Draft

Two months had already passed since hundreds of thousands of people from different countries had been summoned to this strange world that felt like a twisted game. They were all still stuck on the first floor, unable to move forward or find any way back home. The reality of their situation had started to sink in for most people, but some still held onto hope that they could escape. Every day felt the same, with players fighting monsters and trying to get stronger, but progress was slow and painful.

The air in the forest was thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe as Zhan walked through the tall trees. Sunlight barely made it through the thick leaves above, creating dark shadows on the ground below. The smell of dirt and old leaves filled his nose as he stepped carefully over roots and rocks. This place had become too familiar to him after spending so much time hunting here alone.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

A tiny goblin whose face was twisted into an ugly expression came running at him from behind a large tree. The creature was grinning like it had already won the fight, showing its sharp yellow teeth. It held a rusty sword in its small green hands, moving faster than most people would expect from something so short. The goblin's red eyes were filled with anger and hunger as it got ready to attack.

Zhan stood calmly in the same spot, not moving even a single step as the monster got closer to him. His breathing stayed steady and his heart rate didn't change at all, like he had done this a thousand times before. The goblin jumped high into the air, raising its sword above its head with both hands. It thought this attack would be enough to kill the human standing in front of it.

Zhan effortlessly blocked the attack with his own sword, the metal making a loud ringing sound when they hit each other. The force of the block sent small sparks flying in different directions around them. He then swung his sword diagonally to the left with his right hand, using just enough power to finish the fight. The movement looked smooth and practiced, like he had done it so many times that it was now automatic.

The goblin's small body fell down to the ground with a soft thud, its sword falling from its hands. Blood started to pool around the creature's head, staining the green grass underneath. The fight had lasted less than ten seconds from start to finish. Zhan looked down at the dead monster without any emotion on his face.

[Level up! X2]

[Current Level: 34]

—Leveling is quite slow here compared to what I expected when I first arrived.

Zhan thought to himself, scratching his head with his free hand while still holding his sword. The leveling system in this world worked differently than he had hoped it would. Even after killing so many monsters every day, his progress felt like it was moving at a snail's pace. He wondered if there was something he was missing or if this was just how things worked here.

He still hadn't found Andromeda anywhere, despite searching for her every single day since they got separated. The worry about her safety ate at him constantly, making it hard to focus on other things. She could be anywhere in this huge world, or worse, she might not even be alive anymore. The thought of losing her forever made his chest feel tight and heavy.

He sat down on the soft grass in the middle of the forest, letting his tired body rest for a few minutes. The ground felt cool against his legs, and he could hear birds singing somewhere high up in the trees. A gentle breeze moved through the leaves above him, making a peaceful rustling sound. For just a moment, he could almost forget where he was and what had happened to them.

He took out a small knife from his belt and carefully sliced the goblin's chest open, looking for the magic crystal inside. The smell of blood filled the air around him, but he had gotten used to it by now. His hands moved quickly and skillfully, like a doctor performing surgery. After a few seconds of searching, he found what he was looking for.

"D-rank..."

He said out loud, holding up the small crystal that glowed with a weak blue light. His face showed clear disappointment as he looked at the tiny gem in his palm. D-rank crystals were the lowest quality you could find, worth almost nothing compared to higher ranks. He had been hoping for something better after the long walk to get here.

—Enemies have been getting weaker since I came to this area, which I guess is good for staying safe and all. But I also need to get stronger if I want to survive the harder floors that are waiting above us.

He thought while putting the crystal away in his pocket for now. The monsters in this part of the forest were too easy for someone at his level. He needed to find stronger enemies if he wanted to level up faster and get the better crystals. But stronger enemies also meant more danger, and he couldn't afford to die when Andromeda might still need his help.

He opened his inventory screen with a simple thought and put the magic crystal inside, watching it disappear in a flash of light. The inventory system was one of the few things about this world that actually made life easier. He could carry hundreds of items without feeling any weight at all. It reminded him of the video games he used to play back in his old life.

