Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

For players, Lungmen wasn't much different from a modern metropolis in the real world.

It felt like a fusion of every great city combined, or perhaps like stepping into a cyberpunk future. Here you could sip Victorian black tea, admire traditional Yanese clothing, try your hand at Kazimierzian competitive sports, or lose yourself in the classical music of Laterano.

This city had a charm that drew people in instantly. In fact, one could easily imagine it being used as the map for GTA 21 without exaggeration. For players, every building was accessible, the rendering was flawless, and they could drive cars from across Terra's regions. They could even purchase their own properties—whether to open a shop or to have a place to call home. For outsiders thrown into this world, Lungmen offered the chance to build a life of their own.

A true melting pot of cultures.

The moment Magic ZX stepped into this vast city, he immediately sensed just how different it was from Trimount. Trimount carried a heavy academic air—most people on its streets were hurried researchers with briefcases, while skyscrapers displayed the latest technological breakthroughs and upcoming lectures.

To be honest, that kind of life still felt distant and unrelatable for most players.

Players preferred something grounded. Aside from the lone-wolf types, the majority moved in guilds and small groups. At the end of the day, no matter the world, humans were social creatures.

The bustling streets of Lungmen were filled with the smoke and fire of daily life. Vendors shouted in dialects that felt familiar to him as they sold fish balls. Billboards on towers displayed the latest seasonal fashion. All of it gave him a sense of modernity.

And it hit him—yeah, the 1.0 players really had been roughing it.

Standing on a pedestrian bridge, Magic ZX watched the endless stream of traffic below. Crowds flowed through the intersection not far away, wave after wave.

If new players were suddenly dropped into a city like this, chaos was inevitable. The quests, level requirements, and general difficulty here were leagues above anything before—on par with Trimount.

It wasn't his first time entering a mobile city, but still, Magic ZX had to admire the ingenuity and effort of Terra's people… or perhaps more accurately, the dedication of the game's developers.

By now, he'd spent some time in Lungmen. Along with the other two players closest to the Pioneer, he had already started preparing to establish a base here. Today, Qiu Muyu and Xiao Xuegao had gone house-hunting together. Yes—house-hunting, in-game.

Of course, Magic ZX knew that if he just asked the Pioneer, that kind-hearted man would surely arrange housing for them. But ZX wanted to rely on himself, and he believed the players needed to rely on themselves too.

The Pioneer was far too busy. His mission wasn't limited to saving a few players or a handful of Infected.

Magic ZX had even watched Mr. Han's videos about the Pioneer's exploits in Ursus. As Mr. Han's friend—and sometimes rival—he found that nearly every one of their recent conversations circled back to the Pioneer.

For now, Magic ZX planned to rent a place near Lungmen's lower districts, close to the slums. It would serve as a temporary base for him, Qiu Muyu, and Xiao Xuegao. Sure, living with two pretty girl players might give people the wrong idea, but Magic ZX had none of those thoughts.

He was, after all, a gentleman.

There were Infected within Lungmen too. Upon entering the city, he'd gone through a blood test, and with a bit of small talk he managed to gather some information: the slums were home to many Infected. Rent was cheapest there.

He had no plans of becoming Infected himself. Mr. Han's situation in Ursus was one thing, but Magic ZX had his own stance—spending a bit more to guarantee his safety was the wisest choice.

Thinking about money, Magic ZX let out a sigh. In the Pioneer's squad, he had noticed a fair-skinned, gentle, and beautiful Vouivre girl. Yet no matter how many gifts he offered, she always maintained the same distant politeness. Her favorability never moved an inch.

That left Magic ZX a little deflated. After all, thanks to his "gift strategy," even the Black Knight, Degenbrecher, had reached a favorability of 15—something beyond mere acquaintanceship. But with that Vouivre lady, there wasn't the slightest ripple, as if she had no heart at all.

No, no, I can't slander a proper lady like that, Magic ZX cleared his throat, pushing away the thought.

Just then, he noticed someone passing by. Instinctively, he stepped aside while casting a detection skill.

[[Pioneer] – Felix Lv ? ]

(Green)

[Description: ?]

[Danger Level: Warning! You have no chance of survival.] (Red)

"Pioneer… sir?"

Magic ZX called out in surprise. To his delight, the one he had been yearning to meet was suddenly standing right beside him. What thrilled him even more was that the system panel not only displayed the Pioneer's real name but also his attitude toward him.

Normally, when players scanned an NPC, the relationship bar showed yellow—neutral.

Magic ZX had gotten along well enough with several major characters in the Pioneer's faction. But what mattered most was Felix's own attitude.

This time, the color was green. Friendly. That said everything.

Warmth spread through his chest. As one of the Pioneer's "earliest" followers, Magic ZX felt that all his effort these past weeks hadn't been wasted.

"How do you find Lungmen?"

"Uh… it's… a vast mobile city."

Choosing his words carefully—like facing a job interviewer—Magic ZX answered. Somewhere along the way, he had started feeling nervous whenever he stood before the Pioneer. Was it because Felix had grown so powerful? After all, his danger rating was still marked at the highest level.

"Relax."

Felix handed him a cup of hot cocoa, leaning against the rail of the pedestrian bridge with the rush of traffic behind him and the city skyline stretching ahead. "Compared to Trimount, Lungmen must offer more opportunities, right?"

It was rare for Magic ZX to receive something directly from an NPC. Hearing Felix's familiar, easy tone and feeling the warmth of the cocoa in his hands, he suddenly had the urge to cry. This man was simply too kind. Even though he had been too busy lately to appear before the players, his respect for adventurers had never wavered.

"You're right."

