Shadow Fang’s Den.

Ethan emerged from the Adventurer's Guild, the quest slip clutched in his fist.

The sun above was different from Earth's. It had a gentle copper light that spread over the cobblestones of Ember's Hollow, bathing the town in golden, dusky color.

He took a deep breath and smiled.

"I flirted with a real woman."

Not only did he have that look. He had an adventurer's pass. A quest. And for the first time in four years, he wasn't cooped up in his room, wasting away behind a screen. For once, he didn't feel like a loser.

With newfound swagger, he strode to the nearest gear vendor—a crooked wooden stall covered in faded cloth. The toothless old man, the proprietor, barely looked up from his lap when Ethan stepped forward.

"Sir, I require a sword," Ethan requested politely.

The more courteous I am, the better the discount, he reasoned.

The old man stretched, then clattered down a rusty sword onto the counter. The instrument appeared to have been gnawed on by wolves.

"Rookie special. It's yours or it's not."

"And armor?"

The fellow jerked his chin toward a spotty leather vest hanging off a crooked nail.

Ethan cleared his throat. "And… one health potion, please."

"Sure, sure. Two silver."

Ethan paid up, trying not to notice the faint pity in the old man's eyes.

Still, he forced a smile. "Don't worry. I'll come back when I'm rich."

The vendor snorted. "I've heard that from hundreds. Never saw any of 'em again."

Ethan slung his sad excuse for a starter kit over his shoulder, gave a respectful bow, and walked away.

Outside the gates, he trailed the thin light of the system map floating in his field of view.

The outside world of Ember's Hollow was not as the game's tutorial areas.

The Ember Forest stretched out in all directions like a spooky work of art—fog crawled low against the ground, branch limbs grasped towards the sky like gaunt fingers, and haunting howls called across the darkness.

"I'm not gonna lie… this is so awesome," Ethan breathed, goosebumps running down his arms.

Each step made his heart thump—not from fear, but raw adrenaline. No respawns. No safety nets. Do or die.

"Alright," he whispered. "Time to initiate my first quest. And start the journey to becoming the Overlord… and building the world's greatest harem."

His face became a little lewd.

Gorgeous women, silk sheets, and sultry smiles danced in his head.

And then he shook his head, jolting back to reality.

"Concentrate, man. Level up first. Naked women afterwards."

He pushed further into the woods.

A mile of trudging through gnarled underbrush, and his system map opened in front of his eyes:

[Quest Area: Shadow Fang Den]

Before him, a black maw of a cave yawned wide, pouring thick, swirling mist like the breath of some antique monster. The air chilled, piercing his skin.

Ethan let out slow breath, holding his sword's hilt.

Then—

"Hey, rookie. Where are you going?"

A voice cut through the stillness behind him.

"You're going in there by yourself? You'll be dead in five minutes. You do know that, right?"

Ethan spun around, sword half-drawn.

It was a girl.

She sported lean light armor that wrapped around an athletic physique. Dark hair in a high ponytail. A huge greatsword buckled to her back as if it belonged there.

Her eyes were keen, unruffled, unreadable—the face of someone who'd lived through one too many fights.

She exuded power.

Way too much power for a Tier-0 zone.

Ethan's brain crammed into overdrive. NPC? Player? Boss in disguise?

She cocked her head, face unimpressed.

Then, bluntly:

"You're going to be dead in five minutes if you go in alone."