Maria

Maria leaned on the windowsill of her small cabin, the scent of damp earth and pine filling her lungs. Outskirts of Holy City—the only place left with lush green forests in a world where nature had long been sacrificed for industry. Her daily routine was simple: wake up, inspect the trees, cut away the dead branches for commercial sale, and ensure the preservation of the forest. It was peaceful, but recently, everything had started to feel... dull.

That was until she saw an ad for World of Solva. The breathtaking visuals pulled her in—the landscapes looked too real, too alive. Curiosity got the better of her, and she applied for the beta test. The application form was strange, asking for everything from her profession to her health status. After hesitation, she went through with it. A formal interview followed, and soon after, a package arrived at her doorstep.

But this was no ordinary gaming device.

The so-called Game Cube looked nothing like modern technology. It was a wooden coffin, sleek and polished, with compartments for saline and nutrient refills. Examining it closer, Maria's trained eyes caught something unnatural—the wood seemed to pulse, as if alive. She scraped a sliver off with her knife, only to watch in horror as the wood regenerated instantly. A shiver ran down her spine.

What kind of technology was this?

Despite the unease, her excitement burned brighter. The day of activation arrived, and she climbed into the coffin-like device. The lid slowly closed over her, and before she could react, two sharp pricks stabbed into her wrist. Injections?! Panic flared, but her vision darkened before she could even scream.

A flash of light.

Maria gasped, pushing open the lid.

She wasn't in her cabin anymore.

A white room stretched infinitely, rows of similar wooden coffins surrounding her. All around, other people groggily emerged, disoriented and confused. Before she could process anything, a suited man and a woman approached, handing out thick books.

"Welcome to Solva," the man announced, his voice calm yet firm. "This book contains all rules and necessary guidelines. Read carefully. There is no tutorial. There is no in-game menu. You are in the world as you are in reality. Follow the rules, and you'll survive."

Maria flipped through the book, still reeling from the transition. No game UI? No status bars? This felt too real. Her body, her movements—everything was identical to real life.

Then, she stepped outside.

The sky was green. Three suns blazed together in the heavens, their combined heat pressing down on her skin like a real summer afternoon. She could feel the warmth. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of wild grass and distant smoke. The ground beneath her boots had weight. It wasn't just VR, it was real.

All around her, other players stood frozen in awe.

"What the hell… This isn't normal VR, right?"

"I can feel my clothes. I can actually smell the air."

"Dude, I just touched the dirt, and it didn't feel fake."

Maria swallowed hard. Just what kind of game was this?

Her stomach growled. Hunger? She remembered setting up the nutrient supply in the pod before logging in. Yet, she was hungry here. Was this another feature of the game?

Flipping through the book, she found her answer. "All biological functions will operate as normal. Food, sleep, exhaustion… everything applies."

She sighed, rubbing her forehead. So I need to eat too? This is insane.

Following the scent of grilled meat, Maria found a street stall, where an old man was slowly roasting whole goats over an open fire. The place was bustling with activity. Players, NPCs—or were they even NPCs?—sat around in groups, laughing, chatting about politics, music, and even real-world events.

And everyone was armed.

Sleek rifles, customized sidearms, high-tech crossbows—every single person carried something. And yet, this didn't look like a battlefield. It looked like... a real town. A real world.

Maria hesitated but joined the line at the stall. When she tried to cut ahead, someone stopped her.

"Hey! Wait your turn!"

"Damn, even the game has rules about queuing?" she muttered, annoyed.

When she finally reached the counter, a woman asked for her name and game ID. Maria frowned. "ID? Uh... I don't know."

The woman sighed and flipped a page in her book. "First-time players get a free meal. State your name, and I'll verify."

After some confusion, Maria gave her details, and the woman handed over a plate of bread and a mutton chop. The moment she took a bite, her eyes widened.

"This… this is real food."

The mutton was juicy, the bread crisp and warm. It wasn't just good—it was perfect. She could taste every spice, every hint of char from the grill. A terrifying thought crept into her mind.

Am I really in a game? Or is this real life?

Trying to shake the unease, Maria attempted to log out.

Nothing happened.

She checked the book again and found the answer: "To log out, return to your coffin."

She groaned. "Great. Now I feel like a damn vampire."

Pushing down her nerves, she continued exploring. Eventually, she found herself at a work hut where people were queuing again. Some were players, but to her shock, a goblin stood in one of the lines.

Maria blinked. "Wait. A goblin? Finally, something that looks like a game!"

The goblin turned and snorted. "Yo, human girl, stop looking at me like that. Nuki got wife. No more mates."

Maria's mouth fell open. "The hell?! Did that goblin just—?"

The people around her laughed.

"You're new, huh?" someone said. "Yeah, get used to it. The AI here is way beyond anything you've seen before."

Still dazed, Maria stepped forward to a man with glasses sitting at a desk. He tapped on a tablet. "Game ID?"

"0385."

"Hmm. You don't have a weapon yet, and you're broke. Here are some job options." He handed over five brochures.

Job Board:

Carry logs to the warehouse – Transport 1000 logs to earn 10 silver balls or 10 rounds of 5.56x45mm NATO ammo.

Silver transport – Carry 20kg silver ingots to the forge for 10 silver balls or 10 ammo rounds.

Copper transport – Same as silver, but with copper.

Cooking – Work as a chef for 10 silver balls or 10 ammo rounds per hour (requires certification from a senior chef).

Packaging – Work in sorting and distribution for the same rewards.

Maria stared at the list, feeling a mix of awe and confusion. This… this is a real economy. A real world.

She picked the log porter job. As she left, she overheard a conversation at the next table.

"You hear about the big trade deal happening?"

"Yeah, some high-rollers are already bartering silver ingots outside the game."

"Sh*t's getting real. This game's about to change everything."

Maria gripped the job slip tightly. This isn't just a game. This is something else entirely.