Chapter 3: Entrance Ceremony

The temporal background of <World Saviour Online> is set in the future rather than the present.

A major upheaval occurred in the 21st century when demons and magic first appeared, stabilizing society over the course of 200 years.

However, the cataclysmic event led to the catastrophic collapse of human civilization, delaying its restoration for a long time.

Set in the 2300s, the world resembles modern society, with Korea being particularly recognizable.

“It feels familiar.”

The journey to the Gate Terminal at Seoul Station via the subway felt familiar.

Even in the game world, Korean life seemed strangely similar to reality.

A noteworthy aspect was that in this world, Korea referred to the entire Korean Peninsula.

I heard that when a 2nd grade gate appeared in Pyongyang during the cataclysm, most of the leadership lost power, leading to the collapse of the entire country.

Naturally, relatively stable South Korea captured the North’s territory after its collapse.

Of course, this phenomenon wasn’t limited to just the Korean Peninsula.

With numerous countries on Earth, some managed to overcome the cataclysm, while others perished, their territories absorbed by surviving nations.

So, what about the cases that didn’t fit into the “most” category?

Places like the African continent, polar regions, or the Amazon in South America became uninhabitable wastelands, fading into history’s obscurity.

Though more related to regions or continents than countries, let’s not dwell on such minor details.

What matters is that there are still parts of the Earth humanity hasn’t reclaimed.

“The world has changed, yet that announcement voice remains the same.”

As the subway came to a halt, many people disembarked. “Seoul Station seems to have changed quite a bit.”

Contrary to the view from the subway, Seoul Station had undergone more changes than expected.

It felt less like a train-centric place and more like a main hub with trains pushed to the side-lines.

“Gate terminals are indeed convenient. Although maintenance costs are high, it’s not my concern.”

“I’ve always found Gate Terminals comforting in the game.”

“World Saviour Online” implemented a system where each region was represented as an open field, with Gate Terminals facilitating travel between them.

So, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing Gate Terminals excessively while playing the game. I wonder if the familiarity and joy stem from that.

“Wasn’t this Gate Way connected to Eden?”

The Gate Terminal was an area where Gate Ways leading to various parts of the world converged.

Since these regions were implemented as open fields in the game, finding the way was not too difficult.

Following my memory, I moved towards the Gate Way, and as expected, I easily reached the platform in front of it.

A massive structure resembling Independence Gate and a rotating blue vortex at its centre.

The grandeur, difficult to describe in words, felt more profound than the game graphics.

Approaching the Gate Way, a terminal employee approached and addressed me.

“Are you an Eden student?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll verify your identity with magic. Please place your hand on this crystal stand.”

Following the employee’s instructions, I placed my hand on the crystal stand, and it absorbed a bit of my magic.

[Name: Seong Yujin

Gender: Male

Age: 20

• Criminal Record: None (0)]

I’ve seen this in the game several times, but seeing it first-hand felt different.

“Seong Yujin’s identity verification is complete. Please stand on the platform in front of that gate.”

“Thank you.”

With identification done and over with, I followed the employee’s guidance and stepped onto the platform in front of the Gate Way leading to Eden.

After a short wait, the employee approached me again and provided some instructions.

“Please refrain from using magic like Barrier or teleportation. You might feel a bit queasy immediately after transition.”

Though it sounded like the familiar tone and instructions often heard in hospitals, the mention of barriers or teleportation added a fantastical touch to it.

Once the employee finished relaying all the instructions, they briefly stepped aside to inspect the Gate Way.

Shortly after confirming that there were no issues, they nodded and activated the Gate.

Woo-woo…

A low-frequency sound resonated through the air as the blue vortex rapidly spun, creating a hole in the space.

“You can enter now.”

A massive hole appeared in the centre of the Gate Way, revealing a landscape beyond the horizon.

It wasn’t the view of Korea but another location.

“The Gate to Eden has opened.”

The towering tree, occupying about half of the horizon beyond the hole, was the symbol of Eden.

Planted by the head of Eden a hundred years ago, it was the Divine World tree grown after clearing the Special Gate – the Orchard of Paradise.

Gulp…

Unknowingly, I swallowed hard.

I lifted my heavy feet and stepped forward, crossing the distance of about 6,800 km in a single leap, from Seoul to the ancient land of Australia.

Shuaaa…

I completely passed through the Gate.

As the employee confirmed my transition, they closed the Gate.

“Wow…”

There was grandeur when it opened, and there’s a certain feeling as it closes.

As I watched, letting out a small sigh, some of the other students glanced at me and snickered.

It seems poking fun at country folks is a pastime for some.

“Since the ceremony is about to start, I should head to the plaza, right?”

The location of the event itself is around the Gate Way.

Originally, the students were instructed to wait in this area.

However, I decided to take a different path.

In my memory, Eden’s ceremony was more like a declaration ceremony.

Although everyone gathered around the Gate, I walked towards the plaza following the path I’ve seen in the game countless times before.

This part, almost like a tutorial quest, hides a hidden piece.

I took turns, right then left, then right again, and straight ahead.

Without stopping, I continued walking, and before I knew it, the plaza was in sight.

“As expected.”

At the centre of the plaza stood the golden spear.

That spear was the hidden piece I aimed to acquire.

…But someone might wonder why I suddenly pick up a hidden piece hidden in the tutorial section.

