Kai's fingers trembled slightly as he hovered over the keyboard. Another late-night gaming session was supposed to be a simple escape from school, from life, from the awkwardness of being "the quiet guy" in real life. EternaQuest was his sanctuary—a world where he was more than the shy kid who stuttered in class. He was ShadowBlade, a swordsman who could wield magic and steel with deadly precision.
"One more dungeon run," he muttered to himself, stretching his stiff shoulders. "Just one. Then I'll get some sleep… maybe."
He clicked Enter… and instantly, the glow of his monitor washed over him, brighter than usual. The familiar login screen flickered, then went black.
"Okay… that's weird," Kai whispered, reaching for his mouse. But the click didn't register. The room around him began to warp and twist, walls melting into shadows, the ceiling dissolving into mist.
His stomach lurched. He was no longer in his bedroom.
The forest.
Dark, towering trees loomed over him. The air smelled faintly of wet moss and smoke, and a cool breeze whispered secrets through the mist. A low growl echoed from somewhere behind him, making his heart hammer in his chest.
Kai stumbled backward. "Uh… this isn't part of the game, right?"
Before he could process what was happening, a floating notification appeared in his vision:
WELCOME TO ETERNAQUEST. LOGGING OUT IS NOT POSSIBLE. SURVIVE, LEVEL UP, OR BE TRAPPED FOREVER.
Panic slammed into him like a freight train. He pressed Alt+F4. Nothing. Ctrl+Alt+Del. Nothing. His monitor had vanished, replaced by this… reality?
"Okay… calm down," Kai muttered, though his voice sounded weak even to him. "It's just a… VR glitch, maybe. Yeah. Totally normal."
A rustling sound came from the shadows. Two glowing red eyes appeared. Kai froze. A massive creature emerged—a snarling wolf-like monster, larger than any boss he'd fought in the game. Its claws dug into the muddy ground as it advanced.
Instinct screamed at him. He felt a weight in his hands—his sword. But this wasn't normal. It was solid, real in his grip. He swung.
Clang! The sword bounced harmlessly off the beast. The wolf's eyes glowed brighter, saliva dripping from its fangs. Kai's stomach dropped. I'm going to die here. I'm literally going to die.
Before the monster lunged again, a blinding flash of silver-blue light cut through the forest. The creature screeched and vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Kai's jaw dropped. A girl stood before him—tall, confident, her hair shimmering like moonlight. She held a staff that glowed with magical energy, casually resting it on her shoulder as if slaying monsters was nothing.
"Are you… okay?" she asked, her voice calm, tinged with amusement.
Kai's throat went dry. "I-I think so… um… thanks!" His voice came out shakier than intended.
She studied him with sharp, silver-blue eyes that seemed to look straight through him. "You're new here," she said, a faint smirk curving her lips. "Not many survive their first encounter without screaming or running."
Kai swallowed. "Yeah… that's me. Kai. I—uh—ShadowBlade, in the game…"
The girl's smirk widened. "Moonlight," she said. "And you're lucky I like beginners… for now."
Kai blinked. Lucky… beginners? Before he could respond, she stepped backward into a swirl of silver light and disappeared, leaving Kai standing alone in the misty forest, his heart thudding—not entirely from fear.
A new notification appeared above his head:
FIND HER. LEVEL UP. SURVIVE. THE GAME HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
He dropped to his knees, gulping air. "Okay… okay… think, Kai. You can do this. It's just a game… a very real, terrifying, life-threatening game, but still… a game."
He tried to calm himself, focusing on the glowing sword in his hand. The forest stretched endlessly, shadows twisting into shapes that made his imagination run wild. Then, movement caught his eye—figures darting between the trees. Monsters, maybe NPCs, maybe players… he didn't know.
Kai moved cautiously. Every step felt heavier than the last. His muscles tensed, his senses alert. He had played EternaQuest a thousand times, but this was different. This wasn't a game he could log out of or reset. This was… real.
Hours—or maybe minutes, time felt distorted—passed as he wandered through the forest. Then he stumbled onto a clearing. The air shimmered, and he realized he was looking at a small village, glowing with warm lantern light.
"Finally… some help," he whispered. But as he stepped forward, a voice stopped him.
"Newbie?"
Kai spun around. A boy, probably a few years older than him, leaned casually against a tree. His grin was wide, mischievous.
"Name's Riko," he said. "And you look like you just got dragged into a nightmare. Don't worry, happens to everyone."
Kai tried to speak but only croaked. "I… I think I'm stuck… I can't log out. I'm not sure… everything's real…"
Riko laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Welcome to EternaQuest, buddy. That's how it works here. You survive or you die. Simple as that."
Kai's stomach churned. "Die?"
"Metaphorically, usually. But sometimes… not. Look, kid, you'll need guidance. Let's get you through your first dungeon."
Kai hesitated. "Dungeon… I—uh, okay."
"Follow me, newbie," Riko said, striding toward the shadowy forest edge. "And try not to die before you meet Moonlight again. She's… something else."
Kai followed, heart racing. He had no idea what lay ahead: monsters, magic, traps, maybe even betrayal. But somewhere deep inside, he felt a spark—a pull he couldn't explain. Moonlight wasn't just powerful… there was something about her that made his chest tighten, made his palms sweat.
They reached a dark cave entrance. Kai peered inside. The walls glimmered faintly, etched with glowing runes that pulsed like veins of magic. The growls from inside were louder, closer, more dangerous.
"You'll be fine," Riko said with a grin. "Mostly. Just remember: dodge, strike, don't get greedy. And for the love of the game, don't panic."
Kai swallowed. He gripped his sword tighter. Level up. Survive. Find her. Keep my heart intact.
With a deep breath, he stepped into the darkness.
And in that moment, he realized this wasn't just a game. It was a world where every heartbeat, every strike, every decision could change everything. And maybe… just maybe… he would see Moonlight again.
The shadows shifted. A low growl echoed. A pair of glowing eyes appeared. And Kai knew, with terrifying certainty, that this was only the beginning.