Eclipse: Solmora’s Reckoning

Rael woke up to the faint hum of his VR pod idling in standby mode. The dim morning light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room. He blinked, his mind sluggishly pulling itself back to reality.

For a moment, he felt disoriented. His body was here, but his thoughts lingered in Solmora.

He sighed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before grabbing his phone from the bedside table. His fingers moved on autopilot, opening the game forums. If there was one thing he had learned from competitive gaming, it was that the meta never stood still.

And sure enough—

[NEW UPDATE: TIME DILATION INTRODUCED – 1:3 RATIO]

Rael's brows furrowed as he skimmed the announcement.

"Following initial feedback, we've activated an advanced synchronization feature.

For every 1 hour in reality, 3 hours pass in Solmora."

The comments were already flooding in.

"Three times the grinding speed? This is insane."

"So time flows differently… That means NPCs and factions won't wait for us?"

"This is either a blessing or a nightmare, depending on how you look at it."

Rael exhaled through his nose. Three times the time. That changed everything. It wasn't just about players adapting anymore—the world itself would move forward even when they weren't logged in.

Which meant that if he wanted to take advantage of his knowledge, he needed to act fast.

He shut his phone and got up. Elias needed to see this.

* * *

Elias was already awake when Rael stepped out of his room. Their shared apartment wasn't big, but it was well-kept—mostly because neither of them owned much aside from their gaming setups.

The smell of fresh coffee filled the air. Elias stood by the counter, lazily scrolling through his phone. His brown hair was still a mess from sleep, and his oversized hoodie made him look half-asleep.

"You see the update?" Rael asked, grabbing a mug from the cupboard.

Elias yawned. "Yeah. Three times the time, huh? Wild." He took a sip of his coffee, then smirked. "You're telling me I get three times the gaming hours for every real-life day? I'm never logging out."

Rael leaned against the counter, taking his own sip. "It also means that the game world won't pause when we're offline. NPCs, factions, and events will progress."

Elias stopped mid-sip. "…Wait. So, like, if some world event triggers while I'm making a sandwich in real life—"

"You might miss it entirely."

Elias groaned. "Oh, that's evil." Then, after a beat, "I kinda love it."

Rael nodded. "It makes exploration urgent. If things like hidden quests or faction wars play out in real-time, the players who move first will have an edge."

Elias grinned. "Well, good thing we've got you, huh, Mr. Big Brain?"

Rael ignored him and checked the time. "I'm calling Leon."

Elias raised an eyebrow. "Huh."

Rael glanced at him. "What?"

Elias smirked, leaning back against the counter. "Nothing. Just… You're actually reaching out to people again."

Rael frowned but didn't respond immediately.

Elias chuckled. "Hey, I'm not making fun of you. It's just nice to see you giving a damn again."

Rael sighed and shook his head. "You're overthinking it."

"Maybe," Elias said, still grinning. "But I don't think I am."

Rael didn't bother arguing. Instead, he dialed Leon's number.

The phone rang a few times before Leon picked up.

"Sup?"

"You logging in?" Rael asked.

Leon sighed. "Can't. Still got some things to take care of IRL."

Rael frowned but didn't push. "You saw the update?"

"Yeah. The time dilation thing is nuts." There was a pause. "Kinda makes me wonder how they're pulling it off."

Rael exhaled. "No clue. But it means the world will shift while we're out."

Leon hummed. "Then that means every time we log out, the game won't wait for us."

"Exactly."

Leon chuckled. "You must be loving this, huh?"

"Yep, it's a unique experience after all."

"Well, try not to die in there," Leon said. "I'll catch up when I can."

"Yeah," Rael replied. "See you."

He hung up and set his phone aside.

Elias stretched. "Well, guess that means it's just us for now."

Rael nodded. "Yeah."

Elias gave him a mock-serious look. "I swear, if you get some ultra-secret lore without me, I'm deleting my account."

Rael snorted. "No promises."

Elias sighed dramatically. "Figures."

Rael rolled his shoulders and stood up. "Alright. Time to head back in." The VR pod's hum greeted him as he settled inside.

