The virtual magic world, also known as VR Magic World, or VRMW for short, is a popular VR game set in a magical fantasy world. The game features multiple races for players to choose from, and is known for its rich quests, high degree of freedom, and realistic VR scenes. Moreover, the game has low system requirements, as players only need to wear a VR headset to enter the game. It has consistently held a top position on the best-seller list for VR games.
However, no matter how impressive the game is, Liu Xuan, as one of the first veteran players to reach the maximum level in VRMW, is currently extremely dissatisfied with the game's current state of operation.
Liu Xuan's frustration began when the entire screen turned black while he was fighting a game boss, and then the game became unresponsive, making it impossible for him to exit. Moreover, his player name in the status bar unexpectedly changed to his real name, Liu Xuan.
What in the world is happening in this game? Have they encountered a major bug? Did the software engineers collectively go on strike or take a vacation? And to make matters worse, his real name is being displayed in the status bar. This is a serious privacy breach. Furthermore, he was about to defeat the boss when the screen went black.
It seems that this major bug cannot be easily resolved with just a compensation of 1000 crystals.
Complaining, Liu Xuan decides to take off the VR headset in order to forcefully quit the game since he is unable to exit normally.
However, to his surprise, the black screen phenomenon disappears as soon as he takes off the headset. Instead, he is greeted with a dimly lit gray building wall, resembling an ancient tower or castle.
Liu Xuan recalls that before the game screen turned black, he was hunting a boss in the Valley of Eternal Silence, and there were no nearby buildings.
But before he can think further, Liu Xuan realizes that several orc-like creatures wielding weapons are charging at him with bared fangs.
What? How did so many enemies appear right after the game resumed? And he can't see their levels?
Cursing in his mind, Liu Xuan points his hand forward. Since he can't determine the levels of the orcs in front of him, he decides to use an advanced spell called "Terrifying Terror," which can create horrifying illusions to make enemies retreat in fear. This spell doesn't work on many races, except for a few monsters like beasts, orcs, and goblins.
However, when Liu Xuan tries to press the assigned shortcut key for the spell on the screen, he finds no response and the spell's quick interface doesn't appear.
Fortunately, Liu Xuan mutters the words "Terrifying Terror" under his breath. As a VR game, it naturally supports voice casting spells.
And thus, the following scene unfolds.
The orcs suddenly display expressions of extreme terror, and then break into a panic-stricken state, fleeing from the scene like defeated dogs.
Judging from the terrified eyes of the orcs and the determination with which they flee, Liu Xuan realizes that the spell is much more effective than he imagined.
Could it be that these monsters are of low level?
As he thinks about the level of the monsters, Liu Xuan's dissatisfaction with the game grows.
First, he was inexplicably teleported to an unfamiliar location, then suddenly encountered several orcs. On top of that, the shortcut keys for spells and the display of monster levels are experiencing problems.
This game experience is so terrible!
Not even 1000 crystals, let alone 10,000, can quell Liu Xuan's anger.
Liu Xuan has been playing this game since its launch when he was only 14 years old. Now, at the age of 17, he has been playing it for three years straight. This is the first time he has encountered such a large-scale bug since the game launched.
"..."
At this moment, Liu Xuan hears some noise behind him.
Could there be more enemies?
He quickly turns around and unexpectedly finds a golden-haired, blue-eyed girl hiding in a corner, staring at him. She is wearing a white dress with a gray cloak, and black knee-high stockings are visible under the hem of her skirt. However, her dress and cloak are stained with dust and dirt, and some parts are torn, revealing the girl's pristine white skin. There is also an obvious scar on her fair thigh, which has stained the stockings red.
Right now, Liu Xuan notices that the girl's body is trembling slightly, and she is looking at him with a mixture of fear and surprise.
Is she an NPC?Since there is no information displayed above the characters and monsters right now, Liu Xuan couldn't recognize the identity of this girl. However, judging from the torn clothes and the girl's expression, she should not be a player. It seems difficult for player characters in the game to make such vivid expressions.
Liu Xuan speculated that this girl should be an NPC who gave him the mission. The content of the mission should be related to those orcs just now.
But if I am a demon, would I be able to accept this mission?
Liu Xuan thought about his race in the game, which was a demon. Because he was the first demon to reach the highest level in the game, he also obtained the game achievement "Demon King" and the unique game skin of black wings.
