"Why isn't the logout button working!?" Ares pressed it repeatedly, his heart pounding. But there was no response. The world remained the same. The wind still blew. The sky remained blue.
"Try again!" Lyra panicked, her trembling fingers reaching for the logout icon on the system panel. But the result was the same—emptiness. No white light, no transition, no way out.
The seconds ticked by, but they remained in the meadow.
Ares closed the panel, breathing heavily. "This… isn't a normal bug."
"Don't tell me… we're really trapped here?" Lyra's voice choked, her eyes wide with fear.
Before Ares could answer, a white light enveloped their bodies. The world shook, and in an instant, they were transported to a new location.
The crowd immediately engulfed them. Dozens, hundreds of players crowded into the majestic city square. White stone buildings towered all around, crescent-shaped flags fluttering majestically.
But the mood wasn't one of awe—it was one of panic.
"I can't log out!"
"Same here! I've tried countless times!"
"Crazy, this must be a prank or a server bug!"
The sounds of shouting, crying, and cursing mixed together, creating an uncontrollable commotion.
Lyra gripped her staff tightly, her face pale. "Everyone… they can't get out either."
Ares stared at the crowd. The 10,000 players who had supposedly been chosen were now all trapped in a digital world that was too real. His hands clenched.
Suddenly, the sky above them shook. A giant system screen appeared, emitting a white light. Everyone looked up, momentarily silent.
A voice echoed, deep and heavy.
[Welcome, players. You are the 10,000 chosen.]
[From now on, there is no way out until one condition is met.]
Pale faces tensed.
[The condition is simple: Find the Key of Return. A legendary artifact hidden within this world. Just like that, the portal to the real world will open.]
The screen disappeared. The sound vanished.
The silence hung for a moment, then shattered into even greater panic.
"What the hell!?"
"They're joking, right!? This is just a game!"
"Key of Return? What kind of stupid artifact is that!?"
Ares didn't move. The words kept echoing in his head. Key of Return. The only way home.
Lyra stared at him, her eyes watering. "If we die here… what happens to our real bodies?"
Ares had no answer. But his instincts told him: death here is no small matter.
The situation was becoming increasingly chaotic. Some players began to form small groups, screaming for their comrades. Some were crying hysterically, some were angrily cursing the developers, and still others were trying to flee out the city gates, unsure of what awaited them.
Amidst the chaos, Ares sighed. He turned to Lyra. "If we really have to find the Key of Return, we need a team. We won't last long alone."
Lyra swallowed, then nodded hesitantly. "I… I'll come with you."
Before Ares could answer, a calm voice sounded behind them.
"I heard you guys talking about the key."
Ares turned. A man with short, black hair stood there, a bow slung across his back. His gaze was sharp, his demeanor calm despite the chaos.
"My name is Orion. Archer," he said simply. "I don't believe in blind luck. If there's a clue, I want to be among the first to find it."
Soon, light footsteps were heard. A girl with long, black hair walked over. A dagger glinted at her waist. A faint smile graced her face, but her eyes were cold.
"Ryn. Assassin," she introduced herself briefly. "I hate collaboration. But if this is the only way out, I'll hold off for now."
Lyra stared at Ares, clearly waiting for a decision.
Ares sighed, then looked at each of them in turn. "Okay. From now on… we're a team."
Right after those words were spoken, their system panel vibrated.
[Quest: The First Step]
[Clue: The Key of Return is connected to an ancient dungeon that has just appeared. Only those who dare to enter it can find the first clue.]
Ares closed the panel. His gaze was serious, his sword gripped tightly.
"It seems… we've just achieved our first objective."
"An ancient dungeon, they say…" Orion narrowed his eyes, rereading the notification that had just appeared. "But where exactly?"
Before Ares could answer, a shout rang out from the far end of the square.
"I found it! There's a black gate outside the city!"
Dozens of players immediately scrambled out, some nearly pushing each other. The previously chaotic atmosphere had now turned into a mass of people moving toward the west gate.
Lyra looked at Ares anxiously. "Are we… going?"
Ares paused for a moment. He stared at the fleeing crowd, then glanced at his sword. "If that's the clue we have, we have no choice."
Ryn simply shrugged, her cold expression unchanged. "The sooner the better. If we're late, we'll only get scraps."
Outside the city gate, the beautiful green fields turned ominous. The ground cracked open, forming a long path, and at the end stood a black stone archway, covered in strange, glowing red carvings.
The gate pulsed, as if breathing.
Dozens of players had gathered around it. Some peered from afar, others ventured closer, but no one dared to cross first.
"Is that… really a dungeon?" Lyra whispered, gripping her staff tightly.
Before anyone could answer, a booming sound rang out. From behind the gate, a giant gray hand reached out, clawing at the air. The nearby players immediately backed away in panic.
The figure stepped out—a stone golem, its body twice the height of a human. Red light flashed in its eyes.
"Monster guardian!" someone shouted.
The golem growled, then slammed its fist into the ground. The shockwave sent several players flying.
Ares instinctively stepped forward, raising his sword. "If we don't fight this, we won't get in!"
Orion had already drawn his bow, a gleaming arrow ready to be released. "Agreed. I'll cover from behind."
Ryn disappeared in a flash, her body disappearing into the shadows.
Lyra swallowed, then raised her staff. "I… I'll support!"
The fight broke out.
Orion unleashed a barrage of arrows, penetrating the cracks in the golem's body. Ryn appeared from behind, stabbing her dagger into the crack in the stone. Lyra cast healing and strengthening spells, making Ares's body lighter.
Ares dashed straight forward. His sword collided with the golem's stone arm, sparks flying. The weight was incredible, nearly breaking his arm.
CRACK! The golem's attack hit the ground just a few feet away. Ares leaped back, gasping for breath.
"Attack the crack!" he shouted.
Ryn hissed, her dagger striking the red crack in the golem's back again. The crack widened, the light radiating more intensely.
"Now!" Orion shouted, releasing an arrow that immediately sank into the weak spot.
Ares tightened his grip, then slashed straight at the crack.
CRACK! The stone shattered, and the golem's body crumbled to pieces.
The crowd cheered. Several other players who had hesitated rushed over, trying to join in.
But the cheers quickly faded. From inside the gate, a low roar came—long, ominous, hair-raising.
The air trembled.
Ares straightened, staring into the portal, glowing red.
"Whatever awaits inside…" He took a deep breath. "That's just the first step."
Lyra gave him a worried look, but this time said nothing.
One by one, the players began to enter the gate, though fear was still evident on their faces.
Ares looked at Orion, Ryn, and Lyra. "Are you ready?"
Orion nodded curtly. Ryn smiled faintly. Lyra swallowed, then nodded.
Ares stepped forward, through the stone arch. Red light engulfed his body.
And as he entered… the world around him changed completely.