Weeks had passed since Leo last logged into Eldoria Online. Moving into a new home with his mother and sister had taken up most of his time. It was a whirlwind of unpacking, buying furniture, and setting up their new life. For the first time in years, their living situation felt stable—no more worrying about bills, rent, or struggling to get by.
But now, with everything finally in place, he was ready to return to the game.
One afternoon, after school, Leo rushed to his room, closed the door, and put on his VR headset. As the immersive sensation of connection overtook him, the familiar voice of the system greeted him.
[Login Successful. Welcome back, Nyxaris.]
The moment his vision cleared and he found himself standing in Astrid, a golden notification flashed across his screen.
[WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT]
Player Nyxaris has successfully completed the Trial of Evolution and attained the class [Arcane Sovereign].
The fate of the world has begun to change.
Leo smirked. "I guess I made another world announcement."
Inside his mind, a deep voice rumbled with amusement. "It appears your presence in this world is no longer a secret, little one."
Leo chuckled. "Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if people are still trying to figure out who I am."
He quickly opened his status screen to check his new stats. Since his Tier 2 Evolution, he had grown exponentially stronger, and it was time to see just how much.
[PLAYER STATUS]
Name: Nyxaris
Race: Arcane Slime (Tier 2 Evolution)
Class: Arcane Sovereign (Unique)
Level: 75
HP: 48,500
MP: 175,000
Strength: 7,500
Agility: 12,800
Endurance: 14,500
Magic Power: 70,000
Gold: 1,425,000
[NEW SKILLS ACQUIRED!]
Arcane Sovereign's Authority (Advanced) – Enhances Arcane magic, granting mastery over elemental forces.
Mana Regeneration (High Tier) – MP regenerates 10x faster than normal.
Spatial Blink – Short-range teleportation within a 50-meter radius.
Arcane Blade Mastery (Intermediate) – Enhances sword combat with magical energy.
Devour (Upgraded) – Can absorb certain defeated foes and learn minor abilities.
Leo stared at his stats happy.
Not only had his mana pool skyrocketed, but his physical stats had also seen a massive boost, especially Strength and Agility. Even though he was still technically a slime, his humanoid form allowed him to use weapons far more efficiently.
He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of arcane energy running through his body.
"I really did evolve into something completely different."
Inside his mind, Zeraldris hummed. "Your power is growing rapidly, but you have yet to reach the true limits of an Arcane Sovereign. This is merely the beginning."
Leo nodded. "I figured as much. I still need to learn how to use this power properly."
But before he could think further, another notification appeared.
[NEW QUEST: The Arcane Legacy]
Description:
"The path of the Arcane Sovereign leads beyond what is known. Travel to the Celestial Archives of Eryndor, where ancient secrets and forgotten magics lie hidden."
Objective:
Journey to the mythic city of Eryndor and seek out the lost tomes of Arcane Sovereigns past.
Rewards:
??? (Tier Unknown)
Leo narrowed his eyes.
"Eryndor? Never heard of it."
Zeraldris, however, let out a deep chuckle. "Ah… Eryndor. That is no ordinary city. Even dragons once sought knowledge from its archives."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Even dragons?"
"Yes. If this quest leads you there, then you are walking a path that only a handful in history have dared to take."
Leo's excitement grew. If Eryndor was as legendary as it sounded, then this was no ordinary quest.
He needed to prepare.
Before heading out, Leo decided to restock his supplies and upgrade his gear.
As he wandered through the bustling streets of Astrid, he stopped by magic shops, blacksmiths, and alchemy stalls, gathering what he needed.
At one particular magic emporium, an NPC enchanter eyed him curiously.
"Nyxaris, your aura has changed. What path do you walk now?"
Leo smirked. "The path of the Arcane Sovereign."
The enchanter's eyes widened in shock. "The Sovereign's path? That is… unexpected."
Reaching beneath the counter, the enchanter pulled out a silver amulet with a glowing blue gem at its center.
"This is a Wayfinder Amulet," he explained. "It will help you locate ley lines and hidden paths—especially useful in places where reality is unstable."
Leo examined the amulet. It pulsed faintly in his palm.
"How much?" he asked.
The enchanter hesitated. "Normally, an artifact like this would cost 900,000 gold…"
Leo tensed. That was a ridiculous price, even for him.
"…But for an Arcane Sovereign, consider it a gift."
Leo blinked. "Wait… seriously?"
The enchanter nodded. "The path you walk is rare. Take it as a token of respect."
Leo gratefully accepted the amulet, equipping it immediately.
"Being a Sovereign definitely has its perks."
With his preparations complete, Leo stood at the edge of Astrid, gazing at the open world before him.
The first clue to reaching Eryndor was hidden within the Ruins of Eldros, an ancient temple buried deep in the wilderness.
