"Hear ye, Hear ye! I got selected for the internal test! I've already decided on my character's race and main class!"
"Whoa, even the birthplace is tied to the race you choose? This game is seriously hardcore. I love it! That means we'll all spawn in different corners of the map, right?"
"Hey, where can I find this info about races?"
"Don't you know how to use Baidu, you beef-brained amateur?"
"Ahem, you can find it on the official website. Oh, and by the way—I also got into the internal test."
"Wow, seriously? You guys are too lucky!"
Felix clicked on the official website link, and surprisingly, it opened smoothly. The contents were almost identical to what he remembered seeing in his previous life.
First came the background story introduction. Just skimming through three paragraphs, he noticed the word "Terra" appeared six times—truly overwhelming.
Then came the overview of player classes. There were eight in total: Vanguard, Sniper, Guard, Caster, Defender, Medic, Special, and Support. For those familiar with other RPGs, these would roughly translate to thief, hunter, warrior, wizard, knight, priest, trap master, and bard, respectively.
Each class had its own unique presentation screen.
Next was the section on races available for character creation—suddenly much more extensive. Aside from a few rare species, nearly all races native to Terra were available for players to choose from.
These included:
Archosauria (desert butchers)
Aegir (aquatic creatures)
Anaty (mustelids)
Elafia (deer)
Anura (frogs)
Durin (emergency ration material... as joked)
Phidia (snakes)
Feline (cats, excluding lions)
Forte (minotaurs and pack animals)
Caprinae (sheep)
Cautus (rabbits)
Kuranta (horses or horse-like beings)
Liberi (birds)
Lupo (wolves)
Perro (dogs)
Savra (lizards)
Sarkaz (common) (demons)
Sankta (angels)
Vulpo (foxes)
Ursus (bears)
Zalak (rodents or similar creatures)
For players who struggle with decision-making, this was a nightmare—but for those who adored world-building and lore, it was a dream come true. Many had already heard that Ark offered extensive customization and interactive storylines, but they hadn't expected such depth just at the character creation screen.
Naturally, rare races like Aslan, Dragons, and Elves were locked and couldn't be chosen during character creation—something that remained true to the game's world-building integrity.
"Oh? Even major plot characters are already being revealed?"
During the early 1.0 Terra Spark version, most players would be stuck in the newbie zones. Only a few veteran or hardcore players would make contact with factions and camps. These elite players would be among the first to step foot into the mobile cities.
The current in-game year was 1087, and news about the Tower of Babel was already included in the official background lore. As of now, only one NPC had been officially revealed: a calm-faced catgirl who seemed to embody the same despair that filled the war-torn land.
Kal'tsit
Age: ?
Profile: ?
Her character introduction was quite detailed. Players would no doubt understand the significance of her role in the storyline.
Felix returned to the forum, which had already exploded with activity. Hundreds of new posts appeared by the minute—and that was just on the Chinese servers. International forums were equally lively.
Ark was equipped with an advanced language translation system, allowing foreign players to fully understand what NPCs were saying and communicate with them seamlessly. However, there was no in-game translation module for player-to-player interaction, so naturally, players who spoke the same language and dialect tended to group up and play together.
"Oh? The Sky Dragon Guild is planning to move into Ark?"
He was referring to a well-known Chinese professional gaming team. As one of the oldest gaming guilds, The Sky Dragon Guild had a reputation for lavish spending. In previous games, they were often mocked by players for recruiting a large number of foreign professionals yet failing to achieve impressive results. Still, they retained a strong influence in the gaming world.
In Ark, he could interact with members of the guild in the form of NPCs. In his past life, the first season champions were Europeans and Americans, the second went to the Russians, while the third, fourth, and fifth seasons were all dominated by the Koreans. Up until Felix's reincarnation, the Chinese guilds were still preparing for the sixth season.
---
[NPC function template has been enabled]
A pop-up window appeared, displaying a message that baffled Felix: What is the NPC function?
But then he remembered. As a player in his previous life, he had frequently negotiated with NPCs. This "NPC function" likely referred to an expansion of those interactions—allowing features such as buying and selling items, issuing quests, transferring job classes, and more.
