Reaction & Retaliate

S.A. Group Headquarters – The Morning After the Launch

The S.A. Group headquarters buzzed with an electric, celebratory energy. The air was thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the faint hum of chatter as employees reveled in the precedented success of Satisfy. The virtual reality game had taken the world by storm, amassing a staggering 1 billion players within its first 24 hours. It was a feat that defied expectations, a testament to years of innovation, sleepless nights, and relentless dedication.

In the heart of the operations room, a massive screen displayed real-time statistics: player engagement rates, server stability metrics, and glowing reviews from across the globe. The team had every reason to celebrate. But as the clock ticked past noon, the festive atmosphere was abruptly shattered.

The screen flickered once, twice, and then flooded with a harsh, crimson red. A synthesized voice, calm yet commanding, echoed through the room.

[Individual K-0069 has been saved.]

The room fell silent. Glasses of champagne paused mid-air, and the clinking of keyboards ceased. All eyes turned to the screen, where the words glowed ominously.

"Huh?" someone muttered, breaking the silence.

"W-what?" another voice stammered, confusion rippling through the room like a wave.

Yoon Nahee, the head of the operations team, stepped forward. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she processed the message. "Wait a minute," she said, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "Individuals with the K-code designation are supposed to be talented NPCs designed to die early for quest progression. They're not meant to be 'saved.' This… this shouldn't be possible. Especially when the player's level is still low."

The weight of her words hung in the air. The K-series NPCs were a cornerstone of Satisfy's dynamic storytelling system. They were designed to be compelling, tragic figures whose deaths would drive player engagement and emotional investment. Their legacy will help the player's growth with various quests that lead to the cause of NPC death.

For one of them to defy their programmed fate was unprecedented—and potentially catastrophic.

All eyes turned to Lim Cheolho, the enigmatic founder and CEO of S.A. Group. He stood at the center of the room, his expression unreadable. His sharp features and piercing gaze commanded respect, and even in moments of crisis, he exuded an aura of calm authority. Without hesitation, he issued a command.

"Morpheus, display the character sheet of K-0069."

The AI's voice responded instantly, its tone as neutral as ever. [Affirmative.]

A holographic projection materialized in the center of the room, casting a soft blue glow over the faces of the gathered employees. The character sheet of K-0069 unfolded before them, a detailed dossier of stats, background, and recent activity.

Name: Kaela Kovalskia

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Class: Blacksmith Warrior

Level: 69

Strength: 397/2.080

Stamina: 431/15069

Agility: 278/1.930

Intelligence: 79/1.174

Skills: Weapon Mastery (S). Silence (A). Heart of Grind (SS+). Blacksmithing Mastery (SS-). No Pressure (A+)

The silence was broken by a sharp intake of breath. One of the junior developers, a young man with glasses, leaned forward, his eyes wide behind his lenses. "Level 69? At her age? And those stats… How is this even possible? She's supposed to be a disposable NPC!"

Another employee, a woman with her hair tied back in a tight bun, shook her head in disbelief. "Look at her skills! Heart of Grind at SS+? That's a legendary-tier skill! And Blacksmithing Mastery at SS-? She's practically a master blacksmith already. This… this isn't just an anomaly. This is a full-blown system breach."

Yoon Nahee crossed her arms, her expression a mix of frustration and fascination. Her sharp eyes scanned the holographic display of Kaela Kovalskia's stats, her mind racing with the implications. "This is exactly why the K-series was designed to die early," she said, her voice cutting through the murmurs of the room. "Their potential is too volatile. If they're allowed to grow unchecked, they could destabilize entire regions of the game. And now, thanks to this… anomaly, she's survived what was supposed to be her defining moment—her sacrifice to Yatan's Believers."

Lim Cheolho raised a hand, and the room fell silent once more. His eyes scanned the holographic display, his mind racing. "Morpheus," he said, his voice steady but laced with urgency, "explain the anomaly. Why was K-0069 saved?"

The AI's response was immediate. [Analysis complete. Individual K-0069's survival is the result of unprecedented player interference. A user designated as Gilgamesh intervened during the termination event, altering the NPC's fate. The probability of this outcome was calculated at 0.0175%.]

0.0175%. That's the probability of someone intervening in the ritual and also succeeding. Considering the server just opened yesterday, there is no chance that the player will survive the confrontation.

Lim Cheolho's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Morpheus, pull up the player profile for 'Gilgamesh'"

The hologram shifted, revealing a new set of data. The room leaned in, their curiosity piqued. Whoever this Gilgamesh was, they had just thrown a wrench into the meticulously crafted world of Satisfy. And as the details of Gilgamesh's actions unfolded, it became clear that this was no ordinary player.

"Wow, clearing bandit camp on his first night?"

"Look at his skill! Isn't his class a warrior, how can he use stealth so well comparable to an assassin?"

"Ohoh, she want to become his servant?"

Murmur and awe filled the room as they watched every detail of Gilgamesh's doing since he arrived at Patrian.

