2022-11-21 23:22:39The surrounding lights changed, and Jason felt the warmth of the newborn sun.
Even before he got used to the environment, his body stiffened. He felt the slight traces of magical energy or mana brushing against his skin.
‘Huff… Huff….’
He gasped for air, trying to calm his mind. The feeling was from the atmosphere he lived in for thirty years. It made him instantly feel like a fish out of water because his ending in the past life wasn’t the one he expected to have.
The surroundings became clear to him, and he wasn’t alone. There were many others and more and more lights flashed in the surroundings as more people appeared around them.
‘So, is this how players come here?’
He looked at his clothing. It was an off-white shirt and pants. It was similar to everyone else. Men and women both wore identical clothing, but they all had different skin tones and hair. He even saw several coloured hairs among the group.
“Huh? Are we all players? How are we going to identify players? There are no markings?”
“Wow! This is so realistic.”
“Wait! Are you using Mandarin? You are so fluent.”
“I thought you speak English.”
…
Almost everyone looked excited and started to talk and walk around. The lights kept flashing around them.
Jason noticed the few figures in front of him that were trying to observe and keep their calm.
‘They must know the truth.’
It would have been impossible to keep their calm in such a realistic experience unless they were super calm or had an idea that this wasn’t exactly a game.
Jason started to observe the surroundings, trying to grasp the situation.
They were in an open area surrounded by a palisade wall. There was an opening on the wall to the direction he was facing, and it opened to a stone paved road with stone buildings on the other side.
It was the typical material used in constructions in Yuriel.
There was a time slot given for each player to enter the game, stating that too many players at the same time could overflow the server. However, Jason guessed the real reason behind these time slots.
Different parts of Yuriel had different time zones, just like on Earth. If everyone entered at the same time, they would come at night for some part of Yuriel, while others would be there at different hours.
…
“Alright. Everyone calm down.”
A man who had a thick brown beard and shoulder-length hair appeared in the opening of the wall. He looked about forty years old and had a strong build. A pair of sharp brown eyes observed everyone. His build was bulky and strong.
‘At least a master’
Jason assessed the level of this man. However, he didn’t feel threatened. Not because the man didn’t emit a threatening aura, but because he felt the scholarly aura from him. A powerful man who had a calm mind to deal with a curious and unique bunch like the players.
“My name is Boris. I am here to do some basic introductions….”
“OMG, look! An NPC.”
“He looks so real. Can I touch him?”
“Are you a pervert?”
“What do you mean by a pervert? I am just an admirer.”
‘Sigh. What did I even expect?’
Jason realised most of these people were average players who enjoyed playing games. The noise was too loud for them to hear what the envoy was talking about.
On the other hand, Boris had an entirely different thought.
‘Damn… I never thought it would be this difficult.’
He heard what it would be like to deal with these newcomers, but he didn’t expect it to be this difficult. Some chatted with each other, while some played with the weird device in their arms. Some people were poking around the guards and the palisade and the most annoying bunch was even trying to touch him.
He only saw a few people paying attention to him, and the young man with black curly hair was the only one who gave him an acknowledging nod.
‘Interesting.’
Boris lingered his gaze on the young man, who showed a bit of maturity and spirit. He looked about six feet tall, but his build wasn’t strong.
‘Sigh.’
Boris started scanning through the crowd again and tried to keep away the annoying people who wanted to touch him. He could see the helpless look on the soldiers dispatched by the kingdom as well. They all had turned into objects of curiosity to these weirdos.
‘I can’t believe I have to do this every morning.’
He had orders to carry out this duty every morning for the next five years. Every morning at 6.00 am, a group of newcomers might appear on this spot.
‘If not for His Majesty’s order….’
If this was back in the army, he would have slapped some of these newcomers to death.
“Enough!”
He released his bloodlust to calm them. He had to explain the basic rules to these idiotic weaklings.
He saw the crowd getting stunned by his outburst.
‘Great….’
He was about to rejoice.
“Wow!”
“So cool.”
“Did you guys see that? He is like a real person.”
“Damn, I already love this game.”
“I got chills. So scary.”
“That is how a warrior should be. I want to be like him.”
‘Sigh. Whatever.’
Boris gave up his effort and took out the scroll with the basic rules to read. Luckily, he saw several more people than the initial bunch paying attention to him.
In the crowd, Jason kept his eyes straight, trying to grasp the situation.
