When players logged into Kryptonian Empire, they immediately discovered that the developers had done it again.
Everything had been wiped.
Again.
"Are you kidding me?! They reset everything!"
"One day I'm going to find whoever runs this game and drag them down with me!"
The forums exploded almost instantly.
Fortunately, the outrage didn't last long.
Players quickly noticed a massive amount of new content had been added.
"Biological combat armor?"
"Wait... isn't this basically Guyver armor?"
"That actually looks awesome."
One player eagerly equipped the newly available armor. The moment the sleek organic suit wrapped around his body, nearby players rushed to do the same.
Then a tutorial window appeared.
"Let's see... arm-mounted high-frequency blades. Maximum extension: one meter."
Following the instructions, he activated the weapons.
A pair of shimmering blades extended from his forearms with a vibrating hum that sounded suspiciously like a lightsaber.
Curious, he swung one at a nearby stone pillar.
The blade passed through without the slightest resistance.
A second later, the pillar split cleanly in half.
"Damn, that's insane!"
"That thing cuts through stone like butter!"
"Everyone shut up!"
The sudden voice startled the crowd.
A Kryptonian had appeared before them.
Above his head floated a bright NPC marker.
Kryptonian Instructor
"The NPC's here!"
"Quiet! Everyone, quiet!"
What followed was ten full minutes of players attempting the impossible task of remaining organized.
The instructor watched silently.
Then he moved.
The players never even saw him attack.
Dozens were instantly knocked to the ground.
"If this is your level of discipline, issuing you combat armor would be a complete waste."
His cold gaze swept across the crowd.
"All of you fail. Return to training."
At the same moment, system notifications appeared.
[You have failed the Kryptonian Instructor Examination.]
[Guyver Armor Qualification Revoked.]
"What?!"
"Hold on, nobody told us there was an exam!"
"This is a scam!"
"Can we just beat him up and pass that way?"
"Wait, the armor requires certification?"
"This game is way too hardcore!"
Their protests achieved exactly nothing.
The armor vanished.
Every failed player was immediately transferred to a training facility.
Most of them were furious.
Then again, Kryptonian Empire had never exactly been known for treating its players gently.
Over the years, the community had tried every method imaginable to pressure the developers.
Some had even suggested demanding official invoices and receipts in hopes of creating legal headaches.
The problem?
The game didn't have a payment system.
Aside from the very first closed beta, there had never been an official way to spend money inside the game.
Players literally couldn't purchase anything through legitimate channels.
That didn't mean the game was free.
Far from it.
For wealthy players desperate to secure access, unofficial costs routinely climbed into six figures.
As for the frequently proposed "quit the game in protest" movement...
The moment someone suggested it on the forums, the replies arrived in overwhelming numbers.
[Please quit. Seriously. Before you leave, can you transfer your slot to me? I'll pay up to $100,000.]
[The only times I've ever wished humanity had a smaller population were during subway rush hour, holiday sales, and while waiting for a chance to play Kryptonian Empire. If your resignation increases my odds by even a fraction, I'll be eternally grateful.]
[Anyone who doesn't quit today is officially my son.]
Back when Drex Valen still needed population growth, player numbers had been unrestricted.
That was no longer the case.
Now he had limits.
After mastering vacuum zero-point energy extraction, he was continuously absorbing energy every second.
He had even removed the Power Stone from the black hole he previously used to contain it.
There was no need for it anymore.
He didn't require the stone's energy simply to satisfy his hunger.
As for his current power level...
Even Drex's own estimates sounded absurd.
His total mass-energy reserves had surpassed 10^950 grams.
Far beyond the total mass-energy contained within an entire universe.
And the number was still increasing at an astonishing rate.
If he truly wanted to, he could manufacture enough soldiers to flood the cosmos itself.
The players, naturally, knew none of this.
They continued arguing online.
Yet despite the endless complaints, nobody actually left.
Server capacity remained maxed out every single day.
Drex wasn't interested in indulging them.
He no longer needed players for anything important.
At this point, they were little more than an entertaining side project.
And if they were going to remain in his empire, they would follow the rules.
Passing the examination was now mandatory for anyone seeking full Kryptonian citizenship.
Meanwhile, the entire Kryptonian Empire, along with the thousands of inhabited worlds under its rule, had been enveloped by the influence of the Mind Stone.
Their memories and loyalties had been carefully adjusted.
Devotion to the empire had become as natural as breathing.
Official Kryptonians, those authorized to travel beyond Krypton itself, all received personal spacefaring armor.
The biological armor.
The Guyver Armor.
Every citizen became eligible to take the qualification exam upon reaching adulthood.
Only those who passed earned the right to wear it.
Although Drex had perfectly replicated the original Guyver design, he had also improved it significantly.
The Guyver Cells themselves incorporated symbiote genetic material, Wolverine's healing factor, the Extremis Virus, and vibranium atoms.
The vibranium dramatically enhanced defensive capabilities.
Few materials could integrate so seamlessly with living cells.
Adamantium, despite its legendary durability, couldn't accomplish the same feat.
The most important improvement, however, involved the control unit.
The original weakness had been eliminated entirely.
Drex replaced it with an ultra-alloy forged from vibranium, kryptonite-infused metal, adamantium, and uru.
The result was effectively indestructible.
After all, having the armor devour its wearer because the control unit got damaged was hardly an ideal design feature.
Beyond those modifications, the armor remained largely faithful to the original concept.
Then came the next major update.
Faction Warfare.
Version 0.3 Update Announcement
Greetings, Players!
Time flies.
What began with ten thousand closed-beta participants has now grown into a community of over two hundred million players.
Below are the full details for Version 0.3.
New Gameplay System: Factions
The universe contains far more than the Kryptonian Empire.
As the empire expanded across the stars, another powerful civilization took notice.
The Swarm.
Drawn by the empire's resources and population, the insectoid race has begun preparing for war.
Version 0.3 introduces two playable factions:
Kryptonian Empire
The Swarm
Players who choose these factions will take on the roles of Kryptonians and members of the Swarm respectively.
The hatred between both sides runs deep.
Peace may be impossible.
Or perhaps not.
Will the future bring cooperation and prosperity?
Or endless war fueled by generations of resentment?
The answer lies in your hands.
New Capital World Added
Swarm Homeworld
Following the next major update, players will gain access to the Swarm Homeworld.
As the central stronghold of the Swarm faction, it will serve as the primary staging ground for operations against the Kryptonian Empire.
The war is about to begin.