The moment I regained consciousness, I found myself falling from the sky, along with hundreds—or maybe thousands of people from all over the world.
"Where am I..." I muttered, rubbing my eyes slowly.
There was no wind. No sound. Just the odd, unreal rush of air as I plummeted.
My eyes widened in shock. "I-I-I'M NOT FLYING… I'M DROPPING TO THE GROUND LIKE A MISSILE?! W-WAIT A MINUTE!!!"
Then, with a jolt that knocked the breath out of me, I hit solid ground.
My fingers brushed against the marbled floor beneath me, veins of light pulsing softly through the stone.
"O-Ouch... Oh… it didn't hurt me? But how?" I whispered, completely baffled.
A system window appeared in front of me:
[SAFE ZONE]: [NO DAMAGE CAN BE INFLICTED HERE]
"Oh..." I said.
I lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky. It was too perfect. A dome of soft blue stretched above, broken only by distant clouds and the silhouettes of flying ships drifting across the horizon.
I pushed myself to my feet and looked around. Every player nearby wore the default armor for beginner classes, while I was still stuck in the same soggy, stinky hoodie I'd worn at the beach.
"First, I have no class, then no armor? What the hell..." I muttered, catching a whiff of the stench coming from my hoodie. "And I stink!"
More people were dropping from the sky, slamming into the colosseum floor with grunts, gasps, and screams. One after another, they landed in scattered clusters, sprawled across the gleaming floor like digital debris.
Slowly, it sank in—I'd landed in the heart of the Colosseum of Petra in Arkanos, the first haven, the starting zone of Etherveil.
"W–Whoa…" I whispered, my eyes widening as I took in the surreal view. "This… this might be better than New York City…"
Towers rose around us, tall, majestic, carved with glowing runes that pulsed like veins through stone. Floating lanterns drifted overhead, their warm glow casting dancing shadows across the plaza. In the far distance, waterfalls spilled from cliffs suspended midair, defying logic.
To the east, a bazaar buzzed with life. Rows of wooden stalls lined the stone streets, each draped in colorful silks and fluttering banners. Vendors shouted prices in a dozen languages, waving roasted skewers, fragrant dumplings, and steaming bowls of stew. The smell was overwhelming with spices and firewood, caramelized onions, and sizzling meat. My stomach growled, and for a second, it felt like a real place.
To the west, the clang of metal rang out from the blacksmith's row. Massive forges glowed red behind iron-grated windows. Swordsmiths and armor dealers lined their storefronts, showing off gleaming weapons and intricately carved shields. Enchantment crystals hovered above racks of gear, pulsing faintly with elemental energy.
Players who had arrived earlier crowded around the shops, their voices mixing in a buzz of excitement and curiosity.
The colosseum was alive with noise and movement.
A kid with bright yellow hair shouted, "I'm a mage!" then swung his staff around, accidentally smacking a passing warrior in the shoulder. The warrior glared, and the kid froze like a deer caught in headlights.
Meanwhile, I stood there in my soggy, stinky hoodie, looking completely out of place.
"Ugh, it's so noisy…" I muttered, frowning.
Then, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the colosseum, silencing the chatter.
"Welcome, Chosen Ones, to Etherveil."
A glowing NPC with a golden knight avatar descended slowly from the sky. Its body was surrounded by a soft halo of light. Its armor shimmered like diamond, every edge catching and scattering the light in brilliant flashes. It floated down with a controlled, weightless motion, and when it landed, the ground beneath it pulsed faintly, like the heartbeat of the arena itself.
Then it spoke once more, its voice echoing through the air like a loudspeaker in a cathedral.
"Rejoice! For you, five thousand champions have been reborn into this world. A world where you can become a hero."
For a moment, the crowd didn't know how to react. Some cheered weakly, trying to sound excited. Others whispered to their friends, eyes darting nervously around. The rest just stood there, stunned.
A guy beside me gasped. "Cool…" he breathed, his eyes wide like a kid at a fireworks show.
