Sky, catching up to Echo who was leading the way, queried through the mesmerizing cityscape of Aethercross World, amid a kaleidoscope of people. Magicians draped in flowing robes engaged in conversations with mech-armored warriors, and anciently garbed swordsmen strode alongside youths exuding a cyberpunk aura.

"Are all these folks actual players?" Sky asked, catching up with Echo. The city's liveliness rivaled that of a bustling metropolis in the real world. If these were genuine players, the headcount here alone would eclipse several hundred thousand. This city was just a small segment of the vast expanse of Aethercross World. The thought of the sheer number of players inhabiting the entire world was staggering.

The possibility of such a massive player base shuttling between the real and Aethercross worlds without causing a real-world uproar seemed far-fetched.

Echo addressed Sky's doubts, "No, most here are the original denizens of Aethercross World."

"Original denizens? Like NPCs in games?"

Echo shook his head. "Remember the novice trial in the replica world? Did the people there strike you as mere programmed NPCs?"

Reflecting on his ordeal in the dystopian environment of Satellite City No. 14, Sky shook his head. "No, they weren't mere game NPCs. They were tangible, living souls." He stressed 'souls', recalling his soul power awakening during the trial's climactic moment – an experience that deeply resonated with him.

"Living souls?" Echo's smile grew even more radiant. "Precisely. Hence, we players commonly refer to them as the natives. Let's sit and delve deeper into this."

Entering what seemed like a restaurant, they pushed open massive bronze doors, revealing a decor blending medieval and cyberpunk elements. The great hall, constructed from enormous stone bricks, had a medieval castle feel, while the ceiling's pipework added a futuristic touch. Oriental wooden screens artistically divided the space, and flying gadgets busily delivered exotic meals and drinks, served by robotic waiters on sleek, modern tables.

Settling in a secluded nook, Echo ordered a fruit-flavored beer-like beverage and a barbecue platter for two.

"This one's on you," Echo said, savoring his drink. He motioned to the platter, "Try this. It's a local delicacy, unlike anything on Earth. Feast away, and let's unravel the mysteries of the Aethercross World together."

Sky, feeling a hollow in his stomach, sampled the fare and was pleasantly surprised at how it appealed to his palate.

Echo, with a gentle smile, watched Sky hungrily devour his meal. She began to unfold the mysteries of the Aethercross World. "To be honest, I don't have extensive knowledge about the Aethercross World. It all started three months ago with a sudden countdown, and next thing I knew, I was transported here.

My initial adventure was in a fantastical world of magic and swords. Following the system's guidance, I hunted some goblins to complete the trial, which led me to the City of Stars. This city, though it seems just a city, is in fact the epicenter of all the known void worlds and is continually expanding.

From what I've learned from experienced players, this involuntary journey to this world began around a decade ago. Initially, the numbers were quite few. However, considering the people joining and forming guilds, it's estimated that tens of thousands have been brought here over these years.

But a significant shift occurred about three months ago. Since then, it appears that thousands are being transported daily from various places in the real world into the Aethercross World. Even accounting for the loss of players in fatal missions and new plane explorations, the total number of players in the Aethercross World now is close to an astonishing 100,000.

The reason behind this sudden influx over the past three months is still unknown. But if we view Aethercross as a game world, it's as if we've just transitioned from a decade-long beta phase to an open beta period.

Furthermore, the expansion of the City of Stars itself began to accelerate around the same time, showing no signs of slowing down."

Echo paused as she noticed Sky had ceased eating and was intently listening. "What's on your mind?" she inquired.

Sky, with a hint of anxiety in his voice, asked, "You mentioned players dying in this world. What becomes of them in the real world?"

"In the real world?" Echo responded casually, "Unless they possess exceptional willpower, they're likely to end up in a vegetative state." Noticing Sky's growing concern, she quickly added with a reassuring laugh, "But don't worry too much. Seasoned players have developed numerous strategies to avoid such fates. In this world, with proper preparation and contingency plans, there are several ways to resurrect a fallen game ID.

The most common method involves certain items that enable rebirth. These items allow players who have died in plane worlds or copies to be resurrected back in the Aethercross universal world. However, these resurrections often come with severe penalties, such as a reduction in attributes or a reset of one's character within the plane.

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More precious are methods that enable resurrection right at the point of death within the plane world. These methods generally have minimal penalties, and sometimes none at all.

At the higher end, there are items like 'life-replacement dolls' or abilities like 'soul avatars' obtained through plane exploration or mission rewards. These can prevent death entirely, making resurrection unnecessary. You'll come to understand more about these as you encounter them. Just keep in mind, such items and abilities are exceedingly rare, so seize any opportunity you get."

Sky, now visibly energized, interjected, "Can these resurrection items and abilities be applied to NPCs, or rather, the natives?"

