Recruitment
The television continued broadcasting special coverage.
The words at the bottom of the screen read:
"The Global Recruitment Era Begins."
The female anchor spoke with excitement.
"Following the overwhelming success of Divine Nexus, major corporations and influential families around the world have officially entered the game."
"The objective is clear..."
"Recruit talented players before everyone else."
One advertisement after another appeared on the screen.
---
Kronos Industries
Benefits:
* Monthly salary.
* Premium VR equipment.
* Free accommodation.
* Professional training teams.
* Performance bonuses based on achievements.
---
Helios Dynasty
Benefits:
* Guaranteed monthly allowance.
* Dedicated analysts.
* Combat instructors.
* Equipment sponsorship.
* Future management positions for outstanding performers.
---
Orion Global Holdings
Benefits:
* Exclusive grinding parties.
* Shared resources.
* Dungeon expedition teams.
* Rare equipment purchasing fund.
* Profit-sharing from future guild operations.
---
The broadcast shifted once more.
This time...
It focused on the world's influential families.
---
Blackwood Family
Known for producing military officers and combat specialists.
Recruitment focused on elite frontline players.
---
Silverthorn Family
A long-established family investing heavily in magic-oriented players and researchers.
---
Ravencrest Family
Famous for cultivating assassins and scouts within Divine Nexus.
Outstanding recruits would receive specialized training.
---
Finally...
A familiar emblem appeared. A silver tree engraved upon a black shield.
---
Ashcroft Family
The advertisement proudly displayed several young players.Standing at the very front was Valerius.
The narrator spoke confidently.
"Currently recognized as one of the strongest public players in Divine Nexus..."
"Valerius Ashcroft will personally guide new recruits participating in the Ashcroft Family Workshop."
Additional promises appeared beneath his image.
* Competitive monthly salary.
* High-end VR capsules.
* Daily strategy sessions.
* Team dungeon expeditions.
* Equipment support.
* Promotion opportunities based on performance.
The advertisement ended with one final sentence.
"Walk beside the strongest, and become the strongest."
---
The television switched back to the news anchor.
"Experts predict that within the next few weeks, nearly every major corporation and influential family will establish official Divine Nexus workshops."
"Competition for talented players has officially begun."
Yevhen quietly watched the broadcast. His expression remained calm.He neither admired the advertisements nor envied the benefits.
He already knew his destination. Money mattered. Healing mattered. Finding the truth behind the Primal Codex mattered.
Everything else...
Could wait.
He finished his meal, thanked Elena, and rested briefly before picking up the VR helmet once more.
"Logging in."
Darkness enveloped him.
...
...
...
A familiar warmth spread throughout his body. The login process completed. Aster slowly opened his eyes. Mistvale greeted him once again.
But...
Something had changed.
The peaceful village he remembered had disappeared. The streets were overflowing with players. The population had at least doubled overnight.
Everywhere he looked...
Groups had formed around the village square. Recruitment cries echoed endlessly.
"Looking for members!"
"Grinding party! Level 10 and above!"
"Need a tank!"
"Support classes wanted!"
"Experienced swordsmen only!"
"We're building a permanent team!"
Since no player-created guilds existed yet, everyone sought strength in numbers by organizing fixed parties and informal organizations.
Some players even carried handmade signs.
Future Guild Recruitment.
Dungeon Exploration Team.
Professional Grinding Group.
The once-quiet Novice Village had transformed into a bustling center of ambition. Aster calmly observed the crowd.
He tightened the strap of his cloak.
"...The world moves quickly."
He had no intention of joining any party nor any workshop. His path had always been different.
The Primal Codex demanded understanding. Truth could not be borrowed from another. It had to be discovered by his own hands.
Without another glance at the noisy square, Aster quietly walked through the crowd. The streets of Mistvale had become livelier than ever.
Players filled every corner of the village.
Some hurried toward the gates, eager to level up.
