Time flew by.
Midnight passed, the sun climbed high, and at noon a large group of players hurried to the Midnight Chamber in Blood Eagle Corridor.
They had learned on the forum that new players would be entering the game around this time. And because of True Otherworld's peculiar invitation-only system, they'd all come to "welcome the newlyweds."
As usual, Murphy was keeping track of the time in the Midnight Chamber. When the countdown hit zero, he deftly cast "Otherworld Summoning." His Black Iron-tier elite template, combined with the psychic pool that had expanded as he continued to unlock his potential, let him complete the synchronization between the physical bodies and psychic projections of seventy new players in a single attempt.
The seventy little players—short, tall, fat, and thin—had already settled into the most comfortable positions in the other world. Meow Brother's guide to properly calibrating the game helmets had been pinned to the forum, and the players had had plenty of time to personalize their settings since receiving their helmets.
A flash of light shimmered across the quasi-VR interface. Everyone saw the starry sky streak past, then opened their eyes amid a faint sensation of weightlessness.
After a remarkably smooth transition, the world before them slowly came into focus.
With their first breath, they took in the Midnight Chamber's dim yet unobstructed interior. Mysterious paintings and carvings created the distinctive atmosphere of the Midnight Nobles.
Torches and lamps lit along the walls guided their gaze. As they felt their minds settle perfectly into their new bodies, they began their gaming careers.
The new players burst into exclamations. Some immediately scrambled to their feet and bounced around, while others cautiously studied their surroundings.
Everyone here had spent at least a week on the forum, reading the veterans' posts every day.