The Villain’s Cheat Code: When a Gamer Becomes the Evil God’s Sidekick

At that moment, streams of blue fluorescence transformed into starlit ribbons, merging into the shops on both sides. The windows flickered with azure starlight before quickly dimming.

White mist began curling up from the chimneys of the houses.

Bang!

Viktor emerged from the shop, wreathed in white smoke as he stepped out.

"This is my first creation of 'Dream City' - the Garden of Inception."

"The people you see here are not truly alive in the conventional sense."

Upon Viktor's appearance and detailed explanation, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

After all, in the real world, it would be utterly inconceivable for such a prosperous city with such a vast population to exist without any knowledge among the capital's residents.

Yet upon reflection, they felt an unsettling chill about this place.

Could these so-called humans actually be magical constructs?

Everyone present was stunned, staring at the walking residents, momentarily lost for words.

At this point, Dean Rachel spoke up:

"One moment, Chief Professor Viktor."

"While I appreciate the marvel of this place, shouldn't our focus be on student assessment rather than pursuing realism?"

Others nodded in agreement with the Dean's questioning.

"Furthermore, as I mentioned, I fail to see how this city serves any practical purpose in evaluating our students."

Viktor smiled gently, responding to Rachel with characteristic elegance:

"The assessment has already begun, Dean Rachel."

"What?"

Rachel looked puzzled.

Everyone else exchanged bewildered glances, completely thrown by Viktor's statement.

"Haven't you noticed yet?"

Suddenly, a cry of alarm rose from the crowd, drawing everyone's attention.

"Where are the students?! Where have they all gone?"

As if awakening from a dream, everyone turned to search for the students, but throughout this vast space, they were nowhere to be found.

Only some media reporters remained standing in place, clutching their magic crystals uncertainly.

The adults' brows furrowed - they didn't even know what dangers might be lurking in this so-called "Instance" awaiting their children.

Viktor stood with his hands in his pockets, speaking calmly:

"As I said, the assessment has already begun."

"Next, you'll witness something of particular interest."

The surrounding space cracked again like broken mirror shards, but the pieces quickly reassembled, and everything returned to normal.

Countless people stood in place, as if their positions had been reset.

Children began playing in the streets again, repeating their earlier activities.

The surrounding space shattered once more, and those fragments returned, filling in the gaps.

Even the pedestrians returned to the beginning, with children starting their playful activities in the streets once again.

While everyone was still confused, someone suddenly pointed forward.

"Look, isn't that the Princess?"

Their gazes followed the pointing finger to see Aurelianne with her silver hair approaching them.

Claudia also spotted Aurelianne.

This surprised them greatly, but Aurelianne seemed completely oblivious to their presence, curiously examining her surroundings and exploring everywhere.

She walked straight through the crowd like a gentle breeze passing through their bodies.

Claudia felt exactly the same sensation as before.

Looking at the scene before them, people stood frozen like stones, their bodies rigid while their minds raced.

Watching Aurelianne pass completely through the Queen, everyone had a sudden realization.

Could it be...

Had the Aurelianne before them completely merged into the city?

The next moment, they witnessed it.

A passerby burst out anxiously from nearby, crying out while leaning against a shop:

"Please, is there anyone who can help me!"

She rushed around seeking help from nearby pedestrians, her eyes unfocused, cold sweat on her forehead, and lips trembling slightly.

But the pedestrians seemed completely oblivious, ignoring her.

Aurelianne frowned slightly, apparently dissatisfied with the surrounding pedestrians' indifference, then approached.

"Don't worry, what troubles you? Perhaps I can help?"

The moment the person saw Aurelianne, she grabbed onto her clothes as if clutching a lifeline, hurriedly crying out:

"Beautiful lady, please help me!"

"I need herbs from outside town to treat my child, she's barely holding on."

Aurelianne quickly moved to calm her:

"What kind of herbs do you need? I can help you find them."

The passerby gradually stabilized under her reassurance and began explaining to Aurelianne:

"I need Pink Ridge Flowers."

"These pink flowers with their unique fragrance can only be found outside town."

"But please be careful, wherever they grow, there are always monsters nearby."

Aurelianne remained composed, listening to the woman's description, then said solemnly:

"Please don't worry, madam."

"I will bring them back for you."

With that, she turned and headed toward the outskirts of town.

The observers who watched the whole thing were bewildered.

Aurelianne had conversed with that woman throughout, seemingly completely unaware of their presence as observers.

A professor spoke up in confusion:

"Just now, did Princess Aurelianne..."

Indeed, Aurelianne had interacted with a character from within this city.

She seemed to have completely merged into this world, this city.

Amidst countless shocked and confused looks, Viktor's voice calmly rang out.

"What did you think an Instance was?"

"Simply a series of repeated challenges?"

Everyone present nodded, as this was what they had all believed from the start.

Because in their impression, Instances should be simple training spaces without real danger.

That's why they had been praised by countless people as the Empire's groundbreaking invention of the new era, a great achievement that transcended time.

Viktor stood with his hands in his pockets and said calmly:

"The Instance, as I envision it, should be."

"Distinct from the real world, yet fully immersive."

"Here, everyone can become the protagonist of their own story."

Though this was an illusory world, human emotions would manifest as if real.

Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness - all would be brought into this dream-like world as if it were reality.

Viktor gazed at the world before him as the surrounding wind began to howl, scattering everyone's thoughts.

The air grew somewhat sultry, and the ground beneath their feet had somehow become as solid as reality:

"Yes, freedom."

"This is what a true Instance world should be."