Scarlett Voss's Perspective
Scarlett had never been a fan of games.To be honest, she had always thought they were a complete waste of time.
Teenagers spending entire nights in front of screens, ridiculous marathons, all that youthful potential thrown away into digital trash.That had always been her personal view of the online gaming culture so common nowadays.
And yet here she was—A young woman in the prime of her twenty-eight years, an established entrepreneur, someone with strong opinions against the so-called gamer culture—being forced to admit it: The Awakening of the Black Tower shattered paradigms.
This game changed everything.
She could easily name a few reasons why it was different.
First, the most obvious detail: you played while sleeping.No loss of productivity. No disruption to real life.
Second, the duplication of time.Sixteen hours in the game, sixteen hours in the real world.No damage. No exhaustion.
Those two factors alone already made the game exceptional.
Exceptional enough for Scarlett to step into an online game for the first time in her life.
How could someone as busy as her simply ignore sixteen extra hours in a day?Naturally, she couldn't.
But unexpectedly, the developers still had another card up their sleeve.And apparently, they had saved the best for last.A surprise that forced even Scarlett to redo all her calculations:
An exchange system between the virtual and the real.
That changed everything.Completely.
For a capitalist like her, the game was no longer just a pastime for the young or a clever marketing tool.It became an investment paradise—A virgin territory waiting to be explored.
And that was exactly what she intended to do: invest heavily.
The server was on its third day.More than enough time to start, and in her eyes, without any real disadvantage.The fact that she hadn't leveled up yet was irrelevant.Resources, capital, strategy—that was what defined winners.
Or at least, that's what she believed.
Until the announcement.
A flash of light, a highlighted message visible to all connected players:
"Congratulations to the players Aslan, Engineer Matteo, Lumina, SilentArrow, and EmberFlare for clearing the first dungeon of The Awakening of the Black Tower. All receive +100 reputation points with the entire world."
Scarlett fell silent, simply watching the golden letters floating in the air.It was a troubling reminder that while she calculated possibilities, others were already building an advantage.
Still, she didn't allow herself to dwell too long on disappointment.She knew well: like everything in life, this game was a marathon, not a hundred-meter sprint.
Yes, some resources had been taken.Some advantages had been gained.But none of it was permanent.
With time and discipline, she could not only catch up but surpass them.
Even so, the names of those responsible for the first achievement were etched into her mind.Information was capital, and this information was valuable.
Few companies in the world knew about the unprecedented exchange system between the game and reality.If it weren't for her father and his influence, even Scarlett would still be in the dark.
So, who were those players?Perhaps just young gamers with skill and a bit of luck in finding the first dungeon.
If that was the case, they were nothing more than potential assets—resources to be acquired later.
But if they were members of companies likely to become her direct competitors…then they would be excellent targets to eliminate.
Either way, it was a decision she would make later.
The door to the room opened.Her friend, bodyguard, and business partner stepped into the reserved space inside the starter city.
"Scarlett, you called for me?" Naomi asked, her voice firm, posture straight, as if awaiting orders in the middle of a war council.
"Yes." Scarlett rose with the rehearsed elegance of a CEO about to announce a billion-dollar merger. Her gaze was cold, calculating."I've decided it's time for us to start playing this game seriously. Not a stroll, not a test. I want results. Immediate growth." She stepped forward, letting the word linger in the air."Do you know of any good places to level efficiently?"
Naomi didn't hesitate.She nodded briefly, disciplined, wasting no time on needless words.
"The guys from the company have already mapped out some promising areas. They found a good spot to grind levels without much competition." Her voice was dry, almost military."I can contact them right now and organize the team."
Scarlett folded her arms, satisfied with the answer.Naomi never faltered.Never questioned.She was a natural executor.
She had been Scarlett's guard since college, when her father decided it wasn't safe to let her walk around alone.
Honestly, at first Scarlett had resisted.The very idea of having a constant shadow trailing her had been irritating.She couldn't attend classes or enjoy free time without feeling uncomfortable in the girl's presence.
But time—and her father's authority—slowly changed that.
And of course, Scarlett had to give the girl some credit.
Naomi had earned her trust, little by little.She wasn't just an excellent martial artist, someone Scarlett would trust her life with without hesitation.She was also one of the most disciplined and intelligent women Scarlett had ever had the pleasure of working with.
A rare talent.A high-value asset.
And Scarlett, ever pragmatic, wasted no time.At the first opportunity, she made sure Naomi wasn't just her bodyguard.She turned her into a partner as well.
Over time, even friendship had grown between them.
That way, their destinies would always be tied together.
Now, in the Black Tower, that decision proved even more brilliant.
The game used the players' real bodies and physical skills as its foundation.Which made Naomi an invaluable trump card.
A warrior from the very start.
Scarlett had no doubt: keeping her close had been a smart move.Perhaps the smartest she had ever made—even before knowing the Tower existed.
With Naomi by her side and the resources of her company, Scarlett had no doubts.She had everything she needed to build something solid.Something capable of shaking this entire game.
And that was exactly what she intended to do.