Playing Through the Story

Vernacular Poet steadied himself, then said, "I'll go brief them, then head back to the city to find the goddess."

Windchaser raised her hand high. "Got it~"

Silver Wolf, meanwhile, was considering something. What is the Abyss?

That attack had clearly shattered the other side completely. All that remained were scraps, yet it really seemed impossible to kill it?

Logically speaking, even if I held back, I shouldn't have failed to kill it instantly. Does it have a health lock?

That was the only conclusion Silver Wolf could reach. Just as she finished thinking—

Vernacular Poet returned. "I've explained things to the elders and Elena. Let's head back to the city."

The others clearly gathered closer together, and Silver Wolf understood, so she moved over as well.

Vernacular Poet counted down. "Three, two, one, go!"

A flash of white light passed by, and everyone appeared on a lawn before an enormous estate.

"Wolf Venerable, this is Platinum Courtyard."

Silver Wolf crossed her arms. "Whoa, so this is a player guild? Pretty grand. Don't tell me it's the number one guild in the entire game?"

"Ahaha..." Windchaser scratched her head. "It is..."

Sunken Crow remained silent beside them.

At that moment, a female player in a long coat patterned with black roses descended the estate steps.

She held a black umbrella in her hand.

It wasn't raining.

Yet the umbrella was still open, with faint dark-red streams of light hanging from its edges. Two Platinum Courtyard members followed behind her, one looking like a guard and the other like a recorder.

Silver Wolf looked up.

The other woman's information surfaced above her head.

[Player ID: Flower Binder]

[Level: 68]

[Class: Night Oath Officer]

[Status: Good]

Flower Binder's gaze swept over Vernacular Poet first, then moved to Sunken Crow and Windchaser before finally stopping on Silver Wolf.

It paused for a moment—not long.

But Silver Wolf noticed. She chewed bubble gum without saying anything.

Flower Binder soon turned back to Vernacular Poet. "What was the situation at the time?"

Vernacular Poet nodded. "You'll know once you watch the video."

Flower Binder was serious, like she was at work. "Give me a general outline first."

Vernacular Poet glanced around.

Several Platinum Courtyard members nearby had already noticed them, and even the skill explosions from the distant training grounds had paused a few times.

"Fine, let's go inside first." Flower Binder put away her black umbrella. "Follow me."

She turned and led the way.

Windchaser had only taken two steps when the guard beside her suddenly lowered his head in salute. "Miss Chasing Wind."

Windchaser stopped.

Silver Wolf looked at her.

Vernacular Poet looked at her too.

Sunken Crow had no reaction, as though he had known all along.

Windchaser coughed. "Ahem, don't call me that."

The guard said earnestly, "The guild leader instructed us that if you returned to the Courtyard, we had to notify her immediately."

Windchaser's expression instantly froze. "You can pretend you didn't see me."

The guard fell silent.

Flower Binder turned back, her tone calm. "Sorry, Miss Chasing Wind. I already notified her."

Windchaser: "..."

Silver Wolf looked at her. "Someone you know?"

Windchaser's eyes drifted away. "Yeah..."

Vernacular Poet said, "Her sister."

Silver Wolf thought carefully, seeming to recall hearing that before. "Oh."

Silver Wolf looked at the enormous estate, then at Windchaser. "No wonder."

Windchaser immediately became alert. "No wonder what?"

"I can sense that rich young lady vibe from you."

Windchaser: "..."

Sunken Crow coughed softly.

Vernacular Poet turned his face away, clearly holding back laughter.

Flower Binder seemed to smile as well, but quickly returned to her calm expression. "Let's discuss business first."

The group crossed the courtyard.

Platinum Courtyard was even more like a complete base than Silver Wolf had imagined.

Outside was an estate.

Inside, however, were training grounds, potion rooms, a quest hall, teleportation arrays, an archive tower, and a life-profession district.

Players came and went. As Silver Wolf looked around, everyone she saw was a player.

The number one in the game? There should also be a number one player in the whole game.

She looked toward the tall tower at the center of Platinum Courtyard. Their facilities are pretty complete.

Flower Binder led them into a reception room, where a semi-transparent map had already been spread across the long table.

The map showed the Emerald Giant Forest. The location of World Tree Branch Shadow was marked with a red circle.

Flower Binder sat down. "Go ahead."

Vernacular Poet got straight to the point. "The Forest Moon God has been entangled by the Abyss."

