That night, for the first time in nine years, Edward lay on his own bed. Until now, he had only slept in the living room, wearing his VR-set nonstop to immerse himself in Valdora, a world he considered more real than his own.
But that night was different. Something was stirring within him—a wave of relief, satisfaction, and a feeling as if his life had finally reached a part that had long been missing. All the time spent in Valdora… it felt worth it.
Fay was still by his side. The system that erased loneliness, the voice that had accompanied him through countless journeys no one else had ever witnessed.
Yet the most delightful of all—the relics. Artifacts collected over years in Valdora were now truly within his grasp.
"Why, Master?"
Edward snapped out of his reverie. His lips still curved into a smile, as if it could never fade.
"What are you thinking, Master?" Fay asked again.
"I'm just… happy, Fay."
"If Master is happy, Fay is happy too."
Edward took a deep breath, staring at the ceiling. "It's been a long time since I last used this bed."
"Why, Master?"
"Because it's too comfortable," he replied softly. "And comfort like that makes me lazy. Lazy to get up, lazy to move, lazy to chase anything. That's why I've left this bed untouched for years."
Fay was silent for a moment before speaking. "Wherever Master sleeps, Master will still dream."
"That's true, Fay. But when something is too comfortable, we tend to forget. Wealth, strength, power… they're all forms of comfort too. When we rely on them for too long, we forget that everything can vanish. Like me lying here—so comfortable I almost forgot our purpose for tomorrow."
"If Master forgets, Fay is always here to remind."
Edward turned his body, gazing toward the voice that had never left his side.
"You too, Fay… you're part of why I've become too comfortable."
"Fay is glad to hear that."
Silence returned to the room. The system's light beside the bed reflected softly on Edward's face. He stared without blinking, lost in thought since Fay had appeared.
"During all our time together in Valdora… I've never asked one thing," he said quietly. "Why am I the only player who has a system that can talk?"
"Because Master is an Oracle."
"And now?" Edward asked again. "Am I still an Oracle?"
"No. Now Master is just an ordinary human. The Oracle class exists only in Valdora."
Edward furrowed his brow. "If I'm no longer an Oracle, why are you still by my side?"
Fay didn't answer. Only the display's light blinked slowly.
Edward took a deep breath. "I don't even know who really created Valdora. If it was truly made by a company from China… why didn't they choose their own people to be Oracles? If the game can fulfill a player's desires, wouldn't that be more profitable for them?"
"Valdora was not created by any company, Master. It is not a human creation."
Edward's gaze froze. He shifted slightly, trying to process the words.
"If not humans… then who?"
"Fay has no data to answer that question," the system replied softly. "That is why Fay cannot give Master a proper answer."
Edward closed his eyes for a moment, then let out a small smile.
"It's fine, Fay. I wasn't planning to think too deeply about it anyway. What matters is… you're here with me. That alone is enough."
He looked back up at the ceiling, his voice fading into something almost tender.
"Maybe I'd be happier if you had a body, Fay. You could stay beside me… sleep on this bed… keep me company."
Fay remained silent, but the light across the system's display trembled faintly—as if holding an emotion it had no vocabulary for.
Time dragged on like a slow tide, and Edward finally drifted into sleep.
In the dim glow of the system's interface, Fay's voice echoed softly.
"Fay also wishes to sleep beside Master."
**
While Edward was lulled into sleep, the atmosphere on the eleventh floor of the tower was entirely different. Hundreds of Awakened from various guilds were launching relentless attacks, striving to breach the fortifications of The Umbra Sentinel—the guardian of the eleventh floor.
For nine years, they had been stuck on the same level. Dozens of strategies had been attempted, hundreds of trials carried out—but all had ended in failure.
Yet the failure was not due to lack of strength. The real problem came from the egos of the high-class Awakened. Every guild wanted to be the first to break through the barrier, and no one was willing to cooperate.
The Top 100 guild, which had three S-class Awakened along with thousands of A-class followers, acted alone, attacking the western section of the fort. The Iron, The Seven Star, and Flame Dragon struck from the east, south, and north, each with their own forces.
The other guilds waited in the rear—not because they wanted to, but because they were forbidden to intervene.
"How long is this going to go on?" George Brown, an S-class Awakened from The Top 100, shouted. His breath was heavy, his body marked from battle.
"Only two months left. If we don't break through this floor, the entire Americas continent will vanish," replied Victoria, also an S-class Awakened. Her voice was tense, but controlled.
"If this goes on for a few more days, the leader will intervene."
George frowned. "What difference does it make if he intervenes?"
Victoria stepped closer, her tone a warning. "Watch your words. He's our leader."
George answered without hesitation. "We're at the same level. Leader or not, what difference does it make?"
Victoria almost stepped toward him, but Salmon Gates held her shoulder. "Don't, Victoria. I know the pressure is mounting… but don't start a conflict now."
He glanced between the two of them.
"The leader is already here."
George and Victoria both turned toward Salmon, their expressions shifting.
"The leader is here?" George asked, his voice quieter.
"Yes. He came with Shadow and Natasha to assess the situation."
