Felix received this battle report in the autumn of 1100, but even before reading it, he had already seen the players' deeds discussed all over the forums.
Although PvP occupied a small yet significant portion of the conversation, the overwhelming majority of the discussion centered on the storyline of version 4.0.
The story of version 3.0 had reached a near-perfect conclusion. Players had not only participated in the wars across Terra, but had also witnessed King Felix personally lead them in conquering the land, breaching the walls of Londinium, subduing the Military Commission, and bringing the civil war in Kazdel to an end. After that, he united the whole of Terra against the forces of Collapsals, leading the Terran Alliance to defeat the darkness that sought to devour the light in less than a month.
Version 3.0 could truly be called complete.
Although most of its narrative was centered on war, the wars themselves did not drag on for too long. Between them were long stretches of time during which players could freely do the things they enjoyed.
Players no longer had to rely on walking to travel, nor did they have to buy vehicles of their own unless they wanted to. Airship fares were cheap, allowing them to easily pass the long periods of downtime by traveling. On top of that, with Aegir joining the broader alliance, railway lines linking city after city were being constructed at every moment.
Players loved Terra.
They enjoyed every second they spent there, as though they were living a second life.
In fact, many people had found in this world an escape from reality, or something they could never obtain in real life. Terra had become their second world. Every time they returned, it gave them the joy of fully becoming the version of themselves they wished to be.
Perhaps that was the true charm of online games.
During a census in the middle of version 3.0, the number of players had already surpassed 160 million, almost matching the number of players during World of Warcraft's most popular era. It was far more popular than Ark had ever been in his previous life. Felix had no idea what sort of butterfly effect had caused it, but Ark had simply grown more and more popular without any significant advertising or management effort.
Everyone marveled at the journey from version 1.0 to 3.0.
Many players who had only started after version 3.0 began digging through old videos left by earlier players, trying to understand what those past experiences had been like.
Naturally, that made them even more eager for version 4.0.
They speculated endlessly about what the 4.0 PV would look like, and who would appear in it. Of course, Dawn King Felix would definitely appear, but beyond that, no one could guess the actual content. After all, countless people had speculated about the next version before, and almost all of them had been wrong.
Terra was simply too vast.
Who could possibly predict when, where, or what would happen next?
Some players speculated that the next version would see Kazdel become the suzerain state of Terra, and that players might even gain the chance to establish countries of their own under Felix's rule.
This was, in fact, the most widely accepted theory among players.
At present, players already had independent guilds and companies, and their everyday interactions mostly took place within their own circles. Although the missions of Tomorrow's Development were still being completed and players still took pride in being part of it, their focus had already begun to shift. They still needed Tomorrow's Development, and they still regarded themselves as part of it, but after the progression from 1.0 to 3.0, they wanted more.
Of course, some people also speculated that the next version would involve Kazdel going to war against the whole of Terra and completely reshuffling the world order.
This theory received very little support.
Not every player enjoyed fighting on the front lines all the time, much less becoming an enemy of the entire world. To be honest, Kazdel certainly had that kind of potential, but many NPCs would inevitably die in such a scenario. In the end, that sort of story simply did not fit the established character of Felix as the Dawn King.
So that theory was quickly dismissed.
The final major theory was that the next version would be a very open-ended expansion.
Kazdel's main storyline seemed to have reached a conclusion, so perhaps the focus would shift to other nations instead. Maybe the main story would continue elsewhere, such as in Yan.
Players still held a deep fascination with the so-called Sui Beasts of Yan. They still remembered the Azure Dragon summon that had once ravaged the demon battlefield.
As Felix looked through all those speculations, he could not help but laugh.
He himself had never experienced version 4.0 in his previous life, so he had no idea what would happen next. All he could do was what lay within his power.
Looking at the countless invitations that had arrived recently, Felix casually picked one up. It turned out to be from Madam Sicily. The new mobile city of Volsinii had been completed and was now holding its opening ceremony and carnival.
He raised his head and looked at the distant starry sky outside the window.
Far off in the distance, at the very edge of his vision, hung the outline of the Earth.
"Your Highness, the new generation of fighter aircraft has completed its test flights. It can already fly beyond the original altitude limit of Terra and enter outer space. However, its fuel capacity is still insufficient, and it cannot sustain long-duration flight."
"You have all done very well to recreate the fighter from the blueprint."
Felix withdrew his gaze from the window and turned back.
"But more than that, what I care about is the progress of the mothership project."
The mothership—
that would be the future home of the people of Terra.
After Kristen successfully rebuilt the Arc Light One platform, engineers were finally able to carry out construction work directly on it. The most ambitious project now underway is a gigantic spacecraft more than three thousand meters long, which Felix named it Infinity.
This project had cost Felix nearly all of his savings.
At last, among that mountain of blueprints, he had found the true golden legend. This was the vessel that could carry the people of Terra into the future.
"Have there been any issues with the engine design?"
"No. Chief Kristen has already analyzed the engine system from the blueprints you provided. Director Ferdinand has been working day and night without rest, determined to complete the faster-than-light engine Your Highness described as soon as possible."
"We still have enough time."
Felix stood up, and Irene, who had been delivering the report, looked up slightly.
"Your Highness, what is your next itinerary?"
"Hm, I'm taking my lovers to Siracusa for a trip. Why don't you take a vacation too?"
A trace of longing appeared on Irene's face.
Felix smiled.
"The Abyssal Hunters have already returned to Aegir, and Aegir has long since opened itself to the nations of Terra. Why not take this opportunity to visit Aegir and see what our former allies from Iberia are like now?"
"Your Highness, Iberia may wish to become Aegir's ally, but the old Iberia simply was not qualified."
Irene smiled and bowed to Felix.
