YutLungno1fan

we are actively seeing the consequences of catering to toxic fans: mc's face censored, numbers censored, TEXT censored. everything censored that could potentially trigger antis into making another move.

we are actively seeing that infold is not responding (whether they're listening is a whole other thing that I cannot in good conscience comment on, because they are seeing us, the problem is their lack of response, not lack of reading comprehension and critical thinking).

so to every person that cheered for valko's cancellation: are you happy with THIS? I'm not even asking about valko.

are you happy with lads having to sloppily censor every text, every numbers that could've held hidden meaning for us to dissect?

are you happy with infold not responding to criticism in the slightest? if they can ignore an outrage at THIS scale, do you REALLY think they'll ever address kod or lighting issues or missing content or lack of a roadmap or main story being so slow or the reduction in animation in main story or what have you?

think for a second, do you really feel comfortable enough to spend hundreds of dollars supporting a company that handles backlash like THIS?

if this isn't a wake up call to everyone who celebrated valko's cancellation before, I really don't know what is.

they've shown they will throw caleb mains under the bus to protect their poster child raf.

they've shown they don't care for zayne mains either.

they've shown they don't care about sylus missing content.

they've shown they don't care about xavier mains complaining about kod's false advertisement.

they've shown they to an extent don't care about raf mains either, lying about revealing raf's 4th myth in july. we had to find that out ourselves because someone asked CUSTOMER SERVICE about it.

they've shown they don't care about global enough to give us even a CRUMB of communication. most things we had to learn from cn girlies telling us, NOT infold.

WAKE UP.

THIS ISN'T EVEN ABOUT VALKO ANYMORE. THE GAME WE ALL LOVED IS SLOWLY DYING AND INSTEAD OF BEING DEVASTATED YOU CHOOSE TO DANCE ON ITS GRAVE?

don't log in and don't spend.

LaDS. Valko x Reader

On this particularly rainy day, you're haunted by both regret and the memories you last shared with Valko. Your guilt washes away with the rain when he answers your call.

1,368 words. light angst, fluff, late night conversations, valko's really sweet in this, self-indulgent, f!reader, cross-posted on ao3

a/n: This is for my people who feel guilty when setting boundaries with others. The right people will not hate you for it, I promise. And of course, this is for my people who miss Valko. I cried while writing this one because I long for him so much lol.

dividers by @diviniyae | ao3 link here

It is only necessary to want a friend when loneliness haunts every aspect of your life.

Life has been quite the nightmare if you were to say so yourself. Your eyes struggle to stay open after long days at work, and when you come home, an imminent disappointment blooms at the sight of undone chores. Granted, only you could complete them since you’re the only one living in this tiny apartment, but that doesn’t make you any less frustrated. It only makes your silent wishes louder.

Genuinely though no one is ‘forcing’ you to do anything, trust. If you wanna hate on Valko for being cringy while having ‘Caleb’s Baby Sister’ in your bio good for you I’m so proud you have no logic whatsoever and don’t understand what fiction is unless it’s your main. (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

summary: valko said you were only friends, but when you draw the line, will he be able to give up the closeness he's grown so attached to? tags: valko x reader, friends to lovers, slight angst w/ happy ending, pre-relationship, situationship if you squint your eyes word count: 1.2k photo credits: Game8

"I'm entertaining... a friend," Valko said to someone over the phone.

Hoho, so I'm a friend? Is what you thought, feeling amused after overhearing the conversation.

Just weeks later, you found yourself entangled in Valko's strong, thick arms. You were sitting on a chair across the mirror, preparing yourself for work. Valko was sitting on the floor with his legs crossed, his head buried against your waist as he inhaled your fragrant scent. 

After you brushed your hair and finished your final touches, you held his arm. "Valko, I should go now..." 

His wolf ears perked as he nuzzled deeper into your waist. "Just a bit more," His tail wagged restlessly. 

You stared at him for a while before you caressed his cheek softly. "Valko," you called out.

He raised his head and his eyes locked with yours with a soft gaze. His right eyebrow raised as if he were trying to read the thoughts behind your eyes. 

"Um... we should refrain from doing these kinds of things so often." 

As soon as he heard your statement, the restless swaying of his tail suddenly halted, falling flat to the floor. His eyes widened, and his golden eyes flickered with disbelief. 

"Refrain...?" He repeated, ears twitching before drooping. "From what things?" he asked, a faint hint of tremor slipping in his voice as though unsure as to whether he had heard you correctly.

You nodded. "You know... all these hugging, sleeping together in one bed," you shyly said. 

As if the world came crashing down on him, Valko sat frozen. 