"But it is really okay for the player to interfere with something of that magnitude, Kaela's talent alone will be hard to ignore, now she decided to follow a player, won't that disturb the balance?"

Yoon Nahee's lips tightened. "That's what we need to find out. Gilgamesh's interference shouldn't have been possible. The sacrifice was a fixed event, designed to be unalterable. The fact that Kaela survived means there's a flaw in the system—a flaw we didn't anticipate."

Lim Cheolho, who had been quietly observing the discussion, stepped forward. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tension in the room. "It's not necessarily a flaw," he said, his voice measured. "It's a testament to the unpredictability of Satisfy. We designed this world to be dynamic, to allow players and NPCs to shape its future in ways we can't always predict. Kaela's survival is a result of that design."

Yoon Nahee turned to him, her frustration evident. "With all due respect, Chairman Lim, this isn't just about unpredictability. This is about balance. Kaela's survival means she can continue to grow. Her stats, her skills—they're already exceptional for an NPC of her level. If she's allowed to thrive, she could become a powerhouse, someone who influences the game world in ways we never intended. And what happens when players realize they can alter fixed events? The entire narrative structure of Satisfy could collapse."

The room erupted into murmurs of agreement and concern. The developers exchanged uneasy glances, their minds racing with the potential consequences. One of them, a young woman with a nervous demeanor, raised her hand. "What if… what if this is just the beginning? If one fixed event can be altered, what's stopping players from changing others? The entire game could spiral out of control."

Lim Cheolho held up a hand, silencing the room. "I understand your concerns," he said, his tone calm but firm. "But let's not jump to conclusions. Kaela's survival is unprecedented, but it's also an opportunity. It shows that Satisfy is truly alive, that players and NPCs can shape its future in meaningful ways. As for the risks… we'll monitor the situation closely. If necessary, we'll adjust the system to maintain balance. But for now, let's see where this leads.

 And remember we have a policy of not directly interfering in the game. "

Yoon Nahee sighed, uncrossing her arms. "I still think this is a disaster waiting to happen. But… I trust your judgment, Chairman Lim. For now, we'll keep an eye on her."

Lim Cheolho nodded. "Agreed. Morpheus, continues monitoring Kaela Kovalskia and the player known as Gilgamesh. Alert me immediately if there are any further anomalies."

[Affirmative.]

As the hologram faded, the room slowly returned to its earlier buzz of activity—though the festive atmosphere had been replaced by a sense of cautious anticipation. The launch of Satisfy had been a triumph, but now, a new chapter was unfolding. And at the center of it all was a 16-year-old blacksmith warrior who had defied her fate, and the player who had made it possible.

***

After his conversation with Kaela, Gilgamesh made his way to the Golden Feather Inn, his mind racing with the implications of what he had discovered. The Yatan believers were not just a local nuisance—they were a growing threat, and their presence in the ruins north of Patrian needed to be addressed immediately.

As usual, Garrett was behind the bar, polishing mugs and chatting with patrons. When he saw Gilgamesh enter, his expression shifted from casual to concerned. "You look like you've seen a ghost," Garrett said, setting down the mug he was cleaning. "What happened?"

Gilgamesh approached the bar, his tone serious. "We need to talk. Somewhere private."

Garrett nodded, his usual gruff demeanor replaced by a look of genuine concern. He gestured for Gilgamesh to follow him to a back room, away from the prying ears of the inn's patrons.

Once they were alone, Gilgamesh wasted no time. "The ruins north of Patrian—they're not just some abandoned relic. They're a hideout for the Yatan Church. I found evidence of their rituals, and I rescued a girl they were planning to sacrifice."

Garrett's eyes widened, his expression darkening. "The Yatan Church? Here? That's... bad. Really bad."

Gilgamesh nodded, his tone grim. "I know. They're not just a bunch of fanatics. They're organized, dangerous, and they're growing. If we don't do something, they'll keep spreading."

Garrett ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. "This is bigger than just us. The Yatan Church has been causing trouble all over the continent. If they've set up shop here, it's only a matter of time before they start causing real damage."

Garrett leaned against the table, his expression thoughtful. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. I know a guy who knows a guy who's close to Earl Ashur. If we can get this information to him, he'll mobilize the army. The Yatan Church is a threat to the entire region, and Ashur won't take that lightly."

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow. "You think he'll listen?"

Garrett smirked, though there was no humor in it. "Oh, he'll listen. The Yatan Church has been a thorn in the side of every noble on the continent. If we can give Ashur a chance to strike a blow against them, he'll take it. Trust me."

Gilgamesh nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Good. The sooner we act, the better. But we need to be careful. If the Yatan believers catch wind of what we're doing, they'll either flee or double down. Either way, it won't end well."

Garrett clapped him on the shoulder, his tone firm. "You've done your part, Gilgamesh. Let me handle the rest. You focus on keeping that girl safe and staying out of trouble."

Gilgamesh smirked faintly. "Trouble seems to find me whether I like it or not."

Garrett chuckled, though his expression remained serious. "Yeah, well, try not to get yourself killed before the army gets here. We're going to need every ablebody we can get."