Echo hesitated briefly, then replied, "It's quite unusual for anyone to use such valuable resources on the natives. In theory, it's feasible, but there would likely be substantial limitations."

"Limitations?"

"Yes. To understand that, we need to start from the basics of the Aethercross World. Take a look at your information page. Do you notice anything? Player characters don't have levels, just attributes. Also, concepts like the 'Source of the World', 'World Rule Fragments', and 'Sacrifice Degree' might seem unfamiliar to you. To fully comprehend the implications of these elements, one needs a comprehensive understanding of the Aethercross world structure.

Though the origins of the Aethercross World and the reason for our being pulled into it remain shrouded in mystery, a decade of exploration by veteran players has shed light on the basic nature of this world.

The pace of time here is different. One day in the Aethercross World equates to ten days in the real world. Thus, theoretically, the ten years of exploration by the veterans are equivalent to a century in real-world terms.

However, this isn't a literal interpretation, as no one can stay indefinitely in the Aethercross World without returning to reality. When you're here, your physical body in the real world is in deep sleep, and your brain is operating under significant stress.

Everyone has a limit to the duration they can stay in this world in one stretch, based on their physical and mental condition in the real world. The system alerts players when they're nearing this limit. Ignoring this warning risks your real-world body or brain dying, which would consequently erase your existence in this world.

But, over time, you'll notice that as your character's attributes improve in the Aethercross World, there are corresponding enhancements in your real-world physical and mental capabilities. Simply put, your physical strength and mental alertness in the real world will gradually improve."

Sky pondered for a moment, then asked, "So, the nearly three days I've spent in the Aethercross World since my arrival from the real world have only been about 7-8 hours back there?"

"That's right," Echo affirmed.

Sky mumbled to himself, "There's still time," then inquired, "How do I return to the real world?"

Echo regarded Sky for a few seconds, a smile gracing her features. "You can't return just yet. But don't rush; I still have some basic concepts to explain."

She paused, then continued, "As I was explaining earlier, the known Aethercross World can be categorized into three tiers: the Void World, Plane Worlds, and Copy Worlds.

The first tier is the Void World. You've certainly seen the void by now, that infinite expanse that mirrors the cosmos. It might seem unbelievable, but the void has its own consciousness. It's not a self-awareness akin to a human soul, but an existence beyond our full comprehension. Some theorize that the Great Void Will might be an aggregate of all rules within the void. Others speculate that it could even be the system we perceive in our consciousness.

Those luminous specks, akin to stars, are the various plane worlds floating within the void. When you first arrived, you would have seen a cluster of small worlds, each encased in energy bubbles. These small worlds, including ours, are essentially plane worlds.

The energy bubbles, or plane barriers, serve as both protective layers and prisons for these worlds. Most native civilizations within the plane worlds cannot breach these barriers, unaware that their world is encapsulated within them and that there's a much vaster world beyond.

Civilizations that have managed to breach these barriers have the potential to explore other plane worlds in the void. Upon reaching a certain level of exploration, they receive recognition from the will of the Void World, becoming true void civilizations.

Hence, the Void World transcends the simple notion of space-time. It represents a dimensional awareness, the collective term for all civilizations acknowledged by the will of the Great Void World. For us players, the Void World is the bridge to the real world and the foundation of our existence in the Aethercross World.

The Plane Worlds, the second tier, encompass civilizations that are cognizant only of their own planes. They are shielded by the plane barriers, allowing these worlds to exist within the void. Moreover, these barriers also protect the civilizations within from invasions by other plane civilizations. The complexities of plane wars are something you need not delve into right now. Just know that for players like us, these plane worlds are the primary realms of adventure and exploration. Navigating between different plane worlds is straightforward for us, thanks to the system's transportation features.

However, it's important to note that our journey from the real world into the Aethercross is a transport of consciousness or soul. The transport between the void and plane worlds is of a different nature, which I'll elaborate on later.

The third tier is the Copy Worlds. These are unique, as they are projections of specific past space-time segments from larger plane worlds. They exist dependent on their respective plane worlds and cannot be directly found in the planes or the void. The only way to access these Copy Worlds is through system transportation. Being projections of space-time segments, they don't impact the space-time of the void and plane worlds. Hence, they are like infinitely resettable enclosed worlds, ideal for players to train, improve, and acquire specific rare resources and items. Many of the system's trial missions also take place in these Copy Worlds."

Echo paused, observing Sky's undivided attention. He had entirely stopped eating and drinking, absorbed in her explanation. She took a generous sip of her fruit wine and queried, "Understand everything so far?"

Sky nodded, "I believe I've grasped the basics."

"Well done," Echo complimented. "Now, let me explain the 'Source of the World' and the 'Rule Fragments.'"