Ethan stumbled into his apartment, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin. Every muscle in his body ached from the day’s events—the relentless chase, the adrenaline, the tight confines of his hiding spot. All he wanted was to collapse onto his bed, close his eyes, and let the world fade away for a few hours.
But even as he kicked off his shoes and tossed his bag onto the floor, he knew sleep wouldn’t come easily. The events of the day swirled in his mind, a chaotic mess of tension and unease. The strangers who had chased him, the eerie quiet of the subway station, and Marshal’s unexpected act of kindness—all of it replayed like a loop he couldn’t shut off.
Ethan rubbed his temples and sighed. A part of him told himself to rest, to let his body recover from the day’s stress. Yet, another part, louder and more insistent, pulled his thoughts toward Rebirth Online. The game called to him like a siren’s song, promising a world far removed from the pressures and absurdities of real life.
He glanced at his VR headset sitting on his desk, the sleek design gleaming faintly in the dim light of his apartment. It would be so easy to put it on and lose himself for a while, to let the day’s frustrations melt away in the immersive world he had come to enjoy so much.
Ethan sat down heavily on his chair, his resolve to sleep quickly crumbling. He tried to reason with himself, telling himself that logging in for just an hour wouldn’t hurt. Besides, he argued, he had daily quests to finish and progress to make. Skipping a day of grinding would put him behind, and the thought of falling behind in a game so competitive gnawed at him.
His fingers hovered over the headset, and for a moment, he hesitated. A pang of guilt surfaced—was this really the healthiest way to deal with everything? Shouldn’t he be calling it a night and letting his body rest? But the thought of lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and letting his overactive mind spiral was even less appealing.
Before he could second-guess himself any further, he grabbed the headset and slid it on. The familiar hum of the device starting up filled his ears, and the faint glow of the interface enveloped him. The real world faded away as the vibrant, immersive world of Rebirth Online took its place.
Ethan let out a small sigh of relief. Here, in this world, he didn’t have to deal with awkward subway rides or unpredictable strangers. Here, he was just Ash—a rookie player with the freedom to carve out his own path. The exhaustion that weighed on him a moment ago seemed to lift slightly, replaced by the anticipation of what lay ahead.
As the game’s familiar surroundings materialized around him, Ethan couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of excitement. The tiredness still lingered, but it was easier to ignore now. Sleep could wait—he had a world to explore and quests to complete.
Ethan spawned into the bustling heart of Rebirth Online, his slender avatar Ash blending into the crowd of other players. The world was alive with chatter, the sounds of vendors hawking goods, and the clinking of armor as adventurers moved through the marketplace. It was all so immersive, yet the weight of his reality lingered faintly in the back of his mind. He shook it off; this was his time to focus on something he could control.
He brought up his task log, where the list of daily quests awaited him: farming materials, hunting specific creatures, and gathering rare herbs in nearby fields. Each quest seemed straightforward, but Ethan knew better than to underestimate the grind. He was still learning the ropes of this character, unaccustomed to playing without the luxuries of optimized settings, maxed-out stats, or high-level gear.
His first task was simple enough—harvest ten clusters of a plant called Silverleaf from the outskirts of the starting zone. He ventured into the nearby fields, where the silvery-green plants grew in patches along the hillsides. As he approached the first cluster, he realized how slow his movements felt compared to his old account. Without the speed boosts or agility perks he had once taken for granted, gathering the plants felt painfully sluggish.
Ethan frowned, his fingers tapping at the interface as he attempted to adjust his settings. The input lag, though slight, made him feel like he was playing underwater. He cursed under his breath, remembering how he used to optimize every aspect of his setup for competitive play. Now, he was stuck with the default configuration, struggling to align the cursor perfectly over each plant.
But he wasn’t the type to give up easily. Years of professional gaming had drilled adaptability into him, and he leaned on that skill now. He recalibrated his approach, slowing his movements to match the system’s limitations. It wasn’t the fastest way to complete the quest, but it was effective.
Once he’d gathered the required amount of Silverleaf, the game prompted him to deliver them to an NPC herbalist in the village. On his way back, Ethan encountered another player fighting a group of low-level boars. The player’s clumsy movements and panicked attacks made it clear they were struggling. Ethan hesitated for a moment—helping them would slow him down, but ignoring them felt wrong.
With a quick decision, he drew his basic wooden staff and joined the fight. His attacks weren’t flashy, but they were precise, honed by years of experience. Together, they took down the boars, and the other player thanked him profusely before running off. Ethan smirked slightly. Even at this level, he could make a difference.
The next quest was more combat-focused: eliminate five Shadow Sprites in a nearby cave. Ethan headed there, only to find himself swarmed by the nimble creatures. Their erratic movements made them difficult to target, and his underwhelming gear meant he couldn’t rely on brute force.
Ethan adjusted his strategy. Instead of chasing them down, he baited them into attacking first. He used their aggression against them, countering their moves and striking when they left themselves open. It was a slower method, but it worked. One by one, the sprites fell, and he completed the quest.
