When Max opened his eyes, the world around him felt unreal.
He stood in what looked like the grand hall of a palace tall marble columns stretched toward a vaulted ceiling painted in gold, long crimson carpets ran beneath his feet, and rows of flickering torches cast warm, restless light on the walls.
"Where… am I?" Max whispered to himself, his voice echoing faintly. "What is this place?"
Just moments ago, he had pressed YES on that strange screen and now he was here, standing in a place that didn't belong to reality. His body felt the same; his heart was pounding, his breath uneven. This can't be real, he thought. Is this… a dream?
He looked around in disbelief, still trying to make sense of it all, when he noticed someone standing across the hall. A girl or at least, she looked like one. She was dressed in a light green outfit trimmed with leather straps, her long red hair flowing down her back like fire in motion. For a moment, Max could only stare. She looked like she had stepped straight out of a video game.
Before he could say a word, she smiled gently.
"Welcome," she said, her voice calm but strangely familiar.
Max blinked. "Where is this place?" he asked, taking a cautious step forward. "And… who are you?"
Max stared at the girl, her expression calm yet unreadable.
"I've been designed to explain your current situation," she said, her voice smooth and clear, echoing slightly in the grand hall. "You can think of me as an AI guide—something like an NPC in a game. Right now, you're in Dimension Zero, also known as the Entry Dimension."
Max frowned, still trying to process her words. "How do I get back home?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and growing curiosity.
The girl tilted her head slightly, almost as if she had expected the question. "If you clear all 200 dimensions, you'll be able to return," she replied simply.
"'You'll'—so… there are others?" Max asked quickly.
"Yes," she said. "The first one million people who pressed Yes are now here."
Max's mind raced. A million people? He could barely comprehend the scale of it. "Who made all this?" he asked. "What's their goal?"
The girl didn't answer. Instead, she lifted her hand and a floating blue screen appeared between them. "Please create your character," she said. "Choose your appearance and name."
Max sighed quietly and began adjusting the settings in front of him. He gave his character black hair and blue eyes—simple, close enough to himself. When it came to the name, he typed Matt. It felt familiar, close to Max, but not quite the same—almost like a version of himself in another world.
As soon as he confirmed the name, another holographic panel appeared. Lines of text scrolled across the screen, explaining basic rules and interface mechanics. It was all so detailed, so familiar—menus, stats, inventory grids. It felt exactly like a video game. Too much like one, he thought, unease creeping in.
After reading through the information, Max pressed the Continue button. The girl gave a small nod, her eyes glowing faintly.
"Now," she said, "please choose your unique item."
A new window appeared, displaying several mysterious icons—and below them, a few short lines outlining the rules of this strange world.
---------------------EARTH---------------------------
Luna(max sister) stood at the doorway, her small hands gripping the frame. "Max… can you help me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
There was no answer from his room. She stepped inside slowly, her eyes scanning the space, and realized it was empty.
"Mom… he's not here," she said, her voice shaking slightly.
Her mother appeared from the kitchen, worry etched across her face. "Not here? How is that possible?"
Before either of them could react, every phone in the house began ringing at once. The sound was sharp and urgent, like an alarm, sending a shiver down their spines. It was an emergency alert.
The next day, the news reported an event that seemed impossible. One million people had vanished, drawn into another dimension. Those who had pressed Yes had disappeared instantly, leaving nothing behind. Without camera footage, no one would have believed it.
Leaders from around the world gave statements, struggling to explain what had happened. Some members of royal families were among those taken. Governments announced that a global commission would be formed to investigate.
Scientists debated how such a thing could even be possible. Military organizations were tense, unsure how to respond. Some people whispered that aliens had taken them.
The entire world seemed frozen. Streets were empty, offices silent, and news channels broadcast the impossible over and over. Humanity was in shock, unable to process what had just happened.