Exo-Arcana Online

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(Note: This chapter is long than usual)

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Hoshigari sprinted across the arching bridge, his boots thudding rhythmically against the stone as he made his way to the heart of Astravyr. The city's skyline gleamed with neon accents, a mix of medieval architecture infused with cyber-enhanced structures. At the center, the grand fountain pulsed with ethereal blue water, casting shimmering reflections over the surrounding plaza. Standing by the fountain, two figures awaited him.

"Yo! Boss! Took ya long enough!" Maki's voice rang out as she threw her arms up in exaggerated exasperation. She was sporting brand-new gear—a black long-sleeved turtleneck and matching pants, layered with a refined iron breastplate. Her new cyber-like battleaxe gleamed menacingly on her back, and her greatshield was strapped securely to her arm. Her black steel gauntlets, along with her refined iron kneeguards, shin guards, and armored boots, gave her a more formidable appearance. Around her neck, a gleaming necklace hung, and a sash tied around her waist gave her an added agility boost of +20.

Beside her, Sushi Slice stood in silent confidence, the embodiment of traditional elegance fused with deadly precision. She wore a crimson and black hakama, with a white inner lining, exuding the presence of a battle-ready samurai. A white oni mask rested upon her forehead, its eerie grin a stark contrast to the tranquil demeanor beneath. Crimson engravings pulsed along the samurai guards on her entire right shoulder and arm, matching the subtle glow of her newly acquired Crescent Blue katana. Her left hand lay gently on the hilt, the posture alone exuding an aura of readiness. White Socks on Wooden sandals completed her attire, fully committing to her samurai aesthetic.

Hoshigari slowed to a halt, grinning. "My bad, bought myself some new clothing and equipment."

Maki's eyes widened as she gave him an exaggerated once-over. "Daaaaaamnnn!~ Lookin' good, boss~"

Sushi Slice gave a small, approving nod. "I agree, you look very cool."

Hoshigari rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin, his left hand resting on his waist. "Hah, thanks a bunch!"

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He then shifted his focus to his Digi-Map, analyzing the areas marked on the display. "So... at our current levels... we can't really venture into the outermost regions of Astravyr. We need to start grinding, but I... yeah... don't have a clue whe—"

"Oh! A grinding spot near here?" Maki cut in excitedly before pointing at Sushi. "Sushi over here knows about one!"

Sushi Slice stepped forward, her voice calm but confident. "Indeed. I found a video online where a player repeatedly farmed a specific quest until they reached level 10. The quest can be found in the Grand Hall—it's called [Super Boss Extermination Quest - Pillar Golem]. If we defeat the Pillar Golem in its rage mode, we gain a bonus of +500 XP. Completing the quest itself grants us guaranteed +1,000 XP."

She paused for a moment, letting the information sink in before continuing. "After defeating the Pillar Golem, we'll have to wait ten minutes for it to respawn. During that downtime, we can take on another quest nearby—[D-Rank - Defeat 5 Rock Golems]. The Rock Golems each give +50 XP per kill, and completing the quest rewards us with a guaranteed +400 XP. By the time we finish, the Pillar Golem will have respawned. It's an efficient cycle."

Hoshigari's brows shot up in admiration. "Damn! You know it so well you even planned for it. I'm hella impressed, and I'm hella in on it!" He gave her a thumbs up, a smirk playing at his lips.

Maki clapped her hands together with an excited grin. "Alright! Let's get to grindin'!"

"Yeah!" Hoshigari and Sushi Slice echoed in unison.

With renewed enthusiasm, the trio turned on their heels, heading towards the Grand Hall, eager to put their grinding strategy to the test.

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...

-[Exovia Prime (Lamp Lyte's Clan Building)]-

The grinding session continued, but the focus shifted to another story, another perspective. Nozomi Nozuki—better known as Yukihikari, the Rank 4 player—sat inside the high-tech meeting room of the Lamp Lyte Clan, one of the most prestigious groups in Exo Ascendance Online (EAO). She was accompanied by the five other founding members and their enigmatic leader, Lamp0Lyte.

