Krad squinted at his phone screen, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Congratulations, you have been selected to join the Game. High rewards await. Wealth, power, and the fulfillment of your deepest desire. Click the link."
He scoffed, wrinkling his nose in disbelief. Obvious scam.
"Seriously? Is this some cheap phishing attempt?" He muttered, his finger hovering over the delete button.
Click. The message vanished.
"Nice try," he muttered, dropping onto the couch.
But just as he exhaled in satisfaction, his phone buzzed again. The same message popped up, word for word.
His brow furrowed. "Persistent little bugger, aren't you?"
Delete.
Buzz.
There it was again.
Delete.
Buzz.
Krad's pulse quickened. The message refused to disappear. His screen glitched for a second, then returned to normal, the words glowing ominously.
"Okay, now this is getting weird," he whispered. But a thought crept into his mind.
What if this was some kind of test? A secret initiation for Tiger ESPORTS? He had heard of crazier recruitment methods before. What if this was his shot?
What if clicking was the right move?
His thumb hesitated, and with a resigned sigh, he muttered, "Fine. Let's see how dumb this is."
Click.
The moment Krad's finger touched the screen, the world around him exploded in a violent swirl of crimson shadows.
"Wha—!"
A sudden force yanked him forward, his entire body jerking as if an unseen hand had seized him.
Then---it appeared.
Right before his eyes, a swirling black hole tinged with red streaks of energy ripped open in the air. It pulsed, hungry and alive, devouring the space around it like a void that should not exist.
Krad barely had time to gasp before its pull intensified.
No escape.
The air collapsed inward. The sheer force dragged him off his feet, pulling him toward its dark, endless core.
He struggled, reaching out for anything---but there was nothing to hold onto.
The wind roared past his ears, deafening. His stomach lurched as gravity twisted, his body flipping weightlessly through the void.
For a moment, there was nothing. No sound. No weight. Just emptiness.
Then---
A sharp, blinding light.
His vision blurred as the void spit him out with an unceremonious thud.
Krad stumbled forward, disoriented. His breath came in ragged gasps as he forced himself to focus.
And then he saw it.
A towering door loomed before him. Its massive surface was entwined with pulsating blue vines that slithered along the edges---alive.
His heart pounded. His mind raced.
Where the hell was he?
Before he could process, a shimmering holographic screen popped up in front of him.
Player 143 ENTER Online[Click Start]
He hesitated, then pressed the start button. The interface expanded, offering two options:
[Clear the Game] or [Die in the Real World]
His heart felt like it was about to burst from his chest as he stared at the glowing options hovering in front of him:
"What is this? A prank? A dream?" he muttered under his breath.
He wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it, but no sound came out. His entire body felt numb, and the world he had known was gone.
The dark crimson interface shook violently, and cracks began to form on its surface.
"Player 143, your selection is required. Failure to comply will result in termination."
He staggered, his knees buckling slightly.
"Termination?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
The cracks grew wider, and the interface began to crumble at the edges. He looked down, only to see nothingness---a void that seemed endless. The sight that made his stomach churn.
"This can't be real... this can't be real!" he shouted.
"Make your choice: [Clear the Game] or [Die in the Real World]."
He clenched his fists, his mind racing. The words felt like a death sentence either way. He didn't know what Clear the Game meant, but the alternative was clear. Death.
"Fine! I'll do it!" he yelled, his voice echoing into the void. "I'll play your stupid game!"
The moment the words left his lips, the holographic interface flared to life, its glow intensifying. The [Clear the Game] option pulsed brightly for a split second before everything around him blurred.
In an instant, the air changed. Cooler, heavier. When his vision steadied, he found himself standing in the middle of a bustling futuristic town.
Merchants shouted to advertise their wares, children played in the streets, and players of all kinds moved purposefully as if on urgent quests. The scene was so alive it was almost overwhelming.
He took a cautious step forward, unsure of what to do next. "So... where's the NPC guide? Isn't there supposed to be someone handing out tutorials or explaining the basics?"
As if in response, the system notification appeared in front of him:
Attention: In this game, all races, creatures, and individuals you encounter are real. There are no NPCs.
Krad blinked. "Wait, what? No NPCs?"
The notification faded, leaving him standing in stunned silence. He glanced around, his mind racing. If there were no NPCs, then who would guide him? How was he supposed to figure out the mechanics of this game?
A burly man with a leather apron stomped past, hauling a crate of glowing crystals. He hesitated but decided to try asking for help.
"Excuse me, sir!" he called, jogging up to the man.
The man turned, his piercing gaze locking onto him. "What do you want, boy? Make it quick; I've got work to do."
He felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. "Uh, Do you know where I can find someone to... uh... guide me? Like a mentor or... something?"
The man snorted. "A guide? You think this is a storybook where some old wizard will take you under his wing? Ha! Figure it out yourself, kid. Life doesn't hand you answers on a platter."
With that, the man stomped off, leaving him standing awkwardly in the middle of the street.
"Wow, thanks for nothing," he muttered.
He scanned his surroundings again, hoping for someone more approachable. After wandering aimlessly for what felt like hours, he found himself near the outskirts of town, where the buildings thinned out and gave way to rolling fields. A group of Players stood nearby. They looked experienced, their gear gleaming and well-maintained.
"Maybe they'll help," he thought, steeling himself as he approached.
"Hey, excuse me!" he called out. The group turned, their expressions a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
"What do you want, rookie?" asked a tall elf with silver hair and piercing blue eyes.
"I'm new here and, uh... trying to figure out how things work," he admitted sheepishly. "Any advice on where to start?"
The elf chuckled, shaking his head. "Advice? Sure. Don't bother us."
A dwarf in the group laughed gruffly. "If you're looking for a handout, you won't find it here, lad."
They turned back, dismissing him entirely. Frustrated, he stepped away.
"No NPCs, no guidance, and everyone's a jerk," he muttered. "What kind of stupid game is this?"
Suddenly, a glowing icon appeared in the corner of his vision, drawing his attention.
First Quest: Hunt 10 Devourer Slimes
Rewards: 100 Pesos, 50 XP
His mind raced as he stared at the quest notification, but how was he supposed to find these slimes? With no NPCs around and no tutorial, the world felt vast and overwhelming.
He glanced around the bustling town, his thoughts racing. "No NPCs, no guide... But there was something every game had, something that could point me in the right direction."
He closed his eyes and focused, letting his instincts kick in. Sure enough, a faint, glowing icon appeared in the corner of his vision. It was the minimap.
"Ah, there it is," he muttered with a grin, tapping on the map icon to expand it. The map revealed not only the town's layout but also the locations of various quest markers, including one in the forest to the east. Exactly where the slimes were marked.
He felt a surge of relief. He wasn't entirely on his own after all. The minimap was his guide, and with it, he had a path to follow.
With renewed determination, he started walking toward the eastern edge of the town. As he moved, the town's busy streets began to thin out, and the sounds of chatter and commerce faded behind him. The air grew fresher, and the fields surrounding the town opened up, stretching toward the horizon.
He crossed a small bridge that led out of the town, heading into the dense woods. The minimap updated, showing a trail that would lead him directly to the slimes.
The deeper he went into the forest, the more he could feel the tension in the air. The trees were tall and dense, their shadows casting eerie patterns on the ground. The rustling of leaves made him alert, every sound amplified in the silence.
Suddenly, his minimap blinked, indicating that he was near his objective. His eyes scanned the area as he crouched low, moving like an experienced player.
And there, just ahead, he saw them: The Devourer Slimes