“What… is this…”

High above the bloody racetrack, special reporter Ayaya Shameimaru glided by on her hoverbike. The camera behind the bike automatically rotated and focused, aiming at the road below.

The once vast and flat desert showed no signs of its former existence.

Brightly colored plants grew everywhere.

Soft lichens and mosses covered the sand and gravel in large patches, merging with fluffy mycelia.

Green ferns grew relatively low, their unfolded triangular leaves swaying in the wind.

The fungi varied most in size, ranging from a few centimeters of saprophytic slime molds to giant mushrooms as tall as trees, thriving vigorously.

A thick, decaying odor filled the air, with a hint of intense, lingering sweetness.

This no longer felt like the normal world,

But the surface of a wriggling, alien, and unknown living planet.

Ayaya quickly pulled up her hoverbike, avoiding the misty vapor rising with the airflow below—it wasn't just ordinary mist.

The smart AI installed in the bike’s head had already issued a warning. The essence of the white mist was actually tiny droplets carrying a large number of infectious spores. Once inhaled,

One would be parasitized and infected like those unfortunate racers, constantly coughing up fungal powder with each breath.

Thinking of this, Ayaya couldn't help but shudder.

Everything on the track was caused by those NPCs from the GTA5 game.

First, they destroyed the fighting team's vehicles, and then they spewed out countless spores, turning the track into a fungal realm stretching for unknown kilometers.

The racers behind initially didn't know what was happening.

Trying to cross the alien domain resulted in complete parasitization.

Metal vehicles were corroded into slag.

The racers on them, constantly coughing up spores, had no choice but to abandon their vehicles, forfeit the race, and await rescue by the medical team.

Those few stubborn ones who refused to surrender,

Eventually grew brightly colored mushrooms on their faces, torsos, and even the surfaces of their eyelids.

Experts from the medical team believed that if they delayed any longer, they could be thrown directly into a hot pot and made into a delicious mushroom soup.

Regardless of what others thought, if a certain magician surnamed "Kirisame" were here, she would be very happy—that’s what Ayaya thought.

In any case, this behavior still didn't count as a foul. The track itself wasn't significantly damaged, and the spores that permeated the area were identified as being within the racers' individual abilities.

After their complaints were unsuccessful, the racers behind them had no choice but to temporarily put aside their grievances and cooperate to catch up with the leading competitors in order to continue the race.

Dr. Gordon Freeman and Nick Ramos, along with several other racers skilled in construction, used scattered materials to build vehicle frames with sterilization effects that could isolate the spores.

And each racer was equipped with a breathing mask and isolation suit.

Subsequently, the remaining dozen or so vehicles formed a phalanx and charged into the spore domain together.

"These spores are very special."

Gordon Freeman's indifferent voice rang out on the other vehicles through the in-car broadcast. "When they encounter environments suitable for propagation, such as moist soil, flesh and skin, wood and plants, etc.,

They will grow desperately, and after about twelve division cycles, they will automatically die out."

"You mean they have a lifespan and will die automatically?"

On another vehicle, Sergeant Major wearing Thor's Hammer armor said. His tone was calm (he was a mute in the game), but his heart was surging.

The spore domain reminded him of the Flood infestation he had encountered in his own game world long ago.

The two differed greatly in form, but their greedy nature of erosion, parasitism, infection, and propagation was very similar.

"Yes."

Gordon Freeman said indifferently, "This should be the limitation set by the spores' creator to prevent them from spreading endlessly.

And if they land in environments with absolutely no nutrients and are not suitable for growth at all, such as on the surface of metal or ice,

The spores can also grow and thrive at a slower rate.

This should be the divine power remaining in the spores, acting as nutrients, allowing the spores to continue to expand in environments unsuitable for growth."

Gordon Freeman paused for a moment and said slowly, "All of the above doesn't seem like exquisite divine magic,

But more like a primitive divine being, releasing divine power coarsely according to biological instincts.

Under this method of release, divine power will follow its essential attributes.

Different attributes of divine power achieve different effects, such as healing injuries, or eavesdropping on the smallest sounds from thousands of miles away, or traversing space to reach another world.

However, in any case, one thing is the same,

That is, the total amount of divine power is limited.

The other party has not truly become a god, and is at most a divine being. The divine power that can be contained in their body is limited.

Creating and maintaining such a large alien domain is bound to be a huge drain on them.

If I'm not mistaken, as long as we get through here, they will be helpless...

Be careful, there's a dense mushroom forest ahead, possibly set up by the other party to slow us down."

"I'll do it."

Saber's voice rang out in the broadcast system.

King Arthur and her lion-costumed chibi self emerged from two isolation doors, each holding a Sword of Promised Victory, once again releasing magical light cannons.

