Isaac sat in front of his computer, reviewing yet another round of comments from Dr. Grant. The sheer volume of feedback had been relentless, each line of red ink another reminder of the revisions and hurdles he faced. His advisor's latest message echoed in his mind: Polish the model, Isaac. Make it sharper and more predictive.
To an outsider, it might seem like a reasonable request. After all, his thesis was meant to bring a new edge to predictive economic modelling, something that could impact policies and future decisions. But he'd been at this for years now, and the refinement process seemed never-ending, each improvement demanding more data, more time, more of himself.
With a sigh, he leaned back, rubbing his temples. The sun was setting outside, casting a soft orange glow over the city. It was a beautiful evening, and he hadn't stepped outside all day. His desk was a mess of academic papers, draft revisions, and coffee mugs—a testament to the pressure he felt as his program dragged on.
The faint buzz of his phone broke the silence. It was a message from David:
David: I just had a close call in Evo-Realm. I came across a high-level player farming in my area—barely escaped! How's the real-world grind?
Isaac managed a small smile. David's enthusiasm for Evo-Realm was contagious. The game was quickly becoming their shared escape, a place where they could test themselves without the pressures and restrictions of their everyday lives.
Isaac: The grind is real, trust me. I am trying to finish another round of revisions. I might need a break soon, though.
David: Take one. We'll level up together in the game! Come on, you deserve it.
Isaac stared at the message, the urge to escape back into Evo-Realm growing. Every time he logged in, he felt a sense of purpose and clarity that was sorely lacking in his real life. He reached for the VR headset, letting himself slip into the game world, even if just for a while.
When he opened his eyes, he was back in the familiar village square of Evo-Realm. Idan's HUD glowed softly, reminding him of his character's stats, skills, and the naginata strapped across his back. The village bustled around him, a mix of NPCs and players going about their tasks, strategizing, and preparing for their next adventures.
After a moment, he noticed a notification flashing in his HUD—an invitation from Raya to join her on a new quest. Curious, he accepted, and within seconds, a message appeared from her.
Raya: Up for a challenge? There's a cave nearby with some rare creatures. Good experience, but it's risky.
Idan couldn't help but grin. A chance to test his skills with the naginata and perhaps push his combat abilities a bit further was exactly what he needed.
Idan: I'm in. Where do we meet?
A map marker appeared on his HUD, showing the cave's location on the outskirts of the village. Idan made his way through the winding forest paths until he reached a clearing. Raya was already waiting, adjusting her armour and checking her arrows.
"Ready for another round?" she asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Idan replied, settling into a stance with the naginata. "What's the plan?"
"These creatures are Ironback Lizards—high defence, low agility. They're slow, but their skin is tough, so we'll need to hit them where it counts. I'll aim for the eyes or underbelly with arrows. You keep them at bay with that naginata of yours."
"Got it," Idan said, his mind already formulating a strategy. The naginata's reach would allow him to maintain a safe distance while forcing the beasts back, and Identify could help him locate weak points in the lizards, even with their heavy armour.
They entered the cave, the dim light casting long shadows across the rocky walls. The air was thick and cool, carrying a faint, metallic scent. Idan felt a surge of adrenaline, the weight of his weapon reassuring in his grip. After a few steps, the sound of scraping claws echoed through the cavern, and a pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.
Raya notched an arrow, her gaze steady. "Here we go."
The first lizard lunged, its thick, iron-like scales glinting in the faint light. Idan quickly activated Identify, his HUD flashing as it highlighted the beast's weak spots.
[Identify: Ironback Lizard]
Description: Armored beast with high defence. Weak points: Eyes, underbelly. Resistant to bladed weapons.
Armed with this knowledge, Idan adjusted his stance, swinging the naginata in a sweeping arc aimed at the beast's side. The lizard snarled, backing off just enough for Raya to release an arrow, which struck the beast near its eye. It shrieked, recoiling and baring its teeth in fury.
The beast lunged at Idan, its jaws snapping. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its bite, and countered with a thrust toward its underbelly. His weapon met resistance, but he pressed forward, determined to break through. The penalties slowed him, but he relied on timing and precision, each move calculated to maximize the impact of his strikes.
Beside him, Raya continued her assault, her arrows striking the lizard's weaker spots with relentless accuracy. Her calm, focused demeanour contrasted with the intensity of the battle, and Idan couldn't help but appreciate her skill. In tandem, their attacks created a rhythm, each move building on the last, wearing down the beast bit by bit.
Finally, with a last powerful thrust to its underbelly, Idan broke through the lizard's defenses, landing a decisive blow. The beast collapsed, its metallic skin dulling as it lay still.
They paused, catching their breath as the cave fell silent. Raya grinned, giving him a nod of approval.
"Not bad, Medic," she said, glancing at his naginata. "You're getting the hang of that thing."
Idan managed a small smile, pleased with the progress he'd made. But his satisfaction was tempered by the reality of his limits—each fight revealed just how much his class penalties held him back. He knew he'd need to grow stronger, to find ways to adapt if he wanted to keep progressing.
They moved deeper into the cave, facing several more lizards as they gathered materials and rare items. Idan felt a thrill each time he identified and exploited a creature's weak point, learning the nuances of his weapon and combat style with each encounter. The experience reminded him of his PhD research—the slow, steady accumulation of knowledge, each small breakthrough leading to the next.
After clearing the cave, they split the loot, and Raya handed him a small vial filled with shimmering liquid.
"Potion of Stamina," she explained. "Boosts your endurance temporarily. Figured you could use it with that naginata of yours."
Idan accepted it with a nod of thanks, storing it in his inventory. The potion would be invaluable in longer fights, where the stamina penalties from his weapon could become a major disadvantage.
As they made their way out of the cave, a thought struck him. The game was pulling him in more than he'd anticipated, each quest, each battle reminding him of his own capacity for growth. It was the sense of purpose he'd been missing—the tangible progress he couldn't seem to find in his real-life work.
Back in the village square, he and Raya exchanged a few parting words before she went off to join another questing party. Idan, meanwhile, took a moment to check his status screen, noting the small boosts in combat proficiency. Each encounter was making him sharper, his instincts better honed, and his determination stronger.
[Status Screen Update]
Character: Idan
Class: Medic
Level: 2
Combat Proficiency Update: Slight reduction in naginata penalties through consistent training.
The small progress felt like a victory, a reminder that he was capable of growth and adaptation. With renewed focus, Idan made his way to the healer's hut, where Theren greeted him with a warm smile.
"You return, young healer," Theren said, his tone kind. "Each time, you grow a little stronger."
Idan inclined his head, touched by the sincerity in Theren's words. Though he was here to play, to escape, moments like this made the experience feel real, grounding him in a world that somehow felt more fulfilling than his own.
With each day, Evo-Realm was becoming more than just a game. It was a world where he could pursue goals, make choices that had immediate impact, and learn from his failures in ways that felt tangible. And for now, that was enough.