The color drained from his face.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asked, voice weary.

You quickly shook your head, hands still caressing his cheeks. "No, no! It's not like that. You did not do anything wrong." 

Even though you reassured him, his shoulders remained tense, bracing himself for what you were going to say. You sighed heavily, searching for the right words. 

"It's just that, when you think about it," you rubbed the back of your head. "... friends do not act this way, Valko."

Valko's brows knit together, trying to make sense of what you were saying. 

"They don't cling to each other with every chance they get," you continued. "They don't fall asleep in the same bed almost every night... and they definitely don't kiss," you rubbed his head, trying to not hurt his feelings any further. "I am just worried that acting like this might cause unnecessary rumors, especially because many people's eyes are on you." 

Silence settled between the two of you.

Valko's gaze fell to the ground, his ears drooped lower as the words echoed in his mind. 

Friends don't act this way. 

The sentence remained on his mind more than he wanted to. 

Just as you were about to break the silence, your phone rang, reflecting Tara on the screen. 

You gently released yourself from Valko's arms, pressing the answer button on your phone's screen. "Hello?"

["Where are you, gorgeous?"] Tara's voice came through the speaker. ["Don't tell me you're still at home. Meeting starts in a few minutes."] 

"Oh, shit— I totally forgot. I'll hurry." You ended the call, grabbed your bag, and slipped your phone inside. 

You looked at Valko and patted his head softly. "We'll clear things up later, okay? You still have work, you should go too."

He looked at you with pained eyes, but he managed to force out a smile. "... Okay."

The moment you stepped inside your apartment, you let out a long sigh.

Today's conversation replayed in your mind for what felt like the hundredth time.

"...I really should explain it properly." You set your bag down at the table, slipping your hand inside to grab your phone. Worried, your thumb hovered over Valko's contact as several thoughts formed in your head.

What if you had hurt him? Maybe you worded it too harshly. Maybe he thought you were pushing him away.

Before you could call him, you heard a knock on your door. 

You approached the door and stared at it for a few seconds, mustering your courage, feeling the familiar presence on the other side. 

You clicked the door open and saw Valko standing unnaturally, with his hands behind him. "Hi, Valko."

"Hello..." His ears twitched, looking away. 

"Um... about this morning, I am sorry." You scratched your head. "I don't want you to think that I am pushing you away," you explained. 

You looked at him and saw his uneasy expression as he waited for you to continue.

"I like being with you, Valko. I like spending time with you," you straightforwardly spoke, blushing heavily as your heart thumped. "I- I just don't think... I just don't think it's appropriate to call it friends when we—" 

"I don't want to be friends anymore." The words burst out of him before you could finish. 

His ears shot upright, and his tail wagged anxiously. For a moment, even he was surprised by his outburst. 

"Sorry, I interrupted you." He looked at you, looked away, and looked back at you again. "I tried imagining it earlier."  

"I tried thinking about not being able to hold your hand. I tried thinking, not being able to see you every day or hug you," he paused. 

Your eyes softened at his words, and your hands lowered from holding the knob. 

"I tried thinking of us being separated because we're just friends," he frowned. "But I don't want that." His eyes looked pained, and his huge body seemed to shrink, as if he were bullied.

"Valko..."

"I hated it. I want hugs, lots of them. I want to hug you."

He looked at you firmly, tail wagging softly as he expressed himself. 

"I like spending time with you." 

"I like it when you pinch my nose." 

"I like it when you pat my head." 

"I like holding you. I like it when you hold me too." 

"... I love waiting for you to come home." 

You could not mutter anything and could only swallow. Your heart rang in your ears, muffling all the rustling sounds in your surroundings, and you could only hear his voice.

"If friends can't do that..." he inhaled deeply, pursing his lips. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second. "May I ask you on a date?!" 

His eyes slowly opened, studying your face for a second. 

"Oops. Didn't mean to shout." He covered his tomato-colored face, feeling embarrassed, his ears folding slightly. 

You could not help but smile at his silliness and ended up approaching him. How could you even resist a big baby who yearns only for you?

Before you could reach him, his eyes widened. He just remembered something important.

"Ah—!" A flower bouquet appeared in front of you. The ribbon was tied a little crookedly, and several petals were slightly out of place. "Here. For you." 

You chuckled softly, noticing how the bouquet was slightly worn out, with some wolf hair stuck on it. 

"Thank you, Valko. I appreciate it." You took the bouquet from his hand. "And yes, let's go on plenty of dates, shall we?" 

You could have sworn you saw his gold eyes light up instantly, and his mouth opened slightly, as if bewildered by your words.

