Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

The Sarkaz players were overjoyed. After enduring the relentless grind of war, most of them had grown weary. Logging in every day felt like being stuck in an endless loop of For Honor. Even the PvP enthusiasts were struggling to stay motivated. They envied the players from Yan who got to play Overcooked, those in Ursus who played Gold Miner, and the Leithanians players enjoying rhythm games like Osu! and Muse Dash.

Well, it was said that the Leithanians preferred flight simulators anyway.

These Sarkaz players, too, longed for a break—to sit by the Seine with a cup of coffee, stroll along the bar street on Avenue d'Or, and immerse themselves in a more colorful, peaceful world. If nothing else, at least they could go fishing, right?

Thankfully, the arrival of the Pioneer brought them something new: a mission, a purpose, a doorway to a fresh start. Now they could finally say they were playing Minecraft, Terraria, or Stardew Valley instead.

Since the maximum team size was capped at thirty, several well-known gaming guilds began merging into larger units. The Dynasty Team of the Theresis Army reached out to other guilds and high-level players from the same faction. "Fighting and dying on the battlefield was a mission," they said. "But so is this. We're all players and comrades—why not do this together?"

Let's do it!

More than a dozen high-ranking players from Theresa's Army—including Yang Yan XF—joined Dynasty's team chat. The team leader, Huang Tian Hou Tu, also extended invitations to Dandao Dantart, Magic ZX, and Qiu Muyu. Since they were among the ones who triggered the hidden quest, they figured it couldn't hurt to stay close to the Pioneer. Maybe he'd noticed them.

All three had received the mission from the Pioneer. After some thought, they agreed to join.

Beyond these high-level veterans, several other guilds quickly organized their own teams. Players could now formally establish guilds, and this became the natural path for many experienced or professional players. Seeing top-tier players band together, the rest of the community followed suit, forming temporary groups of their own. Many who had been enemies on the battlefield yesterday now found themselves allies.

Fate really worked in strange ways.

Felix smiled, knowing full well that his mission's success stemmed from the prolonged civil war between the Theresis Army and Theresa's loyalists. The endless fighting had exhausted the players. All he had to do was set up a reward-pool mission—and instantly, he had their full attention.

After all, how many players were there in Kazdel? At least one-tenth of the global player base—some 800,000 to 900,000. And within this battlefield alone, there were no fewer than 100,000. Word would spread quickly among them. Before long, players from other battlefields would flock here, eager to help build the new town.

As for calling it a "town"... well, it wasn't exactly a fancy name. But what else could he call it—mobile village? And considering his current tech level, creating the core of a mobile city here was pure fantasy.

Still, the site was ideal for a central hub. Backed by a natural stone mountain, it only needed three walls to be well-fortified. Easy to defend, hard to attack—a perfect location for the players' main city.

Felix estimated that if all the Sarkaz players joined in—factoring in their personal experience points—the final prize pool could easily exceed one million.

Naturally, he planned to "assist" these players appropriately. At the very least, he needed to take care of the high-level squads in the Dynasty Team. After all, he was also quite eager to earn that experience.

Off to the side, Ulšulah blinked her golden eyes in disbelief. She couldn't comprehend what was unfolding before her. Why had the undead suddenly stopped fighting? Why were soldiers from opposing factions putting down their weapons and joining forces? Even members of rival armies were forming teams together. What on earth had happened?

It was as if the war between Theresis and Theresa had never taken place. The Sarkaz undead now wore relaxed, cheerful expressions as they knelt on the ground, drawing and scribbling plans. Many had already packed up and set off to gather materials. Could hatred really be dissolved so easily? If so, what was the point of the Sarkaz mercenaries still clashing on the battlefield?

Could it really be that simple—that all they needed was a goal and the opportunity to build a place of their own?

Ulšulah stood there, uncertain, caught in a tangle of thoughts. She felt a strange dissonance—a conflict not between good and evil, but between her own conscience and logic. If her employer could unite these undead with such ease, didn't that make the high-ranking leaders of both armies look like fools?

"Trust your employer," said Sister Degenbrecher, gently comforting the shaken Ulšulah. She looked toward Felix, standing tall in the distance, a smile flickering in her eyes. "Only the boss can communicate with these 'adventurers' like that."

