Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, striking Rein's room just as the digital clock struck 07:00 AM. Rein sat bolt upright in an instant. His eyes, slightly bloodshot, couldn't hide the overflowing surge of anticipation. He had barely slept a wink all night; his mind had been drifting incessantly into the world behind the screen. The fatigue of sleep deprivation was utterly crushed by the roar of adrenaline in his chest.
Today, the wait was finally over.
"Finally..." Rein muttered under his breath, his voice raspy yet laced with unshakable resolve.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed the sleek, metallic black Neurolink device from his bedside table. The cold surface of the metal sent a sharp, futuristic thrill through his fingertips. Rein lay back down, ensuring his pillow was positioned perfectly so his neck wouldn't stiffen during the grueling hours ahead. He fitted the headset, feeling the sensors embrace his temples with clinical precision.
Click.
The indicator light on the right side flickered into a brilliant electric blue. Synchronization had begun.
Rein closed his eyes, drawing a long, deep breath to steady his racing heart, and whispered the voice command he had memorized by heart:
"Neurolink – Full Dive, Start."
Instantly, the world behind his eyelids exploded into a spectrum of electric blue light. The heavy sensation of his physical body vanished, replaced by the feeling of drifting in an endless, weightless void. Then, a crystalline yet flat feminine voice the AI System echoed directly within his consciousness.
[Initiating Neural Synchronization...]
[Connection Stable. Sync Ratio: 98.7%.]
One by one, his senses began to function again within the virtual realm.
He could smell the fresh scent of damp grass. He could hear the faint, distant tolling of church bells.
[Welcome back to World Gate: Online, User: Rein.]
[Status: Legacy Beta Tester Detected.]
[Downloading Character Data... Complete.]
"Hah... I'm finally back," Rein whispered.
As he opened his eyes, the view of his cramped bedroom had been replaced by a magnificent, medieval-style city square. The sky above was a vibrant sapphire blue, clearer than anything he had ever seen in the physical world. He stood amidst a surging crowd of other players, ready to resume the journey that had been cut short.
Rein took a deep breath. "Hmm... it's just like the real world," he whispered.
Without wasting a second, Rein immediately sprinted away from the town square. Yet, amidst the crowd of players still busy admiring the graphics, someone was watching him with a sharp, calculating gaze.
Rein continued to speed up his steps until he reached the gate of the town square. Just as he was about to cross the security threshold, a shout stopped him.
"Hey, you there!"
Rein glanced back. The one calling out to him was a tall man with vibrant, flame-red hair. He wore Level-F armor that looked sturdy, with a crimson cloak billowing gallantly behind him. The man jogged toward Rein, a look of genuine curiosity etched on his face.
"Where do you think you're going?" the man asked, his eyes glancing at Rein's seemingly unarmed shoulders. "Heading out those gates empty-handed is basically a suicide mission, you know."
Rein remained silent, but the man continued to chatter. "Don't you know? This area is crawling with monsters."
The man then opened his virtual inventory with a swift motion. "Here, take this just in case you run into trouble out there!" he exclaimed, tossing a basic iron sword toward Rein.
Rein caught the sword deftly. Its weight felt incredibly real in his palm. "Thanks... By the way, I didn't catch your name."
The man grinned broadly, patting his crimson cloak. "My name is Leon. And yours?"
"I'm Rein."
"Rein, huh? Good to meet you! I hope we cross paths again sometime!" Leon said with a wave, before finally turning to walk away.
After Leon left, Rein began his journey toward the Black Swamp Falls, even though he had to trek through a forest that was far too dangerous for a Level 1 player like himself.
Barely ten minutes into the woods, the bushes in front of him rustled violently.
Rustle! Rustle!
A small, pale-green creature with long ears emerged. [Green Goblin - Lvl 3]. The monster sneered, baring its jagged yellow teeth. To high-level players, this might be a "trash mob," but to Rein, it was a lethal threat.
The Goblin lunged with surprising speed, its sharp claws aiming directly for Rein's face. Rein immediately tried to evade. He ducked low, feeling the rush of wind pass just inches above his head.
Slash!
The goblin's claws grazed Rein's shoulder. It was a deep scratch; instantly, a searing heat scorched his shoulder. HP: 92/100. "Argh..." Rein hissed. The pain felt terrifyingly real. Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
The monster attacked again. Rein dodged once more. He analyzed the Goblin's movement pattern. As the creature leaped for the third time, Rein swung Leon's sword with terrifying precision. He didn't aim for the body; he aimed for the weak point at the monster's throat.
Slash!
A red light flashed as the blade tore through the Goblin's neck. The monster let out a high-pitched shriek before shattering into shards of digital light. Rein stood there panting, clutching his shoulder which still throbbed with lingering pain.
"Just a Level 3, and it hurts this much," Rein whispered, looking toward the north.