When he disconnected, the clock read a little past 7:45 AM, August 15th, 2031.
The capsule lid lifted with a soft hiss, cool air spilling in. He blinked at the faint sunlight creeping through his curtains, realizing just how long he'd been inside.
His stomach growled right on cue.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it" he muttered, dragging himself up.
Without even bothering to check his phone, he slipped on a hoodie and hurried out to grab something to eat, the real world felt oddly quiet after a night of forging and PvE/PvP.
The small café on the corner was already half-awake, filled with the scent of coffee and toasted bread. Zack sank into a seat by the window, his plate steaming in front of him, buttered toast, scrambled eggs and a large mug of black coffee.
Last night had been worth it, his crafting proficiency had gone up, the team had secured the first clear and his marketplace listings were finally bringing in steady profit.
Even after taxes, the numbers looked solid.
He took a slow bite, savoring the taste. The exhaustion from the all-nighter lingered and any sense of relief was gone, leaving his thoughts restless and unsettled.
He leaned back, stirring his coffee absently.
Decent earnings… consistent cycle… and sure, he'd gotten some solid material out of the whole thing.
But was it really worth it?
The reason he even started felt distant now, tangled in doubts he couldn't sort through. And the game, something about it unsettled him, especially after meeting that blond man.
Instead of clarity, he was left with more questions than answers…. and there wasn't a single person he could turn to for answers.
He took another sip of coffee, the warmth doing little to chase away the quiet thoughts that always surfaced when things finally slowed down.
The truth was, Zack's life wasn't as simple as it looked.
He wasn't just some broke gamer trying to make ends meet.
Long ago, before everything crumbled, his family had been affluent, the type of wealth that didn't disappear overnight.
However, after the incident, someone had given him a false identity and disappeared, leaving Zack clueless about who that person was even to this day.
To everyone else, Zack was just another orphan in a government facility.
Only recently had he begun to piece together bits of his history, including a letter urging him to become stronger in the latest release of a VRMMO game called Immortals Conflict.
At first, he would've brushed it off as one of Rin's prank but after grilling him for answers and realizing, it also contained details about a sealed bank account, untouched with more money than he could ever spend in a lifetime.
Still, to access any of those funds, he would need to reveal his true identity, one linked to a past he wasn't certain was safe to explore yet.
This led him to believe that no one in their right mind would go this far just to mess with him.
There might be something happening behind the scenes that he was unaware of.
He let out a quiet sigh, resting his chin on his hand.
In that virtual space, he didn't have to fret about being hunted like he would be in reality. Yet, that sealed bank account still nagged at him, an option he could utilize eventually, if he was prepared to face the consequences that came with it.
***
After grabbing a few things for Rin, he made his way back to his apartment and powered on his setup.
The screens lit up, Zack reflected on the prior recordings, recalling how Rin had arranged for someone else to manage the editing in the past. It had been effective but it hadn't granted them full control.
Now that they had acquired the necessary equipment they could edit it themselves but instead of feeling ready, a knot tightened in his stomach.
His thoughts went straight back to the blond man.
That meeting hadn't left him alone for even a minute. The sealed account, the strange wish the man spoke of… none of it made sense. The more Zack replayed the encounter, the more uneasy he became.
This isn't the time for this, he thought.
I can't waste my energy on editing right now.
Rin could handle it or they could outsource it like before. Anything was better than sitting here pretending he could focus.
Zack closed the program, letting out a slow breath.
He stepped away from the desk, kicked off his shoes and dropped onto the couch, letting his body sink into the cushions. The strain of the past few days eased only slightly but it was enough for him to breathe.
For now, he just needed space; to think, to steady himself and to figure out what came next.
The day wasn't over but one thing was certain: after meeting that blond man, nothing felt simple anymore.
What he wanted now was clear, a moment to lie back and let his body recover. He craved a nap, a genuine natural nap, not one in his VR capsule.
An update was on the way and he knew it would pull him right back into the game's unyielding pace.
Wrapping a blanket around himself, he let the fatigue of the past few days engulf him.
To Zack, that small moment of rest felt like an indulgence in itself.
