The Game Begins
Zane let out a sigh, his fingers trembling slightly as he clicked through the final challenge screen of the night. His bloodshot eyes burned from staring at the monitor for hours, yet the adrenaline coursing through his veins made it all worthwhile. The flashing victory screen painted his dimly lit room in vibrant hues of blue and gold.
[System Notification: Challenge Completed]
Rewards: 500 XP, Legendary Loot Crate, 1,000 Gold Coins
The chat on his stream exploded with excitement, messages flooding in faster than he could read.
"Holy shit, that was insane!"
"Bro, you clutched that so hard!"
"EZ win!"
A smirk tugged at Zane's lips as he leaned back, his headset slipping from his neck onto the desk. He stretched his stiff muscles, wincing as his spine cracked audibly. "Alright, guys, that's it for tonight. I need food before I actually die."
With a single click, he shut down the stream, plunging his room into an eerie silence. The only sound was the low hum of his PC fans whirring against the suffocating stillness. His stomach growled in protest, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in hours.
He turned toward his mini-fridge, already expecting disappointment. The moment he swung the door open, an empty abyss greeted him—save for a half-empty energy drink and a yogurt that had long since passed its expiration date. He scoffed. "Of course. The one boss I can't beat—starvation."
Sighing, he grabbed his jacket and phone before heading out. The night air was crisp against his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of his apartment. The dim glow of the streetlights cast long, distorted shadows along the pavement, making the deserted streets feel eerily hollow. A light breeze rustled the trees, their branches swaying like skeletal fingers in the darkness. The rhythmic tap, tap, tap of his sneakers against the sidewalk was the only sound accompanying him on his journey.
As he reached the convenience store, the automatic doors slid open with a soft chime. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow over the aisles lined with instant noodles, snacks, and energy drinks. He made his way toward the shelves, grabbing the essentials: a few cup noodles, a pack of chips, and the largest can of energy drink he could find.
After paying at the self-checkout, Zane made his way back home, opting for a shortcut through a quiet alleyway. The path was narrow, flanked by towering brick walls that seemed to close in on him the further he walked. A strange stillness settled over the alley—no distant hum of traffic, no rustling leaves, just an unsettling silence that gnawed at the edges of his senses.
Then, he saw it.
A sleek black box sat in the middle of the alleyway, its presence almost unnatural, as if it had been waiting just for him. Silver lettering gleamed under the dim streetlight, forming the words: Game of Survival.
Zane's brow furrowed. "What the hell is this?"
He knelt down, running his fingers over the engraved letters. The material was smooth—too smooth, like polished obsidian. There were no signs of wear, no branding, nothing to suggest it had been left there by someone.
A chill ran down his spine.
His instincts screamed at him to walk away, but curiosity tightened its grip around his thoughts. He hesitated for a moment before picking it up. The box was surprisingly light, yet it felt important, like it carried something far beyond its size.
Taking it home, he placed it on his desk, staring at it under the dim glow of his monitor. His fingers hovered over the latch before he exhaled sharply. "Alright, let's see what you are."
With a click, the lid swung open.
Inside, nestled in black velvet, lay two objects—a single onyx ring with strange, intricate carvings along its band and a sleek black card embedded with golden circuitry patterns.
A shiver crawled down his spine. His pulse quickened. "What the hell…?"
His rational mind screamed that this was some kind of prank, an elaborate marketing scheme, but something about the items before him felt… different. A quiet hum resonated from the ring, almost as if it were calling to him.
Against his better judgment, he slipped it onto his finger.
The moment the metal touched his skin, a surge of energy coursed through his veins, making his breath hitch. His vision blurred for a split second before stabilizing. The ring felt oddly warm, as if it had molded itself to fit him perfectly.
His gaze fell onto the card.
With shaky fingers, he slid it into the card reader of his gaming setup. The monitor flickered violently, lines of unreadable code flashing across the screen. The room's atmosphere grew dense, as though the very air had thickened.
Then, the screen went black.
A deep, mechanical voice echoed through the speakers.
'Welcome to the Game of Survival.'
'Do you accept the challenge?'
[Press YES to begin.]
Zane swallowed hard, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. This was beyond any ARG he had ever seen. His fingers hovered over the mouse, hesitating only for a moment before he smirked. "Screw it. Let's see what happens."
He clicked 'YES.'
