A few moments ago, Kai still had doubts gnawing at him.

He worried not about the dangers inside Perfect World, but about what might happen outside. What if someone tried to rob them while their minds were connected?

What if the worst came to pass while they were defenseless in the pods?

He even considered sending Mei and Farrah in while he stayed behind to guard them.

But seeing the young man emerge from the pod, grinning with excitement as he announced his discovery, Kai felt his mind ease. The man’s joy was genuine, his excitement was unrestrained. It reassured Kai that this arrangement was safe enough... the Aries Faction clearly had guards, staff, and systems in place to protect their people.

Furthermore, they were really curious about the VR World.

Kai himself was still weighing whether to purchase the Neural Gear for 100 Reputation Points.

"Haha! I found a Mithril Ore, Sir Bart, Miss Maya!" the man exclaimed.

Bart’s eyes lit up. "Mithril? That’s incredible! Do you know how rare that is? You’re the first one to collect that ore this year!"

The medic leaned back, smiling faintly. "The elders will be pleased. With Mithril, they can forge another high‑grade sword. Maybe even strong enough to challenge the hidden dungeon on the sixth floor."

Maya clapped her hands together as she felt relieved hearing that... "You’re amazing, Troy... This is perfect timing. The mining teams have been struggling, but this will change everything."

Kai frowned slightly, confused. "Floors? What do you mean?"

He said this softly, but still, he was heard by the others.

Bart chuckled, realizing the newcomers had no idea. "Perfect World isn’t just a flat map. It’s layered... floors stacked one above the other. Each floor is harder than the last, filled with stronger monsters, rarer resources, and harsher conditions. Most players never make it past the fourth. The sixth floor is infamous. Only factions with elite equipment and skills dare to challenge it."

Mei’s eyes widened while Farrah took note of everything they were saying.

Kai also stayed silent, absorbing the information. He didn’t understand the full scope yet, but he knew enough... Perfect World wasn’t just a training ground. It was vast, structured, and dangerous in ways he hadn’t imagined.

Bart continued with his voice filled with pride. "That’s why Mithril matters. It’s one of the few ores that can be refined into weapons or equipment capable of enduring the certain dungeon or floor’s trials. As you can see, every piece mined is celebrated. And you three, even if you don’t get anything other than the mystic iron ore, that’s perfectly fine.

Kai nodded slowly...

He didn’t fully grasp the mechanics of these "floors," but he understood that they were dangerous.

Kai glanced at Mei and Farrah. They were silent, but he could tell they were absorbing every word, just as he was.

Soon, they were finally allowed to enter the VR World.

***

Kai climbed into the pod, the padded interior adjusting instantly to his weight.

Then, the hatch slid shut with a hiss, sealing him in darkness.

For a moment, he felt his chest tighten... this was the point of no return. Then the hum of machinery surrounded him, and a cascade of lights appeared across his vision...

[ Neural synchronization initializing... Scanning vitals... Spirit resonance detected.

Gene Skill compatibility confirmed. Adaptive comfort engaged. ]

A tingling sensation spread across his body, as though every nerve was being mapped. Kai clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm.

[ Avatar creation unlocked.

Note: Appearance locked to genetic scan for skill synchronization. Customization limited to name selection.]

Kai nodded... So he couldn’t change his appearance. It made sense... if Perfect World allowed them to use their real gene skills, then the system had to keep avatars aligned with their scanned bodies in order for them to accurately use their skills.

The interface then appeared before his eyes.

[ Character Creation ]

Enter Avatar Name:

Kai hesitated. He didn’t want to use his real name. This was a new world, a new identity should also follow.

Slowly, he typed: "Ashen."

[ Name confirmed: Ashen. ]

[ Avatar creation complete. ]

The darkness shifted, and suddenly a cinematic began to play...

A ruined city appeared first... skyscrapers were toppled, streets had webbing cracks, flames could be seen in various places as if the town was just bombarded by artillery...

But then, alien warships hovered above, their hulls filled with strange weapons.

The narration then echoed in Kai’s ears...

"Perfect World was born from humanity’s last stand. Alien races invaded, corrupting the land and mutating animals into monstrous beasts. Humanity gathered its survivors, forging factions, and built this layered world to fight back. Twelve floors rise above us. Each floor is a battlefield. At the top lies the alien core. Only by destroying it can humanity reclaim its future."

The images shifted... mutated wolves, tigers, condors, even large worms appeared in forests and cities while insectoid aliens tore through barricades of shelters as they ordered colossal beasts to rampage everywhere...

Kai appreciated this introduction. At least now he knew what kind of enemies awaited inside... mutated beasts twisted by alien influence, and the aliens themselves.

The narration continued, allowing them to learn that the first and second floors were dangerous, but they were still basically training grounds for all the players to level up.

Kai exhaled slowly as he understood the situation now.

[ Spawn point: Beginner Town - Lyra. ]

Light engulfed him, and the world opened.

Cobblestone streets stretched out, lined with wooden stalls and bustling players.

Merchants were everywhere, while adventurers were moving about...

"Whoa... It feels real..."

It was far more vivid than Kai expected. He then blinked for a few times, adjusting to the brightness.

A moment later, two flashes of light appeared beside him.

Mei and Farrah spawned in, their avatars identical to their real selves...

Mei’s eyes widened. "So this is Lyra..."

Farrah crossed her arms, scanning the crowd. "It feels... real. Too real."

Kai nodded slowly. He glanced around, absorbing everything... the chatter of players forming parties, the sight of trainers giving free combat lessons, and the smell of bread wafting from a nearby stall.

"Alright... Let’s find that Dalen." Mei said.

However, Kai shook his head.

"No... We have to do something first."