<Ding. The system update is finished>
<Ding. Congratulations! With this, the tutorial is coming to an end. The real world awaits you. The game will shut down permanently in 3 hours. Good Luck!>
The entire world, which had been celebrating the destruction of the beast horde, began to tremble as they stared at the large notification that had appeared out of the blue.
It was so abrupt and sudden that no one even knew what to make of it. The tutorial is ending? What tutorial? This was a tutorial game?
The real world awaits? Who the hell wanted the real world? Heck, they were playing the game because the real world sucked, and this was a welcome change. Now, why did this announcement mention the real world?
That too the game was permanently shutting down? What did this mean?
Everyone started panicking. Especially the corporations and the big sharks who had invested a lot in this game began sweating, not understanding the heads or tails of what was happening.
Some people even began scrambling to sell their in-game gold coins for dollars, but to their dismay, even that option seemed to be no longer available.
The game began its slow, mysterious demise in the same way it had appeared: without any explanation.
In the midst of all this panic, suddenly another rumor began to spread. Someone called this game a beta test and hypothesized that the actual game would be more difficult and would be released soon.
Moreover, because the gold coins seemed to be sort of blocked now, they said that all characters would retain their wealth and special titles in the new game, which was why the currency transaction was not available.
This quickly started spreading and became the main public opinion. It seemed to put everyone at ease and also sort of hyped up the release of the next version. Everyone began to look forward to this with bated breath, counting just how rich the new game was going to make them.
Like blind sheep, they began celebrating in taverns and brothels in full merriment.
Meanwhile… the selected few who actually knew the truth couldn't relax like this even one bit. They couldn't possibly still delude themselves into thinking that everything was just warm and peachy.
Another game release? Who were they kidding? Now was not the time for new games! Everything was going to become painfully real!
All the Crimson Abyss guild members suddenly found themselves on pins and needles.
At least the core members of the guild knew that this was coming, though the thought of this reality never really sank in, and now it was already here?
It was unbelievable. They almost couldn't digest it. What happened to the guild higher-ups? Why were there no announcements about this? What were they supposed to do now?
There were so many questions and not enough answers. The guild chat group was all the rage. What were the big bosses doing? Everyone wanted to know! Their entire life depended on this!
And right now… these big bosses were in no better condition.
Mia Mia Mia! Alex was in complete shambles. Everyone else also did not understand what was going on. They had just now witnessed something bizarre and crazy!
One second, they were all planning a future in the game, plotting and scheming how to earn millions and settle down rich with many wives, but the next second, the game was going to permanently shut down.
What the hell?
Liam also sat, frozen in place. The golden cage around Luna disappeared, and she dashed towards him and licked him worriedly. "Master, are you okay?"
Liam looked at the clear blue eyes of the fox, who was yet to bind to him. In three hours, they would no longer be together. The same went for the black dragon weapon, the stone tablet, and every single thing in his possession.
He was not prepared for anything. He wasn't prepared at all. Everything he had carefully secured was going to slip away from his hands, and there was nothing he could do about it. The beast horde was also now gone. He had no idea what to do now.
The limit breaker fruit! That's right. If he could go to the Milky Way auction house and get the help of that little girl, maybe something could be salvaged after all.
Liam immediately searched for the white token to go to the auction house, but… somehow that was missing. "No. Impossible." He searched for it again and again, but nothing changed. There was no use. The white token was also gone.
With a dreaded look on his face, he then opened the system interface. A bitter taste already filled his mouth as if he could foresee what was going to happen next.
And just like that… the nether realm portal was also missing.
His system interface option that had the portal skill before was now simply blank. Liam threw his head back and started laughing maniacally. This was it! Everything was over. He was completely cornered!
Kyuuuu? Luna came closer and hugged him tightly with her small paws. She could feel that something was very wrong. What was happening? She did not understand.
She pitifully looked at Liam, hoping it would all be okay. She did not want her master to suffer. She licked him lovingly.
Liam saw the fox, and his eyes reddened. On his other side, Alex walked over to him and slumped next to him. She knelt pitifully and looked at him, tears streaming down her eyes.
"That was Mia… that was Mia… wasn't it? why was she like that? What is happening? What did they do to her?" She sobbed listlessly. She hoped that Liam would say something but seeing the look on his face, she completely broke down.
"Why are you not saying anything? You said that you would take care of everything! You said that we would be fine! You said that you would protect us!" She punched his chest and shouted in agony.
Seeing Alex completely break down, everyone else who was panicking froze. The woman, who had only ever been headstrong and proud in front of them, was now a complete and utter mess. She was crying like a child.
No one knew what to do. They were also close to breaking down. What was going to happen now? They all looked towards Liam, as he was their only hope at the moment.
But the question was… was he enough? In front of the God who had just changed their whole destiny at the snap of her finger, what could even Liam do?
Were they all simply doomed?
In the midst of this noise and ruckus, Liam let out a deep breath and stood up.