The meeting had commenced.

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Lamp Lyte Clan Founding Members:

Yukihikari (Manager of Social & Community Engagement)

Level: 93

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XxX404XxX (Manager of Clan Finance, Economy & Trading)

Level: 85

Class: Hacker (Level 25)

Sub-Class: Shapeshifter (Level 20)

Exo Ability: Spectral Edge {Epic Tier} (Level 4)

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SeñorLag (Manager of Clan Progression & Upgrades)

Level: 87

Class: Spellblade (Level 28)

Sub-Class: Cleric (Level 18)

Exo Ability: Dynamo Shield {Rare Tier} (Level 5 MAX)

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BiryaniBuddha! (Manager of Clan Missions & Cooperative Goals)

Level: 85

Class: Monk (Level 28)

Sub-Class: Martial Artist (Level 24)

Exo Ability: Golden Lotus Armamental Aura {Legendary Tier} (Level 3)

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Feihong 601D3N (Manager of Resources & Exploration)

Level: 90

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Raiyu_Kazan (Manager of Unique Bosses & Unique Weapons)

Level: 95

Class: Greatsword Tank (Level 30)

Sub-Class: Enhancer (Level 20)

Exo Ability: Phantom Veil {Uncommon Tier} (Level 5 MAX)

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Lamp0Lyte (Leader of the Lamp Lyte Clan)

Level: 99 {Rise Available}

Class: Beast Tamer (Level 30 {Rise Available})

Sub-Class: Enchanter (Level 30 {Rise Available})

Exo Ability: Aberration Shift {Monster Tier} (Level 5 MAX)

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The meeting room was dimly lit, the neon glow from the massive digital screen casting a bluish hue over the gathered members of Lamp Lyte. Seated around a sleek, modern conference table were seven players, each with their own distinct presence. (Note: Here, we'll be calling them by their in-game nicknames. Yukihikari - Yuki, XxX404XxX - 404, SeñorLag - Lag, BiryaniBuddha! - Biryabud, Feihong 601D3N - Fei, Raiyu_Kazan - Raiyu, Lamp0Lyte - Lyte)

Lyte leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "So... As you all know, there isn't anything new yet except for a supply run or an exploration run for more materials and resources for the guild."

Fei nodded, crunching on a chip.

"We also have an upcoming clan war battle in the next three months," Biryabud added, his voice steady.

"And still, none of the Ten Apex Paragons—those ten unique bosses—have been defeated or even spotted yet..." Raiyu ran a hand down his face, frustration seeping into his voice.

Lyte tapped a finger on the table. "Hmm... thank you, now, I want to discuss something completely different from our usual topics and business."

She picked up a sleek remote, aiming it at the large digital screen behind her. The screen flickered, revealing a still image of a single player: Hoshigari.

"This player right here... Hoshigari. He's caught my eye."

404 raised an eyebrow. "Why, ma'am? He's just a newbie."

Lyte's eyes gleamed. "That's exactly the point."

With a click, a video began playing. The footage displayed Hoshigari clearing the False Starter Quest solo. The room grew silent as they watched him move with uncanny precision.

"He broke the world record," Lyte narrated. "Four minutes and fifty-seven seconds. Solo. Ranger class. Intentionally chose Pistols."

Yuki finally leaned forward, watching intently.

"This quest can only be done once per player. No retries. No practice runs. The reason it's called the 'False Starter Quest' is because the mechanics are brutally unforgiving—hyper-aggressive enemy reaction speeds, nearly frame-perfect blocking and dodging, and the Mecha-Rider Thug boss's overwhelming brute force. Most newbies don't even clear it without help."

The footage continued, showing Hoshigari seamlessly dodging, weaving through melee attacks and even a high-energy beam from the Mecha-Rider Thug. His ammo management was flawless, his movements sharp, his decision-making almost predictive.

"He plays the Ranger class like he was born for it," Lyte said, voice tinged with admiration.

Everyone except Yuki looked visibly impressed, because she knew already.

Lyte smirked. "But here's where it gets interesting."

