Chapter 511: Player
Whoosh— A blinding flash of white light split the air.
When Stuffed Bun opened his eyes again, he was already in the Alerzage World—once more, that familiar, indistinguishable-from-the-Real-World sensation washing over him.
"Sweet! This is what I’m talking about!"
He swept his gaze across the surroundings—and froze.
He was standing right in the middle of the Parade Ceremony, inside the very trailer where it had all begun.
Boom—
Two-Headed Dragons unfurled their massive forms across the sky. Steam Tanks rumbled like thunder. Artillery roared in unison. Gunfire erupted in a deafening symphony. From every corner of existence, the Imperial Experience Points Editionary Forces stood on high alert.
Flame Wyverns beat their wings. Fire Lizards raised their spears. Skeleton Serpents slithered through the air with sinuous grace. Terror Beasts lifted their heads and let out long, echoing roars.
Along the Military Exercise Grounds, countless Imperial Nationals surged with frenzied energy, arms raised, voices thundering in unison:
“Long Live the Empire!”
“Kai Xiusu for Emperor!”
The chants crashed over him like waves, one after another, relentless and electrifying.
And with him, tens of thousands of other Players had arrived—veterans, newcomers, the newly awakened.
It was only minutes since the server had launched, and the number of Players in the arena kept skyrocketing.
Gazing upon the spectacle, they couldn’t help but erupt in astonishment.
"Whoa—this is exactly like the trailer footage!"
"Man, I’m pumped!"
"Long live the Empire of Ashen!"
"Aaaaaaahhhhh—!"
"Long Live Emperor Kai Xiusu! For the Empire!"
The military march swelled with passion, and even Stuffed Bun, swept up in the moment, raised both arms high, screaming at the top of his lungs:
"For the Empire!"
Far away, atop the Monolith High Platform, the Red Dragon Emperor stood, wings spread wide, his pale golden eyes scanning the vast expanse.
He had noticed the Players scattered across the plain—his gaze lingered, assessing.
Then, slowly, the jagged maw of his blood-stained face parted.
A voice, calm and clear, cut through the air.
"Stellarfallen. Welcome back."
Hearing the faction leader’s greeting, the Players’ spirits ignited—then exploded. The fervor surged even higher.
"Long Live Emperor Kai Xiusu!"
"Kai Emperor is invincible!"
"I want to touch King Kai Xiusu!"
Stuffed Bun looked up at the distant Red Dragon, clenched his fist over his heart, and gave the perfect, solemn Loyalty Greeting.
"This… this sense of belonging? Perfect."
Suddenly, a familiar roar echoed from the sky.
Stuffed Bun’s head snapped up, eyes lighting up.
"Noodles!"
The Wyvern lifted its long neck, letting out a joyful, melodic cry. It circled the air for a few graceful loops, then descended smoothly, landing with effortless precision.
It dug its claws into the ground, lowered its head obediently, and knelt before Stuffed Bun.
"Long time no see, Noodles."
For a mount, a short separation was like a new wedding.
And Noodles had clearly been well-fed—slightly plump, even.
Stuffed Bun ran his hand along the Wyvern’s sleek neck, then gripped the saddle’s handle, leapt into the air, and swung himself onto its back with a fluid motion.
"Noodles, Take Off!"
Roar—!
The Wyvern sprang forward, wings flaring, climbing into the sky with a powerful leap, its cry echoing across the land.
Stuffed Bun gazed toward the distant, majestic city of Isdalia, his heart pounding. A storm of emotion stirred within him—like countless rivers rushing through his soul.
Alerzage… I’m back.
The new Players on the ground stared upward, pointing at Stuffed Bun and his Wyvern.
"Whoa—how the hell can he ride a dragon?!"
Another newcomer whispered, "I heard him say something… the Two-Headed Dragon just let him ride it. Was it… Noodles?"
"Wait—what? Seriously? There’s commands like that?!"
"Noodles!"
"Noodles! Noodles!"
"Noodles! Why won’t it work for me?!"
In a flash, dozens of new Players began shouting, their eyes fixed on the Wyvern soaring high above.
A veteran Player nearby glanced at them, eyes rolling in disbelief.
"That’s the Crimson Scale Conqueror’s mount, you idiot.
You don’t yell at a dragon’s name—he calls it, and it responds.
