2. Welcome to Astral Point

I looked at the figure in white floating before me, suspended in a vast, starlit space. My thoughts whirled with fear and wonder as I tried to make sense of it all. The figure introduced themselves as the "Administrator"—a guardian, or perhaps a manager, I thought. In a calm voice, they explained something that still sounded impossible: I could actually stay in the world of Astral Point, a place I'd only ever experienced through a screen, my fingers dancing across a keyboard and mouse.

"So, all of this… it's real?" I asked, my voice trembling with both fear and excitement. "You're saying this world isn't just a simulation?"

The Administrator smiled faintly, their face hidden beneath a hood. "This is a real place, a simulation that you and others from your world call a game. Between dimensions, we've created many servers for battle simulations. Each server has a unique designation—yours, for instance, is known as EARTH001."

I was stunned, struggling to accept what I'd just heard. "So… Astral Point is like an interdimensional arena?"

"Precisely," the Administrator replied in a steady, calm tone. "You are one of Earth's representatives, under the account name… UwoghCunny123. You've risen to the top of each season without buying or enhancing your abilities with outside resources. Your success is not only due to your skills but also your persistence and independence. That's why you're here. As one of the highest achievers in EARTH001, you've proven yourself able to face every challenge."

I nodded slightly, still trying to take it all in. Part of me wondered if this was just a strange dream, or if I'd fallen asleep at my computer screen.

"Are there…" I asked softly, hesitantly, "other servers? I mean, are there players from other places too?"

The Administrator nodded. "There are many. You'll meet them sooner or later. Battles between players from different servers are ultimately the main purpose of Astral Point. Each player develops their skills, strengthens their base, and sets strategies in their lobby, all aiming to reach the highest rank and represent their dimension."

"So here… I'll be doing all of that in person?"

"Correct." They raised their hand, and slowly the interstellar space around us shifted. The distant stars faded, replaced by a bright blue sky. Below, land began to form, and a castle, grand yet simple, appeared before me, floating in mid-air like an island in the clouds. It felt unfamiliar but somehow recognizable.

"Welcome to Astral Point," the Administrator said as I took in the sight. I realized I was in the starting lobby of Astral Point, the place used by every beginner in their first season.

I stood before a modest castle that looked far more real than anything I'd seen on my monitor. Clouds drifted around it, framing a stunning view of the world beyond. This was simpler than the lobby I'd built up in my original account, where my castle had nearly reached its maximum level. Yet there was a beauty here that couldn't be replicated by anything on a screen.

I raised my hand, instinctively mimicking the gesture of clicking a mouse, trying to open the system. A transparent screen appeared, showing my basic data:

Username: UwoghCunny123 

Level: 1 

Base Level: 1 

Server: EARTH001 

I stared at the screen, a mix of emotions welling up. Here, I was starting from scratch again, with only the basic skills I'd had at the beginning of the game. From what I could see on the system screen, this castle was at level 1—the beginner's castle used to launch every player's journey. I took a deep breath, trying to accept that I really would have to start all over.

"Administrator, does this mean I'll have to manage all my units again? And… are there any special rules?" I asked, looking at the solid structure before me.

"Yes," the Administrator replied. "Everything you did in the game before, you must do again. But this time, you'll feel it all—not just watch or control it from afar. Every decision will have a direct consequence. Every battle, mission, and upgrade will be fully in your hands, and you'll experience the effects firsthand."

I nodded, trying to understand the gravity of this new reality. This world was so similar to what I knew, yet the differences were striking. I walked forward into the castle. The interior was simple, with a few rooms not yet open. There was a main control room with a large map displaying mission locations and unexplored territories. This sight made me smile, recalling how I'd once planned my strategies in a room like this.

The Administrator stood beside me, observing my reaction. "You are in the base lobby. This floating castle is your control center. Here, you'll manage your units and resources, and organize all battles and missions. You'll also encounter other players and enemies from different servers at various points, so prepare yourself for anything."

I gave a small smile, still not fully believing it. "I've been through so much in Astral Point over five seasons… but I never imagined I'd be here in person."

"This is your chance to go further than you ever imagined," they replied softly. "Every mission you undertake will unlock new possibilities. You can rebuild your best team, train new units, and explore areas that might have only been distant icons on the game's map."

I nodded, excitement stirring within me. Though this wasn't the same exact world as the Astral Point I'd played, there was something thrilling about this experience. What would it be like to truly lead these units? To see them fight, to feel the weight of victory, or even to face defeat in person?

"Well then, now that I've guided you here, I'll be watching from my place. I wish you the best of luck, UwoghCunny123."

I nodded, and with that, the Administrator gradually disappeared, leaving me alone in the lobby. I stood in front of the large map, taking a deep breath, then moved my fingers to open the system screen again. Here, there was no longer the feeling of boredom or emptiness I'd sometimes felt in the real world; in this place, every step had purpose.

