******
At the same time, within the vast digital landscape of Fallen Realm Online, on the Ebonreach server—one of many realms modeled after real-world cities—ten players sat on wooden benches inside a hut made of straw.
Each character belonged to a different race, their diverse appearances forming a striking contrast against the rugged space.
Among this group of players were members of the Human race, the beast-like race, the elven clans, the Celestial race, the Hybrids, and even the mighty and towering giant race. Yet, despite their differences, one thing united them—they were the top ten strongest gamers in Ebonreach City, gathering in their server despite their fierce rivalry.
Their exceptional skill, talent, and luck had carried them to the pinnacle of gaming, where they consistently dominated leaderboards, crushed rivals, and asserted their supremacy over every challenge they faced.
Although Fallen Realm Online had only been live for just over 24 hours, with most players still struggling to reach the first level, the weakest among them had already climbed to level 15—a testament to their relentless dedication.
These people were not just casual players. They were the elite amongst the elites, the ones who had time and again stood atop the rankings, proving themselves against the finest of their cities.
At this moment, however, a pin-drop silence lingered over them, heavy and suffocating until, at last, a heavy, resigned, and commanding voice sliced through the tension.
"I assume all of you have already heard the global announcement, haven’t you?"
The speaker was a Celestial player, his very presence radiating a powerful golden aura that shimmered with divine energy.
His piercing gaze swept over the group, his words carrying an unmistakable weight of authority, slicing through the silence like a thin paper.
This is Solarius... a name both feared and revered throughout the gaming world, widely recognized as the greatest player in Ebonreach City.
His unmatched skill and strength had naturally secured his leadership over this assembly of top players for the past five years.
...
At his words, the other players instantly stiffened a bit and exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of bitterness and fierce competitiveness. Then one by one, they nodded their heads, acknowledging his words.
"A player from the Ashborne server has become the first to be featured in a global announcement."
The voice that had just spoken carried a mix of envy, irritation, and frustration, coming from a Hybrid-raced player who subconsciously bared his sharp canines in agitation, his fists clenched as he continued, "And it’s not just any ordinary announcement! Somehow, this person managed to unlock a feature that shouldn’t even be accessible at this stage of the game—becoming the first to own a territory!"
Although all of them had already known this, a ripple of unease still passed through them, their jealousness palpable.
Solarius’s eyes also narrowed, but his composure remained unshaken.
"This should be a wake-up call for all of us," he declared, his voice rising with intensity. "If an ordinary Ashbourne—a city that hasn’t produced a top 100 global player in the past ten years has managed to take the lead, then we must push ourselves even harder! We cannot let them keep that advantage. We will surpass them and claim the top spot for ourselves!"
His words rang out like a war cry, igniting a renewed sense of determination among his companions.
At once, their resolve solidified, and their competitive spirits flared, driven by his unwavering confidence.
Then, after a brief pause, Solarius continued.
"Now, onto the main reason for this gathering. Have any of you ever heard the name... Xylenia in any game you’ve played before?"
His gaze swept across the group, searching for answers. "It doesn’t match any of the top 100 players from Ashborne City leaderboard. Could it be that one of them changed their username to a new name?"
A heavy silence followed as the players racked their memories, straining to recall whether they had ever encountered such a name before.
Finally, an Elven player spoke up, her brows tightly knitted in concentration. "From what I’ve gathered, even Ashborne City’s players seemed to have no idea who this Xylenia is. No one has claimed the name, and no one has seen this player in action before."
Her words instantly deepened the uncertainty within the group, a troubling possibility hanging in the air, one that no one wished to acknowledge.
"Then... does that mean this player is a dark horse?" Solarius finally voiced the question lingering in everyone’s minds.
In the following second, another wave of silence settled over the hut, heavier than before.
At last, a gruff voice broke the stillness. "I hope this player is just absurdly lucky... because if not, then Ashborne has just gained a rising force—a competitor who might become a real threat to us in the future."
...
At this moment, similar meetings were taking place across every server within Fallen Realm Online.
Players, guilds, and factions alike were all engaged in heated discussions, each discussing the mystery of Xylenia, who had been the first to make it on the global announcement.
Was he merely a lucky outlier, or was he a formidable adversary who would soon shake the gaming world?
The curiosity didn’t stop there.
The hunt for Xylenia’s true identity had begun.
All across the digital world and even in reality, players began to use every resource, connection, and bit of influence they had to uncover who he was.
To some, gaming was nothing more than a pastime—a source of entertainment and stress relief.
But to others?
To the truly dedicated and the professional ones... it was war. A battlefield where only the most cunning, skilled, and ruthless could survive.
And none of them were willing to be caught off guard by an unknown wild card.
...
Meanwhile, in Ashborne City, deep within the headquarters of Aether Gaming Enterprises, the largest gaming corporation in the region.
This enterprise was a powerhouse... an empire that had invested millions into recruiting the city’s most talented players, training them, and ensuring their dominance in competitive gaming.
Its entire business model revolved around fostering an elite team that could compete against rival companies across various servers.
At this moment, inside a sleek, high-tech conference room, where holographic displays hovered above a smart table and adaptive glass walls shifted on command, the air was thick with tension.
A middle-aged man, clad in a sharp business suit, slammed his palm against the smart table, his voice suddenly booming with frustration.
"I want every information about this Xylenia on my desk within the next 24 hours! No delays, no excuses! We must recruit him immediately—before other companies get to him. Even if his achievements are just a fluke, it doesn’t matter. Luck is just as important as skill in this industry, and talent can always be refined!"
His furious declaration sent the room into a flurry of action.
After responding anxiously, the employees hurriedly scrambled from their seats and raced out to fulfill his demand.
As the room emptied, the manager finally sank into his chair, drumming his fingers on the table, his expression darkening as his thoughts churned.
But then suddenly, a soft voice interrupted his musings.
"Boss."
A young woman approached hesitantly from his back, concern and confusion etched across her delicate features.
The manager barely glanced at her before she spoke.
"You didn’t seem to care about this Xylenia when he was just a server-level anomaly. Why are you so... anxious now? Is a global announcement really that big of a deal?"
Her question hung in the air, met only with a long, heavy sigh. Then the man pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaustion creeping into his posture.
He glanced around and in a low murmur, he mumbled, "You’ve heard about the Young Master of our largest shareholder, haven’t you?"
The woman’s eyes widened slightly before she nodded her head.
The manager leaned slightly to the woman, his voice now barely a whisper. "I’ve received word that he’s decided to step into the professional gaming scene and plan to become the strongest player on our server by rising as a dark horse."
He exhaled sharply.
"And if that’s true, do you really think I can afford to let another player from our city rise as a dark horse and overshadow his spotlight?"
His gaze turned steely, filled with quiet menace.
"I don’t care what the world thinks of me. If protecting my future means eliminating an unknown variable, then so be it."
The woman remained silent, staring at the manager for a long moment before nodding her head with a look of understanding appearing on her face.
—
Before long, the search for Xylenia spiraled into an all-consuming frenzy.
Influential organizations, high-profile guilds, and ambitious players all began to seek to uncover his identity. Some wanted to recruit him, others to crush him, and a few merely wished to witness his capabilities.
Across news networks, gaming forums, and livestreams, discussions raged over the enigmatic player whom none had heard before.
But the person at the heart of all this... Xavier remained utterly oblivious.
Still frozen in a daze before Kaelrik’s lifeless towering body and feeling the surge of power coursing through him, he couldn’t stop himself but continue wondering how he had instantly jumped five ranks in an instant.
He had no idea that his actions had already sent shockwaves through both the human world and the realm of the deities.