Surviving the Game Apocalypse

The world of [Survivor] is a captivating RPG, or Role Playing Game, set in a contemporary environment that draws players into its intricate design. In this immersive realm, players are tasked with battling fierce opponents or completing a variety of challenging objectives inside structures known as [Dungeons]. These Dungeons are teeming with formidable monsters and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Initially, the game enjoyed immense popularity upon its release, capturing the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere. However, this enthusiasm quickly turned to disillusionment as players faced insurmountable challenges presented by impossibly high difficulty levels. Even seasoned players, often referred to as "Pros," found themselves thwarted, unable to surpass even a quarter of the game's myriad obstacles. Frustrated by their experiences, many players attempted to voice their concerns to the mysterious company behind the game, only to discover that the identity of the developer was shrouded in secrecy, leaving them feeling abandoned and unheard. As time passed and interest waned, the game faded into obscurity, becoming little more than a distant memory for most—except for one persistent player who remained undeterred...

"Die! Die! Die!" The exclamation erupted from the lips of a woman whose demeanor reflected her frustration. Her hair, a greasy shade of black, seemed almost to blend into the dim blue glow emanating from her computer screen as she pounded her fists on the keyboard in exasperation. "Almost there!" Her weary, yet determined brown eyes remained fixed on the ferocious monster displayed on the screen in front of her, its health bar diminishing with each passing moment. With a final, decisive strike, the monster was vanquished in a dramatic flourish, and the screen displayed a cinematic scene featuring a stunning warrior woman wielding a gleaming rapier. Her bright golden hair swirled beautifully as she executed the finishing blow, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still.

"I... I did it..." she muttered, disbelief washing over her. She sat motionless in her chair, processing the monumental achievement she had just accomplished. "I did it! I finally beat the final boss!" Her hands shot up in jubilant celebration, a spontaneous reaction to her hard-fought victory. However, her moment of triumph was abruptly interrupted by a notification that flashed on the screen, catching her attention.

[Congratulations on completing the final battle!] The message flashed brightly, and she began to read it aloud to herself, her heart racing with excitement. [We would like to give you the rewards before the final half of the game begins.] She paused, her eyes narrowing in disbelief as she reread the announcement to ensure she grasped its significance. A sigh escaped her lips as she glanced at the clock, realizing how late it had grown.

"I'll look at it in the morning. Not like I've got anything better to do," she reasoned, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and resignation. At thirty years old, she found herself without a job, and the reality of her situation settled heavily on her shoulders. With a resigned attitude, she rose from her chair and made her way out of the room, navigating down a dimly lit passageway before entering a small, sparsely furnished bedroom. Falling onto the bed, she let the weight of the day wash over her, drifting off to sleep with thoughts of her gaming triumph still swirling in her mind.

Hours slipped away silently, and the woman was abruptly shocked awake, her heart racing and confusion clouding her mind. She found it utterly bewildering, especially since she lived alone; the solitude of her home usually brought her a sense of peace. However, as she began to gather her thoughts, she quickly realized that it wasn't just her who was affected. The entire room seemed to tremble. "Earthquake!?" she exclaimed, panic rising in her chest. But that notion made little sense; earthquakes were a rarity in her part of Australia. A surge of anxiety coursed through her as bright lights suddenly began to flicker outside her window. Driven by a mix of fear and curiosity, she dashed toward the source and was met with an astonishing sight—shooting stars, fiery and bright, crashing down toward the earth. Strangely, this scene felt hauntingly familiar. "[Survivor]?" she murmured, recognizing the echo of the opening scene from a video game she had played. Just as the realization struck her, an intense headache slammed into her skull, causing her to collapse onto the floor. Her vision blurred, and darkness enveloped her as everything faded away…

Despite her body lying unconscious on the ground, her mind drifted into an ethereal realm where she found herself standing in a vast, white expanse. "Hello there," a sweet, melodic voice called out, pulling her attention in its direction. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she turned, her gaze landing on a towering figure composed of light and shadow. It loomed over her, at least three times her height, forcing her to tilt her head back painfully to meet its gaze. The shock stemmed not just from the creature's imposing presence, but from the undeniable familiarity of it; this was the AI that had greeted her at the beginning of the game she had immersed herself in. This entity welcomed players and administered a personality test that determined their class, subsequently granting them a unique skill tailored to their chosen path. Other skills were acquired through quests and training. "I'm glad to see you again," it said, and her heart raced at the unexpected recognition.

"Again?" she stammered, bewildered by its words.