"Oh—I know a place." He turned around and placed one arm crossed over his chest while the other rested on it, his fist tucked beneath his chin in thought. 

You listened to him babble some words and ended up giggling upon seeing his tail waggling in excitement. 

"Um, Valko, there are some petals stuck on your tail."

As I write this, Valko is standing over my shoulder.

He insists he isn't reading it, yet every now and then I catch him stealing a glance before pretending to look away. Don't be upset with him, my love. He's not a bad man, just an awfully curious one. You probably know that already. He's still the same silly nerd with chocolate on his hands and more curiosity than shame. Sometimes I think your sister would've adored him. She would've laughed at how easy it is to fluster him.

He promised me one of his colleagues would deliver this letter to you. He said he owed me this much.

Caleb... I never imagined I would write you a goodbye letter. Not because I stopped loving you. Never because of that. If anything, it is because I love you too much. I have to leave. There are things that have become tangled beyond either of us, and Valko being Valko, managed to throw himself into the middle of it all. My love, I cannot let him face it alone. So I am going with him, not because I was asked to, but because I chose to.

Please don't think this means I chose him over you. Because I didn't, I never will. If life had been kinder, if it had given me a choice that didn't ask me to leave someone behind, I would have chosen you every single time. I'm going because he needs me. Not because I love you any less. Not because someone else has taken the place that has always belonged to you. There has never been anyone else, Caleb. There has only ever been you.

I don't know when I'll return. I don't know if I'll return at all. I wanted to tell you I have no regrets, because it sounds brave. But I have never been very good at lying to you. I have one, just one. It's that I never got to marry you. I never got to stand beside you and promise forever beneath an open sky. I never got to build a home with you. I never got to grow old with you, to watch the years leave little lines on our faces while we argued over little things and laughed about them a minute later.

We were only given seasons, far too few of them. The days we spent together now feel like fleeting summers, warm, golden, impossibly beautiful and cruelly short compared to the winter that awaits us apart. How unfair it is that a lifetime of loving you can be remembered in fragments. Your laugh. The way your hand always found mine without thinking. The kisses that made the world quieter. The way you looked at the sky, as if it had been waiting for you long before you learned how to fly. Every time you took off, I found myself looking up too, wondering which patch of blue was holding the person I loved most.

The warmth you carried so effortlessly, as though your surname had become your soul. Xia. Summer. Because wherever you were, life felt warmer. Like sunlight after days of rain. Like coming home.

If the years ahead are spent without me, promise me something. Don't stop looking at the sky. Keep flying. Keep chasing every sunrise from above the clouds. Keep finding peace where the sky meets the horizon. Don't let my absence make the world feel smaller. If anything, I hope you'll love the sky enough for the both of us. And when summer comes... Please don't hate it because it reminds you of me. Stand in the sunlight. Feel the warmth on your face. Smile when the wind finds you. I'd like to think that's my way of finding you again.

And if by some miracle, I find my way back to you... I hope you'll still call my name the same way you always did. And if I don't... Then let this letter be the last proof that there was once someone in this world who loved you with every piece of herself.

And one last thing Caleb I need you to remember this, even if one day my voice fades from your memory. You will never be unloved by me. Not while the sky is still blue. Not while summer still returns. Not in this life. Not in whatever comes after. For as long the skies still carry your wings, my heart will always find its way back to you.

Maybe I should've managed my expectations better.

Maybe I should've prepared myself for this outcome instead of letting myself believe that things could still turn around.

But it's hard not to hope when you spend days watching people from all over the world come together for something they love.

So before anything else... thank you.

Thank you to everyone who spoke up. Thank you to everyone who translated posts, explained what was happening, wrote feedback, shared information, donated, stayed up all night refreshing social media, and simply cared enough to try.

To me, this was never just about Valko.

It was about what kind of future this game is heading towards. It was about whether a company would communicate with its players, whether creative decisions could be reversed through harassment, and what precedent that sets going forward.

Watching everyone unite reminded me why I loved this community in the first place. For a little while, it really felt like we were all on the same side, regardless of language, main or server.

And honestly... that's probably what hurts the most

Infold still hasn't said anything. The update has gone live for most servers, yet we're still left piecing everything together ourselves. I genuinely think that I and a lot of other people could've accepted this so much better if there had just been an explanation and a plan.

Instead, we've been left with silence.

I don't know why.

Maybe there are reasons they legally can't discuss. Maybe it has something to do with the current situation in China. Maybe this is simply the direction they want to take the game.

I don't know.