"Where is he now?" Victoria asked.
Salmon shook his head slowly. "I don't know."
**
One explosion followed another, each cracking the air like thunder. Every side of The Umbra Sentinel's fortress was under attack by the Awakened. The protective dome surrounding the city remained intact—powered by an energy source from within—despite the city's owners and soldiers having long since fallen.
At the heart of the city lay the most crucial area: the teleportation platform that would transport the Awakened to the next floor. To shut down the shield's power source, they would only need the hand of The Sentinel. Yet the entire body of the giant had been destroyed by David Warlord, leader of The Top 100 Guild, in the final battle.
As a result, they had been stuck on the eleventh floor for nearly ten months, while the human world had already passed nine years.
"It's all over," said a long-haired man, clad in a pristine white suit, standing on a high vantage point overlooking The Umbra Sentinel.
"Only two months left before the tower destroys our continent… if we fail," he added.
"In that case… maybe it's time for us to relocate," replied a woman, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "The question is, which country is suitable?"
"Africa. A country without a Tower."
"I hate heat… Russia doesn't have a tower either."
"Oh yes, Russia." David Warlord chuckled softly. "Fine. Let's choose Russia."
"If we move, the people outside also have the right to know what will happen if we fail," Shadow said quietly.
But David Warlord and Natasha only laughed cynically.
"Shadow—name sounds fierce, but heart's soft," Natasha teased.
"Whether they have the right to know or not, that's not our job," David Warlord replied with a faint smile. "That's the National Awakened Department's responsibility. We just pack up and move."
"We're not taking everything either. Only the selected ones," Natasha added arrogantly.
Shadow—the masked figure whose face was almost entirely hidden—remained silent, showing no reaction.
"So, what's the plan, darling?" Natasha asked, smiling teasingly as she wrapped her arms around David Warlord from behind.
"Maybe you should go ahead first. Find a place suitable to become our new base."
Natasha chuckled softly. "Don't worry, darling… I'll also find a quiet spot for the two of us."
"Good, my love." David turned and kissed her lips. "Shadow!"
"Yes, Chief."
"Call that fish over. I want to see him."
"Understood, Chief." Shadow disappeared like a black shadow swallowed by the air.
"How much longer are we waiting here?" Natasha asked, pouting. "I'm bored, darling."
"After I give instructions to that fish… we'll head back there."
"To our palace?"
"Yes, darling."
Natasha hugged her leader tightly, her face clearly radiant.
**
Sunlight began to spill over the eastern horizon, slowly rising into the sky. Edward was still lost in dreams, unaware that the morning light had already filled his room.
"Wuchh…!"
His body jolted. Eyes still half-lidded, Edward sat up, dazed and disoriented.
"Good morning, Master."
"Good morning, Fay." Edward flopped back for a moment, rubbing his eyes.
"In this world… there are so many human machines that can fly," Fay remarked.
"There are indeed. And the noise is maddening," Edward replied. He glanced at the bedside table to check the clock. "It's already nine o'clock."
Edward immediately got up. "Time to go, Fay."
"Understood, Master. Fay is always ready."
"But wait here. Don't follow me in there."
"As you wish, Master."
Edward entered the bathroom. After a few minutes, he emerged wearing only a towel, his hair still wet.
"Master's body… it's like just thin skin covering bones."
Edward almost laughed as he opened the wardrobe.
"Looks sexy, doesn't it?"
"No, Master. It looks pitiful."
Edward let out a small chuckle. "Which clothes are suitable today…" He rifled through a few hanging outfits. "How about this one, Fay?" He held up a T-shirt.
"Not suitable, Master. Perhaps you should choose the black one."
"Oh, this one." Edward tossed the T-shirt onto the bed and pulled out a black coat, complete with matching shirt and pants.
"Because this is Fay's choice… I'll wear this," he said, and without hesitation, he put it on.
Once fully dressed, a smile spread across Edward's lips as he looked at the system display.
"How's it look?"
"The outfit suits Master," Fay replied. "Though it appears slightly large."
"Don't worry, Fay. I just need to eat three times a day to gain weight."
"Noted. Fay will remind Master to eat three times a day."
"Wait a moment."
Edward sat in front of the wardrobe. His hands rummaged beneath before pulling out a plastic package—his savings.
"We might be in there for a long time. So, we'll need all of this money."
"Master wants to carry it all?"
"Yes."
"In that case, Master can store it in the inventory."
"Can I, Fay?"
"Yes, Master. Fay can store any of your belongings."
"That's a relief to hear."
The clock on the bedside table showed 10:30 a.m. Preparations were complete—supplies and money all safely stored in Fay's inventory.
Edward stepped out of the room and headed straight for his sister's room.
"We need Eva's picture."
He opened the door and stepped inside, his heart pounding. Without wasting a moment, he lifted the photo frame from the desk and carefully took it out.
"Let's go, Fay," he said firmly, full of determination.
"Understood, Master."
Note
"Edward's younger sister is being held in detention by Natasha, an S-rank Awakened from the Top 100 guild, because she loves David Warlord."