MMORPG: Rebirth as an Alchemist

Ren blinked in surprise, taken aback by the unexpected sight before him. He hadn't anticipated encountering a lizard as the conductor of the interdimensional train, nor had he realized that they would still need to line up and present their tickets to gain entry like a normal human.

Nevertheless, he quickly reached into his pocket, fingers closing around the familiar shape of his [Green Card].

"Come on, let's go. I don't want to stay here any longer," Joker urged, his voice tinged with impatience.

Angelica nodded towards the train, her expression urging Ren to hasten his steps. "Let's go, Ren. You better have your [Green Card] ready."

As they waited for their turn to approach the conductor, Ren observed others in the queue with expressions of awe and confusion etched upon their faces.

"Um . . . we don't have this [Green Card]. Where do we get it?" one of the newly evolved inquired, their tone tinged with desperation.

The lizard conductor simply blinked his eyes and ignored them, his attention focused solely on the task at hand. "Then you can't enter the train. Only those who have the [Green Card] may enter Nexus."

Ren's brow furrowed in concern as he overheard the exchange. It seemed that obtaining the [Green Card] was crucial for accessing the interdimensional train.

"Where can we get these [Green Cards]?" another voice piped up, echoing the same sentiment.

The lizard let out an exasperated sigh, his gaze flickering briefly over the crowd. "You can obtain them from the Stingfeeders or any mutated creatures and monsters. That is . . . if you're lucky if you found one."

The news sent a ripple of unease through the gathering, as they grappled with the realization of the daunting task.

"Kill those things?" someone exclaimed incredulously, their voice trembling with disbelief.

The Lizard rolled his eyes. "That's right, and you better hop to it. This world would end at any moment and the train will leave . . ." he glanced at his watch, ". . . at exactly thirty minutes."

"How are we supposed to defeat those things in such a short amount of time?" another voice protested, their frustration building.

"Can we offer you something else?" another desperate plea rang out from the crowd, their voices tinged with desperation.

Angelica observed the scene. "Poor souls," she murmured under her breath.

"Without that card, you can't enter the train," Joker reiterated, his tone devoid of sympathy.

"Could they make exceptions?" Ren asked.

Joker let out a hearty chuckle at the notion. "I'm afraid not. Nexus might be a safe haven, but it's extremely strict in controlling its growing population. The [Green Card] is basically like your ticket there. It's proof that you're qualified to enter its walls. No exceptions."

Ren fell silent, his gaze drifting down to the [Green Card] clutched tightly in his hand. Evie had given it to him, but the mystery of its origin lingered in his thoughts like a persistent shadow.

How could Evie possess something like this? She wasn't an Evolve, and there were no mutants in their room from whom she could have obtained it.

Moreover, [Green Cards] were exceedingly rare to come by. Most were acquired through the arduous task of killing monsters, while others were stolen from unsuspecting victims.

A fortunate few could be found lying abandoned, waiting to be claimed by the fortuitous finder.

The enigma surrounding the [Green Card] deepened, adding another layer of complexity to their already dire situation.

Ren could only hope that its significance would become clear in due time.

Maybe Evie had known about the evolution all along?

Ren shook his head. That couldn't be right. Evie would have surely told him about it if she had known, unlike him, who tended to overthink everything and ended up saying nothing.

A surge of self-directed anger coursed through Ren's veins, compelling him to want to punch himself.

It was his fault.

If only he had told them about the impending apocalypse and the evolution, things would have turned out differently.

Ren's train of thought was abruptly interrupted by a commotion nearby. He glanced ahead and saw that the newly evolved were attempting to confront the lizard, some even resorting to the use of force.

"Fools," Joker muttered with a shake of his head.

Angelica's expression remained impassive as she remarked, "There are always those who don't understand how the universe works, especially the newly evolved."

The Lizard ticket inspector glared at the group of newcomers, his patience wearing thin as his nostrils flared. In an instant, his form morphed into that of a ferocious dragon, flames roaring from his mouth as he spoke.

"I said . . . YOU CAN'T ENTER!" he bellowed, his fiery breath scorching the air.

With a fierce blast, he incinerated the newly evolved who dared to defy him. The unfortunate souls screamed as they melted under the intense heat, their hardened skin proving no match for the dragon's infernal breath.

