1 Being betrayed

"Alexander, stop loitering around here from now on. Hurricane City is not a dumping ground, and someone like you doesn't deserve to be here," bellowed a burly man.

"Why, what have I done wrong?"

Buckling under immense pressure, Alexander pleaded softly, "Please, esteemed Mr. Smith, let me stay. I'm willing to do any dirty or tiring job, just to remain in Hurricane City."

"I'm here to inform you, not to discuss this with you," Smith said, looking at Alexander with disgust.

"Hurricane City is no longer the rundown village it used to be after years of development."

Pausing for a moment, Smith continued with unmistakable pride, "Now, my elder brother Benjamin has become a subordinate of the Venom Empire. Do you know how powerful the king of the Venom Empire is?"

"Are you talking about Mackray, the legendary figure with SS-class talent?" Alexander exclaimed. "He owns dozens of towns and dominates the rankings with his vast territories and military strength."

"That's right," Smith sneered. "Although you spend your days mining, your brain isn't completely rotten. You still know of such legendary figures."

Hearing this, Alexander's mood plummeted.

He was well aware that Smith had taken him in because Hurricane City was weak.

But now, not only had Hurricane City developed into a renowned metropolis, but it had also become a vassal of the Venom Empire, greatly enhancing its prestige and overall strength.

Under these circumstances, Alexander's existence seemed insignificant, even considered an obstacle to the city's development.

Alexander silently watched Smith, both of them silent.

Time ticked away, and Smith's patience dwindled, his voice growing louder.

"People should know their worth. Hurricane City is now a level 80 powercity. Do you think someone like you deserves to stay here?"

Alexander knew his plight but still clung to a sliver of hope, hoping to sway Smith with his sincerity.

"Hurricane City wouldn't be what it is today without my years of hard work. Without me, who would have provided the stone for our city's construction? Please consider my contributions over the years..."

Before Alexander could finish, Smith abruptly cut him off.

"Enough, say no more!"

"I've kept you until now because you're hardworking. Today, Hurricane City has 5.5 million members, 5.4 million of whom possess D-class talent or higher. You're the only one with F-class talent."

"For Hurricane City to continue developing, we need capable people, not to support someone with F-class talent like you. Allowing you to stay in Hurricane City for ten years has been my greatest act of mercy!"

Alexander spoke softly, "I've been in Hurricane City for nearly ten years, dedicating countless efforts to its development. If I have to leave, I don't even know where to go. So..."

"No, this is an order, non-negotiable. You are expelled, effective immediately!" Smith bellowed mercilessly.

At the same time, several guards wielding long spears appeared at the door. Following Smith's command, they forcibly escorted Alexander away.

Alexander knew he was completely abandoned, and anything he said now would be futile.

So, he didn't say anything more. He just gazed deeply at Smith, then stood atop the towering city walls, looking over the familiar city one last time.

He knew that from this moment, this bustling city would have no place for him.

With a heavy heart, Alexander gathered his belongings and slowly headed towards the city gate.

It had been raining all day.

Hurricane City was vast, and by the time he left the city gates, it was deep into the night.

The drizzle continued unabated, showing no sign of stopping.

Much like Alexander's current state of mind, lost and helpless, uncertain when a turn of fate might come.

Alexander sighed, then pulled up his status dashboard.

Name: Alexander

Occupation: Warrior

Talent: Mining Mastery F-Class (5% increased mining efficiency, fixed effect, non-improvable)

Specialties: None

Skills: Basic Eagle Eye

Magic: Holy Light (Restores 50 HP, uses 3 MP, 50 seconds cooldown)

Level: 5 (35%)

Strength: 5

Defense: 1

Magic: 1

Speed: 2

Health: 100/100

Mana: 10/10

Resources: Copper Coins × 10

Equipment: Old Pickaxe

Troops: None

Town: None (Expelled)

Morale: Despondent

Looking at this meager dashboard, Alexander couldn't help but smile bitterly, wondering whether his years of effort were truly worth it.

Despite Alexander's limited talent, he had silently contributed to the growth of Hurricane City for a decade. He witnessed its transformation from a dilapidated village to its current grandeur.

Building a city is a massive undertaking, requiring vast resources and manpower.

Aware of his own shortcomings, Alexander had put in far more effort than others.

To gain recognition from Smith and others, he had tirelessly mined stone for the city since joining Hurricane City. This was a monotonous and grueling job, one that hardly anyone could endure for a month, yet Alexander persisted for ten years.

It could be said that 20% of Hurricane City's stone came from Alexander's hard work.

He worked so diligently in hopes of one day becoming a respected elder of Hurricane City.

Now, a decade had passed. Hurricane City was no longer that old village. It had become one of the famous cities on the Arsen continent, attracting many talented individuals.

However, after ten years of dedication to building the city, Alexander was ultimately expelled.

The feelings of injustice and humiliation in his heart grew stronger. Clenching his fists, he vowed, "Just you wait! One day, you'll regret today's decision!"

The rain intensified, the wind howled, and the leaves rustled in the storm.

Distant animal cries echoed, filling Alexander's heart with fear. He knew he needed to find shelter quickly.

In fact, Alexander's world was part of "Heroes Ascent," the most popular virtual holographic online game on Earth.

The game offered immense freedom, diverse gameplay, and a vast, spectacular virtual world. Players could explore freely, unleashing their imagination.

Consequently, the game quickly became a global phenomenon, with user numbers surpassing 7 billion in just two months!

However, players around the world found themselves unable to log out of the game one day. If they died in the game, it meant real death, with no chance of revival.

At level 5, Alexander was at risk in the wilderness. If attacked by wild beasts, he could easily become their dinner.

As the wind howled and branches swayed, lightning struck, shattering a rock ahead.

The flash nearly blinded Alexander. When his vision cleared, he discovered a hidden cave behind the shattered rock.

Without hesitation, he entered for safety.

The cave was secluded, untouched by others, yet Alexander felt an inexplicable familiarity upon entering.

He had a strong intuition that this cave was not as simple as it seemed. To uncover its secrets, he had to venture deeper.