Limited by his budget, Zephyr opted for The Swiftwind, a hover car suitable for his needs with a capacity for two Exo-suits and two passengers. The Colossus, while offering greater passenger space and defensive capabilities, was cost-prohibitive.
The Swiftwind requires Aether Fuel 13k Energy, and Zephyr purchased five boxes, sufficient for roughly 900 kilometers of travel under standard conditions.
He used his remaining 2,700 Shards on basic armaments: 300 Shards of 100 army knives, 900 Shards of 30 pistols, and 1050 Shards of 30 magazines with seven bullets each.
Zephyr instructed Karl and Benz to load his purchases from the Launch Pit and Firearms Dealer 1 onto The Swiftwind. They readily complied, preparing the hover car for his departure.
Before leaving, however, he contacted Jae-Ya, informing her about Eugene's location in District 2 and emphasizing the importance of independent training for her and Young-Jae. "Get an Exo-skeleton while I'm gone," he stressed. "Survival comes first."
Though confused by the urgency, Jae-Ya readily agreed, her sights already set on acquiring an Exo-skeleton after witnessing its effectiveness against the Sentinels before.
As Jae-Ya departed, Da-Mi arrived, an unexpected guest.
Zephyr greeted Da-Mi with a courteous nod. "Such an honor to be visited by such a wise leader like yourself."
Da-Mi chuckled. "Leader? We're just a group supporting each other. No need for formalities, especially since you declined to join. Besides, achieving our individual goals is what fuels collective hope."
"In this unforgiving world," Zephyr urged, "the sooner players unite, the sooner hope can emerge for the common people."
Da-Mi remained silent, contemplating his cryptic words. Though the sentiment resonated, she couldn't grasp his full intent.
Unfazed, Zephyr continued, "I support your proposed organization: a unified system for players to collaborate effectively. Once the global channel opens, discuss this with players from the Sanctuary of the Sacred Flame, Haven of the Starlight, and Stronghold of the Thunder."
Da-Mi's thoughts seemed to be being laid bare because the discourse of uniting all players under one banner was her and Yamato's plan together with expert players of Apex Online in other countries before the Apex World swallowed the Earth. It was a shame that communication channels were limited now. Otherwise, discussions would be carried out further.
However, Da-Mi grappled with a question: how could Zephyr, seemingly alone, possess such information and endorse a plan yet to be fully conceived?
"Zephyr," She echoed, her curiosity piqued. "Is that your in-game name? That doesn't ring a bell. Were you Yaphet? One_Water? TerrorBlade?"
She scrutinized him. Unlike her, who recognized Apex Online as the foundation of their reality, Zephyr seemed to possess a deeper understanding of this world. How could a mere player possess such info?
Zephyr offered a noncommittal shrug, leaving Da-Mi adrift in a sea of curiosity. Revealing his true identity held no easy answers. Terms like "reincarnated" or "regressor" felt like burdens, fraught with complications. The ever-shifting timeline, a product of the butterfly effect, only added to the dilemma.
He couldn't risk becoming their sole source of information, information he himself needed to verify despite his future knowledge.
Suddenly, Karl and Benz came to Zephyr, informing him that Swiftwind was ready to use with all his goods loaded.
"You're really rich, huh? What quests did you undertake to be able to amass such massive wealth?" Da-Mi, shifting gears, inquired about Zephyr's wealth.
She felt that Zephyr had seemingly endless resources. Previously an Exo-skeleton, now a hover car. Though she yearned to know more, Da-Mi recognized a boundary and held back. "Good luck," she said, extending a hand. "I'll work on the organization with the others. By the global channel launch, we'll be prepared."
Zephyr shook her hand firmly. "Likewise. Good luck, too." He turned and waved, his enigmatic past lingering in the air.
