It was three years ago when I was diagnosed with leukemia. I was struck with helplessness, but I still went into therapy, holding on to whatever hope I could grasp. However, I was one of those patients who didn't get better, no matter how much effort or time was given.
Death was finally beside me, slowly creeping closer with each passing day. It felt like karma for the things I had done in the past. However, I wasn't expecting a slow, lingering death like this one that dragged on endlessly, forcing me to feel every moment of it. There were days when I was hopeless and depressed, days when everything felt meaningless. In a way, a part of me was still clinging to life, like an instinct desperately trying to reach the light in a bottomless sea of darkness.
As time passed, things only continued to get worse. I grew weaker day after day, my body slowly giving up on me, no matter how much I resisted.
Unexpectedly, my father, whom I hadn't seen in years, sent a VR capsule to my private hospital room.
He left a letter, saying to play however I wanted. He didn't even come to visit.
My father was a cold-blooded man. However, I understood that he had many enemies and couldn't show weakness in these troubled times. Even so, I still hoped to see him one last time. He was the one who forced this life on me—what I am, and the things that I had done. I wanted to know if I did well, if I met his expectations, but it was just wishful thinking.
Nevertheless, with the gift he sent, I discovered the popular Virtual Reality game that was taking over the world. Gaming wasn't really my thing. However, since I was bedridden and had nothing else to do, and with boredom slowly eating away at my mind, I had no choice but to try it. In the end, the game became a great escape from my miserable reality.
I didn't like the thought of fighting monsters—the ugliness, the screaming, and the madness that came with it. It felt barbaric and disgusting. If I could avoid it, I would. Nevertheless, I did enjoy having some of the most expensive items and playing within a city simulation, where everything felt controlled and distant from violence.
The things I failed to do in the last couple of years… I tried to experience them there.
I ended up spending a lot of money on the game throughout the last few months of my life. What happened in the game didn't matter to me at all, since I was going to die anyway. Back then, I bought everything available in the premium shop without hesitation. I spent everything I had trying to lessen the miserable feeling of dying. However, it didn't help at all. It was a desperate attempt—one that ultimately felt meaningless.
Thinking about it now, with the power that I had been given, it felt like a fortune beyond imagination. My only regret was that I didn't play the game properly. I didn't know about world events, player guilds, or cooperative play. The space game was vast enough, filled with countless locations and systems. Unless players communicated beforehand through real-world channels, encountering someone was a rare occurrence.
In the end, I played alone, staying within a single city.
But strangely…
I still enjoyed it.
In the meantime, I was browsing through my items, and most of them were premium grade, as expected of cash purchases. I also had a lot of premium boxes that I didn't even know the purpose of.
Furthermore, I noticed the three spacecraft that I had.
First was the beginner ship, meant to be used to leave this area.
Second was the Nightcrawler, a spacecraft that I bought for a couple of billion in-game Galaxy credits during my playthrough.
Lastly, the Prestige, a new ship that I somehow acquired without my knowledge.
I tapped each one, viewing their simplified specs.
A translucent screen expanded before me, the interface sharper and more detailed than I remembered. The system displayed the information in a structured format, almost as if it were emphasizing its value.
━[Starship-Corvette Class] ★
Type: Entry-Level Combat
VesselClassification: Light Corvette
Crew Requirement: 1–3 Personnel
-> Standard Armor Plating
-> Machine Gun Turret (1)
-> Faster-Than-Light Engine Module
Description: A basic starter spacecraft designed for new explorers. Lightweight and easy to operate, it is equipped with minimal combat capabilities and standard defensive systems. Suitable for short-distance travel and beginner-level missions.
