No Boring New Year's Celebrations Allowed!
December 31st. The end of a year that had always been special, but this one felt even more so. It was a time packed with regular events like the New Year's bells and all sorts of special ones lining up.
And even on the Peace Nara server—where year-end and New Year's marked a kind of midpoint—there was a special schedule.
Year-End Concert Announcement
Peace Nara Server will host a year-end concert to welcome the new year.
Date & Time: 12/31 21:00 (Entry from 20:30)
Lineup: Ethera, Sparkle, V-Master, Sera, Thor Sam, Sunhwa, Elfin, Master Band (More may be added after announcement)
Venue: Peace Village Outskirts Concert Hall
Live broadcast across all platforms.
A concert, the symbol of a major server. And true to form for one that put so much effort into it, the scale was massive.
Ethera, the agency behind the current top domestic VTuber. V-Master, the biggest VTuber group in Urim, constantly vying for first place with Ethera. Sparkle might lag a bit, but in Lightning, they were right behind Ethera as the second powerhouse. The rest of the list was full of names rumored to be singing pros on the platform... but.
Master Band? Never heard of 'em.
"Does anyone know who Master Band is?"
"Unni! Focus on the hunt, not daydreaming!"
Su-yeon snapped sharply at my question. Oof. My little one was pissed.
"Hey, I'm no troll. Take that."
I quipped back at chat while nudging my character to dodge the incoming attack.
Actually, my character wasn't in a server village right now—we were in the wild fields, the adventure content. Plenty of time till the concert, so Su-yeon, Seong-yoon, Aris, and I had formed a magical girl party for some adventuring. Tenri? She went off with Luna Lake's party. Party limit's four people...
And the owner of that attack? One of the big animals (aggro) you run into in the wild fields: a giant unicorn. Tough bastard—we were struggling hard.
Appropriate party size is two full parties, eight people? And we're just four.
"No. I wanna fight more, but all the animals are knocked out—no opponents left."
I protested to the teasing chat in an aggrieved tone.
Adventure content combat uses adventure jobs, and mine was tamer. Y'know, Pokémon trainer. Lure or beat wild animals into submission as minions—your own combat power's irrelevant.
Why pick that? Looked fun, and with my physical stats already busted—graduated from the arena—why flex combat anyway?
Anyway, all my minions got wiped. Not slacking—no means left to fight.
"Senpai... We all know it's not a wipe."
"Hurry up and pull out the foxes!"
"Girls. How can I make these cute foxes fight those vicious brutes?"
"If you're not gonna fight, why buff them?!"
"Gotta feed my foxes the good stuff to raise 'em strong..."
"Awoo awoo awoo!"
Su-yeon was surprisingly serious about Mankyu—kinda cute. Seong-yoon and Aris had other thoughts, so not as invested. I was teasing on purpose a bit.
* * *
After wrapping the adventure—only Su-yeon really losing out big—it was concert time.
"But Unni. We're finally on a server like this, but aren't you just hanging with us?"
"Hm... I'm close with Luna Lake, right?"
Mostly Tenri, but I figured I'd gotten pretty friendly with the others too.
"Anyone else-sawayo?"
"..."
Hm. Not really close-close with anyone.
Bumped into folks occasionally or got arena challenges—familiar, sure. But awakeners seem schemy, awkward to befriend. Other streamers... overseas aside...
"Aigoo. Lily can't live like this-sawayo."
Why am I getting nagged about my social life by my little-sister type? Why am I even defending myself?
"Can't help it. Everyone's just acquaintances."
"...Ah. Lily was a bit hasty-sawayo."
Su-yeon deflated a little. She'd watched since early streams, so it hit quick. Especially spots like this integrated platform event screaming 'big incident'.
Content's totally different, though. Seeing my nick and flinching, shaky greetings... Yeah, I get why, but overreacting? Not the pushy type, so I left 'em be.
Luna Lake's unusual there. Other later gens backed off fast despite chance meetings. But they charged right at me.
"Everyone seated?!"
Anyway, with juniors, awakeners, Luna Lake—not totally isolated. Had fun, I think.
