Welcome Back, Player Aleman

"She's trying her best in school," August replied. "But the debt and everything else... It's starting to bother her. She knows I'm late with her school fees payment."

Derrick placed his hand on August's shoulder. "You know, if there's anything I can do to help, just say the word."

August felt a surge of gratitude. "Thanks, man. It means a lot but you have your own troubles. I'm going to figure out how to balance everything. Although the factory job isn't enough, I will definitely find a way," August thought about the game at this moment.

"I'm sure you will but still, don't hesitate to ask if you need any help."

----

The factory whistle blew, signaling the end of another grueling workday. August wiped the sweat from his brow as he felt his muscles ache.

'I can't recall the last time I felt physically fatigued,' A creepy smile appeared on August's face at this moment. He seemed to have enjoyed this.

He and Derrick soon made their way to the office to collect their paychecks. The small, cramped room was filled with tired workers waiting their turn.

When August received his envelope, he opened it and nodded.

'So this is what poverty looks like,'

The amount was meager, barely enough to cover the basics.

He knew that once he paid for food, and Sophia's high school fees, and scraped a little off the mountain of debt, there would be almost nothing left.

As they walked out of the office, Derrick glanced at August's paycheck and frowned. "That's not enough to live on, man," he said with a concerned voice.

"I know," August replied, stuffing the envelope into his pocket. "But it's all we've got right now. It'll be fine."

They headed to a nearby park, a small patch of green amidst the urban sprawl, to catch their breath before heading home. Derrick sat down on a bench and pulled out his own paycheck. He looked at it for a moment, then handed August a portion of the cash.

"Here, take this," Derrick said. "It's not much, but it should help a bit."

August shook his head while pushing the money back towards Derrick. "I can't take your money, man. You have your pregnant wife, Tara, to take care of. You need it more than I do."

Derrick's eyes softened as he thought of Tara, his love, and the reason he had left everything behind. "I know, but I can't just stand by and watch you struggle like this. I know what it's like to lose a support system."

August looked at Derrick, recognizing the genuine concern in his eyes.

'Looks like August has people who genuinely care for him...'

Except for Elena and Marcus, he didn't think anyone truly cared about him in his past life.

All people wanted was to get close to him for his money, not necessarily to build any genuine connections with him and this was why he never considered marriage.

He didn't even let Elena and Marcus get too close to him because he also felt they were just doing their job and there was nothing else to it.

However, now that he was broke and back to square one, it was easier to tell who the genuine ones were. After all, a poor person had nothing to offer.

He felt a surge of gratitude but also a deep sense of responsibility. "I appreciate it, really, but I can't take your money. We'll find a way, I promise."

Derrick sighed and nodded, respecting August's decision. "Alright, but if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

As they sat in the park, the sun began to set behind the buildings. Derrick opened up about his past.

"You know, I didn't always have to worry about money," his voice tinged with nostalgia. "I come from a pretty wealthy family. My parents are big in the business world. They wanted me to follow in their footsteps, but I had other plans."

August listened intently, curious to learn more about his friend's background. Derrick rarely spoke about his past.

"When I met Tara, everything changed," Derrick continued, a soft smile playing on his lips. "My parents didn't approve of her. They thought she wasn't 'good enough' for me, whatever that means. But I loved her. I couldn't imagine my life without her. So, we ran off together."

"That's rough buddy," August muttered in sympathy although he couldn't relate.

"It was," Derrick admitted. "We had to start from scratch, just like you and Sophia. But we've made it work. And now with the baby on the way... it's scary, but it's also the best thing that's ever happened to me."

The two friends sat in silence for a moment before August broke the silence.

"You've got a good heart, Derrick," August stated. "Thanks for being there for me."

He was thanking Derrick on behalf of the old August. Derrick was definitely one of the people that kept him going for so long.

Derrick smiled and clapped August on the back. "Same to you, buddy. We'll get through this, one way or another."

As the night began to fall, they both stood up, ready to head home.

-

When August arrived back at the apartment, Sophia greeted him with a tired but warm smile and a hug.

"How was work?" she asked.

"Exhausting, as always," August replied, returning the hug as a smile appeared on his face.

"But things are gonna be fine... I have your school fees payment ready," He added.

"Really?" Her face beamed up in joy.

"Yes," August nodded.

She jumped into his embrace once again before hopping like a joyful bunny.

"Thanks for all you do, big brother," She voiced with a face full of smiles.

August patted her head in acknowledgment.

