After running for what seemed like forever, Adrian fell to the ground the very second he managed to make it through the city walls along with the other people that arrived with him.
On his knees, he stared at the ground in pure shock. More and more people entered the gates behind him, murmuring to one another with tension thick in the air.
'Fuck. This isn't a dream...'
Adrian glanced at the injury on his leg. The blood had completely soaked his trousers and was already dripping to the ground.
That was no dream.
He had ignored the pain for a while, pushing through it with nothing but the desperate need to make it inside the city gates. But now that he was getting a good look at it, now that the adrenaline was fading and the reality of the wound was settling in, it truly hurt.
But even more than that. Even more than the blood dripping down his leg or the sting that pulsed through his flesh with every heartbeat...
...Was the sight of the people who were not as lucky.
The ones who could not make it into the city like he did.
From where he was kneeling, he could see their dead bodies being dragged into the far distance by the goblins as the city gates began to close. Lifeless. Gone. Just like that.
Adrian squinted at the sight, because deep down, he knew that could have been him.
'This isn't a dream. Heh, this is real life. Surely, I am not the only one that must have noticed what game this is, right?'
He raised his head a bit to look at the rest of the survivors.
And he was right.
The look on their faces showed they understood exactly what was going on.
Most of them looked to be young adults. There were only a few young ones and fully grown adults among the crowd. As such, there was a high chance they too had played the game at some point.
Normally, they should have been panicking. Screaming. Losing their minds. '
But seeing how calm they were, whispering to one another with wide eyes and clenched fists, it was clear they too must have realized it as well.
'We are inside the game. Eternal Throne Online.'
Before Adrian could complete his thoughts, the knights that had come to save them all appeared at the very front of the plaza.
They were still mounted on their horses, with a single carriage stationed at the very back.
A single soldier dismounted from his horse and stood at the front, positioning himself as though he was about to address the crowd.
"Good day, people from afar."
The knight began.
It was the same knight that had saved Adrian from being murdered by the goblin.
He had long blonde hair and carried a silver sword at the side of his waist, along with a fully armored body covered from neck to toe in steel. Even just standing there, the man radiated authority.
People all turned to him instantly, almost like they had been waiting for something like this to happen.
Which, of course, was not too far-fetched to think about.
They were confused and needed answers. All of them.
Considering how many there were, enough to fill up such a large plaza from end to end, everyone fell silent so they could hear what the knight had to say.
The knight continued.
"I know many of you are confused as to what is going on right now. Your questions are not met with deaf ears, this I assure you. My name is Alexendra Violent the Third, and I am a knight of the Royal Empire, Vladash."
This alone confirmed everything.
Just like in the game, the starting empire was indeed the Empire of Vladash.
The look on everyone's faces shifted. It bounced from total sadness at the further realization, to a hint of excitement, and even more so, fear.
The kind of fear that came with understanding exactly where you were, and knowing just how dangerous it could get.
"I have saved you, like many others before you, but I am not from your world. Neither is my knowledge of the matter that good, which is why she will be the one to address you."
Alexendra pointed at the carriage behind him and cleared the way.
The carriage door opened, and from within, a woman stepped out.
She was dressed rather well. A single look could tell anyone she was wealthy and probably came from a position of power.
Her red dress fell down to her knees, and her blonde hair was styled to the front, highlighting a beautiful necklace that rested just above her collarbone.
As soon as she stepped down from the carriage, she took her time and looked around the crowd before her, scanning every face as though she was measuring each one of them.
The moment she appeared, she had already grabbed the attention of everyone out there.
Even more so, the system notification floating above her head was quick to be noticed.
[Name: Veronica Rawols.
Level: 45.]
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd almost instantly.
"Level 45? How the hell is she Level 45?"
"Is she a player? She has to be, right? She has a system tag."
"That's insane... the highest I've seen so far is that knight, and he's only Level 30."
Adrian's eyes narrowed as he stared at her notification. Level 45. That was not a number anyone could reach in a few days, or even a few weeks.
Whoever this woman was, she had been in this world for a long time. Long enough to have built herself into something far beyond what any of the new arrivals could even dream of.
Veronica waited for the murmurs to die down.
She did not rush them.
When the plaza was quiet again, she spoke.
"I will keep this brief, because I know you are tired, scared, and hurt. Many of you have already figured out where you are. For those who have not, let me make it clear."
She paused, letting her eyes sweep across the crowd once more.
"You are inside the game known as Eternal Throne Online. This is not a simulation. This is not a server. You are physically here, in body and soul. The world you came from, the lives you had, are behind you. As of this moment, this is your reality."
Silence.
Not the kind that comes from understanding. The kind that comes from having the last thread of hope cut.
Some people already knew. Adrian already knew.
But hearing it spoken out loud, by someone with a Level 45 tag floating above her head and the confidence of a person who had long since accepted it, was different. It made it real in a way that internal suspicion never could.
A young man near the front of the crowd raised his trembling hand. "Can we go back? Is there a way to return to Earth?"
Veronica looked at him. There was no sympathy in her expression, but there was no cruelty either. Just the steady gaze of someone who had heard the same question a hundred times before.
"No. Not that we know of. People from Earth have been arriving in this world for almost five months now. Not a single person has found a way back. If one exists, it has not revealed itself to anyone."
The trembling hand lowered. The young man's face crumbled.
Another voice from the crowd. Louder this time. Angrier. "Then what the hell are we supposed to do? Just live here? Fight monsters until we die?"
Veronica did not flinch.
"Yes. That is exactly what you are supposed to do. Survive. Get stronger. Build something worth protecting. That is what every person who arrived before you has done, and it is what every person who arrives after you will have to do."
She let those words sit for a moment, then continued.
"This world operates on a class system. If you have not already done so, you can access your system menu by focusing your thoughts on the word 'menu.' Your class will be displayed there. It is assigned to you by the system itself, and it determines the skills you will learn, the role you will play, and in many cases, the people who will be willing to work alongside you."
People began tapping the air, swiping at invisible screens. Some whispered their results to each other. Some celebrated quietly. Others went pale.
Adrian did not move.
He already knew his menu was there. He had seen the notifications since the moment he woke up. But something in the pit of his stomach told him to wait. To not look yet.
Veronica continued, her voice cutting through the rising noise.
"The Empire of Vladash has established a system of support for new arrivals. You will be given food, temporary shelter, and basic equipment. However, this is not charity. Within three days, every one of you will be expected to register with the Adventurer's Guild, form or join a party, and begin contributing. Those who cannot or will not fight will be assigned labor roles within the city."
She paused again, and this time, her expression shifted. Just barely. A slight tightening around her eyes.
"I will not lie to you. The early days are the hardest. Many of the people who arrived before you did not survive their first week. The world outside these walls does not care about your feelings, your past, or your potential. It only cares about what you can do right now. So I suggest you figure that out quickly."
The crowd was still. Not calm. Still. The kind of stillness that comes when a large group of people are all processing the same terrible truth at the same time.
Veronica turned slightly toward Alexendra, as if to signal that she was done with the general address. But before she stepped back, she added one more thing.
"One last matter. For those of you who received a class, cherish it. Train it. Master it. Your class is the single most valuable thing you own in this world."
Her eyes moved across the crowd, slow and deliberate, as though she could see every system tag floating above every head.
"And for those of you who did not receive one..."
She did not finish the sentence.
She did not have to.
The silence that followed said everything.
Adrian sat there on the ground, blood still dripping from his leg, his fists clenched against the stone beneath him.
....
[A/n]
If you like this book so far, please do not forget to add it to your library. Also, your powerstones would be very much appreciated. Thank you for reading.