Rishi Chauhan sat up in his bed, his heart racing as if he had just woken from a nightmare. His eyes darted to the calendar hanging on the wall: **26th October 2024**. His hands clenched into fists as the date sank in. This was the day it all began—the day that changed the world forever.
He glanced at the clock, its hands ticking steadily toward **9:00 p.m.** Just three hours remained before midnight. At **12:00 a.m.**, *Hope*—the virtual reality game that would change the fate of humanity—would manifest itself in every mind across the globe. It wasn't just a game; it was a doorway to unimaginable power. Every ability a person gained in the game could be brought back to reality. And with it, the world itself would transform into a battlefield.
In his previous life, Rishi had chosen the path of the swordsman. The grind to reach level 100 had been brutal, especially after crossing the barrier at level 40. Every mission, every task, had tested his limits. Most players couldn't make it past that level; only a few ever crossed into the higher realms. Among those few was **Riya Patel**, the woman he had fought alongside, the woman he had fallen in love with, and one of the strongest players in the game.
Riya had walked the path of the **Spearmaster**, a warrior class known for its long-range attacks and powerful strikes. Together, they had stood at the top, two of the few who had broken through to level 100. Their bond had been forged through countless battles, countless victories and defeats. But in the end, it hadn't been enough. The final battle against the Asura, the monstrous invaders, had torn them apart. And even worse, they had been betrayed. Someone, someone they trusted, had opened the city's gates and let the Asura flood in, sealing the fate of humanity.
Rishi's chest tightened with regret as he remembered the way things had ended. He had confessed his love to Riya too late, only moments before their final stand. They had fought with everything they had, only to die in each other's arms, defeated by forces beyond their control. The memory of her smile, her bravery, her strength haunted him still.
But this time, things would be different.
"I won't make the same mistakes," Rishi muttered, his eyes burning with determination. "This time, I'll find those who betrayed us. I'll stop them before they can do any damage. And I'll protect Riya."
He couldn't afford to be reckless. He would need to be careful—more cautious than ever. Trust would be a rare commodity in this new world. With the knowledge of the future, he could stay steps ahead of those who had led humanity to ruin. He would find them, expose them, and destroy their plans before they could even begin.
Rishi knew that time was ticking. His second chance was fast approaching. With the memories of his past life intact, he now held a treasure trove of information. He knew when and where the first dungeons would appear. He knew the weaknesses of the monsters lurking within them. He knew how to level up faster than anyone else. And he knew the hidden paths that could lead him to power most players wouldn't even dream of.
"I need to move fast," Rishi thought. His previous experience would give him an enormous advantage over everyone else, and he planned to make the most of it. He would level up quicker than anyone, and with his newfound caution, he would ensure that no one could stab him in the back again.
But it wasn't just about gaining power for himself. Rishi had a bigger plan. In his previous life, he and Riya had fought alone for too long. They had relied on too few allies, which had left them vulnerable. This time, Rishi would create something new—something that would change the game entirely. He would build his own **guild**, a force of elite warriors who were loyal to him and humanity. A group of people who, like him, had the strength and the will to break through the ceiling of level 100 and go beyond.
"I'll gather those who fought alone, those who were lost like me and Riya," Rishi whispered to himself. "Together, we'll form the strongest guild. A group that will stand above all others, one that can never be betrayed."
Rishi's mind raced with ideas. He had to be careful about who he recruited. He needed people who were strong, but also loyal—people who understood the stakes. He needed to find those who, like him, had been wronged, those who had the potential to go beyond the limits and stand at the pinnacle of power.
And then there was Riya. He had to find her. She had been a key figure in his life, his partner in battle and in love. But he couldn't wait until they met in the game months from now. This time, he would find her as soon as possible. He would fight by her side from the very beginning, and he would protect her. This time, he wouldn't waste his chance.
The minutes ticked by as Rishi plotted his next moves, barely noticing the world around him. His thoughts were consumed with strategy, with plans for dungeons, monsters, and the enemies he would soon face. The clock struck **12:00 a.m.**, snapping him out of his reverie.
Suddenly, a notification flashed in his mind, just as he knew it would.
*Hope is now online. Please find a safe place and connect to the game.*
Rishi's heart quickened. He took a deep breath, laying back on his bed as the familiar sensation of the game's connection began to pull at his consciousness. He closed his eyes and, without hesitation, mentally agreed to connect.
A bright light flashed before his eyes, and his body felt weightless. But something was different this time. In his previous life, the transition had been smooth—a simple shift from reality into the game. But now, Rishi found himself floating in a vast, dark void.
His body felt like it didn't exist. His mind raced. "What is this? This didn't happen last time…"
The feeling of being free from all physical constraints was both exhilarating and unnerving. He floated in the darkness, weightless, bodiless, feeling like he was beyond reality itself.
"This isn't right," Rishi thought, his pulse quickening. "What's going on?"
Just as he began to wonder if something had gone wrong, he saw it—a dazzling, golden light in the distance, shining like a beacon in the endless darkness. His body instinctively moved toward it, drawn by its brilliance.
As he moved closer, the light grew brighter, enveloping him. His heart pounded in his chest. He had never experienced anything like this before. This wasn't how *Hope* had worked in his previous life.
"What is this light?" Rishi whispered to himself, feeling a mixture of awe and fear as he drifted closer to it.
But before he could comprehend what was happening, he saw something which make him shock. His eyes are wide open and unknowingly a smile appear in his face. And he and his pics trumblingly "this is"