“The Top Student's Descent into the Abyss: A Life-Altering Encounter”

IN the realm of the ordinary, there resides a girl named Eba. At the tender age of sixteen, she stands at the cusp of seventeen, her beauty rivaling that of a million cherry blossoms in full bloom. Gifted with extraordinary talents and a heart that yearns for adventure, she is a beacon of hope in a monotonous world. Rising each day to greet the sun, indulging in nourishment, and succumbing to slumber, such mundane routines encapsulate the lives of ordinary folk. But Eba, with her eyes set on the horizon, seeks a life beyond the ordinary. For her, the world brims with untapped potential and enticing mysteries waiting to be unraveled.

"In the realm of everyday life, the only thing that makes it less dull is going to parties, concerts, and dating," she murmurs softly.

Letting a deep sigh and continue the conversation in her thought.

"But hey," I wonder, "aren't parties just about talking with others, but with music and fancy lights? And concerts, can't we just sing our hearts out in the shower or at a fun karaoke bar? And as for romance, isn't it for those who let their imaginations run wild?.

Eba, the girl who stands out among her classmates, is far above average. She excels in various fields, from academics to physical education, and is even the representative of her school. She effortlessly masters every aspect of life, but now she finds herself fatigued and disinterested. It feels as though everything has been accomplished, bringing her journey to an end. 

"END GAME." she tiredly said.

For Eba, life had already reached its climax, with every challenge conquered and every goal achieved. Yet, in this state of stagnation, she stumbled upon a newfound passion that would breathe meaning into her existence - a Video Game. This digital realm, with its intricate landscapes and captivating narratives, had become the sole catalyst that made her time worthwhile.

"In front of me, a multitude of challenges unfold, a proving ground where strategic thinking, timing, and a symphony of skills are put to the test."

"And then, there are the side quests – perhaps the monsters lurking within will yield something of greater value. Just like a game of chess, this video game is a realm of endless probability, where every move holds the promise of unexpected outcomes."

After devoting six hours to her academic pursuits, she indulges in her true passion: video games. Her collection is a testament to her dedication, comprising a diverse array of titles and sequels. However, she doesn't collect them as mere mementos or to boast of her achievements; rather, she analyzes each game as a strategist, seeking to uncover moves and skills that can be applied to conquer other challenges. She transcends the boundaries of mere gameplay, delving into the very fabric of the game design itself, as if to outdo the developers who created them.

"A challenge requires not just one solution,' she declared, her voice laced with disdain. 'As the name suggests, it's a game – and the developers' approach is utterly lacking."

"Playing the game as the developers intended is no different from living our lives as if they were designed to be lived in a certain way,' she added, her words dripping with a hint of irony. "

On this lazy Sunday, she indulged in an all-day gaming marathon, her fingers dancing across the controller with reckless abandon.

"Whoo-hoo! You can't escape me now!' she exclaimed, her voice tinged with triumph as she emerged victorious from a grueling battle."

"Oops... what's this drop? It should be a mythical item, at the very least...' she muttered to herself, her eyes widening in surprise as she gazed at the screen."

"There's no stopping me now – I'm overflowing with strategies! It's better for me to go solo, anyway; my party's a total disaster."

"It's all because of miscommunication and a lack of planning... They're all trying to be the MVP every time, it seems,' she sighed, shaking her head in exasperation as she reflected on her party's shortcomings."

Meanwhile, Eba always assumed the role of a support in group battles, taking great pleasure in concocting intricate strategies and offering sage advice to her party members, her mind whirring with calculations and possibilities.

"No matter, I'll defeat this monster whenever I please. It's only a question of time... Hehe, the outcome is already certain."

When their quest was finally complete, a message from one of her party members popped up on her screen.

"Hey, I saw how strong you are, and I managed to catch a glimpse of your stats before you hid them,' the teammate wrote, a hint of curiosity in her tone."

"Ahh, haha... I didn't mean to hide it and make it seem like I'm some kind of savior...' she replied, a touch of embarrassment in her words."

"Don't be like that – since you hid it, I figured you mostly play solo, right?' the teammate pressed on, their message laced with a hint of perceptiveness."

"Hehe... I spend more time crafting strategies, so I don't want to keep my teammates waiting any longer... Hehe...', she explained, a hint of mischief in her tone."

"Oooh!! (she was amazed) I'm so embarrassed... I don't make strategies myself; I just play by instinct, hitting this and that, hehe,' she added, her words tinged with a hint of self-deprecation."