I folded my arms and tried to look calm, like I wasn't just as confused as everyone else. Inside, though, my heart was pounding.
Then someone yelled from the crowd, voice sharp with panic. "Hey! How do I go home?! I actually forgot to turn off my oven!"
A few people laughed at first, but the laughter died quickly when the NPC turned its head. Slowly. Mechanically. Its glowing eyes fixed directly on the man who'd spoken.
"I'm afraid that's impossible," it replied. "You must clear this game if you wish to go back to your original world."
The words hit like a stone dropped into still water. The silence that followed was heavier than before. Even breathing seemed too loud.
Then another voice, shaky and frightened, spoke up. "Wait—what if we die here?!"
The NPC turned its head again slowly, locking eyes with the speaker.
"You are not merely playing," it said. "You have been reborn here. Completely. Your body. Your soul."
The NPC stepped forward, the sound of its metal foot clanking against the floor.
"If you die here," it paused. "Then, you die for real. This isn't a game anymore. This is your new life."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
A wave of shock swept through the players. Someone screamed. Another person dropped to their knees, muttering something I couldn't understand. Others were crying, shaking their heads in disbelief. You could see the regret in their faces—people realizing too late that they had signed up for something they didn't understand.
A girl near me whispered, "No… this can't be real." Her hands trembled as she looked around.
A guy with thick glasses sank to his knees. "No way... My cat… Dolly..."
A tall guy in battered plate armor yelled. "How do we level up?! Where are the mobs?!"
I looked at the tall guy. "Is this guy a total newbie?" I thought. "He's basically clueless..."
Some people tried to argue, shouting at the NPC, demanding it to send them back.
"LET ME RETURN TO MY WORLD, I MADE A MISTAKE!"
"PLEASE LET US RETURN!"
"MY MOM'S WAITING FOR ME TO COME HOME, LET ME RETURN PLEASE!"
The NPC did nothing but stand there, unmoving. It didn't care.
Then, without a word, the NPC raised one glowing hand toward the sky. The air around it shimmered, and a deep hum rolled through the colosseum like the low note of a massive bell.
A second later, light exploded above us, spreading in brilliant waves that bounced off the marble walls, turning the entire arena into a sea of gold and white.
From the center of that glow, a massive golden scroll appeared. Its surface was covered in runes that twisted and shifted, almost alive. The scroll hovered in midair, slowly rotating, casting threads of light across every face in the crowd.
Then, with a faint whoosh, the scroll began to fracture. It split apart into thousands of smaller pieces, each shimmering like molten gold. The fragments swirled for a moment, then took the shape of smaller scrolls, drifting gently down to land in every player's hands.
Even the people who had been crying moments ago were now staring at the scrolls in stunned silence. The tension hadn't vanished, but for now, confusion had replaced fear.
"What is this?" someone whispered.
The NPC lowered its arm, the light around it dimming. Its voice echoed again, calm and steady.
"To aid your journey, each of you will receive a map of the first haven of Etherveil," it said.
A few gasps broke the silence as hands moved to unroll the glowing parchment. The air filled with the soft rustle of paper.
I unrolled mine and stared at the sprawling world of the first haven.
At the center of the map was the Colosseum of Petra, the place where every player began their journey. To the north was Arkanos City, a massive mountain fortress that rose high enough to touch the clouds. To the east lay the Whispering Fields, a vast stretch of tall, strange grass that was said to whisper to travelers passing through. To the south was the Undead Lair, a cold and gloomy region filled with rain, fog, and bones.
"That's where I died a lot of times," I thought, pointing at the Undead Lair's location. "Those fucking dark elves jumped me like gangsters!"
In the southwest was the Tempest Gulf, a sea bay with a small village called Lameti, known for its fruits and seafood. Nearby stretched the Godlands, wild and vast, home to powerful monsters, dragons, and other beasts. Far to the west lay the Kingdom of Babel, a fortress built of stone and sand.