With another click, the screen is displaying a list of VRMMORPGs that Hoshigari had played. Six different titles, each with his respective rankings in the game.

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Frontier Echo (FE) – Blade Dancer – Ranked 4th Worldwide.

Ember Soul Online (ESO) – Assassin – Ranked 5th Worldwide.

Mythforge Chronicles (MFC) – Greatsword Paladin – Ranked 2nd Worldwide.

Starless Veil (SV) – Rogue – Ranked 6th Worldwide.

Skybound Legacy (SL) – Spear Wielder – Ranked 5th Worldwide.

Dead Set Online (DSO) – Greatsword Knight (Sub-Class: Rogue) – Ranked 3rd Worldwide.

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Lyte turned to the group. "Two patterns. Can you spot them?"

Biryabud squinted. "He always plays melee classes."

Fei added, "And he always ranks among the top players worldwide."

Lyte nodded. "Correct. I even dug deeper. From what I gathered, Hoshigari is known to master every melee class he plays, always rising to the top ranks. He never joins clans, always plays solo, and is notorious and known for counter-killing player killers—essentially an anti-hero type. In Deadset Online, he reached the top in just four and a half days. But here, in EAO, he's playing completely differently. A Ranger class, and yet... his performance is no different from his melee mastery."

Yuki scrolled through her interface when suddenly, a notification popped up. "Ma'am Lyte! Yukinox just uploaded another video on Hoshigari!"

With a swift motion, Yuki expanded and shifted the video onto the big screen.

The footage revealed Hoshigari alongside two others—Sushi Slice and Makidon—facing off against the Greatsword Skeleton Goliath.

"Sushi Slice... and Makidon... Two other newbies..." Lyte murmured.

As the battle played out, the room filled with reactions.

"That Bouncer Round launch to propel the tank forward was insane!" Raiyu whistled.

"They're all pretty skilled for newbies," 404 admitted.

Then, the camera panned upward—revealing Hoshigari soaring high above the battlefield.

"HAAAAAAAA?!" The entire room erupted in unison.

On-screen, Hoshigari unleashed Comet Shot, a high-powered Ranger Hand-Cannon skill. The blast slammed into the Greatsword Skeleton Goliath, detonating in a brilliant sparking blue explosion.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT PLAY?!"

"That was Comet Shot! A devastatingly powerful ranger hand-held cannon skill with a long cooldown. And how he used it was a textbook perfect execution," Lyte confirmed.

As the video continued, silence took over as the trio checked their quest rewards. Lag was mid-sip of coffee, Fei chewing on chips, until—

"Hey, I got something called a Familiar Digi-Contract. You guys know what this is?"

Fei spat out her chips. Lag choked on his coffee. The entire room exploded into chaos at the same time as Sushi Slice and Makidon's on-screen screams.

"HE OBTAINED A FLIPPIN' FAMILIAR DIGI-CONTRACT THIS EARLY IN THE GAME?!"

"WHAT IS THAT DUMB STUPID LUCK?!"

"Only Yuki and fourteen others have obtained one so far! That makes him the SIXTEENTH player with a familiar!"

Then, the screen displayed Hoshigari rolling his Familiar.

"Ah! I bet he won't get anything higher than Rare!" Biryabud wagered.

"No way, he's getting a Common or Uncommon!" 404 smirked.

Lag laughed. "Hah! Imagine if he pulls an Ancient Rarity Fa—"

The screen showed the result. Ancient Rarity Familiar: Shinogama.

The room froze. Then, slowly, every member turned to glare at Lag.

Lag, covering his face, groaned. "Don't look at me like that!"

"What is with this guy's luck?!" 404 shouted.

"That's not luck! That's straight-up hacking!" Lag accused.

"EAO has a refined anti-cheat system. There are no hacks, no bugs, no glitches. This... this is pure, dumb, stupid luck," Lyte deadpanned.

The footage concluded, leaving the members of Lamp Lyte in stunned silence. On the screen, Hoshigari stood, his new Familiar on his shoulder.