The struggle was real, but Ethan found himself enjoying the process. The limitations forced him to think creatively, to approach each challenge differently. It reminded him of his early days in eSports, back when every match was a puzzle to solve rather than a routine to execute.
By the time he completed his third daily quest—delivering a message to an NPC in a neighboring zone—Ethan felt a small sense of accomplishment. The grind was tedious, but it was also rewarding in its own way. He had adapted to the lower-level mechanics, proving to himself that he could excel even without the advantages he was used to.
Logging off for the night, Ethan leaned back in his chair, exhausted but satisfied. The game was harder than he remembered, but that difficulty made every success feel earned. For the first time in a long while, he felt a genuine sense of progress.
The grind wasn’t anything new to him, but something about the process felt different. Maybe it was the lack of pressure to perform for an audience or the absence of the suffocating weight of expectations. Here, in this new game and as an unknown player, Ethan felt like he could enjoy the journey instead of focusing solely on the destination.
Before long, his efforts paid off, and a notification popped up in his interface:
Congratulations! You have reached Level 10. You are now eligible to choose your first job specialization.
Ethan grinned. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
______
After completing his daily grind and hitting level 10, Ethan—or Ash, as he was known in Rebirth Online—felt a rush of satisfaction. The grind had been grueling, but every kill, herb gathered, and delivery completed brought him closer to this milestone. He opened his character menu, watching as the level-up animation played out, a cascade of light and sound that heralded his progression.
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"Congratulations, player! You have reached Level 10 and are now eligible for a Job Change!"
The message popped up, accompanied by a list of available job quests. Ethan leaned forward, scanning the options. This was it—the first major decision that would define his character's path.
The usual suspects were there: Warrior, Archer, Mage, Rogue. Each came with a short description detailing its strengths and weaknesses. His instinctive choice would have been DPS. After all, he had spent years mastering aggressive, high-damage roles in other games. But something held him back.
Ethan's mind wandered to the countless complaints he’d heard from other players during his eSports days. "We can’t find a good healer!" "Support players are so underappreciated." "No one wants to play the boring roles." Those words echoed now, sparking an idea.
He navigated further down the list until he found it: Healer.
The description was straightforward:
Healer: Master of restoration and support. Keep your allies alive in the heat of battle, but beware—you are the primary target in any fight. Requires patience, strategy, and a willingness to put others before yourself.
Ethan smirked. A class that required patience and strategy? That sounded like a challenge. He clicked the option to view the associated quest, expecting something as straightforward as killing a few monsters or gathering rare herbs.
The NPC in charge of the job quests appeared on his screen. A middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a long robe adorned with glowing runes greeted him.
"You wish to become a Healer?" the NPC asked, his tone tinged with skepticism. "Are you sure, adventurer? It is an unpopular path. Most prefer to wield swords or fireballs. There are only a handful of Healers in Rebirth Online, and their burdens are not light. You may want to reconsider."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. An NPC questioning his decision? That was new. "No," he replied firmly, selecting the dialogue option. "I’ve made up my mind."
The NPC sighed dramatically. "Very well. If you insist, I shall assign you the Healer's Trial. But remember, this path requires more than skill—it demands selflessness and resilience."
A notification appeared in the corner of Ethan’s screen:
Quest Received: The Healer’s Trial.
The NPC continued, "To prove yourself, you must collect the Dew of Life from the Sacred Grove, located deep within the Forest of Whispers. Be warned—the grove is guarded by creatures that will test your resolve. Return to me with the dew, and I shall grant you the title of Healer."
Ethan accepted the quest, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension. As he prepared to set off, the NPC muttered something that caught his attention.
"You’re not the first to try this path, but few succeed. Only about five hundred Healers exist across the entire game world. Think carefully before you commit to such a rare and arduous role."
Ethan’s resolve only strengthened. He wasn’t deterred by the warning—it fueled his determination. A rare class? A difficult role? That was exactly what he wanted. For too long, he’d been the best at something expected. Now, he wanted to excel at something no one else dared to try.
With the quest accepted and the Sacred Grove marked on his map, Ethan set off. As he navigated through the game’s sprawling world, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. Choosing the Healer path was a departure from his usual playstyle, but that was the point. He wasn’t just rebuilding a character—he was rebuilding himself.
______
Ethan arrived at the outskirts of the Forest of Whispers, ready to tackle the Healer’s Trial. His map displayed the glowing marker for the Sacred Grove, and the quest description suggested it would be a simple journey if he moved carefully. But as soon as he read the details in the system notes, his confidence wavered.
Quest Requirement: A party of three or more adventurers is required to complete this trial.
Ethan frowned. “A party requirement? Seriously?”
He hadn’t anticipated needing others. His plan was to solo the quest, relying on his skills and experience. But the game’s mechanics wouldn’t allow it, and without a party, he couldn’t proceed.
He opened the party search menu, scrolling through available players near his level. To his dismay, it was nearly empty. The few players who were looking for groups were all heading to different areas for entirely unrelated quests.
"Looks like this isn’t exactly a popular quest," Ethan muttered.
