In the virtual MMORPG world of Nemesis, controlled by a sophisticated AI, players revel in endless adventures while NPCs struggle to survive amidst immortal "heroes" seeking only their own amusement. As the game's timeline unexpectedly advances by two hundred years during a week of server downtime to prepare for a big content update, NPCs gain hero-like abilities and access to their own status screen. This offers them a chance to shape their own destinies. Follow Malvorik, a mage turned dungeon core, and Weylan, a shepherd's son turned assassin, as they navigate this perilous world. Malvorik's unintended desecration of a holy tomb leads to his reincarnation as a dungeon core, while Weylan grapples with his innate trait of attracting extraordinary events and dangerous quests. What to expect:  Immersive Worldbuilding: Experience an intricate world from the perspective of sentient AI NPCs within a VR environment. The game generates quests and monsters for players, but no one ever thinks about the struggles of the NPCs whose village is attacked by wolves or caught in a warzone between desert tribes and a northern kingdom. What happens if a quest is too inconvenient for the players to care about it? Innovative Dungeon Core: Follow a Dungeon Core that uses knowledge from its former life to bend the world's rules. Multiple POVs: Enjoy various perspectives throughout the story, with later chapters primarily focusing on Weylan's viewpoint. Narrative: Although the story began centered on a Dungeon Core and its dungeon, it has evolved. The dungeon now primarily serves as a sanctuary, headquarters, and wise mentor for a group of NPC adventurers. The more traditional dungeon delves into Malvorik's dungeon will start in chapter 67. Content Warnings: There is no harem or sexual content in this story. Character Development: Expect rich character arcs and growth, especially among the NPC adventurers mentored by the Dungeon Core. Updates and Schedule: I upload two chapters each week, usually monday and thursday. (EDIT: Uploads are down to once a week (monday) for November 2024 and I'll probably need to take December off to better plan the next story arc.)