The internet was on fire.
[#AnonymousReturns]
[Aquaegis First Clear – Watch Now!]
[Real or Fake? StreamTube Meltdown Begins!]
Comment sections became battlegrounds. One faction screamed that the legend was back. Another cried "fake!" like toddlers denied candy. A third just posted popcorn emojis and watched the war burn.
Arthur Creed? He kicked his feet up, coffee in one hand, grin stretching like a devil in a good mood.
"Damn," he muttered, watching the coin counter skyrocket. "Five hundred thousand views already? That's... what, fifty thousand coins?" The number blinked next to his username.
[Current Balance: 51,230 Coins]
"Guess the world really missed me."
The reward window still hovered in front of him.
[Reward Acquired: +10 Stat Points]
Without hesitation, he dumped five into Strength and five into Agility. His body pulsed as the upgrades kicked in—muscles tightened, reflexes sharpened, and his limbs felt like coiled springs.
"Now then," he murmured, eyes narrowing, "next stop—Seoul Museum."
---
The city wasn't the same.
Since the Integration, reality bent to the laws of the game. Monsters roamed backstreets. System consoles floated beside civilians like invisible smartphones. Buildings that once held history now held power.
And the Seoul Museum of History?
It had become a warzone. Every item and artifact in the museum turned into weapons, gears, armors and so many other things.
The steps leading up to the grand structure were stained in blood. Corpses littered the stairs—players who tried their luck and failed. Inside, chaos reigned. Veterans from Eclipse were tearing each other apart for loot.
One man screamed as a blade skewered him through the ribs.
"THAT WAS MINE, YOU SON OF A—!"
"It doesn't matter who gets it, it's all about who keeps it, buddy," the killer smirked, yanking a spear from the corpse and scanning it.
Others ran from exhibit to exhibit, shouting out item grades like auctioneers on steroids.
"D-Rank bow!"
"B-rank cloak of invisibility—GOT IT!"
"WHO TOOK THE DAMN PHOENIX FEATHER?!"
Arthur strolled in unnoticed. Just another face in the crowd—until he slipped past a busted security door and vanished from view.
He was heading to one place: the Treasury Exhibit.
Down dimly lit halls, behind shattered glass and blinking system alerts, Arthur stepped into a chamber of relics that glowed with system-coded runes.
Weapons, artifacts, crystals—some ranked, most already looted.
He scanned the room with a calm gaze, then walked directly toward a dusty case in the corner.
Inside lay a simple bracelet. Faded. Tattered.
[Item Acquired: F-Rank Relic – Whispercoil Bracelet]
He slipped it onto his wrist. "Not much now… but you'll be handy later."
Next: a C-Rank Fire Crystal, hidden behind a burned scroll.
[Item Acquired: Fire Crystal – C-Rank]
Arthur frowned. "But where's…"
His eyes darted to the now-empty pedestal at the room's center. A spot that once held—
The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.
"Of course it's gone," he muttered. "Figures I'm not the only intelligent freak in the world."
He activated his console.
> [Command Code: Player.Scan]
[Scanning…]
[Object Located: Divine Bell of King Seongdeok –
Holder: Player ID – Rina]
Arthur's smirk returned. "Found you."
---
She was surrounded by six bodyguards. All ex-guild elites, judging by their equipment and posture. They got to guard her due to her beauty and also to gain attention from her.
Rina herself was tall, poised, her raven hair cascading down the back of her obsidian armor. The Divine Bell hung from her waist like a prize won in blood.
Arthur walked up casually. Hands in pockets. Smile lazy.
"Nice bell," he said.
She glanced at him. "Excuse me?"
"That's the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok. Mind handing it over?"
Her laughter rang sharp. "You must be either new… or suicidal."
"Nope," he replied, voice like silk over broken glass. "Just polite."
Her guards stepped forward.
He sighed. "Mistake asking. Should've just taken it."
They lunged. He dodged.
A blade slashed where his neck had been—he was already behind the wielder, foot connecting with a sickening crack. Another came from the right—Arthur ducked, elbowed, spun, kicked. In thirty seconds, six elite guards were twitching on the floor like broken toys.
Rina's eyes widened. "You're strong… but not stronger than me."
Her console flared.
> [Command: Flame Chain Whip]
[Command: Arc Kick – Thunder Variant]
Flames lashed out like serpents. Lightning crackled across her legs.
Arthur's grin widened.
"Good," he said. "Let's make it a stream-worthy moment."
> [StreamCam: ON]
[Username: ANONYMOUS]
[Streaming to: StreamTube LIVE]
[Facial Status: Blurred]
The chat immediately exploded.
> [WAIT IS THAT— NO FREAKING WAY ANONYMOUS VS RINA???
WHO TF IS RINA???]
Arthur summoned the Common Sword. The same plain blade he used on Aquaegis.
>[System Override; Command: Summon object- Common Sword]
He activated the Water Strike command.
> [Command: Water Strike – Precision Flow]
[Target: Rina]
A jet of water burst from the blade as he slashed. It collided with her flaming whip—steam erupted in all directions. He moved faster than her eyes could track. One strike across the leg. One across the arm. The final one disarmed her completely.
She dropped to her knees, breathing heavy.
"Who… the hell are you?"
Arthur stepped forward. His sword hovered just above her shoulder.
"I'm Anonymous," he said. "And that bell doesn't belong to you."
> [Item Acquired: Divine Bell of King Seongdeok – A Rank]
[System Override; Command: Chain.Hold – Target: Rina]
Magical cuffs snapped around her wrists.
She looked up at him, shocked. "What now? You gonna kill me?"
Arthur deactivated the stream. Chat begged for more.
> [StreamCam: OFF]
"Nope," he said, reaching out and activating a Warp Command. "You're coming with me."
>[System Override; Command: Warp- Destination ( Ancient Altar)]
The world shimmered—pixels swirled like a digital whirlpool. A moment later, both of them were gone.
---
They reappeared in a forgotten part of the city. A ruined temple overrun with vines, half-cracked stone pillars glowing with ancient runes.
A place not marked on any map.
A place for rituals, secrets… and something far darker.
Arthur turned toward her, eyes glowing faintly.
"Let's talk, Rina. You've got something I need."