The late-day light in South Glade spilled over the rooftops, casting warm gold across the town plaza. The central fountain shimmered gently, and the buzz of new players settling into the town was ever-present, yet distant.
Kaito stood waiting at the plaza's center.
One by one, his companions returned Mei Rin, Aika, Hiroto, Kaede, Suzune, and Daichi all refreshed and steady. Their eyes carried the subtle fatigue of effort, but also the alertness of purpose.
"All done?" Kaito asked calmly.
"We completed all the basic quests," Mei Rin answered. "And we received our advancement tasks from the instructors."
Kaito gave a short nod. "Then tell me. One at a time."
They did. Each described their quest in turn—gathering rare herbs, delivering cryptic items, seeking strange NPCs, or slaying particular monsters in remote areas. Kaito listened silently, not interrupting once.
Every one of them managed to trigger a hidden path. Good.
When the last had finished, Kaito spoke again.
"None of you should rush these quests. They're designed to trip you up or mislead you if you go in blindly. We'll tackle them together."
Then, he exhaled lightly and lowered his arms.
"But for now—we log out. Eat something. Rest. Then come back ready."
There was no disagreement. They'd been in-game for most of the day. The team dispersed quietly, returning to the studio lounge one by one.
Genesis Studio – Real World
The nutrient cabins opened in sequence, their internal lights dimming to standby mode. Kaito stepped out last, pulling a towel over his shoulders.
As Mei Rin stepped out of her cabin, brushing a few strands of hair from her cheek, several of her friends—still seated on the observation benches—turned toward her excitedly.
"Meeei Rin!" one of them called out, hurrying over. "So? How was it? First time playing inside one of those cabins!"
Another leaned in. "Was it really that different from the helmets? Don't lie—we're dying to know."
A few others giggled, crowding around her with curious eyes. They hadn't logged in today, all still following Kaito's instructions to continue their reflex drills until the rest of the group arrived after the 13th.
Mei Rin laughed softly and nodded. "It's definitely smoother than the helmets. You don't feel the weight at all… and the immersion is perfect. It's like your body really is inside the game."
"Did you get to fight anything crazy?"
She smiled. "We did a lot today. But it's not about action—it's about control. Kaito taught us that early."
A few of them exchanged glances, impressed.
"So, is he as intense in-game as he is out here?" one of them whispered teasingly.
Mei Rin blinked shyly, then laughed again. "Even more. But that's why we're learning from him, right?"
They quieted, nodding as the respect for their studio head set in again.
Kaito walked over to Aika and the cousins, who were removing their suits nearby.
"Heading back to the villa?" he asked.
Kaede shook his head. "No, we'll eat here. The chef you arranged is already prepping."
"I saw him earlier," Aika added. "Smells like he's making steamed dumplings tonight."
Kaito nodded approvingly. "Alright. Relax a bit. You've earned it."
He glanced at the wall clock.
"Jin," he called via his tab, "Prep one car. I'm returning to the villa."
"Yes, young master," came the crisp reply.
He turned to Lei, who stood by the door. "Stay here in case anything comes up."
"Understood."
With everything settled, Kaito left the studio and boarded the waiting hover sedan.
Ren Family Villa – Dinner Hall
By the time he arrived, the estate was glowing softly in the dusk. The main hall lights were on, and the scent of rice and herbs drifted from the side kitchens.
Kaito walked in through the family wing and made his way directly to the dining hall. Inside, his father, grandfather, grandmother, and uncles were already seated.
"You're just in time," his father said with a faint smile as Kaito took his place.
Dinner passed in quiet rhythm—gentle conversation, shared dishes, and the familiar warmth of home. No one asked about the studio, or his game. The topic stayed grounded in family and estate affairs.
After the final course was served, Kaito rose and made his way to the study out of habit.
Ren Villa – Study
The old study still smelled of parchment, lacquered wood, and soft tea. Kaito entered and crossed to the central table, where a few documents lay half-opened.
As he reviewed them, his grandfather entered behind him.
"You always come here after dinner," the old man said with a quiet chuckle. "Just like your father used to."
"It's a good place to think."
His grandfather settled in across from him. "That AI assistant you had installed—very useful. It helped me sort half the library today."
"I'm glad," Kaito replied.
A few moments later, Third Uncle entered, dressed in outdoor robes and still carrying a faint layer of dust from the courtyard.
"The recruitment's done," he said, getting straight to the point. "One hundred men. One hundred women. All selected."