With no options left, he decided to visit the Adventurer’s Guild. It was a hub where players could recruit teammates, advertise quests, or even post job requests for in-game rewards. If anyone could help him, they’d be there.
The Adventurer’s Guild was one of the most iconic locations in the city, a massive structure that stood at the intersection of every major road. Its towering spires seemed to scrape the digital sky, adorned with banners and emblems of accomplished guilds and legendary players. Inside, the grand hall was a symphony of sound, filled with laughter, arguments, and the constant hum of activity.
Ethan hesitated as he approached the entrance. He hadn’t spent much time in social spaces like this during his eSports days. His reputation as "Phoenix" had always been carefully curated, and interactions with other players were often limited to professional matches and promotional events. Walking into the guild now, with no status to shield him, felt strangely intimidating.
The double doors opened with a low creak, and Ethan stepped inside.
The atmosphere hit him immediately—a mix of sweat, excitement, and a touch of chaos. Players of all levels milled about, their colorful armor and weapons gleaming under the flickering light of hanging chandeliers. NPC receptionists managed sprawling queues, handing out quests and information, while a central board glowed with digital postings, its holographic surface shimmering with updates.
Ethan made his way through the bustling crowd, careful not to bump into anyone. Several conversations caught his attention as he passed:
"Anyone heading to the Crypt of Shadows? Need a tank and a healer!"
"Looking for a high-level blacksmith to upgrade this stupid sword."
"Can you believe someone actually sold a Legendary tier potion for half price yesterday?!"
Ethan couldn’t help but smirk. The guild hall was everything he had imagined it to be—a bustling hub where players came together to share information, trade, and prepare for their next big adventure.
The party board stood at the center of the hall, an enormous screen that displayed party requests and available players looking to team up. Ethan weaved through the crowd and stopped in front of it, staring at the sea of listings.
"Seeking experienced DPS for dragon raid. Minimum level 30."
"Need one more healer for Crypt of Shadows. Level 25+ only."
"Looking for tank for casual dungeon runs. No drama!"
Ethan scrolled through the postings, but none were for the Healer’s Trial. Disappointed but not surprised, he decided to create his own listing. With a few quick taps, he typed:
"Seeking Party for Healer’s Trial Quest. Need two members. DM ‘Ash.’"
He hit confirm, and his posting appeared on the screen. He stepped back and waited, hoping someone would respond.
Ethan leaned against a nearby column, observing the room as he waited. Groups of players were huddled together in animated discussions, likely planning their next moves. Merchants peddled their wares at stalls set up along the hall’s perimeter, shouting about discounts on potions and gear.
Nearby, a group of mid-level players stood laughing near the board. Their armor was polished, their weapons glowing faintly with enchantments. They seemed confident, like they belonged in a place like this.
One of them, a tall Warrior with a shield nearly as large as he was, glanced at the board and noticed Ethan’s posting. His eyes lit up with amusement, and he elbowed his Mage companion, pointing at the listing.
"Hey, check this out," the Warrior said, his voice loud enough for Ethan to hear. "Someone’s actually doing the Healer’s Trial. Haven’t seen that one in ages."
The Mage snorted. "Who even picks healer as a class? That’s a nightmare."
Their third companion, a Rogue with a hood pulled low over his face, added, "Probably some newbie who has no idea what he’s doing."
Ethan felt their eyes on him and fought the urge to shrink back. He knew their type—experienced players who thrived on mocking others.
To Ethan’s dismay, the trio approached him. The Warrior was grinning, his shield slung casually over his back.
"You the one looking for a party for the Healer’s Trial?" he asked, his tone mocking.
Ethan nodded cautiously. "Yeah. Why?"
The Warrior burst out laughing. "Seriously? You’re trying to be a healer? Do you even know what you’re signing up for?"
Ethan kept his expression neutral. "I’ll figure it out."
"Right," the Warrior said, his grin widening. "Look, buddy, healers are a dying breed for a reason. No one wants to play a class that’s all about babysitting other players. You’re better off picking literally anything else."
The Mage chimed in, "Yeah, healers are just glorified potion dispensers. Trust me, it’s not worth it."
The Rogue leaned closer, his voice dripping with condescension. "Let me guess. You thought being a healer would make you ‘special’? Newsflash, it’s the most boring class in the game."
Ethan clenched his fists, fighting the urge to snap back. Instead, he said evenly, "I’m not looking for advice. I’m looking for a party."
The Warrior smirked. "Well, good luck with that. No one’s dumb enough to join you on that suicide mission."
They laughed as they walked away, leaving Ethan standing by the board.
Ethan took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. Their mocking words stung, but he wouldn’t let them deter him. He was used to being underestimated, used to people doubting his abilities. This was no different.
He checked his posting again. The screen remained empty, no responses. The realization that he was completely on his own began to sink in.
"Fine," Ethan muttered under his breath. "If no one wants to help, I’ll just figure it out myself."
He left the guild hall, his determination unshaken. He had faced tougher challenges in the past, and this would be no different. He would prove them all wrong.