From the moment EndlessHorizon launched, every corner of the internet buzzed with chatter about the game. Discussions flooded forums, social media—everywhere.
Only players lucky enough to snag first-batch neural chips could dive in immediately. Everyone else could only speculate online.
Just in the Chinese server, one million chips sold out instantly. With a million players flooding in, chaos—and comedy—was inevitable. Some avoided the opening-hour monster-slaying frenzy. Others, less combat-focused, noticed quirks most missed.
After all, this was the first true full-dive VRMMO where thousands shared a single map. Crowds bred chaos, absurdity, and viral moments. Streamers and players loved sharing these stories—especially with those still locked out.
Among the Chinese server’s hundred BeginnerVillages, Village #2 became the epicenter of headlines.
A player plummeting to death seconds after launch? Barely noteworthy. First came a screenshot hinting at a hidden quest. Then whispers of a secret mission inside the mine. Finally, reports of an entire party wiped out in that same mine.
News spread fast. The hidden quest in BeginnerVillage #2 became the talk of the server.
Unaware of the storm he’d ignited, Mysterious strode calmly toward the mine.
While he walked, the group that had rushed there earlier—all of them—now respawned at the revival temple.
“What the hell?! Why were those mobs so strong? Did someone scam us?”
“How do you even fight a Level 6 monster?!”
The first resurrected players groaned in disbelief.
For Level 1 beginners, storming a mine crawling with Level 6+ monsters was suicide. Truth was, they couldn’t even clear the first wave guarding the entrance.
In open fields, they might’ve overwhelmed Level 6 grunts with sheer numbers. But the mine’s narrow tunnels nullified that advantage. No matter how many came, they’d just queue up like ducklings waiting to be swatted.
Some players charged back toward the mine immediately after respawning. Others wisely gave up.
Except for the stubborn few chasing the rumored “hidden quest,” the last group to return had different intentions. Seeing the desperation on those rushing back, some who’d nearly quit hesitated—then followed.
Soon, over a hundred regrouped for a second assault on the mine.
…
【New Area Discovered: Mine】
As Mysterious reached the mine entrance, the system notification popped up.
“So this is it,” he muttered, pulling up his map to confirm.
Every player had a built-in map—but it only showed explored zones and towns. To fill it out, you either walked every inch yourself or bought maps from others. BeginnerVillage maps, however, were fully revealed from the start.
Mysterious drew his Novice Sword, testing its weight with two quick swings, then stepped into the cavern.
BeginnerVillages were designed for ease. Beyond the pre-revealed map, even the mine’s torches were lit—a luxury. Normally, unclaimed mines required players to bring their own light sources.
He hadn’t gone far when his first “guest” lunged from the shadows.
The torches offered only dim light—just enough to avoid total darkness. A gray blur shot toward him.
*Thwack!* Mysterious flicked his sword upward, sending the creature flying.
【-1】
【-19】
Gray and red damage numbers floated above the creature and Mysterious respectively. The impact nearly knocked his sword from his grip.
The thing crashed to the ground, scrambled upright, and fixed beady eyes on him. A rat.
But no ordinary rat. This EndlessHorizon monster was the size of an adult Chihuahua—tail not included.
Mysterious sighed. Being nearly disarmed by a rodent stung his pride. He still hadn’t adjusted to this weak, fragile body.
【Mine Rat (Elite): Level 6
???】
Attacking revealed basic monster stats—a BeginnerVillage perk. But the massive level gap hid everything except its name and level.
An elite monster with a one-level advantage, plus Mysterious’s pitiful stats, meant even blocking cost him nearly half his HP.
Good news? The rat’s health bar hovered below 20%. Someone else had softened it up.
Exactly as Mysterious guessed: this rat had leveled up through sheer attrition, slaughtering over a hundred players to evolve from common to elite.
In EndlessHorizon, monsters could evolve—but conditions were rare and brutal. Only Mysterious’s chaos, flooding the mine with Level 1 cannon fodder, had triggered it.
Its remaining HP was dangerously low. In an open field, even an elite would’ve been overwhelmed by sheer numbers. But the mine’s tight corridors saved it.
Before Mysterious could ponder further, the rat pounced again.
A direct clash would cost more HP. With only 45 total, two more hits like that would kill him.
Swinging to repel it was easy—but futile. He dodged instead.
Even as an elite, a single rat’s speed posed little threat. Mysterious sidestepped, slashing its belly mid-dodge.
【-1】
Gray damage. No penetration.
He hadn’t expected his measly 3-5 attack to pierce an elite’s defense. This wasn’t about damage—it was about precision.
After losing another point of HP, the rat’s health dipped almost imperceptibly.
*‘Around 70-80 HP left,’* he calculated.
The rat whirled, chittering angrily, and lunged again.
Mysterious dodged, sword raised—but this time, he barely grazed its back with two feather-light strokes.
【-1】
Only one damage number appeared.
*‘Too light. No attack registered,’* he realized.
To test it, he stepped forward before the next pounce, slashing twice with deliberate force.
【-1】
【-1】
Two clean hits.
“Squeak-squeak-SQUEAK!” The frustrated rat spun, lashing its tail backward.
Mysterious saw it coming but couldn’t fully evade. He braced his sword.
【-23】
Higher damage this time. But whether he had 7 HP or 3 left, he was one hit from death.
Realizing he couldn’t block tail swipes, Mysterious darted in front of the rat.
It snapped at him instinctively—missing completely.
What began as turn-based combat morphed into a bullet hell game. Mysterious weaved through bites and swipes, countering with precise, minimal slashes. His movements grew smoother, faster.
The elite rat—barely 70 HP remaining—collapsed before its previous victims could respawn. Its death felt undignified: ground down by forced damage, the first elite ever “soloed” this way.
【Level Up! Current Level: 2】
Killing the elite shot Mysterious to Level 2, with 80% toward Level 3.
Level 1 to 2 required 100 XP. Level 2 to 3 needed 350. Farming Level 1 mobs outside the village would take ages.
But this was a Level 6 elite. Five levels higher, plus an elite bonus and massive overlevel rewards—it nearly pushed him to Level 3.
While most pioneers had just hit Level 2, Mysterious became the highest-leveled player in EndlessHorizon.
Beside the rat’s corpse lay four copper coins—and a hat glowing with a faint green light. A green gear drop.
In an era where gray gear was scarce, this green hat stood at the bleeding edge of progression. Not the absolute best, but undeniable proof of a top-tier player.
“…” Mysterious’s expression twisted in distaste. He stared at the softly glowing gray leather cap for a long moment before bending down to pick it up.
His first piece of gear. He didn’t even check its stats. With visible reluctance, he tossed it into his inventory.
Mysterious’s first battle in EndlessHorizon ended in victory—and a very green hat.
