Jin-Hoo stared at the loading screen, his heart pounding in his chest. The swirling colors of the familiar "Legends of Valor" logo felt different tonight, as if the digital world was holding its breath, waiting for him. He shook his head, trying to dismiss the creeping sense of dread that had taken root since his conversation with Soo-Min.
It's just a game, he told himself, but her words haunted him.
As the game world materialized around him, Jin-Hoo's avatar, Seric, stood in the center of Valor's capital city, Rivenhold. The towering stone walls and bustling markets were just as he remembered them. Players ran to and fro, prepping for the upcoming raid—an event that was supposed to be a highlight for the guild. Yet tonight, everything felt off.
A notification popped up: "Min-Jae has joined your party."
Jin-Hoo sighed, momentarily distracted from his unease. Min-Jae's character, a burly warrior named Thrax, appeared beside Seric, decked out in his signature spiked armor.
"Yo, you ready to crush this raid or what?" Min-Jae's voice crackled through Jin-Hoo's headset, full of its usual energy.
"Yeah, let's do it," Jin-Hoo replied, forcing a note of enthusiasm into his voice. He tried to focus on the task at hand, but the nagging feeling of something more loomed in the back of his mind.
Their raid group gathered at the designated dungeon entrance, a cavernous stone archway that led to the Crypt of Malakar, one of the game's most challenging dungeons. The plan was simple: enter, clear the dungeon, defeat the boss, and reap the rewards. It was a routine they had perfected over months of playing together.
As the group stepped into the dungeon, the screen flickered for a brief moment—barely noticeable, but enough to send a shiver down Jin-Hoo's spine. He shot a quick glance at the others in his party; no one else seemed to notice.
"Alright, Seric, you take point," Min-Jae said. "You're our tank, after all."
Jin-Hoo nodded, guiding his character forward. But as they delved deeper into the crypt, the strange feeling from earlier intensified. The game's usual smooth mechanics felt… heavier, more real somehow. The stone walls of the crypt seemed to pulse, the shadows stretching unnaturally as if they were watching them.
"Do you guys feel that?" Jin-Hoo asked cautiously, his voice tinged with nervousness.
"Feel what? Dude, you're being weird again. Focus on the boss," Min-Jae replied, his attention solely on the game.
Jin-Hoo didn't press further, but the growing sense of wrongness gnawed at him. Every step Seric took felt more like a march toward something unknown rather than just another raid boss. His mind raced back to Soo-Min's cryptic words: "It's a gateway."
Just as they neared the dungeon's final chamber, the game froze. The sound cut out, and the screen went black. Jin-Hoo's heart skipped a beat. He pulled off his headset, staring at the monitor in confusion.
"What the…?" He muttered under his breath, but before he could check his connection, the screen flashed bright white, forcing him to shield his eyes.
When the light faded, something was different. Jin-Hoo's room had vanished, replaced by cold, damp air and the smell of earth. His fingers brushed against rough stone, and a low rumbling echoed through the space.
He wasn't sitting at his desk anymore.
Jin-Hoo opened his eyes, panic flooding his senses. He was no longer in his room—or even in the real world. Around him stood ancient, towering walls, their surfaces slick with moisture and moss. Flickering torches lined the corridor, casting long, eerie shadows that danced with every flicker.
No. This can't be real.
He looked down at himself and saw that his body was not his own. His hands, clad in gauntlets, flexed in disbelief. He was Seric—the same Seric he had played for hundreds of hours in Legends of Valor. The heavy armor, the sword strapped to his back—it was all real.
Jin-Hoo stumbled forward, his legs unsteady. He could feel the weight of the armor, the cool air against his skin, and the coldness of the stone beneath his boots.
"This isn't possible," he whispered, his voice hoarse. But the truth was undeniable. He was in the game, but it was no longer a game.
Suddenly, a faint noise echoed down the corridor. Jin-Hoo instinctively reached for his sword, his hand wrapping around the hilt with practiced ease. He knew how to fight—he had spent years perfecting his skills in this world. But this was different. The stakes were real now.
From the shadows emerged a creature—a hulking, skeletal figure with glowing red eyes and jagged claws. It let out a guttural growl, charging toward him. Jin-Hoo's heart raced, but his body moved on instinct. He raised his sword and deflected the creature's first strike, the impact reverberating through his arms.
I have to survive.
He dodged its next attack and slashed at the creature's side, the blade cutting through bone with a sickening crunch. The monster collapsed in a heap, dissolving into dark mist as its form disintegrated. Jin-Hoo stood there, panting, his chest heaving from the adrenaline.
He had killed the creature, but the realization of his new reality was sinking in fast. This wasn't just some random encounter. He was trapped here—inside Legends of Valor, and there was no telling how or why.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Jin-Hoo tensed, gripping his sword tightly, but instead of another monster, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Soo-Min.
But she wasn't the same quiet girl from school. Dressed in sleek, leather armor with a bow slung across her back, she looked every bit like one of the elite characters Jin-Hoo had encountered in the game.
"I told you," Soo-Min said, her voice calm yet urgent. "This isn't just a game. Welcome to the real Legends of Valor."
Jin-Hoo stared at her, words failing him.
"You've crossed over, Jin-Hoo," she continued, stepping closer. "And if you want to survive here, you're going to need to level up. Fast."
She turned, motioning for him to follow. "Come on. This world's a lot bigger than you think. And the real challenges? They're just beginning."
Jin-Hoo hesitated for only a moment before following her into the darkness, knowing that there was no turning back.