"Idiots," Joker sighed. "The train guardian is the last creature you should anger. Nexus doesn't just send someone to guard this train, after all."

The lizard then returned to its normal size, its face regaining its impassive demeanor. "Next."

The line resumed as if nothing had happened, while the newly evolved remained too shaken to move.

Finally, it was Ren's turn. The lizard took his [Green Card].

"You may enter," it stated.

But Ren didn't move.

"What?" the lizard asked, its slit eyes fixed on Ren.

"Hey, Ren, let's go." Joke pulled him inside the train and whispered in his ear. "Didn't I say that the train guardian is the last creature you should anger?"

Ren didn't say anything. He was still looking at his hand, where the [Green Card] had been. That card was the last thing Evie had given him, and now the lizard had taken it away.

"He's going to give it back, right?" Ren asked, his voice dazed. "That [Green Card]."

Joker stared at Ren incredulously. "I know the [Green Card] is important, but at the end of the day, it's just our ticket to ride this train. Besides, you'll get a new one. Let it go."

Ren felt like a robot as he sat on an empty chair, while Angelica and Joker made themselves comfortable in the spacious area.

Ren couldn't shake the thought of the [Green Card], but there was nothing he could do. So, he decided to let it be. Besides, he had more pressing matters to occupy his mind right now.

After a few minutes, the train finally announced its departure.

As the train moved at a steady pace, Ren looked outside the window and saw many newly evolved left behind, their faces filled with despair.

Angelica closed the window. "You can't do anything about them."

"You'd better lose that compassion of yours, Ren, before it gets you into trouble. Besides, you're not that type. I peg you to be more of an indifferent person."

Ren rested his head on his palm and looked away. "What will happen to them?"

Angelica closed her eyes and said in a solemn tone, "It's better if you don't know."

The train zoomed and blinked, and within seconds they were already traveling at the universe in a lightning speed.

But for Ren, he couldn't enjoy the travel one bit. Though there was no pressure, there was a ringing in his brain and difficulty in breathing.

When the train stopped, Ren nearly puked, his head buzzing.

Joker laughed. "Don't worry, you'll get used to traveling the multiverse soon."

"All first-timers are like that," Angelica added.

"I didn't puke."

"No, you didn't. You merely passed out."

Joker's smile faltered.

Angelica opened the window and looked outside. "Anyway, we're here."

Ren momentarily forgot about his nausea when he laid eyes on Nexus. He couldn't believe that another completely different world existed outside the one he knew.

It wasn't like Earth. It was like a floating city.

A vast floating city with a colossal fountain of light bursting from its center. That must be the Great Lighthouse Angelica and Joker mentioned.

Ren could see rays of light branching out from the Great Lighthouse in different directions, some disappearing endlessly into the unknown. The train was following one of these light tracks, steadily closing in on the city.

Seeing Nexus for the first time was surely an unforgettable experience.

"Ahem . . . as protocol to the newcomers, let me give you a brief context about Nexus." the lizard's voice boomed.

"Between the fabric of space and time lies the impossible city of Nexus — a metropolis of cosmic proportions where magic flows like water and epic heroes are found drinking in every tavern.

"Nestled in an extradimensional pocket between universes, Nexus serves as an interdimensional crossroads linking the fantasy multiverse. Countless beings from a thousand different worlds have made their way to the City of Legends, sharing their knowledge, power, and magic with its residents.

"The city is huge and home to over a quarter million residents and nearly as many visitors. Each of the city's districts are divided into colossal segments expanding out from the city center in a great disk.

"Every district is distinct in its fantastical display of culture presented through architecture, color, and sound. Creatures of all creeds and types walk its streets, each on a path to glory made possible by the extraordinary opportunity Nexus provides

"In Nexus, one can buy clothes from a thousand worlds, learn secret magic from a dead universe, or collect bounties for slain deities. Whatever your background, ability, or dreams, you have a place in the City of Legends."

As Ren listened, he couldn't help but feel that everything was surreal at that moment.

His once ordinary life, spent playing the game and striving for money and becoming numbers one, had suddenly transformed into something like this.

Yet, amidst this new challenge, his goal remained clear. The game might have changed, but its essence remained the same: adapt, grow stronger, and find a way to reunite with Evie and the others.

"Evie . . ." Ren whispered, his fingers tightening around the pendant hidden beneath his clothes. "I will definitely find you."

I swear it.