Realizing this, Felix understood something important: he needed to make himself more visible to players.
Every NPC introduced on the official website or discovered by players in their storylines was without exception highly recognizable. These characters were widely respected and praised, capturing player attention regardless of their actions or timing.
In the previous timeline, many players would deliberately provoke trouble in Lungmen, only to be executed on the spot by Ch'en, Swire, or Hoshiguma. Did they regret it? Not at all. They loved it. Absolutely relished the experience.
A collective wasn't built in a day. It required both accumulated influence and LMD. Rhine Lab was only founded in 1085—just one year before Felix's arrival in the game world. So why couldn't he establish his own faction?
Of course, that idea remained hypothetical for now. Recently, he had burned through a large portion of his LMD savings gambling on blueprints, and spent even more preparing starter gear for new players. But he had a plan: to earn it all back from the player base.
Let players enjoy a relaxed and pleasant shopping experience—win.
Let Felix earn LMD—win.
Let his reputation grow steadily among players—win.
A perfect win-win-win-no-loss strategy.
---
Ten days left…
Felix took a deep breath, gave the mechanical device on his workbench one final polish, then—for the first time in several months—emerged from the basement on his own initiative.
Dürrenmatt was still in his usual spot, warming himself by the stove. He glanced over at Felix and gave a knowing smile.
"Heading out to be the messenger?" he asked.
Felix nodded. "Yeah. I don't know when I'll be back this time."
Dürrenmatt smiled faintly, though a rough itch stirred in his throat, and he began to cough. When Felix stepped forward to help, he held up a hand to stop him. Shaking his head, he chuckled hoarsely.
"I know my own body. In a few years, when all my old friends have passed, it'll be time for me to return to the Lord's embrace."
He looked at Felix with his metallic eyes—clear, solemn, as if passing on a final legacy.
"I've got some books on mechanics here. Take them with you. From now on, little one, you don't need to come see me anymore. I've no home left to offer. When you receive my will and relics from the notary's office, remember to light a bunch of lilies for me."
Dürrenmatt spoke of death with disarming honesty. He held no fear of it. The suffering brought by this land was but a pale shadow of what the Infected endured. Some angels had lived their entire lives within the confines of this isolated holy city, never once stepping beyond its borders.
To them, death was nothing more than a return to the sea of stars.
"I understand," Felix said quietly.
"You can leave after breakfast tomorrow," Dürrenmatt murmured, closing his eyes. The old man slowly drifted into sleep, resting peacefully on the sofa.
Felix bowed deeply, offering silent respect.
---
The next morning, he donned a black protective jacket. An ace of spades was pinned to his outer thigh, a Double Eagle sidearm hung at his waist, and a heavy travel bag rested on his back.
"Goodbye, Master," Felix said softly, forming the sign of the cross—the highest form of etiquette in Laterano.
Dürrenmatt squinted with a gentle smile. He returned the gesture with frail but steady hands.
"Little one, travel safely."
The door closed behind him. Felix exhaled quietly, suppressing a sigh. He pulled out his map.
It was time to move quickly.
---
Five days later, he arrived in Florence. Dust-covered and worn from the road, he still drew the attention of sharp-eyed members of the Saluzzo family guarding the gate. They recognized him instantly.
Compared to their relatively simple task of gatekeeping and collecting protection money, being a lone messenger—trekking through desolate wilderness and constantly facing unpredictable natural disasters—was something they deeply respected.
After checking in at his usual hotel, Felix requested a hot meal from the owner, then headed upstairs to wash.
As warm water rinsed away the grime of travel, the sticky discomfort of the journey melted off him. He felt his muscles loosen and his mind clear. Later, savoring the hotel's standard Italian fare, he began sorting through the equipment for his next trip.
He moved methodically, packing items that, a year ago, he could only dream of. Now, they seemed almost ordinary. He placed them carefully into his weapon case, his movements practiced and precise.
He also backed up several technical manuals he had studied onto his terminal. These were invaluable for new players, and Felix intended to decide later whether to sell them or not, depending on demand.
Hundreds of thousands of players were participating in the internal beta test. Within the in-game timeline, this beta would last one full month. When it concluded, the millions of cavalrymen of the Fourth Impact would spread across every corner of Terra.
