Chapter 1 New Year's Jackpot

"3,2,1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" People shouted at the top of their lungs. They welcomed the new year with hope and excitement. Some continued to drink the night away; while others tried to find the New Year kiss. One thing was for sure, everyone was celebrating.

However, somewhere a great snowy mountain stood a man with a staff and shield. The mountains were filled with snow that was completely impossible, but Forialandia made this and more as real as the sky and the earth. He stood as a speck in the never-ending blizzard.

"Yeah, fuck yeah I found it." He yelled.

'The snow griffin's silver feather found' announced the game A.I.

This priest was George Celvus. After 20 hours of continuous game play, he had completed the Solo Dungeon New Year's Event. The event had been announced 2 days ago in real time but no one had shown any interest in the event. Everyone, but him. The reward was too enticing to him. A class change.

George had reached that final part of the quest. Most people had signed out of the game to be with their families. The Class change reward did not attracted the general public because most of they were regular players that had not reach the higher ranks so their path was still open to explore stronger classes through leveling up. However, George had reached the peak of his class and ranked only top 8th player of the World Rank. He wanted to be the top player in the World Rank, but his priest class could stand against the other top Tier Classes.

He delivered the last piece of the Scavenger Hunt to a Old Traveling Merchant.

"Hahah, it seems you found the last piece Ares, " the old Traveling Merchant spoke.

"Yes, I found it," George politely replied, " Is the scavenger hunt complete?"

"Yes, yes the scavenger hunt is complete. Are you willing to give up everything for your reward?"

"Give up everything?"

"Yes, give up everything, when I pass you over your new class, you will have to start from the beginning. Again, are you willing to give up everything?"

George stopped and thought for a bit. 'Hmmm, it makes sense that I would have to start all over again if I change my class. But give up everything? Hahah, do I even have anything to give up?'

George was a prodigy as a child. He went to traditional schooling and manage to get into medical school at the age of 15. On the last year of his residence at a hospital, he was helping a amazing surgery who had spent the last 17 hours in a surgery to save a lady 's life. George believed that this lady who was saved from death's door would show some kind of gratitude towards the surgeon. But no; she sued the surgeon for malpractice for leaving her disfigured. George had seen this throughout his whole time in the hospital. He decided that he would quit the medical field and try something new.

He was 18 when he officially dropped out of the medical program. George didn't know what to do with his knew found freedom. He came across a new advertisement for Fornialandia, the latest VR MMORPG, and decided to join the new world. George grew in the game as top medic, as the real world knowledge of the medical field helped him.

George grew to be top 8 with his powerful one-handed sword and shield technique. Along with his expert knowledge of using Med Kits. George was in the path of becoming a Blessed Paladin, one of the strongest classes in the entire game. However a few months back, he was betrayed by his guildmates when they took advantage of a different event and forcibly changed his class to a High Priest. Afterwards, the kick out him out of the guild since he could no longer use a sword and he became useless as most party had high regen in the late stages of the game.

George couldn't believe that he had been betrayed by his guild. Especially since the guild had become his home. After, he dropped out of school and announced it to his family, they look down on him. They felt disgust that George was willing to waste his talent. From then on, he never spoke with his family.

'So do I really have anything to give up?' George thought again. 'No, I have nothing. I have no friends, no family, and no lover. My class is shit. Fuck it. It is just a game,' he laughed to himself. He constantly told himself that "it was just a game," but he knew that it was much more than that.

"I am willing to give up everything." George finally spoke.

Bzzzzz Bzzzz The sound of static and buzzing came out of world. Suddenly a great flash occurred followed by absolute darkness.