Chapter 7: Analysis

Joshua stood frozen, staring at the mirror. His reflection—no, the person in the mirror—was someone else. His skin was smooth, almost unnaturally flawless. His once-thin frame had transformed, his muscles defined and balanced like a seasoned athlete's. He clenched his fists, feeling the compact strength in his forearms. His posture had changed too—more upright, more confident.

"This… isn't possible."

He turned his head, examining the angles of his face. The dark circles from years of stress and sleep deprivation were gone. His once-messy hair now looked effortlessly styled. Even his jawline was sharper, his features more refined. If he walked outside looking like this, people might mistake him for a model or an elite athlete.

Joshua took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Calm down. Assess. He reached for his phone and checked the time. The date—only 24 hours had passed since he entered the game.

"Five days inside… but only one day here?"

The realization sent a chill down his spine. Was the game running on an accelerated time system? Or was it something else? He had read about time dilation theories in neuroscience and physics, but none of them explained how his physical body had changed. His mind flooded with questions, but there were no answers.

First things first—he needed to clean up.

Joshua peeled off the tattered remains of his clothes, tossing them into a trash bag. His skin was still slightly sticky from whatever had oozed out of him during the transformation. He stepped into the shower, turning the heat up.

As the water cascaded over him, he ran his hands over his body, still unable to believe the changes. His shoulders felt broader, his core solid, his legs powerful. His movements were more fluid, as if his body had been fine-tuned to perfection. He flexed his fingers, noticing how much lighter and stronger they felt.

"I don't just look different. I feel different."

He let the hot water wash away the last traces of disbelief. There was no point questioning it now—this was reality.

Once he finished, Joshua wrapped himself in a towel and moved through his small apartment. The stench from earlier lingered in the air, reminding him of the black sludge that had covered his body. He spent the next hour deep-cleaning—washing the floors, scrubbing every surface, and tossing anything contaminated. When he was satisfied, he threw on a fresh set of clothes and finally allowed himself to sit down.

His stomach growled. Of course. Five days of physical activity and no food.

Joshua prepared a meal—three times the portion he usually ate—and devoured it without hesitation. His appetite had skyrocketed. Each bite felt like it barely satisfied him, and by the time he was done, he still felt he could eat more.

"If my body changed, does that mean my metabolism did too?"

He grabbed his phone and started browsing the forums. The game was always trending, and players frequently shared their experiences online. But nothing suggested that real-life transformations were happening.

No reports. No warnings. No discussions.

Was he the only one?

He scrolled through thread after thread. Most players complained about the difficulty. Others discussed hidden mechanics, odd encounters, or theories about the lack of a system interface. But none of it explained what had happened to him.

Joshua leaned back, deep in thought.

The game has no status screen, no HP bars, no traditional mechanics… yet I changed in the real world. If my body evolved, what about the items? What about magic?

A plan formed in his mind.

He needed to experiment.

If he could bring something—anything—back from the game, it would prove that the changes weren't just limited to his body. And if that were the case… the possibilities were endless.

Wealth. Power. Immortality?

Joshua's logical mind kicked in. He couldn't jump to conclusions yet. First, he needed to confirm the limits of what was possible.

He checked his bank account. Less than 100,000 credits left.

At his current consumption rate, his savings would last two months. Maybe one, if his appetite continued increasing. He needed money. Fast.

His best option? The game.

Joshua took a deep breath and lay down on his bed. His heartbeat was steady, his mind sharp. He closed his eyes.

"Connect."