《Nyxfall 7: The Veilbreakers》 We Kill Him.. ¡°Hey, Crab Killer! This is my last shot... You better make this worth it,¡± called out Pheonix_Resurrect, blood dripping from her mouth. Her flaming sword was half-broken in one hand, while the other hand wiped the blood¡ªonly for more to take its place. ¡°I know! Don¡¯t have to tell me twice!¡± Kai cried out. This was their last chance to kill it. The Deimos Emperium, also known as the Dark Lord. The final boss. Kai had spent years preparing for this fight. The death game they had been trapped in for years could finally end here. ¡°KNOW YOUR PLACE, INSECTS... THIS IS FAR BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF YOUR APE-LIKE BRAINS TO UNDERSTAND...¡± The Dark Lord¡¯s deep, raspy voice was empty¡ªsoulless. The sound alone irritated Kai to no end. The audacity of this bastard to call them insects¡ªthem? The ten strongest players of Nyxfall 6: Dark End? The world¡¯s most advanced full-dive VR game. Except, they weren¡¯t really in a fantasy world anymore. They were in a real world, far beyond their own planet. And the thing they were fighting wasn¡¯t just the last boss of the game¡ªit was the Emperor of this dark domain. Kai, known in-game as I_Make_Runny_Eggs, was ranked 7th on the entire Earth server. He stood ready, gripping his massive two-handed sword¡ªtwice his own weight and over seven feet tall. ¡°Come, Bastard of Darkness¡­ let me show you what balls of steel look like.¡± Kai roared as his body glowed dark orange. He started with a slow run, then¡ªin an instant¡ªvanished from sight. The Dark Lord himself couldn¡¯t keep up with his speed. The spell Pheonix_Resurrect had cast on him was an Epic-grade Strength Enhancer¡ªthe last thing she could do with her minuscule mana. Kai reappeared behind the Dark Lord, his massive sword swinging in a perfect arc, aimed at the only exposed part of its body¡ªits pitch-black neck, uncovered by adamantium armor. Another spell landed on him. His body glowed dark green. Moose_Hunter had cast Challenger¡¯s Might¡ªa spell that let a teammate borrow all of their stats for a single attack. Moose_Hunter collapsed right after casting it. Now, only two of the top ten remained. They had been chosen to fight. And they had lost. The Dark Lord¡¯s castle was too treacherous¡ªfilled with traps, hidden monsters, and generals, each more powerful than the last. But they had slain them all and made it here. The throne room¡ªa place no other team had ever reached. And there was no afterlife. The bastards in charge had made sure they knew that. This was real. All those who had died would never return. And now, Moose_Hunter had joined that long list of names. *** It was supposed to be just a game. A simple VR survival game that had launched that winter. Kai, like many fans of the Nyxfall series, had bought the game with excitement. Little did they know¡ªtheir lives would never be the same again. At first, it seemed like any other immersive game. The graphics, the realism¡ªunbelievable. But it wasn¡¯t just a game anymore. The Beyonders had made a secret deal with the developers of Nyxfall¡ªselling the entire thing. No one knew who owned it. No one knew who created or updated it. Until two years after launch, when a major event in the game changed everything. By then, it had already become an internet phenomenon. It earned real money¡ªwhat more could a player want?Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It even slowed time, allowing players to experience longer, more immersive sessions after a tiring day at work. Who wouldn¡¯t want more time in a magical world? Then, everything changed. The top 10,000 players of that event received real invitations to join the battle¡ªthe battle that would decide the fate of their planet. Unlike other civilizations, Earth had been dealt a better hand. The Beyonders had chosen their VR game as the battleground to determine which worlds would be destroyed. The so-called gods who controlled life and death, once worshipped by many, sought nothing more than entertainment. Fortunately¡ªor unfortunately¡ªof all the advanced species with functioning civilizations, only Earth had made unprecedented strides in entertainment. Most other intelligent beings considered it a frivolous waste of resources. The 10,000 players weren¡¯t just humans, though they made up the majority, with over 4,000 participants. The rest were aliens, forced to adapt¡ªlearning an entirely new language, culture, and way of life to match the Nyxfall universe in a VR game. But unlike Earth¡¯s players, they knew exactly what was at stake from the very beginning. And they had prepared like hell. Thrown into reality in the bodies of their in-game avatars, this was their new existence. They fought, conquered, killed¡ªand now, at last, they were here. The best of Earth against their strongest adversaries¡ªthe Dark Domain Empire. This was the end. This would determine their place in the galaxy. This would buy their people¡¯s freedom. Kai¡¯s massive sword struck the Dark Lord¡¯s pitch-black skin, his Legendary Sword Technique amplifying his already enhanced body. Strengthened by the sacrifices of his comrades, there was nothing in existence¡ªnothing in this game¡ªthat could surpass the raw power of this one final attack. And as he had dreamed, as he had planned for years, Kai¡ªthe 7th-ranked player in the Earth server¡ªsevered the Dark Lord¡¯s head in a single, decisive strike. The heinous Deimos Emperium was no more. *** [Congratulations to player I_Make_Runny_Eggs for eliminating a civilization leader. Team Ambitious_Bastards has accumulated enough points to prevail in this stage of the game.] [A Mythic-grade item has been acquired as a reward for defeating the top-ranked player, The Deimos Emperium.] Goddamn it. They had done it. They had made it. They had won. ¡°You fucking bastard! You did it.. I knew only you could come up with something so dumb yet so brave.. Goddammit, Kai.. At last, we can go home..¡± Phoenix_Resurrect choked out, her bloody, tattered body trembling as she fought back tears. Kai just smiled at the outburst, watching the woman known as ¡®The Phoenix That Could Freeze Mountains¡¯ break down before him. But then, the smile faded. So did the color in his eyes. He took two steps forward and collapsed, blood spilling from his mouth in thick, dark streaks. Phoenix_Resurrect ran toward him, stumbling and gritting her teeth in pain, but she made it. She had to make it. She caught his head in her lap, his blood soaking into her trembling hands as her tears splattered onto his face. ¡°No¡­ No¡­ No¡­ No¡­ You piece of shit! I told you there was no such attack as Cheat Play! I told you¡­ You wouldn¡¯t make it¡­ I tol¡ª¡± ¡®Cough.¡¯ ¡®Cough.¡¯ Kai¡¯s lips moved, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°You¡­ bett¡­ er¡­ stay¡­ away¡­ from¡­¡± Before he could finish, she cut him off. Goddamn this woman! He wouldn¡¯t even let himself die acting all cool. ¡°Come on, just hold on, Kai¡­ Where the hell is the potion¡ªfuck! We used it on Kormack¡­ No, no, no¡­¡± Kai struggled to speak again. ¡°Do¡­ not¡­¡± ¡°Huh? Do not what?