The basic rules included not entering buildings other than shops and official buildings without permission. Not harming the people and not breaking the kingdom's rule of Alexandria. There was more, but he wondered where Alexandria was. Because it wasn’t in his memory.
Of course, he knew there were so many kingdoms scattered across the Yuriel, but he needed to understand where exactly he was. However, he decided to give this man some respect and wait until he finished reading the rule.
As he expected, there were many who did their own things without listening, but more and more people paid attention over time.
…
Jason watched until Envoy Boris left and entered the two-story building across the streets. There were a couple of guards on both sides of the door, and he guessed both of them were around Elite level.
‘Hm….
He finally turned around, ignoring the players with their own busy minds.
He saw four guards standing behind him inside the palisade. Also, there was only one opening, and it was the one he was facing earlier.
There were around two hundred people with clothing similar to his.
‘It should be around two-hundred-thousand people across Yuriel.’
He roughly guessed the number of people that could have entered as players.
‘I think this is it for today.’
The new player login was limited to 6.00 pm to 6.30 pm according to his time zone. It was early morning in this part of Yuriel. After the first entry, there were no rules for entry time. He guessed it should be because of the need to do the basic instructions. Also, the first entry should be at least in the daytime.
‘Why are those people gathered there?’
He felt curious when many players were gathered around the four guards in the middle of the palisade.
‘They looked like they were guarding something.’
He got closer to the group.
‘My god.’
His eyes widened when he saw the object guarded by the guards.
It was a weird object with a metallic base and a pyramid-like blue crystal on top. The crystal was as big as a human head, and it emitted a pale blue light periodically. There was a bluish force field surrounding the object in a spherical shape.
The first thought that came to his mind was to find a way to get out of this place.
He hurriedly touched his armband and three holographic screens each in the size of an A4 paper popped up inclined to each other.
He knew the pale-green screen and the translucent-black one, but he hadn’t seen the yellow-gold one before.
He hurriedly checked the new screen and saw options like Anti-Harassment, Forum, record and other game-like items.
He understood why he had never seen this screen before. Because by the time he entered Yuriel in his past life, it wasn’t a game anymore.
‘Sigh.’
He breathed in relief and his hand finally stopped shaking when he saw the logout button at the bottom of the yellow-gold screen.
Jason panicked because of one simple reason. That was because he knew what that device guarded by the soldiers was. Even without guards, he knew no one would ever be able to break that force field. Because even a Grand Wizard like the Angel of Death failed to do that.
It was the device that brought people from Earth to this planet. There were many more devices like this one at the place he entered Yuriel.
Jason was terrified that he might not be able to go back to Earth.
He hoped he didn’t have to lose his small apartment for a while longer.
‘Are we here in our real bodies? Then why didn’t I ever hear someone on Earth becoming a Master Swordsman or a Wizard? Do these crystals have a way to restrict our strength when we go back?’
He didn’t believe all the gains they had on the game would reset when they logged out. Then there should be another reason, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy to find them. Because the answers must be with The World Builders, who he didn’t want to interact with at the time.
'I can't lose focus. That is where I should start.'
He eyed the building across the street.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Wizard Of Cosmos 09 - I Will Take It
“Can I meet Envoy Boris?”Jason saw the two guards looking at him with curious eyes. “Sure… Go right in.”Jason gave them an acknowledging nod before walking into the building. The first thing he realised was that the building was actually an Inn. The wooden tables, the smell of alcohol and the dim light were obvious signs.He was afraid, but he had no choice but to push forward. First, he had to learn where he was and if this was the real Yuriel. The best way to get accurate information was from a man like Boris. There were five people inside, and a wooden staircase connected the two floors.He saw Envy Boris, a woman that had a lean but tough build, a dark man that reminded him of a giant bear, and another in a cloak leaning against a wooden post. The woman sat on a bench with her feet on the table while the well-built man was already drinking. The last person looked like the owner of the place, who stood behind the counter. ‘Adventurers?’ The group looked tough, but they were
Wizard Of Cosmos 10 - I am About to Move