Kaito glanced up. "That fast?"
"We started days ago. The AI ran full background checks—records, affiliations, cultivation history. Everyone cleared. No red flags."
"And their training?"
"Begins tomorrow. Martial field has been secured and prepped."
Kaito nodded. "Good work."
Then Second Uncle arrived, placing a datapad on the table. "The herbal institute preparations are also complete. The team is ready and with the help of the AI it was easy for me to do the background checks. Also the construction begins tomorrow morning."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Already coordinated with Mei's side?"
"Yes. Their family's handling it. Uncle Shen will supervise around the ruin site. No one will go near it."
Kaito allowed himself a deep breath. "Excellent."
Second Uncle smiled. "There's more. Two breakthroughs today."
Kaito's eyes widened slightly. "Who?"
His grandfather leaned back, lifting a teacup. "Your grandmother and I. Rank 3—at last."
Kaito blinked. "That's incredible."
Second Uncle added, "With the new techniques we've restored, it won't take long before more of us start rising. Even if only by a minor level."
Kaito bowed slightly to his grandfather. "Congratulations."
His grandfather waved it off" Don't be dramatic. But yes… it's a good day today."
As the meeting quieted, Kaito turned to leave—but paused at the doorway, another responsibility surfacing in his mind.
I still haven't arranged an instructor for the studio…
and there's only one person left to ask.
East Wing – Fourth Aunt's Room
Kaito walked down the quiet corridor to a familiar door and knocked lightly.
A calm voice answered, "Come in."
He entered. The room was sparsely decorated—scrolls neatly arranged, a training staff mounted on the wall, a small projection scroll open in her hand.
She looked up and smiled faintly. "It's rare to see you this late."
"I need your help," Kaito said, closing the door behind him.
"Oh?"
"I'm putting together a team at the studio. The others are advancing fast, and they'll need guidance. Real instruction. Third Uncle's already handling recruitment. You're the only one I trust to keep them grounded."
She raised an eyebrow. "So you're asking me to babysit your prodigies?"
He smirked. "Only if you think they'll cry."
She leaned back in her chair, then stood and crossed her arms. "I'll visit tomorrow. If the environment's good and they're not hopeless, I'll take it."
Kaito gave her a genuine nod. "That's all I need."
She smiled. "Then let's see how long they survive."
Kaito left the room quietly after exchanging a few parting words. The lights of the Ren family villa dimmed gently as he made his way through the western corridor, nodding briefly at passing maids and aides. Now his thoughts were elsewhere—fixed once more on the world waiting behind a digital veil.
By the time he reached the outer driveway, Jin was already standing beside the vehicle ready.
"Studio?" Jin asked, opening the rear hatch.
Kaito nodded. "Let's go."
As they pulled away from the villa gates, the road shifted beneath them—repaving automatically as the car glided forward, responding to the onboard AI's clearance. Trees blurred past, streetlights recalibrated, and distant towers glowed beneath the night-haze skyline.
He didn't speak much on the way back.
Fifteen minutes later, the car came to a soft hover outside the Genesis Dome's west entrance. The doors parted with a hiss, and Kaito stepped in, nodding to Jin.
The studio was quieter now.
When Kaito stepped through the main corridor, the central lounge lights had dimmed to their nighttime hue. Most of the support staff and Mei Rin's friends had already retired to the guest wing to rest. The nutrient cabins stood silent in a row, awaiting their next sync.
Only six figures remained in the side discussion area near the glass console wall—Aika, Hiroto, Mei Rin, Kaede, Daichi and Suzune. They were seated casually, chatting over warm mugs, a tablet open between them showing the Glory Forum.
They looked up as Kaito approached.
"Welcome back, Brother," Aika greeted, smiling.
Kaito paused for a moment, scanning their faces. "Everyone else asleep?"
"Yeah," Suzune replied. "They all went to rest after their dinner."
Kaito nodded once, then turned toward the central chamber.
"Come on. Gear up—we're logging in."
Still wearing his training jacket, Kaito entered his private chamber. The lights adjusted to his biometric signature, and the central console lit up with soft pulses.
"Cabin readiness: Green," the AI whispered in his ear.
The quiet dome, the soft interior light, the subtle hum of the energy grid. Everything felt in place.
Sliding into the cabin, he lay down and let the mechanism seal around him.
[Neural Sync Initiating…]
[Glory Integration: Success]
[Welcome back, Raen.]