"Excalibur!"

Wherever the sword light reached, the mushroom rainforest shattered and disintegrated.

——————

As expected, this is as far as we can go…

Donkey Kong, with an unpeeled banana in his mouth, suddenly turned the steering wheel, rounding a bend.

Toad, clutching the car door and building mechanical traps outside with materials, stood up and returned to the passenger seat,

Shaking his head at Donkey Kong.

The materials from *Super Mario Maker* had been exhausted, and they could no longer have more influence on Kratos behind them.

Boom!

The engine sound behind them grew closer and closer as the Chaos vehicle chased after them.

Donkey Kong desperately turned the steering wheel, making the vehicle drift left and right to avoid the sweeping of the Chaos Blades.

There were still fifty kilometers to the finish line, but Kratos in the Chaos vehicle could tear them to pieces in less than five seconds.

“…”

Donkey Kong took a deep breath, and a solemn and profound expression appeared on his hairy ape face.

He and Toad exchanged glances, their eyes filled with determination.

Home,

They had to return home at all costs.

"Hoo hoo—"

Donkey Kong gripped the steering wheel with his left hand, turned around, and looked at the back of the carriage, pounding his chest with his right hand.

Everything depended on you.

As the vehicle drove through another bend, the scorching sunlight shone into the car window, illuminating the last member in the corner of the carriage.

A pink sphere with eyes, a mouth, short arms and legs, and bright red cheeks.

The protagonist of the *Kirby* series, a cute creature twenty centimeters tall, Kirby.

Kirby slowly stood up, looking at Donkey Kong and Toad with determined expressions,

Its eyes filled with tears.

It understood what sacrifices these two companions had made,

It also understood what kind of mission it needed to undertake.

If that's what you wish, then, let's begin.

Kirby slowly opened its mouth, and an unnamed suction force emanated from its body. The scattered objects in the car flew around, eventually being swept up by the gale and sucked into Kirby's body.

Donkey Kong's fur flew wildly in the gale.

He slowly released his grip on the steering wheel, unbuckling his seat belt little by little,

Closing his eyes,

Together with Toad, they slid into Kirby's tear-streaked mouth.

Kirby's innate ability was to devour enemies and possess their special abilities.

This might look cute and adorable in pixel games,

But in the real world, it looked so terrifying and evil.

Snap.

Kirby closed its mouth, and the storm raging through the car came to an abrupt halt.

Tears streamed down its round cheeks.

It could feel the power of two companions, both characters from Nintendo games, flowing madly through its body.

Boom!

The Chaos Blades once again struck the unmanned vehicle, tearing the entire trunk door off. The gale swept into the carriage, carrying away the tears on Kirby's cheeks.

Kratos, standing on the roof of the vehicle, seemed to realize something, retracted the Chaos Blades, frowned, and was extremely vigilant, not continuing the attack.

Pitter-patter.

Kirby slowly turned around, its cheeks already growing Donkey Kong's brown fur.

The originally clear and bright eyes no longer contained innocence and kindness, only hatred and killing intent.

Are you ready to face the wrath of Kirby?

——————

“So, it caught up so quickly…”

Melting Sunset, sitting in the co-driver's seat of the Abomination vehicle, muttered to himself as he looked at the dazzling light that flashed and disappeared in the distance behind him in the rearview mirror.

The Leviathan vehicle had already devoured several vehicles at this point.

Compared to before, it was now very different.

The vehicle had expanded several times, almost three or four times larger than a regular main battle tank.

The color of the vehicle's exterior had also turned into a bright red, green, and black tricolor.

Honestly, the experience of sitting inside the Leviathan was pretty good.

After eating a few cars and having surplus materials, Li Yi successfully had the Cerebrate install massage chairs, air conditioners, humidity regulators, and other devices, bringing a good riding experience to several teammates.

The only real problem was the mental pressure.

“Is red tea the only option?”

“Does anyone need sunflower seeds, drinks, or mineral water?”

“Lift your foot, thank you for your cooperation.”

In the spacious back seat, a pile of long-legged caterpillars with compound eyes and nerve lines trailing behind their heads crawled around the carriage.

They were the maintenance workers inside the Leviathan Behemoth, responsible for assisting the Cerebrate in repairing and debugging the vehicle.

Sometimes they also served as attendants,

Cleaning up trash and gently asking passengers on the bus if they had any needs.

“Is red tea the only option? Is red tea the only option? Is red tea the only option?”

A long-legged caterpillar climbed onto Melting Sunset's knee, holding a drink cup removed from another vehicle in its short, small chest feet.

