The next day, the sun rose over a broken kingdom, but the vibe on a certain large stone outcrop was surprisingly quiet. Ayush, Vikas, and Aryan sat there in a row, looking like they had just lost a 20-match losing streak in ranked.
Finally, Vikas broke the silence. "Guys, why are we being so mid? I mean, we're in a whole different world. We shouldn't be this stressed. Remember? We already died once—that truck finished us in the first life. So why be so sad? Why don't we just explore this world, have some fun, and see some legendary stuff?"
Aryan's mind flashed back to that library—the infinite darkness that had swallowed him. He thought, "He's right. There's so much out here. Why am I wasting time being depressed?"
He looked at Vikas and shrugged. "Yeah, facts. We were being sad for no reason. Let's get it."
Ayush nodded, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You're right. Staying down is an L."
Vikas's eyes suddenly gleamed with a mischievous spark. "Okay, let's do a challenge. Let's see who gets a girlfriend first in this world. And not just anyone—let's see whose girl is the biggest flex. We have 2 days. Let's see what happens."
Aryan's 'Main Character' ego instantly flared up. "Bet. Say less. We meet back here in 2 days with a girl."
Ayush stood up, looking overconfident. "2 days? I can pull one in a single day."
Vikas laughed. "Oh, it's like that? Fine. We meet tomorrow then!"
Ayush walked up to Vikas, looking him dead in the eyes. "1,000 Coins says mine is going to be the best. You down?"
Vikas grinned. "Bet." He turned around. "Yo, Aryan, you in—?"
But Aryan was already gone. He was sprinting away before they could even finish the sentence. Seeing him bolt, Ayush and Vikas ran in opposite directions, each determined not to take the 'L'.
Aryan finally slowed down after a while, his lungs burning but his mind racing. "I'm going to find the best one. Just watch me." He started scrolling through his mental "Isekai Trope" database. "Where do the best girls show up? Usually in a weak party where they're being carried or used. Or maybe an innocent Healer? But how do I even slide into their DMs without a phone? Think, Aryan, think!"
He hatched a plan: "If I help a girl, or go on an adventure with her, she might not be my GF in 24 hours, but she'll definitely be an ally. I'll try it with 2 or 3 at once to maximize my RNG."
He headed straight for the Adventurer Guild. He walked up to the counter and dropped a charming smile. "Yo, how's it going?"
The receptionist looked up and smiled back. "Good, thank you."
"The kingdom is recovering pretty fast, isn't it?" Aryan noted, trying to act nonchalant.
"It is. Did you need something specific?" she asked.
Aryan leaned against the counter. "Nah, don't worry about it. I've got everything under control."
He started scanning the room. Most people were already in parties, looking very 'mingled' and coordinated. "Damn, is everyone here already taken? Is there no one left for me?"
Then, he spotted her. A girl standing near two guys. The guys looked like they were looking for a filler for their party for a mission. Aryan didn't hesitate. He walked over. "Yo, you guys need a plus one? I'm down to join."
The guys looked him up and down. "What's your build?"
Aryan smirked. "I can use Dark Magic and Light Magic."
The two guys exchanged a look—a creepy, calculated grin that Aryan missed in his excitement. "Perfect. We were looking for someone exactly like you. Let's move out. The mission awaits."
The girl in the party looked slightly nervous, her eyes darting to the floor, but she followed them anyway.
They reached the 7th Floor of a nearby Dungeon. The goal: slay a specific monster and harvest its teeth. The floor was dim, smelling of damp stone and rot.
A monster lunged from the shadows. Aryan reacted instantly, shouting, "[Shadow Piercing]!" The attack was clean. The monster was 'deleted' in a single hit. The two guys looked impressed, clapping him on the back. More monsters came, and they cleared them together, with the girl providing support using Ice Magic.
Once the loot was collected and the bag was full of monster teeth, the vibe shifted. Fast.
As Aryan reached down to pick up a stray item, one of the guys swung a heavy wooden club right into the back of Aryan's head. CRACK.
The world spun. Darkness blurred Aryan's vision. Before he could recover, the other guy delivered a brutal kick straight to his face. Aryan was sent flying, crashing hard against the jagged cave wall.
They didn't stop there. One of the guys grabbed the girl by her wrist, punching her square in the face. Then, a heavy kick to her stomach made her cough up blood. To finish it, the guy launched a 360° mid-air kick, sending her flying across the cavern until she landed right next to a bleeding Aryan.
The guys started laughing, "Now the gold is split between two instead of four. Catch ya later, loser!" They turned and walked away into the darkness.
Aryan was in bad shape, but his consciousness was clinging on. He activated his [Regeneration] skill, his internal organs felt 'frozen', and he wasn't high-leveled enough to heal instantly. He could only stabilize the wounds for now.
He gritted his teeth and opened his System Window, dumping every remaining Status Point into Health and Defense.
he walk over to the girl. Her hair was a beautiful, pale Sky Blue. He gently lifted her head. Suddenly, more monsters began to emerge from the dark, attracted by the scent of blood.
Aryan looked at the approaching hoard and let out a dry, jagged laugh. "Wow. Really?"
He stepping in front of the girl like a human shield. He whispered to himself, "Vikas... Ayush... give me a little more time i am having fun. I'm coming back with a girl better than yours."
He turned his gaze toward the monsters—a cold, lethal stare. He was ready for the smoke.