To demonstrate just how valuable a support system could be in team battles, the front-line players began sharing their firsthand experiences. It was clear to everyone now—Emma's popularity was well-earned.
Among the players was a streamer, quietly recording everything. Positioned close to Felix, he was one of those who had received the attribute buff. During his livestream, he proudly displayed the stat bonuses on-screen, prompting a cascade of "666" comments from his viewers. Gamers actively playing and curious newcomers alike stared intently at the stream, their eyes glued to the third-person perspective.
On the screen, they could see the claw beasts rustling through the grass as they made their way back to their nest—not far away. Some viewers even felt goosebumps prickle their skin.
"The claw beasts fear fire."
Felix nodded to the players standing behind him. With the Ace of Spades in hand, he pulled the trigger and fired the first shot into the darkness.
Under the eyes of dozens of players, the bullet struck a pincer beast. Half its body exploded, and a spray of green pulp splashed into the air. The grisly sight almost made some players with lower psychological tolerance retch. A few quickly switched their game settings to Harmonious Mode, a toggle that toned down overly graphic scenes.
"OHHHHHHHH!"
With a deafening battle cry, the players surged forward. They already knew these were infected creatures, and had discussed tactics beforehand. At the front stood a heavily-armored player with a shield, forming a wall. Behind him were several guards, poised to break through. At the rear, snipers equipped with short crossbows readied their aim. A rare few wielded the powerful Black Hawks.
Tiantang Zhuiming, who had chosen the Guard class, was one of several high-level players on the field. Fully equipped and gripping a finely-crafted spear, he joined the charge. Under a combined assault from multiple players, he thrust his weapon directly into a pincer beast's heart. With the surge of experience points, several teammates who had contributed let out cheers of joy.
Tiantang Zhuiming smiled and quickly led his group toward another team engaged with more of the beasts.
Viewers watching the stream were thrilled. It was rare to witness a live broadcast that felt this immersive—as if they were on the battlefield themselves.
Fighting wild claw beasts and facing off against those trained by warlocks were two entirely different levels. Wild claw beasts had little communication or tactics—they only knew hunting and sleeping. Their grouping behavior was purely instinctual, intended to make hunting more efficient, not for strategy.
But the claw beasts trained by warlocks had been refined to the extreme. Whether in terms of speed or aggression, these beasts outclassed the current player base.
The difference was like battling wild Pokémon versus facing a trainer's Pokémon.
Players quickly realized that defeating a claw beast granted far more experience than mining or hunting ordinary wildlife. However, as the saying goes, "fools defeat masters by luck"—the claw beasts' final struggles proved more brutal than expected. Many players were forced to fall back, unable to achieve the glorious fantasy of killing ten beasts in ten steps that they had dreamed of before the battle.
But that was fine—because Felix was about to take action.
Under the flickering light of torches, Felix descended like a golden meteor crashing to the ground. Benefiting from his own team bonus, the dual guns in his hands spat fire—each shot taking down a beast amid the thunder of gunfire.
"F*ck, there's a Marco Polo at the middle of bridge!"
"I'm losing it! Isn't that the God of Death himself?!"
"Whoever said the God of Death is rare—this guy's clearly Yan Shuangying in beast form!"
The mechanical apparatus on his coat began to hum softly, glowing with a faint fluorescent light. The devices wrapped around his calves hissed and released gas, boosting his speed dramatically.
This was the terrifying effect of innate super mechanical mastery. With nearly all his gear—everything except his pants—modified, no claw beast could even come close to touching him. The only outcome for them now was death by a swift and precise shot to the neck.
"Whoa, this NPC is insanely cool! Is this the technician's subclass?"
"I'm drooling over his revolvers, man~ I'm so jealous. As a sniper, if I build a good relationship with him, maybe I can buy a gun?"
"Seems like only the Sankta race can make full use of Hand Guns. You, a knight, equipping a Hand Gun would be just weird."
Nearby players couldn't take their eyes off Felix. They watched him weave through claw beast attacks with elegance and ease, their hearts filling with admiration and longing.
This—this was what a support class should look like. Capable of assisting the team without becoming a burden, with enough combat prowess to hold their own.
Viewers watching the live stream had their eyes glued to the screen, wide with amazement. Many were in awe of this high-level NPC's strength. Some players who hadn't logged in yet hurriedly launched the game and rushed to Noel Town—afraid they'd miss their chance to meet him.
Even Dandao Dantart, still wandering in post-breakup numbness, was on his way. The name "Pioneer" hadn't rung a bell when he saw the post that morning, but the moment he saw that face that could charm both men and women, he recognized it instantly.