With a rumble, The Swiftwind's engine roared to life, propelling the hover car a meter above the ground. Zephyr, a solitary figure framed by the imposing city walls, steered away, resolute purpose etching his features. The Fortress of the Divine Light receded behind him, a beacon of hope amidst the looming shadow of the Main Quest.
~
On a verdant planet bathed in the glow of the Andromeda Galaxy, a civilization thrived. The Protoss, their emerald skin, and T-shaped heads marked them as descendants of a god-touched lineage. Their advanced technology, centuries beyond Earth's, coexisted with ancient temples, and testaments to a rich history.
Within one such grand temple, nine pillars reaching towards the heavens held aloft a vast chamber. Three figures, clad in advanced Exo-skeletons far surpassing anything known on Earth, entered and knelt before a high altar. There, a lone Protoss awaited, his imposing form draped in simple cloth, a stark contrast to the armored figures below him.
A tremor ran through the grand temple as Kelark, the towering Protoss Supreme High Priest, boomed, "Who oversees Sector 41, Earth?" His voice, though low, resonated with dread.
Taldarim, Auronar, and Khalgare, clad in advanced Exo-skeletons, exchanged a nervous glance. Kelark's simple cloth garb stood in stark contrast to their imposing armor, yet his presence commanded absolute respect.
Kelark's forehead furrowed, his T-shaped face contorting into an unsettling grimace. "Speak!" The word echoed with power, shaking the very pillars of the temple.
Auronar, gathering her courage, raised her head. "Forgive us, Supreme High Priest," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "We have no knowledge of this 'Earth.' Sector 41 is uncharted territory."
Kelark's fury erupted. "Uncharted? Have you neglected your duty to monitor the Game Realm? Earth is one of the forty-one planets under our control!" With a flick of his wrist, a holographic display materialized, showcasing a network of planets. He zoomed in, revealing a vibrant blue and green sphere - Earth - hanging in the void.
Auronar's T-shaped face mirrored her dawning dread as the holographic Earth materialized. That was undeniable proof of their negligence in monitoring the Game Realm they created.
"I-I..." Auronar couldn't answer. One wrong word, she would die without a trace in front of Supreme High Priest Kelark.
Taldarim and Khalgare didn't have the courage to defend themselves. The Supreme High Priest's authority was second only to the Emperor. So, all of Kelark's actions could be justified without needing reasons and permission from their Government Temple.
But a chilling mystery remains. What troubled Kelark about Earth? The Game Realm, their meticulously crafted creation, has always functioned flawlessly. Why the sudden summons, and why such fury directed at them?
Kelark erupted in a telekinetic blast, flinging Taldarim and Khalgare across the chamber. Their armored forms slammed against the temple walls, a sickening thud echoing in the silence as emerald blood stained the polished floor.
Auronar remained frozen, a tremor running through her. "W-What's the problem, Supreme High Priest?" She tried to ask. She needed to know the problem in order to provide a reason so that the lives of the three of them could be spared.
Kelark grumbled and said, "That planet is trash. It has no grade at all."
"I-Isn't that not a problem? After all, they would disappear if they didn't have the ability to survive in our Game Realm." Auronar still didn't understand where the problem was.
Kelark's patience evaporated. He flung a hand up, yanking Auronar towards him with telekinetic force. "The difficulty level!" he roared. "An ungraded world like Earth shouldn't be on the highest setting! Resources wasted! Do you have any idea what the cost of running a Game Realm is?!"
His fury stemmed not from Earth's inclusion. But from the resource allocation. Low-grade planets, mere producing grounds for cannon fodder, used minimal resources. Earth, on the other hand, was inexplicably hemorrhaging them – a catastrophic loss that could cripple the development of elite fighters in high-grade worlds, the very ones needed for the Interstellar Championship.
Understanding dawned on Auronar. The prestigious event wasn't just about glory; it was a high-stakes competition where planets gambled their wealth on their champions. Losing would be like hemorrhaging resources to another Ancient Grade planet – an unthinkable prospect that caused Kelark's rage not to subside.