¡± she echoed, her voice breaking. His cracked lips curled weakly. ¡°Do¡­ not¡­ play¡­ stupid¡­ games¡­ from now on¡­¡± For a moment, she just stared at him, lost for words. Then her face twisted¡ªanger, grief, disbelief¡ªall tangled into a bitter, broken laugh. ¡°You dumbass¡­ At least use your last words properly¡­¡± Her voice trembled as his eyes fluttered shut. His breath slowed¡­ then stopped. **** [Congratulations to player Pheonix_resurrect for supporting in the elimination of a civilization leader and her team Ambitious_Bastards for accumulating enough points to prevail in this stage of the game.] [A new message from Player I_Make_Runny_Eggs.] Phoenix_Resurrect¡ªor rather, Sora Quinn¡ªa name she had never revealed to any of her friends before. How she wished for him to use her real name at least once¡­ Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she ignored the flashing congratulatory rewards and went straight to her inbox. It was just like him to leave important text behind instead of saying it himself. [I_Make_Runny_Eggs: I love you..] Goddamn him. Sora didn¡¯t even try to stop the tears as they flowed down her supple cheeks, uncontrollable and relentless. "Why wouldn¡¯t you say it earlier¡­ you fool!!" **** Kai opened his eyes. For a moment, a wave of relief hit him¡ªso the Beyonders were just messing with them, and there really was an afterlife. But something wasn¡¯t right. He felt weak. The air was too cold. Too noisy. "Hey dude! Fuck off if you¡¯re not gonna buy the game! We¡¯ve been standing in line for hours¡ªdon¡¯t waste our time!" An ugly-looking kid with pimples was yelling at him, but Kai ignored it. His mind was racing. The smell. The lights. The atmosphere. This place¡­ this moment¡­ He knew it. He was back. On Earth. Did he make it..? No. No, this wasn¡¯t right. His breath hitched as his gaze swept across the store, the people, the long queue. He knew this shop. He knew this day. The day he had waited hours in line to buy¡ª "Fuck! This can¡¯t be!! How the fuck am I back here!?" I Am Back! "Dude, I am warning you! I will whack you in the gut, I swear! My punches are stronger than a meteor strike, for real!!" The guy behind Kai said this while pushing his glasses up on his fat, ugly face. Kai frowned. The fuck was this dipshit saying.. "Are you buying or not?" the bored game shop employee in her mid-30s called out. Kai just stared at her for a few seconds before transferring 5,000 Exelon from his wrist communicator. The hologram displayed an animation of a little green tick as Kai grabbed the small, square-boxed copy of the damned game¡ªthe same game he had spent most of his life fighting for survival in. Hurriedly exiting the shop, he walked swiftly into a nearby alley and just stared at the cover, thousands of untold emotions surging through his pitch-dark eyes. He was back. Truly back. Back to his world.. Back on Earth.. Before everything went to shit. The exact day the game was first released. His hands trembled as he tightened his grip on the game case. *** The Epic Nyxfall Series¡¯s Final Conclusion.. NYXFALL 7: THE VEILBREAKERS ¡°Step into the Future¡ªBe Among the First to Rewrite Reality!¡± ¡°First Day Edition¡± ¡°World¡¯s First Ever Truly Immersive VIRTUAL REALITY Experience..¡± Compatibility : [VR Full dive logo] *** "Bastards!" Kai checked his communicator again, even surfing the web. The time and date were the same¡ªDecember 12, 3011. That day, he had bought only one game. But.. something was wrong. He had waited all winter for this game. His first memory of buying it and admiring the cover was etched into his brain. So.. Why does it say 7..? The game I bought today was Nyxfall 6: Dark End.. How the hell did this happen? How was he still alive? Was this another sick trick of those Beyonders? An illusion? No.. even they shouldn¡¯t be able to reverse time. At least, they shouldn¡¯t have. Was everyone back? All his friends? Kai immediately tried searching for their names, but as his hand reached the communicator¡¯s search icon, he hesitated. He barely knew anyone¡¯s real name. He only knew their gaming IDs¡ªhalf of which shouldn¡¯t even exist yet. He searched for those he did know, but nothing conclusive showed up. None of them were in recent news or famous enough to be on the front page. And even if they were, he had never seen most of their real faces, so recognizing them would be nearly impossible. Should he go to the police? Would anyone even believe him? No! Those bastards had observed them for years before the game. He couldn¡¯t leave any digital footprint of.. of the future. After the 10,000-event winner invitation and meeting other species in real life, they had learned just how much influence the Beyonders had on civilizations across the galaxy. They knew everything. At least, that¡¯s how it felt after listening to all the stories. But that wasn¡¯t entirely true. Many players from different species had confirmed that only technology was fully in their control. Even the Beyonders couldn¡¯t reach everywhere on a planet as vast as theirs¡ªnot if there were no electronic devices or technological web networks in the vicinity. But in his time, humans without access to technology simply didn¡¯t exist. Even the poorest cities had the fastest computers and the strongest internet of the century. That was why their game had been chosen. Riddled with disbelief, confusion, and the gnawing question of what to do¡ªif he was truly back¡ªKai walked home, guided purely by muscle memory. He ignored every person who passed him on the street. Only when he saw the familiar black gate of their small house¡ªand the bonnet of their Faryu TX09¡ªdid it hit him. Home. His home. After seven long years, he was standing in front of it again. The old, decrepit, colorless house had never looked so beautiful. He gently pushed open the black gate, took a few steps toward the house, reached for the handle¡ªThis book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. And stopped. "We used to run through neon streets, Chasing echoes of electric dreams. Silver skies and midnight scenes, Falling fast through faded screens." "Do you still hear that melody? Playing soft on old machines¡­" Someone was humming inside. Kai twisted the handle hurriedly. His movements became erratic as he struggled to get inside as fast as possible. The old door creaked open, silencing the sweet hum. And then, she stepped out of the kitchen. There she was. A ladle in one hand, the other resting on her hip, his mother stared at him with an annoyed expression. "Seriously, another game, Kai? Standing in line for hours? In this cold? When will you start eating and sleeping properly? You¡¯ve been doing this¡ª" Before she could finish, Kai ran toward her so fast he knocked over a vase¡ªbut he didn¡¯t even notice. His arms wrapped around her tightly. God, he had missed her. She felt like home. She was his only home. "Kai.. Sweetie, are you okay?" his mother muttered hesitantly, holding him as she patted his head. Kai let her go, but before she could step back, a few drops of his tears fell onto her hand. She looked up at him hurriedly. But Kai didn¡¯t meet her gaze. He didn¡¯t want her to see his face¡ªhis crying face. God.. he hadn¡¯t cried since.. Since junior school. "It¡¯s okay, Kai. There¡¯s nothing to worry about," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "No matter what it is, we can handle it together. I¡¯m here, baby." It was a voice she rarely used¡ªthe same one she had spoken in when his father died. When they had to sell their home and move into this smaller house, the only way to make ends meet. The voice she used to give him courage on his darkest days, even when she was the one who needed it the most. Kai had calmed down. Holding a cup of hot coffee, he sat on the couch while his mother rested in the sofa chair across from him. She didn¡¯t rush him, just waited patiently as he gathered himself. That was another thing he loved about her¡ªshe always knew when to get angry, when to hold him, and when to laugh his worries away. Back when he was first invited to the 10000-winner event, he hadn¡¯t known many people. Only now, after meeting all kinds of individuals, did he truly understand just how wonderful and amazing she was as a person. ¡°Now, tell me what happened.. Take your time.¡± Setting the empty mug aside, Kai hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. Slowly, he raised his hands and began to sign. ¡°It was nothing,¡± he insisted, though his movements were stiff. His fingers shifted, painting a picture of what had happened. ¡°I just saw some lady and a kid in the park..¡± His hands faltered midair, a deep breath catching in his chest before he finished, ¡°..and emotions just took over.¡± They were surrounded by technology¡ªelectronic devices, cameras, networks. He didn¡¯t want to say anything that those bastards could hear or see. Even if he could, would she even believe him? Maybe his knowledge of the future would be convincing enough. But this wasn¡¯t the time. And he had no idea if there ever would be a good time. Maybe this was all just a fever dream¡ªhis dying mind weaving one last illusion before the end? His mother watched him, her expression softening. She didn¡¯t respond right away, letting the silence settle between them. Then, she simply nodded. Even with the weight of the past¡ªor the future¡ªpressing down on him, his mood had improved tenfold just by seeing her. She could see it in his face and decided the matter wasn¡¯t urgent. Instead, she changed the subject. ¡°So, last week of winter holidays.. You really just want to stay in your room all day and play your games? Even Mimi was complaining yesterday on the phone that you don¡¯t spend enough time with her.