Others stood atop wooden crates, shouting recruitment advertisements.
"Level 10 and above! Permanent party!"
"Looking for healers!"
"Need a tank for dungeon exploration!"
Aster walked quietly through the bustling streets.
The noise around him seemed distant.
His thoughts drifted back to his first day in Mistvale.
Back then...
He had been fascinated simply by being able to walk. Every step had been precious. Every breeze...
Every ray of sunlight...
Everything had felt like a miracle to someone who had spent years confined to a hospital bed. Without realizing it, his footsteps stopped before an empty corner of the village square.
A weathered tree stood there. Beneath it no one was sitting. The old storyteller was gone.
Aster smiled faintly.
He still remembered the old man's tale. The story of the Divine Swordsman who had protected Mistvale until his final battle.
The system panel quietly appeared before him.
---
Hidden Quest
『Echoes of the Forgotten Guardian』
Quest Type: Hidden
Conditions Met:
✔ Spoke with the Forgotten Storyteller.
✔ Listened to the complete legend without interruption.
---
Quest Description
Long before Mistvale became a sanctuary for novice adventurers, a nameless swordsman defended the village against overwhelming odds.
Time has buried both his deeds and his name. His blade has vanished from history. Perhaps...
History simply awaits someone willing to seek it.
---
Objective
Find the Lost Sword of Mistvale's Divine Swordsman.
---
Rewards
???
---
Current Objective:
Travel to Skyrend Peak, the sacred mountain where the Divine Swordsman was last seen. Find the legendary sword said to have disappeared after the final battle.
Quest Progress
Locate Skyrend Peak.
---
Aster closed the quest window.
"...Skyrend Peak."
The name sounded majestic. Yet, he had no idea where it was. He had explored only a small portion of Mistvale's surroundings. Searching aimlessly would likely waste days.
"I need information."
With that thought, he wandered through the village. He passed blacksmiths, potion shops, tailors. The newly expanded auction house.
Until...
One building caught his attention. Unlike every other establishment, this one was surprisingly quiet. Very few players entered.
Above the entrance hung a simple wooden sign.
Mistvale Public Library
"...A library?"
Curious, Aster stepped inside. The atmosphere changed immediately. The bustling noise of the village disappeared behind the heavy wooden doors.
Rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched throughout the spacious hall. Tall windows allowed warm sunlight to illuminate countless ancient books.
The scent of old parchment filled the air.
Unlike outside...
Everyone here spoke in whispers. Dozens of players occupied wooden tables. Some flipped through books. Others copied notes onto pieces of parchment purchased from the librarian.
Aster quietly observed them.
"So information has value."
He slowly walked around the first floor. Books about herbs, monsters, local geography, village history, basic combat theory.
Everything was neatly categorized.
His attention soon shifted toward a grand staircase leading upward. Two heavily armored NPC guards stood before it. Neither allowed anyone to pass.
Strangely...
A line of players had already formed near the staircase. Some had apparently been waiting for quite some time. Aster approached the last person in line.
"What are you waiting for?"
The young swordsman glanced at Aster's black cloak before answering politely.
"You don't know?"
Aster shook his head.
The player smiled.
"The second floor isn't open to everyone."
"It contains rare historical records, noble archives, and advanced books."
"The guards only allow entry if a noble grants permission."
"A noble?"
The player nodded.
"Occasionally, one of the noble NPCs visits the library."
"When they need to borrow several books, they ask for a player to carry them."
"If you're chosen, you can accompany them to the second floor."
"That's the only opportunity ordinary players have."
He scratched his head with a helpless smile.
"So we're all waiting."
"Hopefully today's noble picks one of us."
Aster looked toward the staircase. The guards remained expressionless. Beyond them, the second floor disappeared into silence.
Somewhere above, books unavailable to ordinary players quietly waited. And perhaps, among those forgotten records was the information he needed.
The location of Skyrend Peak.
Or even another forgotten legend connected to the Primal Codex.