Chapter 4: Resolute Determination and Some News.

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Su Bai tested Pearl’s abilities.
“Pearl, you’re really amazing!”
Su Bai listened as Pearl used its Enchanting Voice talent, producing a melodious and captivating sound.
Although the singing skill, perhaps due to its proficiency level, couldn’t immediately put the target to sleep, hearing Pearl’s Enchanting Voice combined with the [Singing] skill still made one instantly drowsy.
Su Bai personally verified its effectiveness.
Hearing Su Bai’s praise, Pearl puffed up its small chest proudly, as if saying it would protect its master from now on.
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Su Bai’s lips.
“But I can’t rely on Pearl to protect me alone.”
Su Bai glanced out the window again, as if making a firm resolution.
“The arrival of the Catastrophe System and the rapid digitalization of the world are irreversible. Sooner or later, I will have to face various monsters. I can’t just keep running away.”
To ensure her safety, she would have to battle these digital monsters.
At least now, she was luckier than many—she had a profession.
The phone on the table was still streaming live.
Because of Han Qi’s previous broadcast, many fearless people had ventured into various digitalized zones to fight monsters and level up—some for fame, others genuinely wanting to change themselves.
The internet was abuzz with talk that the arrival of the Catastrophe System marked the beginning of the apocalypse, and that the world would soon be thrown into chaos.
Although society could still maintain control for now, what about the future?
No one could say for sure.
“I have to change. What will I do when everything around me is overrun by digital monsters?”
“The news says digitalized zones keep monsters confined within certain boundaries. But if the entire world becomes digitalized, there will be no safe places left.”
Su Bai thought, looking at Pearl.
“Pearl, we have to become stronger if we want to survive in this dangerous world ahead.”
Pearl hopped onto Su Bai’s shoulder, nestling its tiny face against her cheek, chirping happily.
Having made up her mind, Su Bai began to prepare.
She had played games and read novels before.

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Simply put, she had to level up by fighting monsters.
“To change, I must enter the digitalized Wuh River City, also known as the [Mist Forest]. I still have the Beast Tamer profession.”
Su Bai’s [Beast Tamer] profession required not only leveling up but also taming new beasts to strengthen herself.
With her decision made, she prepared to set off.
She packed food and water for the wilderness into her backpack, along with camping gear—she might have to stay outside overnight.
“Thankfully, I’ve done all sorts of jobs before just to make a living, otherwise I wouldn’t dare survive alone out here.”
She took a final look at the supplies in her rented room.
“They’re still insufficient. I’m constantly consuming them, and eventually, they’ll run out.”
After news spread that Linghai City might become digitalized soon, most residents evacuated, and shops closed down. Su Bai had nowhere to buy food and was relying on her stockpile.
Leaving her apartment complex, she saw the empty streets; a gentle breeze swept fallen leaves across the pavement. The bustling scenes of the past were vivid in her memory, yet now the city had swiftly turned into a ghost town.
With a sigh, Su Bai tightened her grip on her backpack and rode a shared bike toward the [Mist Forest].
Wuh River City wasn’t far from Linghai City, about thirty li. Su Bai had previously ridden a shared bike here with classmates to hang out. The city boasted a vast wetland park with beautiful scenery.
As she approached, she saw from afar that the city was shrouded in a thick white mist, like a celestial curtain separating Wuh River City from the outside world.
Su Bai pushed her bike into the surrounding grass.
“I never expected that after digitalization, the environment would change so drastically—plants are growing so wildly.”
She marveled as the greenery towered above her head.
Just as she was about to enter the [Mist Forest], a sudden honking startled her.
Su Bai instinctively crouched down.
She soon saw a car stop nearby, and five people got out—three men and two women.
Seeing them, Su Bai was surprised because she recognized all five—they were her university classmates.
“Li Weiwei, do we really have to enter the digitalized area? The internet says there are digital monsters inside. Isn’t it dangerous for us to go in?”

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The only two girls were Li Weiwei and Mi Yao.
The three boys were Mi Hanwen, Wei Jingyi, and Xie Yu.
All five were Su Bai’s classmates, but at this moment, she didn’t want to meet them.
Mi Yao was uneasy about entering the [Mist Forest], the digitalized zone. She adjusted her round glasses and looked at the three boys.
“Bro, do we really need to fight monsters and level up?”
Mi Hanwen nodded. “We have to improve ourselves. The world isn’t fully digitalized yet; this is our chance. If we don’t seize it, we’ll be preyed upon by these digital monsters.”
Li Weiwei agreed. “Hanwen’s right. Ah Yao, I know what you’re thinking—that as long as the military has weapons, they can handle these digital monsters.”
Mi Yao said, “Exactly. We have to trust our country.”
Li Weiwei looked regretful, feeling Mi Yao was too naive.
“I have some insider info you might not know,” Li Weiwei said, recalling what she’d learned.
“Once inside a digitalized zone, military weapons don’t work—unless you have a special profession. Otherwise, their heavy weapons are useless.”
“Seriously?” Xie Yu was puzzled why none of them knew this but Li Weiwei did.
Wei Jingyi pulled out a baseball bat. “Profession… So once we step into the digitalized zone, having a profession is key. Only by obtaining the corresponding profession can we use equipment and skills that match it?”
Wei Jingyi’s gaming experience helped him quickly grasp the concept.
He smiled. “This setup makes our world feel more and more like a catastrophe game.”
Li Weiwei hadn’t expected Wei Jingyi to respond so quickly.
She nodded toward Mi Yao. “Wei Jingyi’s right. We must level up and gain professions. Otherwise, as the world becomes more dangerous, the military might not be able to help us. Only by having strength ourselves can we protect ourselves.”
“Although powerful firearms are useless, we can still use clubs.” Li Weiwei handed out weapons to each of them before they entered the [Mist Forest].
They soon disappeared from Su Bai’s sight.
Su Bai digested their conversation.
“Is it really like that? No wonder Grandma Cheng said her son would evacuate.”