The last thing Barton Humbiy could remember off the top of his head was pizza. It was a strange thought, but it had to relate to something. There was no way Barton could come up with something this imaginative with his small pizza delivery brain.

Wait.

That was it.

Barton almost fell over as memories of his life washed over him, all until his most recent one, before he appeared in this place. He could still vividly remember getting an order to deliver a stack of pizzas to some shady warehouse. He had his doubts, but hey, twenty dollars was twenty dollars. Barton still couldn’t believe his boss still paid him in dollars after he faked a story to cover up the fact he was using a VPN in a pizza restaurant by pretending he was American, only willing to be paid in dollars. He had a strange life, but a normal life at the same time—he’d visit his parents every Saturday, and cover the bills with his job delivering pizza from that restaurant, Martin’s.

Barton quickly stopped daydreaming and looked around. He was not supposed to be a proactive character, but when things came to the worst, they took a turn for the opposite. Barton was pretty sure that wasn’t a quote, but he decided to pretend it was anyway. Better pretend than give in. Barton swore to himself that this time he would stop making random quotes and start to finally take in his surroundings.

A heavy breath left his mouth as he slowly turned in place. Nothing seemed real about the place he found himself in. It was like the background of a bad video game—a pixelated sky, a grassy field where the grass swayed too perfectly, and some kind of glowing, floating objects off in the distance. Barton took another step forward, careful not to trip on what looked like stone cobblestones, though their texture was all wrong. It was like he was walking through a badly rendered scene. His heart raced a little faster.

"Okay, this is fine. I’m fine. No need to panic." Barton muttered under his breath, trying to convince himself. "This is probably a prank. Yeah, some weird game they’ve got me in. Like… Eternal Light or something."

There was a name he’d heard in passing—a video game some of the younger folks talked about. But this didn’t feel like a game. No, this felt like a nightmare.

Barton moved forward, deciding to find someone—anyone—to get an explanation. He spotted a small figure standing in the distance. A player? Maybe someone could help him. The figure wore a long black cloak and carried a glowing staff. Barton didn’t know why, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that the staff was the key to everything.

As he approached, the figure turned to face him. The stranger’s hooded face was hidden, but Barton could sense a certain chill in the air—like this person had seen things Barton could never imagine.

"Who are you?" Barton asked, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

The figure chuckled. "You really don’t know, do you?"

"Know what?" Barton felt a flicker of irritation—his brain wasn’t processing things fast enough, and it was starting to annoy him.

"You’re in Eternal Light, the game, I mean." The figure shrugged. "Well, sort of."

Barton blinked. "What are you talking about? This is some kind of joke, right?"

The figure tilted their head, an unsettling motion that made Barton feel even more out of place. "No joke. You’re here now. The game didn’t quite work out the way it was supposed to."

The game. Barton’s mind tried to piece the pieces together. Eternal Light. He’d heard people talk about it—how immersive it was, how it sucked people in. Could this be some sort of bizarre simulation?

"Are you… are you real?" Barton asked, not sure if he was speaking to a person or just some poorly programmed NPC.

The figure’s laugh was deep, as if the laugh itself was too old for human ears. "Real enough. But that’s not important. You’re here, aren’t you?"

Barton took a deep breath. "Okay, so if this is real, then how do I get out? I didn’t sign up for this. I’m a pizza guy, not some hero in a game."

The figure stared at him for a long time before speaking again. "That’s the fun part. You can’t leave until it’s over."

Barton’s stomach churned. "What does that mean?"

The figure’s voice lowered to a whisper, almost as if sharing a secret. "The game has merged with reality. You, me, everyone here… We’re all part of something bigger now. A world that’s no longer just digital."

Before Barton could reply, the figure vanished in a blink, like a puff of smoke. His heart raced as he took another step back, now feeling utterly alone in this strange world. His mind spun in circles, trying to make sense of it all. How had he gone from delivering pizzas to being trapped in this... place?

The sound of a faint echo caught his attention, and he spun around to see a group of figures in the distance. Players, no doubt. They were running around, but not like NPCs. No, they were actively engaging with their environment, like characters from a game. They wore armour, wielded swords, and cast spells. Barton watched, mesmerized, as a giant glowing dragon appeared from nowhere, and the players began to attack it with a flurry of magic. But as it dissolved into pixels, the world around Barton began to change.

The ground beneath him rumbled, and the air shifted. The buildings, or what looked like buildings, flickered in and out of existence. A screen, the kind you’d see on a computer, appeared in front of him, flashing with neon green text.

