JIM

The servers had crashed with a cataclysmic roar, but for Jim, it was an opportunity to shine. He made the most of the wait and streamlined his leveling and gearing flowcharts. He embraced the wait for the servers to stabilize, was molded by it. By the time the servers were available, he was a man, and the only one prepared to log into War Never Changes: Rise of the Raccoon.

The moment the servers were available, he plunged into a universe of clandestine warfare and stealthy raccoons--a digital domain no other gamer had ever touched. Had a lesser gamer been in his place, they would have quickly been outpaced by the unwashed masses of pro-gamers, and no-lifers. However his lead only widened as he gained first clear bonus and gold star clears.

Soon enough, word began to spread about this anonymous boy who had grasped victory from the brink of destruction. GamingDaily even ran an article in tribute to him; they called him 'The Boy Who Waited', and his name was written in neon lights. Grandmasters, aces and maestros all praised his calculated preparation and held up his accomplishments as modern legend--gold stars and trophies lined the shelves of his virtual trophy room.

Jim was obsessed with dominating the leaderboard. For seven days, he ate high-protein meals and trained his body and mind to perfect this craft. He exercised during load screens, drank gallons of water and refused anything less than perfection. When he logged on, he felt recharged and ready to take on any foe.

He never dreamed it could happen like this. His unwavering dedication to the game was paying off and making him a star in the gaming world. Everyone watched with admiration as he effortlessly solved puzzles, accomplishing feats that no one had ever achieved before. He inspired thousands of players who followed his winning tactics through streams and tutorials. His name was spread across the globe as people relished in his mastery of strategy and gameplay.

He paid no attention to the sweeping landscape that cascaded around him; his eyes were blind to the captivating plots and ripped straight through the heartstring-tugging soundtracks. All of these went unnoticed as he pursued only one thing: victory. But not everyone has a tolerance for such dedication - for this single-minded focus on triumph came at a cost: Jim missed out on the grand experiences that come with being fully immersed in an interactive world, such as epically-crafted stories, intricate level designs, and of course, the pure joy of discovery.

That's why he, and the world at large was taken by surprise when he suddenly transformed into a majestic and wondrous raccoon, radiating an otherworldly presence.

Nothing in his exhaustive research had ever indicated that players entering this realm would be transformed into raccoons. There hadn't been even a ghost of a hint, but here it was, polished and in-depth gameplay.

JJim scoured the murky depths of the Internet, but there was nothing there. It was as though he'd been granted a vision - he had stumbled upon the ethereal raccoon plot line. The game's development team had managed to keep their work hidden from the public. For the first time ever, Jim felt his usual calculated movements slip away - Inglebert Waschbär stared him down with an unfamiliar game mechanic, and Jim blinked.

Jim's eyes were transfixed as he beheld the glowing outline of his raccoon avatar. The intricacy of its design and the lifelike animations left Jim spellbound in his sleep deprived and delusional state. He felt a sense of peace wash over him, a sense of joy in the beauty of life around him, and for once he appreciated the world crafted around him.

Jim stopped scouring online forums for tips and tricks to gain an advantage in the game. He took his time to carefully read each skill description, feeling the thrill of unlocking new abilities; climbing, sneaking, scavenging, handling and chittering - each held secrets unlocked by small additions equipment. For the first time in a long while, Jim felt truly excited about something besides winning, he felt the joy of life.

With a sudden surge of determination, he slammed the lid of his laptop closed, severing the connection to the digital world. He stumbled outside, thrown off balance by the glaring intensity of the sun's rays after being confined for so long. It was then, as he took his first tentative steps into nature's embrace, that he felt a stirring deep within his chest--an unquenchable thirst for adventure and exploration that had lain dormant for far too long. The fresh air filled his lungs with vitality, and as he cast aside all remnants of his former self. He then hacked and coughed, his former self's body wasn't ready for a literal breath of fresh air.