Ryu smiled faintly. This was it. The escape he had been looking for. He spent a few minutes carefully choosing a character name: Ryu, of course. For race, he chose Human, wanting the most immersive experience.
For class, his cunning and daring nature led him to choose Thief, a class that promises agility and stealth.
After all the choices were confirmed, the window disappeared. Ryu felt his character's body. He stepped forward, feeling the realistic sensation of the ground beneath his shoes.
He looked around, the forest of Whisperingwood seemed alive, far beyond his expectations. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the giant leaves, creating a dancing mosaic of light and shadow. The scent of wet earth and leaves filled his nostrils.
The air was cool, and he could hear the birds chirping in a melody he had never heard before. It was all too real to be a game.
Suddenly, a loud rustling sound came from the bushes nearby, breaking the illusionary silence. Ryu flinched, his instincts as a "Thief" making his body react first. He turned around,his eyes narrowed, focusing on the source of the sound.
From behind the thick bushes, a creature that looked like a giant rabbit with long ears and glowing red eyes jumped out.Its skin was covered in dull brown fur, and its long teeth and sharp claws looked terrifying, far from the image of an adorable rabbit.
Ryu had never seen a rabbit like this, not even in fantasy movies. The creature stared at him with a sharp gaze, as if gauging the threat. Instantly, a virtual transparent screen appeared in front of him:
[Name: Forest Rabbit]
[Level: 1]
[Status: Aggressive]
Before Ryu could think, the Forest Rabbit pounced. Its leap was swift, as if it were floating in the air, its front claws outstretched ready to rip. Ryu, with reflexes that surprised himself, jumped retreat nimbly.
His feet felt light, and his body responded with agility he had never felt in the real world. The jump saved him from the rabbit's sharp claws, which only scratched the wind.
"Damn it!" Ryu muttered, his breath coming in short gasps. This wasn't just pressing buttons. This was actually moving, dodging, and feeling the adrenaline pumping. He glanced around, searching for something.
He glanced around, looking for something. His eyes caught a broken tree branch, lying on the ground not far from him. Without thinking, he rushed to grab it. The wood felt rough but sturdy in his grasp, with just the right weight.
The Forest Rabbit did not give up. It spun quickly and pounced again. This time, Ryu didn't dodge completely. He swung the branch he was holding with all his might, aiming for the creature's head.
BLAK!!!
There was a dull, deafening, very real sound. The rabbit roared in pain, its voice high-pitched, and its body staggered backward.His fiery red eyes stared at Ryu with deep hatred.
Then, to Ryu's amazement, the rabbit's body began to flicker, turning into a bluish pixelated mass of light,before finally melting completely and disappearing, leaving a thin puff of smoke in the air.
In the place where the Forest Rabbit had disappeared, a small cloth bag lay on the ground. Ryu stared at it, stunned. This experience was so intense, so real.His hands shook slightly as he bent down and picked up the bag.
The touch felt real, the texture of the fabric so clear in his fingers. He opened the bag and found several glittering gold coins that felt heavy in his palm,and a leaf that emits a faint glow, as if absorbing a small part of the forest light.
Just as he was observing the items, a virtual transparent window appeared before him again:
[You have defeated: Forest Rabbit (Level 1)]
[XP Received: 10]
[Items Obtained: Gold Coin (x3), Light Leaf (x1)]
[Attention: You are in the Whisperingwood Forest Zone - Beginner Area. Low Danger]