“You… Will?”Boris really hoped he wouldn’t. “Yes!”Jason looked around and found the fireplace. He walked up to the stack of wood and found a sturdy branch about one metre long. “Can I borrow this?”He looked at the man behind the counter.“You can… But why?”“I don’t have a weapon.”“That is your weapon?”Boris felt a slight headache coming over him.Jason raised his shoulders, giving a helpless look. He really had no choice. “Hey, do you know how to use a sword?”Jason looked at the woman, raising his brows.“Yes!”He didn’t have to be humble with what he knew the best. He had practised using a sword for twenty-five years.“Show me!”He didn’t expect her to throw a sword at him, but he caught it by the sheath. He drew the longsword out of the sheath, eyeing the woman. He noticed that she had another sword by her side.‘Not the same size and grip. She is not a duel wielder. Why does she have two swords?’He felt the grip.“This is a good sword, but is it yours?”“Oh, why do you
Wizard Of Cosmos 11 - Stay Here
“I thought there would be more people.”They only saw about ten people outside the Western gate. The guards at the gate also warned them of the dangers outside, but Logan expected to see daring players trying their luck here.“I guess they are still trying to find weapons. Besides, some might be looking for quests.”Jason didn’t care much about them. “The distance is 30 units. It is roughly thirty miles or forty-eight kilometres. I don’t wish to stay on the road in the dark.”“These guys, some of them want to follow us.”Logan was keen to notice it. He already disliked this woman latching onto them, but he had no choice. The instructions were clear, they shouldn’t engage in meaningless conflicts. Besides, he admitted Jason was the one with the final say.“If they can keep up with us, I don’t mind. Huh?”He was on the ground, trying to cut off a piece of cloth from the bottom of his trouser using the sword. He realised the material was quite tough, and he barely managed to rip it. “C
Wizard Of Cosmos 12 - It is Complex
“Brother, are you trying to sneak up on them? Let me help.”Jason looked at Logan thinking if this man actually had a brain inside his head. Sneaking up to a wolf was something maybe only a master assassin could do, and he wasn’t even close to that.“You are dumb, aren’t you?”Dawn wasn’t able to hold back like Jason.“Don’t call me dumb.”“Shut up! I am going to rush. So stay here.”“What about that abnormal one?”“I’ll think about it later.”Jason sneaked forward a few more steps, hoping to buy more time.‘I am the worst when it comes to luck, aren’t I?’He felt the direction of the wind changing. There was no time left.…Jason took out his sword in haste and adjusted his poster before running toward the three wolves without hesitation. First, he had to pass through this place. Second, unlike the players, this man wouldn’t respawn after death.The wolves noticed his presence as soon as he made the loud noise. The two smaller ones were the first to move. The one on the left was sl
Wizard Of Cosmos 13 - Master Merlin
“This is a nice place.”Logan looked around in an elated mood. “Do you know where to deliver the message?”“I have to find Wizard Merlin.”“Yeah, I heard. Like in legends?”“I doubt that.”The legendary Merlin was a powerful wizard in the stories on Earth. However, on Yuriel, the title Wizard referred to the 3rd ranking among the wizard rankings. Still, a Wizard wasn’t something he would confront even if he reached the level he was in his previous life. “What are you guys going to do?”He looked back at his two companions.“I like to walk around until you are done. Are you going to return to the town?”Dawn asked him with interest. She saw how he fought, and she was impressed. There was a lot she could learn from Jason, at least that was her current plan.“Yes, I have to go back and report after delivering the message.”He already had twenty-three silvers, but he had to confirm that his work was complete. Besides, money was never too much.“Can I add you as a friend?”“Sure.”He si
Wizard Of Cosmos 14 - Are You Interested in Hunting
“This is my seal. Boris will accept it.”“Thank you, Master.”“It is nothing. Now go next door and meet Amelia. She will find you a place to settle down. It is safer to leave tomorrow morning.”“Yes, Master.”…“What do you want?”“Are you… Amelia?”Jason stopped in front of the young woman. Honestly, he didn’t expect to see a figure like this in such a place. She was definitely below thirty, and her looks weren’t inferior. She was a beauty except for the shallow healing scar across her left cheek. Her grey shirt and long pants gave her a daring look that matched her deep black pupils. Jason thought her silver hair was exceptional. Her voice and gaze carried a cold and distant feeling. What stomped him was not her looks or her cold eyes, but the strength she was hiding. This was the Grandmaster that observed him when he entered the village. She definitely had the ability to talk to any person in such a tone. Even to a weaker Wizard.“I am. What do you need?”‘Don’t you already know
Wizard Of Cosmos 15 - Penalty
Along the way, Jason learned the real condition in the village. There were around three hundred families in the village, and most younger people seemed to be leaving. Since there was no exact value left in this small place, Alexandria seemed to have let it slip out of their grasp. As for the ones that were left in the village, they lead a scavenging life of collecting minerals and gems in the abandoned mines. Which was a risky matter, with the animals and unstable mines.This explained why there were no official guards in this village, and the reason for two hidden characters to appear there.Jason felt enlightened, but he was also baffled. He didn’t know about a lost kingdom that existed thousands of years ago. ‘I thought I lived here for twenty-five years. Apparently, I know nothing.’However, he felt this might be the real reason for no powerful wizard trying to claim this massive continent. Still, he was nobody to look into such deep matters. As for now, he had to hunt without
