Chapter 18

It had been about half a year since Rase was launched.

To some, it might have been a short time, but it was not so for gamers.

Half a year was more than enough time to thoroughly explore, dissect, and enjoy a game.

There would be countless players who had reached the maximum level, and the so-called "bunny farmers" would be grumbling about the game being boring.

The first virtual reality game, Real Fantasia, was no exception.

- Man, this game is so boring. There's hardly any content.

- That's what happens with failed games. Well, want to do some arena battles?

The speed at which modern gamers consumed content was unimaginably fast.

However, this phenomenon was an exception in Rase.

- What's the max level in this game?

- The official level ranking shows the top player is level 136... Wait, is there even a max level?

- Guys, did you see the broadcast of The Sun guild raiding the Wraith Knight yesterday? When they succeeded, a new area opened up.

- Another new area? Wow, the developers really outdid themselves.

Content poured out like a geyser.

Despite the best gamers from around the world pouring into the game for half a year, Rase remained a world of the unknown.

One of these unknowns was the 'Epic' grade.

'So... the order was Legendary, then Epic, and then Mythic, right?'

I was stunned.

At a time when Legendary-grade items could be counted on one hand, the sudden appearance of an Epic grade was unexpected.

- Ha. Rase, you crazy developers. Hiding an Epic-grade item in the beginner city?

Chunma sighed deeply.

Epic and Mythic grades were only given to things that could significantly impact the game's world and story.

- It's a rare case, but an Epic-grade item could change the game's story itself.

Of course, it was an extremely rare possibility. The probability would be less than 0.01%.

However, to place such a dangerous item in a beginner city where all players would pass through?

- You're out of your minds. It's like planting a nuclear bomb in Seoul's underground with a 0.01% chance of detonation.

And even more terrifying was the fact that the nuclear bomb's switch could end up in the hands of casual players.

"You suddenly went quiet. Are you perhaps unwilling to take the test? If so, there's nothing I can do. I can't force someone who doesn't want to..."

"I'll do it."

"Huh?"

"I'll take the test. I've been interested in the study of magic since I was young."

Is close combat more satisfying? Is magic just a matter of taste?

In front of the name 'Epic,' all such considerations were meaningless. Even a non-existent taste could suddenly appear.

"Excellent young man!"

Ding.

[You have accepted the class change quest 'Descendant of the Mage King (Stage 2)'.]

"I need to explain a bit. Have you ever heard of the Mage King?"

Of course not.

No, Carpé was a new player who had just started Rase today. How could he have heard of it?

A typical player would have said 'no' and that would have been the end of it.

But.

- Mage King, you say. Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember. He must have been the first emperor of the ancient empire. Yes, the empire's name was 'Arkham'!

Carpé was far from a typical player. He had the best guide by his side.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. A foreigner wouldn't have heard of it..."

"Definitely the first emperor of the ancient Arkham Empire."

"Hmm?"

Drek's face showed surprise. It was a rhetorical question, but he didn't expect a proper answer.

"Heh. A name forgotten by the continent... I never thought I'd hear it from a foreigner."

Ding.

[The NPC Drek Stein's affinity towards the player has increased slightly.]

[If you achieve a certain level of affinity with an NPC, you can receive special gifts or quests.]

'This game is insane.'

- Well, I'm used to it now. Let's focus on the conversation.

"You're right. The Mage King unified the continent for the first time 800 years ago and founded Arkham. He was a great emperor."

Before that, the continent was a chaotic mess, fitting the term 'warring states.'

Wars broke out frequently, countless lives were lost, and the land was desolate.

"By unifying the chaotic continent and bringing peace, everyone praised the emperor. But peace didn't last long."

An unexpected entity invaded the Arkham Empire.

"Invasion? Who?"

"Someone you know well. We were just talking about them a moment ago."

"Huh?"

What are you talking about?

Carpé tried to recall their conversation but couldn't grasp it.

