CHAPTER 55: NOVA VIRTUAL SERVER OPEN

Three days later, the trial run for the Basic Governing Skill runic program was complete.

After supplementing various data and input responses, Nash stopped.

Opening the runic panel, he began to review his progress in the past few days.

———

[Void Saturation: 11.69%]

[Muscles: 7.8% — 7.8]

[Bone: 1.49% — 1.49]

[Internal Organs: 1.35% — 1.35]

[Blood: 1.5% — 0.15]

[Skin: 5.6% — 0.56]

[Heart: 5% — 0.05]

[Brain: 3% — 0.03]

[Eye: 110% — 0.11]

[Ear: 50% — 0.05]

[Tongue: 50% — 0.05]

[Nose: 50% — 0.05]

———

[Runic Program: 1,321/2,322 (red)]

[Muscles (650/650), Bone (206/206), Internal Organs (80/190), Heart (15/100), Brain (100/860), Sight (120/126), Touch (50/60), Hearing (30/40), Smell (30/40), Taste (30/50)]

———

"The Crimson Eye Astral Art is truly amazing!"

Looking at the runic panel, Nash saw that his saturation rate had increased by over 1% in just two weeks.

His eye saturation rate had even reached 110%.

The only problem was the cost.

Training 6 hours every day until his body reached its limits; in just two weeks, he had spent over a thousand void crystals to fund his training.

As a result, he had drained nearly all of the squad’s funds, leaving only a handful of void crystals.

Even if he wanted to stay and manage the Eastdam state, he simply didn’t have the means.

If he wanted to maintain this rapid training speed, he needed to earn void crystals fast.

The mining ship would still take months to return, leaving him with only one option—venturing into the Dark Plane.

Fortunately, the void signal had returned the day before.

He could finally take the test to get a battle badge and roam freely in the virtual realm.

"It’s time to take a test in the virtual world..."

Diving into the virtual dark pod, Nash entered the virtual world.

---

[Welcome, Nash Navre, to your personal space.]

Back in the familiar virtual world, Nash checked if he could access the Nova Sector Virtual Server.

[Accessing Nova Sector]

[Connecting to the virtual server...]

[Connected!]

[Do you wish to enter?]

"Yes."

---

Nova Sector Virtual Server:

The moment he entered, Nash was stunned.

Unlike the high-tech, towering cityscape he had imagined, the place was a blend of different cultures.

From the majestic Nova Government Building visible from anywhere to the endless tower stretching beyond sight and the variety of creatures in all shapes and sizes, it was overwhelming.

Just as he marveled at the spectacle, someone suddenly virtualized behind him, causing the two to bump into each other.

Thud!

Nearly falling to the ground, Nash frowned, glaring at the culprit.

"Lloyd Albrecht?" he muttered, recognizing the familiar figure.

Lloyd Albrecht was the rich kid they had rescued on their first mission.

Nearly dying on the way, Lloyd had left a lasting impression.

"Damn, don’t you know you should stay away from the spawn point as soon as you materialize?!" Lloyd scolded, turning to the ignorant fellow who nearly tripped him to death.

"Huh? Nash? It’s you!"

Seeing Nash’s undisguised face, Lloyd quickly recognized him.

"I haven’t seen you in a while." Nash greeted with a smile.

After being escorted to Astral City five years ago, Lloyd had started his legendary career.

With vast funds and a steady supply of void crystals, his business had grown rapidly.

Unfortunately, the chaos caused by the Earth Horizon Alliance had collapsed everything he had built.

Not having seen him for years, Nash was a little surprised.

"Long time no see." Lloyd greeted, seeing a long-lost friend.

"What brought you here?" Nash asked curiously.

"I’m here to start a business in the virtual world!" Lloyd said confidently.

Having received insider news, he knew Earth would soon gain autonomy.

With public transactions becoming possible, he saw an opportunity to establish himself in the virtual world.

"What kind of business?" Nash asked, not optimistic about his plan.

Even if Lloyd had millions of void crystals, establishing a foothold here was nearly impossible.

The competition here was too fierce. Without billions, if not trillions, of void crystals, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

"Of course, I know that,"

"I just plan to set up a film studio and shoot some movies on Earth."

With Earth’s cheap labor and vast cultural diversity, he was confident he could make money quickly.

"Then, good luck to you."

It was actually a solid idea; exporting films was cheap and repeatable.

If he found the right audience, Lloyd could make a fortune.

Of course, since Nash didn’t know the virtual world’s regulations on films, he remained skeptical.

"By the way, do you know where I can find the Nova Physical Center?"

"Huh? Why would you go there? Are you planning to enter the Dark Plane?!"

Earth’s top families have already explored the virtual world for decades.

Leaving Earth and the Arlean Civilization’s jurisdiction, they could legally conduct business in the virtual world.

This was where much of their wealth came from.

Free from the Arlean Civilization’s restrictions, they had abandoned their origins and sought shelter under other races.

Hearing Nash mention the Nova Physical Center, Lloyd could think of only one reason—the Dark Plane.

That place had only one function: officiating a warrior’s ranking and combat ability for the Nova Military.

More importantly, it controlled entry and exit to the Nova Sector Dimensional Battlefield in the Dark Plane.

"Why not? Is it dangerous?"

"Dangerous is an understatement! If you’re not a void warrior with 100% saturation, forget about setting foot in there!" Lloyd hurriedly warned.

The Albrecht family had tried their hand at the Dark Plane.

But aside from countless casualties, they gained nothing.

"100% saturation rate? But aren’t there areas for fledgling void warriors?"

"Hmph! Those are for veterans or prodigies. Without exceptional combat and survival skills, you’d be throwing your life away."

Most who entered the dark plane were either elites or prisoners forced to fight.

As a fellow Earthling with barely any resources or even the most basic astral manual to break through 100% saturation, Nash was in no position to take such risks.

But despite Lloyd’s warnings, Nash didn’t take them to heart.

He wouldn’t make decisions based on someone else’s fears.

"I still want to try..."

"Fine, if you insist. Anyway, without an exceptional fighting ability, one would have to be at a 30% saturation rate to even pass the qualification test for a 1-star badge."

"I know..."