The screen flashed crimson. A jarring, high-pitched tone rang in his ears as his surroundings distorted. The walls of his room twisted and blurred like melting wax. A cold, creeping sensation slithered up his spine, spreading through his limbs. His vision darkened, the last thing he heard being his own sharp inhale—
Then, silence.
An abyss consumed him, dragging him into its endless void.
A sharp gasp tore from Zane's lips as he jolted awake, his body slamming against cold, damp ground. His vision swam, adjusting to the dim, eerie surroundings. The scent of moss, decay, and damp earth filled his nostrils.
His breathing was ragged. His limbs ached as though he had been thrown from a great height. Pushing himself up, his eyes widened at the sight before him.
Towering stone buildings, cracked and crumbling with age, loomed in eerie silence. Wooden carts lay overturned, abandoned, their wheels long since broken. The sky was a swirling mass of crimson and violet, a void with no stars or moon.
This wasn't his room. This wasn't even Earth.
His stomach twisted.
"What… the actual… hell?"
A flickering blue window appeared in front of him:
[Enter your username:]
"...Seriously?" Zane muttered, rubbing his temples. Despite the bizarre turn of events, his gaming instincts kicked in.
He typed "Zane" into the floating keyboard.
[Username Registered.]
[Welcome to the Game of Survival.]
[Your journey begins now.]
The window vanished. Zane looked down at himself and blinked.
His body was different—leaner, stronger, his muscles more defined. His usual hoodie was replaced with a rugged, dark adventurer's outfit. He flexed his fingers, feeling a new sense of power coursing through him.
"...I look kinda badass."
GRRHHHHH!
A guttural snarl cut through the silence. Zane whipped around just in time to see a goblin lunging at him—its jagged teeth bared, claws aimed at his throat.
SLASH! (-8 HP)
A red "-8 HP" flashed in his vision as pain burned across his arm.
"SHIT—!" Zane staggered back, adrenaline kicking in.
Another pop-up appeared:
[Enemy: Goblin Lvl 1]
[HP: 60/60] | [Attack: 10] | [Defense: 6]
Before he could react, three more goblins appeared, each wielding rusted daggers.
Zane gritted his teeth. "Okay, now it's a real game."
He glanced around and spotted a metal pipe leaning against a broken cart. Without wasting a second, he lunged for it—
[Item Obtained: Rusted Metal Pipe]
The first goblin lunged again. Zane swung—
CLANG!
The pipe smashed against the goblin's head.
CRITICAL HIT! (-12 HP)
The creature staggered, screeching in pain.
Zane didn't stop. He spun and brought the pipe down on another goblin—
BASH! (-10 HP)
The goblin collapsed, lifeless.
[EXP Gained: +3]
The remaining goblins hissed, but Zane smirked. His heartbeat pounded with excitement.
"Bring it on!"
Zane's gaming experience paid off. He used the environment to his advantage, ducking behind crumbling walls and luring the goblins into narrow spaces where he could take them on one at a time. Each strike was calculated, each dodge precise. The sound of metal clashing against metal and the goblins' screeches filled the air.
SLASH! (-5 HP)
DODGE!
COUNTER! (-8 HP)
The battle continued, each swing bringing flashes of damage numbers—
One by one, the goblins fell until none remained.
[BATTLE COMPLETE]
[You have defeated 4 Goblins]
[EXP Gained: +12]
[Level Up Progress: Level 1: 5/9 EXP]
[Loot Acquired: 3 Gold Coins, 1 Rusted Dagger]
Zane exhaled, his arms aching from the fight. He opened his status screen:
Name: Zane
Level: 0 (12/20 EXP)
Class: None
HP: 21/30
Stamina: 13/50
Skills:
Agility: Level 1 (5/9 EXP)
Strength: Level 1 (6/9 EXP)
Perception: Level 1 (2/9 EXP)
Vitality: Level 1 (3/9 EXP)
Intelligence: Level 1 (7/9 EXP)
"That was way too real," he muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"So, I'm basically a noob," Zane said with a wry smile. "But if this is a game, there's gotta be way to level up and get stronger. And if it's not… well, I'll figure that out too."
He stumbled to a nearby wall and slumped down, catching his breath. His hands were still shaking.
"This isn't a prank," he murmured. "This is real."
A cold realization settled over him. Whatever this Game of Survival was, he was trapped in it. And the only way forward—
Was to play.
He clenched his fist.
"No problem," he smirked. "I've beaten harder games before."
As the sky darkened and the chilling night set in, Zane knew one thing—
This was only the beginning.
