The town bustles with life as I wander its streets. Lively shops line the roads, each with signs that sway gently in the breeze. There’s an armory, a weaponsmith, and a vibrant food district filled with aromas that make my stomach growl. This place feels like it was plucked straight out of a medieval fantasy. There are no cars, no phones, no sidewalks, and no modern conveniences. The cobblestone streets are open for everyone to roam freely.
The houses, built from stone and timber, have thatched roofs and rustic charm. Children play outside, their laughter echoing as they kick a patched-up leather ball across the square. Adults stride through the streets, some in casual tunics, others clad in gleaming armor with swords strapped to their sides. Vendors shout out their wares, offering everything from fresh bread to magical trinkets.
Instead of banks or supermarkets, I spot a sheriff’s office, vendor stalls, and a Guild Quest building that towers above the smaller shops with its grand wooden doors. Even the animals here add to the atmosphere—dogs, cats, and birds wander freely, but a few creatures seem decidedly magical. One catches my eye: a fluffy orb with stubby legs and a beaming smile. It’s chasing a dog, its joyous expression matching the wagging tail of its canine companion.
After some time exploring, my legs grow weary. I find a shady spot beneath a large tree and plop down to rest. Pulling up the game menu, I decide to poke around and figure things out.
My profile screen appears first:
Avatar Type: Plant
Level: 1
Stats:
* HP: 50
* Attack: 1
* Special Attack: 1
* Defense: 1
* Special Defense: 1
* Speed: 1
* Ultimate Attack: 1
* Energy: 10
* Transformational Energy: 1
* Energy Regeneration: 1
“Figures,” I mutter. “That explains the whole green theme.”
Scrolling further, I notice an empty slot labeled Ability: N/A. Great. No abilities yet. Maybe CakeLover’s flashy move was an ability? Or was it a unique attack? Either way, I’m jealous.
Curiosity drives me to explore more tabs. The Special Moves section lists twenty slots—all empty. Ultimate Moves has ten slots, also blank. My Inventory? Nothing but empty placeholders. When I click Transformation, nothing happens. “Must be a bug,” I grumble.
The Map feature redeems my mood. A vast layout of the world unfurls, and a message pops up:
(Touch the map to move it or mark a destination.)
Nice. I swipe westward, revealing more of the region. A blinking icon shows my current location. Handy for navigation, especially when this world feels so vast.
Finally, I click Options. A helpful screen explains the game’s mechanics. It confirms this is a battle-centric game and introduces a crucial element: typing. A massive chart fills the screen, listing eighteen types, from Fire and Plant to Shadow and Light. It even shows strengths and weaknesses.
Water. Plant. Fire
Ground. Steel. Poison
Fairy. Giant. Beast
Shadow. Demonic. Light
Magic. Psychic. Healing
Flying. Electric. Super
Curse. Legendary. Mystery
???
I’m a Plant type, which means I have strengths against Water and Ground but weaknesses to Fire, Poison, Flying, and Beast. The imbalance feels unfair—some types, like Electric, have only one weakness but multiple strengths. “Us Plant types got it rough,” I mutter. “Guess I’ll just have to work with it.”
(Strong) Type. (Weak)
Fire (Water) Electric
Ground Plant
(Plant)
Water Fire
Ground Poison
Beast
Flying
(Fire)
Plant Water
Steel Ground
Magic
(Ground)
Fire Water
Electric Plant
Ground also completely nullifies electric attacks.
(Steel)
Giant Fire
Fairy Electric
Super
Steel also has a resistance factor. It resists
Plant Shadow Demonic
Light Psychic Flying
(Poison)
Psychic Light
Fairy Magic
Plant
(Fairy)
Beast Giant
64
Curse Poison
Demonic Flying
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
(Giant)
Super Beast
Fairy Magic
(Beast)
Giant Fairy
Plant Steel
(Shadow)
Light Demonic
Magic Super
(Demonic)
Shadow Light
Super Healing
Demonic also completely nullifies psychic.
(Light)
Demonic. Shadow
Curse.
(Magic)
Giant. Shadow
Poison. Fire
(Psychic)
Magic Poison
Mystery Curse
(Healing)
Demonic. Curse
(Flying)
Plant. Electric
Fairy.
(Electric)
Water. Ground
Steel.
Flying
(Super)
Shadow. Demonic
Curse Giant
(Curse)
Healing. Super
Psychic. Light
Fairy
(Legendary)
No weakness or strength.
