The city''s oppressive silence clung to my avatar like a shroud as I logged out, tearing off the neural visor with a frustrated groan. My dorm room''s fluorescent lights felt jarringly mundane after hours navigating the Lost City of Oblivion.
Ah Wei swiveled in his gaming chair, eyes glued to Zero''s official forums projected across three holographic screens. "You need to see this!"
Global Announcement (Pinned):
"Day 1 Metrics: 10,100 Founder Accounts Activated
— 5,307 players received 0 rewards
— 3,797 received 1 reward
— 792 received 2 rewards
— 203 received 3 rewards
— 1 player received 4 rewards (ID: Violet Sun)"
Ah Wei whistled. "You''re the one? Out of ten thousand?"
I slumped onto my bunk, the news doing little to soothe my irritation. "Four rewards won''t matter if I can''t find a damn weapon."
"Relax." He flicked a protein bar at me. "Check the leaderboards."
Top Players (Asia Server):
BladeLord – Lv68 Warrior
Crimson Eclipse – Lv67 Dark Archmage
IronForge – Lv65 Paladin
"Crimson''s pet is carrying her," Ah Wei noted, enlarging a clip showing a spectral wraith eviscerating mobs. "Level 38 [Nightspawn Monarch]—mutated from an 800级 BOSS."
My fingers tightened around the visor. Fortune—a 1000级黑龙王 currently napping in my inventory—should have topped that list. The [Veil of the Unseen]''s stealth mechanics were working too well.
System Update Alert:
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"As of 0800 GMT, all game governance transferred to NEBULA AI core. No GM interventions. NPCs now operate via emergent behavioral algorithms."
"Wild," Ah Wei muttered. "They''re using us to stress-test their quantum brain."
I forced down the protein paste masquerading as dinner. "What''s the catch?"
"Tomorrow''s第二批 account wave—100,000 slots. Then full global launch using Universal Citizen IDs." He smirked. "Better pray your ''Lost City'' has a blacksmith before the noobs flood in."
0400 Hours – Relog
The alley''s witchstone walls hummed with residual dark magic as I materialized. Fortune chirped sleepily from my shoulder pouch, his obsidian scales blending with the gloom.
New Objective:
? Locate [Obsidian Forge] (Demonkin-exclusive blacksmith)
? Craft replacement weapon using [Stormbreaker’s Core]
The streets pulsed with newfound menace after nightfall. Level 310 [Soulrender Phantoms] drifted through walls, their semi-corporeal claws leaving frost trails on the cobblestones. I hugged the [Veil of the Unseen] tighter—its anonymity field my only defense.
Two blocks north, a sulfurous glow cut through the darkness. The forge''s entrance resembled a screaming gargoyle''s maw, molten alloy dripping like saliva.
NPC Interaction:
A hulting [Obsidian Smith] with magma-veined arms glowered from his anvil. "No blade for the unproven."
Quest Activated: Trial of Embers
? Survive the [Forge Crucible] (Lv50 Instance)
? Reward: Custom Demonkin Weapon Blueprint
The smith''s hammer struck the anvil, reality warping as the floor dissolved into a lava-choked arena.
Combat Log (Abridged):
[04:12:37] Spawn: 12x [Molten Sentry] (Lv45)
[04:13:02] Environmental Hazard: [Magma Geysers] (200 DMG/sec)
[04:15:19] Exploit Discovered: Using [Stormbreaker’s Core] to overload sentries'' fire affinity → Chain Detonation
When the ash settled, the smith grudgingly handed over a seething black ingot.
Crafting Menu:
? [Netherclaw Gauntlets] (Void DMG scaling)
? [Abyssal Reaver] (Life Steal + Burn Stack)
? [Soulthirst Dirk] (Execute threshold 25% HP)
I selected the reaver—its jagged edge thirsting for essence.
System Alert:
"Warning: Bound weapons cannot be traded. Destruction incurs permanent -10% ATK debuff."
The blade''s hilt fused with my palm in a burst of dark energy. Outside, the first hints of false dawn tinged the necropolis'' spires.
Foreshadowing Elements:
NEBULA AI''s Autonomy: Faction cities now develop unique political dynamics (Lost City''s "Obsidian Throne" subplot)
Global Launch Impact: Mass player influx will destabilize early-game economy
Veil''s Consequences: Stealth mechanics attract attention from shadow-hunting factions