******
Back at the center of the ruined village square, destruction currently stretched in every direction.
The ground was shattered, severed limbs lay scattered, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and ash, painting a grim scene of the recent battle.
The once beautiful platform had been reduced to a scarred remnant, a silent witness to the brutal clash that had just taken place.
Yet, amidst the wreckage, Xylen stood motionless in place, his body rigid as if frozen in time and space.
He was utterly unaware that his recent actions and the server announcement about him had already sent shockwaves through the entire Ashbourne server, throwing thousands of players into disarray, and neither did he realize that his name had become the center of intense discussions—some filled with curiosity, others brimming with resentment or admiration.
His siblings, too, were speaking about his two characters at that very moment, yet he remained oblivious to it all.
His mind was still trying to process what had just occurred. The booming Server Announcement that had reverberated through his consciousness had paralyzed him, leaving him trapped in a trance-like state.
This... this was not something he had ever anticipated. Not even once.
Of all the countless things that had occupied his mind, getting publicly announced to the entire game world had never been one of them.
His original plan had been simple: stay under the radar, keep a low profile, clear missions efficiently, and hoard as many resources and gold as possible pending the time the in-game currencies could be converted to real-life currencies.
That was it. He wanted to amass coins, secure powerful equipment, and build his strength quietly without drawing unnecessary attention, in fact, no attention if possible, because he did not have the strength nor time to deal with the aftereffects.
And yet, here he was, constantly getting the opposite of what he wanted shoved to his face.
Xylen exhaled sharply after what felt like an eternity had passed, shaking his head in exasperation.
"Instead of giving this pointless server announcement, you should have just handed out some god-tier equipment, an unlimited gold coin for a lifetime, or life-altering rewards instead," he thought bitterly, a resigned sigh escaping his lip with frustration evident in his expression.
Ultimately, he shook off the lingering bitterness in him and his gaze drifted to the massive corpse before him—the towering remains of the monstrous boss that had very nearly ended not only his mission but also his entire future in the game.
The memory of the battle couldn’t help but replay in his mind in vivid detail, each second searing into his thoughts like an inescapable nightmare.
He recalled the relentless attacks, the suffocating pressure, the countless moments when failure had seemed inevitable.
Dang! He had even taken a massive gamble and risked everything, allowing his HP to reach 1 before activating his final trump card.
Recalling all this, his breath hitched and his blood turned ice-cold, his throat tightening as he swallowed hard.
"That... that was beyond absurd," he muttered under his breath and shook his head once more, trying to snap himself out of it.
Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, his eyes lit up and gleamed with expectation.
’For a quest this brutal... the rewards better be nothing short of extraordinary,’
A powerful surge of anticipation coursed through him, his pulse quickening.
His fingers trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of the moment. And just at that moment—
[ Congratulations, player Xylenia, for successfully completing the quest: Defend Ironclad Village at all costs from your uncle’s rebellion, or the village will fall. ]
The announcement rang out in his mind, and the moment he heard it, Xylen’s breathing hitched.
"Here it comes," he murmured, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.
And then, the floodgates opened.
[ You have been rewarded a territory: From now on until you lose it, Ironclad Village and its surrounding lands have been officially handed over to you. Check your reward section for further details. ]
[ You have been awarded the title "Liberator of the Oppressed" and "Baron of your territory": Your presence exudes authority, increasing your charisma and influence over weaker demons in your domain. Some hostile factions may either fear or respect you when these abilities are activated. ]
[ Exclusive Skill Unlocked: Lord’s Dominion – This skill allows you to exert absolute control over demons within your territory. Check your reward section for additional details. ]
[ Experience points have doubled due to a five-level gap between you and the defeated enemy. ]
[ You have been rewarded 5000 gold coins. ]
[ You have obtained an Uncommon-grade storage bag with a 50-slot capacity for storing items and objects. ]
[You have been rewarded a rare-grade sword: Bloodshadow Fang. It will be handed over to you when you are ready]
[ You have received a stockpile of military supplies essential for fortifying and defending your territory. ]
[ You have unlocked the virtual Player Marketplace and received a 50% discount on all purchases and a 40% tax rebate on the items sold for the next 48 hours. ]
One announcement after another pounded into Xylen’s mind like a relentless barrage, overwhelming his ability to process them all at once.