Yuki, Lyte, and Fei exchanged glances, the same thought echoing through their minds.

Hoshigari... who even are you?

...

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-[Barren Ruins - Nightfall]-

A heavy silence loomed over the desolate landscape, the crumbled remnants of an ancient civilization barely illuminated under the pale moonlight. The grinding of stone against stone echoed through the air as Hoshigari, Noctatsu, Sushi Slice, and Makidon crouched behind a mound of rubble, their breaths measured, their bodies weary. They had been at this for hours.

[Current Quest: Super Boss Extermination - Pillar Golem]

"Alright, guys. One last shot at this thing," Hoshigari whispered, adjusting the grip on his Black Barrel Hand-Held Cannon. "It's getting really late."

"Hella late!" Makidon grumbled, wiping a streak of sweat from her brow.

"Ugh... I feel sleepy... We still have school tomorrow..." Sushi Slice yawned, rubbing her eyes before rolling her shoulders, steeling herself for the fight.

Hoshigari smirked. "Alright. Let's make this count."

The four stepped out from cover, their eyes locked on the Pillar Golem, its massive form dormant but radiating a foreboding presence. The battlefield was set.

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The Tenth Battle Begins...

Hoshigari took the first move, swiftly lifting his cannon and firing two powerful shots. One hit square in the chest; the other slammed into the face of the golem. A thunderous impact sent tremors through the ruins, forcing the behemoth to life with a guttural, grinding roar.

The golem's right arm reeled back, the ancient mechanisms groaning as it prepared a devastating punch aimed directly at Hoshigari.

"Your turn, Maki!" Hoshigari barked.

"Aye aye, sir!" Makidon bellowed, stepping in front of him. She planted her feet firmly, raising her greatshield high. "GREAT DEFLECT!" She used her Greatshield Tank Skill: Great Deflect.

The punch collided with Makidon's shield, but instead of crushing her beneath its force, the attack was redirected—the sheer power dispersing outward in a shockwave, causing debris to scatter around them. As Hoshigari retaliated with another explosive round shot to it's face, as the Pillar Golem staggered backward,

"Sushi! Noctatsu! Take the flank!" Hoshigari commanded.

"On it!" Noctatsu leaped onto Sushi Slice's shoulder, his ninjato gleaming in the dim light.

Sushi Slice inhaled sharply, her body coiling before she launched into the air with her Samurai Skill: Winded Leap. She twisted gracefully over the Pillar Golem, her katana flashing with raw precision as she unleashed Hurricane Slashes against its nape. The moment she landed, she pivoted and struck a crippling Gale Slash to its leg, causing it to stagger forward.

In the same breath, Noctatsu—now airborne—coated his blade in a venomous sheen. Below him, Hoshigari had already anticipated his trajectory.

"Perfect timing!" Hoshigari muttered, loading a round.

BOOM!

[Fired Bouncer Round (35 remaining)]

The explosion propelled Noctatsu downward, his velocity amplified as he drove his blade deep into the golem's head with Full Launch: Venom Bladed Severance. The impact reverberated through the behemoth, causing fractures to spread across its surface.

Hoshigari didn't stop there. He fired again—four quick successive blasts aimed at the ground beneath the golem's feet, sending shards of stone and debris flying into the air.

"Noctatsu! Ricochet!" Hoshigari shouted.

With feline agility, Noctatsu bounced between airborne debris, executing a series of Ricochet Slashes, each strike landing with precision. His final attack severed a chunk of the golem's cranium, forcing it into a stunned state.

"MOVE, NOCTATSU!" Makidon's voice boomed.

As he flipped away, Makidon launched herself skyward, her battleaxe glinting menacingly. With a fearsome roar, she activated Axe Berserker Skill: Crashing Axe, driving her weapon straight into the Pillar Golem's head—splitting it in two.

The battlefield fell silent for only a moment before an ominous rumble filled the air.

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Phase Two: Whip Pillar Rage Mode...

The severed halves of the Pillar Golem shuddered, pieces floating back into place. Its form shifted—its left arm now small, while its right arm extended into a massive whip constructed of linked pillars and chains.