━[The Nightcrawler – Corvette Class] ★★★
Type: Stealth Combat
VesselClassification: Advanced Corvette
Crew Requirement: 1–3 Personnel
-> High Standard Armor Plating
-> Stealth System
-> Ion Beam (1)
-> Guided Missile Launchers
(2)-> Shield Battery
-> Faster-Than-Light Engine Module
Description: A specialized corvette built for covert operations and tactical engagements. Equipped with stealth capabilities and enhanced weaponry, it excels in ambush scenarios and reconnaissance missions. Balanced in offense and defense, it is highly effective for solo pilots.
━[The Prestige – Cruiser Class] ★★★★★
Type: Heavy Assault Cruiser
Classification: High-Tier Warship
Crew Requirement: 50–200 Personnel
-> Reflective Armor Plating
-> High-Explosive Guided Missile Launchers (10)
-> Ion Cannons (6)
-> High-Explosive Heavy Machinegun Turrets (20)
-> Reactor Shield Battery
-> Faster-Than-Light Engine Module
-> Space Jump Module
Description: A high-end cruiser designed for large-scale warfare and domination in space. Possessing overwhelming firepower and advanced defensive systems, it is capable of destroying entire fleets. Requires a full crew to operate at maximum efficiency. Its presence alone can shift the tide of battle.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
I scanned through each of the specs. At the moment, summoning a gigantic cruiser class would attract too much attention. I didn't even have a crew to operate this kind of ship. Thus, I decided to summon the Nightcrawler, but suddenly, a system notification popped up out of nowhere.
[Admirer +4]
I shuddered in confusion.
I didn't even do anything?
Looking around, I noticed the person next to me again. This time, he smiled at me, as if he had been expecting this reaction.
"It seems you're the real deal. Although I don't know what it does, [Wealth is Power] sounds like a cheat trait."
At that moment, I glared at the man. What was his deal?
"No, no, I don't mean any harm. I don't know how you played the game, but I'll give you a tip. Aside from the class skills that have been reset, the other life skills everyone gained through the game have become innate traits. Just like my appraisal level 9."
There are many classes in Galaxy.
To obtain them, players must find a master who will teach them the path of that class.
Magic in a Magic world.Warriors in a world filled with warriors.Martial arts in a martial world.
Some players already know what class they want, while others continue searching for rare masters who can teach unique paths.
As for me, I was simply a Ranger—a class that could be obtained by learning how to use a gun. I just needed a mercenary master to teach me again. Those masters loved money the most.
They were my perfect match.
A money bank and a money chaser.
…At least, that's what I thought.
On the other hand, I never encountered any life skills during my playthrough. In a way, I only focused on spending. I sold some premium items in the player market and gained Galaxy credits, but that was the extent of it. I lived in a luxury bubble, surrounded by high-end cities and NPCs.
I never explored. I never interacted. I never truly played.
Perhaps… I really did miss everything.
"Appraisal?" I asked.
I knew what the word meant, but in this context, I had no idea.
"It means I can see your status, Princess. Here, take this."
The man tossed a cloth toward me. Even so, I didn't like the way he addressed me.
'Princess?'
Really?
It annoyed me. I had been called 'Madam' or 'Miss' before, but 'Princess' sounded weak—like someone who needed protection. And that was the last thing I wanted.
I would rather die than be saved like that.
"A protection cloak. It cancels most appraisal skills unless they have another cheat trait like yours. Still… be careful."
Sure, fine. But I had to ask.
"Do you have a unique trait?"
He gave me another ambiguous smile.
"I can't tell you that, Princess."
My annoyance grew.
He either had one… or he was bluffing.
Either way, I couldn't tell.
I decided to end it there. Continuing the conversation felt like a losing battle.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Uhh… think of it as a token of friendship."
I chuckled lightly.
"Is keeping secrets a token of friendship?"
"I'll tell you in time, Princess."
He avoided my eyes for a moment.
Was he feeling guilty?
Still…
I needed to acknowledge the help.
"Thank you."
Soon, people began grouping together. Others summoned spacecraft and left the area one by one. Some ships looked ordinary, while others had distinct features that hinted at something far more powerful.