Even though it’s a game, is it okay to act recklessly in a world that has become reality?

That’s a valid point.

Since it’s reality, it’s best to proceed with caution.

But beyond that, because this world is now reality, there’s a need to act boldly.

Of course, the reward for clearing the tutorial properly is always useful.

It allows for an increase in favourability with key characters and the acquisition of a large amount of credits, the currency used in Eden.

However, the hidden piece I’m after isn’t technically a hidden piece. It’s a hidden piece that exists only in the setting and was not included in the plan I established.

Originally, it was a hidden piece that couldn’t be acquired due to the system structure, but now that this world has become reality, it’s something I can obtain.

“<Attention to all new students.>”

“It’s starting.”

Announcements began to flow through loudspeakers installed throughout the building, spreading fake news across the entire campus using magic amplification.

“<Currently, Grade 1 and Grade 2 Gates across Eden’s premises are experiencing collapses.>”

“<I repeat. Currently, Grade 1 and Grade 2 Gates across Eden’s premises are experiencing collapses.>”

Gate collapses.

It’s a phenomenon where monsters living in dungeons beyond the Gate break through and enter reality.

“Such an incident wouldn’t happen in Eden, the world’s top hunter academy.”

Existing students and professors wouldn’t attend class on such a day.

Utilizing these two elements, they stage an ’empty Eden’ scenario.

It seems real, and with the professors using urgent tones and strong accents, they instil fear in the new students.

“<Currently, existing students and professors are attempting to subdue the situation, but the number of monsters is extremely high.>”

And the next moment, the area around the Gate Way erupted in chaos.

I couldn’t hear the exact conversations due to the considerable distance, but there were probably screams and all sorts of curses filling the air.

Of course, it’s all lies.

The history of Eden has never recorded such Gate collapse incidents in the past or in the foreseeable future.

“That’s why jokes about voluntarily enlisting in Eden will probably pop up in the community.”

Yes, it’s all just a show orchestrated by the professors.

By suddenly declaring a state of emergency, they evaluate the students’ level and potential based on how they handle the situation.

Of course, it’s not just talk.

Using pre-prepared large-scale illusion magic, they create illusions of monsters around the students.

“First-time players probably thought Eden was actually under attack.”

I remember being surprised when playing with my character ‘RomanceTwo’.

They meticulously crafted it, incorporating every factor that humans use to perceive things.

They implemented external factors such as appearance, smell, texture, weight, speed, and strength… or so the setting goes.

Even though <World Savior Online> is not a VR game but a regular computer game, I only saw the impressive cutscenes.

However, now that the game has become reality, anyone experiencing this illusion for the first time would never think that the monsters in front of them are illusions.

‘From small details to significant elements, it was all meticulously crafted to create a believable situation.’

“Still, I know.”

I already know what this situation is and have been outside the range of the illusion magic for a long time.

What I need to do is obtain that hidden piece.

That’s why I gave up the tutorial reward and came all the way here.

Passing through the grassy area, crossing the stone-finished floor, and reaching the plaza, I finally arrived at the golden spear.

“To the one who pulls out this spear, regardless of the reason or the consequences, I will transfer ownership.”

That was the declaration made personally by the head of Eden, Otinuus.

The same words were written on the metal pedestal where the spear was inserted, so many people actually attempted to pull out this spear.

“They all failed.”

This spear is none other than a replica of her divine spear, Gungnir, made directly by Otinuus herself.

Compared to the original, many parts have disappeared to the level of cost-saving, but it’s still a powerful weapon.

“In the game, this spear existed only as dummy data in the setting and client, and no one could obtain it.”

Even after reaching the ending and hitting the maximum level, this spear could never be pulled out.

It later became clear that the reason why this spear couldn’t be pulled out was because it was densely sealed with S-rank sealing spells.

It was a termination-grade item sealed with layers of the highest-grade sealing spells.

Many coveted it, but the only options given to all those individuals were a fair and simple choice: either unlock all the seals on the spear and take it or neatly give up on the spear.

In <World Saviour Online>, there are two ways to perfectly undo someone else’s magic or skill.

First, achieve a higher level than the target and use Dispel or a tailored unsealing spell.

Ultimately, this method was impossible.

Otinuus, who placed the seal, was a recognized figure in the magic, and there was no way for players at the time to reach that level.

…However, now that this world has become reality, there’s a second method that only I can perform.

“The opponent covers the original spell with a higher-level spell and then unseals the entire spell.”

It’s like painting over a whiteboard marker that won’t come off with another layer of marker and then erasing it all at once.

I recalled the setting of the sealing spell that Professor Reyna Graven, who was in charge of magic, publicly announced in the middle of the story.

“Sealing spells fundamentally confine the target within a barrier and bind their power by imposing several constraints and conditions.”

Since sealing spells fundamentally rely on the foundation of the barrier, disabling the barrier itself easily releases the seal.

No matter how elaborate the calculations and drawings are, once the paper they’re drawn on is torn to shreds, it’s all over.

“I can do it.”

The top-ranking sealing spell that Otinuus personally placed on this spear is an S-rank, the highest grade in the game.

On the other hand, the barrier spell I can use transcends the limits of the game due to the influence of the Sovereignty of Otherworld, reaching an EX rank.

“[Barrier Spell (EX) overwrites Sealing (S).]”

In other words, it’s possible to rewrite it with my higher-ranking barrier spell.