Although in the game, even if the races are different or even hostile, some missions from other races can still be taken. But now, due to the "bug" causing the missing information of the "NPC," Liu Xuan couldn't determine if this human girl had a task for him.
Let's give it a try. Anyway, trying shouldn't result in any loss.
Liu Xuan thought about this and took steps towards the golden-haired girl hiding in the corner. With each step, he made a crisp sound on the ground. At this moment, Liu Xuan also noticed the remaining magic formation on the ground. The delicate patterns on the formation were clear, and the remaining runes had a very realistic texture.
Seeing Liu Xuan approaching, the girl on the opposite side instinctively squeezed against the wall. Fear could be seen in her eyes, but Liu Xuan could still sense a hint of determination on her face.
This sound, this magic formation, and the girl...
Why does Liu Xuan feel like the game's graphics, details, and realistic texture have improved a lot after the bug?
Could the game have secretly updated something?
But at this moment...
"Shake, shake, shake..." Liu Xuan kicked a small stone on the ground, and the stone rolled to the corner.
This was actually something that wouldn't typically draw anyone's attention, but it made Liu Xuan stunned.
Because in that instant when he kicked the small stone, Liu Xuan vaguely felt the touch between his toe and the stone - a realistic sensation different from the VR game.
How... How is this possible...
Although VRMW supported tactile feedback, it required additional accessories outside the VR headset, which were expensive, and as a high school student, Liu Xuan naturally wouldn't buy them.
But just now, he felt something when his toe touched the stone!
...
Maybe I'm just being paranoid.
Liu Xuan could only explain it that way, but he couldn't completely dismiss his doubts.
By this time, he had already walked up to the golden-haired girl.
Bending down to receive the quest, he looked at the girl.
The girl's eyes were filled with helplessness, avoiding Liu Xuan's gaze, and she curled up, wearing a desperate expression.
Seems like she's really scared? Is it because I'm a demon that the human NPC is reacting this way?
"You...you..." At this moment, the golden-haired girl spoke, but she only said a few meaningless words softly.
However, these few meaningless words made Liu Xuan feel the warm breath from the girl's cheek as he got closer.
Liu Xuan couldn't understand this game anymore. He had only bought a VR headset, but why could he feel this touch? Could it be that he was having hallucinations because he had been playing the game for too long?
Liu Xuan felt that it shouldn't be possible. Moreover, if the game did have tactile feedback, then the golden-haired girl in front of him...
Liu Xuan's hand involuntarily reached for the girl's lovely and delicate cheek. He wanted to prove that the previous sensation was just an illusion. However, he didn't notice the look of despair on the girl's face when she saw his actions, nor the intense trembling as he touched her cheek.
Although the girl's face was a little dirty, it was soft and smooth, and it felt very comfortable to touch. But Liu Xuan's brain was a bit confused at the moment. He found it unbelievable that his hand could touch the game character, and he felt like he had encountered a surreal event. His hand continued to slide along the girl's delicate cheek, gliding over her fair neck, and was about to go further down...The girl closed her eyes in despair, but tears couldn't help but stream down her cheeks and fall onto the back of Liu Xuan's hand, which was about to touch her neck.
However, this single drop of tear caused Liu Xuan's hand to pause instantly.
Because he felt the cold droplets on the back of his hand, Liu Xuan's chaotic mind suddenly regained clarity.
Liu Xuan slowly withdrew his hand, uncertain whether it was because of the pitiful girl's tears or his own regained clarity that he decided to stop touching.
But no matter what, Liu Xuan couldn't understand in his heart—what exactly had happened!
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew in through the hole at the top of the tower, lifting the girl's golden locks and caressing Liu Xuan's black, short hair.
Liu Xuan instinctively touched his own head.
Yet the moment his hand made contact with his hair, Liu Xuan's heart exclaimed in shock.
Because he realized that he hadn't touched his VR headset! Even if the game was incredibly realistic, it was impossible to physically touch the VR headset.
And at this moment, Liu Xuan finally noticed that ever since the system glitch occurred, there had been no messages displayed in the game's chat room.
What on earth was happening...
In fact, Liu Xuan had read quite a few novels about time travel.
So at this moment, Liu Xuan finally understood what had happened.
He had traveled through time as his game character!