"Well, that's normal – most players do that, and um... as long as you're fine with it, then that's what matters, right?' she replied, trying to reassure her."

Eba, however, didn't seem to relate, her eyes gleaming with a fondness for unconventional, even insane, methods.

"Wait, wait – most players do that, you mean you don't?' she asked, her tone laced with curiosity."

"Yah….something like that." Eba reply.

"Wait, are you the famous player who took down that rare monster that no one's ever seen or fought before? The one that's been the talk of the community?' the teammate asked, their eyes wide with excitement."

"Wait, there's someone like that...?' she replied, her voice tinged with confusion, as if she'd been too busy playing to keep up with the community's chatter and hot topics."

"Yes. I didn't recognize you because no one's ever seen you – they just know you have the Red Apple, a super rare item. I saw it in your stats earlier,' the teammate explained, their voice filled with excitement."

"Haha... I also didn't know that, but it could be someone else, right...?' she replied, trying to downplay the situation."

"No, the description matches you – playing solo, with strategically planned movements, and possessing the rarest item in the game,' the teammate said, their voice still laced with amazement."

Suddenly, the game's voice chat opened on the teammate's end, and a voice rang out, saying...

"Can you teach me how to play? I'm tired, you see... I think that if it happens, you'll help me, and what you'll teach me is... Maybe I can apply it to real life,' the girl's soft voice pleaded, on the verge of tears. She sounded like the most modest person Eba had ever heard, and Eba couldn't help but think that this girl had some kind of problem."

While Eba was still wondering what could have driven her teammate to make such a request, she heard a faint murmur in the background...

"Nana, Nana, Nana...' The gentle, soothing voice seemed to be calling out to someone, and Eba's curiosity was piqued."

The deep, aged voice, reminiscent of an old cabinet, called out 'Nana' three times, sending chills down Eba's spine as she wondered what kind of eerie situation was unfolding.

"But then, She replied, 'Why, Mom?' – and Eba's tension was suddenly deflated."

It turned out that Nana's mom was simply calling out from the bathroom, asking for a towel because she had forgotten to bring one. Eba let out a sigh of relief, thinking it could have been anything else.

"The heck!...' Eba muttered to herself, still trying to process the unexpected turn of events."

When Nana returned, she whispered a shocking confession to Eba: she had been mercilessly bullied by her classmates, and as a result, she had stopped attending school. Instead, she would wear her uniform and head straight to the riverbank, seeking escape from her tormentors.

But the most appalling revelation was yet to come: her teacher, who was supposed to be a guardian of trust, had callously ignored the incident and even exploited the situation for his own gain. He had gone so far as to demand that Nana spend the night with him in exchange for a passing grade, his words dripping with malice and corruption.

Eba's fury knew no bounds as she listened to Nana's tale, her anger boiling over like a pot about to overflow. She ripped off her headset, her eyes blazing with indignation, and switched the voice chat to speaker mode.

"Nana, do you think a game can help you?! How can you be sure that what I'm about to teach you will help you escape those filthy monsters?!' Eba's voice thundered, her words laced with scathing rebuke. She heard Nana's sobs, the girl's fragile emotions finally shattering under the weight of her secrets, unable to hide or bear it anymore."

Eba's eyes, too, welled up with tears as she recalled her own role as the President of Peace and Integrity in her school. The weight of her responsibilities and the gravity of Nana's situation hit her like a ton of bricks.

"This is no longer just a game,' Eba thought to herself, her determination and sense of justice ignited. She asked Nana, her voice firm and resolute, 'Where are you residing?'"

"Thank you...' Nana's voice cracked as she burst into tears, her sobs echoing through her room, a mixture of gratitude and despair."

Just then, Nana's mom emerged from the bathroom, calling out to her daughter. Nana hastily replied, 'Can we talk again tomorrow?'

"Of course, I'll wait for you in the game,' Eba added, trying to reassure Nana."

And with that, the conversation came to a close. Little did they know, it would be their first and last exchange, a fleeting moment of connection that would soon be lost forever.

As the clock struck 10 pm, Eba devoted the entire night to searching for information about Nana using her in-game character. Since Nana's account wasn't hidden, Eba's privileged access allowed her to uncover some minor details.

As she delved deeper into her research, she stumbled upon something... and then... Her stomach growled loudly, protesting the lack of sustenance.

