Lying in a pool of his own blood, his body broken and his vision fading, Jan once again found himself succumbing to the darkness.
[YOU DIED]
How many times now?
Ten ? Perhaps even more—He had lost count.
[You won't receive any penalties or punishment. In Valkeries City, you respawn 3 seconds after death with only 20% of your HP.]
[Valkeries City]
'I don't wanna die anymore. I don't know how I keep coming back, but this is real... Death is real!"
He felt it all, every single time. The agony, the fear, the helplessness…
Even now, standing whole again, his body trembled at the memory of fangs tearing through his flesh.
He couldn't escape.
No matter what he tried, it was always the same—another death, another reset… It all started with a voice.
It wasn't a human voice—something hollow, almost mechanical.
[WELCOME TO DIMENSIONS]
Upon hearing that, Jan's eyes snapped open.
But there was nothing—only an endless, suffocating void stretching in every direction.
"What the hell?!" His voice echoed into the emptiness. "Who's there?"
No response.
[SCANNING…]
Glowing words flickered into existence, floating weightlessly in the abyss.
Before Jan could react, two orbs of light burst into view.
They zipped through the void, twisting and spiraling around him like restless fireflies.
His pulse spiked. "What the—"
The lights moved too fast for him to follow, flickering past his head.
Jan swiped instinctively, but they danced out of reach.
[Scanning Complete]
[Name: Jan Wylde]
[System Check: Completed]
Jan forgot to breathe for a second before blurting out:
"What in the world?!" He tried to step back—only to realize he couldn't move.
A cold, invisible force held him in place.
"Hey! Who's there? How do you know my name? Answer me!"
His voice rang through the void, but there were no answers.
A flicker of panic bloomed in his chest. He jerked instinctively, thrashing against the invisible grip holding him,
A flicker of panic bloomed in his chest. He jerked his body, trying to move. He twisted and fought against the invisible grip binding him, straining with every ounce of strength he had.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't budge an inch. He could only watch on as the orbs of light pulsed brighter.
[Choosing Your Race…]
Jan's frustration boiled over. "I said STOP!!"
[Race Selection Skipped.]
[Scanning… Scanning…]
"What?! What do you mean skipped?" He shouted, but the system did not respond.
Instead, the lights spiraled toward him.
A fine, shimmering dust rained down over his body.
The moment it touched him, a crushing exhaustion slammed into his chest.
His limbs felt like lead, his vision blurred, and his thoughts grew sluggish…
Before he could resist, once again…
Everything went black.
[Creating Character…]
[Completed]
[Logging into Dimensions…]
***
When he opened his eyes again, it was to blinding sunlight.
A breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of freshly baked bread and the sound of bustling voices.
Jan blinked rapidly, adjusting to the sudden brightness:
He now stood in the middle of a city!
"What the…?"
A massive, open plaza stretched before him, alive with people. Merchants called out, advertising wares. Knights in polished armor patrolled the streets. The scent of roasted meat from a nearby tavern mingled with the herbal aroma of a flower stall.
Jan's mind reeled.
'I-I was just in front of the library! I think I was asleep a second ago? Did I hit my head? No… this is real. Too real!'
Before he could process anything, a window popped up.
***********************
[INSTRUCTIONS]
[Welcome, Jan Wylde, to Dimensions.]
Dimensions is a universal virtual reality game.
Your goal is to reach Floor 100.
-New players begin in Valkeries City.
-There are currently 50 races.
-As a beginner, you would normally be able to choose from 25 starter races.
-Due to unusual circumstances, your race has been chosen for you.
-Your Race: Low-Human
To access your inventory, shout "INVENTORY." (We left you a present!)
To activate a skill, shout the skill's name.
...
For more details, shout "GUIDE."
**************************
Jan Froze… Then scowled.
"Get this thing out of my face!"
With an irritated swipe, he dismissed the glowing text without reading it.
The holographic window blinked out of existence. He didn't have time to deal with it, for everything he could see was wrong! The people. The buildings. The entire city.
It was too much.
His pulse thundered in his ears.
'What the hell is going on?'
Before he could collect himself, and before he could even take a deep breath—Another window interrupted his thoughts.
