【 ARRIVAL OF PUBLIC PLAYERS 】

Central Zone of the Elven Forest.

The sky was a boundless expanse of azure, unmarred by even the faintest trace of gray, with radiant sunlight cascading through the scattered, wispy clouds. The light refracted through the mystical barriers encircling the Chosen City, casting ethereal beams that shimmered like liquid gold.

The city thrived as though it were an extension of the forest. Towering trees stood like sentinels along the streets, their leafy canopies forming verdant archways. These were interwoven with diverse architectural styles, creating an atmosphere of harmony and vitality.

It was summer—the most vibrant and bustling season in the Elven Forest.

However, unlike the usual lively scene, today the Chosen City was unusually quiet.

The streets were devoid of the usual foot traffic, and the shops were tightly shuttered. Only a handful of elves, elegantly clad in long robes, could be seen bustling around the Temple of Life at the heart of the city.

Inside the temple, Alice, the Saintess of Life, stood before a hundred elves dressed in priestly robes. Her expression was solemn and devout.

The gathered elves varied in hair color and age, though most among them looked quite young. Their faces brimmed with a mixture of excitement, reverence, and anticipation. Each held a copy of the Codex of Life, published by the Amway Trading Company.

These elves were the newly appointed priests of life, carefully nurtured by Alice and Samuel from among their kin who had returned.

Their abilities were nothing short of extraordinary. Beyond their official roles as priests, each of them had also attained at least the rank of Upper Iron, marking them as exceptional experts.

Today marked the beginning of their duties as priests, officially serving the Goddess of Life and the City of the Chosen.

As she gazed at these newly appointed priests, Alice felt a deep sense of pride within her.

Thanks to the favor bestowed upon them by their Divine Matriarch, the elven race had quietly cultivated a remarkable number of talented individuals among their brethren who had returned.

Witnessing such drastic daily changes within the Elven Forest and the gradual growth of the church’s personnel, Alice’s eyes grew misty with emotion.

The memories of the past year flashed before her eyes, filling her with unprecedented excitement.

Who could have imagined that, just last spring, their people were still hiding in fear?

That the once desolate Elven Forest would now be teeming with such life and vitality?

All of this—every bit of it—was thanks to the revival of the Goddess, the arrival of the Chosen Ones, and the relentless efforts of their returning clansmen.

Through the temple’s window, Alice glanced outside.

Though the Chosen City seemed quiet now, she knew it was only temporary. Soon, it would flourish with unparalleled vibrancy once again.

Taking a deep breath, the holy maiden turned her gaze to her kin.

Her eyes met the colorful irises of the elves before her, and within them, she saw boundless hope and expectation.

At that moment, the sternness upon Alice’s face softened, replaced by a gentle warmth.

“Everyone by now understands their appointed roles, correct? How to assign daily tasks to the arriving Chosen Ones?” she asked softly.

Though her voice was gentle, it echoed clearly through every corner of the temple, amplified by magic.

“We understand, Lady Alice,” the elves responded in unison.

“Excellent,” Alice said with a nod of satisfaction.

“This time, the number of Chosen Ones descending will be unprecedented—ten thousand in total. As such, your workload will be considerable.”

“High Priest Samuel will oversee all the tasks in Florence, while we will handle the ones here in Chosen City. Each of you has already acquired the gift of task system and knows your respective responsibilities but remember, remain vigilant and ensure there are no mistakes, okay?”

“Those newly arriving Chosen Ones will need time to adapt, so regardless of what they do, you all must remain patient and understanding. They will grow in time. One day, they will mature like the Chosen Ones who came before them and become your true friends and comrades.”

Alice’s lips curled into a faint smile as she spoke.

Her words brought knowing smiles to many of the listening priests.

After spending so much time with the Chosen Ones, many native elves had indeed forged friendships with them.

Some had even joined them in battling shadow creatures and monsters from the Dark Mountains.

Moreover, native shopkeepers were now a common sight in most businesses run by the Chosen Ones within the Chosen city.

The relationship between the elven natives and the Chosen Ones had already evolved significantly, marked by mutual assistance and camaraderie akin to that of battle-hardened comrades.

“From this moment on, you are officially the representatives of the Goddess. I hope you will all remain steadfast and continue striving for the future of our people and in honor of our Patron God!”

Alice’s gaze swept over her fellow kin as her expression grew stern once more.

She then raised her hand and traced the symbol of the Scepter of Life over her chest.

“May the Goddess of Life be with us all!”

Following her lead, the priests echoed fervently, “For the Elven race! For the Goddess!”

They, too, traced the Scepter symbol over their chests.

Their voices rang out powerfully, reverberating throughout the temple.

As Alice looked at her devoted brethren, her expression grew ever softer.

Dong—Dong—Dong.

At that moment, a series of melodious chimes rang out, their rich tones reverberating from the bell tower atop the Temple of Life, signaling the passage of something monumental.

