Once again, Mihel logged into his favorite game, a massive multiplayer online role playing game called Magic Fantasy Online, better known as MFO. During its initial release, the game quickly gained popularity. Multiple servers were placed to accommodate the massive amount of users who played the game.

However, a decade later the game lost its popularity. Technology advanced and so did games. People got tired of MFO and began to try out the new generation of games on the market.

The publishing company behind MFO announced that a major update would be released within a few days sparking the return of thousands of players and a new generation of MFO.

(Please enter your PIN.)

Mihel swiftly typed his six digit PIN number in an all too familiar fashion. As the pin registered, a light sound was made and a loading screen appeared. A tip was written below the loading bar.

(Please be polite to others. Toxic behavior will be reviewed by the tribunal system and punishments will be handed out accordingly.)

Background music began to play as the game finished loading. Mihel hummed to the melody of the music as he moved his mouse around and clicked the icons at the bottom of his screen.

(You’ve got mail)

Mihel clicked on his inbox button and opened the most recent mail.

(You’re item ‘Wooden Planks (x10,000)’ has sold for 15,000 gold at the marketplace.)

Mihel proceeded to click retrieve, and deleted the mail. He grinned with a satisfied smile.

“With the new updates coming,  the wooden planks sure are selling well.”

Mihel directed his character toward dungeons to complete his daily quests. MFO has daily quests that can be completed to receive a small sum of random rewards and experience points. Special rewards are given out to players who complete every daily quest for a week. Although the experience points did not significantly affect high leveled characters, the one week consecutive completion rewards were highly regarded for the ‘end game’ progression.

After completing all the daily quests, Mihel began to hunt monsters for certain items and drops. Killing monsters for their drops and items was a viable way to make gold in the game. Some of the items and drops could be sold for high amounts of gold at the marketplace. These items can potentially be materials required by certain crafting jobs like alchemy or blacksmithing. They can also be used to enchant and/or enhance equipments.

“Finally, I have five million units of every drop in the game. Damn, these drop rates sure are bad. I popped four drop rate coupons the past few hours and I barely managed to get sixteen drops of this ‘Legendary Weapon Shard’,”

Mihel rejoiced at his achievement. After reaching the so called ‘end game’, MFO didn’t have much content besides PVP, Raids, and role playing. Participating in those events got boring, so Mihel decided to do something different while waiting for the new update.

The sound of clicking spread throughout Mihel’s room and he furiously typed in his in-game chat.

Eleanor : LOOOOOOLL Guys I did it!

Eleanor : I have five million of every single item and drop in the game. (^_^)

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

xxwarlord18xx : 1v1 me

xxwarlord18xx : if I win you give me half of everything you own :)))))

Eleanor : LOOOL wtf SIKEE

Touchmesenpai : ffffffff I died reading the chat...

Eleanor : hehe mb

Touchmesenpai : brb muting chat

Blood : Gratz

Blood : can’t wait for the new update!!!!! Finally new class upgrades and skill balances.

MuffinLord : they better nerf Eleanor’s class. Her parry skill is bs. When will I get a legendary class...

Eleanor : PayPal the devs xdd

Mihel continued to chat with his friends and guild members for awhile before logging off.

Eleanor : I gtg

Blood : bye bye

Tank4lyfe : see ya! Anyone want to party up?

(Would you like to log off?)

Mihel clicked 'Yes', and heaved a sigh. He got up from his chair and glanced towards his half open window. The sun had already set, and the street lamps were on. The occasional sound of cars driving by could be heard.

He continued to stare outside for awhile before finally moving his gaze away. He headed towards the kitchen to prepare some food.

Mihel wasn’t a great cook. He usually made the same food everyday, changing it up once in awhile. As he got used to cooking the same food, he also learned some tricks and techniques.

As Mihel was sat down on the dining table to eat his food, his gaze drifted toward the other two empty seats that his parents would sit in.

A huge sigh left him as he chewed on his seasoned meat. Ever since he finished elementary school, his parents barely came home.

He didn’t know the specific reasons. He only knew that his parents constantly fought behind the scenes, which he only discovered during a fateful day when he came home early from school.

It was a ‘half day’ at school, students were able to leave earlier than usual. Mihel forgot to inform his parents about it, but he thought his parents would find out when reading the school announcement paper that he had left upon the dining table.

When Mihel was in elementary school, he was tall compared to the other kids at school, but he was rather slim. He had slightly long, blonde hair that barely reached his ears. His eyes were a shade of brown, not too dark. Other blonde haired children at his school had blue eyes, but he didn’t. He didn’t think much of it, but the other kids would tease him about it.

During the fateful day, Mihel headed straight home after class ended. The bright rays of sunlight pressing against his skin caused sweat to drip down his forehead and arms.

Mihel raised his keys to unlock his apartment door, but he halted after hearing loud noises from behind the door.

He heard his parents hysterically yelling and screaming at each other. Expressing regrets about their marriage, wanting a better life, and complaining about money.

"We can't pay the bills! This is your fifth time getting fired from your job!" Mihels mother yelled in her drunken stupor.

"Why are you like this? You can't even find a stable job and pay the bills, you can't do anything! What are you doing with your life?!"

"Shut up! You're the same! You fucking skank! All you ever do is waste away your life drinking with your friends and lose all your money gambling, yet you dare blame me?!" His father furiously retorted.

"I regret it! I regret everything!" Mental exhaustion was evident in his fathers cracking voice as he tried to vent his frustration out.

Mihel was shocked. It was the first time that he heard his parents arguing with each other. Especially in that manner. He felt slightly frightened.

He decided not to enter and leaned against the door as he sat down. He continued to listen to the things his parents were saying, only entering after two hours.

Ever since that day, his parents rarely came home. Both of them spent their times outside. At most, they took turns coming home. The three of them were never home at the same time.

Every so often his father would unleash his anger upon him, leaving him covered in tears and bruises. Mihel often found himself avoiding his father, but he had nowhere to hide in his house.

When middle school started, he frequently hung out with his friends or wandered around the nearest public park and didn’t go home until late at night. It was a way for him to avoid his parents. At first his parents got mad, but as time passed they stopped caring. It became of a habit of his.

Much like his parents, Mihel also stopped caring. He failed classes, didn’t study, and didn’t do anything. All he did was play games.

As Mihel grew up, he realized that nobody really cared about him or his problems.

A loud sigh interrupted his thoughts, as Mihel began to wash his empty dishes before heading off to bed.

Mihel’s thoughts went wild as he closed his eyes trying to sleep. He couldn’t wait for the new updates. At the same time, he also could not wait for his parents to come home. Although he had bad experiences with his parents, he hoped that one day they would get along once more and come home.