"If life is a game, some of us think we're on level one, while others suddenly realize they've completely missed the lesson. And then there are those who press the pause button to see what would happen if they just let it play on its own... this is the type of person Kyle Darwin is."
In the time that Kyle Darwin lived a meaningless life, teetering on the edge of chaos caused by trivial decisions, he was a young man in the heart of the city but lived as if he were a stranger to it. He woke up, as usual, at 10 AM, which was the only time he considered acceptable to get out of bed after a long break with the blankets. Nothing in his day was different from the rest: procrastinating, avoiding responsibilities, and rushing to the nearest coffee shop to grab a cup of coffee he only drank because he "had to."
"Ah, today will be just like the one before it, definitely," he muttered to himself as he scrolled through his phone, passing by news that seemed unimportant: "Gas prices are rising, there are some political scandals, and people are still arguing online. Great."
He sat in front of his computer, convincing himself that he was accomplishing great things by watching self-improvement videos on YouTube (even though he had signed up for the same courses dozens of times before but never completed any). Between switching browsers and searching for distractions, his questions weren't about what he should be, but rather about how to escape the expectations chasing him. Suddenly, without warning, the screen in front of him flickered. The sound that came from it was more like a strange buzzing, as if the computer itself was groaning or perhaps sighing: "Hello, Kyle Darwin. You've been summoned to our world."
Kyle stared at the screen, then looked around, as if expecting someone to be hiding behind the couch singing, "Welcome to the dream island." But nothing. Nothing except the eerie stillness and the annoying glow of the screen.
"Summoned?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his hand through his hair. "Me? But... why? Is this a joke? Is this the beginning of some weird drama series?"
"Yes, you. You must come to us now!" The voice came again, more insistent this time, as if the computer itself was embarrassed for not convincing Kyle quickly enough.
"But what does this mean?" Kyle said, leaning back in his chair, as if the matter wasn't worth all this attention. "Am I having an appointment with destiny? Or am I getting a special offer from a world of magic?"
Then, suddenly, his feet felt like they were slipping from beneath the ground. The whole atmosphere seemed shrouded in a strange mist, and he lost control of his sense of reality. He began to slide quickly, and in a split second, he found himself somewhere else, in a vast closed hall. The walls were towering high, filled with decorations resembling ancient magical carvings.
As he turned around to take in his surroundings, he noticed that the place lacked any human life. Only massive, antique furniture filled the space. The air was heavy with secrets, as though the walls themselves were breathing lightly. But Kyle wasn't interested in any of that. He just wanted to return to his simple life: sleeping on the couch.
The man standing in the center of the hall was uncomfortably large, as if he had been specifically created to show off his muscles in an ad for fancy armor. His face was rugged, covered in a thick beard and long blond hair that hung beneath his ornate helmet. He looked as though he had just walked out of a battle with a legendary dragon... or perhaps a photo shoot for a fantasy hero magazine. But there was something strange about his eyes, something unsettling, as if they contained a mixture of anxiety and fake enthusiasm.
"Hello, Kyle Darwin!" the man said in a deep, commanding voice, radiating power. "You've been summoned to be the hero of this world." Kyle looked at the man as if this were just one of those pranks or traps. "A hero? Me? Why? Because I spend half my day watching videos on how to improve my life?"
"Yes, you!" the man replied confidently, as if this were the best idea ever. "We chose you because you're the only one who can save this world from destruction!"
"The only one? Me?" Kyle said, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. "What about that guy in the corner? Why don't you choose him? He seems like he knows how to stand firmly."
The man glanced at the corner, then looked back at Kyle with a nervous smile. "Ah, that... that's just a statue. But you, you have the ability to change everything."
"Great, so I can change one thing only: I'll go back to my room and finish watching the videos." Kyle replied, trying to appear nonchalant.
But the man was not ready to give up on his mission. "You can't go back! We need your help in our battle against the magical beasts attacking us!"
"Beasts?" Kyle sighed. "Does it require me to fight beasts? Do you think I'm some sort of children's story hero? I just want to spend my day in bed with a cup of coffee. Isn't that better?"
Kyle was trying to convince himself that this was all just a weird dream, and indeed, when he touched the ground with his hand, he felt the dryness of the air and the weight of the place around him. While the man tried to process the situation, Kyle had already laid down on the ground, mentally planning how to deal with this situation. Suddenly, the royal man stopped and said:
"So, you're refusing to help us?"
"No, no, I'm not refusing. I'm just not sure how to fix your world. I mean, if I'm going to start a rescue mission, why don't I begin with a massage first?" Kyle, who couldn't quite believe this ridiculous scenario, looked around slowly. Then he stood up to touch the wall of the hall. "What a great design. Solid, very realistic. This must be a huge production. Where are the cameras?"
Then he thought for a moment, staring at the man. "Could this be a new way to launch a show? Something like 'Living with Heroes: The Reality Edition'?"
The man opened his mouth to say something, but Kyle interrupted him by pulling out his phone. "Oh, I got it! It's a hidden camera show! I admit, your idea is pretty clever, but if you're going to summon me as a hero, wouldn't it be better if you found someone who has fitness?"
Before the man could respond, Kyle started filming the giant man. "Wow, this armor is amazing! Is it rented or handmade? Where's the shoot location?"
The man looked stunned for a moment but quickly regained his composure. "This is not the time for jokes, Kyle! We're in real danger!"
But Kyle was not interested. "Danger? Oh, great. Danger to the point where I need a new hashtag for this picture. How about #FakeHero?"
Before the man could reply, the place began to shake. The ancient walls of the hall emitted sounds similar to moaning, as if they were warning of an impending catastrophe. From the dark corners, the monster slowly appeared. Its form was as frightening as it was fascinating; a massive body resembling a man, but its head was that of a huge wild boar. Its breath was heavy and ragged, and its red eyes glowed in the darkness as if they were hunting any trace of hope.
Kyle, who was still holding his phone, turned to the monster and began filming it too. "Wow, are you serious? This production is amazing! Who designed this monster? It looks so real."
Then he turned to the man and lifted his phone slightly. "Alright, mighty knight, let's see what you've got. Fight the monster, come on!"
But when he looked at the man, he found him trembling. The shiny armor that had once given a sense of grandeur now seemed like a mere layer of metal hiding a coward behind it. The man's eyes were wide with fear, his hands shaking violently.
"Wait..." Kyle said slowly, staring at the man. "You... you're scared? This... this is real?"
The man didn't say anything. He just took a step back, trying to hide behind one of the huge columns. Only then did Kyle begin to feel the weight of the situation. His phone lowered slightly, and he looked at the monster again. He finally realized this wasn't a play, and that perhaps... just perhaps... he had ended up in a real mess.
Then, in a sudden moment, the monster charged at him at a tremendous speed, and it began to breathe deeply, as if whispering, "Ah... I'm hungry."