"Watch more. Think more. Sometimes, you won't find the answer just by asking questions. If you haven't experienced it yourself, you won't understand it."

"Thank you, Degenbrecher," Ulšulah said, her tone a bit awkward but sincerely polite.

Degenbrecher waved a hand nonchalantly, as cool and composed as always.

The world the players were building had become his world too. Their excitement surged, reinvigorating the entire atmosphere. Felix walked over to Ulšulah and Degenbrecher and declared, "I want to head out with the adventurers. Ulšulah, you'll accompany me and help lead the way."

"It's too—" Ulšulah instinctively started, only to pause. She glanced at Felix's calm, golden eyes, and swallowed the rest of her words. She gave a firm nod. "Understood, employer."

As for Sister Degenbrecher, she would stay behind to keep an eye on the curious Senomi and help maintain order at the camp.

To the astonishment of the surrounding players, two aircraft soon took off and flew to Felix's side, hovering nearby. With the patroller alongside them and Ulšulah offering protection, there would be little danger.

The players stood frozen in shock. It was their first time seeing Felix reveal his mechanic side, and the stars in their eyes sparkled with admiration.

Many of them had purchased the Pathfinder gear for material gathering, and now, seeing the creator himself in full mechanic attire made them long to pursue the same path.

It was about time to release the Mechanic's secondary profession skillbook in the shop.

Felix thought for a moment, then stepped forward toward Huang Tian Hou Tu and the others who had yet to depart. Under their surprised gazes, he spoke calmly:

"Adventurers, I wonder if you could use a little assistance. I'll clear the path ahead, and the mercenary lady beside me will guide us."

The Dynasty Team and their squad of high-level players were momentarily stunned—then overjoyed. Had they just triggered a hidden mission?

Their decision to bring Dandao Dantart, Magic ZX, and Qiu Muyu into the team now seemed absolutely right. They couldn't hide the elation on their faces. At last, they had caught up with the elusive hidden quest!

Other players nearby were instantly filled with envy.

"Oh my god, someone triggered another hidden mission! And it's not just one person this time—it's a whole team! Why?"

"Maybe it's because they have three Caster in their group? Maybe they're old friends helping each other out?"

"I think hidden missions get triggered by whoever forms a team first and completes the objectives. Huang Tian and Houtu were the first ones to set up their team."

"…Yeah, that makes sense. Damn, we were just a little slower forming ours!"

Cries of frustration filled the air as players beat their chests and stomped their feet. If only they'd been faster, it might've been their team who unlocked the mission.

Meanwhile, some players quickly posted updates on the forums. Thousands of excited thoughts were condensed into a few dramatic sentences:

"The Pioneer brought two gorgeous NPCs to Kazdel and wants to build a neutral, safe haven for players! The earlier you join the shelter-building reward quest, the better! Reward pool XP will be distributed based on contribution!"

Forum users were stunned. Many had assumed, based on the Magic ZX update, that the Pioneer's next stop would be Ursus. Some Russian-speaking players had been shouting in excitement—only for the Pioneer to take a sudden turn and arrive in Kazdel instead.

"No way, Pioneer bro! Aren't you a Sankta? What are you doing strutting around Kazdel so boldly?"

Sarkaz players clapped back in the threads: "Where's the racial discrimination coming from, huh? We're all Terran here! We hope that Mr. Pioneer sticks around Kazdel for a while. Please?"

On the forums, Sarkaz players spammed teary-eyed and emotional emojis while sprinting full-speed toward the Pioneer.

"Mr. Pioneer! LET'S BUILD THIS TOGETHER!"

Back in the field, Felix—unaware of the chaos erupting online—continued negotiating with Huang Tian Hou Tu.

"Of course, we'd be honored to receive help from Mr. Trailblazer," said Huang Tian Hou Tu, forcing out the words. He wasn't used to flattery, and his tone came across a bit stiff—but sincere. Meanwhile, the other professional team members behind him, like Winners and Losers, were visibly trying not to laugh.

[Pioneer Lv? has joined the team]

[Ulšulah Lv? has joined the team]

The team immediately received attribute bonuses from Felix's presence. Grins spread across their faces as they saw their stats rise. Then, their attention turned to the pink-haired beauty beside him—cloaked and expressionless, but undeniably striking.

Hehehe. So this is Ulšulah? What a strong and powerful name. Very strong and powerful!

