"Faster, pack faster!" Sophie urged, her hands trembling as she shoved her belongings into a duffel bag. As Evie Quinn’s closest friend, she was usually the composed one, but the weight of the new world was settling in. "The forums are saying that if people in the same geographic region fall asleep at the exact same time, they spawn in the same starter town. I have to get home to my parents. They’ve never even touched a controller—they won’t survive an hour in there alone."
Another girl in the dorm sighed, her expression grim. "Sophie, don't get yourself killed trying to play hero. We should focus on leveling up first. We can carry them later once we actually have some power."
"Exactly," a third girl added, her glasses sliding down her nose as she nodded fervently. "We can barely guarantee our own survival right now. Going in with dead weight is suicide."
Evie Quinn didn't join the debate. Her eyes were glued to her phone, thumb hovering over the refresh button on her messages. She was waiting for a notification that hadn't come: a groveling apology from Ethan Quinn.
The silence from his end was deafening. It transitioned from confusing to insulting, fueling a slow-burn rage in her chest.
The world is ending, and he’s still playing hard to get? Who does he think he is?
Apologizing herself was out of the question. In her mind, skipping her exams to attend Fynn Solo’s concert wasn't just a choice—it was a necessity. Exams could be retaken; GPA could be fixed. But missing a chance to be in the same breathing space as Fynn? That was a once-in-a-lifetime tragedy.
Thinking of the idol made her heart flutter. She could still hear his voice echoing through the stadium during the opening set: ‘I missed you all.’
"I wonder when Fynn will enter Godsfall," Evie whispered to herself. "With his talent, he’ll probably be one of the top players instantly."
It was a pathetic irony. While the world teetered on the edge of a digital apocalypse, Evie’s mind was occupied by a pop star she didn't know, rather than the brother who had spent a lifetime protecting her.
In the previous timeline, Ethan hadn't waited. He had rushed to the school the moment Godsfall appeared, swallowing his pride to apologize and beg her to stay close to him so he could protect her.
This time? Ethan couldn't care less.
The butterfly effect was already in motion. Without Ethan’s constant check-ins to stabilize her, Evie was flying blind. But she didn't feel lost; she felt liberated.
"Girls, look!" Sophie shouted, thrusting her phone forward. "Marcus hit Level 3! He’s back in the real world!"
Evie perked up. "Level 3 already? He’s a beast."
She immediately jumped into the class VLink group and tagged him.
Evie Quinn: @Marcus, any tips for those of us just starting out? Help a girl out?
In a sea of frantic classmates, Marcus was basking in the attention. He had been the guy sleeping through lectures just hours ago; now, he was a local celebrity. When he saw Evie’s tag, his ego tripled in size. He wasn't a "simp" by trade, but if a girl like Evie Quinn was throwing herself at him for carry-services, he wasn't going to say no.
He slid into her DMs instantly, his tone dripping with unearned confidence.
Marcus: Don't sweat it, Evie. Listen, once someone in a town hits Level 5, they can activate the Waygate. That links the starter towns together. Just find a random group, grind out the early levels, and as soon as my town’s Gate is up, I’ll teleport over and carry you.
Marcus: Pro-tip: Put every single one of your initial attribute points into Agility. If you aren't fast, the mobs will shred you before you can blink.
Evie paused, her brow furrowed.
Evie Quinn: Even if I pick a caster class? Does Agility matter for mages?
Marcus: Especially for mages. It cuts down your casting animation time. Trust me, in the early game, speed is everything.
Evie Quinn: Got it. Thanks, Marcus!
Marcus stared at her profile picture, already imagining the scenarios where he’d play the hero. He had no idea that to Evie Quinn, he was nothing more than a temporary tool—a placeholder until she could find her way to Fynn Solo.
Evie checked her messages one last time. Still nothing from Ethan.
Keep your silence, then, she thought bitterly. By the time you finally crawl back to me, I’ll be leagues ahead of you with a pro carrying me. You’ll be the one begging for help.
She had no way of knowing that while she was taking advice from a Level 3 amateur, Ethan had already crossed the Level 5 threshold.
In the depths of the Gloomwood, Ethan Quinn moved like a ghost.
The Waygates were two-way streets. Lighting one town’s gate did nothing if there wasn't a destination gate active on the other side. That was why Ethan wasn't in a hurry to head back to Shellcroft. His goal was Level 10—the true gateway to the capital and the real beginning of Godsfall.
Wait, Ethan thought, his eyes narrowing as he parried a strike from a woodland lurker. I need to remember which town Fynn Solo spawned in.
In his past life, Evie had been obsessed with finding the idol, but Ethan had forbidden her from leaving their starting zone, knowing how dangerous the cross-region travel was.
"Ember Hollow," Ethan muttered. The name surfaced from a dark corner of his memory. "Right. I’ll head to Ember Hollow eventually. I’ll kill that golden boy every time he steps out of the safe zone."
The intent wasn't just to kill him. It was to break him—to make the "idol" so terrified of the game that he’d never log in again.
Ethan checked the Shellcroft Town Leaderboard.
1. Shade - Level 6
2. [Anonymous] - Level 3
3. [Anonymous] - Level 3
He was laps ahead of the world.
