The vast meadow began to give way to a narrow, stone-paved path as Ryuji walked towards Silverhelm, the nearest city he remembered from the Eternal Online map. Throughout his journey, his mind was filled with questions that seemed to have no answers.
"Why am I here? Is this an experiment? Or is there something else?" he muttered, gazing at the horizon.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to piece together the facts. This was clearly the world of Eternal Online, but it felt far more real than anything he had played for years. The sky, the scent of the grass, even the weight of his own body—all of it felt like real life.
Silverhelm, as he remembered it, was a city always bustling with players. In the game, it was a safe zone where no combat was allowed, a place where players could rest, trade, or recruit guild members. The largest guild buildings in the world—such as those of Black Vanguard and Crimson Eclipse—were located in this city.
But a thought nagged at Ryuji. "If this world has become real... do the safe zone rules still apply?" That question haunted him along the way. He decided to remain cautious, making sure his sword was within reach whenever it might be needed.
When Ryuji finally arrived at the gates of Silverhelm, the sight before him shocked him. The city was far from the peaceful atmosphere he remembered from his time in the game.
People crowded the main street, shouting at each other. The market, once a place of peaceful transactions, had turned into a battlefield for power. Stronger players dominated the merchant stalls, forcing the weaker ones to hand over their goods. Some players appeared to be forming groups, while others simply sat in the corners of the street, their faces filled with fear and confusion.
Ryuji saw a large banner with the Black Vanguard symbol hanging on one side of the market. The guild was known as the strongest in Eternal Online. Its members were notorious for their brutality, although they always followed the rules in-game. But here, they seemed to ignore all of that.
On the other side of the market, he saw another group wearing blood-red clothing and the symbol of a setting sun—that was Crimson Eclipse, the second largest guild. This guild was known for their cunning strategies and ruthless tactics in PvP.
These two powerful guilds were clearly competing to take control of Silverhelm.
"This isn't a safe zone anymore," Ryuji thought with unease. "All the old rules are gone."
As Ryuji walked through the crowd, he felt the eyes of the people on him. Some whispered, calling his name with a mix of awe and fear.
"It's Haru, the legendary solo player!" someone whispered. "He's here? Is he going to join one of the big guilds?"
The name Haru—displayed clearly above his head in the status bar—immediately drew the attention of many. As one of the most legendary players, his presence in the real world of Eternal Online became the center of attention.
It didn't take long before representatives from both major guilds approached him.
A large man in gleaming black armor and wielding a massive battle axe approached with confident steps. He was Azock, the leader of Black Vanguard. His gaze was sharp, and his aura exuded an intimidating strength.
"Haru," Azock called, his voice deep and firm. "I've heard a lot about you. You're the solo player who's never failed in the legendary dungeons."
Ryuji looked at Azock coldly, showing no reaction to the compliment.
"Join me," Azock continued. "Black Vanguard is the strongest guild in this world. With your power, we could rule this world together. No one can stand against us."
Before Ryuji could respond, a woman with long red hair and black leather armor appeared from another direction. She was Vanni, the leader of Crimson Eclipse. Her movements were graceful, but her gaze was sharp, like a hawk eyeing its prey.
"Azock, don't try to take what's not yours," Vanni said with a sly smile. She then turned to Ryuji. "Haru, you know who I am, right? I won't waste your time with empty words. Join me. I know you're a smart player. Together, with Crimson Eclipse, we can shape this new world to our will."
Ryuji remained silent for a moment, letting their offers hang in the air. He realized that both Azock and Vanni saw him as a valuable asset. But he didn't like their approach.
"I appreciate your offers," Ryuji finally said. His voice was calm, but firm. "But I'm not the type of person who likes being commanded."
Azock frowned, while Vanni smiled slightly, though there was a flash of anger in her eyes.
"So you refuse us?" Azock asked, his voice slightly pressing.
"I just need time," Ryuji replied, raising his hand to stop the tension from escalating. "There's something I need to check first. If I decide to join, I'll come to see you."
Ryuji turned away before they could say anything more. He knew the reason he gave was just a way to distance himself from them. He had no interest in joining any guild. As a solo player, he was used to handling everything on his own, without anyone's interference.
As he walked away from the crowd, the sharp gazes of Azock and Vanni still felt like they were stabbing into his back. He knew that turning them down could lead to trouble later on. But right now, he didn't care.
