The video focused more on the journey itself than solely introducing the Pioneer. After Magic ZX and Dandao Dantart arrived in Kazimierz , they brought along Qiu Muyu. With the presence of a very eye-catching young lady on screen, the enthusiasm of certain male players noticeably spiked. After all, two grown men could only attract so much attention—even the charm of the Pioneer had its limits.
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"During our conversations with the Pioneer, we learned about several key factions. First, the organization he's affiliated with is called the Laterano Notary Office. Judging by the name, it's not hard to guess that it's an official Laterano institution."
"Next, we heard mention of 'Rhine Lab.' From the Pioneer's remarks, it seems he's actually a shareholder of this company. If anyone out there knows more about Rhine Lab, feel free to drop your insights in the chat or comments below."
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"So far, we've seen that the Pioneer is rich, talented, witty, gentle, and has excellent character. He's basically the embodiment of everything good in the world. And I say this as a man—I'm genuinely moved. I suspect we're going to see a lot of female NPCs getting involved with this guy later. Anyone who agrees with me, drop a '1' in the chat!"
"111111111"
A wave of 1s instantly flooded the comment section.
Magic ZX kept the tone light and humorous, but it soon took a more serious turn as the camera panned ahead to reveal the towering walls of a massive city.
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As the shot zoomed in, the audience realized that what they were seeing was only a small portion of the wall. Through the thick fog, the true scale of the city became a question of imagination—how far did those colossal barriers stretch?
The sight left many players stunned. It might even be fair to say they suffered from a momentary case of megalophobia. The sheer size of the city was downright intimidating.
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"This is what the NPCs refer to as a 'mobile city.' And yes, 'mobile' means this entire metal behemoth actually moves," Magic ZX explained. "From what I've seen, this place is clearly off-limits to players at our level. The pedestrians alone—all marked with white, yellow, and green danger indicators—are way out of our league. Only the NPC office workers seem remotely safe."
Magic ZX said exactly what many players were thinking. At first glance, the city was overwhelming. Clearly, it wasn't an area that could be accessed casually. It was nothing like the Novice Town—just look at the ridiculously long security queues.
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But before long, their attention was drawn away by the dazzling array of advertisements and shops. From knights clad in sleek, high-tech armor striding down the streets to clusters of adorable mascots gathering in public squares, the lively atmosphere had players gasping in awe.
Seeing Magic ZX, Dandao Dantart, and Qiu Muyu looking slightly overwhelmed only made it funnier. It was like watching villagers set foot in a bustling metropolis for the very first time.
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Eventually, the group made their way into the busiest shopping mall. As they browsed the shelves of gear and weaponry, they couldn't help but compare them to the Pioneer's offerings.
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"Honestly, whether it's the craftsmanship, attack power, or durability, none of this stuff can compete with what the Pioneer provides," Magic ZX said with amazement. "And don't even get me started on the prices—they're several times higher here. Brothers, now you see how much the Pioneer really looks out for us! Once you leave that village, you'll never find a shop like his again! Flood the screen with your thanks!"
Countless comments flooded the screen, filled with phrases like "So touching!" mixed with dramatic pleas such as, "Pioneer, come to my Novice Town! I've saved all my money just for you, woooo..."
In the video, Magic ZX naturally brought up the players who had first triggered hidden missions—Dandao Dantart for the first one, and Qiu Muyu for the second. The three of them were currently working on those secret quests as a small team. Truly befitting the name hidden task, this mysterious high-level NPC had actually led a group of players straight from the Novice Town, across the entire map, and into the main city!
Amid the envious and jealous gazes of the viewers, the Pioneer handed Dandao Dantart powerful new weapons. The moment they equipped them, their ecstatic screams echoed in ways only veteran players would understand.
Toward the end, Dandao Dantart let something slip—he called the Pioneer by the name "Felix". He quickly tried to clarify, saying that this wasn't the Pioneer's real name but a codename. He felt it would be too forward to use the Pioneer's actual name, so he went with Pioneer instead. But the damage was done: the comment section immediately exploded with one word repeated again and again—
"Felix!"
