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That's bullshit! What can you possibly get for playing online games?! First and foremost, it's surely a waste of time and you will never earn with that sh*tty game! Go study! Give us elegant life!

You can't escape from this game once you've become addicted to it. Son, never indulge in gaming. It's like life support for those cretins!"

Are you going to immerse yourself in that again? How many times do I have to tell you that playing online games is pointless? Allowing yourself to drown in it is a waste of time. Come on, grow up! We're not children anymore. If you still want to play, do it in the real world. Let's see what you can come up with.

These were the typical comments one could hear from parents, friends, and those who liked to meddle in your life. To them, the Game was simply meant for children. However, the truth was that they were the ones who couldn't grasp the true essence of the game.

If the game transformed into a second world for mankind, would you be willing to participate?

               [Yes]          [No]

_

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The shrill sound of the alarm clock pierced through the room, abruptly awakening the man from his slumber. In his late twenties, he possessed jet-black hair, a hint of wrinkles etched on his face, and a slender build.

Sluggishly, he pushed himself into a seated position, rubbing his eyes to shake off the remnants of sleep. However, the haze of drowsiness dissipated instantly as he glanced at the clock, a realization of how late it was flooding over him.

"What the hell? I overslept! Why didn't the alarm go off earlier?" he exclaimed, a mixture of frustration and confusion filling his voice.

Without wasting a single moment, he sprang into action, hastily getting dressed and bolting out of the house. The modest dwelling consisted of only two rooms, one occupied by his parents and the other serving as his little sister's space. As for his own room, he made do with a rickety black couch situated in the living room.

Before he departed, he inadvertently overheard his parents engaged in a heated argument about their escalating debts and the daunting challenge of making ends meet. He couldn't help but emit a deep sigh, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness in the face of their mounting financial struggles.

His name was Arsen Finley, a 29-year-old who had successfully completed his college education with a degree in business. The achievement, however, came at a high price as his parents had made significant sacrifices to ensure his education, hoping it would secure him a prosperous future. Arsen was meant to be their investment, their pathway to a more comfortable life.

Unfortunately, reality unfolded far from the initial hopes and expectations. Arsen found himself working as an office employee, earning a meager salary that barely scraped by to cover their essential living expenses and bills. To bridge the financial gap, he resorted to taking on an additional job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant, toiling away during the late hours after his regular employment. The relentless schedule was grueling, but Arsen felt compelled to persevere for the sake of his family's well-being.

The harsh reality of adulthood had dealt Arsen a heavy blow, leaving him with scant time or energy for anything beyond work. He had reluctantly embraced a life consumed by his professional obligations, surrendering any aspirations of finding love. To him, it seemed unjust to burden someone else with his formidable financial struggles when he couldn't even provide them with a modest meal.

With no promising prospects on the horizon, Arsen arrived at the conclusion that remaining single was the wisest course of action, enabling him to concentrate fully on supporting his family.

_

With a sense of urgency, Arsen reached the imposing fifty-story building and hurriedly made his way towards the elevator, his countenance marked by worry. He was acutely aware that his Acting Leader would be furious if he arrived late once more.

"Why did I agree to that extra shift washing dishes?" he muttered under his breath as he stepped into the elevator. Perspiration soaked his long-sleeved shirt, and he couldn't help but notice the disapproving glances of the impeccably dressed professionals surrounding him.

Is he Arsen, right?

Don't be surprised, he always looked like this anyways.

As Arsen stood in the corner of the elevator, a man with blond hair approached him. It was Felix, a person of the same age as Arsen but exuding a youthful charm and a striking handsomeness that set him apart. Felix couldn't help but express his incredulity, remarking, "You've just arrived at this building, and yet you appear utterly exhausted from work. How absurd."

Laughter erupted from the occupants of the elevator, but Arsen paid them little mind. He had grown accustomed to such reactions, rendering him immune to their judgment. In this world, individuals like them emerged when one was at their lowest, aiming to make them feel insignificant and undeserving of existence from the outset.

Upon reaching the 21st floor, Arsen hastened towards his office. However, his path was intercepted by a middle-aged man with a bald head, clad in a brown outfit that accentuated the roundness of his protruding stomach.

"F*ck!" Arsen cursed.

The middle-aged man stationed at the entrance of Arsen's office wore a displeased countenance, clutching a stack of papers tightly. His anger escalated upon catching sight of Arsen approaching, prompting his expression to become even more severe. "Who do you think you are, huh? Show some professionalism! It's unacceptable for you to arrive at this office so late!" His voice reverberated through the surroundings, audible to all. Yet, rather than succumbing to the pressure of their Acting Leader's fury, the onlookers around them began to giggle, deriving a sense of satisfaction from witnessing someone else in such a predicament.

Arsen instinctively scratched the back of his head, wearing a visibly uncomfortable expression. "I sincerely apologize, Sir Vaughn. I..."

Before Arsen could complete his sentence, Vaughn abruptly interjected, his tone filled with contempt. "Are you running out of excuses? What do you have to say for yourself now? Is it because of your part-time job that you're late? If you don't take this job seriously, I wouldn't hesitate to terminate your employment."

