Ian came home faster that day.
The loading job at the port warehouse finished at two PM, earlier than usual because Ian worked like a machine. Old man Kim even commented that Ian looked like he was being chased by demons, but Ian just smiled while wiping sweat and left immediately once the payment hit his hand.
He didn't even stop by home.
Straight to Nexus Capsule Rental.
The same receptionist raised an eyebrow when she saw Ian enter, breathing hard.
"Wait, yesterday you just..."
"Any open slots?" Ian cut in.
She glanced at her computer screen while chewing gum. "Yeah, there's one. How long?"
"Five hours."
"Seriously? Yesterday you only did two."
"Now it's five."
She shrugged and started typing. Ian handed over 2500 won, nearly half his earnings for the day. But he didn't care.
"Capsule 14 again? You must really like it."
Ian didn't answer. He went straight upstairs, taking the steps two at a time.
Headset on. Sensor bracelets locked. Power button pressed.
Screen lit up.
"Welcome back to Atlas Fall Online."
Ian didn't wait for the logo animation to finish. The moment his character spawned in Beginner Village, he ran straight for the gate leading to Meadow Plains.
No time to admire the scenery. No time to enjoy the bread aroma. Only one goal in his head: 78 more slime cores.
The first slime died after four minutes.
[You obtained: Slime Core x1]
[Total: 23/100]
Ian didn't celebrate. Immediately searched for the next target.
[Total: 28/100]
Ian kept moving. The moment one slime died, he found another.
But death kept coming.
Sometimes because he was too aggressive. Sometimes because he ran out of stamina. Sometimes because another slime suddenly appeared from the bushes.
The black screen with [YOU DIED] had become familiar scenery. Ian didn't even read the notification anymore. The moment he respawned, he ran back.
But the strange thing was he wasn't angry anymore.
He was focused.
Every death taught him something. Safe distance. Attack timing. Slime movement patterns when HP ran low.
Death became data.
Data became strategy.
Strategy became muscle memory.
And somehow, Ian's hands were moving automatically. Attack twice, step back, wait for the jump, attack on landing, repeat.
[Total: 45/100]
Ian didn't even realize he was smiling faintly, because he was starting to win.
Time kept passing.
Ian didn't stop. His eyes stayed fixed on the number in his inventory as it climbed.
[Total: 67/100]
His body in the real world might be sitting still in a capsule, but in this world, in the wide Meadow Plains, Ian ran, attacked, dodged, died, respawned, ran again.
Endless loop.
And he was addicted.
Not addicted to the results. Addicted to the process.
Something he'd never felt in the real world. In the real world, he could work hard all day and it still wouldn't be enough. Debt remained. Problems kept piling up.
But here?
Here, every effort had results. Every death had a lesson. Every second he spent mattered.
[Total: 89/100]
Ian killed the ninetieth slime with ragged breathing. His stamina bar nearly depleted. HP down to a quarter.
Eleven more.
He searched for the next slime, eyes sweeping the area quickly, like a predator familiar with the hunting ground.
One slime. Two slimes. Three...
THUD!
Attack from behind. Ian stumbled. His HP dropped drastically.
He reflexively rolled to the side, avoiding the second attack. Stood. Struck back.
THWACK! THWACK!
First slime died.
[Total: 90/100]
But two more remained. Ian backed away while keeping distance, waiting for them to jump, then...
THWACK!
Second slime died.
[Total: 91/100]
One left.
The third slime jumped. Ian dodged, but his foot caught on a rock. He fell. The slime landed right on his chest.
[YOU DIED]
Respawn.
Ian didn't complain. Ran straight back.
He killed nine more slimes without rest. His hands moved mechanically. Automatically. Like a robot programmed for one purpose.
[Total: 99/100]
One more.
Ian searched for the last slime with heavy breathing. Eyes narrowed, totally focused.
There. Under a small tree. A blue slime hopping casually, unaware it was the final target of a player who'd died over twenty times for this moment.
Ian walked slowly. Wooden sword raised.
The slime turned. If you could call it turning for a creature without a head. Then jumped toward him.
Ian dodged. Three swings.
The slime exploded into blue water droplets.
[You obtained: Slime Core x1]
[Total: 100/100]
Another notification appeared.
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: THE VEGETABLE]
Rarity: Common (Ironic)
Description: Congratulations! You have become the bottom of the food chain. Even slimes feel sorry for you. However, your persistence in facing repeated death is commendable, or your mental health should be questioned.
Reward:
AGI +15 (Active during combat)
INT +8 (Active during combat)
Title unlocked: "The Vegetable"
Ian froze.
Read the description slowly.
Then he laughed. A bitter laugh mixed with exhaustion.
"The Vegetable... hah... perfect."
But he didn't care. His stats increased. That's what mattered.
AGI +15 meant he was faster now. Maybe could kill slimes in three minutes instead of five. Maybe could dodge attacks easier.
But now wasn't the time to think about that.
Ian closed the notification and ran back to Beginner Village.
Time to enter the barracks.
The Training Barracks gate stood imposing before him.
Ian walked with his head high, chest puffed. Even though his character only wore tattered clothes and a worn wooden sword. But he had 100 slime cores. He had proof.
The same NPC guard stood there with a flat expression.
Ian stopped in front of him. "I have 100 slime cores."
The guard glanced at him. The NPC's face changed.
"Pfft..." The guard stifled a laugh. "The... Vegetable?"
Ian froze.
"You..." The guard shook his head while pressing his lips together, trying not to laugh. "You died twenty-three times collecting 100 cores from the weakest monster?"
"I'm an Explorer class..."
"We don't need vegetables in this barracks." The guard finally laughed. A small laugh but degrading enough. "Leave. Come back when you've evolved into... I don't know, a tomato maybe?"
The gate remained closed.
Ian stood there, fists clenched at his sides, face flushed. Whether from shame or anger, he couldn't tell.
Twenty-three deaths. Five hours nonstop. And I'm still rejected.
He wanted to scream. Wanted to hit something. But before he could...
GRRRR~~
A stomach growl. Ian's stomach in the real world.
He froze. Just realized he hadn't eaten since morning. Nearly eight hours of physical work plus five hours of gaming without a break.
And that's when, in the middle of his frustration and anger, Ian's nose caught something.
Warm bread aroma.
Ian turned toward the same bread cart. The old NPC with the white apron still busy pulling bread from the stone oven.
The aroma was so real and tempting.
Ian walked closer without thinking, staring at those loaves with hungry eyes.
I wonder... can I eat it?
If I can, what does it taste like?
Is it as real as the smell?
Ian reached out, almost touching one of the loaves.
"Rental time remaining: 10 minutes."
The mechanical voice shattered his reverie. His hand stopped in mid-air.
Ten minutes.
He had to logout. Mom was waiting.
But his eyes still stared at that bread. Still smelling its aroma.
Tomorrow I have to try this.
Ian opened the menu and pressed logout reluctantly.