He took a deep breath.

Then—he logged in.

[ Welcome back, Noctus. ]

Rael's vision readjusted to the dim glow of lanterns flickering across the merchant stalls. He was exactly where he had logged out—near a bustling street corner where traders haggled over wares. The scent of dried herbs and freshly baked bread mixed in the air, grounding him back into Solmora's immersive world.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the smooth leather of his gloves. The transition had been seamless. No lag, no disorientation. Just like stepping through a door into another reality.

For a brief moment, he debated his next move. Should he keep grinding, push ahead with quests, or just explore?

His gaze drifted across the city streets, alive with flickering torches and the chatter of NPCs. He had rushed things last time. Maybe it was time to take a step back and observe.

With that thought, he moved deeper into the city.

As he walked through the stone-paved roads, the hum of conversation between players caught his attention. Near a small plaza, a group had gathered by a fountain, animatedly discussing something.

"…so that confirms it, right? The Veil isn't just a lore thing."

"The hell does that even mean?"

"It means we're stuck on this continent for now," a player with the name Galehart scoffed. He wore a mix of leather and chainmail, likely a rogue-type. "The central continent is basically dominated by the Order, but outside of it? That's where the real game starts."

A hooded player, nodded. "There are four other continents, but they're not immediately accessible. And the Veil—whatever it is—keeps us from reaching the other races' realms."

Another player, folded his arms. "Makes sense, honestly. The scale of this world is already insane. Someone did the math and estimated that Solmora is at least five times the size of Earth."

Rael's eyebrows rose slightly at that. He had known the game was massive, but that number put things into perspective.

The players continued debating theories—how to cross the Veil, whether the other continents would be locked behind progression, and how the God-Emperor played into everything.

"…I'm telling you, the Order runs everything for now, but they wouldn't make the God-Emperor this hyped if there wasn't more to him. Have you seen the in-game texts? People are already calling him the Supreme Will of Solmora."

"Right, but that could just be NPC propaganda."

"Or it could mean something more. Some players are already saying he might be an endgame raid boss."

Rael listened, absorbing their words. The world structure was slowly unraveling, and he had the advantage of knowing more than most. But even he hadn't considered the true scale of it all.

One thing was certain—Solmora was much bigger than he had initially thought.

Rael turned his head slightly, glancing at a nearby player who was quietly listening to the discussion. The man wore simple cleric robes, a staff strapped to his back. His username, Varian, hovered above his head in soft lettering.

Curiosity gnawed at him. He knew the God-Emperor was important, but beyond the vague details he had read before logging in, he hadn't looked into it deeply.

Turning toward the robed player, Rael spoke.

"Hey, you seem like you know a thing or two. Who exactly is the God-Emperor of Holy Grace?"

Varian blinked, as if surprised by the question, before a knowing smile crept onto his face. "Ah, a curious face, huh? You must not have read much of the lore yet." He shifted his weight, resting a hand on his staff. "Well, listen up, because this is important."

Rael nodded, arms crossed as Varian began his explanation.

"The God-Emperor of Holy Grace is the supreme ruler of Solmora, the one who brought order to chaos. A thousand years ago, the world was in turmoil—multiple factions warring endlessly, heretics and dark creatures running rampant, entire kingdoms being wiped out overnight. The world was on the brink of collapse."

Varian's voice lowered, as if speaking of something sacred. "And then, He came. Alone. A single warrior against an entire world."

Rael narrowed his eyes slightly. "You mean he really did it alone?"

"That's what the records say." Varian's expression was serious. "The First Holy War had been raging for centuries, and no one could bring it to an end. But the God-Emperor… he carved his way through armies, shattered unholy legions, and bent the warring factions to his will. They say no blade could pierce him, no spell could bring him to his knees. He stood above all, not just as a king, but as something more—divine."

Rael could hear the awe in Varian's tone. Whether it was roleplay or genuine admiration, it was clear that the God-Emperor's legend was deeply ingrained in the world.

"And now?" Rael prompted.