We only talked about the Background Order and the Mage King... Oh!

"Could it be?"

"Yes. The invaders were those fake gods, the entities you call the Background Order."

"My God."

Carpé's mouth dropped open at the unexpected story.

Who would have guessed? The Background Order, which players had been eagerly seeking, were actually invaders.

'Did you know about this, bro? Is this real?'

- No, I didn't know either. But it makes sense. Indeed, the ambiguous parts from the previous chapter...

Chunma muttered and then fell into his own thoughts. Meanwhile, Drek continued.

"The war ended with Arkham's defeat. Many people died, and the country was torn apart. But Arkham didn't just sit back and take it."

The Mage King led a final assault on the heart of the Background Order.

And the Mage King achieved a miracle there. He successfully sealed all the Background Order entities in the heart!

However, tragically, the Mage King, who had poured all his strength into the seal, passed away shortly after.

He left some arrangements for future generations.

"Despite the Mage King's efforts... the seal was not eternal."

There was no way to permanently seal entities with such immense power.

After several hundred years, the seal began to weaken.

"Have you heard the saying, 'History is written by the victors'?"

"Yes, it's a famous saying in our world too."

"As the seal weakened, they could exert some of their power. Their influence began to spread across the continent."

Slowly, over several hundred years, the continent fell under the control of the Background Order.

They tempted high-ranking officials and rewrote history.

The invaders were now revered as gods, and the name Arkham was forgotten in the annals of history.

"They are trying to conquer this continent again, using the 'foreigners'—the Undying Ones."

Foreigners, or the messengers of the gods.

This was what the NPCs in Last Savior called the players.

Players don't die. They respawn. It's a given, since Rase is a game.

Now, they are weak, but they have infinite lives.

As time passes, players will become stronger, and with the help of the Background Order, they will become even more powerful.

"Please help us."

Therefore, to resist the Background Order, Arkham had no choice but to do the same.

An entity with infinite lives that could become infinitely strong.

They had to ally with a trustworthy foreigner.

Ding.

[Class change quest 'Descendant of the Mage King' Stage 2]

[You have learned the ancient truth. Help Arkham thwart the ambitions of the Background Order. However, you must first earn their trust. To do so, you need to prove your worth.

1. Defeat 10 players who possess a Background Order entity.

2. Defeat one player who possesses two or more Background Order entities.

Quest success: Enter the final test of 'Descendant of the Mage King'.

Quest failure: Main storyline disabled. All events related to Arkham will disappear.]

"..."

- What? Hold on a second.

Carpé and Chunma, who had checked the quest details, let out strange exclamations.

"I trust you, but the others in Arkham might not. To earn their trust..."

[Quest completed.]

"By defeating a servant of the fake gods... Who are you, really?!"

Drek, who had maintained a polite tone, finally shouted.

"Wow, this is how it turns out."

- I can't even speak now. Is this a game?

The reason the quest was completed immediately was clear.

One-pan.

It was thanks to the enemies Carpé had been diligently defeating to earn coins.

- The guy in the ninja costume was probably the second one. After all, his movements were not typical for a beginner city.

'Now that I think about it, there was one concept player. But why is this quest so difficult?'

Carpé cleared it easily, but realistically, it was a quest not designed to be cleared.

The entry conditions were insane. You had to meet a guerrilla quest NPC without possessing a Background Order entity.

And after meeting those insane conditions, the next step was a PK quest.

A PK quest with a difficulty level that required defeating a player who had already completed the second stage!

'Are you serious? Is this what you made to clear? Is this how all Epic quests are?'

- That is strange. Epic quests are difficult, but not this bizarre.

The problem was that this wasn't the end. The final test was still waiting.

"Heh. It seems the prophecy was true. A hero to save the world has descended. Follow me."

Drek, who had regained his composure, began leading Carpé somewhere.

'The final test must be held in a different location.'

- It's all pointless.