"Tch, here we go..." Hoshigari muttered. "Regroup! Phase: Cooldown Rage Mode—go!"

The team fell back into formation, their eyes fixed on the now Whip Pillar Form of the Pillar Golem.

"Sushi, enhancements!" Hoshigari ordered.

"Leave it to me!" Sushi affirmed, shifting her stance as she activated her buffing abilities.

[+30 Strength Boost & +30 Arcana Boost to Hoshigari for 10 minutes]

[Temporarily learned: Ranger Hand-Held Cannon Skill: Streaking Meteor Shower]

Hoshigari blinked in surprise. "Oh?! That's new!"

Meanwhile, Makidon received a double +30 Strength Boost, stacking to a monstrous +60 Strength.

"Let's go!" Hoshigari shouted.

Makidon charged first, bracing her shield. Each impact from the Pillar Whip sent shockwaves through her frame, but she held firm. Then, with a primal roar, she abandoned her shield and grabbed the pillar whip barehanded.

"Not... LETTING... YOU... GO!" Makidon snarled, digging her heels into the ground.

Hoshigari took advantage of the opening, vaulting onto the restrained whip arm. With a smirk, he unholstered his PiercingAqua Handgun. "Remember—to you, this is holy water! And you? You're the devil!" He fired round after round into the golem's core.

"Sushi! Noctatsu! Your turn!"

Sushi Slice launched herself forward, her wooden slippers clacking on the Pillar Golem's still and immovable Pillar Whip arm. "AND WHILE YOU'RE STILL WEAKENED!" she roared, her voice a clarion call of impending destruction.

Noctatsu echoed her energy, his tone sharp with adrenaline. "WE'LL HIT YOU WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT!"

As the two warriors soared toward the colossal Pillar Golem, the battlefield seemed to shrink, their coordinated assault the undeniable focus of the moment. Sushi Slice's grip on her katana tightened as she funneled wind and air into her sheathe. The energy crackled around her, invisible but palpable, as she readied her Samurai Skill: Maximum Wind Flow.

The massive construct, though heavily damaged, groaned in defiance, its cracked stone limbs sluggishly trying to defend itself. But it was too late.

Sushi Slice, her speed blinding, erupted into motion, her blade unsheathing in a blur of cutting wind. "HURRICANE SLASHES - MAXIMUM!" she declared, her strikes rushing like a tempest of destruction. The sheer force of her attack sent shockwaves through the Pillar Golem's body, deepening the fractures, chipping away at its once-imposing armor of stone.

Noctatsu was no idle spectator. Using the airborne rubble as makeshift platforms, he ricocheted between them with inhuman speed, slashing and striking at every opportunity. His Ricochet Slashing Skill turned him into a relentless force, his bladed limbs cutting deep gashes into the golem's weakened exterior.

The monster let out a deep, guttural rumble, staggering under the relentless onslaught. But Sushi Slice and Noctatsu weren't done yet.

Sushi Slice landed gracefully, barely a breath wasted as she re-sheathed her katana in preparation for another strike. "This is it!" she called, locking eyes with her amphibian companion.

Noctatsu understood immediately. Without hesitation, he lashed his Tongue Whip Skill as his long tongue whipped and reached toward Sushi Slice, propelling himself into the air alongside her. Now, both warriors were in mid-air, their next attack primed.

Noctatsu's ninjato gleamed again with a sickly venomous sheen as he prepared his Full Launch: Venom Bladed Severance. While Sushi Slice, wind funneling around her once more, channeled her Samurai Skill: Gale Slash.

The golem, sluggish and unable to react nor move, could only brace as the duo unleashed their final assault.

"GET READY FOR IT!" They shouted in perfect unison, their voices echoing across the battlefield.

Their weapons became streaks of light as they executed their Combined Attack Skill: CROSS SEVERANCE! A massive, glowing cross carved itself into the Pillar Golem's body, the force behind the strike shaking the very ground beneath them.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the Pillar Golem shuddered violently, its entire form frozen before the enormous cross-shaped wound burst outward, sending shards of stone flying in all directions. Its massive frame, now barely holding together, lurched backward, its health bar dropping dangerously low. It was stunned, staggered, almost teetering on the brink of total collapse.

