Hollow Death Online – Chapter 1: The Beginning of the HollowPart 1: The Ordinary World
The sunlight pierced through the thin curtains of Rio Javier's bedroom, landing in stripes across the cluttered floor. The room smelled faintly of damp laundry and old textbooks, the scent mingling with the faint aroma of instant coffee that his older sister had left from the night before. Rio stirred, groaning as his alarm blared the final note of its obnoxious tune. Another ordinary day in the city.
At seventeen, Rio lived in a cramped but cozy apartment in the heart of Metro Manila. The hum of early traffic seeped through the thin walls, punctuated by the occasional shout of a street vendor. From his small window, he could see the tops of buses weaving through the streets, people moving in predictable patterns, lives repeating like clockwork.
Rio swung his legs off the bed, rubbing his eyes. He wasn't particularly lazy, but mornings had always been a battle. His phone vibrated on the bedside table, lighting up with notifications: a reminder for school, a message from his friend Lance, and several pop-up ads for games he wasn't even interested in.
He picked up the phone and scrolled absently. One banner stood out—a dark, ominous advertisement with a title in bold crimson letters:
"Hollow Death Online – Enter If You Dare."
Rio frowned. Most ads promised generic fantasy worlds, flashy graphics, or cute avatars. But this one… it felt different. The letters seemed almost to shimmer on the screen, as if they were alive. A chill ran down his spine, and he quickly swiped it away, telling himself it was just another gimmick.
At breakfast, his mother, a nurse who worked night shifts, was already preparing coffee. "Rio, eat something before you leave," she said, her voice tired but warm.
"Yeah, Mom," he muttered, plopping a slice of bread into the toaster. His sister, Alyssa, barely glanced up from her laptop. "You're late again," she teased, smirking.
Rio rolled his eyes. "I'm not late. I just… take my time."
His sister shook her head. "One day, your 'time' is going to get you into trouble. You should really consider being more responsible."
"I'm responsible enough to pass school, aren't I?" Rio shot back, though he knew it wasn't a fair argument.
Breakfast was a routine of silence and soft clinks of utensils. Rio's mind, however, was already drifting to the strange ad he had seen. Something about the design, the words "Hollow" and "Death," struck a chord deep in his curiosity. He had always been drawn to video games, the darker and more immersive, the better.
School was predictable. He trudged through crowded hallways, dodging students in varying degrees of chaos. Lance, his closest friend since childhood, waved from across the courtyard.
"Yo, Rio! You hear about the new game that just dropped online?" Lance called, excitement vibrating through his voice.
Rio shook his head. "Nope. Another one of those cookie-cutter RPGs?"
"Not even close," Lance said, grinning. "It's called Hollow Death Online. People are saying it's… different. Creepy, maybe dangerous… but insanely realistic. Some say it's the closest thing to VR ever."
Rio froze for a moment. "Wait… how do you even find these things?"
"You know me," Lance said, shrugging. "I scroll through forums at midnight. Don't worry about it. But if you're brave enough, you should try it."
Rio laughed nervously, masking the thrum of excitement rising in his chest. "Dangerous, huh? That's not a good sign for me."
Lance winked. "Or maybe it is. You always like games that are more… intense."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and assignments. Rio's mind, however, refused to let go of the name Hollow Death Online. The idea of a game so dark and immersive that it was whispered about in hushed tones on forums was… irresistible.
After school, Rio retreated to his small corner of the apartment, logging into his usual gaming platform. He typed the name into the search bar hesitantly. His screen flickered strangely, and a loading screen appeared—black, with red, dripping letters spelling:
"HOLLOW DEATH ONLINE"
Below it, a single line blinked:
"ENTER IF YOU DARE."
Rio's fingers hovered over the keyboard. Something told him this was no ordinary game. A strange energy seemed to hum through his room, almost like the air itself was charged. His heart raced—not with fear, but with anticipation.
With a decisive press of the ENTER key, the screen glowed brighter than it had any right to. Rio felt a strange pull in his chest, a weightless sensation like falling into a void. His vision blurred, and suddenly, he was no longer in his room.
He opened his eyes to find a sky that was a swirling mix of crimson and violet, the ground beneath him jagged and black as though carved from obsidian. Towering structures loomed in the distance, alien in architecture, some floating mid-air, others sinking into the abyss below.
A small floating interface materialized before him, hovering like a hologram. Words scrawled in glowing white:
Welcome to Hollow Death Online.Please select your race to begin your journey.
Rio's heart pounded. He had played countless RPGs before, but none had made him feel this… present. Each option glimmered with its own aura: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Demons, Spirits, and others whose names he couldn't even pronounce.
A notification appeared:
"Warning: Hollow Death Online is a world where death is permanent. Choose wisely. GM intervention may occur at any time."
Rio swallowed hard. The warning felt real, almost tangible. A thrill ran through him, mixed with the faintest edge of fear.
This was no ordinary game.
And somewhere, in the shadows of the world he had just entered, an unseen observer smiled.
The adventure had begun.