Cold...

That was the last thing I thought of. I died. Why did I die? I didn't die while trying to save someone heroically, nor was it a truck that hit me. It was a peaceful summer night as I was sleeping in my bedroom when I woke up to the creaking sound coming from the hallway. Only one explanation came to my mind. Thieves, there must be thieves at my home. I got up from my bed and reached out under it to grab my baseball bat, which I prepared for situations like this.

Opened my bedroom door carefully. I heard a sound that was coming from my study room. Making as little noise as possible on my fingertips, I get closer to my study room. Then was the time I saw the thief, collecting my belongings fastly. I observed him for a second to make a little plan in my head. My plan was simple: get close to him and hit his head as hard as possible to pass him out. After deciding, I approached him from behind silently as he was busy collecting my stuff.

Getting close enough, I raised my bat and tried to hit him with my full power. Because of my poor skills, unfortunately, I hit his shoulder instead of his head. Groaning with pain, he turned back as I welcomed him with another blow. Luckily, this one directly hits his head. From the impact of the hit, he passed out in front of me.

So, where do I die in this story? Let me explain. After I knocked out the thief, I immediately pulled out my phone to call the police. As I wrote on the phone's keyboard with the excitement coming from adrenaline, it took me longer because of some writing mistakes. But finally, I pressed the call button only to hear a step sound behind me, and yes, they were two people. Before I can react, he points the gun he already has ready in his hand at me and pulls the trigger. It hits my throat. My blood gushes as I fall to the ground. The voice of the emergency service worker comes from the phone that is still in my right hand, but all I can do is stare blankly at the phone while my blood is draining. The last thing I saw before I died was the thief approaching me and hanging up the call on the phone I was holding. And so my miserable life ended.

"Well, if I was a little more cautious, it wouldn't have ended like this. No point in regretting, because I can't change anything now..."

I wonder where I will go, heaven or hell? I don't even know if they really exist. Well, I wasn't a bad person, but I can't say that I was an angel either.

"Oh, how rude of me. Forgot to introduce myself. I'm Leon, a single man working for a shitty company and the person who you are reading the thoughts of now. I should really give up the habit of talking to myself..."

And now, in this dark place, I feel empty, weightless. All I can feel is the endless darkness. I can think but can't feel. I feel like I've had a stroke, but I know I don't have a body. I am now formless, shapeless… Am I just a spirit now? Is this how it feels? Ten days? One Month? One Year? Actually, I don't really know how much time has passed. Here, all my sense of time is distorted. Not knowing how much time had passed, I thought I would stay like this forever. Contrary to my desperate expectations, a panel appeared in front of me.

[YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS PLAYER 474]

[YOUR TRANSFER IS STARTING]

When I saw the writing on the panel, I felt like my soul was being pulled somewhere. Not only that, but also it gave me pain that was enough to pass me out. After regaining my consciousness and opening my eyes to be welcomed by light, I found myself in a white place, and it wasn't just a normal white everything around me was in white. And so ridiculously large that I couldn't see its end. As if it's not weird enough, there is not even a landform; this white place is completely plain.

Wait, eyes, yes, I have my eyes again. I tried to move my hands and body parts. They are all here and healthy. After staying in that dark place for an unknown time, having my body again made me happy. Getting up from the weird white ground, I looked around. But all I can see is flat white ground that goes to eternity: no sound, no animal, no human, not even a wind, just nothingness. Oh, and I'm naked, not like someone can see me here, but still, it feels odd. Standing there, I think about what I will do.

[SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]

[YOU CAN INTERACT THROUGH IT BY THINKING OR SAYING "STATUS"]

[TRIAL 1 WILL START IN 60 SECONDS]

Getting surprised by the sudden mechanical sound, I tried to ask what was a trial or where I was, but it seemed like this system thing, or whatever it was, won't answer my questions. In the end, I opened the system panel by saying status because the system said so or just because there was nothing to do in this white place.

[NAME: Leon]

[LEVEL: 1(0/20)]

[HP: 100/100]

[MP: 20/20]

[STRENGTH: 7]

[AGILITY: 8]

[VITALITY: 10]

[INTELLIGENCE: 2]

[ATTRIBUTE POINTS: 0]

[SKILL POINTS: 0]

[SKILLS: ---]

[CURRENT TRIAL-1]

I can't say that I was a real player when I was alive, but I know enough to know this screen comes from a game. I guess I will wait until this trial thing starts.

When the trial time came, my surroundings changed, from its flat and white ground, first its flat shape, and after its color. It took only a few seconds to gain a forest looking. After the environment was created, something from light gained a shape, like the creation of the environment before. Light took only a few seconds to have a certain form.

The created thing was exactly looking like a goblin. I don't see a goblin every day, but from his short height, green skin, and of course, that ugly face, anyone who has played one or two fantasy games could know what this thing is. After its creation, the goblin opened his red eyes full of madness and anger and directed his gaze at me.

[DEFEAT YOUR OPPONENT]

"Oh fuck," I thought to myself.

-CHAPTER 1 END-