I just wish they had trusted their players enough to communicate with us. What I do know is that silence has only made everything hurt more.

Despite all of this... I don't have it in me to quit.

Sylus has become such an incredible comfort character to me. More than that, I've poured so much time, love, and yes, money into this game. But even beyond the game itself, Love and Deepspace gave me something I never expected.

It brought so many wonderful people into my life. Madi, Xia, Ivy, Hamu, Iah, Leap, Em, Sam, Nuggie, Haydes, Rori, Xiu, Nova, Reena, Tori, Kaits, Khea... and so many others I'm probably forgetting while writing this.

This community became part of my everyday life.

This game also gave me back something I thought I'd lost. It made me write again. It made me create.

It gave me roleplay partners, stories to tell, and three girls that somehow became pieces of myself... Nymeria, Myyrin and Valerie.

I've spent countless hours thinking about them, drawing connections to the game's lore, writing scenes, making playlists, laughing over headcanons. That's not something I can just walk away from overnight.

So...

I'll stay.

But I don't think it'll ever feel quite the same again. There'll always be this little ache in the back of my mind whenever I open the game... A reminder of what happened.

One thing has changed permanently, though: I'm done spending money on this game. I was never a whale. I bought things here and there when I could because I wanted to support something I loved. Now? I don't even see myself renewing my Aurum Pass.

For me, supporting a game isn't just about the content it releases. It's also about trusting the people behind it. And right now, that trust has been broken. When a company shows that it can bend under sustained pressure from harassment while failing to communicate openly with the broader playerbase, that sends a message in itself.

To everyone who's choosing to leave... I'm genuinely sorry it came to this.

We really did try.

People translated. Organized. Wrote feedback. Stayed respectful. Donated to charity. Tried to keep discussions constructive. Countless players across every server spent days hoping there would be a different outcome. We all thought we could turn the tide by showing Infold that we stand with them and they shouldn't focus on the hate. Regardless of where anyone stood on specific changes, I think most of us simply wanted transparency.

Instead, we're left with silence.

And that's the part that's hardest to accept. Maybe it wasn't enough. Maybe nothing we did could've changed the outcome.

But at least we cared enough to try. I just wish it hadn't ended like this.

For now, I'll keep loving Sylus.

I'll keep writing (slowly).

I'll keep making my girls kiss fictional men.

ICANT TAKE IT ANYMORE.if infold doesn't want valko, the indian muslims welcome him with open arms!!!! FROM NOW ON HE IS ONE OF US!!!!

his name is now VALIUDDIN PARVEZ KHAN. plz be respectful to him & address using huzoor, sahab, or janaab only. he has gone for umrah inshallah he come back with all hairs intact ameen🙏 KHUDAHAFIZ.

Valko stalks over to where you're seated at your desk, taking your hand in his and prying it away from your skin. "Aht. Hey. Stop that, alright? You gotta let it heal."

If he spots it once, he'll be on the lookout, so good luck hiding anything from him. And if he catches the scent of blood, he'll be on your case immediately.

His solution? He steals one of your hands. Good luck picking your skin as a fidget with only one hand to handle your primary task! He doesn't mind intertwining your fingers with his own for hours at a time, and there's no escaping his ironclad grip.

Mindlessly, your hand finds a scab on your neck, and you start to peel it out of habit. You startle as you suddenly hear footsteps approaching your office, and a few seconds later, there he is. He approaches you like a wolf on the prowl, raising an eyebrow when you meet his gaze. "Alright, pup. I gave you enough chances. Now, it's time for consequences." Your chest feels tight. Is he frustrated with you for not trying hard enough? "I-I wasn't thinking, Val, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I-" "Hey." He cups your cheeks, staring deep into your eyes and making sure you're listening. "I'm not mad, okay? No apologizing. I didn't mean to spook you." He flashes you a grin, then takes one of your hands in his, waving it in the air. "I'm just taking this hostage for a while."

these players, particularly africans, were also dragged for no fucking reason by valko antis on the CN side when his trailer was released.

and when valko's cancellation was announced, wallahi i was going through every social media platform. they were the first to rally against infold, demanded he be brought back which paved the way for many of us who felt hopeless, to join them.

so now that a bunch of valko antis & global meatriders of #them are trying to accuse these people for being "performative" & "not putting this effort into the lighting issue" despite never ONCE speaking about it, you best believe getting flamed to hell is the only valid reply.

genuinely it is one of the worst moves valko antis & randos who try to act indifferent can pull because where the hell were you when dark-skinned players were, and still have been, getting cyberbullied & harassed? now you're trying to act holier-than-thou in a vain attempt to use the lighting issue against them? the hypocrisy is actually insane to me wtf

You mean to tell me months—if not YEARS—of development. …and your solution was to throw the ENTIRE SIXTH LOVE INTEREST into the trash?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

I'm not saying people shouldn't have been angry about the 731 reference. They absolutely had every right to be. Unit 731 is one of the darkest chapters in history and if that reference was made carelessly, then yes, people deserved an apology and an explanation.

