Crossing the Line

Zephyr's brow furrowed as he recalled the pre-quest global ranking list. None of the names held any recognition. The stark contrast to his memories of Central Apex in his previous life confirmed his suspicion: those individuals held little to no fame in the past.

Perhaps the Legions at the forefront were changed, their positions usurped by those new, rising stars. Yet, a nagging skepticism persisted. The general population remained unchanged, seemingly unaffected by these pre-quests, these anomalies in the fabric of time.

The dissonance fueled a growing disquiet. Even with the undeniable alterations to history, a larger truth seemed to loom: the grand narrative, the core events, might remain stubbornly unchanged.

An additional detail piqued his curiosity: the absence of aliases on the ranking list. In his past, anonymity had been an option for regional and global contenders. The shift, subtle yet significant, further underscored the perplexing nature of this new reality.

"Nicknames in games make it hard to forge genuine connections," Zephyr mumbled, a feeble excuse for his reluctance to answer.

Jae-Ya simply nodded, her acceptance masking a flicker of disappointment. She pressed on, her questions rapid-fire: legalities, Shard currency, Hall Square logistics, Exo-skeleton upgrades, and effective weaponry against beasts.

Zephyr, despite his initial hesitation, found himself holding an impromptu Q&A session.

Jae-Ya's eyes sparkled with growing curiosity, but Zephyr abruptly cut it short, eager to explore the System's new features. Ever obedient, she retreated to the second floor. Her lack of concern for Young-Jae, however, wasn't apathy. But a chilling absence of empathy, a troubling characteristic for one so young.

Zephyr muttered a self-deprecating chuckle. "Yeah, I need to work on that too." He understood Jae-Ya better now, having witnessed how her nightmare of losing her siblings had morphed her into a more withdrawn individual.

However, he worried that this path would isolate her, hindering her ability to thrive in large-scale battles. The future held grim portents: no longer would they face mere hundreds of Sentinels but hordes numbering in the thousands, even tens of thousands.

A vivid memory of the war against hundreds of thousands of rampaging beasts flashed through Zephyr's mind. The relentless brutality, the constant exhaustion, the ever-present threat of death – it was a nightmare etched into his soul.

He had lost count of the near-death experiences during those battles. Without the support of his team, he could have easily succumbed, forever trapped in the abyss, unlike his current situation. Zephyr's unwavering resolve solidified. He envisioned Jae-Ya and Young-Jae becoming pillars of the future Legions, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their comrades against the tide of beasts. This conviction, this responsibility, compelled him to dedicate his precious time to their early development.

A contemplative silence stretched in the room. Zephyr reached out with his thoughts, activating the System once more. He stared at the holographic screen, a flicker of indecision crossing his features. The cost of unlocking the In-Store feature – 1000 Credits – loomed large in his mind.

'The System has already proven itself invaluable,' he mused, recalling the Abilities and Inventory tabs. '1000 Credits might be a steep price, but I still have 130 left after conversion.'

With a deep breath, he confirmed the purchase. A new window materialized within the System's In-Store category, anticipation bubbling within him.

A chime echoed in Zephyr's mind: "Ding!"

He eagerly opened the newly unlocked In-Store System, his eyes scanning the options before him.

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[ In-store System: ]

- 1st Arcana [1000 Credits to unlock]

- 2nd Arcana [9000 Credits to unlock]

- 3rd Arcana [23500 Credits to unlock]

- 4th Arcana [55000 Credits to unlock]

- 5th Arcana [135000 Credits to unlock]

- 6th Arcana [250000 Credits to unlock]

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"F*ck!!" Zephyr swore in a low voice while gritting his teeth after seeing the information listed after spending 1000 of his precious Credits to activate the In-store feature only to find a steeper price chain blocking his access.

'Bullsh*t! After 1000 Credits, another 1000 Credits to unlock the first level? Wow! What a scam! Besides, how could the gap with level two be that big? This is crazy! It's crazy! System, you're a fraud, aren't you?! Concede!!' Zephyr threw a tantrum and swore as hard as he could in his heart and head. He fought down the urge to curse aloud, mindful of Jae-Ya upstairs.

Fury flared in Zephyr's eyes, but it flickered out just as quickly. Perhaps, he reasoned, the escalating costs reflected the potential value of the items within. Just as the System itself had appeared miraculously, offering him invaluable tools, so too might the In-Store hold wonders beyond his imagination.

However, his limited Credits forced him to restrain his curiosity. He wouldn't be able to carelessly convert them to Shards anymore, not with such tantalizing possibilities locked behind these virtual doors.

His mind drifted back to his final moments prior to the Protoss's descent. The beasts back then were unlike any he'd encountered in his thirteen years within the Apex World – ferocious, relentless, and nearly unstoppable.

He clung to the hope that the In-Store held advanced weaponry, tools that could elevate him to the ranks of an Exalted Legion, a beacon of hope against the tide of monstrous foes.

The next morning, Zephyr conveyed the news about Young-Jae's situation to Jae-Ya. As expected, her response was a stoic nod, her face betraying no emotion. He held back further inquiries, opting instead to offer guidance.

"For now," he began, "I recommend starting with beginner-friendly quests. Simple tasks like cleaning, observation from the shelter wall, or even delivering food can provide decent rewards."

Jae-Ya's response was swift and unwavering. "No. I can do hunting quests."

Zephyr suppressed an eye roll. He'd suggested more leisurely options not for their perceived safety but for their higher rewards. Seeing Jae-Ya handle the gun had instilled confidence in him, so long as she didn't get drawn into reckless encounters with multiple mutated beasts.

Though the reward for hunting quests paled in comparison to his initial suggestions, he conceded that it would hone her skills. "Very well," he sighed. "Choose quests within your capacity. Remember, your safety comes first. If your instincts scream danger, retreat immediately, understand?" He emphasized his point by tapping his temple.

"Um!" Jae-Ya answered merely.

Zephyr then went out first, as usual. Even though yesterday something horrendous happened, everything went on as if nothing had happened today. Regardless, the destination he was walking towards was not the Legion Union or Hall Square but the district where slums were growing and running rampant.

Arriving there, Zephyr witnessed the peak of decline that he had previously witnessed, even though the Apex World was still relatively early.

Many people have uncontrollable coughs and red spots that begin to change the shape of the human body.

Aessence energy particles as the basis for disrupting the earth's atmosphere in order to form and maintain the Apex World have shown its effect.

Humans without vaccines would experience a decrease in their immune system.

Zephyr has no intention of pampering them by buying vaccines with his wealth. For him, beggars were the incarnation of laziness that was not worth fighting for. But that didn't mean his heart was made of stone. He was willing to help. Yet only to people who have the determination to be better.

Lazy people were of no use to the Legions of the Apex World.

Suddenly, "Oh, you're here," Zephyr said in a low voice, using the unfamiliar Apexian language.

A flicker of surprise crossed Jin-Uk's face as he spotted Zephyr. His eyes widened in alarm, and he stumbled back a step, knocking into Ja-Sung.

Ja-Sung, emboldened by the presence of his group, crossed his arms and frowned. "Don't speak gibberish," He scoffed. "We don't understand what you're saying. If you don't have business here, scram."

Jin-Uk stammered in agreement, "Y-yeah, just leave us alone."

Zephyr, unfazed by their hostility, narrowed his eyes. He saw no reason to repeat himself. In a swift movement, he closed the distance between them and grabbed Jin-Uk by the collar, effortlessly lifting him off the ground.

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the tense silence. "Uncle Quinn?" Eugene's voice was hoarse, tinged with disbelief.