SYSTEM: Eternal Light – Loading Reality: 97%

What the hell? Barton’s thoughts raced as he stumbled backward. Was this real? Was he in some kind of weird game, or had something gone wrong?

A low voice, distorted like an old radio signal, crackled in his ear. "Hey, you. Yes, you. Are you lost, delivery boy?"

Barton jumped, looking around frantically, but saw no one. The voice was omnipresent, as if coming from everywhere.

"I... uh… who’s there?" Barton asked, his voice trembling.

"Doesn’t matter who I am. You’re about to find out what Eternal Light really means. Get ready." The voice echoed, fading into the digital ether.

Barton froze, the reality of his situation crashing down on him. There was no way out. No escape. And just as he was about to run, the ground beneath him began to ripple, as if he were standing on the surface of water. It was like the whole world was glitching, tearing apart at the seams.

Suddenly, the sound of a battle cry rang out in the distance. A new group of players appeared, running towards him. Their eyes locked on him with intensity. One of them, a tall figure with glowing blue armour, raised his sword high.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"You! You’re a new one!" the player shouted. "You don’t belong here! What’s your class?"

Barton stared at the player, speechless. A class? What was he supposed to say? He didn’t even know where he was. "Uh… I’m just here to deliver pizza?" he offered weakly.

The blue-armored player blinked, confused. "Pizza? What’s pizza? You’re supposed to be one of us now. You’ve got a lot to learn."

Barton’s mind swirled. Everything felt so wrong, but it was undeniably real. This was no prank. No joke. This was something far worse. And it seemed like the game, Eternal Light, had just started to get its claws into him.

As Barton stood there, confused and uncertain, he began to realize the scope of what Eternal Light was all about. The game, from what he could gather, wasn’t just a simple RPG—it was a world unto itself, a living, breathing entity where anything could happen.

In Eternal Light, players could choose their class at the beginning of their journey. These choices weren’t just cosmetic; they determined how you interacted with the world and shaped the storyline. Warriors, wizards, thieves, and healers were just the basics. The deeper the class system went, the more complex the world became. You could choose to align yourself with a tribe of ogres, become a dark sorcerer wielding forbidden magic, or side with the elves in their ongoing battle against evil forces. Every choice mattered.

Players could influence the long-running storylines involving elves, ogres, trolls, and many more. One could participate in massive, realm-shaping wars between good and evil factions. Barton’s eyes widened as he watched the players around him engage with these larger-than-life struggles. There were NPCs scattered throughout the world, each with their own motives and stories. Some could offer you powerful quests that would grant great rewards, while others might trick you into betrayal.

But it wasn’t just all about fighting and quests. The game’s developers had gone to extraordinary lengths to make the world as realistic as possible. The forests were full of whispering winds and hidden secrets. The cities bustled with NPCs going about their lives, each carrying out routines like real people. You could even enter sprawling castles, participate in jousting tournaments, or challenge others in the game's combat arenas. The fighting arenas, legendary in their own right, were where the most skilled warriors clashed for fame, honour, and sometimes, for the sake of the realm itself.

Barton didn’t yet understand how all of this worked, but he knew one thing: Eternal Light was far more than just a game. It was a world full of choices, battles, and stories that reached into the very fabric of reality. And somehow, he was now a part of it.

Barton stood there, uncertain of what to do next. His mind was spinning, the sounds of the battle in the distance barely registering. He was stuck in this bizarre world, surrounded by people who seemed like they had a purpose, a goal. He, on the other hand, was just trying to understand how he even got here in the first place.

"What's your class?" the tall player in blue armour demanded again. His voice was demanding, but there was a strange curiosity in his tone.

Class? Barton’s mind buzzed with confusion. What kind of class could he choose in a game like this? Warrior? Mage? Thief? None of that felt right to him.

He glanced around at the bustling world—a strange mix of medieval and fantastical elements. There were ogres hammering down a wooden door, elves casting spells in the distance, and trolls fighting off groups of enemies. It was all so… chaotic. None of it felt like something Barton could fit into. But then, a memory flitted through his mind—pizza. His life. His job. His passion.

"Uh…" Barton scratched his head, feeling more awkward by the second. "Well, I mean, I guess… I’d choose something like, uh, Delivery Person? Like, I deliver things, you know? Pizza, mostly. And I also cook. Yeah, I can cook too." He wasn’t sure if this was some kind of joke or if the game system would laugh him off for picking something as mundane as a delivery guy. But he said it anyway, as if the words themselves were a part of him—familiar, comforting.

The blue-armored player raised an eyebrow, then let out a deep, incredulous laugh. "A delivery person? Pizza?" He blinked a few times, clearly struggling to wrap his head around what Barton had just said. "This... is a game where people fight dragons and summon demons, and you’re going to deliver pizza? Seriously?"

Barton shrugged. "I mean, I’m pretty good at it. I know the ins and outs of making pizza, delivering it on time, and… well, not burning it, of course." He chuckled nervously. "Besides, I’ve got a lot of experience running around. I’m fast. Maybe I could use some of those skills here too."

The player looked down at him as if trying to assess whether Barton was some kind of joke. But then, as if hearing a whisper from the game system, the air around Barton shimmered. A strange menu appeared in front of him, hovering like a holographic screen.

CLASS SELECTION:

* Delivery Person: Speed boosts, ability to deliver items in record time. Special abilities: Pizza Delivery, Rush Order, Extra Toppings.

* Cook: Craft special foods that can boost health, stamina, and magic. Special abilities: Sizzling Stew, Perfect Crust, Magic Toppings.

Barton blinked. This couldn’t be real. Pizza Delivery? Magic Toppings? But as the screen faded away, he realized it was, indeed, real. This game, this world, had just given him the option to become a… pizza guy.

"Well, it’s a bit ridiculous, but I guess it’s your choice," the armoured player said, still bemused. "You’re the first person I’ve seen choose Delivery Person... or cook for that matter. But if it works for you, who am I to judge?"

Barton grinned. "Hey, someone’s gotta make sure everyone gets fed. And pizza? Pizza’s important." His stomach growled slightly at the thought of a fresh pie—hot, cheesy, with just the right amount of crust. It had been a while since he'd had a decent meal.

As if on cue, his new class abilities kicked in. He felt an odd energy surge through him, like he was more attuned to the world of Eternal Light than ever before. A small satchel appeared on his side, and he found a few fresh ingredients floating in his inventory. There were magical mushrooms, enchanted cheese, and even a glowing tomato. His eyes widened as he realized these were no ordinary ingredients—these were game-ified, just like everything else in this crazy world. The glowing tomato alone was enough to make his mouth water.

"Wait, did you just... did you just pull ingredients out of thin air?" the blue-armored player asked, leaning forward. His tone was a mixture of awe and suspicion.

Barton nodded proudly. "Looks like it. I’ve got the magic touch when it comes to food, I guess. Who knew being a delivery guy could be so… useful?"

At that, other players started to gather around, intrigued by the strange development. Some of them had their own abilities to summon fireballs or create weapons out of thin air, but they’d never seen someone summon pizza ingredients before. The idea of food being part of this world—let alone pizza—seemed absurd to them.

"Wait, you can cook?" A red-haired woman in leather armour approached with interest. "Like, actually cook in this game?"

Barton smiled, feeling oddly proud. "Yep, that’s right. And not just pizza. I could probably whip up a mean stew if you’d like." He gestured to the floating ingredients. "You’ve got mushrooms, enchanted cheese, tomatoes... I could make us something amazing. I’ve got skills."

The players exchanged confused glances, some even starting to laugh. "This is crazy," one player muttered. "The developers seriously added pizza to the game?"

"Hey, if it works, it works," Barton shrugged. "And look, you might think it’s silly, but if you’re running around fighting giants and dragons all day, a good meal might just be what you need to keep going." He grabbed the glowing tomato and held it up. "Besides, pizza’s a universal truth."

The red-haired woman chuckled. "Alright, delivery boy. Show us what you can do."

Barton smiled. Maybe being in Eternal Light wasn’t as bad as he’d thought. After all, if there was one thing he knew how to do better than anyone, it was making sure people got their pizza. And now, it seemed like his skills were going to have a much bigger impact than he’d ever imagined.

With a flick of his wrist, Barton activated his class abilities, his mind instinctively working through the motions. The pizza dough appeared in the air, and soon, the toppings began to materialize one by one—enchanted cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, and even a swirl of magic sauce. The game world around him seemed to respond as the aroma of fresh, hot pizza filled the air.

"Magic toppings, indeed," the red-haired woman remarked, impressed. "Maybe you’re onto something here."

"Yeah," Barton said, as he set the pizza down on a nearby stone table. "Maybe being a delivery guy in Eternal Light isn’t so bad after all."

And with that, Barton began to realize that his skills were more valuable here than he could’ve ever imagined. Maybe he was meant for more than just delivering pizzas—maybe he was supposed to bring something else to this world: a little bit of comfort, a slice of home, even in the most chaotic of places.