Elysian sat in his dimly lit apartment, the glow of his computer screen casting a faint blue hue across the room. Empty cans of energy drinks and snack wrappers were scattered around him—a testament to his hours-long grind. After days of tireless effort, he was finally here: the demon lord's lair, the final battle of Legends of Arcadia, the MMORPG he had poured his heart and soul into for years.

He clenched his mouse, eyes fixed on the screen. The demon lord's ominous figure loomed in the shadows, towering and menacing, with a monstrous aura that exuded pure malice.

This is it, he thought, fingers dancing over the keyboard as he prepared his attack. One wrong move and it's game over.

For most players, the demon lord was an unbeatable opponent. But Elysian wasn't most players—he was the best. Known in the game as "The Sage of Eternity," he'd achieved max level long ago, unlocking every skill, every spell, every hidden power the game offered. He had spent countless hours studying every weakness of the demon lord and every trick the developers had hidden in the game.

The battle raged, each blow and spell a calculated risk. Elysian dodged the demon lord's massive, clawed hands and retaliated with ancient spells only a top-tier sage like him could wield. He cast his most powerful spell, Celestial Judgement, as radiant beams of light tore through the darkness, engulfing the demon lord in a blinding explosion.

With a final roar, the demon lord crumbled, disintegrating into shadows. The victory screen flashed, along with the message:

Congratulations, Elysian! You have defeated the Demon Lord, becoming the Hero of Arcadia!

A grin spread across Elysian's face as he leaned back in his chair. He'd finally done it. Years of effort, of sleepless nights, had led to this moment. For the first time in ages, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

But as he basked in his victory, something strange happened. The game screen faded to black, replaced by a shimmering golden light. Then, a figure appeared—an elderly man dressed in flowing robes with a long, silver beard and a gaze that felt like it pierced through Elysian's very soul.

"Elysian," the old man said, his voice resonating with an ethereal echo. "I am the god of Arcadia, the world you just saved."

Elysian stared in disbelief, his fingers frozen over his keyboard. "What…? Is this a new cutscene?"

The god chuckled softly. "This is no mere game. I am here to speak with you, Elysian—the true hero who defeated the demon lord."

Elysian's shock turned to curiosity. It sounded absurd, but something about this felt… real.

"I wanted to thank you, Elysian," the god continued. "The demon lord was a threat not only to Arcadia, but to the balance of the worlds. Your actions have brought peace to many."

Elysian didn't know what to say. He wanted to ask if this was some elaborate prank by the developers, but something told him it wasn't. Instead, he nodded slowly, captivated by the god's words.

"But," the god went on, a hint of sadness in his eyes, "in my gratitude, I've made a mistake. In my haste to reward you, I… accidentally disturbed the threads of fate."

Before Elysian could respond, a warm light enveloped him, filling his vision until he could no longer see the room around him. The computer, the apartment—all of it faded away as he felt himself being pulled somewhere else, somewhere far from the world he knew.

A New World

When Elysian opened his eyes, he wasn't in his apartment anymore. Instead, he found himself standing in an open field beneath a clear, vibrant sky. Gentle hills rolled in the distance, and he could hear birds chirping nearby.

He glanced down at himself and felt a jolt of surprise. He was wearing his sage robes from the game—elegant and embroidered with ancient symbols—and his body felt stronger, more powerful than ever. He lifted his hand, and magic crackled at his fingertips.

What is this? he wondered, trying to make sense of his surroundings. He opened his status screen instinctively, and to his surprise, it was there—a glowing interface showing his stats, skills, and inventory, just as it had been in the game. Everything was at max level. His inventory contained every item he had painstakingly collected, including… all the demon lord's relics.

This… can't be real, he thought, though deep down, he knew it was. The feel of the wind, the scent of the grass, the power coursing through his body—all of it was too vivid, too real.

As he tried to process everything, he heard a voice echo in his mind. It was the god's voice, faint and distant.

"I'm truly sorry, Elysian. My mistake has brought you here, to a world in need of a sage—a world shaped by the remnants of the demon lord's era. Live well, and use your knowledge wisely."

And then, the voice was gone, leaving Elysian alone in the unfamiliar, yet strangely familiar world.

A smile crept onto his face. He was in Arcadia—the world he'd spent so many years exploring, fighting, and learning about. This time, it wasn't just a game. It was his reality.

With a deep breath, Elysian took his first step forward, ready to begin a new adventure.