It had been a long time since she last returned to the game, and much had changed.
So much, in fact, that she had to give up on her resolution to earn the achievements she hadn't been able to claim in her younger days.
She was from a generation that had mastered the use of a keyboard and mouse.
But now, that old method of control had long since disappeared.
In place of the familiar keyboard and mouse, what she was handed were two long swords.
It felt awkward.
Even with the system's adjustments, her movements felt off.
She followed the hazy trajectory displayed before her, but her path still wavered.
And so, she couldn't help but laugh.
This new gameplay brought her joy, something she hadn't felt in a long time.
It had been years since a smile had crossed her face. After all, games had been a significant part of her life.
How could she not enjoy it?
Yet, her body was already crying out with fatigue.
'What a shame,' she muttered quietly to herself.
She had returned from work, exhausted. She was too drained to continue playing any longer.
If this were the old days, playing with a keyboard and mouse, She could have kept going for hours more.
But the game had evolved.
Now, it consumed as much energy as physically moving around in the real world.
Everyone praised it for being good for fitness and dieting, but to her, it was nothing but a cruel joke.
What could She do?
Times had changed, just as the days of her youth had slipped away.
The past, when she wielded a keyboard and mouse like weapons, was gone.
She once thought of herself as having a talent for games, but the games of today shattered that belief.
Games had now entered the realm of senses.
The demand for talent had increased, and those lacking in skill were quickly forgotten.
She recalled the past.
Once, She had been in the top 10 of the arena rankings.
But now, in her first placement match of the new season, She had been utterly crushed.
The knight's sword strikes pierced through her mercilessly, leaving countless wounds on her body.
Even though it wasn't real, She couldn't manage even a decent counterattack.
Her body couldn't keep up with her mind, and it felt as if her very spirit betrayed her.
It was frustrating and regretful. Pushing those feelings aside, she logged out of the game.
As her mind settled, the world that had once filled her vision faded away.
She found herself back in her dark, unlit room.
The cold air in the room made her shiver.