By the time he awoke, it was already 6 p.m.
The apartment was dim with the last remnants of daylight fading into a gentle twilight and the city outside quietly buzzed under the early evening sky. Zack rubbed his eyes and stretched, reviewing what he had to work with.
Still about fifteen hours before the update arrives, he thought. Ample time but not enough to squander.
He got up and made himself something quick to eat, only to notice that the breakfast he had brought for Rin had already been finished. A faint chuckle escaped him, he'd clearly been too distracted earlier to keep track of it.
Once he finished, he didn't linger.
The realms of dungeons, fame, PvP/ bosses and crafting beckoned and with the update approaching, every moment counted.
Zack slipped back into the VR capsule the familiar connection filling his senses as the world of Immortal Conflict materialized around him.
The marketplace was alive with activity, even more than usual.
He paused near the fountain, letting the chatter wash over him. Bits and pieces of conversation floated through the crowd:
"Did you hear? The new update drops in less than fifteen hours. Some say bosses will get stronger and also drop Epic-tier loot!"
"I am pumped for the guild. My friends are on board, the name's set and we're just waiting for the update to hit."
"I heard they're adding new classes — "
Zack nodded slightly, mentally filing away the info. The rumors weren't always accurate but they often hinted at trends or valuable opportunities.
Even beyond the game, Immortal Conflict had the community talking nonstop.
Meanwhile, streamers and celebrities were hyping the update, while developers dropped teasers about upcoming special events.
A few players passed by Zack, talking in quick bursts.
Zack listened quietly, taking everything in. He adjusted his gear and took a deep breath, letting the energy of the bustling marketplace recharge him.
After collecting the proceeds, Zack's balance reflected 7,712 gold 60 silver.
Zack scrolled through the Market Board and a few items immediately caught his eye. Without hesitation, he began adding them to his cart:
Phoenix Feather Charm (Consumable) – Instantly revives the user with 50% HP upon death. This effect can only occur once per dungeon | Price: 20 gold coins
Luminous Orb (Skill Scroll, Lv1) – Summons a floating orb that automatically heals allies in a small radius for 2% HP every 4 seconds; lasts 20 seconds | Price: 30 gold coins
Soul Spike (Skill Scroll, Lv1) – Deals 150% holy damage to a single target and reduces their healing received by 25% for 10 seconds | Cd 60 seconds | Price: 45 gold coins
Sanctuary Echo (Skill Scroll, Lv1) – Creates a faint dome that reduces damage taken by allies inside by 30%; lasts 8 seconds. Mana Cost: 50 | Cooldown: 1 minute | Price: 50 gold coins
Celestial Chains (Skill Scroll, Lv1) – Links 2–3 enemies; when one takes damage, linked enemies take 50% of it; lasts 6 seconds. Mana Cost: 40 | Cooldown: 60 seconds | Price: 80 gold coins
Zack grabbed the Phoenix Feather Charm as a precaution, if a dungeon boss or trap had an instant-kill mechanic, it could prove invaluable.
The other skills were primarily tailored for a priest, except for Celestial Chains, which any mage could also wield. Considering he didn't have many AoE abilities, he figured it would fill that gap nicely while also enhancing his overall damage output.
Nothing new caught his eye that seemed worth investing in, so he decided to focus on something he knew would always sell: Potions.
He purchased the materials for Mana Potions for 7,400 gold coins, carefully ensuring he had enough left for minor fees. With the ingredients in hand, he quickly set to work, crafting another batch of Mana Potions.
74,320 potions were successfully crafted.
Once finished, he listed the new batch on the marketplace, ready for sale.
To the casual player, it was just profit. But to Zack, it was momentum. Every batch sold meant another layer of leverage for what was coming next.
The remaining materials available had increased in price and even this batch had set him back more than usual. Still, he could net a reasonable profit of 10 silver for each potion.
Zack believed that this might be the final chance for him to earn such a significant profit.
With the surge of alchemists hitting Adept rank, the market became oversaturated with MP potions, driving their prices down even as the cost of raw materials continued to rise.