¡± For a second, Kai blanked out. Mimi.. right. She was still his girlfriend. Well, technically. They had never really been a couple¡ªjust childhood friends. Then, one day, she had somehow ended up proposing to him. If he was being honest, it felt like she had just pitied his situation more than anything. Not being able to speak was genetic. He had learned to live with it early on, but every now and then, someone or something would remind him of what he lacked. Mimi had always been there through those moments. More than a friend, she was kind of his self-appointed caretaker. He had tried to be a good friend in return, but his situation had left much to be desired. Money had always been tight. His mother had found work as a cook at a nearby restaurant, managing to put him through junior and middle school. Kai had been smarter than most kids¡ªby the time he reached middle school, he was already buying simple, cheap games and speedrunning them. He recorded his playthroughs, uploaded them online, and found an audience. It was the simplest way he could think of to make money using his skills, without it being too physically demanding. His mother hadn¡¯t allowed him to do anything else. When he suggested taking odd jobs online or freelancing as an editor, she had strictly forbidden it and told him to focus on his studies. It had taken a couple of years, but his channel had finally taken off. He had played games day and night, balancing them with school, clearing title after title, and building his reputation. The day he earned real money and showed it to his mother, asking her to enter her bank details, the look on her face had been unforgettable. She hadn¡¯t been angry. She had understood. They used the money to pay off debts and buy better kitchen equipment so his mother could cook from home and hire a delivery person. There were plenty of food delivery services, and with her talent, it hadn¡¯t taken long for her business to take off. Kai had kept playing, kept saving, ensuring they had enough in case something happened. They had always talked about buying a bigger house¡ªwhile their little home was full of memories, it had its issues. It was getting harder to live in. Now, in his third year of high school, most of their financial struggles were gone. Even his mother only cooked on certain days¡ªhe had nagged her to take breaks, and she had finally agreed. They had enough savings to breathe a little easier. That was when the game had been released. He had bought a new VR set and had been eager to make his name in this game, too. His followers had been demanding he try a VRMMO. There were already many popular VRMMORPGs, but none stood out as the best¡ªeach had its strengths and weaknesses. Then, Nyxfall had dropped its trailers, showcasing gameplay that had shaken the internet. It had set a new standard for VR gaming. Half the world had been waiting for its launch. It wasn¡¯t like traditional VRMMORPGs, but the trailers hinted at MMO elements blended with survival mechanics and an immersive, thrilling Nyxfall story. And now, the game was in his hands. He knew every city, every spell, every technique from Nyxfall 6. But what the hell was this 7th installment? Did they clear Nyxfall 6 by defeating the Deimos Imperium? Was Phoenix_resurrect here, too? We Play Again ¡°Uhm.. I am going to do this..¡± Kai said, grabbing the game copy placed on the table. ¡°Hmph! Of course!¡± his mother huffed, pouting slightly. ¡°Well, do as you like. Just come down to eat on time..¡± Kai simply smiled and nodded. The house¡ªand even his messy room¡ªfelt so nostalgic. His school things and hundreds of games were scattered everywhere. The retro PS7, PS9, and NS5 consoles, which he had spent months gaming on, sat among the clutter. He really wanted to spend just one good, free day without touching any games¡ªbut he couldn¡¯t waste any time. Kai needed to know if the seventh part of the game in his hands was the same one he remembered or something different. A quick web search confirmed his suspicions: the sixth part of the game¡ªsupposed to be launched today, according to his memories¡ªhad already been released quite a while ago. The story, from what he could tell in snippets, seemed identical to the one he had played years ago. Yet, the player count and copies sold were barely 5% of what they had been back then. ¡®What kind of mind hex am I in?¡¯ Everything else was the same. The news about a new company buying the rights to make a VR version of the NYXFALL series was unchanged¡ªexcept now, they had bought six parts of the game instead of five. Kai exhaled and grabbed his VR headset, which he must have left charging before heading out to buy the game. He opened the game slot, took out the new chip, and inserted it. Lying back on his bed, Kai closed his eyes and flicked the switch on his headgear. The familiar sound of the VR headset booting up filled his ears. His mind went blank for a second, and after a few silent breaths, the white loading screen faded. His avatar materialized in the landing world of his choosing¡ªKilmarnock G7. To help players familiarize themselves with VR and provide a vast space for social interaction without buying any games, the most popular VR headset company¡ªN0AH¡ªhad created 17 landing planets, each with vast, empty landscapes of different biomes. If a player couldn¡¯t log off or encountered technical problems, official company support shops were set up on these planets to assist them. Of course, the various virtual shops¡ªbuilt in the weirdest styles¡ªwere scattered throughout these planets as well. Every VR game had its own dedicated zone, where players could jump into a portal to access it¡ªbut only after purchasing the game. A digital version existed, but Kai preferred physical copies. Well.. the old Kai did, at least. It was time-consuming, but this was the best way to meet famous players and engage with the game¡¯s community. Different games had different time dilations, which made it somewhat manageable for players to indulge without feeling like they were wasting too much time. NYXFALL 6, for example, had a 1:5 time ratio¡ªone real-world hour equaled five in-game hours. For those who wanted to skip the hassle, purchased games could be set as default destinations, allowing players to jump straight into them. However, they still had to enter the VR landing world first. Each player¡¯s game portal could be placed anywhere across the 17 planets, and only the owner could access it¡ªeliminating any risk of theft. For convenience, Kai placed his portal right at the player loading zone, like many others. Thousands of people crowded the platform most likely playing the same game-the marketing team was on fire for this game that much he remembered. Surrounded by towering mall-like structures with massive neon signs. The shops here sold all kinds of items that could also be purchased online. Business was booming, and the plots near the player landing zones were worth millions of Extols. Without paying much attention to his surroundings, Kai stepped into his portal and started the game. The portal took him to a breathtakingly surreal place¡ªhe stood on crystal-clear water, bathed in the red glow of a setting sun. The sky was scarlet, and three moons hung above. Kai remembered this place. It was the so-called "Afterlife" zone in NYXFALL games, where players were sent after dying. Here, they had to wait out their respawn penalty before re-entering the game. This was the first NYXFALL title to be fully VR-compatible, allowing fans to truly experience the landscapes they had only seen on flat screens and holograms before. Kai recalled how hyped the community had been about it back then.