The young man sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the massive, pearlescent VR Capsule that now dominated his tiny, cluttered apartment. It hummed with a soft, promising energy, a stark contrast to the dusty silence of his NEET existence.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4juhTIhiP
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“Alright… this is it. The great escape,” he muttered to the empty room, running a hand through his unkempt hair. “Two billion people can’t be wrong. Or maybe they can. Who cares? It’s gotta be better than this.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dUHrgeCGZ
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He’d blown the last of his savings on this thing. The game itself, *Illusion Tree*, was a one-time purchase. The real cost was the capsule—the only hardware advanced enough to deliver the promised “second reality.” No subscriptions, no microtransactions. Just… a new life.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf3auxsEh7
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With a deep breath, he climbed inside. The gel-filled contours molded to his body with a sigh. A holographic interface flickered to life before his eyes.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6OfWZnk8E
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[Welcome to Illusion Tree. Please state your player name.]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt4vupd8n2
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He’d practiced this. “Eon. Eon Moonlicht.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD5N0RkYpR
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPmHoZB4g8
[Confirm character name: Eon Moonlicht?]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOGE0aARVa
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“Confirm.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2g0wuWdwU
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[Initialization complete. Connecting to the World Tree. Enjoy your new life.]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gaxz1vMiZ
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The hum of the capsule faded, replaced by an absolute, silent white.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35OTiqgpRE
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A voice, ancient and resonant, filled the void. It wasn't heard; it was *felt*, vibrating in his very soul.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX3lqIczCy
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Pl6aIFiru
From the chaos of the primordial code, twelve deities emerged. They forged the World Tree, Illusion Tree, from dreams and logic. Each god poured their essence into an Orb, a fragment of ultimate power. But ambition shattered their unity. A divine war raged, scattering the Orbs and their divine weapons to the farthest roots and highest branches of the Tree. Now, only echoes of the gods remain, and mortals tread the paths they forged. Your journey begins at the end of their story. Your choices will write the next.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SoypM8E2G
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The white dissolved into a breathtaking, golden space. Before him stood a being of impossible beauty, her wings not of feather, but of crystallized light. Her voice was like a symphony. “Welcome, soul. I am your guide to genesis. To step upon the path, you must first choose your first identity. Who will you be in this world?”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0b34wSbOJ
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A colossal, shimmering menu materialized, listing thousands of classes: Dragon Knight, Arcane Weaver, Shadow Dancer, Rune Smith, Celestial Bard… the list seemed infinite.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2RxRyCpXc
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“The timer begins now,” the angelic guide said gently. “Choose wisely, for your beginning shapes your journey.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzOUfAJFmc
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A clock appeared above her head. [00:59]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qK2oo4fQ4
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Eon’s heart hammered against his ribs. The pressure was immense. Every class glowed with potential, a promise of power and purpose. But he remembered the video, buried deep in the algorithm,37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDcyj93Wjw
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3iyophbfP
titled “Three Things I’d Do if I Started Over Again | Illusion Tree.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPds08Bbge9
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The third point, delivered by a calm, masked avatar, was seared into his memory.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXWTNqHwiS
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“Do not choose a class. Let the timer run out.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzrVANTgzY
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The comments were a torrent of rage.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rsMDIC21f
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SCAM!37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKZDYe0x69
I tried this and it ruined my account!37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAhPel4GS8
Waste of time, you spawn with NOTHING!37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd402PHPkj
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Yet, the uploader never responded, never defended themselves. The mystery of it, the sheer contrarian absurdity, called to Eon. His entire life had been about having nothing and making nothing of it. Why should a game be different?37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi61xQ1agoo
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“I… choose nothing,” Eon said, his voice firmer than he felt.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmDjJWfNJU
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The angel’s serene smile didn’t falter, but the light around her flickered almost imperceptibly. “Nothing? That is not a path available on the menu, traveler.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6sSq6WynX
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“I know. I’m not picking anything. I’ll wait.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5ggIVVmLC
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The timer ticked down. [00:45]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tB2pcgoRD
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“This is most unwise,” she urged, her melodic voice gaining a sharp edge. “To refuse a class is to refuse the very foundation of this world. You will be granted no starting weapon, no armor, not even the most basic skill like <Appraise> or <Sprint>. You will be less than a newborn. You will be… a void.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclWttti5yX
