Thama-of-then-undead: "Wait, am I seeing this right? A few minutes ago, there was an announcement about the main quest starting back up. We're still trying to wrap our heads around that. Now a –1 level player just killed a level 40 monster? How is that even possible?"
Lord Huron: "Has to be a system glitch. A level –1 doesn't even exist."
VOID_Eater9: "The Dark Lord has finally joined the game."
Mr Handsome: "@Sharpshooter, this you?"
RawdogRonin: "Guys, I think Fae and her guild are already making moves. I heard they did a raid yesterday and they're trying to figure out how to push the main quest forward."
Sharpshooter: "Idiot, it says Sharp-Killer. I'm Sharpshooter because I'm one of the best snipers—if not the best—at least in Cavenhigh."
Mr Handsome: "I can hear a lot of hesitation in that statement."
Sharpshooter: "Shut up!"
xX_GrimSpitter_Xx: "Imagine getting your first PvE kill and the Evo brands you Sharp-Killer. Dude probably skipped the tutorial and got thrown straight into the fire."
LagFiend: "I'm telling you, it's a marketing stunt. No way some pumpkin-wrapped Christmas gift just obliterates a Lv. 40."
TeacupSorcerer: "Be honest. How many of you squinted at your screen when it said 'level -1'?"
MadMonk007: "'Doused in Pumpkin Armor' is insane. Imagine making history while looking like a grocery store reject."
FaeTheUnfallen (Verified): "...Interesting."
Daroxha: "Yooooo Lady Fae commented on this peasant platform! Lady Fae, I want to dedicate my life to serving you—please make me your slave!"
TittyTitan99: "Guys, listen to me! You won't believe this! I think I know the guy. I sold him that pumpkin armor!"
RawdogRonin: "What? You're the one responsible for the Pumpkin Reaper's nightmare?!"
TittyTitan99: "I was just trying to grow my business. It's been hell trying to level up my blacksmithing skills, so I switched to tailoring instead. I was short on resources, so that was my first cheap prototype. I might have used the Empire Knight Armor picture when I uploaded it to the marketplace. And I priced it at three hundred thousand dollars."
MetaMage42: "And he actually bought it? Using the Empire Knight Armor picture—that's an obvious scam. Everyone knows that armor."
TittyTitan99: "Exactly! I was shocked when he paid three hundred thousand for it! Dude must be loaded!"
RawdogRonin: "You… evil."
TittyTitan99: "I've already bought materials for my next prototype. I'm thinking of using the Western Alliance uniform picture this time."
AncientSwordsman: "Shouldn't you use that money to buy blacksmithing skill books and actually improve?"
MadMonk007: "Bro, that's exactly what I was thinking."
TittyTitan99: "No! Scamming is my true calling now."
MadMonk007: "Anyway... anyone know this guy's username? I want to add him."
TittyTitan99: "Oh, he used an anonymous account. But he was also the same guy ranting about some Black Godzilla yesterday."
MadMonk007: "Black Godzilla?"
Sharpshooter: "Ohhh, that guy!"
MuffinKing23: "I remember him too. Definitely looks like the type to get scammed, lol."
MuffinKing23: "@TittyTitan99, can I enter your DM, I have a real business idea for you. And I'd recommend deleting your comments after we are done talking."
TittyTitan99: "Uhmm… Okay, sure."
***
On the bustling island, filled with cutting-edge glass buildings rising from the waterfront, stood an obsidian titan of curved glass and liquid steel. Spiraling bands of carbon-alloy wrapped around its surface, glowing softly with neural-blue light.
This entire island, with every glass building, was the hub where the gaming world took shape, and the towering skyscraper itself was the crown jewel of EVO.
Every level of the tower buzzed with activity—developers, engineers, and countless others moved through its halls like blood through veins.
In a wide, white office, clean and almost wastefully spacious, a man sat before a holographic screen. His beard was rough and unkempt, dark circles carved deep beneath his eyes.
He pushed his glasses up his nose, watching the holographic display with a troubled expression that made his face look older than his years.
A young lady burst through his office door, her heels clicking against the floor in rapid succession. She stopped in front of his desk and slammed down the sleek white tablet in her hand.
The tablet's screen displayed a system announcement that had set the community ablaze for the past ten minutes.
Her voice cut through the air, harsh and unforgiving.
"I can wrap my head around the Main Quest situation. But what is this? I don't remember the Lore and Title department creating a title from the dungeon we deleted."
The man's frown deepened as he lifted his eyes from the tablet to meet hers.
"I'm just as lost as you are, Director. None of us touched anything."
The lady leaned closer, her tight blouse straining as she pressed her palms against the desk.
"So what are you saying? This is all Gaia?"
The man shrugged, removed his glasses, and rubbed his tired eyes like a man trying to wake from a nightmare.
"From day one, we built Gaia to evolve herself using all available information—to give EVO unlimited evolutionary possibilities. But in ten years, she's never been this unpredictable. Which means we might have a very dangerous player on our hands."
The lady slapped her forehead and stepped back from the desk, slowly lifting her tablet.
"Can't we just ban his account and kick him out?"
The man's expression darkened like storm clouds gathering, and the air in the room seemed to thicken.
"That's corporate suicide, Alicia. We need to discuss this with the Chairman first. Besides, if Gaia won't let you delete him, she might become even more erratic. More incidents like this could spiral out of control—new title creations, changes to lore, even power system modifications. We can't let our own creation hijack our masterpiece. We have to tread carefully."
The lady exhaled and let her shoulders drop like a deflated balloon.
"Damn it. The irregulars already have me working overtime. Now there's this mess. Why can't people just play games like normal human beings for once?"
She stormed out of his office, her frustration trailing behind her like smoke.
The man stared at the door for several minutes before turning back to his screen. He tapped the table, and the display shifted.
A small frown creased his brow like a crack in stone.
"Seems no one else has noticed. Fusion? What the hell is Gaia planning now?"
He leaned back in his chair, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him.
"More importantly... who the hell is this guy?"