The Summoning

The dim glow of a computer screen lights up a cramped bedroom. Ryo, a 21-year-old with dark hair and a light complexion, lounges in his chair, eyes glued to the screen. His room is cluttered with empty soda cans and instant noodle cups, a testament to his life of solitude. He's deeply engrossed in a popular transmigrated manhua, fantasizing about being transported to another world where he might find purpose or escape from his monotonous existence.

Ryo's life is a quiet routine. He wakes up, eats the bare minimum, and spends the day gaming or binge-watching videos. Occasionally, he reads another chapter of his favorite manhua, dreaming of what it would be like to be the protagonist. He rarely leaves his room except for necessary tasks like bathing. His relationship with his mother is strained — ever since his younger brother died when Ryo was five, an unspoken tension has filled their small apartment. She is the only person left in his life, but even with her, he maintains a distance, preferring the isolation of his virtual worlds.

Tonight feels like any other, but as he clicks on the next chapter of his webcomic, the screen suddenly freezes. Ryo frowns, tapping the mouse impatiently. The cursor doesn't move. Then, the screen begins to warp, colors swirling in a vortex pattern. He reaches for the power button, thinking his computer has crashed, but his hand stops mid-air as a strange light floods the room.

A loud humming noise fills his ears, growing louder and louder until it becomes unbearable. Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice echoes from his speakers:

"Congratulations, Scraper. You have been selected for the SCrap Field. Prepare for initiation."

Ryo's heart pounds. He tries to stand, but a force pulls him back into his chair. He feels the air around him compressing, his vision blurring, and then — darkness. A moment later, he's falling, plummeting through a vast, empty void.

He crashes into a dirt surface, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Gasping, he sits up, disoriented. Around him is a barren field stretching as far as he can see, under a sky painted with dark, swirling clouds. The air is thick with an acrid smell, and a cold breeze cuts through his thin t-shirt.

Ryo scrambles to his feet, panic surging through his veins. He's not in his room anymore. He's somewhere else — somewhere terrifyingly real.

A deep, amused voice cuts through the air, startling him:

"Welcome, Scrapers, to the Crap Field. You have been chosen to grow, to prove yourselves worthy, and to find your way back to your world… if you can."

Ryo spins around and notices others scattered across the field. Some look terrified, others angry, a few are on their knees, crying. The voice continues:

"I am the Manager, and I oversee this realm. Here, you will face tasks, trials, and tribulations. You will compete, cooperate, and survive. Those who fail will be erased. Now, begin your journey."

A chill runs down Ryo's spine. The word "erased" lingers in his mind, and he realizes the gravity of his situation. This is no game. He's been taken from his world, just like in the stories he loves, but it's nothing like he imagined. He looks at the other Scrapers, each one a potential ally or enemy, and knows he must grow stronger if he wants to survive.

A small screen appears in front of his eyes, floating in mid-air. It reads:

"First Task: Collect 10 Crap Berries from the Forest of Shadows. Time Limit: 3 Hours."

Before he can react, a countdown starts ticking. Ryo takes a deep breath. He has no choice. He must begin.