The field they woke up in was too perfect.
Grass shimmered with dew that never evaporated. The sky overhead was a velvet-blue canvas, studded with slow-moving stars that pulsed with an unnatural rhythm. A cracked moon hung in the sky like a broken eye, watching silently. Everything looked real… too real. More vivid than even the best VR rendering.
Drathan knelt and touched the grass. It resisted like real turf, soft and elastic. No texture glitches, no pixelation. It smelled faintly of mint and smoke.
"Okay," he muttered. "Definitely not just another zone."
Kenshin was already pacing in a wide arc around their location, scanning the horizon. Seme stood with her arms crossed, her new sword planted in the soil beside her like it belonged to the earth itself.
"We're not in the game anymore," she said.
Drathan grunted. "Yeah. I figured that out when I blinked and didn't see my HUD."
Just then, a faint chime rang out in their ears. A blue notification hovered briefly in the sky like a projection on glass.
[Welcome to Eltaria]
Status: Divine Summoned
Alignment: Unknown
Restrictions Applied: Custom
"Okay," Drathan muttered. "That's new."
Kenshin finally stopped pacing. "Do we know where the hell we're supposed to go? Or do we just… start walking until a cutscene triggers?"
Before anyone could answer, a glowing symbol appeared midair—a compass-like glyph made of golden rings and floating runes. It spun once, locked into place, and pointed northeast.
"Aria's sending us breadcrumbs now?" Drathan said.
"Better than wandering blind," Seme replied.
The trio followed the floating compass symbol, leaving the soft field behind. Their path curved into a light forest with enormous crystal-barked trees. Leaves shimmered like stained glass. Occasionally, flickers of white birds blinked into visibility then vanished again—data ghosts or some ethereal species, it was hard to say.
Drathan walked at the rear, inspecting his golden wristband. The thing pulsed faintly and occasionally buzzed like a cooldown timer.
"So, yeah," he muttered. "Still restricted. My stats are capped at like... player level 20. It's like trying to run God Mode on a tutorial build."
"Better than being deleted entirely," Seme said without turning.
"Is it?" Drathan retorted. "Because at least deleted characters don't feel wind chill in their underwear."
They marched on until the forest thinned and a cliffside came into view. Below, nestled in a valley of glowing rivers and scattered ruins, was a city. Not a fantasy town—but a sprawl of floating towers, obsidian bridges, and hovering platforms. Everything moved on invisible tracks, powered by magic or tech—or both.
Above the city, a banner hung suspended in the sky itself, like part of the environment.
[Sanctum of the Chosen]
Kenshin let out a low whistle. "Now that looks like a quest hub."
"I see vendors," Seme added. "And blacksmiths. I think we're meant to restock here."
"And," Drathan said with narrowed eyes, "possibly get more exposition dumped on us."
The floating compass disappeared as they descended a staircase carved into the cliffside. Just as they hit the first landing, something shimmered at the edge of their vision—a presence.
It wasn't Aria.
A cloaked figure stood on the path ahead, their face masked by a hood etched with runes. Unlike the radiant aura Aria projected, this person radiated tension—like a violin string drawn too tight.
"Another divine?" Kenshin asked.
The figure raised one hand and removed their hood.
A man. Human-looking. Silver-eyed, with dark veins creeping from the corners of his mouth. He looked… incomplete. Like a corrupted file trying to maintain shape.
"You're the glitched one," he said to Drathan.
"Takes one to know one," Drathan shot back.
The man's gaze shifted to Seme and Kenshin. "You're not ready. She's feeding you gifts, but not the truth."
"And you are?" Seme asked, hand on her sword.
"I'm what's left of the last patch," he said. "The update she couldn't roll back."
He flicked something toward Drathan. A pixelated card, black with crimson text, landed in his hand.
[You have obtained: Unknown Class Branch – ???]
Before anyone could speak again, the figure dissolved—glitching apart into static.
"What the hell was that?" Kenshin asked, stepping forward.
"A bug," Drathan said, turning the card over. "Or a backup. I don't know."
Behind them, the city gates slowly opened.
—
After a short visit and collecting minor supplies, they agreed to split up temporarily to scout the surrounding region.
"I'll circle west and loop back through the trees," Drathan said, checking a small enchanted compass they'd been issued.
"East," Kenshin said. "I want to see how my lightning works in this world."
Seme simply nodded. "North. Terrain looks elevated. Better view."
They parted ways.
Drathan's path led him through dense woodlands. Tall twisted trees, roots that spiraled unnaturally, and distant, low growls that hinted at something watching. He stayed light on his feet, adjusting to the feeling of being weaker than usual.
After about thirty minutes, his foot crunched a branch—and that's when he heard it.
"Come on, you damn cow freaks!"
It was Kenshin.
Drathan broke into a sprint, weaving through the trees until he burst into a wide clearing—and froze.
Seme was bruised but still standing, sword drawn. Kenshin was fending off three hulking minotaurs with crackling fists. They were surrounded by a dozen more, all keeping formation around a throne of stone and bone.
Sitting on it: a massive Minotaur King.
Drathan cracked his knuckles. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."
He flung out his hand, letting the void slip through his fingers like liquid smoke. A minotaur on the edge of the ring vanished in a flash of purple.
Kenshin grinned. "Took you long enough!"
"Was trying to enjoy the scenery," Drathan replied.
The fight was messy but exhilarating. It forced them to re-test their new powers. Seme's sword could slice through armor like paper, but it drained her stamina fast. Kenshin was raw speed and elemental fury, but his control wavered with emotion. Drathan's void was precise—but its power scale fluctuated unpredictably with the restriction.
After clearing the last of the beasts, they finally collapsed around the Minotaur King's body.
"Okay," Kenshin gasped, "now I believe this place is real."
Drathan nodded. "I felt that punch in my kidneys."
Seme was already pulling a rolled map from her satchel. "We're here," she said, tapping a corner of the parchment. "We follow the road east and hit a town in about two hours."
"Good," Drathan said. "I want a real bed. And beer."
The trio gathered their gear and started walking until the woods gave way to a cobbled road. As they followed it into the setting sun, they began to see signs of civilization—farms, wagons, travelers.
When they reached the town gates, a bored-looking guard looked up.
"State your business?"
"Adventurers," Seme replied.
"Looking for work," Kenshin added.
"And a damn good tavern," Drathan finished.
The guard smirked and stepped aside.
"Welcome to Tierwyn."