As I step into Sully Shark Town, the sheer scale of it takes my breath away. The streets are alive with a sea of players, each one a vibrant blend of creativity and individuality. There are towering knights in gleaming armor, shadowy assassins cloaked in smoke, and even some avatars that look like outright jokes—a giant banana wielding dual swords stands out particularly.
“Whoa...” I murmur, trying to soak it all in.
The buildings are no less impressive. The architecture is a mix of old-world charm and futuristic flair. Medieval-style inns with holographic signs sit next to sleek, glass-walled shops displaying gear that practically screams unaffordable. Above it all, airships hover lazily in the sky, their engines humming softly as players disembark via glowing platforms.
I weave through the crowd, my avatar's mismatched armor drawing a few amused glances. My health bar hovers dangerously low, flickering like a dying candle. Even though I’ve barely started the game, I feel like I’m already carrying a scarlet letter: Noob Alert.
“Oh my God, you’re gravely injured!”
The voice comes out of nowhere, high-pitched and full of alarm. I whip around to find two girls staring at me, their expressions a mix of concern and pity.
“Do you need help?” the taller one asks, her green eyes scanning my sorry state.
Before I can answer, the other girl jumps in, her tone even more frantic. “You’re bleeding out! You need to get to the medical center immediately!”
I glance down at my avatar. Perhaps she was exaggerating, but yeah, I look like I’ve been dragged through a battlefield. My armor is cracked, my health bar is a sliver away from zero, and my boots are coated in pixelated mud.
“I... uh...” My tongue ties itself in knots. Talking to girls in real life is bad enough, but here? In front of all these players? Forget it.
Thankfully, they take my awkward silence as agreement.
“It’s right over there,” the taller girl says, pointing toward a building with a glowing red cross above the entrance. The structure is sleek and futuristic, a beacon of hope in this chaotic town.
“Th-thanks!” I stammer, practically sprinting away before I embarrass myself further.
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The medical center is surprisingly serene compared to the bustling streets outside. Inside, a robotic nurse floats toward me, its metallic frame polished to a mirror finish.
“Welcome, adventurer,” it says in a soothing, automated voice. “Your injuries are severe. Please drink this.”
A glowing potion materializes in its outstretched hand. I take it cautiously, half expecting it to taste like battery acid. Instead, it’s sweet and refreshing, like a fizzy soda.
“Recovery in progress. Please rest,” the nurse instructs as I’m led to a reclining chair. The moment I sit down, a wave of drowsiness washes over me, and the world fades into black.
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When I wake up, I feel like a new person—or at least, my avatar does. My health bar is full, my armor restored to its shiny, pre-battle state. I glance at myself in a nearby mirror and grin.
Looking good, Lance.
I step back outside, ready to explore the town properly this time. The streets are just as lively as before, but now I feel like I can actually enjoy the sights without worrying about keeling over.
That’s when it happens.
“Hey, you there!”
I freeze as a booming voice cuts through the crowd. Slowly, I turn to see the source.
A mountain of a man strides toward me, his robotic arms gleaming under the sunlight. His avatar is decked out in boxer’s gear, complete with red gloves and a cocky grin.
“I challenge you to a duel!” he declares, his voice carrying the weight of a command.
Me? A duel? My stomach sinks. Of all the people in this massive town, he picks me—a level 1 nobody?
“Don’t look so nervous,” he says, smirking. “I’m only level 3. Everyone else around here is level 7 or higher, so consider this a free lesson.”
A glowing text box pops up in front of me:
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Lv. 3 CakeLover
Mode: 1v1 Combat Field
Accept Challenge?
Yes
No
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
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I hesitate, my finger hovering over the “No” option. But something about the guy’s confidence irritates me. Plus, this is a game—what’s the worst that could happen?
“Fine,” I mutter, selecting “Yes.”
The air around us changes instantly. The bustling town vanishes, replaced by a barren, rocky battlefield under a blood-red sky. A massive scoreboard appears above us, displaying our names and health bars.
“Let’s make this quick,” CakeLover says, cracking his knuckles. “Show me what you’ve got.”
I gulp.
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He charges first, closing the distance between us in seconds. Before I can even think about dodging, his fist slams into my jaw. The impact sends me sprawling to the ground, my health bar plummeting.
“Lesson one,” he says, looming over me. “Never hesitate.”
I scramble to my feet, adrenaline coursing through me. This time, I swing wildly, hoping for a lucky hit. He sidesteps effortlessly, grabbing my arm and twisting it behind my back.
“Lesson two,” he continues, his tone almost bored. “Control your movements. Don’t just flail like a scared rabbit.”
“Gee, thanks for the advice,” I snap, yanking my arm free.
He grins. “Now you’re getting into it.”
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What follows is the most humiliating fight of my life. CakeLover dodges every attack I throw at him, his movements fluid and precise. Meanwhile, I’m a clumsy mess, tripping over my own feet more times than I care to admit.
“C’mon, newbie,” he taunts. “At least try to hit me.”
Finally, desperation takes over. I let out a primal scream and charge at him, fists flying. To my surprise, one of my punches actually connects, hitting him square in the chest.
He stumbles back, his health bar dipping slightly.
“Not bad,” he admits, brushing himself off. “But let’s see how you handle this.”
CakeLover steps forward, his hand outstretched, an intense glow beginning to emanate from his fist. The light swirls and intensifies, condensing into a chaotic mass of raw, pulsating energy. Sparks dance around him as if the very air is alive, trembling under the weight of his spell.
"This is it," he declares, his voice steady, yet brimming with power. The glow spreads up his arm, illuminating the battlefield with an ethereal radiance. His expression is calm, but his eyes burn with unwavering focus.
The energy around his hand spirals faster, forming a miniature storm of blazing light and sheer force. "Meteor Blow!" CakeLover roars, and with a single, decisive punch, the storm erupts.
The air itself seems to split apart as the attack is unleashed. A deafening roar accompanies the cataclysmic blast that tears across the battlefield. The sheer force of the shockwave slams into me before the attack even lands, hurling me backward like a ragdoll. I barely register the moment my body collides with a distant stone fountain, the impact cracking its base. Water bursts upward, raining down as my health bar plummets.
Zero.
Pain sears through every part of my body as I lie crumpled amidst the wreckage. My chest feels heavy, the phantom weight of that attack lingering long after it’s done. My avatar flickers, starting to dissolve into tiny fragments of light, but my mind holds onto the moment.
That power... It wasn’t just strength. It was precision. Technique. Sheer will. It was everything I dreamed of but was so far from achieving.
I stare up at the sky, its fading light swallowed by the black void of defeat. Yet, within that emptiness, a spark ignites—a determination far stronger than the pain.
"I lost," I whisper to myself, my voice barely audible over the cascading water. But the words don’t sting as they should. They fuel me.
One day, I’ll reach that level. No… I’ll surpass it.
The fragments of my avatar scatter completely, leaving nothing behind but the long road ahead—a road I’m determined to walk, no matter how hard or painful.
Because this isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.
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When I respawn, the familiar hustle and bustle of Sully Shark Town greets me. My health bar gleams full in the corner of my vision, but my pride? Still shattered. The town’s cheery atmosphere feels almost mocking—the lively market stalls, the chatter of NPCs, the distant laughter of players. It’s like the world doesn’t care I just suffered a crushing defeat.
“Hey, Lance!”
I turn toward the voice to see CakeLover weaving through the crowd. His usual cocky grin is subdued, replaced with a faint smile.
“Congrats on surviving your first duel,” he says, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Most newbies don’t last half as long.”
“Thanks, I guess,” I mumble, rubbing the back of my neck.
He lets out a soft laugh. “Don’t look so down. You’ve got potential, kid. With some training, you might actually stand a chance against me someday.”
We begin walking through the town. He talks as if we’re old friends, pointing out little tips and tricks—how to manage inventory, allocate skill points, and master special moves. He even shows me a glowing hand spell of his own design, casually illuminating his palm like it’s no big deal.
“This isn’t just a game,” CakeLover says, his voice taking on a serious edge. “It’s a world. Every decision you make here matters. And outside the Combat Field…” He stops walking, turning to face me. “Death is permanent. You lose everything—gear, progress, friends. It’s gone in an instant.”
His words send a chill through me, but I can’t help asking, “Have you… lost someone?”
His expression darkens. For a moment, it’s like the lively town around us fades away, replaced by something colder. “My squad. We were ambushed by demons on a raid. They didn’t stand a chance, and I…” He exhales shakily. “I wasn’t strong enough to protect them.”
The raw pain in his voice stirs something in me. I don’t know what to say. Instead, I place a hand on his shoulder, grounding him in the moment.
“You’re not alone,” I say, softly but firmly. “We’ll both get stronger. I’ll catch up to you, and when I do…” I force a grin. “I’m challenging you again.”
He blinks, then chuckles. “You’ve got guts, Lance.” His voice trembles, but the faintest smile returns. “I’ll be waiting.”
As he steps away, disappearing into the crowd, the weight of his story lingers. I stand there for a while, gazing at the pastel skies that stretch over Sully Shark Town. Somewhere in the distance, the world hums on—players laughing, merchants haggling, the rhythm of life undeterred.
But beneath this calm surface, horrors lurk. I can feel it in the air, in CakeLover’s haunted eyes.
I clench my fists, my resolve hardening. “I’ll become the strongest player in this world,” I whisper to myself. “No matter what it takes.”