Chapter 1 ….
Deus Ex Machina – Ragnarok.
Shortened to Demroc.
Hailed as the most complete and meticulously detailed VR game in history, Demroc quickly captured the attention of gamers everywhere.
And it wasn’t just simple curiosity.
Despite being a VR game, its exceptional realism and advanced AI exceeded expectations, propelling it to the number one spot in game rankings just three days after release.
[Ragnarok]
[Deus Ex Machina]
[Demroc Skill Recommendations]
[What is a Gacha?]
The real-time search rankings were always flooded with Demroc-related results.
Naturally, the game became highly profitable.
Or more accurately, its potential to generate money was enormous.
No other game released to date had ever drawn this much attention.
And so came the dark gamers.
Those who make a living from games—commonly called “rice-eating users.”
‘This can make money.’
Do-hyun was one of them.
It wasn’t like he set out to be this way from the start.
It was pure coincidence. One day, while passing by, he saw a massive screen advertising Demroc. Out of curiosity, he tried it—and discovered a talent for gaming he never knew he had, eventually aspiring to become a dark gamer.
And yet, he could proudly say he made money playing games.
[Kaiser – Rank 1]
[Extinction – Rank 2]
[Kkukku Dak Kkukku – Rank 3]
[Swordmaster – Rank 4]
[Purple Taste – Rank 5]
[The Arbiter – Rank 6]
……
Even though he started later than the other top players, he had climbed to rank one.
But he wasn’t just about rankings.
He had godlike physical abilities, genius-level combat instincts, unmatched adaptability in PvP, and nothing seemed lacking.
People even called him an unprecedented genius in gaming history.
Countless people asked him:
“How can you do that? How can someone be like you?”
Do-hyun’s answer was always the same:
“Combat tips? Hmm… isn’t it obvious?”
“…Excuse me?”
“When your opponent attacks, dodge, and they leave an opening. Hit then, and you can strike without getting hit.”
“….”
An interview video titled “Deception of the Gods” went viral.
It featured Kaiser answering a user asking for combat tips. Anyone familiar with Demroc knew the story.
Though his tactics were infuriatingly clever, his sincerity in answering as if the user didn’t know anything made it impossible to get angry.
-If it’s Kaiser, that makes sense…
-Haha, yeah, dodge and hit—anyone can see that.
-If it were someone else, I’d rage, but Kaiser? Can’t argue.
-Kaiser is a god. Kaiser is a god. Kaiser is a god…
-Ah, these Kaiser fans are insane.
Fans only grew more enthusiastic.
People cheered for him not just for his overwhelming genius.
Of course, that was his main trademark, but the decisive reason many players viewed Kaiser favorably was something else:
[New Skill Tree by Kaiser]
[Kaiser Creates Another New Meta!]
[Even Crap Skills Can Be Useful! Kaiser’s Genius Use of Overlooked Skills…]
[Kaiser Build Guide]
[Legendary Boss Kavaurnel! Kaiser’s Strategy…]
His countless strategy guides.
Most were nonsensical—“Dodge here and hit there”—but the skill trees were genuine.
For players, these skill trees were like rain in a drought.
-Check it out, Kaiser’s new skill tree!
-Wow, using the unpopular skills again. Bite skill? I had no idea, but he made it work… godlike.
-Seriously, this game would’ve died if not for Kaiser.
-Wait, what kind of game requires RNG to select skills for a skill tree?
-It’s trashy but strangely addictive.
-Yeah, that’s gambling addiction. Go to the hospital.
In this gacha-based, luck-driven disaster of a game, his skill trees were revolutionary.
They were trusted by all: “Use Kaiser’s skill tree and you’ll be fine.”
God-given talent.
The embodiment of VR gaming.
A meta creator.
A genius.
Countless titles were attached to his name.
Truly, it was a golden age.
But everything comes to an end.
Even Demroc, burning bright without pause, would eventually collapse—and Do-hyun knew it.
‘This is too much.’
He didn’t expect it to happen so soon.
The first problem arose eight months after release.
Demroc had a critical flaw.
-Seriously? Everything’s gacha? Even the items? That’s too much.
-Agreed. And the rates are awful.
The game was entirely gacha-based.
That was known from day one.
But its overwhelming popularity and other strengths made players tolerate it.
The real problem was the raids.
-Aren’t games meant for raiding?
-Raids are the heart of RPGs!
Like most VR games, raids weren’t easy.
Players needed proper gear, levels, and good control.
And some social connections were also required.
Raids were truly the crown jewel of RPGs.
-And the raid rewards are like this?
-Spent millions to gear up, only to get bricks as raid rewards?
But this cursed game sabotaged even that.
