Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

"Standard formation—three heavy tanks to the front!" As the captain and commander of the Dynasty Team, Huang Tian Hou Tu was no stranger to combat scenarios like this. "Snipers and Casters, don't let the hounds get close to the tanks or medics. Guards, follow me!"

At the rear, Felix operated two Patrollers while keeping a close ear on Huang Tian Hou Tu's commands. He gave a slight nod of approval. No wonder the Dynasty Team had performed so well in the World Championship in his previous life—they had been forged in the fires of real combat.

Ulšulah moved with startling speed, clearly specializing in close-quarters combat and quick strikes. Armed with a medium-sized combat knife, she weaved nimbly around a lunging hound, then, with a swift counter, drove her blade into its neck. Without pause, she withdrew, avoiding any contact with the infected blood.

There was no flourish in her technique—only the raw efficiency of someone fighting to survive. Perhaps this was the true style of a battlefield-hardened mercenary. Every move was calculated, each action aimed to kill without waste.

But the battle wasn't without its casualties. The hounds were incredibly fast, and some players couldn't react in time. Soon, a few guards were bitten—arms and thighs bloodied—and their HP dropped significantly.

Felix turned his attention to the players under attack. The Patrollers rose into the air, their crossbows unleashing crackling bolts of lightning that easily pierced through the skulls of two hounds.

At the frontlines, Huang Tian Hou Tu brandished his longsword with practiced finesse. As one of the most active pro players on the battlefield, he had been sharpening his combat skills over the past few months in Terra. In the real world, his team had even hired a martial arts coach to train them. These once-deskbound pros had now learned to swing actual swords in a dojo.

Bringing real-world skills into the otherworldly setting of Ark had ignited their passion. And they weren't alone—other pro teams were also training their players systematically. Even some students from Area 11 who practiced kendo found they could wield their skills with remarkable effect inside the game.

Felix took stock of the battlefield. Ulšulah's performance had impressed him. But then again, anyone who managed to survive as a mercenary in a war-torn place like Kazdel had to be formidable.

The pack of over thirty hounds was eventually wiped out through coordinated effort. The medics, though still awkward with their staves, managed to heal the wounded players, restoring their HP. Unfortunately, MP could only recover naturally with time and rest.

After the battle, Ulšulah pulled on her gloves and crouched to examine one of the hounds. She looked up at Felix and reported, "Employer, they're not infected. The meat is safe to eat, and the iron ore is uncontaminated."

The players' eyes widened in disbelief. What did she just say? Eat hound meat?

Meat? Real meat?

It was a rare treat.

Until now, most players had been surviving on foul-smelling, flavorless canned rations. For Sarkaz players especially, meals were purely for sustenance. Anything enjoyable could only be found offline. It had been far too long since any of them had tasted fresh meat.

Except for Qiu Muyu and a few female players who found it difficult to accept, the rest of the players were already drooling at the prospect.

"Ulšulah, can you process the meat?"

Ulšulah nodded. As a seasoned mercenary, her survival skills were already maxed out.

Felix issued another task to support the team. The former combat formation instantly transformed into a butchering squad. Several players with the butcher secondary profession quickly took the lead, working with practiced efficiency—and as expected, they received more experience rewards than the others.

The processed hound meat was packed and carried by players in charge of logistics. After burying the remains on the spot, the group pressed onward toward the iron mine.

The hounds encountered earlier were not infected, which meant they had been fortunate—there was no sign of contamination or Originium in this abandoned mine. The players could safely gather materials and supplies here. Since most of them had mining skills, their efficiency was exceptional.

"I'm surprised by their tactical discipline," Ulšulah remarked, walking up beside Felix. Her pink hair fluttered softly in the cold wind. "Though they're individually weak, their formations and strategies are comparable to those of trained mercenaries."

"You're not calling them 'undead' anymore?" Felix asked with a slight smile.

Ulšulah fell silent for a moment, realizing something. The so-called "undead" that the Sarkaz mercenaries had spoken of—cold, silent, and hard to approach—were, in truth, not much different from themselves.

