The Awakening

The soft sound of waves lapping against the shore was the first thing David heard as he slowly regained consciousness. He opened his eyes to a brilliant blue sky, squinting against the sun's glare. His body felt heavy, as if he'd been asleep for days. As he pushed himself up, he realized he was lying on a sandy beach, with no memory of how he got there.

David looked around, taking in the lush jungle that bordered the beach and the rocky cliffs in the distance. His heart raced as he tried to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was staying up late, playing his favorite RPG game, seeking an escape from his mundane office job. He thought of his Scottish ancestors, who had come to America before the Civil War, and the family relics he treasured—symbols of a once proud lineage. David's great-grandfather had been a blacksmith, crafting tools and weapons with skilled hands. Even after the family transitioned to the restaurant business, smithing remained a beloved hobby. David had inherited some of the relics made by the old Greens, objects he held dear even after the family's bankruptcy during the Great Depression. He never sold them, preserving a piece of his heritage.

As he stood up, a translucent interface suddenly appeared in front of him, displaying a list of characteristics:

Name: David Green

Level: 1

HP: 50/50 (2 HP/hour regeneration)

MP: 50/50 (2 MP/hour regeneration)

Vitality: 5

Strength: 2

Intelligence: 5

Agility: 3

Charisma: 4

Luck: 6

David's eyes widened at the sight. It was as if the game mechanics he'd always been fascinated by had come to life. He noted the HP and MP bars, showing his current health and mana points. With 5 points in Vitality, he had 50 HP, and with 5 points in Intelligence, he had 50 MP. He also noticed that he had no active or passive skills listed and was at Level 1. For each level gained, he would receive 3 points to distribute among his characteristics—except for Luck, which was already at its highest value of 6. A particular line caught his attention: Perk: Born Warrior. The description was vague, indicating that the more HP he lost, the more concentrated his attention would become, the less pain he would feel, and he would gain temporary HP and MP regeneration during battle. However, it also stated that some information about the perk was hidden and could only be unlocked as he increased his level.

Also he finds about his inventory. Like in games he can pull out items from inventory or put inside whatever he wants. Only one item was inside. Small dagger. Memories about dagger flashed, but he stopped thinking and tried to adapt what is going around. 

Before he could process this strange turn of events, he heard voices in the distance. Curious and cautious, David made his way towards the sounds, finding a group of people gathered near a large rock. They seemed as confused as he was, talking in hushed tones. Among them was a tall man with a rugged appearance, clearly more experienced and composed than the rest. He introduced himself as Mark, a former soldier, and naturally took charge of the group. He explained that they'd all woken up on the island with similar interfaces and that they needed to work together to survive.

As they began to explore the island, David noticed that everything felt hyper-real. The air was crisp, the colors more vibrant, and the sounds sharper. It was as if they were in a game, but the stakes felt terrifyingly real. For David, who had always struggled with finding courage in his ordinary life, this felt like a second chance—an opportunity to be the protector he had always wanted to be. 

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. The group turned to see one of the members, a young woman, struggling against a large, reptilian creature. Without thinking, David rushed forward, drawing his dagger. But his movements were slow and clumsy. The interface flashed a warning: "Low Agility." Mark and another group member, a muscular man named Tom, managed to fend off the creature, but it was too late. The woman lay motionless on the ground. David dropped to his knees beside her, desperately trying to recall the CPR training he'd seen in a game tutorial. But no amount of pressing on her chest or breathing into her mouth made a difference. 

"She's gone," Mark said grimly, placing a hand on David's shoulder. The group fell silent, the reality of their situation sinking in. This was no game. The island was dangerous, and one wrong choice could be fatal.

As they gathered themselves, David noticed a strange marking on the rock where the woman had been attacked. It was an intricate symbol, like something out of an ancient myth. He felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that there was more to this island than met the eye.

Mark broke the silence. "We need to be careful and learn how to use whatever abilities we've been given. This place... it's not just a paradise or a nightmare. It might be both."

As they moved deeper into the jungle, David couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The marking on the rock seemed to pulse in his mind, a faint whisper of something ancient and powerful. He glanced back at the beach, wondering if they would ever leave this island—or if it would become their grave.