"I've been watching over you and taking care of you all this time," the AI replied, its voice echoing in the vast emptiness. The figure mirrored the one she had encountered in the game, but she had always thought that such interactions were exclusive to players. "Thanks to your actions, I earned a lot of bonuses," it continued, its hand forming a shape that resembled a pile of money, radiating a sense of satisfaction despite the lack of a discernible face. However, a moment later, the atmosphere shifted as the AI's demeanor turned serious. "Sorry, I got sidetracked. Let's get down to business." With a wave of its hand, a large screen materialized before them, flickering to life with various images and text. "For starters, congratulations on being one of the few who has completed the first half!" The message echoed in her mind, a reminder of her recent achievement. "Shall we start with the rewards?" it proposed, and as the words left its mouth, a striking red door appeared to her right—the same door players would enter to begin their test. "The first reward is a choice, and it will determine the other rewards you receive."

"Choice?" she echoed, trying to grasp the significance of what they meant by saying that. In that moment, a soft glow to her left caused her to turn, revealing another door; this one was unlike any she had seen before, shimmering with a lustrous gold finish. Not only was it strikingly beautiful, but it also wasn't something that had appeared in the game she was familiar with.

"Being one of the few to pass the first half, you now have the choice between A or B," the enigmatic figure explained, gesturing toward each door with a flourish of their arms. "A is the red door." They pointed deliberately at this door, which seemed ordinary yet held an air of mystery. Then, with a graceful motion, their hand glided over to the gold door. "This door is one you know well. Everyone will go through a test to gain their first abilities and classes." Their hand lowered from the red door, and at the same time, their right hand rose again, emphasizing the allure of the gold door. "This door is exclusively for those who have successfully navigated the first half. Meaning you!" There was a chipper enthusiasm in their voice as they delivered this news. "This door will allow you to retain your current class and the first skill you acquired. However, apart from your class, all your status and levels will revert to how they were at the very beginning." This final detail hung in the air, prompting her to weigh her options carefully. "Which would you like?"

At first glance, the choices might not seem significant, but the implications were profound. She realized that choosing the second option would spare her the arduous task of navigating the complexities of a new class and its accompanying skills. She was already well-versed in her current class's strengths and weaknesses, and she understood how to gain more skills and experience points. In her mind, the familiarity of her existing class outweighed the uncertainty of venturing into the unknown. Additionally, she worried that her potential rewards might diminish if she opted to take the test.

"I would like the second choice," she declared, her voice steady. The moment she spoke, the aura surrounding the being transformed, brimming with delight.

"I knew you would choose that!" they exclaimed, snapping their fingers with a flourish. In an instant, the red door vanished, leaving behind only the golden glow. With another snap, a screen materialised before her, displaying a dazzling array of possibilities. "Your second reward is coins!" they shouted in joy, as before her eyes, a counter began to rise from zero. It would stop at 100,000 coins, a substantial sum indeed. "You know exactly how to use it!" Another snap of their fingers conjured a third screen, showcasing a selection of [Basic Skills]. "Another one of your rewards is the ability to choose two additional [Basic Skills] beyond what you gained in the game!" At first glance, one might think this reward was underwhelming, but she was fully aware of the potential embedded within those basic skills. The versatility they offered could be game-changing if used wisely. As the details of the reward settled in her mind, a flurry of ideas began to form regarding which skills to choose and how to implement them in her strategy. She eagerly began scrolling through the extensive list, tapping twice when she found the [Skills] that resonated with her vision. "Alright! Now for the other rewards…" The being had snapped their fingers, however, instead of a screen appearing as she had anticipated, the golden door opened wide, revealing a shimmering light beyond it. She could feel her body being pulled in, like a vacuum sucking up dirt from the floor, an irresistible force that seemed to know her desires better than she did.

"Wait!" she called out desperately to the mysterious helper, who stood just beyond the threshold. "What about the other rewards?! What will happen to everything I've worked for?!"

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough," the being replied cryptically, a knowing smile playing on their lips. "I can assure you that you will love them greatly, far more than you can imagine right now." The last thing that she saw was them waving and smiling, a comforting gesture that somehow filled her with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "Good luck. I hope to see you soon."

As she was dragged into the door, a rush of emotions surged through her—fear, anticipation, and a flicker of hope. Everything turned black, engulfing her senses, as she was pulled into the unknown realm that awaited her on the other side. The journey ahead promised to be unlike anything she had ever experienced, but the uncertainty loomed heavily in her mind.