After the matters with the Gene Trader, the Auction Token, and Survivor Medals were dealt with, Kai returned to the Blue Grass Shelter’s thatched house.

A family could live here, so it had enough space.

Then, he ordered Atom to guard him and not let anyone come close.

After giving this order, Kai opened his Inventory and took out the Neural Gear.

The device looked deceptively simple... It was a glossy, portable headset with a thin band that wrapped around the skull and a cluster of micro‑nodes designed to press against the temples and spine.

Unlike the bulky VR Pods he had used before in the Aries Faction’s VR Hall, this was compact, lightweight, and built with incredibly advanced technology.

Its surface was matte black, with faint silver lines that light up softly when powered.

[ Neural Gear ]

[ Grade: Superior Portable Device ]

[ Description: A neural synchronization unit designed for direct connection to immersive applications. Portable and self‑sustaining, it can operate continuously for 24 hours without external power.

Recharging requires connection to a standard energy source or at least a B-Grade Energy Core.

Provides adaptive comfort and full sensory immersion. Compatible with installed applications. ]

[ Note: Connection is untraceable and immune to hacking attempts. ]

[ Battery Charge: 100% ]

Kai studied the description carefully and smiled. This was supposedly a 200 Reputation Points item, but thanks to his Voucher, he was able to purchase it for half of its price.

He had already installed Perfect World, the VR game that had intrigued him since he heard it the first time.

’I wonder if there will be some quality change after using this...’ Kai mused.

This time, he wouldn’t be entering through the VR Pod.

The Neural Gear would be his gateway, so he was quite curious.

He then placed the device over his head. The nodes pressed gently against his skin, adjusting automatically to fit.

Soon, a faint hum resonated through his body as the system activated.

[ Neural synchronization initializing... ]

[ Scanning vitals... ]

[ Spirit resonance detected. ]

[ Gene Skill compatibility confirmed. ]

[ Adaptive comfort engaged. ]

A tingling sensation spread across his body, as though every nerve was being mapped.

Kai clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm as the sensation deepened.

His vision blurred before it was filled with cascading streams of light.

[ Avatar Creation Mode ]

[ Note: Appearance locked to genetic scan for skill synchronization. Customization limited to name selection. ]

Kai blinked. "Wait... avatar creation?"

He hadn’t expected this. He had already entered Perfect World before through the VR Pod, and his character had been synchronized directly with his genetic scan.

But this Neural Gear was different. It demanded a new identity.

This was completely different from what Cornelio had mentioned before.

[ Character Creation ]

Enter Avatar Name:

It was the same message...

’Whatever... Let’s just go with the flow.’

He didn’t want to use his real name. This was a new world, and a new identity should follow. He thought for a moment, then slowly typed...

"Traceless."

[ Name confirmed: Traceless. ]

[ Avatar creation complete. ]

Kai exhaled as he saw the acceptance...

Well, the Neural Gear had forced him to start fresh, but perhaps that was an opportunity.

Soon, the same cinematic scene appeared, showing this world being invaded by Alien races. They corrupted the land, mutated the animals into beasts, and it displayed how humanity gathered its survivors, forging factions, and built weapons to fight back.

Still, this was a game world with twelve floors, or perhaps, realms in total...

After the game introduction, he soon entered the beginning town... Which was different from the default spawn point!

[ Spawn point: Beginner Town – Reverie Town ]

The Beginner Town, when he used the VR pod, was the town of Lyra... This time, however, was completely different!

***

The salty breeze hit Kai the moment his vision cleared.

He blinked a few times, adjusting to the sudden brightness of the new environment.

Whoosh~ Whoosh~

He soon heard the rhythmic crash of waves against the pier.

He was standing on cobblestone streets that sloped gently toward the harbor, where dockworkers shouted orders and crates were being loaded onto a massive ship.

"A port town?" Kai muttered as he heard the faint creak of wooden planks across the port. Reverie Town seemed to be special.

He saw sailors tightening ropes, merchants haggling over goods, and adventurers preparing for voyages.

It was nothing like Lyra, the inland beginner town he had spawned in before.

Kai’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Interesting. This is new."

He took a moment to observe the details.

The town itself was quite nice. It had taverns, market stalls, and a central square visible in the distance.

Curious, Kai opened his status window.

[ Character Status ]

Name: Traceless

Titles: None

Level: 1

Health: 100 / 100

Energy: 50 / 50

Physique Rating: F+

Strength: 10

Intelligence: 10

Dexterity: 10

Endurance: 10

Vitality: 10

Reputation: 0

Faction: None

Kai nodded. "Same as before... Level 1, base stats. At least that’s consistent."

He then checked his inventory next.

[ Inventory ]

[ Slot 1: Newbie Gift Pack ]

[ Slot 2–10: Empty ]

[ Newbie Gift Pack ] Contains: Basic rations, beginner weapon voucher, 5 healing salves, 1 stamina potion.

"Standard starter kit," Kai muttered. Nothing unusual there.

But when he opened the skills list, his eyes widened.

[ Active Skills: Spirit Pulse Lv5, Specter Step Lv5, Fast Appraisal Lv5, Beast Arm Lv5 ]

[ Passive Skills: Keen Sense Lv5, Bio Adaptive Constitution Lv5, Battle Trance Lv5, Bronze Skin Lv5 ]

Kai froze. "What...? Level 5?"

He was shocked, in the VR Pod, his gene skills had reset to Level 0 inside the game. That had been the rule... Synchronization acknowledged his real abilities but forced progression from scratch.

Yet here, with the Neural Gear, his skills carried over exactly as they were in the real world.

"This... changes everything."

Then, as Kai was just about to explore the marketplace, a sudden alarm rang out across Reverie Town.

Wooo~ Wooo~

The piercing sound echoed from the central square, followed by frantic shouts.

"We’re under attack!" someone yelled.

Kai’s eyes widened. "Seriously? A beginner town being attacked?"

Then, a huge shadow blocked the sky, and soon, he realized what was attacking them!

’The heck? An alien ship this early?!’