Got it! I'll revise the story accordingly, introducing weaker monsters for future encounters while making the first monster encounter a near-death experience that forces Ray to retreat back to the real world. Here's the adjusted Chapter 1:
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Chapter 1: Awakening in a New World
Darkness.
The last thing Ray Osborn remembered was the screech of tires and the sickening crunch of metal. The sensation of weightlessness had been replaced by pain, then... nothing. Now, he opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
"This isn't a hospital," he muttered, blinking against the sunlight streaming through the window.
The room around him was modest but clean, its furniture worn yet functional. A small wooden desk stood near the wall, cluttered with papers and an old lamp, while the bookshelf next to it was stuffed with well-used books. The bed he lay on was firm and covered in plain beige sheets.
Ray sat up, his limbs sluggish as though he hadn't moved in weeks. He raised his hands and froze. They were smaller, smoother, and lighter than he remembered.
"What the—" He leapt to his feet, ignoring the wave of dizziness, and rushed to the mirror hanging on the wall.
The boy staring back at him was lean, with sharp features softened by youth. His black hair was messy, the bangs falling just above his eyebrows, with the sides cropped neatly. His dark brown eyes were wide with confusion, their almond shape giving him a hint of sharpness. He wasn't very tall—maybe five-foot-seven—and his figure, though not frail, was thin and unassuming.
Ray ran a hand through his hair, his chest tightening. "That's me, but... younger?"
Panic surged as fragmented memories began to flood his mind. A boy named Ray Osborn. His parents were loving and warm, the kind of people who left him no doubt about their care. Then there was Lyra—his cousin and constant companion, though their relationship often felt more like siblings.
A knock at the door startled him.
"Ray?" Lyra's voice came through, clear and sharp, tinged with concern. "You okay? You've been quiet since breakfast."
Ray turned toward the door as it creaked open slightly. Lyra peeked in, her silver-white hair glinting in the sunlight. Her wavy locks tumbled over her shoulders, framing her pale face and striking ice-blue eyes. She had a delicate but confident appearance, her slender frame standing tall for a fourteen-year-old. Despite her youthful elegance, there was a mischievous spark in her gaze, softened only by the faint furrow of her brows.
"I'm fine," he managed to say, his voice steadier than he felt.
Her eyes narrowed as she stepped further into the room, arms crossed over her chest. "If you're sick, don't use it as an excuse to skip tomorrow's ritual."
Ray gave her a half-hearted nod, and after a moment's hesitation, she left, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hallway.
He slumped back onto the bed, exhaustion overtaking him. "One problem at a time," he muttered, closing his eyes in the hopes of escaping the chaos in his mind.
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A New Nightmare
When Ray opened his eyes again, he wasn't in his room.
The air was cool and damp, filled with the scent of fresh grass. He stood on an endless plain, the ground beneath him covered in lush greenery. The sky above was an odd mix of swirling purples and blues, dotted with unfamiliar constellations.
"This isn't Vorthis," he muttered, panic bubbling up. "What's happening now?"
He spun around, searching for any sign of civilization, only to see a series of structures in the distance—portals, massive and shimmering with an otherworldly light. They stood like silent sentinels, their surfaces rippling as though they were alive.
Ray approached cautiously. There were at least a dozen portals, each unique in color and size. However, when he got closer, he noticed something peculiar. Most of the portals were inactive, their surfaces dull and lifeless. Only one of them glowed faintly, its light pulsing rhythmically.