Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

What exactly had Andoain seen? Felix didn't know—and perhaps neither did Lemuen or Mostima.

All they could sense was that surge of despair, a madness tangled with ruin, roiling through Andoain's heart. Maybe that was why he lost his mind and launched such a suicidal assault. After all, had things gone differently, he might have been buried alive under the collapsing mountain.

"So… what are you two planning next?"

Lemuen and Mostima had once belonged to Andoain's squad. But after his betrayal, that squad was little more than a name. As former members, how would they choose their future now? That was what Felix wanted to know.

In his previous life, the story had played out differently: Lemuen was the one lying unconscious in a hospital bed, while Mostima was weighed down by guilt. She lingered in Laterano for a year, eventually earning the right to wield the Lock and Key, then departed for Lungmen, joining Penguin Logistics as a messenger to walk the wider world. Fiammetta had gone with her, supporting her while secretly reporting her actions to the Tribunal.

But that was then. This life was already diverging. Lemuen was unhurt. Mostima hadn't fallen. Fiammetta carried no guilt toward anyone. So how would their choices change now?

"I'll go with you," Mostima said, meeting Felix's eyes. "We already agreed to this, didn't we? I'll see what this land truly looks like with you."

"That's not a beautiful sight."

"I don't mind."

"This is going to be a tough journey."

"I don't care."

"..."

Mostima caught Lemuen's unusual glance and smiled faintly. "Maybe I've wanted to leave the Holy City and travel for a long time."

Both turned to Lemuen. She pressed a hand to her forehead.

"I need some time to think… and to stay with Lemuel."

Her sister was the only one tying her to Laterano. Still a minor, not yet graduated—Lemuen couldn't bear to abandon her and vanish into the world.

The three of them fell into silence. Mostima looked at Lemuen with a probing, almost teasing expression, but Lemuen only kept her head bowed, focused on peeling fruit.

Felix leaned back, eyes closed, pretending to rest. He had no idea what little currents were running between the two women. What he did know was that he'd have to stay in this hospital bed for another two or three days while they ran more tests. And if those results kept him stuck here longer… he really would lose his mind.

Eventually Lemuen left, taking Lemuel with her. Mostima lingered for a while, then departed too. The room quieted down again.

Only then did Felix open his eyes. He'd been feigning sleep so well he'd nearly dozed off for real. But if he napped now, he'd be awake all night. Better to make use of this downtime and check the forums.

Mentions of the "Pioneer" had dwindled. It stung, but the reason was clear: he hadn't appeared before players much this past year. Rumors were flying—some guessed he'd grown tired of the players, others speculated something bad had happened to him, and a few even joked he'd been kidnapped by a woman.

The truth was simpler. For nearly a year—aside from that one appearance in Ursus, his presence had been far less frequent than the year before. He hadn't meant to abandon anyone; he'd just needed time to grow stronger, to train in every way.

But those quiet days were about to end.

Because he had just spotted a new post from Magic ZX:

"Shocking! The Pioneer Might Make a Big Move This Year!"

Magic ZX usually uploaded strategy videos—often budget-friendly guides for new players—but he also kept up his presence on the forums, posting discussions and engaging with the community to stay relevant.

And now, he had everyone's attention.

It was obvious—this was Magic ZX's new post.

Felix clicked it open.

"We've been staying in Trimount for a few months now. During that time we explored the nearby areas, but since we didn't have a permit, we couldn't enter the main city. Helpless, we had to settle for ordinary villages and picked up some simple errands. Columbia is a nation steeped in science. If you're looking to develop in technology—or want to upgrade your weapons with more advanced tech—Columbia is the place to try."

Alongside the post, Magic ZX attached an illustration clipped from a magazine. Felix recognized it immediately—it was from Science, a prestigious Columbia journal published monthly. Its reputation in Columbia's scientific community was unmatched; most inventions featured within were genuinely high-value research… though, admittedly, there were the occasional "watered-down" pieces pushed in by connections. Academia wasn't immune to favoritism, and old professors boosting their protégés was hardly unheard of.