To get stronger, you needed raids—but to raid, you needed good equipment.
After all that effort, the raid rewards were useless?
Nothing is more demoralizing for a gamer.
-Thought it was fun, but never expected high-level content to be like this.
-At least raids were bearable. Spent forever maxing NPC affinity, and the reward was RNG? Seriously…
-This is why snake players are scary.
-Are there still idiots grinding to get bricks?
Subsequent content was equally disappointing.
Once you experienced it, it felt like everything had been taken from you.
“Goddamn piece-of-shit game!”
Players left.
From those playing for money to casual gamers.
Within a year, rankings plummeted.
Two years in, newcomers were rare; only the hardcore remained.
By year three, even the hardcore were nearly gone.
A game no longer profitable.
A game mocked by newcomers.
A game famous for leaving people hanging mid-handshake.
A diluted, empty game.
‘Why am I still playing this garbage?’
Yet Do-hyun didn’t quit.
Even he didn’t understand why.
Was it attachment over three years? Or like knowingly indulging in something harmful?
Whatever the reason, he had stayed longer than anyone.
But now, it was over.
[Hello. This is Deus Ex Machina – Ragnarok.]
[Service will end in 30 minutes.]
“…”
Like every failed game, Demroc was ending its service.
Do-hyun glanced at the lone notice and chuckled.
“I shouted dozens of times that this shitty game should fail… and now it really is. Weird feeling.”
Beside him sat a burly, purple-skinned man—‘Purple Taste,’ one of the hardcore users.
From day one, never missed a single day. Passionate enough that old-school users jokingly gave him an attendance award by the campfire.
Terrible at actual gameplay, but with absurd wealth and stamina for grinding.
‘He was rumored to be a landlord, wasn’t he? Never confirmed, though…’
Seeing him huddle by the campfire looked oddly melancholic.
A dignified swordsman beside him, ‘Swordmaster,’ nodded at his mutter.
“I agree. Fun game, just unlucky RNG. Don’t know why it’s failing.”
“That’s the problem. Even a dragon leaves its skin, but this leaves bricks?”
“…Did you have to ruin the mood like that?”
“What? Not wrong. Can’t even curse a dying game now.”
Next to them, wearing a mask and formal attire, was ‘Kkukku Dak Kkukku.’
Known for brash talk, but insane physical ability that could crush anyone.
“You never take off that mask?”
“…Shut up. Stop with the cringe concept speech. You’re in your 20s.”
“And you still talk without class.”
“Wanna fight for old times’ sake?”
“Tsk. All you know is brawling…”
Do-hyun held first place, but they were all veteran players from the start—hardcore, skilled, and rotten from longevity.
Their actual combat power wasn’t much different.
They’d helped him a lot…
Do-hyun let out a bitter sigh.
“Feels a bit sad, doesn’t it?”
“…”
A silence fell, with only thoughtful expressions around the campfire.
Purple Taste spoke first.
“Well, you’d feel that way. You’ve studied this game more than anyone.”
“Watching your combat was incredible. I understood it theoretically, but it still seemed impossible… No wonder they call it the Deception of Gods.”
“Yeah, we benefited from your skill trees. How do you have both brains and physicality?”
Kkukku Dak Kkukku suddenly laughed.
“God’s fair. Our RNG luck is worst. Heh.”
“Yeah, he had only low-tier skills… Maybe he researched to survive.”
“A legend-less guy at rank 1? If he’d had better RNG, we wouldn’t have even matched with him.”
“Ten failed upgrades in a row, crying ‘the world’s against me!’ People must’ve seen that, probably called it the ‘God’s Lament.’”
“Ha! He’s the worst, really.”
“Crim… the worst luck I’ve ever seen.”
Even Swordmaster nodded at Purple Taste’s hearty laughter.
Do-hyun listened calmly.
He had heard these stories countless times.
His miraculous RNG in the gacha game had always been talked about.
At first, it annoyed him; later, he’d smile. But now, it felt bittersweet.
Was it because it was the first game he clung to so tightly?
‘I don’t know.’
After about ten minutes of trivial conversation, another message appeared.
[Hello. This is Deus Ex Machina – Ragnarok.]
[Service termination will proceed as scheduled. Thank you for joining us until the end.]
The veterans began logging off.
“…This really is the last.”
“Good work, in this unlucky gacha mess.”
“See you later—in a good game next time.”
Swordmaster, Purple Taste, and Kkukku Dak Kkukku logged off.
Do-hyun was left alone, feeling even gloomier.
He glanced at the night sky as the VR headset’s hum filled his ears.
He reached up to the switch.
Click.
[This game has ended.]
Instead of a night sky, only a short message appeared.
Do-hyun sighed, finally removing the helmet.