Magic ZX cleared his throat. "Compared to Trimount, the population here is larger… and more urban, more commercialized. Even the Lungmen Dollar we use is printed here."

"Exactly."

Felix nodded with a smile, taking a sip of his own cocoa. When the sweetness slid down his throat, he asked casually, "Magic ZX, what are your plans for the future?"

NPCs sometimes really could recognize player names. No matter how bizarre those names were, the NPCs who dealt often with adventurers always tried to pronounce them—even if some names were downright impossible.

Come on, imagine encountering names like '24-Year-Old Paratrooper', 'Flip-Flop Garden's First Breakthrough King', or 'Living Only for Mai Sakurajima'. How could an NPC possibly remember, let alone say them with a straight face?

That was why most NPCs simply called players "you" instead of memorizing their names.

So when Felix suddenly addressed him by his actual ID, Magic ZX's skin tingled, goosebumps rising all over. The shock and emotion of that single moment nearly overwhelmed him.

But then again—hadn't he always been the Pioneer's fan and follower from the very start?

Magic ZX thought long and hard about the question, and in the end there was only one answer. It was also the very reason he had stayed by the Pioneer's side all this time.

"I hope to become a strength at your side, Pioneer."

Hearing that sincere reply, Felix finally felt a weight lift off his chest. With players like him spreading the word, version 2.0 was bound to be lively.

"Come with me. Your companions should be arriving soon."

---

Following Felix, Magic ZX boarded one of Lungmen's metro trains. They rode into the Central District, a place filled mostly with city government offices. What caught Magic ZX's eye most was a convoy of police cars pulling out from a building. His gaze lingered on the operators clad in advanced protective gear. Without a word, he cast Detect.

The results came back mostly green in danger level—meaning stronger than a max-level player like him, but still manageable. For players, five working together could usually bring down a green-rated NPC. But when faced with large groups of higher-ranked NPCs, even if they were only slightly above green, the system's advice was always the same: turn around and run.

"Pioneer, are they… police?"

"Their official name is the L.G.D.—the Lungmen Guard Department. In Trimount they'd be called police, yes. They're responsible for maintaining order here."

As Felix explained, he led Magic ZX across the street from the Guard Department. Already recording on video mode, Magic ZX nearly dropped his jaw when he saw the two muscular security guards outside the building bow respectfully to Felix. Their danger ratings came up purple.

But what seized his attention most wasn't them. On the rooftop above, a massive holographic projection blazed the words: Tomorrow's Development and and below it is written Arknight.

"Pioneer… this place is—?"

"Welcome to Tomorrow's Development. This was my beginning. And I believe it will be yours too."

Money, after all, greased the wheels of efficiency. In just over a week, the company had been completely refurbished. Not flashy or extravagant, but comfortable—a place Felix intended to make his long-term base of operations.

"Come. I'll take you to meet your companions."

With a smile, Felix led Magic ZX into the elevator and up to the office floor.

When the doors slid open, Magic ZX saw staff already working. Dressed neatly in suits, they greeted the Pioneer respectfully as he passed.

He followed Felix into the president's office, where he spotted two familiar faces—his companions—gazing around in awe. He gave them a small wave in greeting.

"Please, sit."

Degenbrecher handed him a cup of tea, while Loughshinny stood quietly by the side. Magic ZX sat as told, his eyes fixed on the Pioneer.

"Welcome to Tomorrow's Development, adventurers."

Felix's expression was calm, a faint smile on his lips. Through the half-drawn curtains behind him, golden light spilled into the room, and the towers of Lungmen rose high against the skyline.

"The title Pioneer was given to me during my journeys—by a friend."

Still smiling, Felix continued, "A Pioneer is one who dares to venture into the unknown, to carve new paths. They are explorers, Trailblazers, braving dangers and hardships to reach uncharted lands, to uncover new resources, or discover new cultures."

"My wish is that I won't be the only one opening up this land. I hope that in the future, adventurers like you will also have the fortune to explore and wander across it—so that you too may be called Pioneers."

Felix rose to his feet.

"In this ever-changing era, we are not only witnesses of the past, but guardians of the present and creators of the future. That is the meaning behind Tomorrow's Development. I want to change how people live on this land—so they can live with more convenience, with more happiness."

"Of course… that includes the Infected as well."

He placed a hand against his chest.

"With the medical technology we have now, there is still no cure for Oripathy. The Infected remain beyond saving—that is the cruel truth. A cure will not appear overnight. But at the very least, I am paving the road toward that goal."

"What Terra needs is not just bread. What it needs is a future that can expand into more futures. Infected or not, they are still Terran! Without a cure, freedom cannot come from begging—it must be forged with our own hands!"

"Why do we fight? We fight for a fair world! We fight to cast off a rotten past! We fight to open the dawn of a new tomorrow!"

His golden eyes blazed. It was not the flame of ambition. Beyond its brilliance, they could see rage against helplessness, defiance against the present… and a yearning for the future.

This was no gentle, naïve ideal. It was a trial by thorns, a flame born of blood and fire.

Yet that flame brought Loughshinny warmth. It was not the uncomfortable fire she had once felt from her sister. Though his teacher was a Sankta, Loughshinny thought: if he had been born a Draconian, then his flame would have been the purest and most brilliant of all.

"Together with the guardians, creators, and pioneers of tomorrow—let us shape tomorrow itself!"

Felix drew a deep breath, then extended his hand toward the three before him.

"Adventurers… will you lend me your strength?"

Magic ZX's skin tingled with goosebumps. A fervor overtook him, his eyes shining with zeal.

"Please—allow me to join Tomorrow's Development! No matter what it is, I will give it my all!"