Meanwhile.
In Jade Capital, a coastal city in the eastern Nine Provinces.
As the largest coastal city with the longest defensive line, this vast steel metropolis had long been shrouded in gloom and tension. Its scenery had remained unchanged for ages.
But just minutes ago.
Something strange had happened without warning in the square at the city's center.
BOOM!!!
With a deafening roar, the void rippled like water.
Then a colossal gate, dozens of meters tall and formed from unknown giant timbers meshed with rough mechanical gears, descended into the middle of the square.
Vibrant green vines wound around it. Through its open archway came a gentle breeze carrying the scent of sunshine and sea air.
"What is that?!!"
"A system update?!"
66
Countless soldiers on the front line witnessed it.
Alarms rang out across the city. Soldiers who had been resting and High Sequence players stationed there sprang for their weapons.
Everyone was on edge.
However.
The tension did not last long.
Orders soon came down.
"Cancel the alarm!!!"
"Switch to routine observation."
"That's the physical entrance to a new instance created by Lu Xiu!!!"
The soldiers and players on the front line stared at the shimmering gate, stunned by the explanation.
A new instance from that Architect?
A physical entrance?
Before they could collect themselves.
A system announcement followed.
[Server-wide announcement] [The new instance Monster Hunter is now live!] [The physical entrance is open and its coordinates have been updated. Entering through the physical entrance will raise the instance's rating to Mythic Grade.]
It was a global announcement, too.
Players in every region heard it.
A Mythic Grade instance!
True, it would only be Mythic Grade for those who entered through the physical entrance.
But no player had expected this.
Countless players gaped.
Then.
Unprecedented excitement