Klaus Williams, a 21-year-old college student, was one of the top players in “Trials of Genesis”, an open-world MMORPG that revolutionized gaming with its state-of-the-art virtual technology—allowing players to fully transfer their consciousness into the game. Like any fantasy MMORPG, it featured diverse classes, formidable bosses, and powerful magic, but what truly set it apart was its sentient-like NPCs. These NPCs behaved and responded just like real humans, making the game world feel eerily alive.
Klaus had cemented his place as one of the best, ranking third on the leaderboards in both PvP and overall level within just a year of the game's release. However, his relentless pursuit of excellence came at a cost—his health. With Trials of Genesis offering a monetary system that allowed in-game currency to be converted into real money, Klaus had turned his passion into both a hobby and a job, grinding endlessly in pursuit of wealth and dominance.
Klaus finally made up his mind to step outside. The dizziness from his relentless gaming sessions was getting to him. "I’ve solidified my rank anyway... A quick break at the park should be my reward, haha," he mused with a wry smile.
Yet, deep down, he knew that gaming—even at the highest level—wasn’t enough. Despite reaching the top ranks, despite earning more money than he could ever need, an unsettling emptiness lingered. His college studies? Just a formality to appease his parents. His future? A blank void beyond the game. What was left for him after this?
The very thing that had once been his passion had turned into nothing more than a job, draining the joy out of it. In pursuit of success, he had lost touch with everything else—friends, relationships, a life beyond the screen.
Lost in thought, Klaus wandered aimlessly until he reached the park. Taking a seat on a bench, he stared at the open sky, contemplating the purpose of his existence.
And then, just as he was about to sink deeper into his thoughts—something appeared.
[Congratulations, Klaus Williams! You have been entrusted with the Genesis System.]
[Do you agree to bind this system to your soul?]
[Yes] [No]
Klaus stared blankly at the holographic screen floating before him, his expression frozen in shock. He had merely stepped out for some fresh air after an intense gaming marathon, yet now, this strange phenomenon was unfolding before his eyes.
‘So, 120 hours of gameplay must be my limit before I start hallucinating’ he mused with a wry smile, letting out a small chuckle. Despite the absurdity of it all, curiosity got the better of him. Treating the screen as nothing more than a figment of his exhausted mind, he tapped [Yes] without hesitation.
The screen vanished instantly. Yet, nothing seemed to change.
“Was that it? Is my delusion over?" he muttered, shrugging as he turned to leave. But before he could take a step, a sudden weakness overtook his body, his vision darkening at an alarming rate.
‘So this is how I die, huh?’
That was his last thought before collapsing onto the cold, unforgiving ground of the park.
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[Teleportation Array Activated]
A massive circular barrier suddenly materialized around Klaus’s unconscious body, encasing him in a glowing enclosure. Slowly, his body lifted off the ground, suspended in mid-air.
[Teleportation loading... 1%]
[Teleportation loading... 24%]
As the percentage climbed, the barrier’s hue shifted into a brilliant white, illuminating the entire park. Strangely, not a single passerby seemed to notice the extraordinary phenomenon unfolding before them.
[Teleportation loading... 56%]
[Teleportation loading... 79%]
[Teleportation loading... 100%]
The moment the loading bar reached its completion, the barrier erupted in a radiant flash—engulfing Klaus in blinding light.
And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared... it vanished.
[Teleportation Completed]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the heart of a dense forest, a lush canopy of trees, shrubs, and mushrooms covered the landscape. Amidst the greenery, a lone figure lay motionless on the ground—a young man in his twenties, seemingly lost in a deep, undisturbed sleep. He was clad in a leather tunic and pants, his jet-black hair swaying gently with the passing breeze.
What set him apart, however, was the faintly glowing blue barrier encircling his body. The shimmering shield pulsed softly before gradually fading into nothingness. As it vanished, the man’s body stirred—first, a slight twitch of his fingers, then the faint movement of his hand. Moments later, his dark eyes fluttered open, greeted by the sight of towering trees and glimpses of the blue sky peeking through the dense foliage above.
"Where am I?"
Klaus forced his aching body to sit up, his head still spinning. As he scanned his surroundings, all he could see were towering trees and dense shrubs. Confusion settled in.
"How the hell did I get here? Last thing I remember, I was at the park near my house..." he muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
Then, without warning—
[Welcome, Awakened Klaus Williams, to the World of Arcadia.]
[As mentioned before, your soul has been merged with the Genesis System.]
[The Genesis System grants you the ability to enhance your body without limits.]
[Introduction Completed.]
[Initiating Status...]
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Available stat point: 4
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"This is all too much for the moment... I can’t wrap my head around it at all," Klaus muttered, rubbing his temples.
His mind raced as he stared at the floating system interface. ‘The Genesis System… It’s exactly like the one in Trials of Genesis...’, He had spent countless hours mastering that game, yet this felt different—too real, too vivid. The sensation of the cool forest air, the rough ground beneath him, the dull ache in his body—it was nothing like the artificial sensations of VR.
"Still… this doesn’t feel like a game. It feels like I’m back in Trials of Genesis… and yet, at the same time, it isn't."
Taking a deep breath, Klaus pushed aside his confusion for now. He focused on the system screen, scanning the details carefully. If this worked like the game, then—
Close.
The status window disappeared instantly, confirming his suspicion. "At least that part still works the same," he sighed. With the interface gone, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. If this was truly happening, then the first step was clear—he needed to figure out what kind of world he had just woken up in.