The Sarkaz despised discrimination. They loathed being judged by the Terrans. And yet, they turned on one another. They discriminated among themselves—directing their scorn at their own kind, especially the so-called "undead."

When would the Sarkaz finally return home?

Ulšulah looked at Felix quietly, biting her lower lip. She had no answer.

"These iron ores vary in quality," Felix said, stepping forward to inspect the ore mined by a nearby player. "But they're still usable." He gave the player a light pat on the shoulder. "Well done, adventurer. Once we've gathered enough, we'll head back."

The player who had received the praise straightened up instantly, chest puffed out with pride. Being commended by the Pioneer himself was no small honor.

"Mr. Pioneer, I drew the route we took on the map," a shy female player said as she approached, smiling nervously. "I'm a scribe... I'm pretty good at drawing maps."

"Well done." Felix stepped forward and nodded appreciatively. Then, with a gentle tone, he suggested, "You know, I think you could sell that map."

"Eh?" The player, whose in-game name was Xiao Xiao Xue Gao, blinked in surprise.

Felix explained patiently, "Right now, everyone is still in the resource-gathering stage. This map could save other adventurers a lot of time. And remember—knowledge and labor have value. You can sell this map to others so they won't get lost."

He was actively encouraging the players to trade with one another.

Now that the Sarkaz players had entered farming mode, they would naturally start collecting treasures previously overlooked during the chaos of war. After all, Kazdel was an ancient land—who could say where relics or hidden treasures might surface?

Some of these items would be useful to certain players, while others might find them of little value. That made trading and setting up stalls an obvious next step, didn't it?

Economic circulation was also a win for Felix. Once players developed the habit of spending money, those money would first flow into each other's pockets—and eventually find their way into his. They'd use that money to purchase gear from his shop. Profit, plain and simple.

In his previous life, the trend of setting up stalls had exploded toward the end of version 1.0. Players were eager to upgrade and outfit themselves, and bartering for materials became the norm. Felix was simply accelerating that process.

Where there's one stall owner, there will inevitably be more. With so many players in Kazdel, imagine the daily trade volume. It would motivate them to explore, gather, and build—just like the enterprising cities of Columbia.

And if he, as an NPC, participated in the market—purchasing items from players—it would stir even greater excitement. Just imagine: "The Pioneer shopped at my stall!" That kind of interaction gave players a sense of achievement and pride.

Xiao Xiao Xue Gao's eyes sparkled with inspiration as she listened. She was instantly reminded of playing simulation games. Setting up a stall now was just like building a shop from the ground up. She made up her mind: once she returned to camp, she'd carefully plan things out and start by mapping a hundred routes.

Meanwhile, Huangtian Houtu were quietly reflecting. As veteran players, they were naturally intrigued. It did feel a bit like a business sim—but for them, the most exciting part was the potential to buy rare materials from others. And if they stumbled across ancient weapons or unique gear? They could strike it rich.

It had to be said—these professional players and Felix shared the same thought process. It made sense. After all, Felix had once been a top-tier player too.

Motivated by this vision of the future, everyone dug into their mining work with even greater enthusiasm. They toiled until dusk, finally gathering enough iron ore to test their endurance limits, then began the trek back to camp.

But when they returned to the truck, they were stunned by the sight before them. The area had completely changed since they left. Tents now surrounded the pickup, and Felix had a strong suspicion that the players had dismantled their own camp and relocated everything here.

Countless bonfires flickered under the night sky. Around them, Sarkaz players sat in circles, talking, laughing, and sharing stories by the firelight. They looked genuinely happy.

Ulšulah stood quietly, taking it all in. Her eyes grew misty. These people—these so-called "undead" the mercenaries had described—felt nothing like the eerie, distant figures she had imagined. There was no grief or coldness in them. They simply endured. Hardship was only temporary, and beyond the night lay a radiant future.

She lowered her gaze and sighed silently once more.

Where would the future of the Sarkaz lead?