You’re not the owner."
High above, the Wyvern tilted its head, blinking curiously at the crowd below. A soft, confused growl escaped its throat.
"Man… this is real."
"Wait… I can feel pain?"
"Hahahaha! I can actually take off my pants?!"
"This is it! After a whole year… I finally get to play Alerzage! Don’t you dare stop me—I’m not crazy!"
On the ground, the number of Players had already surged past one hundred thousand in mere minutes—still climbing.
They roared like savages, some even stripping off their clothes and running naked through the field.
The solemn, awe-inspiring aura of the parade ground quickly devolved into chaos—thankfully, the ceremony had already ended. The Imperial Nationals were long accustomed to the wild behavior of the Stellarfallen.
In the audience stands, a young Tiefling girl tilted her head, tugging at her mother’s sleeve.
"Mother… what are they doing?"
Her mother gently covered the girl’s eyes with a soft hand, whispering:
"Nina, don’t imitate those madmen. Remember—be loyal to His Majesty, loyal to the Empire, just like your father in the Imperial Guard. Don’t go down those dangerous paths."
On the high platform, Kai Xiusu surveyed the scene below—the Players dancing, screaming, reveling across the wasteland.
A faint twitch tugged at the corner of his lips.
"More Players than I expected this time…"
In his memory, Alerzage had gone viral in version 2.0—but even then, the initial server launch had only seen a few million concurrent players.
And choosing the original spawn point—Anzeta Great Wasteland—had been rare. It had already been thoroughly explored.
But thanks to Kai Xiusu’s influence, most veteran Players remained bound to the Empire’s war chariot.
They wouldn’t abandon their assets, their status, their titles. So they stayed—choosing the Empire as their spawn point.
And the new players? Drawn in by the trailers, guided by veterans, they were irresistibly drawn to the Empire of Ashen—the flagship version 1.0 main battalion.
Kai Xiusu’s gaze burned with intensity. He stared at the newcomers, then exhaled a plume of sulfurous white smoke.
"If this growth continues, the number of players joining the Empire could easily reach two million."
"And the total player count? Likely break the ten-million mark."
The Age of Kings version had opened over three hundred respawn points.
Even a fifth of players choosing the Empire would be considered a massive success.
This… far exceeded Kai Xiusu’s expectations.
In his past life, most players had followed the guides, flocking to the war-torn nations of Fadalan—dividing into battalions, conquering each other.
But now? The Empire of Ashen had become the largest and most influential player faction by far.
"Two million players… sure, they’ll fuel the Empire’s growth. But it’s going to be a mess. Chaos is inevitable."
Just months ago, during the Third Population Census led by Chief Minister Lanpu, the Empire’s total national population stood at 8.47 million.
Now, two million new players had flooded in—equivalent to one-quarter of the entire population.
That many unemployed drifters?
It would shake the Empire’s social foundation.
The conflict between Stellarfallen and Indigenous Inhabitants would intensify.
Job seizures. Rebellions. Social collapse—none could be avoided.
And with it, a cascade of deeper problems.
For the Empire, expansion was no longer optional.
Kai Xiusu needed a vent—a safe outlet for the players’ overflowing energy.
Demons were his first target.
But first, order had to be maintained—so he could properly counter the demons.
With that thought, Kai Xiusu murmured:
"Meizhuolashi."
In an instant, the Commander of the Imperial Guard—head of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, and leader of the Tiefling Clan—appeared before the Red Dragon.
A man long accustomed to shadows and silence, he had ruled the Empire’s secret networks for years, erasing enemies in the dark.
Now, his hands were stained with blood.
He had grown colder, quieter—among the Empire’s three dukes, the most reserved, always completing his tasks without fanfare.
Now, Meizhuolashi dropped to one knee, bowing his head.
"Master. You have my attention."
"Your task should be familiar: manage these newly arrived Stellarfallen from the Other Realm. Teach them the Empire’s rules."
"But this time… there are a lot of them. About… two million."
Meizhuolashi lifted his head. Even his unflinching expression cracked—just for a moment.
Shock flickered across his face.
Two million?
Two million?
One-quarter of the population—all madmen, reckless and fearless?
Cold sweat began to trickle down his brow, dripping from his chin.
Though his mind raced, he kept his voice steady.
"Yes, Master."
(End of Chapter)
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