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Pirate Phantom

Pirate Phantom

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Chapter 19: They're Here

Those who dare touch the [Abyss] will ultimately be devoured by it.

But that process... takes far too long.

So long, in fact, that to those who loathe the Abyss, letting an [Abyssal Pactbearer] survive even one more day is sin enough. Which is why, when a trace of the Abyss is found, it must be purged. No hesitation. No innocence. No mercy. This is the creed of the [Farron Undying].

Their brutal fame was earned not through glory—but through ruthlessness.

The K...

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Chapter 18: Nemesis of the Abyss

The monotonous, oppressive environment pressed hard on the nerves.

The dim light from Maria's lantern flickered with each step, casting swaying shadows. The chosen players began to feel creeping terror, as a dark fear clawed at their minds, urging them to turn back.

A new status effect quietly appeared on each of their HUDs:

[Abyssal Residue]Though the corruption has faded, this residual descent energy still stains the living. The more one fe...

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Chapter 17: [The Abyss]

"The source of the [Root of Man] originates from the [Abyss]."

As the trainee [Faithful] received their equipment, Maria took the time to explain the background of the [Root of Man] to the curious players. Her voice was calm and rhythmic, five syllables per beat, creating a strangely soothing cadence.

"When the First Flame was kindled, duality entered the world."

"Cold and heat, light and dark, life and death, ascent and descent."

"The [Abyss] is the descent." View Post

Chapter 16: Mission Posting

Since the start of the closed beta, many of the veteran players had finally gathered after enduring various hardships.

In their downtime between training sessions, they began sharing the intel they had uncovered.

Their discussions revealed just how immersive [Fractured] really was. The game world boasted absurdly high realism, and its NPCs acted indistinguishably from real humans. Naturally, this drew out the inner puzzle-solvers among the veteran testers. They wouldn’t s...

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Chapter 15: Change and Purpose

Maria wrote home.

To her father Lynn, the faithful servant of the [Radiant One], who never once cursed his fate. To her mother Ruth, ever gentle and ever ill, who gave her love to both her daughters without reservation. To her sweet, innocent sister Felia, who could light up a room with a smile.

The letter glossed over the dangers of Maria’s current life. She focused instead on Flowstream City’s prosperity, describing the bustling markets, aristocratic enterprises, and ...

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Chapter 14: The Calm Before the Storm

"Since the Harvest Festival, the gods have ceased delivering their oracles. The power of the wicked grows stronger. It feels like the world has returned to the days before the [First Flame] was lit—only now, there is no fog to hide the monsters. The rise of the [Root of Man] marks the ascent of abyssal forces! As the gods' representatives on earth, we are bound to guard their sacred pastures until their divine voices return! Thus, in the name of the Pontiff, I hereby call upon the Di...

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Chapter 13: The Root of Man

"Ahaha... hello, Archbishop sir."

With that warm, kind gaze fixed on him, Tyre let out a dry laugh. The pressure he felt at that moment was immense—an invisible weight radiated from the old man, growing heavier and heavier, until it felt like a mountain was collapsing on him. He could hardly breathe, convinced he’d be crushed to death at any second.

Under that suffocating aura, Tyre had the chilling sense that this old man could see right through him, like every secret ...

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Chapter 12: Soul of the Painted World, the Embers Remain!

The Cathedral of Torrent City, one of the eleven earthly pillars of faith for the Solar Pantheon, stood as a lavish testament to the gods’ majesty and mercy.

Words, murals, stained-glass windows, inscribed motifs, epic poems—all commemorated the distant age when the ancient dragons who ruled the earth were overthrown by the gods and mortal heroes. The misty gray veil was lifted by the First Flame, and the gods bestowed its power upon the world. All this history was recorded i...

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Chapter 11: The Unlucky Beta Tester

Massive virtual game [Fractured] launches its closed beta today!

No need to buy gear! One slash, 999 damage! This is a whole new version you’ve never seen before! If you're a real bro, come fight me! Want to understand the true meaning of life? Want to really live? Come to [Fractured] and experience a second life full of mystery and dreams!

Seriously? It’s already 9012 and they’re still using such cringey ad slogans? The devs and marketing t...

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Chapter 10: No Oracle Received

When Maria returned to the festival’s central banquet with her empty cup, there wasn’t the slightest flush in her pale, bloodless face. It was as if she’d drunk water or fruit juice, not ale.

"Haha, Sister Maria! It’s been a while. Your radiance has grown even brighter," said Mayor Harvett, who had been cheerfully conversing with Pastor Lynn. His eyes lit up as he spotted her.