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“I’m used to it,” Eon retorted, a defensive smirk on his face. “Isn’t this supposed to be a real second life? In real life, you don’t get to pick ‘Dragon Tamer’ as a starting class. You figure it out.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSdwipyr5C
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[00:30]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7E5es6vKE
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“This is not your world!” she insisted, her composure cracking for the first time. A divine frustration leaked into her tone. “It has rules! You are not ‘figuring it out,’ you are wilfully crippling yourself! Why would you do this? What possible logic drives you?”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQLvvwff9a
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“Let’s call it an experiment.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2HViBP52m
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[00:15]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5Oh6ZTDQj
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“It is folly!” The space around them shuddered. “You tread a road of pure anguish. The wilds will devour you. Other players will scorn you. The world itself will not acknowledge you! This is not a brave challenge; it is a surrender before you have even begun!”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHLN3NW1v5
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“Then I surrender,” Eon said, meeting her glowing gaze. “But I’ll do it on my terms.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCrLgcy54G
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[00:03… 00:02… 00:01…]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd2ToqKWgd
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The magnificent menu shattered into motes of light. The angel’s form seemed to dim. The disappointment on her face was profoundly, unsettlingly real.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUZrPB3XFn
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK5AOGbwbe
“So be it, Eon Moonlicht. You enter the world as a paradox. A blank page. May your story be worth the pain of its writing.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCFIM3IRWV
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The golden chamber imploded into a vortex of color and sound.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvpvxmHkiG
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Sensation returned all at once. The smell of damp earth and baking bread. The feel of a warm breeze on his skin. The sound of a bustling crowd and chirping birds. Eon blinked, his eyes adjusting to the vivid sunlight of a perfect fantasy village square. He looked down at himself. Rough-spun tunic, soft linen pants, bare feet. Absolutely, utterly ordinary.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZGt8hKOOR
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A notification hung in his vision, transparent and mocking:37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw4DNpjbkD
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6PaGWLkFK
[ Class: None ]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmhYZhU5VD
[ Equipped: None ]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR218MOI1sq
[ Skills: None ]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWf5yCjtiG
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“Well,” he whispered to himself, wiggling his toes in the grass. “Here goes nothing.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDDAozVVjG
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The starting village, Haven’s Reach, was flooded with new players, all clad in their starting gear. Leather armor, simple robes, Initiiate’s staves. Eon, in his peasant clothes, stood out like a sore thumb.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sdAorwuql
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“Hey, you there!” a boisterous young man in chainmail called out, clanking over. “You just pop in? What’d you roll? I went Guardian. Gonna be an unkillable tank!” He thumped his chest plate.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbAeaKvaEs
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“Uh, I didn’t… roll anything,” Eon said.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMqF1jZQCa
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC81iRUJoz
The Guardian’s smile faded. “What do you mean? Everyone picks a class.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclZ9BlCEPm
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“I didn’t. I waited out the timer.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQGYe5rG3q
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A nearby Archer, stringing her bow, burst out laughing. “You did what? Oh, man, I heard about that! There’s some stupid rumor on the forums. You actually fell for it?”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWeInpfRha
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The Guardian stared in pure disbelief. “But… why? You have no gear. No skills. You’re literally a level-zero NPC.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEo7mCB86x
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Their conversation attracted a small crowd. A Mage in blue robes sneered. “Look at this! A true noob! I didn’t think they actually existed.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL0IylldEQ
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“Hey, buddy,” the Archer said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. “You know you’re basically just XP for the tutorial slimes, right? They’re gonna have to respawn you so many times your brain will get dizzy.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4A24E95Kv
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The crowd erupted in laughter. Eon tried to push past them, his face heating up.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvANUIbjYo
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“Wait, wait, don’t go!” the Guardian said, stepping in front of him. “I’m feeling charitable. I’ll mentor you. First lesson! How to punch air!” He demonstrated with a slow, exaggerated punch. More laughter.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRGl7HvIJU
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“Second lesson!” the Archer chimed in. “How to run away crying! It’s gonna be your most-used skill!”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjg8nd31oZ
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Eon shoved past them, their jeers following him. “Thanks for the offer! I’ll manage!”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk2KWawlCZ
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He made his way to a small equipment stall run by a grizzled NPC smith. “Excuse me,” Eon said. “I’d like to buy a knife. The cheapest one you have.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ939iKVs9NI
