Chapter 498: The Two Winners

Millions of units of Full Immersion Chamber were already in the hands of the Earthlings. However, after a week, only hundreds of thousands reached the 2nd Realm.

And among those hundred thousand players, only a few of them could be called exceptional.

Despite the Earthlings having a great potential by being a denizen of a Sage World, if they didn't fully utilize it then this was the result.

Although I intentionally lowered the Energy they were going to absorb in the game, it just really showed that… not everyone was eager to change their life.

To adapt to the changes of the world, it should come from their own initiative.

Either way, there were those early Adapters that were either sent to another world or being recruited by the EDA.

It was still united today because we held all the power but once the Earthlings who had inherent greed rose and became Transcendents,  a lot of them would create their own influence whether or not there was still someone stronger than them.

That's how it always was… Just look at the 'Pathways' and the guilds that came about there. Although their strengths were still superficial, it was easy to see those with great ambition.

For now, people like those were what the Earth needed. They'd be great cannon fodder and if they were lucky enough, they could become elite.

In time, we wouldn't restrict the information about the wide Universe and the dangers from it. If they wanted to verify it then they could go.

Besides… once the connection to the Mortal Worlds was repaired and solidified, a clear Ascension route for them would be available. New Transcendents coming from the Mortal World would then compete for resources here on Earth. They would be the alternative soldiers that we could use if the Earthlings' nurturing plan ended up too slow for the incoming enemies.

Putting my focus back on the screen in front of us, the first PvP clash ended with Elise's player candidate's win.

Well, that guy knew how to utilize his men who were mostly NPCs and had the minds ready to die to win against their enemies while their opponents were a group of players with some NPCs mixed in.

Their discipline was chaotic as they were in it mostly for the action of fighting in a group rather than the actual winning mindset.

Without a strategic mindset, they were easily routed by that player who made use of his men's strengths and weaknesses.

Although it's a game, I made sure to give them an experience that was almost the same as what they would experience once they graduated from it and opened their eyes to what was in store for them outside that Virtual World.

A moment after that, a video clip, which was probably recorded by a player near that clash, was released on the internet and it instantly created a buzz when the defeated group commented on it with scenic shots of their own.

Nonetheless… that was unimportant for us…

What's important was that the player who won also got experience from killing those players and with them being one of the better groups, the benefit the player received was abundant.

Right after looting them and returning to their base to distribute it to his NPC squad, he sat down and began meditating to absorb Energy.

An hour after that, his Ability was triggered followed by his breakthrough to the 3rd Realm: Transformed of the Earth's Mortal Pathway.

And that meant… Elise won the first slot.

"I look forward to adventuring with you, Daisuke."

With a truly elated expression on her face, Elise snuggled to my side. Despite us being in a virtual simulation, the way she stuck herself next to me gathered the envious gazes of the other girls.

"Likewise, you still haven't had a Glimpse of your Transcendent Pathway, right?"

"Un. But I feel it will happen soon. Being one of the fastest to complete the Mortal Pathway, I'm slightly ashamed that I also became one of the slowest."

"Don't mind it. Look at me, have I completed my Pathway yet?"

"If you use yourself as a comparison, we will all cry, bad man… Anyway, it feels like you're fully stretching yourself to look after us. Don't you get tired?" Elise pointed out a valid observation from her.

Am I stretching myself? Perhaps… But it's all for the plan, to stand with them by becoming Divinity together.

"Not really. If it's for all of you then… it's only a matter of if I can or I cannot.  If I can look after all of you then that's what I will do. If I cannot protect all of you then I will make sure to find a way to do so."

"I hate to say this but… it feels like you're spoiling us. To be honest."

Although she's snuggling herself even closer to me despite saying that, Elise's words still carried their weight.

I am certainly spoiling them. But in the end, I still find that not enough.

The five reincarnations got their Imbued Tool but the others were still only using Output Enhancing Equipment. I wanted to give them something that will boost their strengths outside their UPL and Pathways' progress.

"What do you think I should do then?"

"If I say that you have to let us go in the wild to fend for ourselves, you and perhaps almost everyone will surely look at me hatefully."

Elise bit her lips and lowered her head, She must've really thought about this.

She wanted to not only rely on me but at the same time, she also didn't want to be separated from me.

"Not hatefully but… I admit I will not like all of you to leave my side."

"That's also what I think. Feeling your affection is something I want to experience all the time, I'm keenly aware of this. But Daisuke, your plan, will we not get dragged down by each other or… specifically, will you not get dragged down by us?"

Ah. This is the crux of this talk with her. Perhaps, she's not the only one who noticed this. Thinking that if they're not here, I would've already left the Earth to travel and return to my past life's height of power.

"I see. You noticed it, huh?"

"It's painfully obvious, idiot. You helped us complete our Mortal Pathways by directing the energy that should be yours to us…"

"I have the skill 'Shared Growth'. Your growth will also contribute to mine. If I focused only on my own, then the result would be worse than what we reached now."

That's the crux of that skill. Actually, I am thankful for that skill, if not for that then… we will lose more time than we have now. By having that skill, we will not actually become too far apart in stats no matter who broke through first.

They would be getting a share of my stats and I would be getting a share of theirs. 

"Is that so?"

"Un. In any case, once I also completed my Pathway, all of you will also experience another growth spurt. This exploration that we will be doing… I will complete my Mortal Pathway halfway there."

After this exploration then… It's really time to leave.

-

-

After another 12 hours in-game time, the 2nd Rank 3 Mortal who emerged from the exceptional players of the Pathway was Reinys's player candidate.

Who she picked was someone considered to be a Princess of some country. Daughter of the Prime Minister, she had the best resources she could get. Moreover, the followers she had could form a battalion leading to her swift rise in power.

Nonetheless, she didn't have a pleasing personality, she's treating everyone as beneath her. That kind of attitude was the one that would be disciplined thoroughly once she became exposed to the truths of the World.

Reinys' picked her because of her potential to become one of the fastest-growing players.

"Great job eyeing that player, Reinys."

"She's… somewhat similar to me. I was lucky that they found and destroyed a den of vicious beasts."

With a bitter smile on her lips, Reinys admitted.

She saw herself from that player. Back then… she was really up high as the princess of their country until she met Yuko…

A lot has changed for her now and although she's still kinda blaming herself for the death of her brother, she's now looking forward to what's waiting in front of us.

Pulling her tight in my embrace, I patted her head and whispered. "Don't mind it. My Reinys isn't the same Reinys as before. You can now see your mistakes and admit to them."

Watching me comfort the girl who became somewhat sentimental out of nowhere, the others who were also bitter because they lost the slot wryly smiled and gave us the space.

Like Elise said earlier, I am spoiling them but… who wouldn't spoil their loved ones?

At first, I only had Yuko… Although I was already content with our life back then... she introduced me to everyone I will come to care about. It was somewhat disloyal but for Yuko, that girl was doing it for everyone. Not just for me or her.

There's another detail that I could remember from before I reverted the Earth to its unawakened state.

Yuko… She tried to stop me from my plan. Because according to her 'eye', losing them will become my driving force to become… someone who will reach the peak.

And I refused to believe that. Without her or them, what's the use of being at the peak? This time around, I will be taking everyone to the peak that she mentioned.