Chapter 4: An Empty Night

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Virtual Realm

Amir stood motionless, heart pounding in his chest as the system's voice echoed in his mind.

"Initializing Avatar Creation..."

The light around him swirled, forming into complex shapes, like floating fragments of code that buzzed with electricity. It was a dizzying sight, but there was something comforting about it. Something alive. The anticipation that had been building for days, weeks even, finally burst free, and he could barely contain the rush of excitement.

His fingers trembled as he glanced around the digital expanse, trying to take it all in. For a brief moment, his mind caught on the overwhelming sense of vastness—this was real, in a way nothing in his life had ever been before. The virtual realm felt more tangible than his messy room, more expansive than his narrow apartment, more open than his trapped existence.

I'm here. This is real.

"Please select your gender," the system prompted, interrupting his thoughts.

The words flickered in front of his eyes, a simple request, but in the moment, it felt like a monumental decision. Amir had never thought much about the avatar creation process—most of the time, it had been a quick, throwaway part of his gaming experience. But now, here, in this new world, it seemed like it carried weight. He wasn't just creating an avatar. He was creating himself. Or, perhaps, he was allowing this world to create him.

"Male," Amir murmured, his voice barely audible, but it was enough. The system processed the input.

"Please choose your appearance."

The screen blinked before him. It was filled with dozens of options—faces, hairstyles, skin tones, and other attributes that Amir had seen in games countless times before. Yet, this time, as he hovered over each option, something inside him hesitated. This wasn't just about playing a game anymore. This was about becoming someone else.

He paused, watching his reflection flicker in the screen like a mirror of distorted light. His own face stared back at him, tired and worn, much like how he felt. Was that who he wanted to be here? Could he erase all the exhaustion, the failure, the weight of his real-world self? Maybe the game world offered an escape—a fresh start.

But Amir wasn't sure. Maybe he didn't want to hide behind a new face, a new identity. Maybe this was his chance to find something closer to his real self, only with the freedom to push past the boundaries he had never been able to cross.

After a moment, he clicked on a face that resembled his own, with the slight adjustments he imagined he'd want—slightly sharper features, a hint of confidence in the jawline. Not too different, but enough to give him something fresh.

"Please choose your starting class," the system prompted, this time with more urgency.

The list of options stretched infinitely before him. Warrior, Mage, Thief, Engineer, and countless others. He scrolled through them quickly, but none of them felt like they fit. Warrior? Too obvious. Mage? Too fantastical. Thief? Too sneaky. Engineer? Too practical.

He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he knew it had to reflect something deeper. His love for technology, his ability to solve problems, his strategic mind. He searched the list again, more carefully this time, and stopped at something that felt right—Gambler.

The class description flashed in front of him:

Gambler

"A master of risk and reward, the Gambler thrives on luck and calculated decisions. Whether through dice, cards, or the flow of chance, the Gambler can influence the game world with unpredictable outcomes. Risky, but potentially rewarding."

Amir's heart skipped a beat. Risk and reward. That was him, wasn't it? He had lived most of his life on the edge of failure, unsure whether he'd ever be able to land on his feet. But in this world, his luck could be his greatest asset. Maybe, just maybe, his luck would work for him here.

"Class selected: Gambler."

The system's voice was flat but reassuring. "Avatar creation complete. Please stand by."

For a moment, nothing happened. The world around Amir flickered, and he felt the strange sensation of floating, as though he was suspended in nothingness. Then, a bright light washed over him, forcing him to close his eyes. He blinked rapidly, and when he opened them again, he found himself standing in a completely new environment.

The air smelled different here—crisp, clean, and slightly metallic, like a freshly constructed city. He blinked again, eyes adjusting to the overwhelming brightness of this new world. There were towering buildings that stretched endlessly into the sky, made of shimmering glass and strange, undulating patterns. The ground beneath his feet was a polished surface, almost like glass, but it shifted and changed as if alive, like the entire world was a digital organism.

Amir took a step forward, the sensation of movement like no game he had ever played before. It wasn't the click of a keyboard or the push of a joystick. No, this felt like he was walking. He could feel his body, the way his legs moved beneath him, the slight drag of his shoes against the surface.

"Welcome to VirtuaGenesis, Player," the system intoned, its voice now more soothing than before. "Your journey begins now. Please proceed to the starting area for your orientation."

He glanced around. The landscape was both surreal and beautiful, like something out of a dream. It was a world full of possibility, but Amir was still unsure. Was he ready for this? To dive into this new reality where anything could happen? Where he could be someone else, or maybe even become the person he had always wanted to be?

He took another step, then another, until he was walking at a steady pace. As he walked, the towering buildings slowly parted, revealing a bustling plaza filled with other players. Some were chatting in groups, others were already engaged in battles or trading. It felt so alive, and yet, it wasn't real. It was a world designed to look and feel real, but Amir knew better. He knew that the real world—his real life—still awaited him.

But for now, this was his reality.

And here, in this world, maybe—just maybe—he could start fresh.