The entire video played out like a long, slow flex. The trio enjoyed private car service courtesy of the Pioneer, witnessed a terrifying natural disaster storm, entered a city currently off-limits to most players, and even walked away with custom-made Pioneer weapons. The viewers? Boiling with jealousy. Who were these lucky few that managed to trigger the Pioneer's hidden quest?
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"Oh my god, I can't take it anymore—START IT!"
"I'm so jealous. He's going to get beaten up!"
"I'm sucking up all your luck right now—maybe the Pioneer will notice me then!"
"Are you... a yandere?"
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The program concluded with Magic ZX dropping a rapid-fire outro rap:
"Traveled thousands of miles, left footprints in every place,
Every stop, a new view to embrace~
The sky is wide, the land is free,
Let me roam where I please, the Pioneer journey walks with me!
This was just the first episode introducing our Pioneer. Of course, a second one is on the way!
Next time, we'll dive into Kazimierz's triennial Competitive Knight Conference,
And keep exploring the Pioneer's past and present!
Dear viewers—don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. See you next time!"
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After watching the full 30-minute video, players everywhere felt one thing—
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
The footage seamlessly combined first-person and third-person views of Magic ZX's journey. It was enriched by commentary added in post-production, offering players valuable insight they otherwise wouldn't have at this stage of the game. The video not only expanded the world's lore and background but also addressed countless questions floating around the player base.
But above all, the biggest surprise was just what it meant to travel with the Pioneer. Imagine journeying with a man who can drive, is responsible and generous, approachable and witty. It was simply cool. Female players may have been captivated by his looks, while male players found themselves drawn to his strength and character.
Through Magic ZX's eyes, the daily life of the Pioneer unfolded before the audience. Every moment revealed more of his charm, and it was clear that he had won over players who loved narrative content. Meanwhile, players who sought strength and rewards couldn't help but fixate on the exclusive weapons that Dandao Dantart received. The Pioneer's generosity toward his companions left them all with one overwhelming thought—
"I want to be one of the Pioneer's people."
The audience, thoroughly satisfied with what they had just watched, immediately began sharing the 30-minute masterpiece across various posts. Some even forwarded it to their group chats to persuade friends who hadn't yet tuned in to watch.
Pioneer had already become a hot topic on the player forums, with comments still piling up daily under Dream Chaser's original post. Now, with Magic ZX using Pioneer as the title for his latest upload and dropping what could only be called a king bomb, the video's impact exploded across the community. It instantly captured the players' attention, drawing overwhelming enthusiasm. Viewer counts skyrocketed into the four or five digits, and the barrage of live comments became so dense that people could barely see the footage behind them.
This episode quickly became a viral hit—surpassing even Magic ZX's previously most popular video, Swordsman, breaking viewership records within minutes and continuing to climb.
Magic ZX himself was ecstatic. Not only was he able to accompany the Pioneer, he felt honored to be considered the Pioneer's right-hand man. Traveling and adventuring with someone like him stirred genuine emotion and excitement. In a world like Ark, NPCs like this weren't just meant to exist—they were destined to leave their mark.
Players, too, began to see the Pioneer in a new light. His image gradually shifted from that of a welfare-distributing merchant or golden-fingered mentor to that of a major, influential NPC. He became the first NPC to leave such a deep impression on players. Compared to the cute cat-girl promoted on the official site—whom no one had actually seen—the Pioneer's presence and influence were real, growing, and impossible to ignore. Anyone who played Ark now knew his name.
This marked an important shift in how players viewed NPCs—not just as quest-givers or background decoration, but as figures to admire, follow, and even flatter. This kind of relationship stems from the players' love for these characters—their strength, their stories, and the depth of their design. Even villains can gain a devoted fanbase, simply because they leave such a strong impression.
Think of iconic characters: Pikachu, Kratos, Captain Price, and Master Chief on the heroic side, or Sephiroth and Vergil among the antagonists. All of them command fan loyalty. In online games, if characters from past single-player titles were reintroduced, you can be sure that many players would flock to support even the most charismatic of villains.
Among these NPCs, it's usually beautiful women, characters with rich backstories, or those with eccentric personalities that become fan favorites.
Of course, being handsome or beautiful doesn't solve everything. A likable personality is just one piece of the puzzle. Players won't devote themselves for love alone—benefits matter, too. A truly successful NPC needs to offer both popularity and tangible rewards. If the Pioneer continues to strike that balance, there's no doubt he'll maintain his standing in the long run.