Those words weighed heavily on Arsen, causing his face to adopt a somber expression. "S-Sir, you're aware of how much I rely on this job," he stuttered, his voice filled with a mix of anxiety and desperation. Gathering his courage, he added in a meek tone, "My parents would be devastated if I were to lose it. Please, sir..."

Despite his weak voice, everyone could hear him loud and clear.

The middle-aged man extended the bundle of papers towards Arsen. "Consider this your final opportunity. If you fail to complete this task by the end of today, you can start packing up your belongings."

As Arsen glanced at the daunting stack of papers, he couldn't help but sense the immense time commitment it would require. Complicating matters, he had already accepted a side job for the evening. A wave of apprehension washed over him—canceling the side job would jeopardize his current employment. Eventually, he nodded in response to Vaughn's departure. It was then that he noticed the presence of a beautiful woman with blue hair standing beside him. She was Isabella Dawn, his ultimate crush. However, Arsen lacked the courage to express his feelings, aware that his advances would likely be met with rejection.

Right after, Arsen reached out to his best friend Jack, regretfully informing him that he wouldn't be able to accompany him tonight. Jack had consistently been there for him during his darkest moments, and Arsen valued their unwavering friendship. With that settled, Arsen dove into his work with unwavering determination, pouring his energy into the tasks at hand with an almost feverish intensity.

-

Time flew by quickly, and despite working double shifts, he was only 75% complete. Aiser and Vaughn were well aware that finishing it was impossible. Furthermore, as everyone began to leave the building, Aiser could overhear snippets of their conversations.

We deserved to drink after an exhausting day!

You're right! Let's find a restaurant.

Wait, I will come with you.

Several hours had passed, and Aiser had reached 90% completion. However, sleepiness overwhelmed him to the point where his eyes were teary and closing involuntarily. He leaned back in his office chair and slapped his face in an attempt to stay awake.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Arsen repeated to himself urgently, fully aware that falling asleep would cost him his job. He tried various methods to keep his senses sharp, even resorting to drinking three bottles of iced coffee. Normally, he wouldn't spend money during office hours, but in this situation, it was unavoidable.

Now, all the lights on the 21st floor were switched off, leaving only the blue glow emanating from Arsen's screen as his sole source of light. At this point, Arsen was utterly exhausted, but fortunately, he managed to complete his work just in time. "Finally, I can take a nap," he muttered with relief. It was already 9:30 PM, and he set an alarm for 10 PM to ensure he could rest for a short while.

Spark! Spark! Spark!

Suddenly, an electric spark ignited within the office, emitting a visible flash. If anyone had been present, they would have easily noticed it. However, the only occupant at the time was Arsen, deeply immersed in his slumber. To make matters worse, the office was filled with paper, causing the fire to rapidly spread throughout the area. Although equipped with smoke detectors and sprinklers, the fire had grown so massive that the small amount of water from the sprinklers was insufficient to extinguish it.

Look! There's a fire in that building!

Call 911! Hurry!

I really hope that no one was there right now!

Everyone was alarmed by this occurrence as the fire was strong enough to devour the entire building.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, a series of continuous explosions rocked the floors from the 21st down to the 17th. It was not unexpected, considering that there was a cafeteria on each floor, with gas tanks stored within the building. However, the explosions were not solely caused by the gas tanks; there were also mild explosions originating from the appliances. As a result, shattered glass scattered throughout the fifty-story building, leading to injuries among the passersby.

What about Arsen? He died. The moment he awakened his senses, fire surrounded him, and was having a hard time to breath.

...

When are you going to wake up?! You're going to be late!

A woman's voice reached the young man's ears, but it wasn't enough to rouse him from his slumber. Determined to wake her son up, she resorted to pinching his skin.

Suddenly, the man gasped as if he had been submerged in a deep abyss. It was Arsen, and before him stood a younger version of his mother. "What just happened?" he uttered weakly, his gaze fixed on his slender hands.

"Get ready, Arsen! I've left your tuition fee on your table. We're heading out for work. Study hard, okay? We'll do everything we can to support you," his mother said, planting a kiss on his forehead before leaving.

Furthermore, Arsen remained in a state of shock. In his mind, he was certain that he had died from the fire and severe suffocation. After a few seconds of contemplation, he directed his gaze towards the mirror within his room. To his surprise, he still had a room, and upon closer examination, he realized that he had actually become younger.

"Don't tell me... I come back ten years earlier?"

After looking at the calendar, he was certain that he came back to the time when he was in college.

"I don't want to have that life again."

Ring... Ring... Ring...

Soon, his phone began to ring. If he remembered correctly, it was the time when Jack had invited him to play a game called Breakthrough Online. When Arsen was 29 years old, this game had become the second world for humanity. Not only that, it was also the highest-paying job at the time. Many people had decided to join and play this game, and how could they resist? By selling the monster cores they obtained in the game, they could convert them into real money.

Back then, Arsen had declined Jack's offer as he was too occupied with his studies and didn't want to disappoint his parents. However, without a second thought, he answered the call. "What's up, Jack?"

"Breakthrough Online is about to launch in the next three hours. I've noticed that there are some consoles available in the gaming shop. Do you want to buy one?" Jack asked.

"Okay, let's meet right now."