The weight of the Infinite Blade in Gok's hands had become both a comfort and a burden. After the massive shelter was created, the game world had calmed slightly, but the reality of the situation had not. The Chinese players who had suddenly appeared were still reeling from their displacement, struggling to adjust to the fact that their entire country had vanished and they were now trapped in a digital realm.
Gok stood at the entrance of the shelter, looking out at the sea of people—no, players—who were now staring at the enormous structure that had risen from the ground. It was a spectacle of wonder and fear, the last bastion of hope for those who didn't understand how or why they were here.
I can't just stand here and watch them suffer.
He clenched the Infinite Blade in his hand, feeling its hum of power. He had created the shelter, but that wasn't enough. These players needed leadership. They needed direction, someone to guide them through this chaos. And while Gok had only just begun to understand the scope of his new reality, he knew one thing for sure: he had to take charge.
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Gok didn't waste time. He walked into the heart of the shelter, where crowds had begun to gather. The first thing he noticed was the confusion on their faces—fear, frustration, and disbelief all rolled into one. They didn't know where to go or what to do next. Many of them clung to their memories of the real world, still hoping that it was all some kind of mistake, that they would wake up any minute now.
But the longer they stayed in the shelter, the more they realized the truth: there was no escape. Their world was gone, and the game world was now their new reality.
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"Listen up!" Gok's voice rang out across the shelter's main hall, cutting through the murmur of anxious conversations. It wasn't loud, but it had the authority of someone who had seen far too much to stand idly by.
The players turned, their attention caught by the stranger in front of them. Gok stood tall, his eyes sharp and calculating. The Infinite Blade rested against his shoulder, the dark blade glinting ominously in the low light of the shelter's interior. He wasn't just any player now. He was something else entirely. He was the leader of their new world.
"I know you're all confused," Gok said, his voice calm but filled with an undeniable strength. "I know you're scared. But I'm here to tell you this: We will survive. We will adapt. And we will rise above this. You're not alone in this world anymore. You have a place here."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, but Gok held up his hand, silencing them. "I'm not here to sugarcoat things. The world you knew is gone. But this... this is our chance. We have the power to shape this world however we want."
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As the words left his mouth, Gok felt the weight of them settle on his shoulders. He wasn't just speaking to them—he was speaking to himself as well. The Infinite Blade had given him the power to change everything. To create anything. To control reality itself.
But Gok knew that power came with a price. He couldn't afford to be reckless. He couldn't afford to make the same mistakes again.
"I'm going to lead you all," Gok continued, his gaze unwavering. "And the first thing we'll do is form a new guild. A guild that will rise to the top of this game world and protect each and every one of you. I will be the master of this world—and you will be the warriors who follow me."
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The crowd grew quiet, and Gok's words seemed to resonate with them. There was a strange sense of purpose that filled the room as he spoke. For the first time since they had been transported into this strange world, they had a leader—someone who wasn't just lost or confused, but someone who was ready to fight for them.
Gok wasn't just a player anymore. He was something more—Master MADMAN—the one who had the power to shape this reality and lead them through it.
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"Who will join me?" Gok asked, his voice now a commanding roar.
One by one, players began to raise their hands. Some of them hesitated at first, unsure if they could trust him. But Gok's confidence was contagious, and soon, more and more players stepped forward. They weren't just signing up for a guild—they were signing up for survival. They were signing up for the chance to rise again.
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Gok smiled to himself, the first glimmer of hope sparking in his chest. He had created the shelter. He had gathered the people. But now, the real work began.
He turned to face the growing group of new recruits. "This guild will be called MAD. We are the Madmen who will conquer this world. No one will stand in our way."
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As Gok led his new guild members to their first training ground, his mind raced with thoughts of what was to come. The Infinite Blade could change the rules of reality—but Gok needed to be careful. He couldn't just rely on raw power. He needed strategy. He needed allies. And most importantly, he needed to understand this new world he was in.
With the shelter built and the first steps toward a new society in place, Gok's next challenge awaited. The game world was vast and full of unknowns. There were still countless players out there, some of them hostile, others with their own agendas. And somewhere in the back of his mind, Gok couldn't shake the feeling that there was a greater force at play—something even more powerful than the Infinite Blade.
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