(Mystery)
Psychic
Lost in the menu, I don’t notice the sky dimming until the town’s lamps flicker to life. The bustling streets from earlier now feel eerily quiet. Bars and inns are filled with patrons, but the open streets are deserted. Even the animals have disappeared. The wind whispers through the alleys, and the occasional creak of wood sets my nerves on edge.
Finding nowhere else to go, I settle under a tree to spend the night. The rough bark digs into my back, and paranoia creeps in. What if monsters attack me while I’m asleep? My eyes snap open every few minutes, scanning the dark. Eventually, exhaustion wins, and my body begins to relax. Just as I drift off, a voice startles me.
“Hey... hey, my dude, are you awake?”
I groan and open my eyes to see a man with spiky black hair, wearing an iron chest plate over orange clothing and a black cloak. “Nope,” I reply sarcastically. “I’m totally meditating. That’s it.”
He chuckles and lets go of my shoulder. “Yeah, dumb question. But you never know in this game. You could’ve been cursed or poisoned. Just wanted to check before rushing you to a hospital.”
Behind him stand two men in identical cloaks and a girl wearing a pink-and-white dress. She has blonde twin-tails, black shoes, and stockings. When she waves at me, I quickly avert my gaze, thankful my avatar doesn’t have pupils to betray my embarrassment.
“What’s your name?” he asks.
“Lance. And you?”
“GreekLord21,” he says sheepishly.
I suppress a smirk at his awkwardness. “So, why’d you wake me up?”
“Our mistress would like to offer you a place to stay for the night. She helps out beginners.”
He gestures toward the girl in pink. She waves again, her bright smile radiating warmth.
“Her?” I ask skeptically.
“Yeah, her,” he confirms.
My cheeks grow hot. Why is this overly cheerful girl inviting me to her house? “What’s the catch?”
“No catch,” GreekLord assures me. “You’ll get food and a bed. Sounds better than this tree, right?”
Reluctantly, I accept his hand. “Fine, you win.
----------------------------------------
We left the town behind, the wheels of the carriage crunching against the dirt path as it veered northward. My eyes were fixed on the map in my hands, but my focus kept drifting to the scenery outside. The driver’s quiet concentration was the only sound besides the steady rhythm of hooves. On my side sat GreekLord21, while across from us, a woman with an aura of importance and another soldier shared the space.
I glanced out the window, taking in the dense wall of trees on either side. The moon hung high, its pale light spilling over the treetops, stars scattered like glitter across the dark canvas of the sky. For a moment, I felt a strange peace—until the realization struck me like a hammer.
Wait. This is a game!
GreekLord21 broke the silence, gesturing to the elegant woman across from him. “I’d like to introduce you to my mistress, Tiffany.”
She covered her mouth with a giggle, her demeanor almost playful. A princess, maybe? Or something even more important?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lance,” she said, extending a hand, her voice warm and inviting.
I hesitated before shaking her hand, stumbling over my words. “I-it’s, uh, it IS a—plez-zur.” Smooth, Lance. Real smooth.
She laughed, the sound like music to my ears. “The pleasure is all mine,” she assured me, her smile disarming. The tension in my chest eased, but she was almost too nice. Could it be an act? Or was she genuinely like this?
“You already know me,” GreekLord21 chimed in, puffing his chest. “I’m a soldier for Mistress Tiffany. I swear on my life to protect her!”
The declaration felt genuine, and I noted that the other two men wore matching cloaks and boots, their attire exuding a sense of unity and loyalty. Whoever Tiffany was, she had the presence to command soldiers like these. I took another look at her, carefree and almost whimsical in her demeanor.
“My name’s Rick,” said the other soldier, his face stoic. “I’m also sworn to protect Lord Tiffany.” His tone matched his expression—serious and disciplined.
Curiosity tugged at me. Using the same system CakeLover had used to reveal my level, I focused on the two soldiers. GreekLord21 and Rick were both Level 8. Double CakeLover’s level. The thought of fighting them sent a chill down my spine. If CakeLover had been a challenge, these two would be nightmares. Thankfully, I was on their good side. I looked at Tiffany again—Level 3. Stronger than me, but nowhere near the soldiers. Would she stand a chance against CakeLover?