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The smith looked him up and down, his brow furrowed. “You’re new. What’s your class, lad? Gatherer? Skinner? I’ve got good starter knives for both.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HpzgOC5eW
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“I… don’t have a class.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetW6JpRpMv
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The NPC’s friendly demeanor vanished instantly. He scowled. “No class? Then I’ve got nothing for you. Can’t have untrained fools waving sharp metal around. You’ll poke your eye out, or worse, someone else’s. Move along. You’re scaring off proper customers.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPKWaHlhTM
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From behind him, a player buying a sword chuckled. “Even the AI knows you’re a lost cause, man. Give it up.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodgnC49PMm
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Defeated, Eon moved to a potion vendor, an elderly woman with a kind face. Maybe she’d take pity.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtAOJy140z
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“Hello, dearie. A healing potion for the road? Only a few copper.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8yAQBsVE8
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“I’d like one, but I don’t have any money. Or a class.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx6tiCdj8b
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The woman’s kind eyes narrowed. “No class? Then I cannot, in good conscience, sell you a potion. Without the <Potion Lore> skill granted by a class, you might misdose. You could poison yourself! The liability! Shoo, now. Come back when you’ve found your purpose.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vS1is9r7N
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The final humiliation came at the village inn. The common room was packed with players celebrating their new beginnings. Eon slipped in, hoping to just listen and learn.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKXisY54ZC
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A hush fell over part of the room. Then a loud, mocking voice rang out. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in! Or should I say, what *didn’t* drag anything in! It’s Mr. No-Class himself!”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lUow5pB5r
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A barrel-chested Warrior stood up, raising a tankard. “A toast! To the biggest idiot in Haven’s Reach! May your respawns be quick and your failures be entertaining!”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWtYqj2ps3
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The room roared with approval. Another player yelled, “What’s your build, man? Is it ‘Optimist’ or ‘Masochist’?”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmGPTpKyJI
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“Maybe he’s roleplaying a village idiot! Hey, do a trick! Can you eat mud?”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HAvAbt8Jg
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Eon turned on his heel and marched out, the sound of their laughter feeling like physical blows against his back. He didn’t stop until he passed through the village’s main gate, the guard NPC simply shaking his head in pity.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCc3OSw0j0
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The sun was warmer outside the walls. The grass was greener. The air was free of their mockery. Before him, a wide, peaceful meadow stretched out. And there, bouncing aimlessly, was a small, gelatinous, green Slime. The most basic of basic monsters.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qZ5nSwMcz
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It was the only thing in this world that wasn’t laughing at him.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7khzMwjw8
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“Okay,” Eon breathed, his heart starting to pound not with embarrassment, but with anticipation. “Just you and me.”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VRpZRVhVf
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd96bNGuCT5
He approached cautiously. The slime noticed him, gave a cheerful little wobble, and hopped forward. Eon lunged, swinging a wild punch. His fist sank into its cool, jelly-like body with a soft *squelch*. It didn’t hurt it much, but the impact stung his knuckles.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjMCNGvbgj
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The slime retaliated, launching itself and smacking into his leg. It felt like being hit with a wet bag of sand—not deadly, but surprisingly solid and painful.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp89nleycNu
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“Yowch! Okay, you little jerk!”37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrbJnPu9zr
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This wasn’t a quick game fight. This was a clumsy, gritty, undignified scrap. He couldn’t just press a button for a skill. He had to actually move, dodge, and swing. He kicked at it, his bare foot connecting with the same squelching sensation. He overbalanced and fell onto his backside in the grass.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvPXVKLYUU
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The slime hopped onto his chest. He grabbed it with both hands, the substance oozing between his fingers, and with a grunt of effort, he ripped it in two. The two halves quivered for a moment before dissolving into a faint, shimmering mist.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYAHrroGPm
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A warmth flowed into him. A transparent, grey text appeared in his vision, simple and profound.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr92WwoLTX
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[Strength +1]37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGMGHy3BLG
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Eon lay there in the grass, chest heaving, covered in faintly glowing slime residue. He started to laugh, a real, breathless, incredulous laugh that echoed in the quiet field.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrqH64FZym
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He had nothing. No class, no skills, no gear, no respect.37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4psPbh7Cmu
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But he had one single point of Strength that he had earned all by himself. And for the first time in a long time, that felt like everything.
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and then Add to home screen.