Bulan had found what he believed to be the ultimate refuge from his troubles: a strange, suspicious free eat all you can restaurant that appeared like magic on a rainy evening.
The place had an eerie glow, its neon sign flashing, "ALL YOU CAN EAT - ALL YOU CAN BE." Bulan tilted his head. All I can be? Well, tonight, I'll be unstoppable. His stomach growled in agreement.
Inside, the air smelled of sizzling meat and fragrant stews, and the walls were covered in motivational quotes like, "A full belly makes a full life" and "No regrets, just more servings." It was as if the universe was speaking his language.
As soon as he sat down, a waiter in an old-fashioned suit appeared, his smile both polite and unsettling. "One rule, sir," he said. "Eat until you're satisfied, but don't overdo it."
Bulan snorted, waving him off. "Pfft. Overdo it? Watch me. I've been training for this my whole life."
Before long, his table transformed into a mountain of plates. As the steam from the dishes wafted up to his face, Bulan's excitement turned into confusion.
"What… is this?" he murmured, picking up a small, shimmering orange circle like kwek-kwek that seemed to pulse faintly, like it was alive. Next to it was a bowl of what looked like sinigang, but the meat glowed softly.
He scratched his head. "Is this food… or art?" He squinted at a round, spongy ball that was oozing something pink. The liquid bubbled slightly, and he swore he heard it hum.
Bulan opened his mouth to argue but stopped when his stomach growled. "Fine." He sighed.
He picked up the glowing sinigang first. With a single slurp, his taste buds exploded with sensation, and his eyes widened to the brink of disbelief.
"It's… it's like eating pure sunshine!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe. "Sour and warm, yet somehow… spicy? What kind of sorcery is this?!" His spoon flew as he devoured the rest, his face lighting up with each bite.
Next was the shimmering kwek-kwek. He hesitated for a moment but popped it into his mouth. As it melted on his tongue, his body jolted upright like he'd been struck by lightning.
"W-Woah! It's… fizzy? And chocolatey? And—wait, now it's steak? No, n-now it's mango!" He gasped, slamming his hands on the table.
"THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! HOW DOES IT KEEP CHANGING?!"
The waiter, standing nearby, simply nodded approvingly.
Finally, he eyed the spongy, pink-oozing ball. It wobbled as he poked it, making a faint squeaking noise.
"You better not explode," he warned it before biting into it.
A symphony of flavors burst in his mouth, and for a moment, he was utterly speechless. He swallowed, his hands trembling as he set the half-eaten ball back on the plate.
"Holy. Fork. That tasted like…my childhood...and my future." he whispered.
By the 23rd plate, his vision blurred. By the 30th, his body felt heavier than a jeepney with 20 passengers. And on his 40th bite of a lechon-flavored pizza roll, everything went dark.
After a while, when he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in an open field, the likes of which he had only seen in games. The sky was a canvas of vivid blues and golds, with a giant floating city hovering in the distance.
"What the—?!" Bulan bolted upright, his bloated stomach now miraculously flat.
A holographic interface popped up before him, glowing faintly.
Player 143 ENTER Online [Click Start]
The surreal nature of it all would have been terrifying—if it weren't so oddly exhilarating.
"Am I... inside a game?" he asked himself, tentatively pressing the start button.
The interface expanded, presenting two options:
[Begin a New Adventure]
[Return to Human World]
"New adventure," he decided with a grin. "Why would I go back to the mess I left behind?"
The screen shifted to a character creation menu, displaying a blank humanoid figure rotating slowly.
"Alright, let's make this epic," Bulan said, fully immersed in the moment.
He adjusted the sliders with glee. "Tall? Definitely. Blue hair? Why not. Green eyes? Classic charm. Assassin class? Of course, gotta stay slick."
Satisfied with his choices, he confirmed his avatar and entered his username: Bulan.
The moment he hit confirm, the landscape shifted. He stood in awe, taking in the sights of the medieval town. Cobblestone streets stretched before him, lined with buildings that bustled with activity. Merchants shouted to advertise their wares, children played in the streets, and adventurers 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?"
As if in response, a low chime echoed in the air, and a system notification appeared in front of him:
Attention: In this world, all races, creatures, and individuals you encounter are real. There are no NPCs.
Bulan 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. Bulan 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 Bulan. "What do you want, boy? Make it quick; I've got work to do."
Bulan 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 Bulan standing awkwardly in the middle of the street.
"Wow, thanks for nothing," he muttered. He scanned his surroundings again, hoping for someone more approachable.
After wandering aimlessly for what felt like hours, Bulan found himself near the outskirts of town, where the buildings thinned out and gave way to rolling fields. A group of adventurers 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," Bulan 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. Go kill some slimes or something. Earn your keep like the rest of us."
They turned back, dismissing him entirely. Frustrated, Bulan stepped away. "No NPCs, no guidance, and everyone's a jerk," he muttered. "What kind of game is this?"
Suddenly, a glowing icon appeared in the corner of his vision, drawing his attention.
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 him 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.
Bulan 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. Bulan's eyes scanned the area as he crouched low, moving like an experienced player. He knew this drill—the first quest, the first monsters, the first real test.
And there, just ahead, he saw them: The Devourer Slimes.