I Can Extract Game Items

The moment August arrived at the base of the towering Phoenix Celestial Skyscraper, he couldn't help but marvel at the scale of it.

The entire building was a masterpiece of glass and steel, reflecting the bustling city around it. The front of the skyscraper was illuminated with holographic displays showcasing highlights of Phoenix Celestial's achievements—world dungeon first clears, guild tournaments, and even promotional campaigns featuring Ice Queen herself.

Despite the awe-inspiring exterior, August kept his scarf tightly wrapped around his face, obscuring most of his features.

The plaza in front of the skyscraper was crowded with hopeful recruits, casual players, and curious bystanders. A long queue had formed for those wishing to submit applications, with hundreds of players chatting amongst themselves.

As August approached the main entrance, a stern-looking guard in a dark suit stepped forward, blocking his path.

"State your business," the guard demanded while scanning August skeptically. His tone suggested he wasn't in the mood for nonsense.

"I'm Aleman," August stated. "I'm expected."

The guard raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Aleman? Never heard of you. And if you're trying to skip the line, you can forget it. Guild access is for members only."

Behind August, murmurs erupted from the crowd.

"Who does he think he is, trying to waltz in like that?"

"Look at those clothes. Probably some noob trying to fake his way in."

Ignoring the chatter, August remained calm, though his patience was wearing thin. "I'm here to meet Aria. She's waiting for me."

The guard crossed his arms. "Unless I get confirmation from someone inside, you're not getting past this gate."

At that moment, the glass doors of the skyscraper slid open with a soft hiss, and Ariana stepped out. She seemed to have picked up on the discussion and mention of Aleman.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her emerald eyes lit up when she saw him.

"There you are!" she called out while striding toward him. "I told you I'd be waiting."

The guard instantly straightened as his demeanor shifted. "Miss Ariana, you know this man?"

"Yes, he's with me," Aria said firmly. "Let him through."

As August walked past the guard, a ripple of murmured discontent spread through the crowd.

"Who's he to get special treatment?"

"Unfair. I've been standing here for hours!"

"Guess it pays to know the right people."

August ignored the noise and followed Aria inside, but he couldn't help smirking beneath his scarf. The moment the doors closed behind them, the noise from outside vanished, replaced by the sound of air conditioning and faint echoes of conversations from within.

The interior of the Phoenix Celestial headquarters was even more impressive than the exterior.

The massive lobby was a mixture of futuristic design and elegance. The floors gleamed and holographic displays floated in the air, showing live feeds from in-game activities and guild leaderboards.

The walls were adorned with digital art of iconic battles, world bosses, and guild achievements.

"This place is insane," August muttered, as his eyes scanned the surroundings.

Aria chuckled. "Welcome to Phoenix Celestial's main branch. Not bad, huh?"

She gestured for him to follow her as she began walking toward an elevator. On the way, they passed several groups of players—some wearing the signature Phoenix Celestial insignia on their clothes while others seemingly visiting or conducting business. Everyone they passed gave Aria a respectful nod or a wave.

"You're so tall..." Aria suddenly blurted out.

"Pfft where did that come from," August chuckled while tightening his scarf more around his face.

"I'm just surprised even though I shouldn't be since game avatars are pretty much a reflection of real life looks. Does this mean you're incredibly good looking?" Aria nearly gasped as she turned to face him with stars twinkling in her eyes.

"Erm... I wouldn't know, I let others be the judge of that," August responded curtly.

"Right right... Any chance I can peek thro..."

"No."

"Ahem sorry," her face turned red as she adjusted her glasses.

August kind of felt bad as the elevator rose, feeling like he'd turned her down too strongly but then he needed his face to stay hidden.

For reasons unknown, Aria wasn't so bossy towards him compared to the others.

"So," Aria broke the silence. "you've managed to make quite the impression. I don't think I've seen Senior Gregson agree to anything like this before."

August shrugged. "I guess I'm just lucky."

"Lucky?" Aria raised an eyebrow as a smirk appeared on her face. "From what I've seen, you're more than just lucky. But let's see how you handle the rest of the dungeon before I start singing your praises too much."

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, revealing a sprawling floor filled with activity.

Rows of high-tech gaming pods lined the walls, glowing faintly with blue light. Several players were either stepping out of their pods or preparing to log in. Screens on the walls displayed real-time game stats, showing player progress and guild activity.

"This is where we manage most of our dungeon raids and high-priority missions," Aria explained as they walked. "Each pod here is top-of-the-line, equipped with full bio-feedback systems and extended duration capabilities. You could stay logged in for a week if you wanted to."

August whistled, clearly impressed by everything he was seeing. "And here I thought I was doing well with my mid-grade pod."

Aria glanced at him with a look of concern. "You're lucky you didn't pass out. These pods are designed to handle the stress that comes with long sessions, especially for high-level players."

As they continued walking, they passed several rooms, including a strategy room where a group of players was gathered around a holographic map of a dungeon.

Further down the hall, they came across a training room where guild members practiced their moves in a VR combat simulation and martial arts in real life.

It was not news that one's physical capabilities in real life were reflected in the game.

This was one of the reasons why it was more difficult to get into guilds because one had to be physically adept in one or two areas to be considered.

"Impressive," August said, genuinely awed by the scale of the operation.

Aria smiled. "It's not all just for show. Phoenix Celestial takes its reputation seriously. We're not just a guild; we're a brand."

Finally, they arrived at a section labeled Guest Pods. Aria led him to one of the pods and tapped a few buttons on the control panel. The pod's hatch slid open smoothly.

"This one's all set for you," she said. "It will link to your account, so you can jump right back into the Swordking Dungeon as soon as you log in."

August stepped inside and glanced around the interior. It was far more advanced than his own pod, with a fully cushioned interior and a glowing interface that displayed his vitals.

"Fancy," he muttered before settling into the seat. "Thanks for setting this up."

"Don't mention it," Aria replied. "Just make sure you're ready. We've still got a long way to go."

As the pod closed around him, the familiar sensation of entering the game washed over him.

##########

Authors Note: Thank you all for the support you've shown so far. Mass release done.