The NPC spoke again.
"For the next 24 hours, all players will receive double experience and Ether from every activity. Use this time wisely. This is your head start."
"You might also be wondering why you can understand one another despite having different nationalities. It is because the language choice here is set to a single language, English, so that everyone can understand each other."
"Now, I shall take my leave. I hope that the next time we meet, you will be splendid players!"
With that, the NPC slowly lowered its glowing hand, and in a flash of light, it shattered into countless fragments, scattering across the colosseum like tiny stars.
I stayed still, trying to blend in as the chaos swirled around me. Everyone was already plotting their grinding routes like their lives depended on it.
Someone suddenly bolted toward the nearest gate and shouted, "Let's GOOOO!!!"
Numerous people followed, their voices rising in unison.
"LET'S GO, EVERYONE. WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE?!!!"
"LET'S CONQUER THIS WILD NEW WORLD!!!"
"YEAHHHH!!!"
I glanced down at my map. A tiny forest icon, barely visible and unlabeled, sat in the lower-left corner.
"This looks oddly familiar…" I muttered. "Damn it… I forgot…"
I tapped my forehead, trying to force my memory. "Come on, remember it…"
Then it hit me.
Back in the early beta, rumors swirled about a hidden chest buried deep in that forest. No one ever confirmed it, but I spent hours scouring forums and clipping through trees until I stumbled upon it once by accident, but it was already looted. But now, it should contain a random item that'll help me.
I smirked. "Heh..."
I decided to go there before anyone else even knew it existed.
"Time to see if my memory's still sharp," I said, running toward the nearest gate, toward the woods, toward my only edge in this insane new world.
The forest loomed dark and misty on the horizon as I left the Colosseum. It was unnervingly quiet. No birds chirped, and no wind stirred the leaves. Still, I moved forward, weaving between ancient trees until I found the crumbling stone marker I remembered. Ten paces north, three east, and there it was. Nestled in the roots, half-buried under moss and dirt, was a wooden chest trimmed in gold, faintly glowing.
I knelt, heart pounding. "Please be something good," I said, smiling, slowly lifting the lid.
Inside sat a mysterious item, and a system window popped up above it.
[ITEM ACQUIRED]: [EASTER EGG]
—???
My smile faded. "Great."
But there was more: a rusty-edged dagger, a single health potion, an attack attribute potion in a pink bottle, a scroll that could summon a chicken leg, and one Ether—a broken lilac shard used as currency in Etherveil.
I stared at the rusty-edged dagger. "Well… not exactly Excalibur, but I'll take what I can get."
I opened the attack attribute potion's lid.
"Would've been better if I got the defense type so that I won't get one hit by goblins, but I'll take it anyway," I said, consuming the liquid inside the potion.
"It tastes like yogurt..." I said, staring at the potion's empty bottle. "I need more of these. Like seriously, this is heaven on earth..."
A system window appeared in front of me:
[CHARACTER ATTRIBUTE STATUS]:
[HP]: [100/100]
[MP]: [100/100]
[ATTACK]: [0/50] -> [1/50]
[RESISTANCE]: [0/40]
[SPEED]: [0/75]
[DEXTERITY]: [0/85]
[VITALITY]: [0/40]
[INTELLIGENCE]: [0/45]
***
Attribute Potions are consumables that permanently raise a character's stat. If stat is already maxed, then drinking a potion will have no effect and will not be consumed. They are dropped from monsters in a brown bag with golden lacing. They can also be found in random hidden chests scattered all over the world. They are also used in trading inside the game.
[Six Types of Attribute Potions]:
[Attack Attribute]
[Resistance Attribute]
[Speed Attribute]
[Dexterity Attribute]
[Vitality Attribute]
[Intelligence Attribute]
Consuming an attack attribute potion will increase your damage, Resistance for increased defense from physical and magical attacks, Speed for increased movement and attack speed, Dexterity for increased critical chance, Vitality for increased health points regeneration, and Intelligence for increased mana points regeneration.
