The world held its breath. For weeks, the news had been dominated by the approaching asteroid, the mysterious pyramids, and the growing influence of Sol Online. Governments scrambled to prepare, while players like Felix stockpiled supplies and trained relentlessly. And now, the moment had arrived.
The video message was set to broadcast globally, and Felix sat in his apartment, his eyes fixed on the screen. Caroline’s voice buzzed in his ear, her tone unusually subdued.
"This is it, Felix. Whatever they’re about to tell us... it’s going to change everything."
Felix nodded, his heart pounding. "I know."
The screen flickered to life, and the message began.
THE MESSAGE
The video opened with a sweeping view of the Milky Way, its spiral arms glowing against the darkness of space. A voice, calm and resonant, began to speak. It was a language Felix had never heard before, yet he understood every word.
"Greetings, inhabitants of Earth. We are the Custodians of the System, and we bring you a message of both warning and opportunity."
The camera zoomed in on the asteroid, now visible as a massive, jagged rock hurtling through space. "This asteroid is not what it seems. Upon entering your atmosphere, it will split into 24 smaller fragments. Each fragment will strike a major city, and from their impact sites, the pyramids will emerge."
The screen shifted to show a towering pyramid, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light. "These pyramids are not mere structures. They are gateways—portals to the worlds of Sol. Each pyramid corresponds to a different planet, and each planet represents a different tier of challenge. The higher the tier, the stronger the enemies, the greater the rewards, and the more advanced the technology."
Felix leaned forward, his eyes wide. "Portals to other worlds... this is insane."
Caroline’s voice was calm but firm. "Keep listening, Felix. There’s more."
The Custodian continued. "For the first 365 days, you will experience Sol Online through the FiVR pods. During this time, your bodies will adapt to the System, but only partially. You will gain one-tenth of the stats you earn in the game, as the FiVR pods and the nanites within them are limited in their capabilities."
The screen shifted again, showing a group of humans entering a pyramid and stepping through a glowing portal. "After this initial period, you must travel to the pyramids and enter the Trial Portals. These trials are mandatory. If you do not complete them within the allotted time, you will die."
Felix’s breath caught in his throat. "Die? Just like that?"
Caroline’s voice was grim. "It sounds like the System doesn’t tolerate unpreparedness."
The Custodian’s tone grew more urgent. "We strongly recommend that you reach Level 100 in Tier 0 before attempting the trials. The challenges you will face are not to be underestimated."
The screen shifted once more, this time showing three figures: two elves and a creature that looked like something out of a nightmare—a xenomorph-like being with sleek, black exoskeleton and glowing eyes. Despite their alien appearances, their voices were calm and reassuring.
"We are the Elders of the System," one of the elves said. "We are here to guide you, but we are not its creators. The System is ancient—25 billion years old—and its origins are a mystery even to us. What we do know is this: when a galaxy reaches a certain threshold of technological and biological advancement, it is integrated into the System."
The xenomorph-like creature stepped forward, its voice deep and resonant. "In the Milky Way, there are 30 other sentient species like yourselves. In time, you will interact with them, as well as entities from beyond your galaxy. The System is vast, and your journey has only just begun."
The video ended with a final message: "Prepare yourselves. The System is coming."
AFTERMATH
The screen went dark, and Felix sat in stunned silence. His mind raced, trying to process everything he had just heard. The asteroid, the pyramids, the portals, the trials—it was overwhelming.
Caroline’s voice broke the silence. "Well, that was... a lot."
Felix let out a shaky laugh. "Understatement of the century."
He stood and began pacing, his thoughts a whirlwind. "Portals to other worlds, mandatory trials, alien species... this is bigger than I thought. Way bigger."
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Caroline’s tone was thoughtful. "The System is ancient, Felix. Older than humanity. Older than Earth. And now we’re part of it."
Felix stopped pacing, his expression grim. "Yeah, and if we don’t get ready, we’re not going to last long."
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. It was his dad.
"Hey, Dad," Felix said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Felix, did you see that?" Johnny’s voice was tense, his usual gruffness replaced by genuine concern.
"Yeah, I saw it," Felix replied. "It’s... a lot to take in."