"I need to figure out what's really going on in this world," Ryuji thought as he quickened his pace. The chaos in Silverhelm was just the beginning. And he knew that this world held even greater threats.
After leaving Azock and Vanni behind, Ryuji walked towards a small weapon shop located on the outskirts of Silverhelm's market. He could still feel the tense atmosphere in the city, but he tried to ignore it. He stopped briefly in front of the shop to check his inventory.
With a thought, the virtual interface appeared before his eyes. The familiar blue-transparent screen of Eternal Online displayed a complete list of all his items, stats, and resources. In the top-right corner of the screen, a number caught his attention:
Gold: 8,783,711
"A lot," Ryuji muttered with a small smile. As a solo player, that amount was incredibly large. Most players, even those in major guilds, only had between 500,000 to 1,000,000 gold. But Ryuji was different. As a solo player who had defeated the Dragon Lord, one of the hardest raid bosses in Eternal Online, he had earned a massive reward—rare items, weapons, and a large amount of gold.
"At least I don't have to worry about running out of money for a while," he thought, closing the screen and stepping into the shop.
As soon as he entered, a small bell above the door rang. The shop was filled with various weapons and adventure gear, all neatly arranged on wooden shelves. The smell of metal and oil filled the air, making the atmosphere feel authentic. Behind the counter, a middle-aged man stood with a friendly smile. He wore the typical leather attire of a blacksmith, complete with a thick apron.
"Welcome, adventurer. How can I help you today?" the man asked in a warm tone.
Ryuji studied the NPC carefully. He didn't look any different from the shop NPCs he had encountered in Eternal Online. But when the NPC spoke, something was off—his voice's intonation, his facial expression, even his eyes seemed to radiate emotion.
"Something's changed," Ryuji thought. In the game, NPCs usually gave monotone responses based on dialogue choices. But this NPC spoke like a real human.
"I'd like to buy some gear," Ryuji said finally. He tried to sound casual, though his mind was filled with confusion.
"Of course," the man replied. "Feel free to look around, or let me know what you need."
The voice sounded too natural, as if this NPC was truly alive.
While pretending to browse the weapons on the shelves, Ryuji tried to ask a question.
"Hey, do you know why I and the other players are stuck here? This was supposed to be just a game," he asked, looking directly at the NPC.
The man paused for a moment, then smiled warmly. "Aren't adventurers always here?" he answered casually, showing no signs of confusion.
The answer made Ryuji frown. "What does he mean by that? Isn't this NPC supposed to be aware that he's just part of a game?" he thought.
"No," Ryuji answered, trying to explain. "I mean, I was in the real world before. Then I... got sucked into this place."
The NPC just chuckled lightly, as if hearing a funny joke. "Adventurers always come and go, but the world stays as it is. Maybe you just forgot."
That answer only confused Ryuji more. He tried to ask more questions.
"Do you know who created this world? What's really happening here?"
The man shrugged, still smiling. "I'm just a blacksmith. My job is to sell weapons and help adventurers like you. Nothing more."
Though the answer seemed simple, the way the man spoke and his expression made Ryuji feel that there was something deeper behind his words. This NPC was too natural, too human-like.
Ryuji decided to end the interrogation. He knew he wouldn't get any satisfying answers from this man.
"Alright, I'd like to buy a few items," he said, trying to refocus. He opened his inventory again to check the empty space in his bag.
"Great! What are you looking for?" the man asked, looking eager.
Ryuji decided to buy some important items:
Potion of Greater Healing (x10): To restore HP in the middle of battle.
Potion of Stamina Recovery (x5): To restore stamina for heavy movements or attacks.
Smoke Bomb (x3): To escape in an emergency.
Arrow Bundle (x20): Even though he didn't use a bow, he kept some arrows just in case.
Map of the Silverhelm Region: A map of the region he needed to plan his next move.
The man quickly prepared the items and placed them on the counter.
"The total is 20,000 gold," he said cheerfully.
Ryuji handed over the gold without much thought, then stored the items in his bag.
As he was about to leave the shop, a notification popped up in front of his eyes:
Incoming Call: Arroon24
Ryuji's eyes widened. That name was very familiar to him. Arroon24 was one of his old friends from Eternal Online. They had often teamed up for some of the bigger raids before eventually going their separate ways.
"Wait... how could he be contacting me here?" Ryuji thought.
His hand froze in midair, hovering just above the notification. His heart raced. If Arroon was here, that meant...
After a moment of hesitation, Ryuji finally pressed the Accept button.