"Now, he rules from the Eternal Throne, enforcing the Law of Holy Grace. His word is absolute, his power unmatched. The Order of the Radiant Cross—his most devoted followers—act as his enforcers, ensuring that Solmora remains in balance. And though he hasn't been seen in centuries, his will echoes in every corner of the world."

Rael absorbed the information, silent for a moment.

A ruler who singlehandedly ended a war. A god-like figure who had reigned unchallenged for centuries. And now, supposedly absent.

Rael nodded slowly, letting the information settle. The sheer scale of the legend was overwhelming, but it also piqued his curiosity. If the God-Emperor had truly ended the war singlehandedly, then just how powerful had he been? And more importantly—why hadn't he been seen in centuries?

He pushed the thought aside for now and met Varian's gaze. "Thanks. That was helpful."

Varian grinned, adjusting his staff. "No problem. If you ever need more history lessons, just ask. Solmora's past is deep—most people don't bother with it, but it explains a lot about the world."

Rael gave him a brief nod before turning away. After a moment of thought, he opened his friend list and sent a message to Gale.

[ Noctus: You in-game yet? Thinking of exploring. ]

A few seconds passed but no reply came.

Rael glanced at his status screen, Gale was offline.

He debated waiting but decided against it. There was no point standing around. He could cover more ground on his own for now.

* * *

Rael wanders through the streets, taking in the architecture and occasional chatter of passing players. The city felt alive, but unlike the bustling hub he had imagined, most players still seemed lost—figuring out mechanics, bartering with merchants, or simply gawking at the world.

As he navigated through the stone-paved roads, a notification appeared.

[Friend Request: Leon]

He had sent Leon his name details earlier, so this was expected. Rael accepted it without hesitation.

Almost instantly, a message popped up.

[Leon: Yo, took you long enough.]

Rael smirked. [Noctus: Didn't think you'd get in so fast.]

[Leon: Couldn't resist. This world's insane. Feels way too real.]

[Noctus: You got a good starting spot?]

[Leon: Decent. But nowhere near you. My spawn point's way out in the frontier.]

Rael exhaled slightly. That complicated things. [Noctus: We converging somewhere?]

[Leon: Yeah. There's a major city called Vash'kar on the frontier's edge. I'm headed there now.]

[Noctus: Sounds far.]

[Leon: It is. But I checked a few maps—seems like a central hub for higher-tier quests. If we meet up there, we'll have better options.]

Rael considered it. He had no solid plans yet, and roaming aimlessly would only waste time. [Noctus: Fine. I'll make my way there.]

[Leon: Good. Try not to die before we meet.]

Rael scoffed before closing the chat. Now, he had a destination.

* * *

Rael stood just outside the wooden gates of the small town, taking in the vast, open world before him. The land stretched far, rolling hills and dense forests painting the horizon with an inviting mystery. A dirt path snaked into the wilderness, flanked by patches of tall grass swaying under the soft breeze. Somewhere beyond, the larger cities awaited, but for now, the road was his alone to walk.

He sighed. "I should level up on the way."

Just as he was about to start walking, a group of players passed through the gates, chatting amongst themselves.

"Man, this sucks," one of them groaned, adjusting the sword on his back. "Traveling takes way too long. Why can't we just teleport or something?"

"Yeah, right," another scoffed. "We're still early game, bro. I bet there's fast travel later. No way they expect us to run everywhere forever."

"I hope so. My legs hurt already."

Rael listened in for a moment but didn't bother joining the conversation. If fast travel existed, he'd learn about it when the time was right. For now, there was no point worrying about it.

Turning away, he started his journey, letting the idle chatter of the players fade into the background.

The wilderness outside town was teeming with life—mostly in the form of weak monsters that posed little threat. Gnarled wolf-like beasts with hollow eyes prowled the tall grass. Oversized horned rabbits darted between bushes. Slow-moving creatures, like moss-covered golems, rumbled across the rocky hills.

Rael moved through them with calculated precision, cutting down anything that got in his way. His Templar class was built for resilience, and while his attacks weren't the fastest, his strikes were clean and deliberate. His shield absorbed blows that would've staggered a lighter class, and his sword swung with measured force.