But compared to the truly groundbreaking projects, those outliers were rare.

The research featured in Magic ZX's post was a Rhine Lab report. The jargon was dense, but most players could piece together the meaning with some effort. Still, it wasn't the words that drew their attention—it was the image.

A wearable suit of powered armor.

"Holy crap! I want it! How much does this mech cost? I'll buy it!"

"Calm down. Looks like a prototype. Even if it becomes available, we don't have the stats to equip something like that, right?"

"Exactly. Even if the attributes lined up, we wouldn't have access. What are we gonna do, stroll into Columbia and ask Rhine Lab to sell us a mech? Even if we had the money, they'd never hand it over."

Comment after comment piled up.

"This mech-like equipment is developed by Rhine Lab. They've apparently reached some kind of agreement with Columbia's military. What's being shown here looks like an earlier version of the army's own models."

Magic ZX continued his explanation, then added another photo.

This one showed two men in Rhine Lab's senior researcher uniforms, presenting the advantages of the mech.

Felix blinked. Wait—what the hell? That's me.

When had someone even taken this picture? He didn't recall ever posing for anything like it. But then he remembered—there had only been a few presentation events he attended with Ferdinand. It was possible a Science reporter had taken the photo from the audience.

Still, he had to admit: wearing Rhine Lab's research uniform gave him a kind of scholarly charisma he didn't usually show. Players saw it too. In the photo he wore a pair of neat glasses, a confident smile tugging at his lips—a stark contrast to his usual look in a travel coat or combat gear, pistol in hand.

As the Pioneer, this gentler, intellectual side of him revealed a new dimension, hinting that his story was far from fully uncovered—that what players knew was only the tip of the iceberg. So many secrets, so much hidden lore, waiting to be explored.

The comments reflected that excitement:

"Before bed, I just gotta listen to Pioneer's lecture."

"Holy shit, holy shit, holy SHIT—my husband is too handsome!"

"Guys, who understands? I'm done for."

"Urgent urgent urgent—right now I wanna do him in that research uniform."

"What the hell, down bad girl detected."

Only now did players realize what the Pioneer had been doing during his long absence. Unlike themselves—wandering adventurers—NPCs had their own lives, their own paths. They weren't static quest-givers; they had their own work, growth, and stories.

And that was what made this game so real.

Most players had come from another MMO called Swordmaster. In that world, NPCs followed fixed movement patterns: their spawn points were predetermined, and even if players dragged them off, they would simply respawn back in the city.

Ark Online truly lived up to its reputation as a game ahead of its time. This design gave players a sense of reality within the world.

And really, wasn't that how most stories worked anyway? Even in traditional JRPGs, the companions who guided players or forged bonds with them didn't stick around forever. They had their own hurdles to overcome, their own adventures to pursue.

"Here, we've seen the name 'Rhine Lab' more than once. In earlier videos, I mentioned this company before. Based on what we know, Rhine Lab is a rising tech corporation. And the Pioneer we know? He's not just a shareholder there—he's a department director."

From the photos alone, the formal attire and ID badge hanging from Felix's chest made his identity obvious.

"We can expect that, the next time we meet the Pioneer, his shop might have… new merchandise for us."

That single line was enough to make players itch with excitement. Every time the Pioneer appeared before them, he always had something new and real to offer. After being gone for so long this time… did it mean mech-like equipment could one day be up for sale?

"Next, I'll be traveling with the Pioneer's subordinate, Degenbrecher, to Lungmen. I'll share our encounters in video form. Please look forward to it."

"Version 1.0 is coming to an end. The Pioneer seems to be making moves… Maybe, in 2.0, we'll finally see him step fully onto Terra's stage."