"Time to finish this," he whispered.
[Phantom Flurry]!
-754!
-754!
-754!
The monstrous entities that terrified other players were nothing more than stacks of experience and Lifespan to him. They dissolved into pixels, leaving behind loot that Ethan gathered with practiced efficiency.
Reality: Rivenhaven City, Azura
Victor sprinted through the corridors of the high-security bureau, his breath ragged. He slammed into the briefing room where a dozen high-ranking officials were gathered.
"What do you mean?" a director barked, standing up. "Someone in Shellcroft hit Level 5? Solo?"
"His handle is 'Shade'," Victor reported, his voice tight. "If the data from the other sectors is right, he might be the highest-level player on the planet right now."
The room erupted into hushed, panicked whispers. These were men and women tasked with maintaining order in the Daxia Realm, and they were staring at a power shift they couldn't control.
"Victor," one official noted, frowning at the report. "You said this Shade reached Level 3 over half an hour ago. Why hasn't he logged out to check on his family? Does he have no one?"
Victor shook his head. "I don't know. He didn't seem interested in talking about his life."
"Maybe he’s one of those 'transmigrators' from the web novels," a melodic voice chimed in. "You know, the loner protagonist who starts with nothing and conquers the world?"
The room went dead silent. Everyone turned to look at Vera, a stunning officer in a tailored uniform. She had a look of "natural daze" on her face, her long legs crossed casually.
"Vera!" a department head groaned, rubbing his temples. "Stop reading those trashy stories. This is a global crisis, not a plot point."
Vera stuck her tongue out playfully and went back to her tablet.
Despite the levity, the officials reached a consensus. Shade was a priority.
1. Determine his temperament.
2. Uncover his real-world identity.
3. Establish a formal partnership.
"The reports on 'Lifespan' are confirmed," the director continued, his voice dropping an octave. "We have records of elderly players who entered the game and died. After multiple deaths, their remaining Lifespan hit zero. They died in reality instantly. The world is taking notice. Godsfall isn't a game—it’s the new biological standard."
The authorities were drowning. They had to maintain social order while simultaneously exploring a world that held their lives in its code.
They didn't know the half of it yet. They didn't know that at Level 10, players would gain the ability to use Tradeable Lifespan to manifest their gear, stats, and skills in the physical world.
When that happened, the old world wouldn't just be shaken. It would be incinerated.
An hour later, back in the dorms, Evie Quinn finally forced herself into a deep sleep.
She felt the familiar pull of the void and opened her eyes to the character creation screen. Just like before, she opted for the "Random Class" draw, hoping for something flashy.
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Hidden Class: Blood Covenant!]
Evie’s eyes lit up. It was a high-tier healing class, far superior to a standard Cleric. In the previous life, she had looked down on Ethan for being a "Common Warrior," never realizing he had chosen the most durable class specifically to act as her shield.
Now, she felt like a goddess.
"A hidden class..." she whispered, admiring her new robes. "Now I’m finally on Fynn Solo’s level."
She checked her VLink. Still no word from Ethan.
"Fine. Stay in the mud, Ethan," she sneered. "I have a hidden class and Marcus to carry me. By the time you figure out how to swing a sword, I’ll be untouchable."
Shellcroft
Ethan’s inventory was bursting. He had found a [Void Satchel], a rare drop that added five extra slots to his belt, but even that wasn't enough to hold the mountain of loot he’d harvested.
This should net me at least 500 days of Tradeable Lifespan, Ethan calculated.
As he moved through the forest, still shrouded in stealth, he spotted two familiar figures.
Lily Jiang—known in-game as "Pear Drop"—was the heiress to Riverspan Industries. She was currently walking with a Ranger named Old Leo.
"We hit Level 3, Pear Drop," Leo said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Time to pay up."
"Relax, Leo," Lily replied, her voice cool and entitled. "Riverspan doesn't stiff people on a few million credits. We’ll log out now, and I’ll have my assistant wire the funds. Also... that Tradeable Lifespan you’ve gathered? I’ll buy it all. Ten thousand dollars per day of life. Deal?"
"Deal! Haha, absolute deal!" Leo beamed.
He was a Common Ranger who had dumped everything into Agility. He thought he was a genius for turning "game time" into five million dollars.
Ethan watched them from the shadows with cold disdain. Idiots. Selling your soul for fiat currency that would be worthless in months was the ultimate fool's errand.
Ethan bypassed them without a sound and entered the town square of Shellcroft. He headed straight for the basement of the central plaza, descending the stone steps until he reached a massive, petrified stone ring.
He placed his hand on the cold surface.
[Notice: You have activated the Shellcroft Waygate!]
[Shellcroft is now linked to Rivenhaven City’s network. One free teleport per day.]
[You have gained 1 Renown!]
With the task done, Ethan walked back up into the sunlight. He deactivated his stealth, appearing in the center of the square as a black-robed Assassin, his face hidden behind a lethal-looking veil.
The crowd of Level 1 and 2 players went silent. Hundreds of pairs of eyes—filled with awe, jealousy, and fear—followed the man known as Shade.