"Isn't this…Felix?!"
After earning some LMD, he immediately set out toward Kazimierz , hitchhiking along the way. Out of boredom, he tuned into a live broadcast with the title:
"Hundreds of Players and High-Level NPCs Killing Claw Beast and support Each Other!"
Curious, he clicked in—only to be blown away by Felix's dazzling combat skills. The fluorescence radiating from his coat alone was enough to make any man with a passion for high-tech mechas fall in love instantly.
Suddenly, regret washed over him. Why hadn't he learned more about Felix's class back then? If he had, maybe he would have picked the support system too.
Setting Dandao Dantart's regrets aside, the wave of interest spread like wildfire. Many players watching the stream—especially those who hadn't chosen a class yet—suddenly yearned for the support role.
Who says supports don't fight?
As a support, can't I rack up a few kills and take down a few enemies?
Huh? Why are you judging me?
Also watching the live broadcast was Bai Mi, coach of the Yanyu Pavilion professional team. He temporarily turned down the volume on his phone and turned his attention to Yan Fei, the star female player speaking to reporters.
Yan Fei, a household name among gamers in China, had made her mark in the MMORPG Swordsman, racking up numerous awards and even representing China to clinch the World Cup championship. She was the perfect blend of beauty and skill—every gamer's dream girl.
"Miss Yan Fei, are you planning to move into Ark in the future?"
"Contestant Yan Fei, what are your goals in Ark?"
"Contestant Yan Fei, what are your thoughts on the reorganization of Yanyu Pavilion after the Swordsman season?"
Sitting at the podium in a mask, the girl responded calmly to each reporter's question.
"Yanyu Pavilion has walked a long road in Swordsman, but we haven't left it behind. It was a place where golden rain fell for China. Yanyu Pavilion is a big family, and each team member is like family to me. Parting is inevitable. All I can do now is carry forward their beliefs."
"Ark is a mature next-generation MMORPG. I believe that both casual and professional players are excited about such a breakthrough in online gaming. The world-building and freedom in this game are immense, and the blend of classes and subclasses is diverse. For professional players, it's a challenge—but one we must overcome."
"Yanyu Pavilion has officially entered Ark. Our current goal is to secure a strong ranking in the national tournament. Looking ahead, we aim to represent China on the global stage and bring honor to our country."
"We fear no hardship, and we fear no challenge—because we are Yanyu Pavilion."
After the press conference, the once-imposing Yan Fei reclined on the sofa in the lounge, her energy visibly drained.
"Thank you for your hard work." Bai Mi handed her a glass of water.
He glanced at the live stream stats on his phone. A trending topic had just emerged: "Chinese Pro Players Join Ark", now topping the blog's popularity rankings.
In-game, she was the captain, but in real life, Yan Fei was just a first-year university student. Still, for the sake of her professional career, she had long dedicated herself entirely to gaming.
"About the team setup," Bai Mi began, folding his arms, "The World League just proposed a new rule: twelve players per group operation. Currently, Yanyu Pavilion has fifteen pro players—same as teams like Liquid Dynasty."
But Yan Fei wasn't listening. Her gaze was locked on Bai Mi's phone screen.
"Who's that?"
Bai Mi glanced down.
On-screen was a silent angelic figure, crossing himself before pulling the trigger on a monster lying at his feet.
"That's a high-level NPC. Players can encounter him in-game. He might even be a protagonist. It's essential to build rapport with him," Bai Mi replied with a slight cough. "Have you decided what kind of account you'll create?"
Although Yan Fei had yet to create her account, as a professional player backed by an entire support team, she would naturally be the first to enjoy priority access to LMD and rare equipment—giving her a significant advantage over regular players.
"Just a reminder—your chosen race and main class cannot be changed later. You must think carefully before making a decision," Bai Mi advised.
"I recommend going with the Sankta race. They have high adaptability with firearms and come with additional stat bonuses. As for your class, choose Sniper, which pairs well with Sankta. We can build a team composition around your role."
"What about support?" Yan Fei asked casually.
Bai Mi considered for a moment.
"As the team captain, you'll need to participate in the individual competition. So far, Sniper seems more viable than Support in that format… For now, just focus on creating your account. If possible, try to build good relationships with key NPCs in the game."
Yan Fei's clear eyes drifted once more to the angelic figure on screen. She simply responded with a noncommittal "Oh," offering no further opinion.