The arrival of Huangtian Houtu, and the others immediately drew the attention of the nearby players. When they unloaded a massive haul of iron ore, all eyes widened in shock. As expected of high-level players—the sheer quantity was staggering.

"So, you guys are the Dynasty..."

A group of foreign players was gathered around a bonfire. The moment Huangtian Houtu heard the voice, their expressions darkened. The ones who had appeared before the Dynasty Team were none other than the Warrior Team from Europe—old rivals from the Chinese server. Over the years, they had clashed many times, often battling for championship titles across various games. They had officially announced their participation in Ark at launch, and now, fate had brought them here.

"Come on, man, don't look so grim. At least for now, we're on the same side," said Kabus, the Warrior Team's captain, with a shrug. "The pro league hasn't started yet—no need to get so intense."

"You're here for the Pioneer, right?" Huangtian Houtu asked in slightly awkward foreign speech.

Kabus, for his part, responded in half-fluent Chinese, "Of course. Who else on this scorched earth is worth our time? Certainly not the two sides locked in a civil war with nothing to gain."

With a grin, Kabus strode toward the Pioneer and gave a respectful salute. "Mr. Pioneer, we are Sarkaz from a distant war zone, and we would be honored to join your efforts in building a shelter."

To be honest, Felix wasn't particularly surprised by the Warrior Team's appearance. After all, like the Dynasty Team, they were entirely composed of Sarkaz. In his previous life, the Warrior Team had fought under Theresa's command. During the early phases of the civil war, they had operated in a different war zone, so the two teams hadn't encountered each other on the battlefield until much later.

He hadn't expected the two groups to cross paths so early in this life.

Still, as a fellow player, Felix wouldn't play favorites. As an NPC, fairness was his role. Besides, there were a significant number of foreign players—leaving a good impression early on could prove invaluable down the road. With his popularity already booming in the Chinese region, this was the perfect time to win over the international crowd and avoid losing skilled foreign players to rival factions.

Many foreign players were die-hard lore fans too. But at the end of the day, the top priority for professional players was always the same: getting stronger. As long as Felix provided worthwhile rewards and equipment, they'd flock to him like mercenaries.

Smiling at the Warrior Team and the foreign players who had followed them, Felix said warmly, "The construction of this town needs everyone's help. You are all welcome here."

At the same time, a quest notification appeared before the foreign players. Without hesitation, they all clicked "Accept."

Their tents were set up slightly apart from those of the Chinese players, creating a natural separation. It wasn't unusual—different cultures and languages didn't always mix smoothly, and forcing it was unnecessary.

However, Felix wasn't done. He issued a quest to the older players who had arrived at the camp earlier:

[Quest: New Visitors]

Mission Details: New Sarkaz have joined your ranks, but they're unfamiliar with camp construction and logistics. Why not take them on a mission and show them the ropes?

For the newly arrived players, he issued a separate quest:

[Quest: Newcomers]

Mission Details: You've traveled far in search of peace and resources. But here, those who don't work don't eat. Find your Sarkaz seniors in camp and participate in their missions. Soon, you'll be ready to contribute in your own right.

The experience points from both quests were generous, and the additional +1 favorability reward at the end gave players even more motivation to act. Despite language barriers, players could still rely on gestures and basic sign language. Some foreign players even spoke rudimentary Chinese. They eagerly approached players from the Chinese region, pressing their hands together in a pleading gesture and asking to be mentored.

During this flurry of activity, Felix took the opportunity to establish a task recruitment board in an open area of the camp. Here, players could accept tasks posted by Felix—such as gathering specific materials or assisting with construction in designated zones.

Phew. This really was building from the ground up.

This was also the first "city" under his command. Watching the players gather cheerfully around the campfire, chatting and eating dry rations, Felix—despite being a Sankta—never felt out of place leading this group of Sarkaz. Not a single person questioned it, not even Ulšulah.

Here, race was irrelevant.

Their shared identity was something greater:

Terran.

People bound together on this land of hardship.