Ulšulah's body tensed, and it was clear she felt uneasy—some of the undead were openly sizing her up. Sensing this, Felix gently patted her shoulder and asked, "Ulšulah, you're familiar with the terrain here. Where can we find stone and iron? Is there a water source nearby?"

Ulšulah took a deep breath, glanced at the sun to get her bearings, then replied, "There's an abandoned iron mine nearby, but I'm not sure if it's under the control of any military mercenaries."

Felix nodded thoughtfully. "Then let's head there."

The two Rangers—Felix's own and the Pathfinders purchased by the Dynasty Team—rose into the air. With real-time feedback displayed on their screens, they could monitor any signs of life ahead, which would also help conserve physical energy.

"Mr. Pioneer, why did you decide to build a town?" Magic ZX asked quietly. Walking nearby, Yang Yan XF turned to listen as well.

The two were both UP hosts and friends, happy to have reunited in the game. Though they both created game content, their focuses were different—Magic ZX enjoyed making challenge videos using low-level equipment, while Yang Yan XF specialized in plot analysis and livestream content. Each had their own strengths and audiences.

"Because I hear the cry of the Terra."

Felix spoke softly, with a faint sigh. "The Sarkaz civil war is a collision of ideologies. I'm not qualified to judge who is right or wrong. I only know that on this scorched black land, some Sarkaz have grown weary—exhausted by war. They need a place to rest. A town where they can sleep in peace."

"I see…"

Yang Yan XF deeply respected the Pioneer. As a Sankta who cared about the fate of the world, he recognized how rare it was to meet someone like Felix—someone who may never appear again.

Magic ZX quietly recorded Felix's words in his notes. The players had been waiting for nearly a month, and it was time to release the second video about the Pioneer.

Of course, such actions would inevitably provoke the armies of Theresis and Theresa. By gathering the undead and winning their loyalty, Felix had essentially "bewitched" troops under their command. While the high command of both factions didn't care much for these undead, they would certainly use them as a pretext for military retaliation.

Player growth was still relatively slow—a design choice by the game developers. After all, Ark hadn't been out for long. Felix had no control over that.

But there was one silver lining: they could continue developing in secret. The battlefield of the undead was remote—no one would venture here without good reason. To gather supplies, players had to travel several days to the nearest military outpost, with the round trip taking over a week. Being treated as insignificant, the high-level forces didn't bother watching them.

That gave them some breathing room to develop quietly.

Felix himself didn't intend to turn his life into a farming simulation. The point of building this town wasn't just to gather the Sarkaz players—it was also to offer them an alternative to endless war. Maybe, just maybe, the players' choices could influence the NPCs… and change the course of Kazdel's future.

As for the older generation of Sarkaz, Felix could only say he bore no responsibility for them. If the sky were to fall, someone taller would be there to hold it up. For now, the Tower of Babel—and in the future, Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals—could shoulder part of that burden with him.

It was time to make a trip to Victoria, not just for the advanced craftsmanship and knowledge to be found there, but also for the players scattered across that region.

"Mr. Pioneer, a large number of life forms have been detected ahead," came Huang Tian Hou Tu's voice, pulling Felix back to reality. He looked down at the display on his arm and saw numerous white figures moving back and forth near the mine.

Ulšulah stepped closer to Felix and glanced at the screen. A fresh, clean scent drifted from her—bright and full of vitality. Thanks to the shower function installed in Felix's pickup truck, the two women in the team could enjoy rare hot showers even in the wilderness. For a mercenary like Ulšulah, bathing in hot water daily was once nothing more than a distant dream.

"Those are hounds bred by the mercenaries... The mercenaries may be gone, but their scent lingers. The hounds are still guarding this place, faithful until death," Ulšulah said calmly.

Felix nodded. "Ready your weapons. The hounds are fast. Maintain a defensive formation. I'll provide support from the rear."

These were familiar instructions to the players. Whenever NPCs joined the party, they typically took on support roles, while the players remained the main force. After all, experience points were too valuable to miss out on.

"Ulšulah," Felix said, adjusting the controls on two Rangers as he turned to her, "Let's see your combat skills."

Ulšulah stepped forward in silence, her hand moving to the blade at her waist. Under the eager gazes of the players, she drew her weapon.