Zane leaned against the cold stone wall, catching his breath. His body still ached from the fight, but he knew resting here for too long wasn't an option. If this really was a game, then staying in one place too long was a death sentence. More monsters could spawn, and he had no idea what kind of threats lurked in this world.
His stomach growled again, reminding him of his hunger. He needed to find food, water, and most importantly, information. If this was a game world, then there had to be NPCs, merchants, or some kind of guidance. Clutching the rusted goblin dagger in one hand, he stood up and started moving through the village, eyes scanning every shadow for movement.
The village was eerily silent. Broken-down houses, shattered wooden carts, and abandoned stalls lined the streets. It was clear this place had been thriving once, but something had wiped it out. The only thing left were the remnants of a civilization long past.
A flicker of light caught his eye.
A single torch burned outside one of the buildings. The glow was faint, but in this desolate village, it stood out like a beacon. Zane approached cautiously, dagger raised. The house was slightly more intact than the others, though its wooden frame creaked as the wind passed through.
As he stepped closer, he noticed movement inside.
A figure sat behind a makeshift counter, eyes gleaming in the dim light. The man had a rugged appearance, his skin weathered and his beard unkempt. His clothes were tattered, but his eyes were sharp—too sharp for someone who had merely been surviving.
The man smirked as he saw Zane enter.
"A newcomer? Heh... You must be barely holding on."
Zane stiffened, his grip on the dagger tightening. "Who are you?"
"A humble merchant," the man rasped. "I trade supplies for coin. And you... you look like someone in desperate need of both."
A system prompt appeared before Zane:
[Would you like to open the Merchant's Shop?]
YES
NO
Zane hesitated for a moment, then selected "YES."
A glowing interface materialized before him, listing various items:
Basic Rations (Restores 10 HP) - 2 Gold
Water Flask (Prevents Fatigue) - 3 Gold
Beginner Leather Armor (Defense +2) - 10 Gold
Iron Dagger (Attack +5) - 15 Gold
His stomach growled again. He had just enough gold for the rations. Begrudgingly, he purchased the food and quickly ate, feeling a small but noticeable recovery.
[HP Restored: +10]
[Current HP: 30/30]
Zane wiped his mouth, savoring the brief relief. The merchant watched him with a knowing smirk.
"Feeling better?" the old man chuckled. "Not much, but it's something, eh?"
Zane nodded, still chewing. "Better than starving." He glanced at the merchant. "So, what's your deal? You're just sitting here, waiting for people like me to show up?"
The merchant shrugged. "Something like that. You're not the first, and you won't be the last. This world likes to chew up the weak and spit them out. I'm just here to make sure you at least have a fighting chance—if you've got the coin for it."
Zane frowned. "And if I don't?"
"Then you die." The merchant's voice was matter-of-fact, his gaze unwavering. "Simple as that."
Zane sighed. "Great. No pressure or anything."
The merchant watched him with amusement, stroking his unkempt beard. "If you want better gear, you'll need more gold. And for that... you'll need to kill more monsters. That's the only way to survive out here."
Zane frowned, gripping the dagger tighter. "No other way? No hidden chests? No easy money quests?"
The merchant let out a raspy chuckle. "Heh. You think this is some beginner-friendly adventure? No, boy. This world doesn't hand out gifts. You fight, you kill, you take. That's the way it works. No hand-holding, no easy mode. Either you adapt, or you die."
Zane frowned. "So, what? There's no other way? No way to level up except through bloodshed?"
The merchant smirked, leaning on the counter. "If you want to get stronger, you have to earn it. You want power? You take it from the corpses of your enemies. Simple as that."
Zane clenched his fists. "Sounds brutal."
"Because it is," the merchant replied. "But you're still here, aren't you? Which means you're willing to play the game. Now the question is... how far are you willing to go to win?"
Zane sighed, glancing at his meager inventory. "Figures."
Zane sighed, but before he could respond—
A deep, guttural growl rumbled from the road outside.
Zane spun around just as a towering figure emerged from the darkness. Its skin was gray and cracked, its eyes burning red with malice. The thing carried a massive spiked club, its sharp edges gleaming in the moonlight.
A notification flashed before his eyes:
NEW ENEMY DETECTED: GOBLIN BRUTE (MINI-BOSS) [LEVEL 5]
[HP: 80/80] | [Attack: 24] | [Defense: 11]
Zane's pulse quickened. "Oh, come on."