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. A prompt appeared: Enter Name: Kai typed the first thing that came to mind: Renatus_Kai. It was a word from a dead language¡ªLatin. It meant reborn. Kai had read about it once and found Latin words fascinating, like incantations for magic. It suited his situation perfectly. Skipping the avatar customization, he kept the same look he used for landing planets¡ªhis real 3D image, but more refined, fitter, taller, and with better hair. He looked more alive here than he did in real life. Then, another screen appeared with a new feature: Select Path: Kai knew the story of the first six parts of the NYXFALL series, so he immediately recognized the Stonebinders¡ªthe name given to humans with magical powers in the world of NYXFALL. He also vaguely remembered hearing about the Exodians before. Someone had mentioned them once.. but it hadn¡¯t been a human. That was all he could recall from that conversation. Where was the class selection screen? Were these three options supposed to be the classes? No, that didn¡¯t make sense. The Stonebinders alone had four classes, with multiple branching paths within them. And there used to be an option to play from the enemy side as well. The game was already diverging from what he remembered. Given his extensive knowledge of Stonebinders and the mechanics of NYXFALL VR, Kai figured that would be the safest choice. But another name stood out to him¡ªNexus Kin. The clan Deimos Imperium came from was called Nexus Kin.. What should he do? At the end of the day, the premise of the game had always been about selecting a few of the best players and inviting them to the real thing. If that hadn¡¯t changed, then the path he chose now wouldn¡¯t matter too much. Kai made his decision. He selected Nexus Kin. The Deimos Imperium had an enormous advantage thanks to his race¡¯s unique abilities. If this path referred to that, he would have a solid edge right from the start. As soon as he confirmed his selection, Kai¡¯s vision went pitch black. His avatar dissolved into particles, and after a brief moment, he found himself somewhere entirely different. He recognized this feeling¡ªthis was exactly how it felt every time he died in NYXFALL 6 and re-entered the game. *** "Renatus_Kai, wake up now.. I told you yesterday, didn¡¯t I? We have a long day ahead of us today." A deep, steady voice spoke as a middle-aged, bearded man looked down at him. "If we don¡¯t leave before sunrise, we¡¯ll miss the herd of Chwinpakas." Above the man''s head, two glowing green words hovered: Uncle Liam. Green words.. NPC. So, the initial framework was still the same. But this starting point¡ªthis was entirely different. Not a single class option in NYXFALL 6 had ever begun with this sequence. This confirmed it. This wasn¡¯t just a slightly different version of the game he had played in the past. This was a completely different game. The real question was: how much of his old knowledge would still be useful here? And if this game had changed.. What else would in the future? Kai sat up, taking in his surroundings. The hut¡¯s interior was eerily real. Unlike typical games where certain objects looked artificial, everything here had substance. Every single item could be touched, lifted, and even smelled. The weight and texture of objects were just as they would be in reality. Of course, Kai knew none of this was real. The VR technology used by N0AH was leagues ahead of anything else. They called it Neuro-Projection and Implementation Technology¡ªa method that didn¡¯t rely on traditional game coding. Most VR games, no matter how advanced, always had an artificial feel. But N0AH had bypassed that limitation. Instead of using standard programming languages, they coded directly into nanobots¡ªeach containing a supercomputer in itself. Upon activation, the VR headset released these nanobots into a player''s system. They worked at a neural level, transmitting signals that tricked the brain into perceiving a fully immersive, hyper-detailed world. Every texture, every sound, every sensation was replicated flawlessly. Originally, this technology had been developed as a medical therapy to treat psychological blocks. But once its entertainment potential became clear, it was adapted to create the world¡¯s first truly realistic virtual experience. NYXFALL was unlike other games with graphics¡ªthere was nothing discernible in its atmosphere to indicate it wasn¡¯t reality. Like a movie one could step into and exist within. Of course, it hadn¡¯t been perfect at first. The early days were plagued with issues, but over the past 38 years since its initial release, the technology had been perfected. Even so, there were still limitations¡ªparticularly in the nanobot coding and real life recording process. As of now, only NYXFALL had fully utilized this technology to its maximum potential. And that was only because of The Beyonders¡ªthe real masterminds behind the game¡¯s sudden leap in quality, making it almost too good to be true. Kai watched as Uncle Liam walked outside the hut, leaving him alone. The game has now truly begun. The True VR Experience Kai observed everything inside the hut carefully. The game had begun, and many had likely already started playing. But while it was just a game for others, for Kai, it was the foundation of the character he would use if he ever decided to take on the real thing one day. The hut contained nothing beyond the simple belongings one might expect from a hunter in a bygone era¡ªanimal pelts hanging from the walls, a worn-out bow and a quiver of arrows resting in the corner, clay pots and wooden bowls stacked on a small shelf, a stone hearth with faint embers still glowing, a crude bed made of straw and animal hides on which Kai was seated, a hunting knife embedded in a chopping block, bundles of dried herbs tied together with twine, and a water jug with a ladle placed near the entrance. Kai stood up, took the knife, and tucked it inside his simple villager''s clothes. Then, he picked up the bow and quiver. Deimos Emporium had hard, blackened skin and shiny scales, and Kai had expected his character''s appearance to change based on his chosen path. But he was relieved to see that wasn''t the case¡ªhe was still very much human. There was no reflective surface to see himself in full, but from what he could tell, there were no alien features on him. Before stepping outside, Kai searched the hut again, this time more thoroughly. He knocked on surfaces, listened closely with his ear to the ground, and checked for hidden compartments. His efforts were rewarded¡ªa hidden wooden sword lay inside one of the jars. It was small, like a child''s toy, but in this game, appearances were often deceiving. As soon as Kai picked up the wooden sword, a window popped up: [Hidden Item Discovered!] Name: Worn Wooden Sword Type: ??? Durability: 15/15 Effect: Unknown Description: A simple wooden sword, roughly carved and small enough for a child to wield. However, something about it feels... off. Just as Kai was about to dismiss the window, another one appeared immediately after: [Hidden Quest Unlocked!] Quest Name: Echoes of the First Blade Difficulty: ??? Objective: ??? Reward: ??? A smile broke across Kai''s lips. They might have changed the game, but the knowledge he had gained from playing the previous version based on the same technology couldn''t be taken from him. At its core, the Nyxfall series was a game of choice¡ªstunning visuals, beautiful, movie-level storytelling. But unlike old retro games that only presented two or three predetermined options, Nyxfall had evolved. The earlier entries, Nyxfall 1 to 3, followed that limited format, but the fourth installment, released on holos, introduced more choices¡ªstill restricted, but far broader. The major shift in Nyxfall 4 had divided the community, bringing in new players while alienating some old ones. The fifth game was more of an extension of the fourth, introducing new mechanics, but Nyxfall 6¡ªthat was the true culmination of everything before it. It brought both old and new fans together in a single, breathtaking conclusion. With its incredible VR visuals, it was a near-perfect game. Kai hadn''t looked too deeply into this timeline''s version of the sixth installment, but in the one he had played, the rigid text-based choices were removed entirely. Every action a player took became a choice in itself. The main story remained the same for everyone, but the subtle decisions players made had huge, often unexpected, results in their character build. The game gathered data in real-time, implementing changes instantly. Back then, everyone had been in awe of how fast the developers worked, but now Kai knew the truth¡ªit wasn''t the developers at all. It was the Beyonders, ever-hungry for entertainment, never missing an opportunity to create it for themselves. Some main events in the game were the same for everyone, but occasionally, an unexpected choice would unveil crucial information, a powerful weapon, a rare relic, or an item of such immense value that a single player could become a greater threat than any monster in the game. He recalled one of his friends who had played the game half-heartedly, just for his fans, making all the worst possible choices. By sheer chance, he had unlocked a unique quest that granted him one of the most distinctive character builds on the server. As a reward, he had received a magical giant pet frog¡ªan absurd but powerful companion that later became the symbol of his guild''s banner. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.Had he kept the discovery to himself, he would have been the only owner of that pet. But after sharing his gameplay online, players who came after him could follow in his footsteps and unlock the same quest. However, since the story progressed in real time, older players who had already moved past that part of the game couldn''t go back and do the same. For the first time in the Nyxfall series, MMO elements had been introduced. In Nyxfall 6, players could access the multiplayer area only after completing their initial storylines, reaching level 50, and completing a class heritage quest. Only then could they leave their beginner regions and enter the main hub where all players gathered. Kai wondered if Nyxfall 7 followed the same structure. One thing was certain¡ªhe couldn''t take anything lightly in this game. If he wanted a solid character build, he had to play to the very best of his abilities. Storing the small wooden sword in his inventory, Kai finally stepped out of the hut. And instantly, he was hit by a wave of mind-blowingly stunning visuals. The hut he emerged from was connected to a larger one beside it, situated on a slight elevation above the rest of the village. Below, a beautiful settlement spread out before him, filled with huts and wooden buildings of various shapes and sizes. A soft mist blanketed the village, the early morning haze lending an enchanting serenity to the scene. Few villagers moved about their business in the distance, their figures shifting through the fog. The settlement looked like an ordinary rural village, nestled in a sparse forest with an average-sized river running through it. The village occupied one side of a hill, while the other side was packed with dense woods. In the far distance, massive green mountains with white-peaked summits loomed over the horizon. "Come on now! We need to hurry¡­" the man waiting for him urged again. A thought crossed Kai''s mind¡ªhe could wander around the village for a bit, but the story seemed to be pushing him into another scenario. If he stayed behind or chose not to follow, it would count as one of his choices, causing the story to diverge slightly right from the start. Based on his previous experience, Kai knew better than to skip the tutorial-like beginning of the story. If Nyxfall 7 had any new features, he would miss them if he made the wrong choice here. Kai quickly opened the game settings and switched the voice option from manual to neural thought projection. One of the biggest reasons he had been so hyped for the VR version of this game in the past was its neural technology. For someone like him, who had never been able to speak in the real world, this world¡ªso eerily similar to reality¡ªactually gave him a voice. It wasn''t easy to control one''s thoughts; players had to train themselves not to accidentally broadcast their first impulsive idea. But Kai had mastered the process long ago. He was probably the only true expert in neural thought projection on Earth''s server. Some telepathic alien species might be better at it, but they didn''t have nearly the same vocabulary as Earth''s chatty, social creatures. Kai formed a thought, and his avatar spoke aloud: "Is this really so important, Uncle Liam?" The NPC''s face twisted in exasperation, his expression as lifelike as any real person''s. "Wasn''t it you who begged me to take you hunting so you could train for your upcoming Slenshalan?" "What is Slenshalan?" Kai asked, trying to gather as much information about his situation as possible. The man gave him a bewildered look. "Is this some kind of joke, Renatus_Kai?" Then, shaking his head, he added, "It''s the coming-of-age ritual for kids reaching manhood¡ªthe same one you''ve been nagging your family about for the past five years. This is finally the year you''ll participate and make a name for yourself, so you can get a good job." Then, squinting at Kai, Uncle Liam added with a teasing smirk, "Seeing you acting like such a brat, cracking jokes about it¡­ Maybe you''re not as ready as your aunt says you are." Were NPCs always this sassy? His first playthrough had been so long ago that Kai barely remembered how conversations with them usually played out. For now, he needed to come up with an excuse. "Of course, I know that, Uncle. I was asking what it means for our people¡ªyou know, the deeper meaning and all that¡­" Kai tried spinning it into some philosophical nonsense. The NPC smiled, patted his shoulder, and started dragging him along toward the forest in the distance. "Oh! It''s like that! Why didn''t you say so earlier? It all started hundreds of years ago when¡­" Pro Hunting Kai was dragged along by the NPC uncle of his character into the nearby forest. From their conversations, he had grasped tidbits about his situation. They were going to hunt the rare Chwinpakas, creatures seen only once every season. His character was an orphan, and since his uncle and aunt had no children of their own, they had raised him as their son. He was tasked with basic movement exercises¡ªwalking, sprinting, jumping¡ªall the usual tutorial mechanics to get him accustomed to the game. But Kai already knew all of that and had mastered them to the best of his abilities. Some tasks rewarded him with simple materials, like additional arrows or herbs that restored HP. The wooden toy sword he had obtained wasn''t a real weapon, he tested it. The only weapon he had right now was a bow¡ªthe most basic one he had ever used. Nyxfall 6 had a class that used bows, but Kai had never played it before. He had always been a close-range melee Stonebinder Mage-Swordsman hybrid. Still, the target practice between tasks helped him accumulate experience with the bow. If he had to guess, he would need to grind through the early levels in this region before he was strong enough to leave. Technically, he could leave right now¡ªthere were no movement restrictions¡ªbut staying was the smarter choice. The village offered more opportunities for quests, leveling, and loot than the massive forest surrounding them. He had already heard unsettling voices echoing from the depths of the forest¡ªdangerous and eerie. Even though this was just a game and revival was guaranteed, the sound still made his skin crawl. The nanobots, however, made the game so realistic that it was hard to remind himself that this wasn''t reality. The system interface in his view helped with that. Another detail had appeared on his screen since the NPC had mentioned the Slenshalan event: [Time until Slenshalan: 167:20:39] The event was in a week. It was universal¡ªwhether he was online or not, it would happen. Such events always came with great rewards, and Kai had no intention of missing out. He also needed to prepare in case he was up against other players instead of NPCs. That was a possibility. For human players, this was just a game, but aliens, who were likely mixed into the player base, weren''t here just to play. He confirmed that the game was cross-species by checking the leader-board names in his system, there were two: [The Human Server''s Leaderboard] [Common Leaderboard] That was the same as last time. People had assumed it referred to humans and different races within the game, but that wasn''t the case. "Be prepared and use light steps. We''re getting close..." Uncle Liam warned once they were far from the village, having walked for about an hour. Kai couldn''t see or