"Your Highness, thank you for the suggestion. The golden age of Iberia has already passed, and we should all look forward. Under your leadership, Aegir has returned to the ranks of Terra's nations. I believe I should spend some time there and conduct a proper field investigation."
She paused briefly.
"When will Your Highness be returning?"
"It won't take long, probably sometime in December."
Irene gave Felix a grateful smile, bowed once more, and then skipped happily toward the Stargate.
Felix also stepped through the Stargate.
This time, Siracusa had invited not only Felix, but also several people with deep ties to the city, including Texas and Lappland. Since Texas was going, the Penguin Logistics team naturally accompanied her to the new city as well.
As Felix watched the last rays of the setting sun, he felt the warmth of its fading glow.
What would version 4.0 be like?
Felix did not know.
But one thing he was certain of was that he had indeed saved the land of Terra, and Terra now possessed a bright new future.
He knew nothing about what would happen in the new Volsinii, and he no longer had any intention of interfering with the plot. In other words, doing so would feel like cheating, so it was better to leave more opportunities for the younger generation.
When Felix arrived in New Volsinii, he immediately saw flames burning in the direction of the harbor. Many civilians and some players stood there watching the commotion. Felix glanced at them and then looked away.
He could sense the power struggles brewing within New Volsinii, but after just experiencing a war on the scale of an entire planet, he had no interest in this kind of petty scheming.
With an opponent like that, couldn't they simply crush them with absolute strength?
With that thought in mind, Felix ordered room service at the hotel.
A short while later, the doorbell rang.
When he opened the door, he found Texas standing there.
Her expression was as calm as ever, but she was dressed in a Victorian-style maid outfit, with her Lupo tail swaying behind her. In her usually steady eyes flickered a trace of excitement and anticipation that was difficult to describe.
"How did you find me?"
Felix looked at Texas in surprise, took the tray from her hands, grabbed a french fry, and stuffed it into his mouth.
"I don't remember revealing my itinerary."
"Your Highness still carries my scent," Texas said, blushing faintly as she stammered. "Even though it has faded a little, I could still detect it the moment Your Highness entered the city…"
"...Want to eat together?"
"Okay."
Texas seemed to let out a quiet sigh of relief as she sat down beside Felix and began quietly eating her hamburger. She leaned against him contentedly, her tail occasionally brushing against his waist and thighs, leaving behind her scent.
She cherished the time she spent with Felix.
She knew very well that His Highness was incredibly busy, burdened every day with endless responsibilities. So when she caught his scent in New Volsinii, she could hardly believe it and even wondered whether she had imagined it.
It was wonderful that His Highness had come here.
The last time Texas had been alone with Felix had been during the hot spring trip. Texas's stamina was nowhere near that of the Sarkaz, and she had already lost after only twenty minutes.
Right now, she wanted His Highness all to herself.
She did not want to tell her colleagues at Penguin Logistics. She did not want to tell Lappland, even though Lappland had also slept with Felix. She did not want to tell Exusiai or the others either.
Although she felt a little guilty toward her best friends, Texas wanted to be selfish just this once.
Today, she wanted to have His Highness entirely to herself.
"Are you planning to investigate the harbor arson case?"
"Your Highness means the incident just now? At this point, everyone is tacitly assuming it was the work of the unruly families. During the war against the demons, Siracusa did not fight on the front lines because of its limited strength and instead took charge of logistical support. As a result, the dividends and influence it gained after the war were limited. Perhaps those families are dissatisfied. They think that if Madam Sicily puts in a good word for them in front of Your Highness, they might also obtain such honors."
Texas nestled against Felix's chest. Her long legs, wrapped in black stockings, traced faint patterns in the air, and her toes lightly tapped the sofa. A hint of disdain and helplessness flickered across her face.
"But I can already imagine it. Even if Your Highness accepted Madam Sicily's suggestion and allowed Siracusa to fight on the front lines, those families would only think about sending other families to die in their place. In a life-or-death situation, they would all preserve their own strength and protect the power of their families. That is simply what families do."
"There is only one Siracusa among the nations of Terra. If there were really several more like it…" Felix narrowed his eyes.
Texas turned around and gently bit his neck.
"No matter what, Siracusa has already bowed to Kazdel, whether openly or in secret. I don't care what those families do. Madam Sicily will deal with it."
Seeing Texas becoming more and more brazen, Felix scooped her into his arms and tossed her onto the bed. Then he walked to the window and drew the curtains, leaving only a dim orange glow in the room.
___
Some time later, Texas's satisfied breathing gradually slowed and returned to calm.
After sleeping for several hours, Texas woke feeling a little sore and numb. Of course, now that she was already his, she was no longer the naïve girl she had once been, so it was not as though she could not even walk. She opened her sleepy eyes and, by the faint light in the room, looked toward the young man sitting on the sofa watching the projection from the Clever.
A faint, satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
"Do you want to rest a little longer?"
Texas chuckled and shook her head. Sitting up on the bed, she stretched lazily.
"I want to show you around Siracusa."
"Heh… Do you still remember the first time we met? You were hiding behind Lappland." Felix recalled that first meeting. At the time, he had just set foot on this land as a weapons merchant, only hoping to make some money through speculation. Meeting Texas and the others had truly been unexpected.
He just had never imagined that Texas would one day become his lover.
"Back then, I couldn't bear to see you leave." Texas changed her clothes and then tightly clasped Felix's hands, their fingers interlocking. "But I knew I was too powerless at the time. I had neither the strength nor the power to break free from fate… If I had been able to run away with you back then, would your first time have belonged to me instead of Mostima?"
Felix gently touched Texas's cheek, and she shyly turned her gaze away.
"Let's go… Before this city descends completely into chaos, let's enjoy it to the fullest."