I watched the concert as the host kicked off opening.
"Illuminate the sad city—!"
"Star! Light!"
V-Master's opener—upbeat picks with flashy effects that screamed "this a blocky game?"—hyped the crowd perfectly. Full group too? Rare for busy schedules.
Monster server indeed, power level insane. Master Band's an awakener pickup band? Explains the unknown name.
"I thought I was a shining star!"
Solos from group members, famous individuals, mixed streamers belting tunes. Ethera's 1st gen, Solar Mountain, full original as a trio midway. Luna Lake and Sparkle not even out yet—time flew to midnight. Nearly three hours gone in a blink.
"Heat's rising! It's 11:57! New Year in three minutes!"
Streamer stage paused. Host—streamer and server organizer Drake—spoke up. Opposite him, mega-corp streamer Fallchu continued.
"This year was truly eventful, right?"
"Yeesss!"
About 4,000 in server. Gen that survived history-book crises. Explosive cheers synced with host.
...Me and juniors joined in. Kinda chest-thumping.
"Broadcasters here and... 470k? 470k viewers watching! Good luck next year!"
"10 seconds to New Year! Countdown—know it? From 5! Suck in—5!"
"5!"
"4!"
"4!"
3, 2, 1. Hopeful vibe curated to the max. Beautiful, warm—shone so bright I reached out unconsciously.
"Happy New Year!"
"Best wishes for the new year!"
"Woooaaah!"
Hyped streamer shouts.
Chat hyped despite same old look.
And.
"..."
"...Clueless."
I pinched my forehead, voice low.
Tower of Trials - Sobaeksan beginner protection period has ended.
Changes due to official service launch.
These changes can be reviewed anytime.
Tower-exclusive currency, Gate Coin, introduced.
Gate Coins acquired based on contribution from gate clears (world purification) and monster kills.
Tower opening achievement bonus active!
Gate Coin payouts retroactively applied.
Climbing the Tower of Trials now requires a challenge fee.
More info added to gate guides.
Previously open gate info now standard; unopened info requires info fee.
New system, Tower Shop, introduced. Usable in towers climbed past floor 20.
..... Messages popped right as New Year hit. So much text even my dynamic vision struggled—a chest-swelling moment deflated instantly.
Not just Sobaeksan Tower. Cheers mixed with awakener groans.
"U-Unni."
"Su-yeon. Yeah. I know. It'll be fine."
Same messages for her—shaky anxious call. Yeah, shocking. I was shocked too. Massive changes at a glance.
Just one month to adapt, now tower setup upheaved. Good or bad? Pros/cons? Gotta review calmly...
One thing sure.
Tower of Trials - Sobaeksan gains Floor Limit Relaxation from first opening benefit.
Towers with Floor Limit Relaxation reduce floor conditions in some systems (e.g., tower opening: 20th floor → 10th floor).
Tower opening achievement bonus active!
Meeting floor conditions in Tower of Trials - Sobaeksan applies relaxation to other towers too.
This area's about to get noisy. Achievement bonus keeps dropping. That big a deal?
I shifted from tower changes back to concert. Awakeners hiding shock, focusing stage—don't rain on the fest, huh?
New Year concert part 2 resumed, bit off-kilter.
* * *
January 1st, 6 AM-ish. Festivals wrapped successfully despite everything. Quiet wait for New Year's sunrise.
"Ugh... Kyaa!"
Clang—thud!
Blade Fang dropped her three swords, crashing into rock. Scratched rolling blades, tattered costume revealing wounds—testament to her wrecked state.
Thud—thud—
Shadow over fallen Blade Fang. Victor looming nobly over magical girl.
...The 'monster' spoke.
"Unbelievable. A magical girl?"
If Blade Fang had clear wits, she'd freak. That deep voice—unprecedented.
But her consciousness faded—no reaction, just surprised soliloquy.
"Even a mascot. First unexpected meeting since Heaven's fall. Weren't fallen leaves beneath notice?"
"Back off-meong."
No, not soliloquy. Voice aimed at Blade Fang's mascot—Nureungi—appearing protectively.
...Just before dawn.
Night darkened viciously.