I stare at the screen displaying the glowing word "Summon" in blue at the center of the main control room. My hand pauses above the button to start the gacha, and I turn to Luna, who stands calmly beside me.
"Luna," I begin, "I know this is just a game, but now… are the people who appear from these summons actually human?"
Luna nods gently. "Yes, Navigator. Though they're merely manifestations of consciousness here, they're modeled from the history and true essence of their original selves, who have been observed by the Administrator since ancient times. These units come pre-programmed with memories of who they are, their purpose, and the roles they are summoned to fulfill in the world of Astral Point."
Her explanation eases my mind. I exhale in relief, realizing they aren't just empty characters following commands. They're something more complex—beings with awareness, even if only here in Astral Point.
"Alright then," I murmur with a smile. "Let's get started."
I feed in my 1000 Moon Drops, enough for five summons. This is the first step I need to take to start the game. Without combat units, I can't leave this floating castle, let alone undertake missions outside.
I confirm the summon and watch the screen in front of me. A bright light begins to flash, tension building inside me as the light intensifies until I have to squint. Gradually, as it fades, figures begin to take shape before me.
From within the shimmering light, two people appear alongside three glowing objects, which transform into two swords and a spellbook. I look over my first units with curiosity. Standing to the right is a tall man with a sharp gaze, dressed in dark clothing that radiates an intimidating aura. I recognize him from the description—Thomas Hobbes, known as the "Monster of Malmesbury." His rank is only Rare, but in history, he's known as a cunning and strategic thinker.
Beside him stands a graceful woman in an elegant gown. Her refined appearance and calculating expression make a strong first impression. This is Catherine de Medici, the Serpent Queen—a Super Rare unit. I've heard that SR-ranked units have stronger abilities and more presence on the battlefield, and just from looking at Catherine, I can feel the dignified aura around her.
Meanwhile, there are two basic weapons—the Common Sword—and the Spellbinder spellbook. Though it's a modest first pull, I'm thrilled to have two historical units like these.
A system screen pops up in front of me, displaying their details:
---
Thomas Hobbes "Monster of Malmesbury" (R)
Role: Debuffer/Support
Level: 1
Abilities:
- Active Skill 1 - Leviathan's Influence
- Active Skill 2 - Social Contract
- Passive Skill - Doctrine of Control
- Ultimate Skill - Leviathan's Grasp
Catherine de Medici "Serpent Queen" (SR)
Role: Debuffer/Support
Level: 1
Abilities:
- Active Skill 1 - Court Intrigue
- Active Skill 2 - Poisoned Gift
- Passive Skill - Mask of Charisma
- Ultimate Skill - Dance of the Serpent
---
Two debuffers. Not bad for a free pull—I won't complain about getting two debuffers and no damage dealers on my first attempt. They're perfect for setting up my initial plan. In fact, I could say this is quite a lucky pull, considering I've obtained two units with the exact qualities I need right now.
While I'm absorbed in their character descriptions, something unexpected happens. Rather than bowing or acknowledging me, Thomas and Catherine stand tall, showing no sign of deference. I notice the cold expression on Catherine's face as she watches me with a shrewd gaze. Thomas remains silent, but his sharp stare suggests he's assessing whether I'm even worth following.
Luna, observing their stance, appears slightly irritated. "Hey, you two!" she says firmly. "Do you realize who stands before you? This is your Navigator, your leader!"
Before Luna can say more, I raise my hand, signaling her to stop. "It's okay, Luna," I say, smiling slightly. "Let them be."
Catherine narrows her eyes, studying me intently. "So, you're the 'Navigator' who summoned us? Are you truly fit to lead us?" Her tone is cold, laced with skepticism.
I pause, taken aback. Normally, in games, these summoned units fall right into line. I've never encountered something like this before. They seem to have distinct personalities and egos, as though they're genuinely questioning my presence here.
Thomas remains silent, but his gaze holds a silent pressure, as though he's waiting for my response. I realize for the first time that I can't simply act as an ordinary player commanding characters on a screen. They want to see if I'm truly capable of leading them.
Suppressing a small chuckle, I say, "Catherine, Thomas, I'm not sure what kind of 'Navigator' you were expecting, but I'm not here to just issue orders. Back at my old base, I'm used to working with many combat units, and here, I'm going to rebuild a strong team from scratch—including the two of you."
Catherine raises an eyebrow, still skeptical. "So, you expect us to trust you're worthy of leading us, simply because you say so?"
I sigh. "I know that, in an ordinary game, you'd just follow orders, but here… doesn't it feel different?" I ask, trying to convey the strange feeling I've had since the beginning. "I'm not just some player pressing buttons. I'm truly invested in these battles, in every decision. And you, Catherine—you might want to test my worthiness, but I'll be testing your abilities as well."
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Catherine squints, a slight smile forming. "Hmm. Interesting." She crosses her arms, seeming satisfied with my answer for now. "I'll see how you lead us in battle, Navigator."
Thomas, who's been silent all this time, finally gives a small nod. "I'll follow your orders… for now," he says in a deep, calm voice.
Luna smiles with relief beside me. "Thank you, Catherine, Thomas. With this, our floating castle has two combat units to begin its journey."
I look at each of them, feeling a bit of relief now that they've agreed, at least for now, to follow my lead. Though I was uncertain at first, I sense that Thomas and Catherine have unique qualities and strengths that will be invaluable. I'm genuinely curious to see how they'll grow, especially now that they're more than just units I summoned in a game.
I turn to the still-open system screen. "Luna, let's take a look at what missions are available for us to tackle."
Luna nods eagerly. "Of course, Navigator. You can choose from exploration missions to gather resources or battle missions to test the strength of Thomas and Catherine. It's up to you."
