-1704- A storm's eye

When it comes to VRMMOs, the most famous player at the moment is undoubtedly Rozen.

Why?

It's simple.

Over the past year, Rozen's identity has been almost entirely revealed.

The fact that the new ALO welcomed both former SAO players and old ALO players is common knowledge.

Yet, upon joining the new ALO, nearly all former SAO players eventually joined one guild: Crimson Wing.

This trend naturally drew attention to the guild.

People began to wonder why all the former SAO players were joining the same guild.

Was there something special about this guild?

Or had the SAO players decided beforehand to band together under one guild and stick together in this new virtual world?

The curiosity and suspicion surrounding Crimson Wing grew, drawing widespread attention to it.

Gradually, even players who weren't part of SAO began joining Crimson Wing, making it increasingly powerful.

Naturally, when guild members socialized over drinks or conversations, they couldn't avoid leaking some information. Eventually, it became widely known why Crimson Wing was so popular.

It was because of one person.

That person was Rozen.

Thus, details about Rozen began to surface.

He was a SAO survivor.

A player who had once been active on the front lines—SAO's strongest player.

He had led the entire clearing group, standing above all SAO players, bringing hope and order, and saving countless lives.

In the end, he had even uncovered Heathcliff's true identity on the 75th floor, defeated Kayaba Akihiko, and cleared the death game of SAO, allowing everyone to return to the real world.

When this information leaked, it caused an uproar online.

The guild was massive and diverse, with both former SAO and old ALO players. Rumors about Rozen's deeds inevitably spread, making him an online sensation and the subject of heated discussions.

From that moment on, Rozen became completely famous.

This is why MMO Stream repeatedly invited him for interviews. Even after being declined each time, they kept trying because of his extraordinary in-game prowess and his unique identity.

As a result, Rozen is undoubtedly the most famous and popular player in the new ALO. Players from other games even know about him.

Typically, no matter how famous a player is within one game, players from other games rarely pay attention. But Rozen is an exception. Players across various games know about his existence and his strength.

So, if news of Rozen joining GGO spread online, it would undoubtedly create another uproar.

It would be impossible for Death Gun not to notice him.

For this reason, Rozen instructed Yui to spread his plans to join GGO widely online.

"Are you sure about this?" Yui asked hesitantly. "If things go as you said, not only will you attract Death Gun's attention, but you might also become a target for others."

After all, Rozen had made enemies in SAO. If they learned he was not only joining GGO but also participating in the BoB tournament, countless individuals might flock to GGO to cause trouble for him.

Moreover, GGO players would undoubtedly become highly wary and even hostile toward him.

In the fiercely competitive environment of GGO, the arrival of such a formidable figure could only mean trouble for the existing players.

Rozen's presence would signal the arrival of a rival out to claim their territory and resources.

This could very well lead to GGO players uniting against him.

In other words, Rozen might become the enemy of the entire GGO community.

Facing the entire world alone?

It sounded utterly reckless.

Unfortunately, Yui didn't realize...

"I've had experiences like that before," Rozen replied calmly. "Just do as I said."

"...Alright." Yui could only nod in agreement.

With about a week left before the BoB tournament began, Rozen planned to dive into GGO today.

"One week is plenty of time to gather equipment and familiarize myself with GGO's combat mechanics."

By then, Rozen would be ready to stir up chaos in GGO.

He couldn't help but feel a bit excited.

Although he had never played a gun-based game before, he looked forward to trying a new type of gameplay.

Ultimately, his decision to transfer to GGO wasn't solely for finding Death Gun.

If it weren't for the challenge, he might not have entered the game at all.

---

Over the next half-day, the VRMMO-related online community exploded.

Following Rozen's instructions, Yui spread the news of his upcoming arrival in GGO across all relevant websites. Within hours, the message reached every corner of the VRMMO community.

"The Magus is joining GGO?"

"Is this for real?"

"The next BoB tournament just got way more interesting."

"Let's have a moment of silence for GGO players."

This was the reaction from players of other games.

"What...!?"

"That Magus is coming to GGO?"

"Why is such a powerhouse suddenly entering our game?"

"Is he planning to become a professional player and rake in cash from GGO?"

"Damn it, this is bad."

"What's there to fear? He's just a fantasy-game player coming to a gun-game. How much trouble can he cause?"

"Exactly. If he thinks we're pushovers, let's show him otherwise!"

"This is GGO, not some fantasy game! If he underestimates us, he'll get crushed!"

"That's right!"

This was the reaction from GGO players.

The announcement sparked diverse reactions, from curiosity and mockery to indignation and open hostility, making the online atmosphere lively and chaotic.

Even GGO's top professional players publicly declared their intentions to challenge Rozen, vowing to show him that GGO was no place for outsiders.

Among these countless reactions, two stood out.

"Magus..."

A slender girl with large eyes, a small nose, and thin lips, resembling a malnourished kitten, muttered to herself while walking out of her school's gates. Her short hair was tied into twin locks at the sides of her face, and she wore glasses, a student uniform, and a scarf. Seeing the news on her phone, her expression shifted from surprise to excitement, determination, and a hint of competitiveness.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room, another individual stared at the news on their computer.

"Magus..."

Their eyes widened, then filled with rage, hatred, malice, and killing intent. Finally, a twisted grin formed on their face, transforming their expression into one of terrifying malevolence.

These two individuals, among many others, had set their sights on Rozen.

Inevitably, GGO had become a storm's eye.

The storm was about to arrive.