The sheer magnitude of these rewards was staggering. But before he could even begin to react, another notification flashed.
[ Global Announcement. ]
[ Congratulations to Player Xylenia of the Ashborne Server for achieving an unprecedented feat—becoming the very first territory owner in Fallen Realm Online! ]
[ Congratulations to Player Xylenia from the Ashborne server for unlocking access to the virtual marketplace in Fallen Realm Online! ]
[With these groundbreaking achievements, players can now claim and govern territories and access the virtual marketplace ahead of schedule!]
[ As the pioneer of this system, Player Xylenia has been granted a permanent 10% Defense Buff against all attacks targeting their territory. ]
This time, the announcements weren’t limited to just the Ashborne server. They had resonated throughout the entire game, across every single server in Fallen Realm Online.
For a brief, fleeting moment after it echoed, pin-drop, hush silence engulfed the game world.
Not a single player moved.
Not a single voice was heard.
All across the countless servers of Fallen Realm Online, whether they were low-level rookies or seasoned experts, whether they were currently fighting monsters or completing quests, players froze in place, their eyes widening in sheer disbelief.
And then—
Chaos erupted.
A deafening uproar spread like wildfire within the game, shaking every corner of the virtual world.
Guilds scrambled to analyze the implications, major factions convened emergency meetings, and envious players fumed with frustration.
Discussions flooded the global chat, conspiracy theories ran rampant, and the name: Xylenia was now on everyone’s lips.
Yet, at the very center of it all, the cause of this unprecedented event stood still.
Xylen blinked, still standing in the ruin and aftermath of his battle with Kaelrik.
"A... global announcement?" he mumbled, his voice laced with sheer disbelief, unable to react for a moment and then a bitter chuckle escaped his lips.
Just moments ago, he had complained about receiving a server-wide notification, and now he had been thrust into the global spotlight.
This was absurd.
He ran a hand through his hair, his expression shifting from frustration to deep contemplation.
’In my past life, the ability for players to claim territories and access the Virtual Marketplace wasn’t even unlocked until around five months after the game launched.’ His brows furrowed. ’Could this be another butterfly effect?’
He exhaled sharply, massaging his temples.
"I never wanted a damn territory though. I just wanted to complete missions, level up, and farm in peace. What the hell am I supposed to do with this?"
He didn’t know whether to be happy or sad, yet, just as frustration began to take hold, a sudden thought struck him.
In the following second, his movements stilled, his expression hardening.
’Wait... if I was able to trigger the territory system ahead of schedule... does that mean I can also accelerate the ability to convert in-game currency into real-world money?’
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Xylen’s eyes widened and his breathing grew heavier, his heartbeat accelerating.
If this was possible—if he could truly bring forward the feature—then his plans... his dreams... his hope... his promises... his revenge...
His blood turned hot with excitement.
But just as he was about to fully grasp the weight of this realization—
[ Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 6. ]
[ All your stats have recovered. ]
[ All stats have increased. ]
[ You have gained one unassigned experience point. ]
...
[ Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 7. ]
[ All your stats have increased. ]
[ You have gained one unassigned experience point. ]
...
[ Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 8. ]
[ All your stats have increased. ]
[ You have gained one unassigned experience point. ]
...
[ Congratulations, you have leveled up to level 9. ]
[ All your stats have increased. ]
[ You have gained one unassigned experience point. ]
...
By the time the notifications stopped flashing, his mind reeled in utter shock, his body trembling, but then suddenly—
[ Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 10. ]
[ All your stats have increased. ]
[ You have gained one unassigned experience point. ]
Another one sounded, and in the following second, his entire body tensed.
His breathing halted and his pupils shrank as he stared at the final message.
"L-Level 10...?" he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Then his heart slammed wildly against his ribs as if trying to burst free from his chest.
’How...?’
The question echoed endlessly in his mind.