"This is pretty convenient."

He said with a small smile, standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants. The smile didn't last long though, as reality set in again. No matter how convenient some things were, he was still trapped in this world against his will. He picked up his sword and started walking away from the dead goblin's body, leaving it behind for other creatures to deal with.

<-<-<-<-<-<-༒︎->->->->->->

The City of Ylza spread out before him like a medieval town from a fantasy movie, with stone buildings and wooden shops lining every street. Zhan had been the very first player to discover this place two months ago when he was still new to this world. Back then, the streets had been empty except for NPC shopkeepers and guards. Now the city was filled with players from all over the world, speaking different languages and wearing different kinds of armor and clothes.

The main street was crowded with people buying and selling items, talking loudly about their adventures and plans. Some players had set up small stalls to trade weapons and crystals with each other. The sound of hammering came from the blacksmith's shop, where players waited in line to get their equipment repaired or upgraded. Even though they were all trapped here, people had started to build new lives for themselves.

Zhan walked up to the giant wooden gate that marked the entrance to the city, its tall walls stretching high above his head. Two NPC guards stood on either side, wearing heavy armor and holding long spears. They nodded at him as he passed through, recognizing him as a regular visitor. The gate creaked slightly as other players walked in and out behind him.

—They're getting too used to living here, like this is their real home now. Is it really impossible to escape from this place, or are people just giving up too easily?

Zhan thought while walking down the busy main street, watching other players laugh and chat with each other. Some of them looked happy, like they had forgotten about their old lives completely. Others looked tired and sad, probably missing their families and friends from the real world. He wondered which group he belonged to, or if he was somewhere in between.

The idea of escaping had started to feel like a childish dream that only naive people still believed in. With a thousand floors to climb and stronger monsters on each level, it seemed impossible for anyone to reach the top. Even the strongest players in the world would probably die long before getting close to the final floor. But giving up completely felt wrong too, especially when Andromeda might still be out there somewhere.

"Haah..."

He let out a long, tired sigh that seemed to come from deep in his chest. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on his shoulders like a heavy backpack. He needed to find Andromeda and make sure she was safe, but he also needed to get stronger and help clear this death game. Both goals felt almost impossible to achieve at the same time.

The door to the Adventurer's Guild building creaked loudly as Zhan pushed it open and stepped inside. The guild hall was packed with players sitting at wooden tables, drinking and eating while they planned their next adventures. The smell of cooked meat and ale filled the air, mixed with the sound of loud conversations and laughter. A large board covered with quest papers hung on one wall, surrounded by players looking for work.

He walked through the crowded room, ignoring the curious looks from other players who recognized him. Some of them whispered to each other, probably wondering how he managed to collect so many magic crystals every day. He had developed a reputation as a skilled solo player, but he preferred to keep his methods to himself. The fewer people who knew his secrets, the safer he would be.

He approached the reception counter where two female NPCs were working, helping players turn in quests and sell their items. The counter was made of polished wood and covered with paperwork and small bags of crystals. Behind the receptionists, shelves lined the wall filled with books and records of all the guild's business. The whole place felt official and important, like a real government office.

"The same as ever, 123 Magic Crystals, all D-rank."

Zhan spoke in a calm voice, placing a large bag on the counter in front of the first receptionist. The bag was heavy and made a soft clinking sound as the crystals inside shifted around. He had spent the entire morning collecting these crystals from goblins and other weak monsters. It wasn't exciting work, but it paid well enough to keep him fed and equipped.

"Okay! That'll be 23,000 Qons total for all of them!"

The female receptionist replied with a bright smile, quickly counting the crystals to make sure the number was correct. Her hands moved fast as she separated the crystals into small groups of ten, checking each one for cracks or damage. The guild had strict quality standards, and damaged crystals were worth much less money. After a few minutes, she nodded and reached for a bag of coins under the counter.