hear anything unusual, but he trusted the hunter NPC''s instincts. He dug deep into all his stealth knowledge, keeping his bow ready. His quiver was well-stocked with arrows from the tasks he had completed. Suddenly, a notification flashed across his screen: [Story Progression: First Chapter - The Beginning Crash 5%] [Skill Points Rewarded: 3] ''Ah! The skill system is the same... Nice!'' If he displayed expert movement patterns and successfully executed them¡ªfulfilling the game''s hidden conditions¡ªhe would gain the option to acquire those movements as permanent skills. That way, he wouldn''t have to manually perform them every time; the system would automate the execution with flawless precision. Not to mention they remained with the player even offline when they were invited to play the game for real. However, learning skills required Skill Points (SP), and different skills had different costs. A beginner character in Nyxfall 6 could only hold two specific skills at a time. The skills a player chose also affected what kind of quests they could unlock later. Needless to say, skill selection was crucial for building a strong character. The best way to learn skills, however, was to... Kai silently followed his NPC uncle, mimicking his every movement and trying to understand why he moved the way he did. At first, he just copied the motions¡ªcrouch, touch, scan. But the more he moved, the more he understood. The hunter''s pace, the way he avoided stepping on prints, the way his eyes flicked between details. It wasn''t about looking harder¡ªit was about seeing. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.His knees ached from crouching, but he stayed low, mirroring the hunter''s movements. He pressed his fingers into the dirt, feeling the weight left behind by whatever had passed through. The hunter wasn''t watching him, just moving. He had to keep up. A snapped branch ahead made him shift his path instinctively. Moving like the hunter¡ªlow, slow, careful. Small details he would''ve missed before now stood out. He adjusted his steps, walking beside the prints instead of on them. After twenty minutes of shadowing the hunter, a notification popped up: [Skill Available: Tracking] [Learn (2 SP)] There it was. Kai didn''t rush to learn it. Instead, he continued studying every single movement of the middle-aged hunter NPC. He followed the hunter''s steps carefully, placing his feet heel-to-toe, rolling them down slowly. Each shift in weight had to be controlled¡ªno sudden movements, no crunching leaves. His breath stayed steady, his body low. A snapped twig underfoot earned him a sharp glance. Too loud. He exhaled, adjusted, and tried again. At last, Kai saw what the NPC had been tracking for the past half hour. Hidden behind a bush, they peeked through the foliage, staying downwind from the herd. The creatures moved in an awkward, jerky rhythm, their clawed feet scratching at the dirt as they foraged. Their bodies were a bizarre fusion¡ªfeathered torsos like oversized, scruffy turkeys, but with long, sinewy arms ending in dexterous fingers that plucked at the ground. Their heads were small and twitchy, with beady eyes darting in every direction. Their hooked beaks clacked softly as they muttered strange, guttural noises. "Use your bow..." Uncle Liam whispered. Kai nodded, following the hunter''s lead as he adjusted his bow and nocked an arrow. He had practiced the motion quite a bit, yet the difference between his skill and the hunter''s was like the gap between the heaven and the earth. "Now!" the NPC commanded, moving without hesitation¡ªnock, pull, release. The arrow flew before the string''s hum faded. No wasted motion, no second-guessing. In one breath, he was already reaching for the next shot, his hands a blur of practiced efficiency. Kai''s fingers fumbled with the arrow, his movements still clumsy. The hunter made it look effortless¡ªnock, pull, release¡ªall in one smooth motion. His shot missed. He tried again. This time, he focused¡ªfingers steady, breath controlled. The arrow slid into place, the bowstring tensed, and in a blink, it was gone. Faster. Not perfect, but better. The herd scattered within seconds of the first arrow''s release. The NPC had already downed three. Kai barely injured one and had to chase it for several minutes before getting another shot. [2 Levels Gained.] [Loot Available: Twisted Talon (Common) Echoing Core (Rare, Magic-infused) Chwinpakas Meat (Common)] When the beast finally died, another string of notifications filled Kai''s screen. [Skill Available: Silent Movement] [Learn (1 SP)] [Skill Available: Quick Draw] [Learn (1 SP)] "That was quite good for your first time," the NPC said, standing next to Kai. "You copied my movements¡ªthat was smart thinking. You always played around in the village. I didn''t know you had such talent for hunting." [Achievement Unlocked: First Blood.] Kai simply nodded, focusing on the skills he had unlocked. Skill points were rarely awarded by quests. In Nyxfall 6, there was a 50-point limit, even if a player reached max level and completed every quest. Yet, barely any character had ever reached that cap. The highest known skill point count among professional players was only 37. Kai himself had only 35 on his level 100 character. He wouldn''t waste them¡ªbut without acquiring skills, he wouldn''t be able to perform at his best either. Before the Slenshalan event started, Kai needed to level his character as much as possible if he wanted to win. Before he could decide which skill to choose, an earth-shaking boom echoed in the distance. Something massive streaked across the clear blue sky, crashing violently near the village. Smoke billowed into the air. The impact was so loud that Kai winced, covering his ears. ''The hell is happening? A hidden boss monster appeared or something?'' The Nexus Kin Kai hurriedly moved to higher ground after gathering all the loot, his eyes fixed on the smoke rising from the crash site. It was near the village, but not too close¡ªyet from where they stood in the forest, it seemed just as near. He had to check it out. It could be the start of an interesting quest. Without hesitation, he made a run for it. ¡°Renatus_Kai! Don¡¯t! It¡¯s not safe out here!¡± his NPC uncle shouted behind him, but Kai didn¡¯t care. Of course, it wasn¡¯t safe¡ªit was a freaking jungle. He sprinted past weird-looking animals and suspiciously colorful trees and plants. This place was anything but normal. But he didn¡¯t have time to explore. The crash. He recalled the story progression notification¡ªit had called this first chapter The Beginning Crash. At first, Kai assumed it referred to his character¡¯s arrival. But now, it seemed far more likely that it was about whatever had crashed into the village. He hadn¡¯t seen any other players yet, but if they were in the village and reached the crash site before him, they might claim the opportunity first. Since the story in Nyxfall 6 followed a fixed timeline, each character''s starting point had only a limited number of players who chose the same class around that period. As a result, this beginner village should have relatively few players at this point in time. A shared zone where players from all timelines could interact only became accessible once the story reached a stage that allowed for their convergence. From about 700 meters away, Kai spotted a small crowd gathered near a crater in the middle of a lush green meadow. But they were... colorful. Most appeared humanoid, yet their features were anything but ordinary. Some had glowing arms, others sported twin, whip-like tails, and a few had tiny mouths with bright, whisker-like appendages. Some faces looked entirely alien, yet everyone acted as if this was the most natural thing in the world. This wasn¡¯t a human village. Who the hell were the Nexus Kin? And what kind of story had he been dropped into within the Nyxfall universe? In short, Nyxfall 6: Dark End had a straightforward premise¡ªvarious factions of Stonebinder superhumans uniting to defend their planet from an invading alien species. These creatures, known as the Followers of the Dark One, possessed eerie, dark humanoid features. The game''s grand finale was meant to be the climactic battle where both protagonists and antagonists set aside their differences to face this looming threat together. But before the war could end, the Selection Event was launched. Players had received offline invitations, only to be transported into the real-world version of the Stonebinders¡¯ planet¡ªwhere they were expected to play their characters for real. Except, in real life, the alien invasion never happened. No one knew why. Instead, all the different species from across the galaxy had turned against each other, waging war to "win" the game. There were no rules. No structure. Just pure, unrelenting chaos. As Kai neared the crowd, he could hear them murmuring¡ªstrange, distorted voices speaking in countless different tongues. ¡°Another one¡­¡± ¡°Poor thing¡­¡± ¡°Did anyone inform the chief?