I nod, considering the options. Catherine and Thomas stand ready, waiting for my decision. This may just be the beginning, but I feel like I'm already beginning to form a real bond with this team—even if they're unlike any units I've summoned before. There's a different dynamic here, a new challenge. And for some reason, I feel excited about what lies ahead.
"Alright, we'll start with exploration," I say, smiling at them. "Let's get a closer look at this world and prepare for the real battles ahead."
I gazed at the large map on the system screen, watching our flying fortress's path as it drifted over the vast ocean. A landmass labeled Esverita was slowly approaching, and along its coast lay a small town called Lilac Town. Tilting my head, I tried to recall if I'd ever seen or heard of Esverita or Lilac Town in Astral Point back when I played it on Earth.
"Esverita… Lilac Town," I murmured. "Luna, I don't remember these places being in Astral Point. Isn't everything in the game supposed to be recorded on the server?"
Standing beside me with her usual calm yet slightly awkward demeanor, Luna replied, "That's because we're not in a game, Navigator."
Her answer took me by surprise. "Not in a game?" I echoed, trying to make sure I'd heard correctly. She simply nodded.
Luna continued, "This world is the foundation of the Astral Point game you knew on Earth. The game was inspired by this place, but only the monsters, magic abilities, and a few other elements were copied over—not the geography or inhabitants. So, in a way, everything here is real, Navigator."
I swallowed, looking back at the map with a strange mix of awe and fear. So, this wasn't just some simulation? Everyone here was truly alive, and Esverita was a real world. The thought felt strange—equal parts thrilling and terrifying. I turned back to Luna, my expression serious.
"So Astral Point isn't just a standard PvP game," I muttered, the words half-spoken as a thought that had slipped out.
Luna gave me a small, understanding smile. I returned my gaze to the map on the screen, which still displayed Lilac Town. An idea began to form, and I voiced it aloud. "Then, if all the elements of the game exist here… does that mean every Astral Point feature works in this world too?"
Luna thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes, Navigator. All the features you're familiar with in Astral Point will still function here."
I processed this information. It meant that anything I could do as a player in Astral Point, I could also do here. This opened up endless possibilities—for exploration, strategy, and battle.
Thomas Hobbes and Catherine de Medici approached, overhearing our conversation. Catherine, as usual, exuded an air of arrogance and calculation, crossing her arms. "Are we merely pieces in this grand game?" she asked, her sharp gaze fixed on me.
"In a way," I replied without hesitation. "But now that we're here, facing this world directly, we're more than just characters. We can actually make a difference."
Thomas, ever the quiet observer, seemed to consider my words. "Whatever world we find ourselves in, if our purpose is to rule or protect, strategy remains essential," he said, his tone almost philosophical, yet firm. It felt like his way of saying he agreed with me.
I gave a small smile. "That's why I need both of you. Lilac Town seems like a good place to start this mission."
Luna looked between us with a warm smile before directing my attention to a notification. She swiped her finger through the air, and a system screen popped up in front of me.
---
[Quest Update: Visit Lilac Town and discover the hidden dungeon there.]
---
I squinted at the brief prompt. Of course, Astral Point would give a quest with minimal details—frustrating as always, but it kept players on their toes. "So, it begins," I murmured with a half-laugh.
Thomas raised an eyebrow, catching my comment. "Are we going in without a clear plan?" he asked, a skeptical edge to his voice.
I only nodded with a faint smile. "Of course not, i'll guide you about the quest later."
I quickly instructed Thomas and Catherine to prepare. In my inventory, I had only basic equipment. I handed Thomas a Common Sword—it might be too simple for a debuffer like him, but it was better than fighting bare-handed. To Catherine, elegant and deadly in her own way, I gave the Spellbinder spellbook. Watching them wield their weapons and get ready felt both familiar and new, different from anything in the game.
Thomas swung his sword once, testing its balance. "Simple, but it will do," he remarked.
Catherine, on the other hand, looked at the spellbook in her hands and then at me. "Are you sure this journey won't be a waste of time, Navigator?" she asked, her tone filled with calculation as if assessing my worth as her leader.
I met her gaze without hesitation. "Here, I'm not just a player—I'm your Navigator. This may be a humble first step, but every great journey begins with one small move, doesn't it?"
Catherine gave a faint, slightly mocking smile, though I could see her grudging acceptance. "Then prove you're a worthy Navigator."
I led them to the map room and pointed out the route to Lilac Town on the land of Esverita. The landscape felt so different from what I'd seen on my computer screen—now it was vivid and full of real possibilities. I couldn't deny the excitement growing inside me, not just because this was a real world, but because, here, I had actual control. And this time, I had a team—not just avatars from a game.
We stood on the castle deck, facing the approaching land. With my gaze fixed ahead, I spoke, my voice low but filled with conviction. "Let's prove that we're more than just game characters. This might not be a game anymore, but a real world—and we each have a role here."
Thomas looked at me with his usual sharp gaze. "I think I'm starting to like this idea," he said, his rare tone of agreement clear.
Catherine's faint smile remained, and though sardonic, I could sense her understanding.
A line of text appeared on the system screen:
---
[Would the Navigator like to deploy units "Catherine de Medici" and "Thomas Hobbes" for the quest "Dungeon in Lilac Town"?]
---
I tapped [Accept], and, in a flash, Catherine and Thomas vanished from my side. Startled, I muttered, "So I can't actually leave the floating castle as Navigator?"
Luna, still beside me, answered what probably sounded like an obvious question. "Of course, Navigator can only monitor units from the floating castle and give them instructions during their missions."
I had known it would be like this, yet it still felt a little disappointing not to experience the world firsthand.
***