As soon as Leo—Nyxaris—logged in, the world of Evolvera Online materialized around him.
Leo felt the familiar rush of immersion as the world of Evolvera Online materialized around him. The moment his senses adjusted, he felt the cool breeze, the scent of damp earth, and the distant hum of life in the virtual world.
This wasn't just a game—it felt real. Every time he logged in, he was reminded that this was beyond anything he had ever played before.
He flexed his slime-like form, feeling the subtle shifts in his body. It was strange, yet familiar now. He wasn't just controlling an avatar—he was Nyxaris.
As soon as his vision cleared, the familiar blue system screen flickered before him.
[System Notification: New Quest Available]
A glowing blue panel hovered in the air, displaying his next mission.
Quest: The Village in Peril
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
Objective: Save the village of Eldoria from destruction.
Details: A small village on the outskirts of the Veilwood Forest is under siege. A horde of Corrupted Beasts has been attacking its people and burning their homes. The villagers have no means to defend themselves. Protect them and eliminate the threat.
Rewards: ???
[Accept?] → Yes | No
Leo read the details carefully.
Corrupted Beasts…?
That sounded dangerous, but if he completed the quest, he could gain experience, gold, and maybe even new skills. And in this game, resources weren't just in-game rewards—gold could be converted into real money.
If he wanted to make a living off this game, he had to take risks.
"Accept."
The moment he confirmed, his body pulsed with warm energy. A golden marker appeared in his interface, directing him toward Eldoria.
Time to move.
Nyxaris moved swiftly, his slime-like body allowing him to glide effortlessly across the terrain.
The Veilwood Forest stretched out before him, a dense collection of twisted trees and ancient ruins hidden between their roots. This place was beautiful, yet something felt… off. The deeper he went, the more the atmosphere grew tense.
He heard distant howls—low, guttural sounds that sent a shiver through his core.
Leo slowed his pace. His instincts—both as a gamer and as Nyxaris—told him he was approaching danger.
A few minutes later, he reached a clearing, and what he saw made his core tremble.
The village of Eldoria was already under attack.
Thick smoke filled the air, rising from burning houses. The sound of screams and snarls echoed through the night as dark, monstrous creatures—their bodies covered in pulsating black veins—tore through the settlement.
The Corrupted Beasts.
They were wolf-like, but larger—twice the size of normal wolves, with elongated claws and glowing red eyes that burned with unnatural rage. Their bodies oozed a strange black mist, and their howls sounded wrong, as if something had twisted them from within.
At the center of the village, a group of desperate villagers held the line, wielding simple spears and wooden shields. But it was clear they were losing.
One of the beasts lunged at an old man.
Leo acted on instinct.
Nyxaris launched forward, his slime-like body morphing into a speeding blur.
The beast swiped at the old man—but just before its claws could strike, Nyxaris intercepted, slamming his body into the creature.
[Impact Strike!]
His attack landed clean, sending the beast flying backward with a heavy thud.
The old man stumbled, his eyes wide. "W-What…?"
Leo didn't stop. Another beast was charging toward him.
He dodged, shifting his body to the side in a fluid motion, then countered with [Veilborn Grasp]—an inky-black tendril shot from his body, wrapping around the monster's throat. With a pull, he slammed it into the ground, stunning it long enough for one of the villagers to land a finishing blow with a spear.
The villagers stared in shock.
"It's fighting with us!"
"It's on our side!"
Emboldened by the sight, they regrouped and fought back with renewed determination.
One by one, the Corrupted Beasts fell.
By the time the last monster collapsed, the battlefield was eerily silent.
Leo breathed heavily, his body tingling with energy. This had been his first true battle since entering the game—and he had won.
As the last beast dissolved into black mist, the villagers cautiously approached him.
A middle-aged man, his face covered in soot and scratches, stepped forward.
"You… you saved us."
Leo wasn't sure how to respond.
To him, this was a quest—but to them, it was real.
An elderly woman with kind eyes placed a hand on his form. "You are unlike any creature we've seen before… but you are no monster."
The village elder, an old man with a weathered face, stepped forward.
"Eldoria owes you a great debt, traveler." His voice was steady, respectful. "If you had not come, we would not have survived."
Before Leo could speak, a system notification appeared.
[Quest Complete: The Village in Peril]
Rewards:
300 EXP
50 Gold
Special Reward: ???
Leo's core pulsed with energy.
The elder smiled. "You deserve a reward."
He gestured toward a strange crystal, glowing faintly in his palm.
"This is an Echo Stone, imbued with remnants of ancient power. With it, you may gain abilities beyond normal comprehension. I bestow this upon you, Veilborn traveler."
The moment Leo touched the Echo Stone, a surge of power coursed through his form.
[You have gained a new skill!]
[Skill Acquired: Veilwalker]
Type: Passive/Active
Effect: Grants the ability to phase partially into the Veil, allowing for increased evasion and resistance against certain attacks. At higher levels, may unlock advanced movement techniques.
Leo's core thrummed with excitement.
A skill that let him phase into the Veil? This could be huge.
He flexed his form, feeling the new potential within him.
The elder gave him a knowing look. "I sense that your journey is only beginning, traveler. May the Veil guide your path."
As the villagers worked to rebuild, Leo checked his status screen, noting the increase in gold, experience, and his new skill.
This game was more than just fighting and leveling up.
It was a living world—one where his actions had consequences.
And if he played smart, he could turn this into something bigger.
Leo, now Nyxaris, clenched his core.
"This is only the beginning."