CHAPTER 155: MASS EXTRACTION [2] REAL WORLD

In its second week since the official launch, Realm of Ascendency had successfully overtaken High Fantasy Online to become the most played game in the history of the world.

The total player base had now reached 100 million across all servers, and the number continued to climb higher and higher.

This surge drove many rival gaming companies into bankruptcy when users experienced Realm of Ascendency’s superior graphics.

"It’s as if we’re transported into a living, breathing world—something that wasn’t expected to happen for at least another hundred years," a newscaster said, his face full of admiration.

"If not for our ability to respawn, if I woke up there I might actually think it was the real world!"

Throughout the second week, every news and sports channel was buzzing endlessly about the game.

"What kind of technology did they use to create such a masterpiece? In recent games, there are always glitches, and the AI is terrible—mixing things up. But Realm of Ascendency feels even more real than our own world. I don’t know if you understand what I’m trying to say?"

But there weren’t only praises about the game—wild theories began to spread as well.

"Rumors say the technology is alien, taken from Area (), and that the aliens are slowly taking over the minds of everyone who plays the game," said a man with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept for days.

"That’s wild... you all make a big deal out of everything," replied a lanky individual with a nonchalant look on his face. "Realm of Ascendency is the work of the world’s greatest scientists. Why do people always assume any grand technological breakthrough must come from extraterrestrials?"

"Bro, if you played this game you’d know what I’m talking about! That world is alive and breathing! The NPCs have personalities of their own. Even after logging out, the world doesn’t pause—it keeps moving! And you’re trying to say a bunch of old scientists crea—"

At that moment, the television was switched off inside what appeared to be a large meeting room.

Inside, several individuals in suits sat around the table, all of them staring at the tall man in the middle.

This man was Albert—the head manager of High Fantasy Online.

"Sir," one of them spoke up.

"Yes," Albert replied, turning his piercing hunter-like eyes toward the speaker, making the man gulp nervously.

Albert was in his early fifties and still quite handsome, which meant that in his prime he had been the kind of man who could get any woman he wanted.

But now, that handsome face was marred by dark circles and stress.

And the cause of that stress? None other than the nightmare of High Fantasy Online... Realm of Ascendency.

"What do you have to say, Developer Kim?" he asked in an impatient tone.

Developer Kim swallowed once, then twice, before mustering the courage to speak.

"Sir, what if Realm of Ascendency is outselling High Fantasy because we’re still following the traditional method of gaming?"

At those words, Albert raised an eyebrow.

Developer Kim chose his words carefully as he continued.

"Just like the media personnel said, Realm of Ascendency is a living, breathing world—unlike High Fantasy Online, which only revolves around the players and caters to their needs.

"The world of Realm of Ascendency functions independently. It doesn’t stall for players or wait for them. It’s as if they were dropped into another Earth, convincing the inhabitants that they’re otherworlders—or travelers, or whatever term fits best."

Albert narrowed his eyes. "In essence, you’re saying we should develop a world like that too?"

"That sounds easy to say, but we’d have to burn billions of dollars to bring something of that caliber to life," another person argued.

"The money isn’t the issue." Albert, being one of the world’s wealthiest men, could afford to invest billions into a project.

But the real problem was... how would they gather the resources and people to develop a world that functioned like a true replica of Earth?

"I’m sure that one-eyed bastard won’t give away his secrets," Albert muttered with a frown, thinking about the man who had kept him awake for the last two weeks.

’Where did he even come from?’ Albert had been in the gaming industry for a long time, with his company reigning as number one for years, steadily building influence.

Yet he knew nothing about the developers of Realm of Ascendency. It felt as though they had appeared out of nowhere overnight.

Everything about their rise—and their technology—made no sense.

---

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Realm of Ascendency, on the top floor where the lights were purposefully dimmed, a man with a single spectacle sat watching the news.

Behind him stood someone any player—or Gabriel himself—would instantly recognize: IceQueen, guild leader of the ChaosKnight Guild.

The news continued to display the hype surrounding Realm of Ascendency, but the man with the spectacle wasn’t smiling. His expression was unreadable as he leaned back in his chair.

IceQueen finally broke the silence, her voice trembling with frustration. "Father... you need to do something about him."

The man didn’t respond immediately. He simply adjusted the spectacle resting on his face and gave her a calm glance. "Him?"

"You know who I’m talking about!" IceQueen snapped, her usual calm and composed aura nowhere to be found. "That NPC—Broken Heaven! He’s becoming unstoppable. He’s ruined my guild’s reputation over and over again, and now the entire player base is worshiping him as some kind of legend!"

"Do you really care about the guild, or your pride?" the man asked, shifting his focus back to the screen.

IceQueen bit her lip. Since she had failed to land a hit on Gabriel during their clash, whatever deal she had with her brother was now ()

That was why she had turned to the only person who could help her.

Through gritted teeth, she finally said, "Both! If this continues, he’ll ruin everything I’ve built. Father, please. You’re the only one who can do something. Nerf him. Reduce his stats, I don’t care—just weaken him before he becomes a threat even to the balance of the game itself."

The man simply shook his head. "If only it were that easy, my dear."

"How? It should be easy. A little tinkering, and I’m sure you can weaken him," she frowned.

"You don’t need to worry yourself," the man said, rising to his feet. "I’ve already made arrangements to get rid of him... to make sure he doesn’t interfere with our plans."