At the end, Magic ZX uploaded a selfie. In it, besides himself, were Qiu Muyu and Xiao Xuegao flashing cheerful peace signs at the camera. Behind them stood Degenbrecher, the blonde onee-san with her arms crossed, as well as a gentle-looking Draco girl, and… a penguin?

"Holy crap, a Draco girl? I'm done for. ZX, don't you dare forget to ask her name!"

"No, she might be Vouivre. Never seen this Vouivre girl before. Is she a new recruit in the Pioneer's team?"

"What the hell is that? An actual penguin? Is this a zoo?"

But that was where Magic ZX's post ended—leaving behind a flood of bewildered players spamming question marks.

"??? Sir, don't leave us hanging!"

"Wow, Magic ZX, heartless as always—arms full of beauties and joining the Pioneer's crew!"

"I wanna join the Pioneer's crew too… sigh, when will he finally create a faction?"

---

Meanwhile, far away in Yan, in a starter town, a player wielding a longsword dropped to his knees, tears streaming from his eyes.

"Uuuuuuh…"

"WTF, Dantart, why the hell are you crying? Training wearing you out that bad?"

The longsword user, Dandao Dantart, wiped his tears and choked out:

"The Pioneer's coming to Yan. He remembers me."

"Bro, shut the hell up and stay focus!"

The posts left players restless, wanting more. Felix himself felt a tug of curiosity too… No, wait—why should he be curious? Still, credit where credit was due: Magic ZX had a way with words. In just a few sentences, he had whipped everyone's anticipation to the max.

And like he had said, Felix truly had been gone from the players' sight for too long. He'd spent half of version 1.0 resting, regaining strength, honing himself—so that, when 2.0 arrived, he could finally shine.

Bringing Magic ZX along to Lungmen was a smart move. From Felix's perspective, he could provide a full-time broadcast—a perfect publicity tool.

Magic ZX joining Tomorrow's Development… well, let him hype things up a little.

Over the next few days, Felix remained in bed to recover. Mostima came to visit him daily. To ease his boredom, she borrowed a stack of old films from the Laterano library and transformed the small ward into a makeshift theater. Sometimes Lemuen dropped by, and on weekends, even Lemuel joined in. The four of them would sit together, watching movies side by side.

But… these films were ancient—relics from a bygone era. Didn't anyone else notice how young and spirited Yara looked on screen?

Was it that distributors never bothered to bring in new releases? Or did most Laterans simply prefer their classics?

---

Soon after, Felix was discharged.

Stepping out into the warmth of early spring, he stretched his limbs. His strength had fully returned—fit enough to throw a full set of military drills. As for wheelchairs or crutches, he had no need. His wounds had long healed.

At the hospital entrance, he spotted Fiammetta, her brow lowered, holding a fresh bouquet of flowers.

"Sorry… I never came to see you," she murmured.

She stepped forward, handed him the flowers, then retreated a pace.

"This was my failure. Because of me, a teammate was injured."

"Fiammetta, what do you think you could've done?" Felix countered.

Her eyes lifted slightly.

"Andoain's Arts was suicidal—an explosion. Even if you had been there, it wouldn't have changed anything."

He clearly didn't want her shouldering needless guilt.

"Look at Patia—she adjusted her mindset so quickly. When she visited me, she said she'd try harder to protect those around her next time. Why are you still stuck in regret?"

Fiammetta pressed her lips together.

"…You're right."

"Next time I see Andoain," she said, voice low but firm, "I'll settle it with him."

Her eyes burned with anger. Lemuen and mostima trusted him, and she thought she could too, but...

Nothing cut deeper than betrayal by someone you trusted most. Her comrade had been gravely injured, yet Felix himself brushed it off as if nothing. How could she not be furious?

Felix gave her shoulder a light pat.

"For that, you'll need better equipment. I just got discharged, and I'm heading to the notary's workshop anyway… come with me."

"You're not going to rest? You just left the hospital."

"If I rest any longer, I'll rust."

Ahead, Mostima was waving at him, with their comrades standing at her side. Felix started walking toward them.