'She's a good kid. I don't think I've ever been this excited about school,' August chuckled internally.

--

After a simple dinner with Sophia, August made sure she had everything she needed for the night. He hugged her goodnight.

"I'm going to log into the game for a while," he informed her with a gentle tone. "Get some rest, okay?"

Sophia nodded, her eyes filled with trust. "You too, August. Don't stay up too late."

He smiled at her in appreciation. "I'll try."

As she settled in for the night, August went to his room and turned to the corner where the VR pod stood.

He opened the hatch and lay down inside as the cool surface molded to his body. Placing the helmet over his head, he felt a familiar rush of anticipation.

[ Welcome back, August Clementine. Initializing system... ]

The soft, mechanical voice greeted him as the pod powered up. Lights flickered, and the room around him began to fade.

A swirling vortex of colors enveloped him, pulling him into the immersive world of Enders Light.

[ Neural synchronization complete ]

[ Preparing to transport to Enders Light. Please remain calm and enjoy your journey. ]

The sensation of weightlessness washed over him, followed by a sudden jolt. The virtual world soon materialized around him, vibrant and alive.

He stood once again on the hill overlooking the Village of Unhidden Mist with crisp and clear air under the night sky.

[ Welcome to Enders Light, Player Aleman ]

The notification that floated in front of him was a familiar sight that brought a sense of comfort.

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the real-world worries momentarily lift. Here, in this virtual world, he could find the strength to face his challenges... He literally had strength.

August took a moment to orient himself. His long green hair, streaked with white patches, fluttered in the breeze. He opened his menu, checking his stats and inventory:

←←←←←←←

Name: Aleman

Level: 12

Title(s): Nil

Class: Assassin

EXP: 7890/25000

HP: 1600/1600

Gold: 170

Skills: Shadow Dance, Hidden strike, Slash, Dash, Dual wielding

Inventory: Basic Dagger, Leather Armor, Healing Potion x3

←←←←←←←

"Time to get to work," he muttered to himself.

He made his way down the hill and into the village. The half-beast, half-human villagers greeted him warmly, and as usual, the system translated their language, Acheron, making their words clear to him.

"Good evening, Aleman," said Fenrik, the fox-headed villager he had met earlier. "Back for more adventure?"

"Always," August replied with a smile.

As he walked through the village, he headed towards the Forest of Shadows, where he had spent countless hours hunting low-level beasts.

The forest was his training ground, the place where he honed his skills and gathered resources. Tonight, he needed to focus on leveling up and finding a way to overcome the barrier around the Tree of Life.

The familiar sounds of the forest greeted him as he stepped into the shadowy woods. The rustling of leaves, the distant calls of nocturnal creatures, and the soft crunch of his footsteps on the forest floor all created an immersive experience.

As August moved deeper into the Forest of Shadows, he took a moment to reflect on the world of Enders Light and its intricate mechanics.

The game was a marvel of virtual reality, designed to immerse players fully into its fantasy setting. Every detail, from the rustling of leaves to the distant calls of nocturnal creatures, was crafted to create a seamless and engaging experience.

Enders Light was set in a vast, magical world four times the size of Earth and divided into various regions. Each of these regions had its own unique environment and challenges. The world was populated by diverse species and inhabited by both NPCs and players.

There were many popular regions ranging from:

Elven Forests: Lush, mystical woodlands where elves lived in harmony with nature. The trees were ancient and towering, with hidden paths leading to secret groves and enchanted clearings.

Dwarven Mountains: Rugged, mineral-rich mountains where dwarves mined precious metals and crafted legendary weapons. The mountains were full of caves, tunnels, and hidden treasures.

Human Kingdoms: These were divided into several types:

Tech Cities: Advanced urban areas where technology reigned supreme. These cities were filled with skyscrapers, neon lights, and cutting-edge machinery. Players in these cities were often tech classes like Hunter, Forger, and Cyborg.

Magical Kingdoms: Enchanting realms where magic was the cornerstone of society. Grand castles, arcane libraries, and mystical academies were common sights. Players that frequented here were typically those of magic classes such as Mage, Cleric, Summoner, and the like.

Hybrid Cities: Fusion of both magic and technology. These cities offered the best of both worlds. They were hubs of innovation, with steam-powered machinery running alongside magical artifacts. Players could choose from a wide range of classes, reflecting the city's diverse culture.

All of these were information that was widely known in the real world since a lot of players had explored far beyond the reaches of their initial spawn point, unlike August.