¡± ¡°Is it okay? Do we need Leisha?¡± Is this a daily occurrence? They didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. Yet, even as Kai approached the center of the crater, no notification appeared. No quest prompt. He peered over the gathered villagers, looking at the object that had drawn them in. It was a high-tech capsule¡ªsimilar to the ones Kai had seen in space shuttle videos, where astronauts entered cold sleep to traverse vast distances without aging. A man with four arms¡ªtwo resembling normal human limbs and the other two a deep shade of purple¡ªwas struggling to pry open the lid with considerable force. Strangely enough, there was a square panel on the side clearly labeled: Touch here to open.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Kai had no idea what was going on, but he was already too intrigued to walk away. So, he spoke up. ¡°Uhm¡­ Elders!¡± Kai called out hesitantly. Some of them turned toward him. Their normal eyes showed recognition¡ªthough it was harder to tell with the alien ones. A few even smiled at him. Encouraged, he continued, ¡°I think touching the panel on the side opens it..¡± The four-armed man frowned. ¡°What do you mean? I am touching it, ain¡¯t I?¡± Kai sighed and decided to do it himself. Stepping closer, he placed his open palm against the square panel. A faint hum rippled through the air. The glass-like surface flickered, and with a soft hiss, the capsule¡¯s seal broke. As the lid lifted, it revealed a tiny form inside¡ªa hybrid of human and alien, its features an uncanny blend of the familiar and the unknown. The infant had red skin, striking yellow eyes, and four fingers on each hand instead of five. Aside from that, he looked almost like a normal human baby. ¡°Ah! He¡¯s so adorable and healthy!¡± a woman in simple robes exclaimed. One by one, the gathered elders began praising the child. An elderly woman even scooped him up into her arms, cooing softly as she spoke to him. Kai stared, baffled. This was not the reaction he expected. An alien baby had just fallen from the sky.. and everyone was acting like it was the most normal thing in the world. Before Kai could even think, he sensed something shifting in his surroundings¡ªan unsettling change he couldn''t quite place. Then, it hit him. Darkness. The entire village, the hill it rested on, and even the surrounding landscape had been swallowed by an unnatural shadow, the morning fog was long gone. He hadn''t noticed it at first, distracted by the capsule¡¯s blinking lights. But now that he had, the sheer scale of the phenomenon made his stomach drop. Slowly, he tilted his head upward. A city loomed above him. No¡ªan island. A colossal landmass, suspended in the sky. Its surface pulsed with alien circuitry, neon veins of energy weaving through impossibly intricate architecture. Towering monoliths of obsidian-like metal stretched toward the heavens, their surfaces lined with shifting holographic symbols. Strange aerial crafts zipped between the towering spires, leaving behind streaks of luminescent vapor. And beneath it all.. real land. Dirt, stone¡ªearth. As if the city had once belonged below, only to rise into the sky and never return. A deep, thrumming hum filled the air, the vibration settling into his very bones. This wasn¡¯t just a floating city. This was something beyond human comprehension¡ªan alien megastructure defying the laws of nature themselves. The difference between the village below and the technology above was like heaven and earth. "What in the hell is that?" Kai blurted out before he could stop himself. "That is not proper language, Renatus_Kai. Have you never seen the Exodian city before?" A woman chastised him from the side. "Exodian city?" Kai echoed, turning to her. "Yes. Didn''t your uncle and aunt ever tell you where our ancestors came from? Just like this baby, many of us were sent down here to live," she replied. Kai hesitated before asking, "What does Nexus Kin mean?" He already had a suspicion, but he needed confirmation. "Nexus Kin are all of us.. We are the cross between the Exodians and the Stonebinders. Neither loved by the sky nor the land," she said, her tone growing melancholic. She gave him a small nod to signal the conversation¡¯s end before walking out of the crater, following the four-armed man and the other villagers as they carried the baby toward the village. Nearby, some men were still clustered around the pod¡ªcapsule, whatever it was¡ªprying at its surface, trying to dismantle it for salvage. They worked with urgency, eager to claim whatever parts they could. Kai''s mind raced. What in the hell had happened to the world of the Stonebinders? Where were they? If the Nexus Kin were the offspring of Stonebinders and these so-called Exodians, then that meant the Stonebinders were still alive,, They were the native population. And the Exodians¡ªan alien species. But was this the past or the present? Was this even the same planet as the Stonebinders'' homeworld? Lost in thought, Kai climbed out of the crater, only to find more people approaching¡ªvillagers, running or walking toward the scene. Almost all of them had green names hovering above their heads, marking them as NPCs. But then, he spotted something unusual. A name¡ªnot green, but dark blue. Just like his. Another player. Kai''s gaze snapped toward the avatar. It was humanoid, similar in build to his own, but distinctly different. A girl. Her skin was pitch black, contrasting sharply with her stark white hair. She wore simple villager¡¯s clothes, yet something about the way she stood¡ªthe pride in her posture, the intensity in her large eyes¡ªfelt strangely familiar. She also noticed him and started staring at him. He ignored her alien features and focused on the name hovering above her head. And when he read it, Kai froze. Stunned. Confused. More so than he had been before. It read, Deimos Emperium Lv.2. Deimos Emperium His biggest adversary? The man he had dedicated half his youth to killing was standing right in front of him¡ªexcept it wasn¡¯t a man at all. It was a girl. Hold on. Could this be a trick of the Beyonders? A way to test whether anyone remembered the previous version of the timeline? Kai forced himself to stay calm, acting as if he hadn''t noticed her at all. With careful effort, he adjusted his movements and slowly walked away from the path of the oncoming NPCs and players. Still, his mind raced at full speed. Could she really be the same person? He was a Nexus Kin, that much was certain. But was this his origin story? No, that couldn¡¯t be right. He had always been a player, both in this world and the last. The girl¡ªthe one carrying the name of the most heinous character in the entire game¡ªignored him completely, stepping into the crater to examine whatever lay inside. It couldn¡¯t be her. Could it? The thought gnawed at Kai, refusing to let go. He took a moment to scan the area. There were plenty of other players around¡ªhe counted 27 already near him, with more still arriving. The village itself was modest, a cluster of small huts and wooden structures scattered across the hillside, but it was bigger than one might realize, their interiors dimly lit by the early morning sun. Predictably, the human players had already begun their usual antics¡ªthe kind of reckless behavior that had made their species infamous across the galaxy. It was well-known that humans, no matter the game, always acted like lunatics. This was why the entire galaxy had long since concluded that humans had no idea what they were doing. Even now, some were punching civilians