Time slipped away, and the forest gave way to a grand estate. The carriage pulled up to a mansion, its front yard a display of extravagance. Sculpted bushes in the shape of animals lined the path, golden fish statues formed the gate, and soldiers patrolled every corner—from the hedges to the balconies on the upper floors. This was no ordinary home. It belonged to someone important.
We disembarked, and the inside of the mansion was even more stunning. Golden walls adorned with paintings, polished suits of armor standing like sentinels, and a plush red carpet leading us deeper in. I could only marvel. Maybe, someday, I’d earn enough to live like this. Another reason to become the game’s number one.
Tiffany seemed unfazed, skipping ahead like a child, while the soldiers trailed behind her with calm efficiency. We ended up in a lavish dining room, where waiters appeared almost immediately, carrying trays laden with food. The spread was overwhelming—steaming cuts of meat, seafood glistening with butter, and dishes I couldn’t even name. I wasted no time digging in, savoring every bite.
As I ate, two more people entered the room, sitting beside Tiffany. She beamed and gestured toward me. “Hello, Mom and Dad! I’d like to introduce you to Lance!”
I nearly choked. These were Tiffany’s parents? Her cheerful, childlike nature had thrown me off, but now it made sense.
“Welcome to our home, Lance,” they said in unison.
Unable to speak through a mouthful of noodles, I gave an awkward wave. Her mother chuckled, holding up a hand. “It’s all right, dear. Eat your fill. Introductions can wait until morning. It’s late, and you’ll need rest.”
I nodded, grateful for the reprieve, and kept eating. The food was too good to stop.
“Tiffany,” her father said, raising an eyebrow, “another guest? How many more will it take to satisfy you, my dear?”
“Oh, Daddy, you know I can’t resist,” she teased, giggling.
After the meal, GreekLord21 led me to my room. It was luxurious—far better than sleeping on the ground. Though I noticed the door had no lock, my exhaustion outweighed my concern. I collapsed onto the bed, reflecting on the whirlwind of events that had brought me here. The creepy forest. Sully Shark Town. The fight with CakeLover. Exploring the game world. And now, this mansion.
Sleep came easily, darkness enveloping me as I drifted off.
----------------------------------------
Some time passed, and the weight of the day pulled at my eyelids. My limbs sank into the plush mattress, exhaustion melting the tension from my body. A yawn escaped me, and my eyes grew watery, heavy. I let the soft embrace of the bed cradle me, the silky sheets a gentle cocoon against the chill of the night. As I drifted off, darkness enveloped me, an endless sea of calm and silence.
In that quiet, light began to creep in. Faint at first, it shimmered at the edges of the void, yellow and orange hues softening the shadows. The glow was warm, comforting even—a distant sunrise stretching into my dreams. But as it grew brighter, the warmth turned intrusive, the golden haze intensifying. I squinted in my sleep, groaning as the light pierced through the soothing darkness.
My body resisted. Just a little longer, I thought. The bed was too cozy, the pillow perfectly cradling my head. I burrowed deeper into the blanket, unwilling to face the interruption. Yet, the light persisted, relentless. It grew harsher, almost searing. Annoyed, I groggily opened my eyes.
Sunshine, I thought, blinking at the brightness stabbing through the room. Dammit, I must’ve forgotten to close the blinds. But something didn’t feel right. The air smelled faintly sharp, tinged with something acrid. As I sat up, rubbing my face, I glanced at the window.
The moon still hung high in the sky, stars scattered across the dark canvas. Confusion prickled at the edges of my grogginess. Then I noticed it—the glow wasn’t sunlight. It was flickering, alive. My chest tightened as I approached the window, the acrid scent growing stronger.
Flames. The entire front yard was ablaze.
My breath hitched as I took in the sight—soldiers sprawled on the ground, their bodies twisted unnaturally, blood glistening in the firelight. Shadows danced across the once-pristine sculptures, now shrouded in chaos. The peaceful mansion was a battlefield, and the screams of panic and clashing steel began to cut through the night’s eerie quiet.
My heart thundered in my chest, a cold sweat breaking across my skin. Panic clawed at my mind as the weight of the situation slammed into me. We’re under attack.
“Tiffany… GreekLord21…” Their names escaped my lips in a breathless whisper. My legs felt like jelly, but my mind was racing. Where are they? Are they safe?
The warmth of the bed was a distant memory now, replaced by the cold dread coursing through me. I forced myself to move, stumbling back from the window as the reality of the flames seared itself into my brain.
I had to act. And fast!