Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 627: First Popularity [3] (Refresh to Clear errors and Requesting for votes!)

"I’m going with a sword for close range and a gun for backup. I think it looks fun," Jester said.

"Then I’ll do the same," Lily decided, selecting a sleek energy blade and a small pistol.

The moment their selections locked in, the interface shifted again. The bright menu dissolved into a loading sequence of flashing lights and pulsing sounds.

Initializing Simulation...

Faction Assigned: The Federation

Deployment Zone: Sector A-9, Outskirts of Novan Ridge

Mission: Defend the Forward Base from Alien Incursion

The words faded, and the world around them solidified.

The roar of explosions thundered overhead, and Lily gasped as her boots sank into dirt. Smoke drifted over the ruined base ahead, and cries echoed in the distance. Her weapon felt heavy in her hands, the haptic feedback making it almost real.

Jester appeared beside her, his uniform identical to hers.

This was their first time stepping into a full virtual world.

For Lily, the experience was overwhelming in both good and bad ways. Her eyes darted around, taking in every detail—the haze of smoke, the metallic tang in the air, the subtle vibration beneath her boots. It all felt too real. The wind tugged at her uniform, the faint static of comms crackled in her ear, and the ground trembled from distant explosions.

She knew it was all virtual, yet her heart thudded against her chest as if she stood in a real battlefield. It wasn’t fear of the technology—it was fear of how alive everything felt.

And this was them still far from the main war zone. The thought of what the center of battle might look like sent a small chill down her spine.

As for Jester, he was simply in awe. His gaze wandered over the holographic dust motes floating in the sunlight, the soldiers shouting orders, the fire flickering in the distance. To him, this was something straight out of imagination.

In his mind, he couldn’t help but compare it to the illusion techniques of the cultivation world he remembered from Li Fang’s memories. Those illusions could trick the senses, yes—but this? This was something else entirely. It didn’t just trick sight or sound. It recreated existence itself. The textures, the gravity, even the temperature—it was precise in a way that made illusion arts seem ancient and crude.

"Technology has really gone beyond imagination," he murmured to himself.

A notification flickered in their vision.

Squad Formation: Complete.

They turned around—and realized they weren’t alone.

Three other figures stood a short distance away, clad in the same gray-and-blue Federation gear. Their names floated faintly above their heads when Lily focused her gaze:

IronDog42

Mira_Shotz

RexPrime

"Other players," Jester said curiously. "Guess it’s not just the two of us."

"Looks like it," Lily replied softly, her voice still filled with a mix of wonder and unease.

Their own names glowed faintly in the corner of their HUDs:

LilyMist

JesterVoid

Before they could say more, a fourth presence walked up to them—an NPC judging from the subtle blue outline and the lack of a name tag. The figure was tall, muscular, and wore a worn-out command coat draped over his armor. His face was scarred, eyes sharp and cold, but his tone was steady and commanding.

"Welcome to Outpost A-9, recruits," the man said, voice amplified through the squad’s comms. "You’re Federation foot soldiers now. That means you follow orders, keep your head down, and don’t die in the first five minutes."

Lily swallowed hard, tightening her grip on her rifle.

Jester, on the other hand, tilted his head slightly, a curious smile tugging at his lips. "So even artificial people can sound this real..." he whispered under his breath.

The NPC continued, pacing before them. "Your mission is simple: hold the ridge until reinforcements arrive. The aliens will test your defenses, and I expect you to fight back. Fail, and the outpost falls. Survive, and maybe you’ll live long enough to see the stars again."

Then, without warning, the sound of sirens blared again. The ground shook, and red lights flashed across the base.

Alert: Enemy forces inbound.

The squad leader’s gaze hardened. "Positions! Move it, rookies!"

Lily flinched at the command but obeyed immediately, sprinting toward the sandbag line. Jester followed right behind, his grin widening as the simulated adrenaline began to kick in.

Around them, the once-quiet base came alive. Dozens of soldiers ran across the camp—some clearly NPCs following precise routines, others players, their movements clumsy or erratic in comparison. It was a chaotic blend of human unpredictability and programmed precision.

Jester and Lily weren’t the only newcomers. Squads were forming all across the outer field, and Lily could see groups assembling near other barricades—shouting, laughing, or testing out their weapons before the battle began. Holographic drones hovered overhead.

"There are... a lot of people here," Lily murmured, watching a formation of armored vehicles roll past them.

"Most are NPCs," Jester replied after a moment, "but some—" he pointed at a group where two soldiers were jumping repeatedly into a sandbag wall, "—are definitely real players."

Lily laughed softly despite herself. The mixture of real and fake made the place feel more alive than it should have.

Unknown to either of them, however, someone else had already noticed their presence. Or rather, noticed him.

Far above the simulated battlefield, a hovering camera drone zoomed in on the squad below. Its operator—a popular game streamer known as HexaNova—was broadcasting live to hundreds of thousands of viewers.

"Okay, chat," HexaNova said, adjusting her headset as she scanned through the crowded outpost. "Looks like we’re dropping into a public session this time. Let’s see what kind of chaos we can find before the aliens spawn."

The chat flooded with emotes and scrolling text:

’Show us the new players!’

’Noobs incoming!’

’Bet half of them can’t even aim!’

Her drone camera drifted past one squad, then another—until it caught sight of Jester standing beside Lily, his posture calm and his expression serious as he checked his weapon.

HexaNova paused mid-sentence.

"...Wait. Chat, hold on—does that guy look familiar to anyone else?"

The scrolling comments erupted again.