[NEW OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT THE GOBLIN BRUTE (D-RANK)] [REWARD: +15 GOLD, +1 ITEM, +15 XP]
The goblin brute roared and charged.
Zane barely had time to roll out of the way before the club came crashing down where he had been standing.
[IMPACT! -10 HP]
Dust flew into the air from the impact. Zane gritted his teeth and steadied himself. The brute was slower than the smaller goblins, but if he got hit again, it wouldn't be pretty.
The brute swung again—
DODGE!
Zane sidestepped, slashing at its exposed side with the rusted dagger.
[-6 HP]
The goblin brute grunted but barely reacted. Its thick hide absorbed most of the damage. Zane cursed under his breath. He needed something stronger.
Then he remembered—
The environment.
Zane darted around the battlefield, weaving between broken carts and debris. The brute followed, smashing obstacles out of its way. He needed an opening—
There!
A jagged wooden beam stuck out from a collapsed house. If he could lure the brute into charging—
"Come on, ugly!" Zane taunted, waving his arms.
The brute snarled and rushed forward, its club raised high.
Zane dove at the last second.
CRASH!
The brute slammed into the beam. The sharp wood impaled its shoulder—
[CRITICAL HIT! -25 HP]
The monster howled in pain, staggering backward. Zane didn't waste the opportunity. He lunged, driving his dagger into its exposed throat—
[CRITICAL HIT! -30 HP]
[Zane HP: 20/30]
The brute gurgled, its red eyes flickering as it staggered, refusing to fall. Blood dripped from its wounds, yet it still clutched its spiked club tightly. It swung its club, which hit Zane
Zane's breathing was heavy, his HP bar flashing red at the corner of his vision.
[HP: 12/30]
"Damn it… just go down already!" Zane growled, gripping his spiked club with both hands. The goblin brute let out a final roar and swung its club in desperation.
[DANGER! INCOMING ATTACK]
Zane barely managed to roll away, but the force of the attack sent a shockwave through the ground.
[-5 HP] [HP: 7/30]
Ignoring the pain, Zane pushed forward, using his last bit of strength. With a roar of his own, he leapt onto the brute's back and slammed his club into the back of its skull.
[CRITICAL HIT! -20 HP]
The brute let out a choked gasp as its red eyes flickered one last time before finally collapsing to the ground, motionless.
Zane exhaled, his hands still shaking from the adrenaline. He checked his rewards:
[BATTLE COMPLETE]
[YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE GOBLIN BRUTE]
[EXP Gained: +15]
[Level Up Progress: Level 1: 7/25 EXP]
[Loot Acquired: 15 Gold Coins, 1 Spiked Club]
Zane exhaled, his arms aching after the fight. Then he opened his status screen:
Name: Zane
Level: 1 (7/25 EXP)
Class: None
HP: 19/30
Stamina: 21/50
Skills:
Agility: Level 2 (3/11 EXP)
Strength: Level 2 (5/11 EXP)
Perception: Level 1 (3/9 EXP)
Vitality: Level 1 (5/9 EXP)
Intelligence: Level 2 (3/11 EXP)
He equipped the spiked club, feeling its weight in his hands. Definitely an upgrade.
The merchant chuckled, crossing his arms. "Not bad. You might actually survive this place. But don't get cocky, kid. That was just a warm-up."
Zane wiped sweat from his brow, still catching his breath. "If that was a warm-up, I don't want to see the main event."
The merchant smirked. "Then you better start preparing. You fought well, but your gear is trash. If you really want to make it out of this hellhole, you need upgrades."
Zane frowned, glancing at his newly acquired spiked club. "What do you suggest?"
The merchant stroked his beard, eyeing Zane up and down. "There's a blacksmith's forge deep in the forest. If you can find it, you might be able to craft or buy some real weapons and armor. Assuming you live long enough to reach it."
A system message appeared:
[NEW OBJECTIVE: FIND THE FIRST SAFE ZONE IN THE FOREST]
The merchant reached under his counter and tossed Zane a small, glowing stone. "Here. Take this Waystone. It'll teleport you back to the village. Trust me, you'll need it."
Zane caught the stone, inspecting its faint glow. "And what's in it for you?"
The merchant chuckled. "Survivors make the best customers. Now get moving before the real nightmares come out to play."
Zane nodded, storing the Waystone in his inventory. With his newfound weapon and a goal in mind, he purchased a Water Flask and rations, then set off toward the forest.