Prologue

World End Online, more commonly known as WEO, is a game that has garnered immense praise and earned five-star ratings from its players. Like a volcanic eruption, this game took the world by storm. Its unparalleled system, intricate world-building, and storyline that encompasses every player have made it captivating and challenging in equal measure. The realm of online gaming was dominated by this juggernaut, and it seemed like everyone knew about WEO, except for those unfortunate souls without internet access in their area.

How long has it been now? This game, often referred to as the king of online gaming, has reached a staggering four million daily active players. During special events, the player count could soar past ten million, causing server overloads that necessitated forced restarts. Ah... I can still recall that moment during the opening of Arc 2. They were truly excited about that update.

But the wheel always turns. Whenever something is hailed as a king, the next step is usually a retreat to the remotest of villages. The game, once lauded as the MMORPG monarch, has entered its dark period. Players slowly began to depart, disheartened by Arc 2, the long-awaited update.

And now, look at its player base. They criticize the game for being too enigmatic. They're absolutely right, and it's not even a slight exaggeration. WEO's world is incredibly diverse, and the myriad complexities make it a daunting task for newcomers who just want to enjoy the game.

Perhaps this was the beginning of the exodus, but the climax came when the promotional video for Arc 4 was released. It sparked a multitude of debates among the players, who saw it as inconsistent with the story's development.

Well, enough about that. But I'm different. Even though the game now has fewer than ten thousand fans, I continue to play. I've even created a website dedicated to unraveling all the game's mysteries. Forget the gameplay; I yearn for a more complex narrative!

Most players barely scratch the surface, with only 10% of the world explored. It's only the hardcore gamers who manage to achieve 54% completion. Hah... and that's during the times of Arc 5. So, what do you call someone who's completed the game to 99%?

Six years after its release, the game has now reached Arc 8. An arc where I'm still desperately poring over books.

"Ugh!! How infuriating can this game be? Why not just give us the main storyline instead of this worthless collection of tales?!"

I could only sigh in this dimly lit room, illuminated only by the glow of my computer monitor.

As I was immersed in the game, my younger sister knocked on my door. 

Hearing that, I reached for my glasses, which had been my faithful companions for about two years now. Hmph! With these, I could see in this dark and stuffy room.

Ow!! What was that just now?! I clutched my foot in pain. Oh, dear... I accidentally stepped on a small plastic block while walking.

"Eh? Big brother!"

That was my sister, Emily Rosegold. Her voice was soft and melodious, the kind you'd hear when she met a stranger and not when she was worried like now.

Quickly, I opened the door for her. My sister, with her fair skin and beautiful blonde hair flowing down to her hips, was rather charming. She had a petite figure, quite different from my tall, slightly tanned self with wavy black hair. Although I said slightly tanned, in this tropical country, Indonesia, it was considered fair.

She was bringing food to my room, it seemed. She was on kitchen duty today. We usually took turns with household chores, but I often helped her, even when it was her turn. Today, it was Monday, October 14, 2024, and she was on her kitchen duty. Judging from her attire, she was about to head to school.

My sister peeked into my room and said, "Don't overexert yourself, big brother."

Her expression was one of worry.

"Don't worry, I got some sleep earlier."

Though that was merely lip service, in reality, I hadn't slept through the night. Nevertheless, she smiled warmly at me and bid farewell.

"Big brother, I'm off to school, okay..."

She left, descending the stairs on her way to school.

Today's meal was crispy chicken and rice, I guessed. She probably overslept this morning. Well, what could be done?

I walked over to my computer desk. This time, I was careful not to step on anything again. It was time to continue my game... or rather, it was time to read more of these pointless tales.

In my quest to find the Dragon King Azatoth, the World Boss in Arc 8, I would read all of these tales until my eyes blurred. Actually, my eyes were quite strong. I don't know, but I've been at this for so long, and it was only in the past four years that I started feeling my vision blurring.