"Good day, Mayor."

Harvett wasn’t a nobleman, but a wealthy grain merchant. He’d...

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Chapter 9: Festival and Strategy

The harvest season had arrived. On this crisp autumn day, fresh loaves of thick bread were pulled from ovens, frothy ale sloshed in wooden barrels, and hearty cuts of roasted meat were laid out early for the feast. The scene mirrored the depictions of divine realms from many holy scriptures. The townsfolk of Sette bustled about joyfully, ready to celebrate the season.

The stars had yet to vanish from the sky when the people began their preparations. Pastor Lynn and Maria rose jus...

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Chapter 8: The Autumn Festival

Name: [Maria von Cainhurst]
Race/Bloodline: Half-Human (?)

Strength: 2.0
Agility: 3.3
Constitution: 3.8
Perception: 3.0
Willpower: 5.1

Class: [Apprentice]
Status: Healthy

Talents:
[Noble Descendant] — As a descendant of Cainhurst...
[Noble Education] — As a noble, you received elite education from a young age...

Background:
The beautiful daughter of a pastor, well-versed in multiple crafts. Many yo...

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Chapter 7: Eight Years Later

Maria, the priest’s daughter.

To the simple folk of Sette Town, Pastor Lynn suddenly having an eight-year-old daughter wasn’t too shocking. In fact, once they saw Maria, they were nothing but warm and welcoming.

That was because Pastor Lynn had helped them countless times. Sickness, injury, disputes, labor, taxes—without his presence in Sette, these clever but scrappy townsfolk wouldn’t live nearly as well. Maria estimated that Lynn's local reputation had reached ne...

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Chapter 6: Farewell

The chapel was quiet, solemn, and full of a serene warmth. Like a divine hand comforting all sorrow, it calmed even the most restless heart.

The [Radiant Church]'s sanctuaries carried a subtle blessing.

It had a calming aura for most sentient beings, especially those with lower tiers. The effect varied depending on the rank of the presiding priest.

Maria sat in the front pews of the chapel, hands clasped over her chest, eyes closed as if in prayer to the [Radiant Sove...

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Chapter 5: Arrival at Southwind County

Southwind County was a region of plains, forests, hills, and riverways that served as vital transport lines. It bordered the northern provinces via the Fogveil Road and the southern capital through the Ridgeback Mountains by river. Though fertile and agriculturally rich in rice, corn, and fruits, its difficult terrain and traditionalist mindset made it one of the most conservative and isolated counties of the south.

As a result, many of Andor Empire's technologies—like steam en...

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Chapter 4: Great Events

In the world of [Fractured], the first four ranks of transcendents were: [Apprentice], [Iron], [Silver], and [Gold].

Beyond [Gold] was another realm entirely.

Even in the 8.0 version Maria had lived through, only a rare handful of players ever surpassed the [Gold] rank. Those who did were all prodigies—pillars of strength in the war against Chaos.

That said, high-ranking transcendents weren’t immune to missteps. Players looking to extract high-tier materials from ...

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Chapter 2: The Pursuit

The wind in the northern frontier was like knives—sharp and merciless, laced with icy shards. Even the strongest warriors would frown in discomfort under this bitter wind.

Darkness. Cold. Brutality.

It was in such a snowstorm that a thunderous sound rolled through the distance. Faint flickers of green light danced like ghosts in the night, darting swiftly. Horse hooves shattered frozen snow with ease, and steaming breath burst from the nostrils of pitch-black steeds.

<...

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Chapter 1: Rose of a Ruined World

In the world of [Fractured], everything could be divided into two categories: players, and NPCs.

No matter how intelligent, powerful, or ancient they were—be it golden-blooded elites, chaotic abominations, or taboo entities—they were all seen as just "NPCs" in the eyes of players. Even those with intelligence leagues above humans.

That’s why, in the early days, many players who entered [Fractured] without the right mindset... ate dirt, hard.

Naturally, charming ...

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Prologue: Carriage in the Snowstorm

When Rick awoke from the darkness, a violent, gut-wrenching pain was hammering through his skull.

It was so unnatural that even thinking felt like wading through sludge.

‘Damn… shit! Did I just get slapped by a subspace psychic storm, or hit by a Heart-Splitting Judgement? Why the hell does it hurt this bad…?! Hhhss!’

Still confused and groaning through gritted teeth, Rick slowly opened his eyes, instinctively scanning his surrounding...

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