Chapter 1: We Are All Players—Why Must We Be So Ruthless Toward Each Other?

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Frostveil City, the most renowned stronghold after the capital Dragon City, was the pride of the Eastern Dragon Empire—the mightiest knightly nation on the Divine and Demonic Continent. The city boasted impenetrable defenses and elite armies, but what truly set Frostveil apart was its unrivaled warrior quest system and its sophisticated “talent market,” making it the ideal cradle for aspiring fighters.

Beyond its walls, two open mining zones and a concealed high-tier mine drew countless professional players seeking to hone their life skills, as well as adventure-hungry veterans. A thriving marketplace, advanced resource sites, and a robust quest system—these were the hallmarks of a city’s popularity. Possessing all three, Frostveil City had claimed its place at the very summit of the world of Age of Magic.

Such advantages turned Frostveil into a vast whirlpool, endlessly drawing in players from every direction. Within the city, a multitude of “tanks,” “experience pets,” and mercenaries waited for employers, while countless others of every class sought parties for leveling. Outside, thick streams of people flowed ceaselessly to other cities or training grounds—the bustle never waned.

As always, every so often a new player would be randomly spawned into the cacophonous heart of Age of Magic, their arrival drowned in the cries of haggling and recruitment amidst the throng.

“All strength points, tank warrior here! Looking for a party—let’s go!”

“Come and see! Top-tier warrior weapons going cheap! Only 15 gold coins…”

“Who’s the blind bastard that touched me again?!”

“Selling… ten-quality refined iron ore… five-quality black iron ore…”

“Future star area-of-effect mage looking for a group! Desperately seeking party! Preferably with a pretty girl in uniform… Ow! Honey, stop hitting me…”

“Level five experience pet—if you want to level up fast, join now!”

As soon as I arrived, the roaring tide of shouts and sales pitches at my spawn point startled me.

Damn, this was terrifying.

Though I’d heard tales of Age of Magic’s overwhelming popularity, to witness this spectacle firsthand made me realize I’d underestimated the game’s allure.

No wonder it was the most popular virtual game of the era—after only three days, it had surpassed a billion concurrent users.

One look at Frostveil City’s teeming masses confirmed the company’s claims.

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Within the vast plaza, a sea of black-haired heads stretched as far as the eye could see.

If this wasn’t popularity, what was?

Marveling at the scene, I suddenly realized I’d made a grave mistake. I snapped out of my shock, brought on by the city’s frenetic energy.

The people here were… well, they were gigantic.

At a height of 1.8 meters, I was completely submerged in the surging crowd—there was hardly anyone shorter than me nearby!

What chilled me even more was that many players here were over two meters tall, brawny men and beastfolk with imposing physiques. In the distance, a dozen or so “giant” players towered at over three meters.

The real blow was that, aside from the handsome humans and elves, the area swarmed with muscle-bound brutes, eye-catching beastfolk, and the towering giants (the dwarves were utterly lost in this sea of bodies).

For the first time, I realized how utterly unremarkable I was in this crowd.

This realization stung, especially since I’d always prided myself on my height and looks.

Now, I had to rely on distant buildings just to orient myself—a pitiful state. Why hadn’t I thought to adjust my character’s starting height when I made him?

But there was no use regretting it. Recreating a character meant waiting forty-eight hours, which I simply couldn’t afford.

Better to make the most of my time and level up as much as possible before six in the evening.

After all, the game had been live for a month, and nearly ten players had already reached fourth-tier strength, while I was still a clueless novice.

No time to waste.

First, though, I had to solve a pressing problem… namely, escaping this damned place. The crowd was suffocating.

After struggling, I found a gap and forced my way through the crush towards the edge of the plaza.

I wasn’t exactly frail—years of exercise had given me a sturdy build.

But in this world of muscle-bound warriors and armored humans and beastfolk, squeezing into the crowd felt like being tossed into a roaring blender. My body was pushed every which way, and the cacophony was as overwhelming as thunder on a battlefield.

Damn, the level of immersion was almost too real.

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Battered and bruised, the hard metal armor of those around me nearly broke my nose. The feeling was beyond unpleasant.

Thank goodness I was male—if I had been a woman, I’d have been swarmed by perverts.

As I rubbed my nose, a female warrior squeezed past me. A glance revealed how her stiff leather and metal armor protected her body and, usefully, shoved away any men with “improper intentions.” To my annoyance, I too was pushed aside.

Suddenly, a few shrill screams cut through the din:

“Hey! Pervert!!”

“Which bastard’s dirty paws was that?! If I catch you, I’ll crush you like a bug!!”

I instinctively looked toward the source.

In the crowd, two heads topped with fluffy white rabbit ears caught my eye.

I froze.

So tall… and those rabbit ears—what kind of new-age giantess was this?

Before the thought was finished, one of the heads turned—

Boom!

It was as if my heart had been struck by a sledgehammer. I almost blacked out.

Just as those seductive rabbit eyes were about to unleash their electric glare, I, along with a dozen other men nearby, acted in perfect unspoken harmony.

We stared blankly at the sky, then turned away, each continuing on his own path.

Once out of the bunny girl’s line of sight, I realized my back was drenched with cold sweat.

Damn, this world was insane! I’d better find a quiet, empty spot to hide.

But honestly, these people in the plaza were the worst. In just a short while, I’d been jostled so far off course that I had no idea where I was anymore.

Damn it! We’re all players here—must you be so ruthless?

I cursed inwardly, then sighed in frustration: Looks like I’ll have to get my bearings all over again…