"Grrrrr... grrrr... grrrr... Oh! It's past midnight, and I forgot to have dinner,' she exclaimed, suddenly remembering her neglected meal."

"I'll just head to the convenience store outside,' she said to herself, getting ready to venture out into the night."

With that, she set out into the darkness, dispatching herself on a mission to satiate her growling stomach.

"It's kinda chilly here, I wonder if it's going to start snowing soon,' she muttered to herself, her breath visible in the cold air."

"Ah, I see it, I also want some bread,' she thought, her eyes fixed on the convenience store ahead."

Just as she was about to reach the store, a freakin' black snake suddenly slithered across her path, making her jump out of her skin.

She freaked out and let out a loud shout, her heart racing with surprise and fear.

"HA! What was that doing here?! Should I call the animal department?!" she exclaimed, still shaken by the sudden appearance of the snake."

"It's too late at night, and I don't know where it could have come from and crawl off...' she trailed off, unsure of what to do next."

"I think the snake went in this direction...' she said to herself, her eyes scanning the area."

She looked in the direction she suspected the snake had gone, and then she saw it: a HUGE TREE. She was amazed by its enormous size, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Grrr!... Grrrr!' Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she needed to buy some food ASAP. She couldn't afford to waste any more time."

And then, as she gazed up at the HUGE TREE, she spotted it: a single fruit, a radiant red apple. The fruit seemed to shine with an otherworldly light, its bold red color mesmerizing her.

"Grrrrr!.... Grrrr!....' Her stomach growled even louder, protesting the delay in satisfying her hunger."

"Ahh, I can't take it anymore. I want to eat,' she said, her hunger eating away at her insides like a beast."

Despite the fruit's elevated position, she used her athleticism to pick it. She built up her momentum and jumped like a rabbit, her body soaring through the air with ease.

"It's huge, well, it's a huge tree, I feel satisfied with just this one,' she said, her eyes fixed on the massive fruit."

"Come to think of it, how did this tree end up here? And why am I not familiar with it? I didn't notice it before,' she mused, her curiosity piqued."

She carefully wiped the huge apple with her towel, preparing to take a bite. Just as she was about to sink her teeth into it, the huge tree suddenly shook violently, sending a large amount of leaves cascading down around her.

"Hello there, missy,' the freakin' black snake said, her heart trembled at the sound of its voice."

"She freaked out, but her hunger got the better of her. 'I'll deal with you after I eat this apple,' she thought to herself, her mind racing with determination."

She BITES the APPLE, and there's no stopping it, no stepping back. What is done is DONE. The fate of her hunger, and perhaps her very existence, hung in the balance.

After she bit into the apple, a blast of wind swept through her area, and everything went dark. When she swallowed the apple, everything became eerily quiet, as if she was trapped inside a container. She could hear her own breathing, the flow of her hair, and the sound of her footsteps.

"Hey, what's happening... what is this?' she said, her voice trembling with fear."

"Damn, let me out of here!' she exclaimed, her panic rising to a fever pitch."

She was scared, and it wasn't the same kind of challenge she had faced before. She didn't have any strategy, no plan of attack. She was hopeless, but her mind was racing, searching for a way out of this desperate situation.

"There's a way out of here,' she said, her voice laced with determination."

"No, there's not, because I am the way out,' the black snake replied, its voice dripping with menace."

"Then there's a way out, then,' she said, a glimmer of hope in her eyes."

She gained a pipe dream, but the black snake began to reveal itself, its words sending shivers down her spine...

"What was it? Hey...' she said, her vision blurring, her hearing faltering, as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling."

'END GAME.' This was the only word she heard, echoing in her mind like a death knell.

More than anyone, she deeply understood the significance of the 'end game'. She burst into tears, her heart heavy with despair.

"It's done...' she whispered, feeling like she was being swallowed by a black hole, her existence consumed by an inescapable void."

"It's done, I'm sorry... it's done, I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...' She repeated the words, her voice cracking with anguish, but not because she was seeking mercy from the black snake. Her tears were for Nana, her heart aching with the knowledge that she would never be able to help her in her time of need."

"Sorry, I just raised your hopes, Nana...' she said, her voice heavy with regret, her words dripping with sorrow."

"END GAME" wasn't meant for her, but it signified the end of Nana's life. The weight of her failure crushed her, and she could only apologize to her, her heart heavy with remorse. 

"Life is a Game - Don't Just Play, Become the Developer of Your Own Destiny"