The room fell silent for an instant.

Flower Binder's expression finally changed. She looked at Vernacular Poet. "Really?"

Vernacular Poet nodded. "It's in the recording."

Flower Binder did not press further right away.

She raised a hand, signaling for the recorder behind her to begin recording. "Continue."

Vernacular Poet quickly recounted what had happened. He spoke fast, but did not exaggerate anything.

Silver Wolf leaned against the back of her chair, listening as he condensed everything into an intelligence report.

Windchaser tried to interrupt several times, but Vernacular Poet silenced her each time with a look.

Once Vernacular Poet finished, Flower Binder did not speak immediately. She looked at Windchaser. "Miss Chasing Wind, can you send over a copy of the recording?"

Windchaser immediately nodded. "OK."

She pulled up the recording and projected it directly onto the tabletop.

At first, the footage was normal.

Inside the World Tree—the black-red corruption, Lumina, and the Forest Moon God's voice.

Then, at the end, the image was suddenly swallowed by blue pixels.

Rainbow data-light wings spread from Silver Wolf's back, dragging the entire interior of the World Tree into a blue-violet data domain. Then that pitch-black eyeball emerged from the depths of a rift, only to be bitten apart in one bite by a gigantic pixel Emoji.

The projection stopped there. No one in the room spoke, and the recorder's fingers froze in midair.

The guard looked at Silver Wolf as well.

Flower Binder's eyes widened abruptly, as though she could not believe it. Her gaze repeatedly shifted over Silver Wolf, who only reached her chest. "This?"

Silver Wolf raised a hand. "Ah... I'm just an ordinary NPC passing by."

Flower Binder stared at her. "You... this... you tore apart an Abyssal Projection just like that?"

"Not that strong."

Windchaser immediately nodded. "That's right! Wolf Venerable even said it was just a roadside trash mob."

Flower Binder: "..."

Silver Wolf glanced at Windchaser.

Windchaser grew embarrassed under her gaze and said quietly, "I'm just telling the truth..."

Flower Binder fell silent for a moment, then let out a soft breath. "The guild leader will be here soon."

Windchaser's expression froze again. "No way. That fast?"

"Miss Chasing Wind, this isn't some minor matter of you sneaking off to... pioneer an area." Flower Binder's tone remained steady. "This concerns the game's main storyline."

Windchaser opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Vernacular Poet looked at Silver Wolf. "Wolf Venerable, do you have any thoughts on the Abyss or the World Tree?"

Silver Wolf was staring at the Emerald Giant Forest map on the table. "My turn, huh—The Abyss can take a beating."

Flower Binder immediately looked at her.

Silver Wolf raised a hand and tapped the location of World Tree Branch Shadow. "What I smashed was its projection. As for the source, I don't seem to know either."

Vernacular Poet said softly, "Indeed. The Forest Moon God also said the Abyss received aid from beyond this world."

Silver Wolf's gaze shifted slightly as she thought of Aha.

It can't be the Elation God's doing, right?

Flower Binder recorded those words. "Aid from beyond this world..." She looked up. "This matter cannot be made public."

Flower Binder continued in a low voice, "If the news gets out, everyone will crowd into the Emerald Giant Forest."

Sunken Crow said mildly, "Wolf Venerable mentioned that some residue remained."

Silver Wolf looked at him.

Sunken Crow continued, "That place should spawn monsters."

Vernacular Poet added, "Remember to send people over later."

Flower Binder nodded. "Understood."

Silver Wolf understood—the Abyssal corruption itself was a disaster, but for players, it also meant experience and dungeons.

She smiled faintly. "Turning a disaster into a dungeon."

Flower Binder stood up. "I'll go meet the guild leader."

She looked at Vernacular Poet. "You all stay here." Then she looked at Windchaser. "Miss Chasing Wind, please rest where you are."

Windchaser: "..."

Silver Wolf was about to lean back in her chair to rest when Flower Binder suddenly looked at her.

"Miss Silver Wolf."

Silver Wolf raised her eyes. "Hm?"

"If you don't mind, you can rest at Platinum Courtyard for a while first."

Silver Wolf raised an eyebrow. "You're inviting me?"

Flower Binder nodded. "Yes."

She paused. "Just from your brief appearance earlier, some scouts have already spotted you."

Windchaser immediately added—

"The highly upvoted section, too."