I mentioned earlier that there were ten thousand people online. Yes, that was true, but none of them had reached Arc 8 yet. This is where the game turned into trash that people didn't want to play anymore. The World Boss, a world-level boss monster, had to be defeated to unlock the next arc.

I don't know why they designed the Boss Monster system this way. I mean, they were too arrogant in thinking that people would keep playing the game and populate it. As a result, they made a big mistake. In Arc 1, players complained to the game company about the lack of story. Of course, the developers responded, and Arc 2 with its high complexity was born.

As I resumed playing, there was a sudden notification from the official WEO account I followed.

I read it briefly and was shocked. Huh? The game was ending? It stated that they had decided to close the game due to internal issues and lack of interest. After that, they attached the changes that would occur... that's what they usually do. However, the content of the changes was only one sentence. "Last Wish: I Hope Humanity Not Perish." That sentence left me puzzled. Was there an event related to humanity? If so, why? They always treated every race in the game equally, so why only mention humans? Judging from the sentence, I didn't think it was a Boss Monster or anything like that. But this update made me angry.

"Hey! I haven't even completed this game perfectly yet!"

I sighed, what could be done? A game was created out of ambition and updated for money and players. Without players, how could they make money? Furthermore, I was sure that the server maintenance costs were high. There had been many reports that the developers had to sell some of their physical servers to stay afloat. But is this the end? At the very least, I would welcome the game's closure with an open heart. An open heart? Don't play around with me, you fool!! Do you know how much I had to read these collections of tales in the library? Before I could find the Dragon King, I would never give up!

After four hours of playing, there were still no results. However, suddenly, an earthquake struck.

The loud rumbling and people's screams outside could be heard even in this closed room. I looked around. The roof! This was bad! I quickly jumped up and ran towards the door. I tried to open it. Argh!! Why was the door stuck?! The cracks in the roof were getting louder. The ceiling was about to collapse. What should I do?!

I fell silent and looked under my computer desk. There it was!

I leaped beneath my computer desk just before the ceiling collapsed. The sound of the heavy roof plates crashing could be heard intermittently. For some reason, in moments like this, I wasn't afraid. But thinking about my sister, who had just left for school in the morning, filled me with panic. I was so frantic that I forced myself to get out using my strength. Darn it! It was too dark in here! I kept hitting my computer desk repeatedly, leaving only blood on my hands.

Emily, please, please be safe... I didn't want to see my family leave me again. In desperation, I kept striking the roof from under my computer desk. I held my hand; it didn't even hurt. I don't know, maybe I couldn't feel the pain due to the panic of imagining my sister in trouble.

I had to get out quickly... I had to, I took a deep breath. I needed to calm down and think. What should I do?

What if I slam my hand onto the floor in the hope of cracking it and sending me below? But instead, I'd probably get crushed. I couldn't risk injuring myself, let alone breaking any bones. I didn't want to burden my sister with taking care of her brother. My pride as an older sibling would be shattered! I tried to twist my body and kicked the table. If I couldn't strike it, I had to kick it! At that moment, I felt a surge of power within me. I began to kick, and simultaneously, a status screen appeared in front of my eyes.

Boom!

The sound was as loud as an explosion. I could only marvel at my suddenly increased strength. The ceiling, initially made of concrete, had collapsed, leaving behind small iron beams to support it. Meanwhile, birds were seen flying northward. Well, it's an earthquake again, that's what I first thought. But that all changed when a brown dragon with three black horns suddenly crossed over my destroyed roof, catching the flock of birds.

I could only stand there, stunned. W-What's happening?

Rawr!!!

The sound of something I didn't recognize emerged... No, I knew that sound very well. It wasn't a sound, but a drumbeat. I understood the meaning of the drumbeat, even though it may seem biased. Believe me, WEO used this sound to signify the start of a new arc. Yes, the roars of five dragons floating over the West Java region. He was called the dragon of message, Ol Zien Derr And.