If a player has already maxed all their stats, they will be able to reach the next stage called Exaltation. This stage represents a form of advanced progression where players can permanently enhance their overall power, pushing their characters beyond normal boundaries to achieve greater strength by completing high-level dungeons.
***
I clicked the easter egg's detail to know more about it.
A system window popped into visibility:
[Easter Eggs are sealed familiars of divine or ancient origin. Each is unique, with its own consciousness, personality, and growth system.]
"Oh... I guess I'm not that unfortunate..." I said.
I was about to stash everything when the ground trembled beneath me. A low vibration. Then heavier. Thud. Thud. Thud. Footsteps. Coming closer.
A deep male voice echoed through the trees.
"Give me what you looted!"
My eyes snapped open. "Crap. I'd forgotten there were players like this..."
Slowly, I stood, fingers tightening around the rusty dagger. If he thought I'd hand over my loot without a fight, he was dead wrong.
A tall, muscular American player stepped into the clearing. He had short blond hair and carried a bronze sword at his side. His armor was made of steel. He walked with steady steps, his posture full of confidence. When he drew his sword, the metal made a sharp sound that echoed in the quiet air. A small grin formed on his face, calm but sure of himself.
Above his head, his class appeared: [Warrior].
"Didn't think anyone else knew about this place," he said. "Too bad for you."
He slashed the air, and suddenly crimson lines burst across his body.
A system window popped over his head:
[Skill Activated]: [Frenzy]
[Power Boost]: [ATK Speed +50%, ATK Power +30% for 10 seconds]
My jaw dropped. "I don't remember the warrior class being overpowered. Maybe they made some changes…" I thought.
A system window suddenly appeared in front of me:
[New Skill Detected]: [Copy Skill?] — [Y/N]
"Huh?" I whispered. "Copy skill???
Before I could think twice, I tapped "Yes."
[Skill Copied]: [Frenzy]
[Power Boost]: [ATK Speed +50%, ATK Power +30% for 10 seconds]
My vision sharpened, heartbeat pounding. The skill hummed in my blood like a live wire.
"This feels so real…" I thought, my breath unsteady. "Way too real."
He fixed his blond hair upwards. "What's wrong, boy? A handsome, masculine man is in front of you, and all of a sudden... You can't move?"
"I'm... straight..." I replied.
He laughed a short, cocky sound, and lunged at me without warning. "I didn't tell you to speak!"
The blade whistled past my face as I ducked, feeling the wind from the swing graze my cheek.
"He's fast!" I thought, heart pounding faster. I shifted my stance, both hands on my dagger, ready.
He smirked again and charged. "Stop dodging and fight like a real man!"
Steel met steel. Sparks flew as his sword crashed against my dagger, the impact ringing through my arms. I gritted my teeth and pushed back with all the strength I had.
He was stronger and skilled than I am, but I was faster and sharper. I wasn't skilled in combat, but desperation gave me an edge. I also had my attack damage increased after drinking that attribute potion that gave me an advantage.
He snarled as my blade nicked his arm. "FUCK! THAT HURTS YOU LITTLE SHIT!"
"Here's more!" I shouted, feinting, slamming the blade of my dagger into his neck. "Take that, you bastard!"
He gasped, spat out blood, and staggered. "Y-You little bitch… " he said, shattering into fragments.
An announcement window flashed from the sky:
[Player 601]: [William Lincoln] — [Eliminated]
A system window appeared in front of me:
[Player Scavenged]: [William Lincoln]
[Item Looted]: [1x Ether], [1x Healing Potion]
I dropped to one knee, breathing hard. The dagger was cracked. My health potion, I consumed. The scroll was still clutched tight in my hand.
"So... this is really real," I said, coughing twice. "Shit..."
Then I smiled, because I had something better than a class or gear.
I had a secret skill no one else knew.
I could copy skills.