My knowledge of spacecraft was limited. I couldn't tell what made them unique.
"Is there anything you have in mind?" he asked.
"No… I'll stay for a while."
"I see. Then we'll meet again if fate allows it."
He left.
And I forgot to ask his name.
When the space above me cleared, I summoned the Nightcrawler...
A beam of light enveloped my body as I was transferred into the Nightcrawler.
For a brief moment, everything dissolved into white, then, just as quickly, the world reformed around me.
I was inside the cockpit.
The space was compact, yet refined. It wasn't cramped as I expected from a corvette-class ship. Instead, it felt efficiently designed, every corner optimized for a single pilot's use. The walls were lined with smooth metallic panels, faintly illuminated by soft blue lines that pulsed gently like a heartbeat.
In front of me was the pilot's seat.
It adjusted the moment I approached.
[Seat Synchronization Initiated]
The chair shifted automatically, aligning itself with my height and posture. The material felt firm yet comfortable, wrapping slightly around my body as if it were designed to hold me in place during high-speed maneuvers.
The moment I sat down,
[Neural Interface Sync: Partial Link Established]
A faint sensation spread across my fingertips.
Not pain.
Not discomfort.
But awareness.
The cockpit came alive.
Holographic panels expanded outward in layers, forming a semi-circular interface around me. Transparent screens floated in mid-air, each displaying different data streams—navigation, ship integrity, energy output, weapon systems, and environmental readings.
Unlike the game…
This felt real.
I didn't need to touch anything.
With just a thought, one of the panels shifted closer.
[Navigation Interface Active]
A three-dimensional map of the surrounding space unfolded before me. Points of light represented ships, distant objects, and possible routes. The scale alone was overwhelming, far more detailed than anything I had seen before.
To my right, another panel activated.
[Weapon Systems: Standby]
Ion Beam – Ready
Guided Missiles – 2 Loaded
Targeting System – Online
Even without issuing commands, the system responded to my awareness.
It was as if the ship understood intent.
Above me, a faint transparent canopy stretched forward, acting as the primary viewport. Beyond it,
The galaxy.
Endless. Silent. Vast.
Stars shimmered across the darkness, distant and unreachable, while faint cosmic clouds drifted slowly in the background. The Altar of the Beginning could still be seen far behind, a small, insignificant rock in the middle of an infinite void.
The silence inside the cockpit was absolute.
No unnecessary noise.
No distractions.
Only the soft hum of the ship's systems running in perfect harmony.
[Starship AI Activated]
"Welcome, Pilot Isabelle. Nightcrawler systems are now fully operational."
I froze for a moment.
That voice…
Calm. Neutral. Almost human, but not quite.
"Stealth mode available. Combat systems ready. Awaiting command."
I leaned back slightly in the seat.
Everything responded instantly.
No delay.
No lag.
This wasn't just a game interface anymore.
This was a real machine.
I raised my hand slightly.
A small panel followed the motion, hovering just above my palm.
[Energy Core Status: Stable]
[Shield Battery: 100%]
[Stealth System: Available]
Every function…
Every system…
It was within reach.
For the first time since I woke up,
I felt something close to control.
I exhaled slowly.
"Activate stealth mode."
[Command Confirmed]
The cockpit lighting dimmed slightly.
External visibility shifted.
The ship itself seemed to disappear from the surrounding space, blending seamlessly into the darkness.
[Stealth Mode: Active]
Even the system sounds softened, as if the ship itself was holding its breath.
I leaned back into the seat.
The tension in my body slowly faded.
It was then that the Altar of the Beginning came into my view. It was not a planet but a small, round rock surrounded by three moons and distant stars. I asked myself, did god really summon us to this place? I couldn't find an answer or meet any deity upon awakening. It was as if my life ended and continued here in this place.
Am I really dead?
Unnecessary thoughts continued as my consciousness slowly drifted away into slumber.