Kiyoshi Riku's room was a mess of energy drink cans, empty snack wrappers, and glowing monitors. In the dim light, the only thing alive was him—and the game. His fingers flew across the keyboard, his mouse clicks almost rhythmic. On the screen, a grotesque mass of flesh and eyes loomed, unleashing lasers and homing attacks.
Dark Sovereign. Again.
Riku smirked, tilting his head lazily as he dodged incoming death rays with pixel‑perfect precision.
"Come on, Dark Sovereign. We both know how this ends."
His in‑game character dashed through the air, wings spread wide, the legendary Zenith sword slashing arcs of multicolored light. Each swing ripped through the Sovereign's tendrils, HP bars dropping rapidly. This wasn't just routine—it was muscle memory.
He sighed.
"It's not even fun anymore."
But he couldn't stop. The game world was all he had. School? Dropped out. Friends? None. Family? Barely talked. In this realm—his realm—he was a god. He built mega‑bases, challenged custom bosses, and speed ran the game on Hardcore Master Mode blindfolded for laughs.
The Dark Sovereign shrieked in that familiar, distorted cry as its body exploded into loot. Riku collected everything automatically.
"Another win. Another night. What now?" he muttered.
He stared blankly at the screen. The music looped. The world stood still. His eyes felt heavy, but something strange flickered on his monitor. The screen warped and glitched.
"Huh?"
The image twisted in a swirl of colors and static.
"What the hell? Did the game crash—"
The light from his screen intensified. Riku shielded his eyes, but the glow burned through his eyelids. His body felt weightless as he reached out for his desk—only to find his hand passing through it.
"Wha—?!"
The hum of his PC vanished. Sound melted into silence. Then, a sudden jolt—like being yanked through a vacuum. His vision turned white.
Then black.
And then… he felt the ground.
Kiyoshi Riku groaned.
His head throbbed, and the dirt beneath him felt rough, real. He opened his eyes slowly, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the trees. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the scent of grass and earth.
"Ugh... where am I...?"
He sat up, dizzy and disoriented, brushing dust off his clothes. His eyes scanned the surroundings—dense trees, uneven hills, and a landscape that felt strangely familiar yet otherworldly.
But it didn't make sense. This wasn't his room. This wasn't anywhere he recognized.
"What... what is this place?"
Suddenly, a faint chime echoed in his ears.
A translucent screen appeared before his eyes—rows of inventory slots, icons, and equipment bars. It hovered in midair like something out of a digital dream.
"What is this...?"
His heart skipped a beat. He reached out instinctively, and the screen shifted in response. The interface was unmistakable—it was like the one he knew from his favorite game, yet here it was real.
"Wait... no, don't tell me—"
A soft sound: Blop.
The screen vanished.
Kiyoshi turned his head.
A Green Slime bounced toward him; its eyes locked on him like prey.
"Oh crap..."
He stumbled back, instinct taking over. Crouching low, he cautiously approached the slime, squinting at its strange, gelatinous body. Curiosity briefly overpowered fear as he reached out and slowly touched it.
The slime twitched.
Then lunged.
"GAH!"
It slammed into him, knocking him flat on his back. Panic flooded his veins as he rolled away, reaching for something—anything. His hand grasped a Copper Shortsword strapped to his side. He pulled it out and froze.
"This is way too small...!"
The blade was barely the size of a long knife. He gritted his teeth, raising it as the slime leapt again. He stabbed, but the weapon barely pierced its surface.
The slime smacked into him again. He hit the ground hard, gasping as the wind was knocked from his lungs. His vision blurred.
A glowing health bar appeared in the corner: 10/100 HP. Two hearts left.
"No... not like this..."
He lay there, arm raised in a feeble defense, bracing for the final hit.
But before the slime could strike—
Thwip.
An arrow zipped through the air, slamming into the slime's side.
It recoiled, bouncing back.
Another arrow. Then another. The slime screeched and finally burst into a splatter of green goo.
Kiyoshi blinked, gasping for breath.
Footsteps approached.
A man stood over him, wearing a brown shirt and holding a simple wooden bow. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"You alright?"
Kiyoshi nodded weakly, struggling to sit up.
"Who... are you...?"
The man offered a hand, pulling him to his feet.
"I'm Sam. The Guide of this world."
Kiyoshi stared at him, heart pounding.
"Guide...? What the hell is going on...?"
Sam gave a faint smile.
"Come on. You'll need shelter before nightfall. I'll explain everything."
Kiyoshi followed, still dazed, glancing one last time at where the slime had fallen. As they walked, a question echoed in his mind.
"Why am I here...?"
[End of Chapter 1]