Vernacular Poet took a sip of tea and chimed in.

"'Mysterious NPC encountered inside Platinum Guild,' 'Suspected hidden story clue,' 'Who's this short, adorable girl?' and 'Is this mysterious NPC a GM?'"

Sunken Crow spoke blandly.

"And, 'Offering a fortune for a guide to raising her affection.'"

Silver Wolf: "..."

Windchaser could not hold back her laughter.

Flower Binder's lips curved up slightly as well. "Anyway, the guild leader wants to meet you too."

Silver Wolf looked at the others, then shrugged after a moment. "Fine."

After Flower Binder left, the room was quiet for a while.

Windchaser slumped over the table, her voice weak. "It's over."

Vernacular Poet took a sip of tea.

"Do you mean the Abyss, or your sister?"

"Both are over."

Sunken Crow sat to one side, lowering his head as he wiped his short blade. "Then your sister's danger is probably closer."

Windchaser covered her face. "Sunken Crow, stop talking."

Silver Wolf leaned against the back of her chair, watching them.

They had just seen a god, the Abyss, and a Level 999 form.

Yet now they were talking about this, without the slightest tension. They really were players.

After all, they can revive.

She lowered her head and opened her panel.

[Silver Wolf]

[Cartridge Level 60 (Roleplay Raises Level)]

[Hidden: Unknown Save Cartridge Level 999]

[Load: Medium]

[Status: Continue Resting]

[Blessing: Forest Moon God]

[Cartridge Remaining Time: 21s]

[May You Remain Weak Forever]

Twenty-one seconds remained on the Cartridge.

The "assistance from beyond the world" mentioned by the Forest Moon God had yet to be figured out.

Silver Wolf closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. "How long will your president take?"

Vernacular Poet glanced toward the door. "I don't know."

Windchaser's muffled voice came from beneath her arm.

"I hope it takes as long as possible."

The next second, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Very light ones.

Yet they made Windchaser sit bolt upright.

Vernacular Poet silently set down his teacup.

Sunken Crow put away his short blade.

Silver Wolf opened her eyes.

The door to the sitting room was pushed open.

A woman with long silver-white hair stood in the doorway.

She wore a long coat from the Platinum Courtyard, with fine golden chains hanging from her shoulder. Her gaze was calm, and her bearing was cold and dignified.

She looked at Windchaser first.

Windchaser immediately sat up straight.

"Sis."

The woman looked at her for two seconds.

"You still know how to come back."

Windchaser instantly shrank her neck.

Everyone in the room silently looked away.

Then her gaze shifted to Vernacular Poet, swept over Sunken Crow, and finally landed on Silver Wolf.

There was noticeably more scrutiny and interest in that calmness.

"I'm the president of the Platinum Courtyard."

She walked into the room.

"Yan Zhiting."

Silver Wolf looked up at her.

She did not lower her goggles, but she could already feel the pressure emanating from the other woman.

It wasn't a matter of level.

It was the steadiness cultivated by standing at the summit of player factions for a long time.

Yan Zhiting looked at her.

"Silver Wolf?"

Silver Wolf chewed her bubble gum, her tone flat. "Mm."

Yan Zhiting nodded lightly. "I've heard a lot about you."

Silver Wolf: "?"

Vernacular Poet lowered his head and drank his tea.

Windchaser struggled to hold back her laughter.

Yan Zhiting's expression remained unchanged. "In fact, after Vernacular Poet's report, the discussions about you within the Courtyard have continued for quite some time."

"We unanimously believe that you can understand our existence as players. We think you're most likely a character connected to the essence of this world..."

Silver Wolf looked at her, and only then did she realize what the strange feeling she had sensed all along was about. So that's why I was wondering why no one was surprised by me. They'd already discussed it.

"Do all you players like to imagine things this much?"

"Wolf Venerable, the world and its people are the same..." Yan Zhiting pulled out a chair and sat down. "The more special something is, the more important it is."

Silver Wolf: "Makes sense."

Yan Zhiting continued asking, "Could I trouble Wolf Venerable to explain in detail where you come from?"

Silver Wolf looked at Yan Zhiting. After a few seconds, she smiled. "Punklorde."

Yan Zhiting thought for a moment. "I've never heard of that region."

Silver Wolf's posture became a little more languid. "Of course."

Yan Zhiting looked at her. "Is it a new region?"