Thinking of this, he glanced at his information board:
[Template: NPC]
(Internal test starts in: 5 days, 1 hour, 4 minutes, 19 seconds)
(Public release in: 125 days, 1 hour, 4 minutes, 19 seconds)
Without bidding farewell to anyone, Felix left his base swiftly after a night's rest. He climbed into his military pickup truck and drove out of the city.
---
[ID Registration Successful: Dan Dao Dan Tart]
[Race Selection Completed: Lupo Tribe]
[Based on the selected race, the most suitable birthplace has been assigned: Syracuse]
[Adjusting coordinates... Loading network configuration... Reading updates... Attempting to establish spiritual connection with the Ark...]
Siracusa— Yellow sand Village, one of the designated starting areas for new players in Syracuse.
At first, Dan Dao Dan Tart's vision was filled with darkness—but in the next instant, light flooded in. He blinked rapidly, and then without hesitation, dropped to his knees and kissed the actual earth beneath him in reverence.
Though he'd heard this game had an incredible sense of immersion, he never expected it to feel this real. Was this truly a game experience—or some sort of CG illusion?
The dry scent of yellow sand filled his nose. Above, the sky stretched gray and vast. He could feel the warmth of sunlight on his skin. Looking down, he spotted a wolf's tail swaying behind him. Tentatively, he reached back to touch it—
What the— it had feeling! It was like a whole new organ had grown out of thin air.
The sensation reminded him of ALO from the Sword Art Online series, where players could feel wings by activating the muscles on their back. Only this time, he had to clench his butt to make the tail move?
Glancing around, he found himself standing in a modest square. Around him were close to a hundred other players who had also just "spawned." Most were gazing around in awe, marveling at the scenery and muttering excitedly to themselves.
Dan Dao Dan Tart pulled up his personal panel, skimming past the Level 1 attributes and checking his equipment slot.
Like the standard start in most MMORPGs, he was outfitted with a basic three-piece set: gray-quality tunic, pants, and shoes—with zero attribute bonuses.
As he studied his equipment bar, the guy next to him had already started stroking his own wolf tail, muttering to himself and practically drooling:
"Hey, my tail… my precious tail…"
Dan Dao Dan Tart edged away from him without a word.
Before he could even settle, another nearby player shouted:
"Bro, what the hell—don't take your pants off! What the actual—?!"
What kind of degenerates have escaped from the abyss? Dan Dao Dan Tart thought as he scrambled even farther away, finally finding a safe distance where he could breathe.
Only then did he notice several NPCs positioned along the outer edge of the square. They were clad in ragged robes—some men even bare-chested.
Upon discovering this, the players quickly experimented and confirmed that while the top and pants could be removed, the underwear could not—much to the visible disappointment of some.
"So... what are we supposed to do next?"
"Shouldn't there be an NPC here to guide us? Maybe hand out some starter rations?"
"There's not even a hint. Are we supposed to figure this all out ourselves?"
Just as the group began growing restless, an old man appeared. He had a dignified air about him and introduced himself as Lupo. He approached the crowd and spoke in a slow, weathered voice:
"Since you've come to this settlement seeking a livelihood, you should know—this place does not support idlers."
As soon as the players heard such a stereotypical opening line, they immediately understood: this was the guide NPC.
Dan Dao Dan Tart glanced at the old man.
[Lycan - Lv.10]
[Description: The village chief of Yellow Sand Village regards you as wanderers seeking a living.]
[Danger Level: The ordinary-looking village chief can beat you up.] (White)
Players were unable to detect any details about NPCs significantly above their level, and in such cases, even their descriptions might not appear. The "danger level" indicated a player's likelihood of winning in a direct confrontation with the NPC.
NPC danger levels were color-coded similarly to equipment rarity: Gray, White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Orange, and Red.
Lupo's name appeared in yellow, signaling a neutral stance. Green would indicate a friendly or allied faction, while red represented hostility or bitter enmity.
In this hyper-realistic version of Terra, players also had two extra survival meters: Satiety and Thirst. Neglecting food or water would trigger debuffs, gradually causing HP loss over time.
This game... was almost too real.