Max nodded slowly. "That actually sounds perfect. I've been wanting to experiment with some things."
"Then it's settled." Kaito extended his hand. "Welcome to Phoenix Guild as a full core member, MaxThorne. We're lucky to have you."
Max shook his hand, then Ayame's, and accepted congratulations from the other members around the table.
As the meeting dispersed, Velara caught up with him in the hallway.
"So, famous now?" she teased.
"Apparently. Got surrounded by bunch in the Fractured Abyss. Had to hide my player tag just to escape."
"Yeah, that'll be your life for a while. The price of glory." She paused. "Hey, since you're going to be solo farming for a bit, want some suggestions for good leveling zones?"
"Always."
They walked through the guild hall together, Velara pulling up maps and pointing out various high-level areas. Max half-listened, his mind still processing everything that had happened.
A week ago, he was nobody.
Now he was a core member of one of the world's top guilds, with more money than he'd ever imagined, famous enough to be mobbed by fans, and strong enough to solo mythic bosses.
The game had changed his life completely.
And according to Kaito, this was just the beginning.
**
REAL WORLD – Tokyo, Japan
December 9th, 2025 – 9:15 AM
The past three days passed in rest and recovery.
Max spent most of his time sleeping—actual, deep sleep that his body desperately needed after the neural fatigue from the Obsidian Depths raid. He only logged into Aetheria late at night for light farming sessions, nothing intense, just enough to maintain his edge and test out his new legendary sword on lower-level content.
His body had finally recovered. The headaches were gone, the muscle aches faded, and his mind felt sharp again.
Max woke on the third morning feeling truly refreshed for the first time since the raid. Sunlight streamed through his window, and he could hear movement in the kitchen—his mother was home from her night shift.
He checked his phone. 9:15 AM. Several Discord notifications, a few emails from Phoenix Guild's administrative team, and a message from Velara asking if he was still alive.
But first, business.
Max pulled up his contacts and found the number for Mizuki Sato—the Phoenix Guild financial coordinator he had met at the ATH facility. He had saved her contact information for exactly this purpose.
The call connected after two rings.
"Mizuki speaking. How can I help you?"
"Hi, Mizuki. This is MaxThorne from Phoenix Guild."
"Ah, Mr. Thorne! Congratulations again on the Obsidian Depths clear. Your account has been receiving quite a bit of attention. How can I assist you today?"
"I need to make a withdrawal from my guild vault account," Max said. "Twenty thousand dollars, transferred to my registered bank account as soon as possible."
"Of course. Let me pull up your account." There was a pause, the sound of typing. "I see your current vault balance is $168,000. Transferring $20,000 will leave you with $148,000 remaining. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Understood. I'll process this as a priority transfer. Given your core member status, this should complete within one to two hours. You'll receive a notification when the funds are available in your bank account."
"Perfect. Thank you, Mizuki."
"My pleasure, Mr. Thorne. Is there anything else you need?"
"Not right now. I'll be in touch."
"Wonderful. Have a great day, and congratulations again on your achievements."
Max ended the call and set his phone down.
Twenty thousand dollars.
He was about to use it for something his mother deserved more than anyone.
He got dressed and headed to the kitchen.
Yuki sat at the small table, still in her nurse's dress, a cup of coffee in her hands. She looked tired but peaceful, staring out the window at the Tokyo skyline visible from their apartment.
"Morning, Mom."
She turned, smiling. "You're up early. Feeling better?"
"Much better. Finally recovered from that raid."
"Good. I was worried about you—you slept almost sixteen hours straight on the first day."
"My brain needed it." Max poured himself coffee and sat opposite her. "How was your shift?"
"Long. We had three emergency cases back-to-back." She sipped her coffee. "But I got some good news yesterday. The hospital is offering me a promotion—head nurse for the night shift wing. More responsibility, but also a 20% salary increase."
"That's amazing, Mom! Are you going to take it?"
Yuki hesitated. "I don't know. It's more money, but also more hours. More stress. At my age, I'm not sure if—"
"Don't take it," Max said.
She blinked, surprised. "What?"
"Don't take the promotion. Actually, quit the job entirely."
"Max—"
"Hear me out." He leaned forward. "You've been working night shifts for eight years. Eight years of exhausting yourself, ruining your sleep schedule, barely having a life outside of work. You've done that to support us, and I'm grateful. But you don't need to anymore."
Yuki set her coffee down. "Max, gaming is going well for you right now, but—"
"It's not just going well. It's successful. Really successful." Max pulled out his phone, showing her his guild vault balance. "$148,000 in my guild account. That's about ¥22 million. And that doesn't include my in-game gold, which is worth another ¥35 million if I convert it."
His mother stared at the numbers. "That's... Max, that can't be real."
"It's real. I verified it with the guild's financial coordinator this morning. I'm also getting $8,000 per month—over a million yen—just for being a core member. Plus whatever I earn from selling items and materials in the game."
Yuki looked overwhelmed. "How is this possible?"
"Because Aetheria isn't a game anymore." Max took his mother's hand. "You've sacrificed so much for me. Let me do something for you now. Quit your job. Figure out what you want to do, not what you have to do to pay bills."
Tears welled in Yuki's eyes. "Max, I can't just quit. What if something happens? What if the game economy crashes or—"