Wizard Of Cosmos 16 - Black Steel Guild
‘That feeling….’After resting for an hour, Jason got up from his cabin. ‘I risked my life.’He couldn’t shake off the disappointing feeling. Honestly, he knew he just underestimated the strength of the boar, and he definitely overestimated himself. If he received that injury in real life, he would be a cripple without the help of a Life Wizard. He already knew Dawn couldn’t do anything against the boar. Even he couldn’t penetrate its skin. If not a wizard, only a master-level warrior with an aura could harm it easily. The only other way to kill it with ease was to target its vital points. That was what he wanted to do, but he wasn’t powerful enough. ‘How did I forget the rules of hunting?’In the first five years of his life on Yuriel, wild game was exclusive to nobles and higher powers. It was exactly due to the difficulty of hunting. The animals they bred in captivity were somewhat smaller and less ferocious. In fact, he was just thinking of himself as the Master Swordsman he on
Latest Chapter
304 - An Overwhelming Prescence
‘So, this is Light Shone.’His hidden eyes scanned the streets as he walked leisurely, moving unseen alongside the startled envoys.‘Still too small, but… this is serious potential.’He had slipped out of the carriage as the guards inspected it, effortlessly avoiding their scrutiny. While his invisibility shielded him from their eyes, he still occupied physical space—and he preferred not to take the risk of being noticed.With measured steps, he blended into the bustling streets. What he saw defied his expectations.The village was alive.It wasn’t just busy—it thrived.Shops occupied every available space, their owners negotiating prices with eager customers. People bustled past him, engaged in work yet carrying an air of contentment, their movements purposeful, their faces filled with ease.This was not the Light Shone he remembered.‘Back then, it was different.’It had been just as lively, but the stench of blood clung to the air, and signs of death lurked at every corner. Adventu
303 - The True Kingdom
"Is this... alright, My Lord?""Yes. And pretend I was never here. Once we pass through, you won’t see me again. Do you understand? No one must know I was ever here.""Yes! Yes, My Lord!""And... no one else knows I am here, correct?" The hooded figure’s voice sharpened deliberately."N-No! No, My Lord! We... we are departing soon!" The envoy stammered, his body trembling as he hastily retreated to the far corner of the carriage.‘Sigh… How useless.’The hooded man barely spared him another glance. The Brodice Kingdom had neither the power nor the will to resist the Grand Order that had been issued. It had been nearly a decade since the last decree from the Grand Wizards, and that one had shaken the world, announcing the arrival of an immortal alien.‘But this might be the first time in centuries that they had to step in to stop a minor war.’He turned his gaze to the passing scenery outside the carriage window, watching in silence.No one, aside from the envoy and a handful of high-r
302 - No Longer Human
"Grandmaster Amelia…""He’s playing with Hanna and his magic," Amelia cut Dane off before he could finish, hanging the freshly washed clothes on the line.Even after a year of constant change in Light Shone, this small household had remained the same. It was still under Amelia’s care. The village’s housing structure remained untouched as new construction projects focused on essential production facilities and accommodations for the new settlers arriving through the ongoing clearing operations. Infrastructure plans were in place, but progress was slow due to the sheer number of projects they were juggling.If Jason or Amelia had wanted, they could have easily upgraded their home—no one would have objected. After all, this small house was the heart of the Crystal Pulse, the centre of absolute power within the faction. Yet, despite its democratic structure, the organization operated with near-perfect coordination. The faction under Magnus from the Secret Service, the Saintess Guild, the
301 - Are You Doing Something Weird
The following day, a massive announcement took the world by storm. News spread rapidly across every platform as the World Builders—the enigmatic developers behind The Endless—finally broke their silence regarding Amelia Erwin and the controversy surrounding Jason Hope and his allies.However, the announcement wasn’t what anyone had expected.In a statement that stunned players worldwide, the World Builders declared, “There are no faults or bugs being exploited by Jason Hope or his allies. All game mechanics, items, and events associated with them are functioning as intended. As such, no corrections are necessary.”The announcement sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Many players had hoped for a clear resolution, perhaps even a punitive response toward Jason Hope and the Crystal Pulse. Instead, the World Builders stood firmly behind their design, acknowledging no wrongdoing on their part or by Jason and his people.But what followed was even more surprising.The World Builder
