sandboxes.
After a long, dark journey through the Cosmic Pathway, light finally emerged.
Xu Zhi stepped out into a world of vibrant green. Towering trees rose around him. Undergrowth carpeted the forest floor. In the distance, ferocious beasts roared as they chased prey.
It was a glorious, untamed world—something straight out of the Paleozoic Era.
"I've finally entered my own sandbox," Xu Zhi murmured, claws clicking against the earth.
"Congratulations are in order."
From a bird's-eye view, he already knew where to go. He adjusted his wings and began his journey.
Toward the Babylonian tribe.