The Beginning

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In a dimly lit room, a young man sat in front of his PC, his fingers rapidly pressing the keys on his controller.

On the screen before him, his character was locked in battle with a massive BOSS—a monstrous dragon with nine heads, a colossal torso, multiple wings, and several tails. Its name: the Dragon of End.

As his keystrokes grew more intense, the Boss's health bar inched closer to depletion.

And finally, with one last attack, a massive impaling cross descended from the sky, piercing the dragon's final remaining head.

A bold "FINAL MISSION COMPLETE" flashed across the screen as the dragon disintegrated into ashes, vanishing into the air.

"Haah… finally, it's done," the young man exhaled, setting the controller down with a soft clack. Stretching his arms wide, a series of satisfying cracks echoed through the dimly lit room.

His gaze remained fixed on the screen, where the glowing words "FINAL MISSION COMPLETE" stood proudly. A deep sense of accomplishment spread through his body, as if every hour spent grinding, strategizing, and battling had finally paid off.

The game he had just conquered was Elecnor, an open-world MMORPG released 1.5 years ago by Fresko Org, a company that had taken the gaming industry by storm. Designed for a global audience, Elecnor offered players unparalleled freedom—allowing them to choose everything from their race and profession to their own playstyle.

It wasn't just another RPG; it was an expansive, player-driven world where adventurers could form guilds, craft unique NPCs, and shape the in-game economy. This depth and flexibility made Elecnor a phenomenon, amassing millions of active players within a year.

And among them, Lex stood at the forefront.

As one of the game's earliest players, he had dedicated 1.5 years to mastering its mechanics, overcoming every challenge, and unraveling its intricate lore. Now, after countless battles, sleepless nights, and near-impossible boss fights, he had done what no one else had—he became the first to complete the main storyline.

A small smirk tugged at his lips.

"Guess I really am the best."

He murmured to himself as he reached for a can of cola from the side. With a sharp fizz, he popped it open and took a long chug, the cold carbonation refreshing him instantly.

His eyes returned to the screen just in time to see the large "FINAL MISSION COMPLETE" label slowly fade away, allowing him to regain control of his character.

Without hesitation, he moved forward to collect the commemorative drops left behind by the Dragon of End. His level, already maxed out, now glowed with a luxurious golden hue—like a VIP badge, signifying his ultimate achievement.

Just as he was about to post his victory on Z (formerly Switter), a soft ding interrupted his thoughts. A new in-game notification appeared.

[FINAL MISSION COMPLETE!! WOULD THE PLAYER LIKE TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER EXTRA EXCITING ADVENTURE?]

[Y/N]

Lex stared at the message, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"An extra level? Or maybe a new hidden map unlocked after finishing the main story?" he mused, excitement creeping into his voice.

This was getting even better—now he had something even bigger to post on Z.

Without hesitation, he selected Yes, and the notification box vanished from the screen.

Slowly, the screen began to darken, fading to black. Lex watched with anticipation, his excitement growing.

But after a few minutes… nothing happened.

"Did the game crash? Or is this some kind of bug?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

He thought about all the hours he had poured into this game—the rare loot, the custom NPCs he had painstakingly designed, the endless grinding. If his save file got corrupted… that would be a nightmare.

Just as he was about to curse Fresko Org down to their eighteenth generation, the screen suddenly lit up.

"Phew, at least it's safe. But what is thi—"

His words trailed off as his gaze locked onto a massive, single inverted eye staring back at him from the screen.

Before he could react, a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, and within moments, he lost consciousness.

As his body slumped forward, the eerie eye on the screen slowly faded into nothingness.

The next day, news reports flooded TV screens and newspapers—detailing how a 16-year-old boy named Lex was found dead in his room, the cause listed as heart failure. Experts warned about the dangers of excessive gaming and unhealthy habits, urging players to moderate their time spent in virtual worlds.

In the depths of a vast forest, towering trees stretched toward the sky, their dense canopy allowing only faint rays of sunlight to filter through the gaps. Beneath one of these ancient trees, a lone figure lay motionless against its thick roots, his back facing upward.

He was clad in a dark hooded cloak adorned with silver patterns, a pair of black gloves covering his hands. The cloak extended down to his legs, where he wore fitted tactical trousers and sturdy, shadowy leather boots designed for silent movement.

"Ughh..."

A faint groan escaped from the figure as he stirred. Slowly, he pushed himself up, his movements sluggish yet deliberate, before rising unsteadily to his feet.

As the 1.8m-tall figure rose to his feet, the front of his cloak shifted slightly to the side, revealing a dark black shirt underneath. Strapped to both sides of his legs were a pair of knives, securely fastened for easy access.

But his face remained hidden, shrouded in deep darkness beneath the hood.

Shaking off his grogginess, the figure began to scan his surroundings.

"Where am I?"

His voice was calm and steady, devoid of the confusion or panic one might expect in such a situation.

---

The next moment, he began inspecting his own body, running his hands over his clothing and gear. After a brief assessment, the realization set in.

"So, this is Isekai, huh? And right now… it seems I've ended up in the body of my own character from Elecnor," he reasoned, easily recognizing the equipment he was wearing.

"Which means… am I inside Elecnor?" he murmured.

But before he could think further—

"Status."

A blue translucent screen appeared before him.

[

Name: Lex Shadowbane

Level: 100 (Max)

Professions:

Assassin (Lv15)

Shadow Assassin (Lv10)

King of Assassins (Lv5)

Ninja (Lv10)

Executioner (Lv15)

The Hanger (Lv10)

Hand of Death (Lv5)

Illusionist (Lv10)

Dream Butterfly (Lv5)

Trickster (Lv15)

NPCs: The Cl.... (Summonable)

Items: .......

]