And credit where it's due—thanks to Magic ZX, the absurdly priced weapons and equipment in the Pioneer's shop were clearly documented in the video. Otherwise, players who don't carefully manage their in-game finances would have no idea how expensive daily necessities actually are.
As for the revelation of his real name, it didn't really matter. It's not like he'd committed any serious crimes, nor was he wanted. At most, a few old acquaintances in the Holy City of Laterano might raise an eyebrow in surprise upon hearing it. He hadn't expected Dandao Dantart to keep the secret so well either. But now, with the name Felix out in the open, the forum had already been flooded with—
"Felix."
As for the other factions, Felix used the code name "Pioneer" while in Kazimierz , but went by his real name in Rhine Lab, located in Columbia. Since the two regions were far apart—and players hadn't yet entered either mobile city—there was little chance anyone would connect the two identities.
From the public beta until now, the name Pioneer had consistently dominated the front page of the Ark forums. He had become a bona fide star. What started as a flash of popularity had gradually settled into a lasting presence in the hearts of every player. Not to mention, there was now even a wishing building dedicated entirely to the Pioneer—its walls filled with messages hoping he'd drive up in his pickup truck tomorrow and let them spend all their in-game savings.
Felix mulled it over. If he really traveled through every gathering place on Terra… wouldn't that be equivalent to setting foot on every corner of the land? The thought did sound a little romantic.
At present, the Pioneer had an excellent reputation. Felix knew this well. He excelled in nearly every regard—except one: his interactions with players were still too limited.
And by interaction, it didn't mean simply through his role as a merchant. After all, not every player had access to the "hidden mainline"—only a select few lucky ones could trigger it. This meant the Pioneer might lack broader interaction opportunities in future storylines, simply because Laterano didn't have much existing plot content, and not all players could access what little there was.
Ark had clear limitations in this regard. Typically, a player's experience would focus on the storyline of the faction they chose. It wasn't possible to follow every faction's plot. Only by reviewing plot "copy crystals" generated from other players' journeys could one glimpse what happened in other factions.
So, it was obviously unrealistic to expect all players to participate directly in every storyline. Felix scratched his head—this was a real headache. How could he develop a main storyline that belonged solely to him?
For now, he decided to set that issue aside. Meanwhile, someone had uploaded Magic ZX's video to overseas video-sharing platforms, and it caused an immediate stir among foreign players.
"Oh my god, believe me, I told you! I met this NPC in Columbia! His weapons are dirt cheap and high quality!"
"Amazing NPC! Love from America, ahhh!"
"Cyka Blyat! When will you come to Ursus, our angel?!"
Unbeknownst to Felix, his name was steadily gaining recognition in the eyes of foreign players. He certainly planned to sell to them too—but for now, his training focus remained on the players within the Chinese region.
Today's match was the North Zone semifinals. The winner would advance to face the South Zone's finalist in the championship match.
On the other side of the bracket, the Light Knight had already stormed into the finals with overwhelming momentum. However, Felix hadn't watched that match. According to the old knight and the old craftsman, it was more of a performance than a true battle. Still, to deliver a sense of realism to the audience, both sides had fought fiercely—and even the Light Knight ended up injured.
Though Felix hadn't attended, three players had, and naturally, Magic ZX recorded the whole thrilling scene.
"Please proceed to the VIP box."
A beautiful maid bowed and gestured politely. As she did, Felix noticed the number printed on her collarbone. Evidently, she had once been a slave.
Someone tugged at the hem of Felix's clothes. He turned and found Muelsyse , dressed in youthful, elegant clothing, staring at him with an unhappy expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Eh~ Nothing. Let's go."
Muelsyse gave a soft huff before turning her attention to the interior decorations of the arena. Her expression shifted to one of awe.
"Trimount has a gymnasium too, but it's nowhere near this big."
"That's because competitive knights need a larger venue," Felix explained.
As the two approached the door, the maid gave a small bow and said, "Sir, if you require our services, please press the button, and we will attend to you immediately."
Felix suddenly felt a pair of eyes staring at him from behind.
So he feigned ignorance, said nothing, and calmly stepped into the box.