Eric gripped the yacht's wheel tightly as the vessel cut through the choppy waves, the salty spray stinging his face. The night sky above was a canvas of swirling clouds, occasionally pierced by distant lightning that reminded him of the eternal storm around Coiling Dragon Island. His mind raced faster than the boat, piecing together the chaos unfolding back in S-city. The abyss portal in the H-hospital township sinkhole wasn't just a random anomaly—it was a deliberate sabotage. That soldier, whoever he was, had unleashed those zombie-corruption birds to spark an apocalypse. But Eric's traps had turned the tide, harvesting F-grade abyss crystals like ripe fruit from a poisoned tree.The server notifications buzzed in his peripheral vision, a constant stream of [Player xxx joined the server] and [Digitization progress: 100%]. Earth was now fully under Terra's umbrella, an "instance" in the game's parlance. It meant he could intervene anywhere, but it also painted a bigger target on his

The relentless, perpetual rain that characterized Coiling Dragon Island during the peak of the Terra server’s digitization cycle continued its rhythmic beat against the reinforced glass dome of the mansion’s rooftop garden. Eric, dressed in simple black training gear, leaned against the cliffside railing, the humid, ozone-rich air heavy around him. The sun, a hazy disc behind the clouds, cast an ethereal golden mist over the elevated plateau, illuminating the chaotic beauty of his new home.Below, the water-level pavilion buzzed with activity. Mimi, his sister, was a whirlwind of motion, her laughter echoing off the damp rock faces as she levitated a dozen grapefruit-sized water orbs, her primary Water Manipulation skill leveling with every twirl. Grandfather Song Tu was on the opposing cliff face, his massive frame a silhouette against the eternal lightning, channeling bolts into a series of jagged rock formations, slowly forging them into crude, thunder-charged turrets. Grandmother D

The ferry horn echoed up the cliff like a long-held breath finally released. Eric stood on the pier, the sun warm on his shoulders, the sea calm for the first time in months. When Meghan stepped off the gangway, duffel slung over one arm, her eyes were red-rimmed but bright with relief. Eric’s heart did a small, helpless flip.“Hey, you,” he said, voice softer than he meant.She dropped the bag and walked straight into his arms. “I was scared you’d be mad,” she whispered against his neck. “Dad used you, Eric. He USED you.”He held her tighter, feeling her tremble. “I’m not mad at you.”. Their relationship is progressing a little too fast. “I know.” She pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes glassy. “But I’m still sorry. I should’ve seen it sooner.”Eric brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Come inside. Let’s talk where it’s quiet.”They climbed the pulley path in silence, Meghan’s fingers laced through his. At the mansion, Mimi bounded over, water orb spinning above her pal

The morning ferry arrived with the soft hush of a promise kept. The engine’s distant drone grew to a comforting thrum before docking at the pier of Coiling Dragon Island. Eric stood there, the salt breeze cool against his face, watching the gangway drop.His mother, Anxi Wu, stepped onto the wooden planks, her suit jacket neatly pressed, a small suitcase in hand, and the distinct red No Spoilage player badge—a gift from Grandma Dolly pinned to her coat. Her smile was wide, a rare, unrestrained expression of relief, but her eyes, despite the joy, carried the quiet weariness of long, draining hospital corridors and finalized divorce papers. The severance from the toxicity of the Wu family was complete.“Eric,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. She dropped the case onto the pier and hugged him so hard his ribs creaked with the force of her relief. “You kept your promise”.He held her longer than usual, grounding himself in the faint scent of antiseptic and the memory of her home-

The moon hung low over ◘Coiling Dragon Island◘, a silver coin balanced on the black water. Inside the mansion’s sunroom, the family slept: ◘Anxi Wu◘ (Mimi’s mother) curled on the couch with a half-finished quilt, Meghan and Grandmother Dolly sharing the guest room, Richie snoring in the hammock on the pier. Only one light still glowed: a soft, pulsing ◘aquamarine◘ from the dragon-shaped altar badge pinned to Mimi’s pajama collar. Mimi sat cross-legged on the cliff’s edge, bare feet dangling over the drop, water orbs orbiting her like tiny moons. Her console—scaled down to child-size by Mona—hovered in front of her, displaying a ◘new quest◘ in glowing script: > ◘MIMI’S ALTAR QUEST◘  > ◘Objective:◘ Place ◘one special altar◘ every ◘1