Phoenix Knight walked along the side of the road, his hands shoved deep in his pockets as his shoes clicked rhythmically against the pavement. The sky was clear, a dull blue stretching overhead, but his thoughts were clouded. He couldn't shake the familiar feeling of disappointment that gnawed at him.

"Two master's degrees... and here I am, just another office worker," he muttered under his breath, glancing down at his worn shoes. "Mechanical engineering and civil engineering... I gave it my all, but still, nothing changes. I'm still stuck here."

He stopped and leaned against a nearby lamppost, sighing heavily. It was the same routine day after day—long hours spent at a desk, managing projects that barely interested him, and dealing with colleagues who barely understood his passion. Despite his credentials, he felt trapped in a world that valued anything but true skill and knowledge.

"Why did I even bother? What was the point?" he mumbled, staring down at the reflection of his face in the glass of a nearby storefront. His expression was a mixture of exhaustion and frustration, a man weighed down by the disparity between his potential and his reality.

Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed in his mind. A voice that wasn't his own, cold and digital, sliced through his thoughts.

[God's Online System Start]

Phoenix jerked back in shock, his heart pounding. He looked around, confused. The world around him seemed unchanged, but he couldn't shake the odd sensation that something had shifted. As if on cue, a holographic panel appeared before his eyes, faintly glowing in the air.

The panel shimmered, and then text began to materialize.

[Planet Random Selection]

Press button to proceed.

Phoenix blinked, his breath catching in his throat. One moment I'm walking down the street, the next... this? People around him stopped what they were doing, gazing up in confusion and awe as similar holographic panels appeared before them. There was a collective murmur of disbelief and panic.

"What the hell is going on?" a passerby shouted, looking at their own floating screen. Others were frozen in place, eyes wide with shock, not sure what to make of this digital intrusion.

"Is this some kind of joke?" someone else asked, voice trembling. But no one had an answer. The streets were filled with murmurs, questions, and growing anxiety.

Phoenix took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. The sudden appearance of the panel felt surreal, like something straight out of a sci-fi novel, but this was happening to him. To everyone.

The holographic panel shifted, and the text changed, almost as if responding to the tension in the air.

[Planet Selection: Monster Terra]

A planet devastated by catastrophe. A ruined futuristic world. Monsters roam freely, their hunger unrelenting. You will face the challenge of survival. Press button to enter.

Phoenix's fingers twitched as he stared at the button. People around him began to panic, some shouting, others frozen in place, their faces pale with fear. The world seemed to be holding its breath.

"What kind of sick game is this?" someone screamed.

Phoenix hesitated, uncertainty flooding his mind. But despite his doubts, something inside him urged him to press the button. What did he have to lose? His life felt as empty as the void in his chest, and maybe—just maybe—this could be the change he'd been waiting for.

He extended a hand, hovering over the button, then pressed it.

The moment his finger made contact, the holographic panel dissolved, and the air around him seemed to shift. A distant hum filled the atmosphere, growing louder as if the world itself was responding. In an instant, the entire sky above him began to warp, rippling like a mirage. Phoenix's heart pounded as he felt a pull, an unseen force drawing him in. The world blurred.

The ground trembled beneath his feet, and with a final, overwhelming rush, everything went dark.

Phoenix blinked, his vision gradually clearing. His senses were overwhelmed as his surroundings solidified. He was no longer on the familiar city streets. He found himself standing on the edge of a desolate, ruined landscape.

The sky was a dull, sickly green, and massive, skeletal structures loomed in the distance. What remained of a once-thriving city now lay in ruins, twisted metal and shattered glass scattered across the ground. The air was thick with a sense of decay. He could hear the faint sound of monstrous roars in the distance, and the ground seemed to quake under the weight of something moving.

[Welcome to Planet Monster Terra]

A new holographic message appeared before him, detailing the planet's grim history:

A futuristic world, ravaged by a cataclysm. Once a thriving hub of civilization, now reduced to a desolate wasteland. Monsters have overrun the planet, and the survivors must scavenge and hunt to survive. The gates to the world's remaining sanctuaries have opened, and the last of humanity fights to stay alive. The choice is yours: Will you survive or fall victim to the monsters that roam this cursed land?

Phoenix looked around, his heart racing. The silence that followed the message was deafening.

And then, as if to answer the question, a monstrous roar echoed in the distance.

Phoenix's hand tightened into a fist. He didn't know what had just happened or how, but he was here now, and he wasn't going back. Something inside him stirred—a spark of something he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe this was the challenge he'd been waiting for.

He wasn't just going to survive. He was going to make his mark.

Suddenly, the cold, digital voice returned, more direct than before.

[System Alert: Game Rules]

Attention, all players:

A new holographic panel appeared before Phoenix's eyes, and the digital voice continued to explain the rules with unnerving clarity.

[Stay in the game for at least one week per month.]

[Failure to comply will result in your forceful return to the game.]

Phoenix's eyes widened in disbelief. Forceful return? What did that even mean? Was this some kind of trap? He had no choice but to hear the rest.

[Your life within the game is tied to your survival.]

[If you die three times in this world, you will die in real life.]

The weight of those words hit him like a ton of bricks. Phoenix's breath caught in his throat. He could hardly comprehend what he was hearing.

[Each year, your lives will refill.]

Phoenix took a step back. Lives refilled every year? That meant the clock reset on his death count, but with each year that passed, his chances of survival would get slimmer. If he kept dying, there would be no more chances to take.

His heart pounded. Forcefully pulled back to the game if I try to escape? Die three times, and it's over?

The stakes were high. Survival here wasn't a guarantee. Every decision would matter, and death was permanent. But there was no going back now.

As the system's explanation faded away, another message flickered to life.

[System Update: Communication and Trading]

[You have been provided with a communication watch.]

Phoenix glanced down at his wrist, and sure enough, a sleek, futuristic watch appeared, its design minimalistic but functional. It shimmered softly, a faint glow emanating from the screen.

[This watch allows you to communicate with other players both regionally and globally.]

[Regional communication is limited to players in your immediate area.]

[Global communication allows you to reach players anywhere on the planet.]

Phoenix blinked, intrigued. So this watch wasn't just for communication—it also had other functions.

[Additionally, your watch features a trade hub.]

A new icon appeared on the screen, showing what looked like a trading platform.

[This trade hub will enable you to exchange resources, cards, and items with other players. Be aware: trades are binding and cannot be undone.]

Phoenix's fingers hovered over the glowing panel, his mind racing. The trade system could be a powerful tool in this world—a way to acquire essential resources or rare items that could give him the edge in this dangerous new reality.

[Use it wisely.]

The message ended, leaving Phoenix to reflect on the implications. Five trades a day might seem like a lot at first, but in a world where supplies were limited and trust was even rarer, he knew he'd have to be strategic. One wrong trade, one ill-thought-out deal, and it could cost him everything.

[You may trade a maximum of five times per day.]

[Each trade must be completed before the end of the day cycle. Any unused trades will be reset at the beginning of the next day.]

Phoenix's eyes narrowed, understanding the gravity of the rules. The clock was ticking, and his window for trading was limited. He had to make his decisions count.

The world around him was a vast, dangerous place, and every advantage was a precious commodity. Phoenix adjusted his grip on the watch. He was no longer just a man burdened by the weight of his reality. He had a new fight ahead of him.

It wasn't just a game.

It was life and death.

And Phoenix had no choice but to play.