****************************
[Congratulations! You Have Earned a New Title!]
[TITLE: SON OF ZERYPH]
Description:
Your father is shouting from the heavens:
"We have faced far worse than this, one fallen mortal."
"But we are the gods! We are the rulers of this land!"
"SON!"
"We shall stand together. We shall wipe out this plague!"
"Mandros… will prevail!"
"Just as the dragons once granted Zeryph dominion over lightning—making him king of gods and mortals alike—so too shall he, your father, grant you the same gift, letting fate repeat itself."
Effect:
Lightning Affinity: Your body and soul resonate with the power of lightning, granting increased effectiveness with all Lightning-based spells and abilities.
Lightning Resistance: Thunderlord's Wrath (Passive): Any lightning attacks you receive will be absorbed and can be used at any time without consuming Mana.]
[Bound Special Mission: Reach Floor 91]
***********************************
This time, Jan read the window carefully. As the words sank in, his frustration boiled over.
"What the hell is this bullshit?!" he yelled. "For a second, I felt bad ignoring them—but no, just more nonsense!"
Heads turned. Conversations halted. People nearby stared at him, startled by his sudden outburst.
Jan didn't even notice them. His eyes darted around scanning the city, eyes wide with disbelief.
He wasn't dreaming.
He stood at the heart of a vast, ancient city, its towering stone walls stretching high above, encircling the bustling plaza. The walls were intricately carved with angelic figures, their celestial wings unfurling as if watching over the people below.
At the very center of the plaza, a colossal statue dominated the space. A man—regal and powerful—stood atop a marble pedestal, his gaze sharp and unwavering. The weight of his stare sent a chill down Jan's spine, forcing him to look away.
Instead, he focused on the streets.
The plaza bustled with life. Merchants called out, their voices weaving through the air, advertising goods ranging from fresh produce and hand-forged weapons to mysterious glowing artifacts. The aroma of roasting meat and freshly baked bread mixed with the earthy scent of pine drifting from the nearby groves.
Jan swallowed hard.
Everything—the sounds, the scents, the warmth of the sun on his skin—it all felt too real.
Too convincing.
Yet, no matter how real it felt… he couldn't accept it.
Just as Jan tried to process it all, a merchant approached, grinning wide.
"Hey, adventurer! Looking for a weapon? What's your class? I've got everything you need—swords, staffs, even enchanted gear! And since it's your first time, I'll throw in a discount!"
Jan blinked. "…"
The merchant leaned in. "So, interested?"
"N-No, thank you."
Jan instinctively refused, nodding politely. Then, as the words began to resonate with him, his entire body stiffened.
"WHAT?" His voice boomed across the plaza.
"CLASS? WEAPON? WHAT THE HELL IS THIS PLACE?!!"
By now, he was making a scene. Dozens of eyes turned. Whispers spread. But Jan didn't care—his mind was spinning, torn between awe and disbelief.
"I need to calm down," he muttered under his breath.
Silence stretched around him as he suddenly sat down, completely motionless.
This added to the public confusion, and more people started gathering.
"What is he doing?"
"Is he meditating?"
"I think it's a mage skill!"
Curious murmurs rose as people gathered around the strange young man sitting perfectly still in the middle of the plaza.
Then—
"OKAY!"
Jan suddenly sprang to his feet, startling the entire crowd.
Without hesitation, he marched up to the nearest person. "Who's in charge around here? I need to speak to them."
The man blinked, thrown off by the change in Jan's demeanor. "I-In charge?"
Another person chimed in, "You mean the knights?"
"Knights?" Jan frowned. "Okay. Whatever. Where can I find them?"
A young woman hesitantly pointed. "O-Oh, um… you can find them close to the council hall. You can't miss them—they wear red capes."
Jan exhaled, nodding. "Great. Thanks."
As he turned to leave, a dry chuckle escaped his lips.
"I'm being dumb. I'm really getting worked up over nothing. This has to be that new Medieval park Jordan told me about. They went all out—this place looks way too real. And the costumes? Insane. Even the visitors are fully in character. No way that many actors are on payroll."