300 - Grand Order
"What a small place," the hooded figure muttered as he entered the heart of the Brodice Kingdom’s capital. His voice, a slightly older male tone, carried a mix of amusement and disappointment. "And why is their security so bad?" he added, his sharp eyes scanning the bustling streets.Soldiers packed every corner and alley, their inspections meticulous. Even the citizens were forced to pass through layers upon layers of security just to move about. Yet, despite the apparent vigilance, no one noticed him. Draped in a black cloak, the figure walked openly down the middle of the road, his presence going entirely undetected."Well... they have to be careful. That bounty is indeed tempting," he muttered to himself, a sly grin creeping across his hidden face. "Ah, I wish I were as young as I was back then. Maybe I could’ve finished off these weaklings myself for that reward." His voice carried a mocking tone. "The Crystal Pulse? What a bland name for such a daring organisation."He chuckled
299 - Question With No Answer
"No, I’m saying they’re going overboard.""Isn’t that what they always do? This isn’t the first time The Crystal Pulse has attacked players unprovoked.""We have to do something about it—fast."The discussion had devolved into an argument the moment it started. Some of the most famous gamers across the country had gathered in one place, a rare occurrence in itself. The Endless had grown too big to ignore, and even gamers who had avoided it initially had now established themselves in the challenging yet captivating world of the game.Ironically, most of them seemed to have forgotten that The Crystal Pulse was the primary reason players had been able to thrive in The Endless in the first place. It was The Crystal Pulse’s infrastructure and guidance that allowed players to survive in this mercilessly realistic game. Their success had been the beacon that drew many to the VR game considered the hardest ever created. Yet here they were, plotting ways to overthrow the very organization that
298 - She is Awesome
"We move out in an hour!" Logan’s commanding voice echoed through the camp, followed by a notification on their armbands. The message was clear: time to prepare.Gillian gritted her teeth as she tightened the strap around the wound on her arm, the healing paste already numbing the pain. She had a few healing potions tucked away in her pack, but she knew she couldn’t waste them. Supplies were limited, and every soldier had been issued a fixed amount by Crystal Pulse. While the organization would do whatever it took to keep them alive, this was part of their training—learning to manage resources in the heat of battle.'I heard they’re watching us anyway,' Gillian thought, her mind drifting. Since leaving Light Shone, several Grandmasters had vanished from the village, and she suspected they were nearby, keeping a close eye on the mission. The first and most important rule for Crystal Pulse players was not to die, even if respawning in eighteen hours was an option.'Logan is confident en
297 - Cosmic Horror
'His mutation is changing. Or... should I say improving?' Amelia observed Jason closely as the changes in his body unfolded with each passing second. The starry night-like texture on his left side began to expand subtly toward the right, slowly overtaking the black, armour-like skin. However, the transformation seemed restrained, as though the artefact lacked the power to fully support Jason's demand.The process lasted nearly an hour before the dagger, once brimming with ominous energy, dulled completely, its power entirely drained.Jason’s body underwent slight changes—a small part of his pitch-black armour faded, replaced by the cosmic texture of the starry night. Finally, he opened his eyes, feeling a rare sense of relief. The artifact's mutation had been neutralised; it would no longer corrupt anyone or anything. For the first time in a long while, he felt as though a small part of his burden had been lifted.“Well... you can’t go out like that!” Amelia’s voice pulled him from his
296 - Burden
Jason’s gaze returned to the towering demon before him, but he didn’t feel it was worth his attention. His glowing eyes simply stared at the massive figure for a brief moment before he swung his right arm through the air with effortless precision. It was as if he was clawing at the distant figure. A second later, several glowing white lines expanded across the space, moving faster than the eye could track. They reached the demon in an instant, cutting through its form. Behind it, the underground mountain erupted into a cloud of dust, disintegrating as though it had been struck by an invisible force.For a heartbeat, the Greater Demon stood there, frozen in place as if nothing had happened. Then, with a sickening sound, its colossal body crumbled to the ground in pieces, diced cleanly by Jason’s strike.“Screech!” A high-pitched wail echoed across the cavern as panicked creatures scattered, their movements erratic and mindless in the wake of their apex predator’s death. Even the remai