While making repetitive, high-pitched sounds,

It spat out viscous saliva with the smell of red tea from its circular mouth full of sharp teeth, filling the drink cup.

The Cerebrate’s intelligence was currently only at the level of a five-year-old human.

The intelligence level of the maintenance worms it managed was naturally not very high.

Ignoring the stifled and ugly expression on Melting Sunset's face, it forcibly stuffed the drink cup into his hand.

“…”

Melting Sunset really wanted to throw the caterpillar saliva in his hand out the window, but considering that this might cause the caterpillar to harass him again, he decided to forget it...

Twilight Knight was still responsible for driving the vehicle.

The performance of the new Abomination vehicle far exceeded his expectations. Not only was its speed far superior to the top sports cars in the human world, but its handling was also first-class.

Slightly turning the steering wheel or adjusting the gears would cause all the parts of the vehicle to cooperate.

It was the epitome of man and machine as one.

However, his mind was not on this.

He glanced at Melting Sunset and the Witch in the back through the rearview mirror.

The three of them tacitly did not talk, but their eyes were worried about one thing.

Their teammate possessed divinity.

Moreover, the degree of development of divinity was not low.

No matter how much the power of humans was promoted, there were always differences between gods, and even the lowest-level gods were of a higher order of life than ordinary races.

"Black Stallion has written several reports before, describing what he knows about Li Ri Sheng."

Melting Sunset thought silently, "I didn't expect Li Ri Sheng to be hiding deeper than Black Stallion knew.

As a lone wolf player, he not only possesses divinity, but also has his own portable believers.

But it seems that he is still far from lighting the divine fire and building a divine kingdom?"

"If a divine being wants to become a god, it is not enough to have divinity alone.

They must also have their own exclusive temples, churches, scriptures, rituals, and a large number of believers, accumulating divine power year after year before it is possible to ignite the divine fire."

The Witch thought in her heart, "It is already difficult to nurture soil that can confer godhood in modern society.

But if he is a member of a large organization, he may be able to go to backward and chaotic areas such as Africa and South America, carve out a piece of land, and promote himself in the long term.

I heard that one of the Brazilian Shichibukai took the path of faith and apotheosis.

In addition, I heard that becoming a traffic idol seems to be able to collect divine power.

The core fans are the pastors, the support website is the temple, the fans voting is the offering, the fans' Twitter messages and private messages are prayers, and the idol's concert is the descent of divine grace..."

Damn, I remember that fat guy Lu Yu seemed to have accidentally sent his own compiled "Modern Idol Faith Apotheosis Guide · Revised Edition" in the chat group..."

The Lu Yu that the Witch mentioned was another disciple in the Syndicate organization.

That brother was a fatty who was extremely bad at dealing with women, but in private he seemed to be a perverted, anime emoji-loving weeb?

The Witch was completely unfamiliar with Lu Yu.

She had only heard that the latter, as one of the Syndicate disciples, had not only not devoted himself to improving his abilities,

He was also addicted to his past ordinary life,

Spending his days in anime forums and websites,

As well as anime, single-player, and mobile game QQ groups.

That "Modern Idol Faith Apotheosis Guide Type · Revised Edition" was just a random essay that Lu Yu wrote when he was bored.

It was first posted on a game forum,

Later, it was accidentally forwarded to the chat group where the Syndicate disciples were located.

The content of that article was half-true and half-false.

Seemingly nonsensical and spoofing,

In fact, it completely conformed to the basic logic of the occult in terms of process.

If a transcedent actually went to operate it, they might really be able to use the identity of a modern idol to confer godhood.

Afterwards, Lu Yu, who had published transcedent content in a mortal forum without authorization, was naturally scolded by the first few senior brothers and sisters.

However, he was later personally commended and encouraged by the Professor who had heard the news, saying that his article had a lot of practical feasibility.

He was told that a piece of divinity would be obtained for Lu Yu that day, so that he could conduct experiments.

Past memories flowed through her mind,

The Witch blinked her eyes.

Should, maybe, possibly, I could use Lu Yu's article to make a deal with this Li Ri Sheng?

He should be interested in this new type of faith and apotheosis path, right..."

"What is that?!"

Melting Sunset's startled voice interrupted the Witch's thoughts.

She looked forward and couldn't help but gasp.

Boom!

An explosion sounded again from behind as a dozen vehicles, led by Saber, rushed out of the spore domain.

"We're finally out."

Cloud sighed and locked his eyes on the Abomination vehicle not far ahead. "This time, I won't let you escape!"

Before he could finish speaking, Cloud felt a darkness in front of him.

A huge, sky-blocking shadow blocked all the sunlight, casting coolness on the earth.

It was a colossal Kirby with hairy ape arms, as massive as a mountain.