"Finish it, boss!" Makidon yelled.

Silence. Then—

[Fired Bouncer Round (34 remaining)]

"UP HERE!" Hoshigari grinned from above, his cannon charged to maximum.

"JUST WANTED TO TRY SOMETHIN'! MOVE!"

The cannon erupted, firing his temporary Ranger Hand-Held Cannon Skill: Streaking Meteor Shower—a radiant storm of blue, yellow, and green streaking meteor-like blasts. The weakened golem was consumed in the celestial onslaught, disintegrating into nothingness.

Hoshigari landed gracefully, dusting himself off. "Was that overkill?"

Sushi Slice blinked. "Uh... yeah?"

Makidon and Noctatsu, however, clapped enthusiastically in the background.

"Alright, let's check our rewards and get some well-deserved sleep."

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-[Super Boss Extermination - Pillar Golem - Quest Completed]-

[Gained - +1,000 XP]

[Gained - +500 XP Bonus (Extermination in Rage Mode)]

[Level 10 >>> Level 11 (LEVEL UP!)]

[Ranger Level 11 >>> Ranger Level 12 (LEVEL UP!)]

[Fixer Level 6 >>> Fixer Level 7 (LEVEL UP!)]

[Gained - 1,000 Creds]

[Gained - +40 SP]

[Gained - Refined Black Stone Pillar {Super Boss Drop Material}]

[Gained - The Pillar Pistol (Epic)]

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Ooh!~ Got me a Boss-related weapon!" Hoshigari remarked, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he examined his latest acquisition.

"What is it?" Makidon questioned, stepping closer with curiosity.

"This thing called The Pillar Pistol, and it's an epic rarity. Looks cool too!" Hoshigari added, spinning the sleek firearm in his hand with a satisfied smirk.

"Huh, yeah, I got myself a new rare rarity battleaxe purely made of sharp refined stone. I could probably fuse or merge it with my [Cynergon Axe] or something," Makidon suggested, analyzing the sharp edges of her newly acquired weapon.

"What'd you get, Sushi?!" Makidon turned to Sushi Slice, eager to hear her reward.

"I got myself this new left-handed gauntlet called the Refined Ruin Gauntlet. It ups my Defense by 10 Bonus Status Points and my Strength by 20 Bonus Status Points. It's also an epic rarity equipment," Sushi Slice replied, flexing her hand as the gauntlet shimmered faintly in the dim light.

"Wow, pretty cool~" Makidon and Hoshigari said in unison, clearly impressed.

Hoshigari stretched his arms to the sky, letting out a yawn. "Alright, I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow. I feel sleepy~"

"Yeah~ I'm drained~" Makidon added, rubbing her eyes.

"I too, as well~" Sushi Slice agreed with a soft nod.

"Tomorrow, once all of us are back on, we'll begin with going to the next town over. Good with you guys?" Hoshigari asked, looking at his teammates.

The others nodded in confirmation, their minds already racing with anticipation for their next adventure.

"Alright, see ya guys!" Hoshigari said as he logged off, with the other two following suit.

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...

But... once again... the player named Yukinox was filming their entire battles and fights from the shadows.

As he smirked, he whispered to himself, "So cool!~" like he was watching his favorite YouTuber or idol, his admiration for Hoshigari's gameplay and play style evident.

But the main question remains... who is he?...

...

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We then pan to Akito as he removed his VR headset, placing it gently on the counter. Taking a deep breath, he reached for a glass of water and took a few sips, savoring the cool sensation. Lying back on his bed, he let out a contented sigh, his thoughts still lingering in the digital world.

"Damn... I honestly am having so much fun with EAO. Hella excited for tomorrow..." he mused, a small smile forming on his lips.

With that, exhaustion took over, and he drifted off to sleep, eagerly awaiting the next adventure.

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