Inside his mind, Zeraldris whispered. "Are you ready?"
Leo gripped his sword, feeling the weight of it settle comfortably in his hands. His arcane energy pulsed, eager for battle.
"Let's go find Eryndor."
With that, his new adventure began.
Leo took a deep breath as he stepped beyond the city gates of Astrid, leaving behind the safety of civilization. The world beyond was vast, filled with forests, mountains, rivers, and ruins left behind by ancient civilizations. If he was going to reach Eryndor, he first needed to find the Ruins of Eldros, where his quest supposedly began.
Inside his mind, Zeraldris' voice rumbled. "Eryndor is a city of legend. Even before the game's current age, it was considered lost."
Leo frowned as he walked along the dirt path, scanning the surrounding landscape. "Then how am I supposed to find it?"
"If the quest is leading you there, then it means something within the world has changed. Eryndor may be waking up after centuries of slumber."
Leo thought about it. Game developers loved to create hidden locations—places that weren't accessible unless a specific event triggered them. Since he was the first Arcane Sovereign, it was possible that no one else had ever received this quest before.
"If I'm really the first player to go to Eryndor, then this is a huge deal."
A System notification appeared.
[World Navigation Update]
New travel destination unlocked: Ruins of Eldros
Estimated Travel Time: Three Days (On Foot)
Leo sighed. "Three days? That's going to take a while."
Zeraldris chuckled. "Time is irrelevant. This is the beginning of a much larger journey. Enjoy the road ahead."
Leo shook his head, deciding to focus. He could teleport short distances using Spatial Blink, but that wasn't a sustainable way to travel over such a vast distance.
His best option?
Find a mount.
As Leo continued down the dirt road, he suddenly heard shouting and the sound of battle up ahead.
His instincts kicked in immediately. Something was happening nearby.
Moving quickly, he activated Spatial Blink, vanishing from his spot and reappearing fifty meters ahead, just beyond a ridge.
What he saw made him tense.
A small caravan of NPC merchants was under attack. A group of bandits, clad in dark armor and wielding crude weapons, surrounded them.
One of the merchants—a burly, middle-aged man with a greying beard—was trying to hold them off with a rusty sword.
A woman in merchant robes was behind him, clutching a younger girl protectively. "Please! We have nothing of value!"
The bandit leader sneered, stepping forward. "Then you should have stayed off this road." He raised his sword.
Leo didn't hesitate.
In an instant, he activated Arcane Blade Mastery, causing his sword to glow with a brilliant blue aura.
With a single leap, he launched himself down the ridge, sword in hand.
[Combat Initiated!]
Opponent: Bandit Leader (Lv. 50)
Subordinates: 7 Bandits (Lv. 40-45)
The bandits barely had time to react before Leo crashed down in their midst like a storm.
SLASH!
His sword cut through the first bandit effortlessly, sending the man sprawling backward with a cry. Before the others could react, Leo activated Spatial Blink again, vanishing and reappearing behind another enemy.
CRACK!
A quick punch to the ribs sent the second bandit flying into a tree, his HP dropping instantly.
The bandit leader's eyes widened. "What the hell?!"
Leo smirked. "I suggest you run."
The remaining bandits hesitated, realizing they were hopelessly outmatched.
But the leader growled. "Tch. Kill him!"
[Skill Activated: Arcane Sovereign's Authority]
A wave of magic erupted from Leo, making the air around him hum with energy.
The bandits froze, their movements sluggish.
This was the power of a Sovereign—his sheer presence weighed down on them, making them feel like they were moving through thick air.
Leo dashed forward, slicing through two more enemies with fluid, precise strikes.
The remaining bandits broke rank and ran, their leader included.
Leo didn't chase them.
Instead, he turned to the merchant family. "Are you alright?"
The burly merchant, still gripping his rusted sword, nodded slowly. "You… You saved us."
Leo deactivated his combat stance, sheathing his sword. "I was just passing by."
The merchant woman approached, eyes filled with gratitude. "We owe you our lives. If there's anything we can do to repay you…"
Leo thought for a moment.
"Do you have a mount I could use? I need to travel far."
The burly merchant grinned. "You're in luck. We have a spare warhorse—sturdy and fast."
Minutes later, Leo was mounted on a powerful black warhorse, its muscles rippling beneath him.
He gave the merchants a nod. "Thank you."
And with that, he galloped down the road, heading toward the Ruins of Eldros.
Riding at full speed, Leo covered huge distances in a matter of hours.
The forests blurred past him, and as night fell, he finally reached the edge of a vast canyon.
Far below, hidden between jagged rocks and overgrown vines, he saw it.
The Ruins of Eldros.
Inside his mind, Zeraldris murmured. "You have arrived."
Leo dismounted, gripping his sword tightly.
"This is where it begins."
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward—toward the unknown.