As the days passed, dozens of professional teams, both domestic and international, officially announced their participation in Ark. The gaming scene was instantly revitalized. Under the leadership of major esports teams, even casual fans who had been hesitant before began diving into the game. In just ten days, Ark's concurrent player count saw a significant spike.
The Ark development team spared no expense either. A new promotional video was released on the official site, introducing each major race and their unique cultures. With rich visuals and deep lore, players quickly found themselves captivated by the world's bleak beauty. Many subconsciously made decisions on which race they would choose, influenced by the video's storytelling.
Unaware of the stir he had caused, Felix quietly stood at the scene of the finished battle.
The ground was littered with the corpses of Claw Beasts, their green blood slowly soaking into the soil. Though many players had suffered minor wounds, none had been infected—a flawless victory.
Felix turned toward a nearby female player and said with calm authority:
"Adventurer, could you inform the mayor of Noel Town? The Claw Beast corpses and blood still need to be properly dealt with."
The player, who had just been thinking about sneaking a few screenshots for herself, blushed with surprise as a system prompt appeared in front of her—a new quest.
And the reward?
+1 Favorability from Felix.
Wow! So lucky!
The other players around her also looked on with a mix of awe and envy. But more than anything, they felt satisfied. Just participating in today's battle left them feeling euphoric—like winning that last ranked match before bed, the kind that made your whole night feel worthwhile.
Not to mention, the experience and item drops were generous.
As everyone checked their quest logs, they saw the message:
[Mysterious Man's Action] — Completed
The first place ranking went to the team from the Dingsheng Gaming Guild.
Second place, a temporary team under the name Paradise Chasing Dreams.
And third…
Wait—players paused.
Among the listed teams, they spotted a name that didn't seem to belong there.
"Is the The Pioneer part of the team too? I saw him listed under both Dingsheng and Dream Chaser's team."
"Of course! Without our pioneer giegie, how could we have won that easily?"
"I got the team bonus too. Honestly, I think it's totally fair to give the Finals MVP to the Pioneer."
"Isn't it normal for NPCs to join the team? This is the first MMORPG designed for young people, after all!"
Several members of the Dingsheng Game Guild approached Felix enthusiastically. They saluted, said a few flattering words, and hoped to leave a good impression—perhaps even tagging along with him for future rewards.
Meanwhile, Dream Chaser and his teammates were high-fiving, celebrating the hard-earned victory. A few high-level players turned their attention to Qiu Muyu, the newbie in their squad. They hadn't just benefited from Felix's team bonus, but also from Qiu Muyu's. Though her bonus wasn't as significant as the one from a high-level NPC, it was still impressive.
Just moments ago, she had been cutting up Claw Beast corpses with a knife. For a newcomer, her performance was nothing short of remarkable.
The players celebrated among themselves—this was the most fulfilling win since the server launched. As they reveled in their success, Felix stood off to the side with a faint Andoain smile.
He, too, had earned a massive reward from the experience prize pool.
Some of the top players may have noticed their reward percentages slightly reduced, but they weren't surprised. After all, in past online games, having an NPC in your party meant part of the EXP would go to them.
And in this bonus pool mission alone, Felix had gained 50,000 experience points from the top-ranked teams. As the saying goes: Even a pigeon leg, no matter how small, is still meat.
That night passed quietly.
Felix rested at the inn in Noel Town. The next morning, just as he stepped out of the hotel, he was blocked by the mayor and several townspeople. They held fruits and local foods in their hands, all smiling warmly.
Players nearby gathered, forming a curious crowd—this felt like watching a CG cutscene.
"Thank you, Mr. Sankta from the Holy City of Laterano," the old mayor said with a smile. "You've helped us eliminate our greatest threat. The Claw Beasts have long been a danger to Noel Town. Words cannot express our gratitude. Please accept this gift as a token of our friendship."
Felix has established a Friendly Relationship with Noel Town.
Reward: 10,000 LMD
"No need to thank me," Felix replied. He stepped forward, casting a kind gaze over the players watching nearby.
"If it weren't for these foreign adventurers, I alone could not have vanquished the Claw Beasts. I merely acted as a guide—it was they who fought with blood and steel."
At those words, the players stopped watching passively. The expressions of amusement faded, replaced by a soft warmth. Those who had joined the battle the night before felt a quiet sense of pride.
An NPC… one who stands up to speak for them.
"'Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity.' Please share these gifts with the adventurers—they are the ones who earned them."
Felix gently supported the mayor, stopping him from bowing in gratitude.
The players turned their gaze to the young man from Sankta, chatting easily with the old mayor.
This man….