"Thanks,"

Zhan said simply, taking the heavy bag of money and turning away from the counter. He didn't like to make small talk with the NPCs, even though they seemed friendly enough. Something about their artificial personalities made him uncomfortable, like talking to a robot that was pretending to be human. He preferred to keep his interactions short and professional.

"How does he keep getting that many crystals every single day..?"

The second female receptionist asked her coworker in a confused whisper, watching Zhan walk away. She had been working at the guild for months and had never seen anyone bring in so many crystals on a regular basis. Most players struggled to find more than ten or twenty crystals per day, even when working in groups. This player seemed to operate on a completely different level than everyone else.

"I don't know either, it's really strange..."

The first receptionist replied, shaking her head while she put the crystals away in a storage box. She had asked other players about him, but nobody seemed to know much about his methods or background. He always worked alone and never talked about his hunting strategies with anyone. Some players had tried to follow him, but he always managed to lose them in the forest.

"Maybe he's as strong as those famous players from the Galaxy Guild and the other top teams..?"

"Maybe, but even they don't bring in this many crystals consistently."

The two receptionists continued their quiet conversation as Zhan left the building, but he was already too far away to hear them. He walked down the stone sidewalk, putting the bag of money into his inventory where it disappeared in a flash of light. The streets were getting more crowded as the day went on, with players heading out for afternoon hunting trips and others returning from morning adventures.

[+23,000 Qons.]

The notification appeared in front of his eyes, confirming that the money had been added to his total. He now had enough saved up to buy better equipment or pay for expensive services if needed. Money wasn't everything in this world, but it definitely made survival easier when you could afford good food, weapons, and armor.

Zhan allowed himself a small grin as he thought about his financial situation compared to other players. Most people here were struggling to make ends meet, barely earning enough to pay for basic necessities. He had found ways to be more efficient with his time and energy, which gave him a significant advantage over the competition.

"After all, a Qon is worth about 80 dollars back in the real world."

He whispered to himself, doing the math in his head while he walked. If he could somehow take this money back to Earth, he would be incredibly wealthy. But that was just a fantasy, since there was no way to transfer game currency to real money. Still, it was interesting to think about what his life might have been like if things had worked out differently.

[Global announcement!]

A bright blue message window suddenly appeared in front of his face, floating in the air like a hologram. The text was large and bold, designed to catch everyone's attention immediately. Similar messages would be appearing for every single player in the game at the same time. Global announcements were rare and usually meant something important was happening.

"Hm?"

He tilted his head slightly to the side, reading the message carefully to make sure he understood it correctly. The timing seemed strange, since most announcements happened early in the morning or late at night. He stopped walking and stood still on the sidewalk, ignoring the other players who walked around him. Whatever this message said, it was probably going to change things for everyone.

[A mass, organized dungeon-clearing expedition will take place in five days. All interested players should head to the abandoned ruins beside Alfonze's weapon shop for more information and registration. This is our best chance to make real progress toward escaping this world. —Daniel, Captain of the Galaxy Guild]

"..."

Zhan stayed completely silent for several long seconds, reading the message over and over again. The Galaxy Guild was one of the strongest organizations in the game, led by players who had managed to reach higher levels than almost anyone else. If they were organizing something this big, it meant they had found something important that could change everything for everyone trapped here.

—So they've finally found the entrance to a real dungeon that might lead to the next floor..?

The thought made him grin wider than he had smiled in months, feeling genuine excitement for the first time since arriving in this world. A mass expedition meant that hundreds or maybe even thousands of players would be working together toward the same goal. It would be dangerous, but it might also be their only real chance to make progress toward freedom.

—Beating this hellish game isn't completely impossible after all.

He thought, clenching his fists with determination as he started walking again with much more energy than before. Finding Andromeda was still his top priority, but now he had another goal to work toward as well. In five days, he would join this expedition and help clear whatever dungeon the Galaxy Guild had discovered. Maybe, just maybe, they could all go home soon.