But explain to me how Valko became the sacrificial lamb here.

Who exactly does this help? The people who were hurt by the reference? They still deserve accountability.

The people who were excited for Valko? Congratulations, you just told them to go fuck themselves.

The developers who spent who knows how long creating an entirely new LI? Their work gets deleted overnight.

So what was the goal here?

Because this doesn't feel like taking responsibility. It feels like corporate damage control.

Fix the story.

Rewrite the chapter.

Delete the offending reference.

Delay the release.

Fire whoever thought using 731 and 611 was acceptable if you have to.

But deleting an ENTIRE CHARACTER because of a mistake in ONE PART OF THE GAME is such an absurd overreaction that I genuinely can't wrap my head around it. I'm just so unbelievably disappointed. because Infold's response was somehow even worse than the original mistake.

We lost a character.

The developers lost their work.

Zayne has never had a problem coping in summertime. He's usually in his office, fully air conditioned, and if he has to be outside, well. It's a good excuse to get more milk tea than he usually buys.

Not to mention his Evol. While he can make ice and snow in a snap, it also makes him naturally cool to the touch.

The other guys also have no problem cooling down in summer, specifically for this reason.

"Valko, stop hogging him."

Rafayel walks in the living room and pulls Valko off of Zayne's lap, ignoring the man's pitiful whine. The fish flops down to replace him, sighing in delight at the coolness radiating from the doctor.

"There was no need to push him," Zayne chides, though his hand goes to cool down Rafayel's back.

"Puh-lease. I barely nudged him." Rafayel replies and settles further, claiming his spot.

"Zayne," Valko whines in complaint, now on the floor. He bumps his head on Zayne's knee, only stopping when he finally placates him by using his free hand to cool him down too.

Zayne sighs. Guess this is how he's spending his day off.

The door opens and Caleb comes in, groceries in hands. He sets them down on the counter, before shrugging his jacket off and rushing towards Zayne and his two... leeches. "Alright, you guys, move. You've had your turn."

"I literally just got here," Rafayel half-replies, half-ignores him. He's already on his phone, comfortable and fully situated.

"I'm still hot..." Valko also doesn't move, his arm now wrapped around Zayne's leg.

"Zayne, I restocked our groceries! I deserve this more," Caleb huffs. Without waiting for a reply, he wedges himself on the sofa, lightly nudging Rafayel so he can cuddle Zayne's side.

Zayne takes another long, heavy sigh. One that everyone knows at this point is a precedent for a long lecture. "You three are not children. You-"

A flash of light. Everyone flinches when Xavier appears in the middle of the living room. He's clearly exhausted, the heat getting to him after an entire day of fighting wanderers. Immediately, he climbs Zayne's lap, Rafayel and Caleb getting pushed further to the sides. Xavier engulfs Zayne in a hug, legs on either side of his lap. And in three seconds, he's already out like a light.

"Hey, no fair!"

"I was here first!"

"Zayneee..."

Zayne closes his eyes and takes another deep breath. But he doesn't move, nor stop his evol, despite now having four fully grown men on all sides of him.

Few minutes later, Sylus enters the room and raises a brow at the sight. Zayne is barely visible on the couch. Rafayel on his right, Caleb on his left, his arms stretched wide to fit them both. Valko is in between his legs on the floor, his cheek nuzzling his thigh, tail wagging lazily. On his lap is Xavier, face buried in his chest and fast asleep.

Sylus chuckles and walks behind the couch, snaking his arms around Zayne's neck. "Room for one more, doctor?"

"Don't," Rafayel answers for him, hugging Zayne tighter. Like he knows Sylus is going to try something. Everyone scrambles to also secure their place, limbs wrapping around any part of Zayne's.

"It seems they've already claimed their own spots," Zayne kisses him on the cheek, as if to offer a sincere apology.

"Shame." Sylus lips curl into a slow smirk. "And I was going to share this milk tea and macarons with you." He presses a quick kiss to Zayne's temple before walking away. "I guess I'll eat it alone in my office."

A pause.

"Everyone, off. Now."

The guys groan, knowing they've been defeated.

"Damn it, Sylus!"

"I knew it."

"Wait, I want one too!"