You know that feeling when life becomes this endless loop of work, sleep, and half-hearted attempts at fun? That's me. Elliot Kane. Twenty-eight years old, office drone, caffeine addict, and self-proclaimed master of mediocrity. My daily routine was about as exciting as a sock drawer—clock in at the office, shuffle papers, avoid Karen from accounting, and clock out. Rinse and repeat.
Not that I'm complaining. It wasn't a bad life, just… ordinary.
When I wasn't working, I had my hobbies: binging sci-fi novels, nerding out over obscure movie trivia, and hanging out with my equally dorky friends—Tom, Jared, and Grace. We called ourselves the "Critical Failures" after the number of botched D&D campaigns we'd managed to run over the years. Tom was the charismatic leader (at least in his head), Jared was the guy who turned every conversation into a debate about Star Wars lore, and Grace was our chaotic wildcard who somehow always rolled nat-20s at the worst times.
Music? I'm all about the synthwave and lo-fi beats. There's just something about that dreamy, futuristic vibe that makes you feel like life's a little cooler than it really is. I'd throw on my headphones, sink into my beanbag chair, and let the music drown out the monotony of the real world.
But then came Realm Clash: AFK Legends.
...
It started as a faint buzz in the background, a game Tom wouldn't shut up about during our D&D nights.
"Dude, you have got to try this game. It's like crack but with dragons and 10-star waifus."
I ignored him at first. Mobile games weren't my thing, especially gacha games. The idea of throwing money at random character pulls felt like gambling for nerds. But then Jared joined in, then Grace. Soon, every conversation devolved into debates about "optimal team comps" or complaints about RNG screwing them over.
"I pulled three copies of Phantom Knight Kalios last night," Jared bragged one day.
"Lucky!" Grace huffed. "I've been grinding for weeks and still haven't unlocked one copy of her."
"Elliot, you're missing out," Tom added, shoving his phone in my face. The screen showed his team of ridiculously overpowered heroes battling what looked like a giant lava golem. "Look at this. Auto-combat, idle rewards, constant progression—even when you're not playing! It's like the game plays for you!"
"Sounds lazy," I said.
"Sounds amazing," Jared countered.
Eventually, their relentless pestering wore me down.
Fine, I thought. I'll give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen?
...
Downloading Realm Clash: AFK Legends was easy. Mastering it? Not so much. The game was deceptively simple at first: summon heroes, build your team, and send them off to battle while you go about your day. When you log back in, you collect resources, level up your characters, and repeat. But the deeper I went, the more intricate it became.
The "Sanctum" feature was a game-changer. It wasn't just a base-building mechanic—it was like a living world. Your summoned characters actually existed there, going about their lives even when you weren't playing. You could check in to see your fire mage training with your swordsman or your healer picking herbs for potions. And it wasn't just cosmetic. The stronger your Sanctum grew, the better rewards you earned.
The summons themselves were addictive. The game's art style was stunning, with each character feeling like they'd stepped out of a blockbuster fantasy movie. Every pull was a gamble—would I get a 5-star hero to carry my team or yet another 1-star "Sludge Rat Wrangler"? (Spoiler: I got a lot of Sludge Rat Wranglers.)
Before I knew it, I was hooked.
…..
Two years flew by in a blur of late-night grinds, impromptu strategy sessions with the Critical Failures, and way too much money spent on "limited-time" banners. (Don't judge me. That 0.5% chance for Celestial Valkyrie Arlena was too tempting.)
It became more than just a game—it was our thing. Tom and Jared would argue about the best gear for tank builds, Grace would gleefully flex her free-to-play achievements, and I'd chime in with my own hard-won victories. It wasn't just about the gameplay; it was about the camaraderie, the shared obsession that made our ordinary lives feel a little less… ordinary.
.
.
.
And then came the update.
....
I was sprawled on my couch, half-asleep after another soul-crushing day at the office, when my phone buzzed.
[Realm Clash: AFK Legends] Major Update: Enter thew New Era! Log in now and claim exclusive rewards and experience a whole new level of gameplay!
I squinted at the notification. Updates weren't unusual, but this one felt different. "New Era"? The phrasing was… weird.
"Another cash grab," I muttered, tossing my phone onto the coffee table.
But curiosity got the better of me.
I grabbed my phone, tapped the notification, and waited as the game loaded. The familiar orchestral theme music filled the room, and a massive banner announcing the update filled the screen:
"Welcome To The Nexus: A New Realm Awaits!"
The usual login rewards popped up, but something was off. Instead of the usual free gems or hero shards, the screen displayed a single, pulsating icon—a glowing purple crystal labeled "Ascendant Shard."
Weird.
I tapped the crystal, and the screen went black.
"What the—?"
Before I could react, my phone vibrated violently. The screen flashed white, and a strange, almost metallic voice echoed from the speakers.
"User confirmed. Initiating synchronization protocol…"
"What the hell does that mean?" I muttered, feeling a sudden rush of vertigo. My vision blurred, my body felt weightless, and the world around me dissolved into a swirl of light and sound.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't on my couch anymore.
The air was damp and heavy, the ground beneath me cold and uneven. My head throbbed as I struggled to sit up, my fingers brushing against something rough and metallic.
"What…?"
I looked down. My clothes were gone, replaced by a tattered brown tunic and mismatched boots. In my hand was a rusted slingshot, its leather strap frayed and barely holding together.
Above me, the sky was an eerie shade of crimson, streaked with jagged black clouds. A distant roar echoed across the horizon, sending chills down my spine.
This wasn't Earth.
And somehow, I knew exactly where I was.
"Welcome to Realm Clash: AFK Legends," a deep, disembodied voice boomed.
I stared at the sky, my mind racing. This had to be a dream. A prank. Something.
But then I saw the small, glowing text hovering in the corner of my vision:
Name: Elliot Kane
Class: Sludge Rat Wrangler
Star Rating: 0
[Welcome to the Nexus. Survive. Ascend. Or Perish].
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Of course," I muttered. "I couldn't even get a decent character here."