The sound, deep and resonant, wasn’t confined solely to the temple in Chosen city either. From the towering High Temple atop the World Tree to the newly built annexes scattered throughout the city, every bell tower, no matter its size, joined the chorus. The collective ringing grew louder,resonating through the skies above the Elven Forest, as though heralding a great event.

Hearing this, Alice’s expression grew serious.

“It’s time,” she said softly.

As if awakening from slumber, the Chosen City finally stirred to life with the final chime.

The streets, which had been silent and shuttered moments ago, began to hum with activity. Whilst one by one, doors creaked open one after another…

Chosen Ones—some fully armored, others casually dressed—stepped out, stretching and greeting one another.

In an instant, the city transformed from stillness to bustling vibrancy.

Yet, no one rushed into action. Instead, all eyes turned toward the central plaza and the towering World Tree at the city’s heart.

The bells continued to toll, their sound weaving a symphony of anticipation.

Exactly one hundred and eight chimes rang out before the bells finally fell silent.

To the elves, 108 was a sacred number, as its pronunciation in the elven tongue was synonymous with “blessing.”

Simply put, it was an auspicious number reserved for significant ceremonies and rituals.

As the final chime gradually faded, the air fell silent, and all the people’s attention in the vicinity turned to the World Tree. A collective stillness seemed to grip the crowd, as a soft yet brilliant glow emanated from the colossal tree in the distance.

Its ethereal light rippled outward in waves, as beams of radiant light shot from its crown, scattering like a celestial fountain, each beam shimmering with a myriad of colors that dazzled the eye.

Some of these luminous beams descended upon the central plaza, while others fell across the broader expanse of the city.

“They’re finally here…”

Alice murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as her expression grew solemn. Her eyes, usually filled with warmth, now held an intensity as she carefully watched the descending beams of light.

The arrival of a new wave of Chosen Ones had begun.

This time, their numbers far exceeded any prior summoning.

The central plaza, which had once been more than sufficient to accommodate the sheer volume of arrivals, could no longer contain the magnitude of this event. The space was simply too small, too confined, for such an unprecedented influx.

Thus, the landing sites were distributed throughout the city instead.

As the beams of light descended, they touched the ground with a soft yet commanding glow, forming intricate circular magic arrays that shimmered with radiant energy. These arrays glowed like the first light of dawn before tall, humanoid figures emerged from the brilliant glow.

༺⟐༻

Like most players, Jiang Shang felt an indescribable sensation of weightlessness as the character creation screen dissolved into a blinding white light.

The weightlessness ended abruptly, and his five senses returned one by one. He could feel the solid ground beneath his feet, confirming his successful entry into the game.

The first to return was his sense of hearing.

The lively hum of a bustling market flooded his ears—vendors enthusiastically hawking their wares, the vibrant murmur of animated conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter all blending into a symphony of activity.

If not for the occasional synthetic sound effect unique to the game, Jiang Shang might have easily mistaken this world for a marketplace in the real world.

Next was his sense of smell.

The air around him was unexpectedly crisp, carrying a purity and freshness far beyond anything he had ever experienced. He instinctively took several deep breaths, feeling as though his very soul was being rejuvenated.

Finally, his vision returned.

Jiang Shang opened his eyes, slowly adjusting to the new world before him. His gaze swept across a vibrant street teeming with life and color. The architecture was unlike anything he had seen before, with towering buildings of distinct Gothic design.

Numerous individuals moved through the streets.

Some wore wooden armor or simple linen robes, gazing around with wide-eyed curiosity like visitors to a grand exhibition. While others donned imposing, intricately designed armor or luxurious robes, striding confidently through the crowds.

“ElvKing! So this is the world of Elven Kingdom!”

Jiang Shang’s heart raced with excitement.

His gaze lingered on the verdant buildings, a hint of amazement in his eyes.

“This must be the Gothic District everyone mentioned online,” he thought. “It’s part of the Chosen city’s recent expansion. It looks so stunning!”

The structures in the Chosen City were a mix of various architectural styles, reflecting influences from all over Earth.

Back in the city’s early days, players had drawn inspiration from Earth’s Summer Palace, blending different oriental styles into a harmonious whole. Back then, the city’s scenic photographs had gone viral, earning it the nickname “the Summer Palace of virtual worlds.” ¹

But as the city expanded, its eclectic mix of architectural styles began to pose a serious problem. The once-cohesive aesthetic gave way to a chaotic jumble of a mess, thus disrupting the city’s visual harmony.

However, among the players, there were always talented artistic individuals.

Hence under the redesign efforts led by experienced construction players like “HootyBird,” the Chosen City was reorganized and restructured.

The old district, with its perfectly blended architectural styles, remained untouched. However, the newly developed areas were categorized by its distinct architectural themes, with buildings of similar styles grouped into distinct zones.

The Gothic District was one of such area, where all structures adhered to a unified Gothic style.

Rumor had it that this district was a popular hub for players from the third and fourth beta.

The Chosen City contained many such themed districts, radiating outward from the original old district. Most of the construction work was reportedly carried out by the construction division of “Moe Moe Committee.”

