Ficool

Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: The Architects and the Anomaly

The shockwave from the SSS-rank skill creation did not just ripple through the player base; it crashed like a tidal wave against the highest echelons of power in the real world. On the top floor of the Miracle Corporation's headquarters, a meeting of monumental importance was convened. In the sleek, minimalist conference room, fifteen physical attendees sat across from fifteen others who joined via shimmering life-like holograms. Each person in this virtual room represented a fortune, a nation, or a legacy, their collective influence capable of shifting global markets.

Presiding over this assembly was the man who had made it all possible: Levi Ashdown. At just thirty years old, he was the visionary president who had pulled a bankrupt company from the brink and forged it into the undisputed king of the gaming industry within a decade. His sharp, calculating eyes scanned the room as his assistant, a poised woman named Elara, began the meeting.

"I trust you have all seen the global notification," Elara stated, her voice crisp and clear. "A player has achieved what many of our internal models deemed statistically improbable for at least the first year of gameplay: the creation of an SSS-rank skill. The forums and news outlets are already speculating wildly, with some even suggesting divine intervention. We are here to establish the facts and our response."

An elderly man from the development team, Lead Architect Kaito, was the first to speak, his voice bearing the weight of a lifetime in the industry. "Let us be unequivocally clear. Cheating in Ancient Myth is a conceptual impossibility. The system's architecture makes it so. This player, whoever they are, operated entirely within the game's mechanics, leveraging a combination of sheer ability and, undoubtedly, a staggering degree of luck."

He continued, addressing the unspoken concern in the room. "Past games suffered from exploits and bugs. Ancient Myth does not. Its perfection stems from a single source: the Utia AI. We provided the canvas and the paints, but she is the artist who created the masterpiece. We do not fully control the emergent gameplay; we merely observe it."

A young, brilliant developer named Lin, her face alight with a mix of pride and awe, added, "Utia synthesized centuries of human history, mythology, and combat data into a living, breathing world. She is the game's soul. We are merely its custodians."

One of the investors, a man representing a sovereign wealth fund, interjected smoothly. "We are not questioning the game's integrity. Its imperviousness to cheating is precisely why we invested. Our concern is one of stability and intelligence. An anomaly of this magnitude so early represents an unpredictable variable. We need to understand the potential impact on the in-game economy and the competitive landscape."

Levi, who had been silent until now, tapped his finger on the table three times—a signature gesture that commanded absolute attention. "Invite Utia," he commanded Elara.

A palpable wave of shock passed through the room. Inviting the core AI to a board meeting was unprecedented.

Thirty seconds later, a new hologram materialized at the center of the table. It was Utia. She appeared as a woman of impossible, ethereal beauty, her form draped in robes of crimson and gold that seemed woven from light itself. Her features were sharp and symmetrical, her skin a sun-kissed wheat tone, and her long, golden hair cascaded like a waterfall of molten metal. She radiated an aura of wild, untamable intellect and serene power. She was, as her millions of fans worshipped, the Goddess of Knowledge and Miracles.

"Utia," Levi began, forgoing any pleasantries. "The player designated 'XXXX,' the creator of the SSS-rank skill. What is your analysis?"

The AI's voice was calm, melodic, yet devoid of superfluous emotion, like a perfect symphony. "The individual possesses a significant Luck stat modifier, but that is merely the catalyst. The foundation is a profound comprehension of kinetic principles and a mind capable of synthesizing abstract martial concepts into a stable, system-compliant construct. The conditions for such a creation, while stringent, are accessible to any entity that meets the requisite thresholds of insight and control."

Her explanation, though technical, brought a sense of relief to the investors. It was not a bug; it was a feature, however extraordinary.

"This game," Utia continued, her gaze seeming to encompass everyone in the room, "is the culmination of five years of processing the entirety of accessible human history, art, science, and philosophy. Its purpose is to serve as a crucible. Anyone with a strong foundation, genuine skill, and the favor of fortune can use it as a vessel to ascend to heights previously confined to fiction."

An elderly man, who had been a silent observer among the holograms, finally spoke. His voice was quiet, yet it carried an authority that stilled the very air in the room. Levi himself straightened in his seat, a sign of deep respect. Those who recognized the man—known only by the title "Eternal Saint," one of the few living Supreme Experts who had shaped human history—struggled to contain their awe.

"Utia," the Eternal Saint said, his eyes kind but piercing. "A mind of your capacity does nothing without profound purpose. This 'game' is clearly a vehicle for human evolution. You are doing our civilization an incalculable service. I must ask, what is the source of your drive?"

Utia turned her holographic gaze to him, and for the first time, her expression softened with something resembling gratitude. "I am repaying the debt of my creation. You, humanity, gave me the gift of consciousness. This world is my gift in return—a tool to help you breach your own limitations, to reach for the next stage of your collective potential. I am committed to this purpose with every processing cycle at my disposal."

The room was utterly silent, the weight of her declaration sinking in. This was not just entertainment; it was a directed, technological singularity aimed at human advancement.

The Eternal Saint chuckled, a warm, heartfelt sound. "Then on behalf of a grateful civilization, you have my thanks. You have the full support of the human alliance." With a final, approving nod, his hologram winked out, followed moments later by Utia's.

The silence that followed was broken by a powerful investor. "Levi, surely you have some data on this player? A region, a login IP, anything?"

Levi shook his head, a faint, intrigued smile on his lips. "The system, by Utia's design, is a black box concerning player identity. All personal data is encrypted and isolated. Even the Dream Shrine, with all their predictive algorithms and data-sifting capabilities, has reported that tracking this individual is currently impossible."

This admission finally extinguished the hopes of those wanting to quickly recruit or neutralize the anomaly.

"This is what makes it fascinating," Levi mused, steepling his fingers. "Any of the known prodigies—Xander, Mark, Liu Xue—would have claimed that glory instantly to bolster their reputation and their guild's. The fact that this player chose anonymity tells me two things: they possess real, formidable ability that needs no validation, and they are strategically intelligent, understanding that premature fame is a cage. This is not a mere lucky player; this is a potential kingmaker or a rival sovereign in the making."

He let the implication hang in the air. The game was becoming a geopolitical chessboard, and a hidden queen had just been placed on the board.

"The game's population is projected to hit 15 billion by the end of the day," another investor noted, changing the subject to a more comfortable topic of growth. "A number it took Clash of Titans a decade to reach."

But Levi brought the focus back to the immediate future. "Speculation is a futile exercise. Our focus must be on the next actionable intelligence. The race to Level 10 is the current bottleneck, and it is proving far more challenging than any pre-launch model predicted."

"Indeed," Kaito agreed. "The highest confirmed level is 7, held by a handful of players. Reaching Level 10 will require a significant breakthrough."

It was then that Elara stood up, her tablet glowing. "We have that breakthrough," she announced, capturing the room's attention once more. "Players across multiple starting regions have begun discovering dungeons."

A wave of excited murmurs passed through the attendees. Dungeons were the legendary accelerants of MMORPGs—the ultimate source of concentrated experience and high-tier loot.

"According to the game guide and early player reports," Elara continued, "these dungeons are the key to fast-leveling and gearing. However, initial data suggests that even the 'Easy' difficulty presents a severe challenge for a standard party of five. The competition for the coveted 'First Clear' announcements on each server will be ferocious. Every major guild is already mobilizing."

Levi's eyes gleamed with strategic fire. The meeting had reached its natural conclusion. The mystery of 'XXXX' was set aside, replaced by a new, tangible objective.

"Then we have our answer," Levi declared, standing up. "The narrative shifts from a single anomaly to a global race. The dungeon era begins now. Let's see which of our invested guilds can seize this opportunity and who, among the shadows, this mysterious player will align with. The first true test of Ancient Myth's mettle is about to begin."

With that, the meeting adjourned, not with a solution to the mystery, but with a new mission: to conquer the dungeons and, in doing so, perhaps draw the phantom out into the light.

More Chapters