It was methodical—strike, block, counter, advance.

With each victory, he grew sharper, more in sync with his movements. Time blurred as he fell into the rhythm of combat, one encounter seamlessly flowing into the next.

[Level Up: 5]

The notification snapped him out of his trance. He exhaled, rolling his shoulders before pulling up his status screen.

[Stat Points Available: 6]

He took a moment to consider his build. More damage would help him progress faster, but endurance was just as important. After a brief pause, he allocated three points into Strength, one into Dexterity for movement, and two into Constitution for better survivability.

The changes were subtle, but he could feel the slight boost in his movements. Closing the screen, he flexed his fingers, adjusting his grip on the sword.

The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the fields.

Still plenty of ground to cover.

Rael continued his journey through the untamed lands, hunting anything that crossed his path. Time passed in a blur of combat—sword flashing, enemies falling, his movements becoming sharper with every fight. The wilderness had an eerie beauty to it, but as he ventured further, the atmosphere subtly shifted.

The land became barren, the once vibrant greens fading into a desolate stretch of broken stone and twisted ruins. The air carried a stillness that made the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

Then, he heard it.

A soft, heart-wrenching sobbing.

He stopped in his tracks, tightening his grip on his sword. His eyes scanned the area, searching for the source. The sound echoed through the ruins, distant yet unmistakably real.

A new prompt flickered before his eyes.

[Quest Received: Echoes of the Lost]

Investigate the abandoned town and uncover the source of the weeping.

Curiosity stirred within him, but before he could take a step forward, a heavy presence filled the air.

"Halt."

Rael turned swiftly, his instincts sharpening. A figure clad in white and gold stood before him, a towering presence in ornate armor. The man carried a longsword at his hip, and the emblem of the Order gleamed proudly on his chestplate. A Paladin.

"You are not yet ready," the Paladin said, his voice calm but firm. "Whatever lies within these ruins will consume you as you are now."

Rael frowned. "And how strong do I need to be?"

The Paladin studied him for a moment before speaking. "You are still too weak. Return when you have grown stronger."

A notification appeared before Rael.

[Quest Update: Echoes of the Lost]

You have discovered a place touched by sorrow. Something lingers here, waiting to be unveiled. However, you lack the strength to confront what lies ahead.

Objective: Reach a higher level before investigating further. (Recommended Level: 10)

Reward: ???

Rael exhaled through his nose, closing the quest window. "Figures," he muttered. Marking the location in his mind, he turned away, making a mental note to return once he had grown stronger.

Just like that, the man turned and walked away, his armor clanking softly as he disappeared into the ruined structures.

Rael exhaled, etching the location into his mind. Fine. I'll be back.

Turning on his heel, he resumed his grind.

By the time he reached the city, he had pushed himself to level 6. The towering gates stood before him, welcoming travelers with their imposing presence.

As he stepped inside, the bustling city came to life around him—merchants calling out, adventurers in groups discussing quests, the smell of cooked meat and fresh bread wafting through the air.

Leon was already there, waiting. "Took you long enough," he greeted with a smirk.

Rael scoffed. "Didn't know we were racing."

Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "I just got here myself. So, how's the game treating you so far?"

"Better than I expected," Rael admitted.

They caught up as they walked through the city streets, reminiscing about old times. At some point, Leon brought up something Rael hadn't expected.

"Evan asked me to join his guild a few days ago," Leon mentioned casually. "Said he's building something solid."

Rael raised a brow. "And?"

Leon shrugged. "Told him I'd think about it."

Their old pro team had once been under the banner of Remembrance of the Fallen—or ROF for short. It was strange to hear Evan trying to form something new.

As they spoke, a voice suddenly called out to them.

"Well, well. If it isn't Leon."

Both of them turned toward the source. A man in polished gear approached, his expression shifting when he caught sight of Rael. His lips curled into a smirk.

"But look at this... The fallen champion himself," he sneered. "Who would've thought?"

Rael's gaze darkened as he recognized the man.

Salzar.