Johnny sighed. "This is going to wreck the economy, you know. People are already panicking. Stores are getting cleared out, and the stock market’s in freefall. If those pyramids really do appear in major cities... it’s going to be chaos."
Felix nodded, even though his dad couldn’t see him. "I know. But there’s nothing we can do about that now. We just have to focus on getting ready."
Johnny was silent for a moment. "You’re right. But be careful, son. This isn’t just a game anymore."
"I know, Dad," Felix said softly. "I’ll be careful."
THE GUILD’S REACTION
Felix’s phone buzzed incessantly as messages poured in from Aric and the rest of Phoenix Reborn. He opened the group chat, his eyes scanning the rapid-fire texts.
Aric: Did you just watch that?
Kari: Portals to other worlds? Trials that can kill us? What the hell did we sign up for?
Erik: Level 100 in Tier 0 before the trials? That’s going to take some serious grinding.
Lars: I’m not sure I’m ready for this. What if we fail?
Ingrid: We don’t have a choice. We have to do this.
Bjorn: I’m in. Let’s show the System what we’re made of.
Sigrid: This is insane. But also... kind of exciting?
Magnus: Exciting? We’re talking about life and death here!
Freya: Calm down, everyone. We’ll figure this out together.
Aric: We need to meet. Now.
Felix typed a quick reply. Felix: On my way.
THE MEETING
The guild gathered in Aric’s apartment, their faces a mix of excitement and anxiety. Aric stood at the head of the room, his arms crossed as he addressed the group.
"Alright, everyone, let’s not panic. We knew this was coming. The video just confirmed it."
Kari raised an eyebrow. "Confirmed it? Aric, they’re talking about portals to other planets and trials that can kill us. This isn’t just a game anymore."
"I know," Aric said, his tone firm. "But we’ve got an advantage. We’ve been preparing for this. We’ve got the FiVR pods, the supplies, the training. We’re ready."
Erik leaned forward, his expression serious. "What about the other guilds? And the aliens? How are we supposed to compete with that?"
Felix spoke up, his voice steady. "We don’t have to compete with them. Not yet. First, we focus on getting to Level 100 in Tier 0. Then we tackle the trials. One step at a time."
Aric nodded. "Felix is right. We stick to the plan. Train hard, level up, and get ready for whatever comes next."
Felix hesitated, then added, "But I’m still going solo."
The room fell silent. Aric turned to him, his expression hard. "What do you mean, solo? We’re a team, Felix. We need you."
Felix met his gaze. "I know. And I’ll help out when I can. But I work better on my own. You know that."
Aric’s jaw tightened. "This isn’t just about you, Felix. This is about all of us. If you go solo, you’re putting yourself—and the rest of us—at risk."
Felix sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I’m not leaving you high and dry, Aric. I’ll be there when you need me. But I need to do this my way."
Aric stared at him for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Fine. But don’t disappear on us, Felix. We’re in this together, whether you like it or not."
GLOBAL HYSTERIA
As the meeting wrapped up, Felix turned on the news. The screen was filled with images of panicked crowds, empty store shelves, and world leaders addressing their nations.
In the United States, the president stood at a podium, his face grim. "We are facing an unprecedented challenge. But we will face it together, as a nation."
In China, a government official spoke in rapid Mandarin, his tone urgent. "We must remain calm and prepare for what is to come."
In Russia, the president’s voice was stern. "This is a test of our strength and resolve. We will not falter."
In France, the president addressed the nation in French, her voice steady but concerned. "We must unite in the face of this new reality."
Felix turned off the TV, his mind racing. The world was on the brink of chaos, and there was no turning back.
FELIX’S RESOLVE
As the meeting wrapped up, Felix stepped outside, his mind still racing. Caroline’s voice was calm but firm.
"You’re not alone in this, Felix. You’ve got your guild, your dad, and me. We’ll face this together."
Felix smiled faintly. "I know. But it’s still a lot to take in."
"It is," Caroline agreed. "But you’ve always risen to the challenge. This is no different."
Felix took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "You’re right. Whatever’s coming, we’ll be ready."