The sky was burning.
Ronan Vale stumbled across the battlefield, his sword dragging against the cracked earth. Around him, corpses of soldiers — human and monster alike — littered the ground like discarded dolls. The air stank of smoke and blood.
His health bar blinked faintly at the edge of his vision:
HP: 12 / 3000
MP: 0 / 1000
He chuckled dryly.
"Figures… even in another world, I'm still playing on hard mode."
The ground trembled as a chimera the size of a fortress emerged from the haze. Its lion's maw dripped acid, its serpent tails hissed with venom, and its bat wings blotted out the sun.
Ronan recognized it instantly.
"The Abyss Chimera… mid-tier raid boss. What the hell is it doing here in the starting zone?"
The beast roared, shaking the earth. Villagers in the distance screamed and fled.
Ronan gripped his battered sword tighter. His arms were trembling, his legs were giving way, but his mind was sharp. He knew this boss. He'd farmed it for weeks in Eternum Online.
But this wasn't a game. The heat of its breath scalded his skin. His wounds bled freely. The fear clawing at his chest wasn't simulated.
When the chimera lunged, Ronan didn't even bother blocking.
The impact hurled him across the battlefield. His ribs shattered, his vision blurred. Darkness closed in.
And then—
[Warning: You have died.]
[Would you like to Load Save Point?]
[Cost: 10 years lifespan]
A smile curved Ronan's bloody lips.
"Heh. Guess I still have it."
Without hesitation, he whispered:
"Load."
The world shattered into fragments of light.
When Ronan opened his eyes, he was standing in a quiet village square. Chickens clucked nearby. A fountain gurgled peacefully.
His HUD reset:
HP: 3000 / 3000. MP: 1000 / 1000.
And in the distance, a girl waved at him. Blonde hair, bright eyes, a smile that belonged to someone who didn't know what war was.
"Welcome, traveler!" she said warmly.
Her name appeared above her head: Lyra Dawnwind.
Ronan's breath caught. In Eternum Online, she had been nothing more than a quest-giving NPC.
Now… she felt alive.
Ronan tightened his grip on his rusty starter sword.
"Alright. Round two."