Krad's heart felt like it was about to burst from his chest as he stared at the glowing options hovering in front of him:
[Clear the Game] or [Get Killed Now]
"What is this?" 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.
[Clear the Game] or [Get Killed Now]
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.
"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 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?"
DING!
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 then... he felt the weight of memory crash over him.
How did I get here? The question had been gnawing at him since he'd materialized in this place, but now, faced with the stark reality of his situation, the memories came flooding back with crystal clarity.
It had started with the sky above Manila acting like a broken computer screen. He could still remember the exact moment he'd first noticed something was wrong, the way the clouds had been moving in those unnatural spirals. He'd pressed his face against his bedroom window, watching those dark formations twist and writhe in patterns that made his eyes water if he stared too long.
"Must be a typhoon coming," he'd muttered to himself, though deep down he'd known it was something else entirely. At sixteen, he'd weathered plenty of storms, but this felt different.
The memory of scrolling through social media came back to him now, other people around the globe posting about the same strange phenomena. Comments about dogs barking incessantly, about the air feeling electric for hours on end, about clouds that looked like the sky was glitching. He'd tried to dismiss it, to rationalize what he was seeing, but even then he'd known he was witnessing something unprecedented.
That low rumble that had shaken his house hadn't been thunder. It had sounded like massive machinery grinding somewhere far away, like the world's largest computer trying to process something it couldn't handle. And those flashes of red light dancing between the clouds, they hadn't been lightning.
"Did the sky just show me a game interface?" he'd wondered aloud, rubbing his eyes and questioning his own sanity.
The falling sensation had started that night. Every time he'd tried to sleep, he'd felt like he was plummeting through empty space, his stomach lurching with that terrible feeling of weightlessness. He'd jolted awake over and over, unable to shake the sensation that he was tumbling into an abyss.
The burly merchant's dismissive words still rang in his ears, 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?"
DING!
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