"Everything changed on New Year’s Day in 2023, the day disaster struck the world. On that day, everyone below the age of 30 and older than 16 received a window that popped up in front of them. I'll never forget what I was doing that day when it happened.

My life so mundane that even a fly lives a more interesting one. I’m someone who holds a normal 9-5 job in a standard corporate building. I don’t have friends or family, for that matter. I live by myself in a 1 room apartment. I don't speak to anyone outside of work. I get on the train and head home.

I walk into my room sad about my life. I walk over the fridge grab a few beers and start drinking on the couch. I start chugging the beers not caring how hungover I would be tomorrow. On the 4th beer I get bored and turn on the TV still drinking. I can hear all the beers clatter on the ground when I get up. Suddenly a game like window appeared before me. It said

‘Select difficulty.’ At that time, I was drunk in my room and thought I was hallucinating. I made the mistake of selecting the hardest difficulty: ‘Hard.’

All difficulties—Easy, Normal, and Hard—are team-based.

As soon as I clicked the difficulty, I was immediately teleported to an all-white room. There was nothing in the room—no bed, no lights, just emptiness. Yet, despite the absence of light sources, the room was bright. A chill ran down my spine as I surveyed the room. I could feel someone watching me.

Suddenly, a person appeared before me, identifying themselves as an administrator. They were individuals who had cleared the ‘Game’ and chose to stay. He explained the rules of the game and what would happen as I progressed further.

He teleported me to another room and instructed me to select a weapon.

Being someone who is unfamiliar with games and unaware of what’s effective, I surveyed the room meticulously. Unlike in games, there were no stats or abilities displayed for the weapons. There were seemingly over a million random weapons in the room with me. I felt drawn to something. Walking to the corner of the room, I found the weapon I chose: the scythe.

I chose this weapon associating it with a necromancer, a class I’ve heard is one of the most powerful in games. After selecting the weapon, I was teleported back to the white room.

This time, something was different. There was a door in front of me. I approached it, and a screen popped up saying, ‘Floor 1.’

According to the administrator, once I complete 5 floors (the tutorial floors), my room will be upgraded.

Seeing as I didn’t even have a bed to sleep on, I hurried to complete the floors.

Upon opening the door to the first floor, I wasn’t teleported; it led to a hallway. Inside the hallway was a small, green creature about the size of a 6-year-old.

The creature didn’t move as I opened the door. It just stood there watching me. As soon as I entered, it ran toward me, smiling, screaming an unknown language at me. I screamed at it and ran back into the room, slamming the door shut.

After calming myself with breathing exercises, a window appeared in front of me with a description:

‘Skill gained: Composure (Passive): Always keep a level head even in danger.’

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

I tried to see if the window gave anymore information about how to obtain more skills. Even a better description of the skill would do.

I wondered if I should go back in the room. I need to clear the floor anyway to get more items and skills. I can't be a loser stuck on the first floor from a goblin. Then my head started to clear up. The effect of the skill was great.

If I was going to enter I would need a plan. The scythe I have is long, way longer than that of the dagger the monster has. If I can just swing the scythe downwards before he reaches me I can kill it.

Feeling more confident with this new skill and my plan, I opened the door again. Gripping my scythe tightly, I walked in, ready.

Once more, the goblin rushed at me. This time, thanks to the skill, it didn’t startle me. It seemed vulnerable, offering me an opening to attack as it ran towards me. Remembering the plan I lifted my scythe upwards getting ready to slash down when it was in range. The goblin got closer and closer. I calmed my breathing ready to strike.

The goblin got in range. I swung my scythe down with all my might with the intent to kill. I can hear the sound the flesh being cut and the body hitting the floor. Blood splashed everywhere, but I remained calm.

A screen appeared in front of me:

‘Congratulations for clearing floor 1! +10 XP! Level up x2! 10 gold! Gained Permission to use Stat window!’”

“I utter the words ‘Status Window’ and read the window that appears:

Name: Kim Yeon

Level: 2

Skills: Composure, Soul Absorption, Corpse Summon.

Stats:

Strength: 3

Agility: 4

Intelligence: 10

Stamina: 3

Available points: 2

I notice 2 skills the window didn't say I had. The administrator did say you have skills set to your soul. My highest stat is Intelligence, I never though that I was the smart type.

I divert my attention from the window to the goblin’s lifeless body and notice something peculiar hovering above it—an enigmatic dark bubble. Intrigued, I approach it, prompting a new window:

Choose

Summon Goblin

or

Absorb Goblin Soul

With no more monsters in the room and having completed the floor, I opt to Absorb the goblins soul. The previous window vanishes, replaced by another:

Agility +1

It appears that absorbing a monster is almost the same to a level up, giving me an advantage. I decide against summoning goblins, aiming to test whether they solely boost agility or if they provide random stat enhancements.

Returning to the room from the hallway, everything remains unchanged except for the door, which feels different. It seems there are more options now:

Choose Floor:

Floor 1

or

Floor 2

I guess you get the ability to revisit floors as desired. I choose to redo Floor 1 to get more stats from the goblin. Upon entering the room, the same goblin reappears. I use the same plan as I did before.

The goblin charges toward me, yet I swiftly cut it in half with my scythe before it reaches me. I approach the goblin again, but this time, the window differs—it offers only the option to summon the goblin, lacking the stat enhancement.

Disappointed by the limitation in gaining stats easily, it seems to be a one-time offering per floor. I summon the goblin to observe its actions. While the corpse remains, the bones emerge from its body, darkening and resembling a soul.

The goblin stands inert. I strike its face, causing it to fall and then rise back up. Instructing it to walk around the hallway, it complies. Upon beckoning it to follow me back into the room, it vanishes upon crossing the door, triggering a window:

Goblin has returned to death.

I deduce that my summons are confined to the floor and can’t traverse doors. Instead of advancing to the next floor, I decide to conduct experiments within the system.

First: I test if stats can be enhanced through physical means, not just by leveling up. They can, but higher stats require more effort to level up.

Second: I try summoning an Administrator to inquire about floors and post-tutorial content. Unfortunately, nothing happens, leaving me disappointed.

Third: I investigate the contents of the stat window. I notice a sidebar resembling an internet webpage. Clicking and scrolling down unveils additional information such as height and weight. Crucially, I find a button.

Call Administrator

I press it, and a new window appears above the status window:

Call Administrator: Costs 1,000 gold

However, I possess only 10 gold at the moment, so I abandon further tests and proceed to the next floor.

Choose Floor:

Floor 1

Or

Floor 2

Clearly, Floor 2.

This time, instead of the door opening, I’m instantly teleported to a cave-like area, and a window materializes:

Floor 2

Team-Based Trial

Defeat the waves of monsters approaching.”