As I looked at the map in the main control room, I suddenly heard light footsteps behind me. I turned to see a young girl with short hair, dressed in a classic maid outfit. She looked sweet, a bit nervous, but with a polite smile on her face. I recognized her instantly; she'd been part of Astral Point since I'd started playing. But this was the first time I'd seen her in this form—real and lifelike, far beyond the two-dimensional avatar that used to appear in the game corner as my guide.

"Welcome, Navigator," she said softly, bowing slightly. "My name is Luna. I'll be your guide, as always."

I smiled. "Luna," I said quietly, "it's really you—the tutorial guide who's always helped me, both in my old castle and now, here in this starting lobby."

Luna seemed a bit surprised, but she kept smiling. "Yes, and you're still the Navigator, the one destined to lead this castle through countless missions and adventures."

Hearing the word "Navigator" like that made me smile wider. I remembered how her instructions had once guided me from a beginner's level to the top of the game. But seeing Luna like this… it was different.

"Luna," I asked, looking at her intently, "may I… touch you? Just to be sure."

Luna looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded slightly, looking a bit shy. "Of course, Navigator. If it helps you confirm that I'm truly here, I don't mind."

I reached out, hesitating, and touched the edge of her sleeve. It felt like real fabric—soft and smooth beneath my fingers. That brief touch was enough to convince me Luna was indeed here with me, no longer just a picture on a monitor.

"All right, Luna," I said, lowering my hand. "This all feels incredibly strange, but somehow… it makes sense." I chuckled softly. "And your voice is just the same—cute as always."

Luna looked down a bit, blushing slightly. "Thank you, Navigator. If you'll allow me, I'll show you around the castle and explain its features."

I nodded. Even though I already knew Astral Point inside out, there was something delightful about hearing Luna explain everything again. It felt nostalgic, like remembering my first moments learning to manage this floating castle in the game.

We walked together down the castle's hallways, and Luna began her explanation in her familiar, gentle voice.

"This is the main headquarters," she said, gesturing to a room with a large table and a more detailed map than I'd ever seen before. "Here, you can set the castle's flight routes and choose directions for exploring the surrounding world. The floating castle will move based on the path you select."

I nodded, gazing in awe at the large map in the room. The view outside the castle windows felt incredibly real—the green hills stretching below, a winding river, and the vast, boundless blue sky. I'd only ever seen this through a screen, but now I was truly in it.

Luna continued, "Here, you can also check the available missions, including main and side missions to gather resources."

She looked at me, full of enthusiasm. I could see how seriously Luna took this, even though she might know I'd already been through it all before. But I listened to her closely. No matter how many times I heard this explanation, I never got tired of her voice.

"Next, this is the combat training room," she said as we entered a large, empty room. "Right now, there are no units here, but eventually, you'll be able to organize your combat units here and train them to boost their strength and skills."

I nodded again, remembering how I'd once started with basic units that I gradually built into a powerful team. Yet, this empty room brought a new feeling—like a challenge to start from scratch and build a new team.

"We also have the blacksmith workshop," she said, leading me to another room filled with heavy tools, raw materials, and an NPC blacksmith standing in the corner. "Here, you can craft or upgrade equipment for your combat units. Better equipment will help them survive longer on the battlefield."

I looked around the workshop. I might have been used to the high-end tools in my previous castle, but something about this place felt inviting. It felt like a new challenge to start fresh with these basic tools and see how far I could go.

We kept walking, and Luna showed me the final room.

"This is the dormitory," she said. "Your combat units will rest here after missions. You can use this space to arrange team formations and strategies before the next mission."

I looked into the dormitory, imagining the team I'd one day assemble and lead into battle. Even though it was empty now, there was a feeling of anticipation I couldn't shake.

"For now, these are the only available features," Luna added, turning to face me. "But as this floating castle levels up and you gain more combat units, more features will unlock."

I smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Luna. Even though I know most of this already, hearing it from you again makes me… excited."

Luna blushed slightly, pride gleaming in her eyes. "My job is to make sure you understand everything well, Navigator. I'll always be here to help."

We returned to the main control room, and I looked at the large map there. This was a new beginning—not just clicking buttons or moving a mouse. Here, I'd feel every step, every battle, and every achievement firsthand. And Luna—the guide I'd only known as a two-dimensional figure on the screen—would be here with me in this more real form.

"Luna," I asked with a grin, "how about the castle's supply of Moon Drops?"

She nodded with an excited smile. "Are you planning to do a gacha pull, Navigator? You currently have 1,000 Moon Drops, enough for five pulls."

Five pulls—the exact amount the game system always gave new players as free gacha. But as a free-to-play player, I couldn't complain; I'd experienced this many times before.

"For now, let's hope my luck isn't too awful," I said with a chuckle.

***