Apart from the Gothic District, there were also zones themed after Greek, Baroque, Islamic, Chinese, and Japanese architecture, among others.

“Such talent! I can’t imagine how much effort it must’ve taken to build these stunning, lifelike districts in just a year! Sure, magic helped speed things up, but even with magic, these the makers of this buildings are really extraordinary…”

Jiang Shang couldn’t help but marvel as he admired the intricate spires of the Gothic architecture.

His gaze then wandered from the buildings to the bustling players around him.

Looking around, it was pretty easy to distinguish between newly arrived players and the veterans from earlier beta phases.

Jiang Shang looked enviously at the high-level players clad in impressive gear, some accompanied by awe-inspiring magical beasts.

“Whoa… is that a unicorn? So beautiful! It’s even more majestic in person than in the videos. Elves and unicorns are such a perfect match. One day, I’ll have one too!”

“Wow, a giant spider! That must be a Crypt Spider, right? I heard it’s the most cost-effective familiar if you can cozy up up the right NPC. Wasn’t that NPC a monster girl or something?”

“Wait… is that a dragon? A hatchling? How cute! And its scales are golden! Is that its owner? Oh, his username says ‘Optimist.’ I think I’ve seen that name in some videos. But if he already has a dragon familiar, then why does his equipment look so shabby?”

“Huh? That player has a silver-colored username! That must be a Silver-ranker. Aren’t they the ones who can take down ten Iron-rank players without breaking a sweat?”

“So jealous… I’m so jealous!”

Jiang Shang’s eyes sparkled as he watched the other players passing by.

After glancing around, his gaze was drawn to the massive tree towering in the distance.

It was a colossal World Tree, stretching so high into the heavens that its crown was obscured by clouds.

Its sheer grandeur alone left him wholly awestruck.

“That must be the World Tree, right? The true body of the Goddess Eve? The one we’re supposed to protect?”

Jiang Shang examined it curiously before chuckling to himself.

“But I think I prefer the goddess’s humanoid form.”

He recalled the goddess’s appearance during character creation and couldn’t help but grin foolishly.

“Honestly, she looks way better in the game than in any videos or figurines.”

After flipping through a few screenshots he had taken during character creation, Jiang Shang nodded in satisfaction.

There was a trick to getting good screenshots during character creation. If you positioned yourself just right, you could even take a selfie with the goddess.

Tucking away the screenshots, Jiang Shang felt a surge of excitement and decided to start exploring around.

However, as he took his first step, he paused in surprise.

“Huh?”

He suddenly noticed how light his body felt—far lighter than in real life. Yet, at the same time, every sensation was vividly realistic.

Intrigued, Jiang Shang leapt into the air.

To his amazement, he easily jumped over a meter high with minimal effort.

It wasn’t just effortless—it was exhilarating.

“This feels amazing! Just like the game’s description said, elves are naturally agile and perfect for movement!”

Unable to contain his excitement, Jiang Shang continued jumping as he moved forward, his steps a mix of leaps and bounds.

Only now did he understand why so many players in the gameplay videos seemed to be bouncing around instead of walking normally.

At first, he thought it was just a leftover habit from traditional PC games, where players constantly pressed the spacebar. But now he realized that for an elf’s body in this virtual world, this way of moving felt more entirely natural.

Not only that—it was way faster too!

As he kept jumping around, Jiang Shang opened his contact list and searched for a specific username.

Soon, his search results quickly locked onto someone and he immediately contacted the other party.

“Akai, are you online? Haha, of course, you named yourself Akai like always!”

“Pfft, and you’re still using Jiang Ziya as your username? Didn’t you keep telling me not to call you Ziya?”

“Ahem, the names we use in-game and our real names are separate things! This username is iconic and easy to remember. Besides, aren’t you lucky? You got in on your first sign up.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m just good at games. What? Were you hoping I wouldn’t get in?”

“Of course not. Playing an MMO alone is nowhere near as fun as playing with friends!”

“Hmph. That’s such a logic of single virgins.”

“S-Shut up!”

“Where are you anyway? I’m in a huge plaza, and it’s packed with lots of people.”

“Hmm… I’m on a street in the Gothic District. You must be in the Central Plaza. Look around—do you see a monument nearby?”

“Yeah, there’s a big one with lots of names carved on it.”

“That’s it! That’s the Central Plaza. The monument commemorates players from the first beta. Those names are the usernames of players who participated in the city’s earliest days. Just stay where you are! I’m coming to find you. Don’t move!”

“Why do you sound like an overbearing lover? Just so you know, while our current elven appearance looks great, I’m not into guys, okay?”

“Shut up!”

¹ 颐和园 – The Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan) is a vast imperial garden and palace complex located in the Haidian District of Beijing, China. It is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, including the vast Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, as well as its traditional Chinese architectural features, such as pavilions, temples, bridges, and galleries. The Summer Palace is considered one of the most well-preserved examples of classical Chinese garden design and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep