“I finally did it!” I screamed in delight, staring at the computer screen. The words flashed brightly:

CONGRATULATIONS!

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You have Completed the Game: In the Universe of System

You are the First One to Finish the Game!

I could hardly believe my eyes. After countless hours, endless battles, and navigating the intricate challenges the game threw at me, I had actually done it. I had completed In the Universe of System, the game that was said to be undefeatable.

This game was legendary among gamers. Launched in 2008, In the Universe of System was famous for its stunning, ahead-of-its-time visuals. Even after all these years without a major update, the graphics and detail still matched, if not surpassed, many modern games. But there was one issue: the difficulty. It was so hard that even Korean gamers, who were practically superheroes in the gaming world, couldn’t finish it.

The game was set in an expansive universe filled with billions of worlds, but it wasn't a typical space-travel adventure. There were no flashy spaceships or intergalactic voyages. Instead, players used magical portals to travel between worlds. Each world had four portals that connected to four different worlds, and they couldn’t be modified to travel into different worlds other than the world it had already been set in. The game’s focus wasn’t on exploration but on strategy. Or more specifically, war strategy.

At the center of this universe were ten terrifying entities known as the Harbingers of Cataclysm. These weren’t just any standard bosses; each Harbinger was a force of nature, capable of conquering multiple worlds and obliterating anyone who stood in their way.

A player started in a random world, each world having different characteristics and advantages. Then, players had the freedom to build their kingdom however they wanted, but the game’s ultimate goal was clear: defeat the Harbingers of Cataclysm.

But here was the catch: the Harbingers were almost impossible to beat. These were not enemies players could take down with brute force or a well-timed combo. Even if players had the best, god-tier equipment and the most powerful skills, it wasn’t enough. To stand a chance, players had to gather at least four of the Ten Champions of Dawn, legendary heroes in their own right. And even then, victory was far from guaranteed.

On top of that, this was a strategy game, which meant players had to manage their kingdom’s economy, resources, and population, all while preparing for these epic, seemingly hopeless battles. One wrong move, and their entire kingdom could collapse before they even faced a Harbinger.

But somehow, despite all the odds, I had done it. I had beaten the game that no one else could conquer. The thrill of victory surged through me, and I jumped from my seat, fist-pumping the air in triumph. But as my excitement started to fade, I noticed the final scene on the screen, and a wave of gloom washed over me.

The battlefield was a grim sight. Except for the main character, Arion—the most powerful hero among the Ten Champions of Dawn—everyone else was dead. Their bodies littered the ground, forming mountains of corpses. Arion stood alone on top of the lifeless form of the final boss, an entity with the bizarre name "Bug."

I had no idea why the game developers chose such a strange name for the ultimate villain, but I was too exhausted to care. After all, I had just spent an entire week glued to the screen, fighting through endless challenges and sleepless nights to reach this point.

It bothered me that only Arion had survived. The other Champions and allies, who had fought bravely alongside him, were now nothing more than lifeless bodies. But as much as it pained me to see them fall, the thought of replaying that brutal, punishing game was even worse. I had finally finished it, and that was enough for me.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Dragging myself to bed, I collapsed onto the mattress, eager for some well-deserved rest. As I closed my eyes, I failed to notice one last screen that had quietly popped up on my computer.

NOTICE:

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The Game Developer has Sent a Gift to You!

Gift Loading…

[(0)]

I woke up in my bed, feeling surprisingly refreshed. How long had it been since I last slept so peacefully? It was the kind of deep, dreamless sleep that left you feeling completely recharged. I turned over, reaching out to grab my teddy bear, ready to give it a hug like I always did in the morning.

But instead of the familiar soft fabric, my hand brushed against something smooth. Something that felt like… skin.

That didn't make any sense. I didn’t have a girlfriend, or even friends who would crash at my place. It was just me, alone as usual. Confused, I tried to shake off the strange feeling. Maybe I was still half-asleep, dreaming something ridiculous.

But the sensation was too real. My heart pounded as I slowly opened my eyes, bracing myself for whatever I might see. Instead of my familiar brown teddy bear, I was met with the sight of a woman lying next to me. She wasn't naked, but her body was barely concealed by the sheets, and her eyes were wide and filled with tears.

I took a long, bewildered minute to stare at her, my brain struggling to process what in the world was going on. Then, in a sudden burst of panic, I jumped out of bed and screamed at the top of my lungs, "Who the hell are you?!"

The woman’s eyes widened in shock, tears spilling over as she trembled. Before I could say anything more, the door burst open.

"Lord William, are you all right?!" A man dressed as a butler, accompanied by another in full armor, stormed into the room. Their faces were filled with concern, but the moment they spotted the crying woman on the bed, their expressions shifted to exasperation.

"Lord William," the butler began, his tone carrying a mix of frustration and resignation as he hurried over to the woman with a sheet in hand, "I told you not to sleep with women anymore!" He wrapped the sheet around her, hiding her almost-naked body. "Your ceremony starts today! You can't play around anymore."

“Who the hell are you people, and what are you doing in my room?!” I shouted, completely bewildered by the situation. I had no idea who these three people were or why they were in my room. The only thing that made any sense was that they had to be intruders or maybe even thieves, though I have to admit, it was odd to find a naked woman sitting on my bed…

“Lord William, don’t you remember?” The handsome man, dressed in armor that looked like it was straight out of a fantasy movie, asked with genuine surprise. “It’s me, Arion!”

Arion? I racked my brain, but there was no memory of ever meeting anyone like him. If I had, there’s no way I would forget. This guy was dazzling—like, model-level handsome. Women would probably line up just to catch a glimpse of him, and even I, who usually didn’t care much about appearances, couldn’t help but admire his perfect face. His orange hair seemed to shimmer with hints of red under the light, and his piercing yellow eyes sparkled like gems. Even in his armor, with all its intricate designs and that flowing cape, he looked like a hero straight out of a storybook.

Wait… Arion? Where had I heard that name before? Then it hit me. Arion Solace?

“You’re Arion Solace?!” I blurted out as the realization struck me like a lightning bolt.

The knight, Arion, looked even more puzzled. “Yes, I am Arion Light, my lord. Perhaps you hit your head or something?”

Before I could respond, the butler intervened. “Lord William, you mustn’t be late!” he said urgently.

The butler started pushing me toward a door that led to the room next to mine, all while the woman, now fully dressed, hurriedly exited the scene. As I was being practically shoved through the door, I managed to ask Arion one last desperate question.

“What world are we in?”

“We are in World #A-10, Lord William,” Arion replied calmly, just before the butler finally pushed me through the door.

And then it all clicked. The unfamiliar room with its grand, medieval decor, the knight who called himself Arion Light, and the world designation, World #A-10. My heart raced as I put the pieces together. The rich fantasy setting, the title Arion Solace, and even the name of the world. It all pointed to one impossible conclusion.

I was somehow inside the game, In the Universe of System.

Looking around the room now, it all made sense. The ornate furniture, the detailed tapestries, the medieval-style weapons on the walls. Everything was exactly like the game’s world design. And Arion, with his heroic aura and legendary status, was none other than the main character of the game. Even the book on the table, titled The Harbingers of Cataclysm, was a direct reference to the game’s central conflict.

I was no longer just a player; I was inside the world of In the Universe of System.