or kicking the steel-and-glass capsule that had just crashed. Of course, the NPCs didn¡¯t tolerate this behavior and swiftly punished the troublemakers. It didn¡¯t take long for the rest of the humans to learn their lesson. Despite the chaos, they were still chatting excitedly in the open proximity chat. Among them, alien players stood out¡ªnot just by their cautious silence but also by their mannerisms. Unlike humans, their movements were too deliberate, too precise to be natural. Many had customized their avatars to resemble their native species, making them easy to recognize. Kai spotted several familiar forms but made no effort to engage. Back when Nyxfall 6 was at its peak on the internet, these same players had been dismissed as part of a bizarre online cult. Their tendency to group together in the same guilds only reinforced the rumors. Nobody had ever suspected the truth¡ªthat they were actual aliens. They weren¡¯t allowed to reveal information about their civilizations, and whenever they tried, the game beeped out their words. This censorship had only deepened the mystery surrounding them. Kai shook off the distraction and refocused. He couldn¡¯t let go of his suspicion. He trailed after the black-skinned girl, keeping his distance. When she found nothing of interest in the crater, she turned and headed straight back to the village. Kai followed as stealthily as he could. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you listen when I told you not to go?¡± a woman with slightly alien features¡ªher green hands gesturing sharply¡ªreprimanded the girl. Kai crouched behind their hut, listening in. From their conversation, he gathered that the girl was supposed to be the woman¡¯s daughter. The NPC had been teaching her something important when she had abruptly run off after hearing the crash. The situation was the same as his. But the way the girl responded to the NPC.. it felt practiced. Experienced. Just like him, she was mirroring her habits, asking questions to gather as much information as possible. Kai peered through a gap in the hut¡¯s straw walls. After the lecture, the motherly NPC was now demonstrating a breathing technique¡ªone that appeared to conserve stamina. She moved with deliberate precision, her posture relaxed yet firm. A faint glow pulsed around her, syncing with each inhale and exhale. ¡°You mustn¡¯t waste your energy,¡± she murmured, her voice calm. ¡°Breathe with purpose, and your body will endure far more than you realize.¡± Kai leaned in for a closer look¡ªtoo far. A strange, squirrel-like creature with blue fur darted past him. Startled, he reflexively shifted his foot, rustling the dry straw beneath him. The sound made both the girl and her mother pause mid-conversation. ¡®Shit.¡¯ Kai knew he had messed up. Without hesitation, he backed away, slipping between the huts as quietly as possible. The huts here were much closer together than the one he belonged to at the village¡¯s outskirts, making it easier to hide. Once at a safe distance, he exhaled, forcing himself to think.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. He hadn¡¯t learned anything concrete¡ªonly that she was an experienced player. That shouldn¡¯t be possible. The game was brand new in this timeline. It had launched today. Which meant there was a real chance she was The Deimos Empirium. The same enemy he had fought in his past life. The one he had died after killing. And if she was here, then Phoenix_Resurrect should be here too. Kai didn¡¯t know her real name, but he prayed she had kept her original gaming ID. If she was also back¡ªwith her memories intact¡ªthen had he made a mistake by not using his old name? His appearance was similar enough, he supposed. But if he was in a Nexus Kin village, he clearly wasn¡¯t a normal human. He needed a mirror. Or a lake. Something to see his reflection. If she had changed her name.. No, there was still hope. She didn¡¯t know his full name. But she did know Kai. That should be enough. As for Deimos Empirium, he¡ªor she¡ªdidn¡¯t know it was Kai who had delivered the final blow to their last avatar. Maybe he could use that to his advantage. Still, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this might all be a trick. Could the Beyonders also retain their memories? If not, then this reincarnation, this second chance¡ªwhatever it was¡ªwasn¡¯t their doing. There were too many things Kai didn¡¯t know yet. Before doing anything reckless, he needed to be absolutely sure. If others like him were also playing this game with their past memories, he had no time to mess around. Anyone could alter the timeline in ways he couldn¡¯t predict. He had to be better than all of them¡ªhe had to shape the timeline according to his will. Kai strolled through the village, observing and casually greeting the villagers he passed. Of course, it was all in the hopes of finding a quest. He did receive some small rewards¡ªstrange fruits, minor errands, and the occasional request to fetch something trivial. He completed them all without hesitation; everything took place within the village, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal. There were no visible stats for familiarity or reputation with NPCs, but Kai knew these things mattered. Especially not killing NPCs¡ªthat was the biggest mistake a player could make. Murdering even a single villager instantly marked one as a criminal-Of course only if it was witnessed by others, still the civilian will be missing and it will raise suspicioun, if caught permanently barring them from cities and settlements. Worse, high-leveled civilian fighters and law-abiding soldiers would actively hunt them down. Sure, there were ways to level up through infamy, gaining access to unique quests and hidden mechanics, but it was a brutal path¡ªone Kai wasn¡¯t interested in. Not when he knew that, if chosen for the offline event, he¡¯d be meeting these NPC-like characters for real. It was better to study them properly now, to learn how they operated. These weren¡¯t just mindless game scripts; every important line of dialogue had real human data behind it. ¡°I told you not to go, didn¡¯t I?¡± Uncle Liam¡¯s voice snapped Kai from his thoughts as the old man berated him for two minutes straight once he was back at his hut¡ªalmost exactly like that woman had scolded Deimos. Kai supposed he deserved it. He had left the guy to carry two Chwinpakas home alone, after all. As punishment, Uncle Liam sent him to handle chores around the house and backyard, but at least the work came with rewards¡ªbasic items that would prove useful later. Before he knew it, night had fallen. After dinner, Kai was finally left alone in his small hut. He used the opportunity to immediately slip out toward the forest. He had wanted to do this since the beginning, but staying put had seemed wiser¡ªwho knew what important lessons or events he might have missed in the village? Now that the day was over, though, there was no reason to delay. No matter what was going on in this game and timeline, he needed to get stronger. Maybe others had returned, and maybe he could find them. But he had to be ready to do this alone if necessary. Would he still walk into that government room, the one where they had been invited by the Beyonders, knowing where they would end up? No. This game¡¯s title was Nyxfall 7: The Veilbreakers. Assuming Veilbreakers referred to people who retained memories of the past¡ªlike him and Deimos¡ªthen there couldn¡¯t be just two of them. If others were here, they could handle the bigger picture. Kai didn¡¯t have to involve himself. He could just focus on doing his best in the game, giving humans the best chance at survival and not go. He could not lose his mother again. Who knew what had happened on Earth after they had been gone for over seven years? But he couldn¡¯t just relax and hope things would work out. He had to be prepared for any situation. Kai unslung his bow, keeping the small wooden toy sword ready as well¡ªjust in case this triggered a quest. Then, he began hunting. He had seen plenty of beasts in the morning, roaming the vast forest beyond the village. He knew they were out there. The atmosphere was eerie, but in the end, this was still just a game. He can always revive. Far less terrifying than what he had faced in real life.