Still, something about it bothered him.
'How did I even get here?'
His thoughts were interrupted when he suddenly realized something.
"Wait… where is this council hall they mentioned?"
Just then, a troop of knights marched past, fully armored, their crimson capes billowing behind them. But it wasn't their presence that caught Jan's attention—it was the man leading them.
His helmet stood out, gleaming in the sunlight with a metallic sheen. Unlike the others, his visor covered his entire face, leaving only a narrow slit that pulsed with an eerie glow. Menacing wing-like extensions curved back from the sides, and a bold crest ran from forehead to nape.
'Okay, that guy has to be important.'
Without hesitation, Jan stepped forward and called out,
"Excuse me, sir! Can you tell me the way to the bus stop?"
The knight paused. His head tilted slightly.
"…I'm sorry, but I do not understand your question."
Jan sighed. "Come on, man—the bus. Where's the station?"
The knight's posture didn't change. "I don't know anything called a 'bus' around here."
Jan groaned. 'This guy is seriously committed to the act.'
"…Fine. Then tell me—how do I leave this place?"
The knight nodded. "That, I can help with. If you want to leave the city, head to the main gate, up north."
Jan's shoulders sagged with relief. "Finally. Thanks."
As he turned to leave, the knight added—
"Beware of the monsters."
Jan froze.
"…Monsters?"
The knight's voice was calm, but firm.
"Yes. The creatures in the Endlesscape. They're everywhere, attacking adventurers like you. There were even times when they broke into town. I want to end them but… there's just no end to them."
Jan blinked.
'Is this guy for real…?'
"You should be careful if you intend to go outside," the knight finished.
Jan snorted under his breath. "Wow, you're really sticking to your part, huh?"
The knight's head tilted again. "…Excuse me?"
Jan coughed. "Ah—nothing! I meant, uh—no monster can stand in my way!"
The knight regarded him for a moment.
Then, to Jan's surprise—he saluted.
"That's the spirit, adventurer."
Jan, caught off guard, hesitated—then awkwardly returned the salute before quickly walking away.
'Okay. That was weird.'
***
A few moments later…
100 meters outside the northern gate.
Jan stopped dead in his tracks.
His breath hitched.
"...You've gotta be kidding me."
The knight wasn't bluffing: They were real!
A dozen monstrous wolves surrounded him, their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger—as if he were already dead meat.
Their growls rumbled through the air, vibrating in his chest.
Fangs—long, jagged, glistening with saliva.
Claws—razor-sharp, digging into the dirt as they stalked forward.
Jan's blood ran cold. His brain screamed at him to move. To run. To do something… But he couldn't…
His legs refused to budge.
'No. No way. This isn't happening. This can't be real.'
One of the wolves stepped closer, snarling.
Jan stumbled back, and that was all it took…
A blur of fur and fangs lunged at him.
Then came the pain.
Sharp teeth sank into his arm, his leg, his side. The sheer force ripped him off his feet and sent him crashing to the ground.
"AAAGHHH!!!"
They tore into him like starving beasts, their claws ripping through skin and muscle with terrifying ease.
[-50]
[-100]
[-50]
[-100]
The pain was indescribable.
Jan gasped, his vision blurring. His body felt like it was being shredded apart from all sides.
His outstretched hand clawed at the dirt—
His thoughts spiraled into panic—
His consciousness faded. A dozen monstrous wolves surrounded him, their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger—as if he were already dead meat.
[YOU DIED]
FLASH.
Jan's eyes snapped open.
He was back.
The city. The plaza. The exact same spot.
He wasn't exhausted, yet his lungs heaved, sucking in sharp, desperate breaths.
His hands flew to his chest. His arms. His legs.
No wounds. No pain. Not even a scratch.
"...Oh God."
A trembling chuckle escaped his lips. His whole body shook as realization set in.
"I-I'm okay?"
But he wasn't okay.
His mind replayed the tearing flesh, the crunch of bones, the agony as the wolves ripped him apart.
Jan staggered back, his breathing ragged. "I—I just died."
His voice was hoarse. His heart pounded. His stomach churned.
"This… this isn't possible."
"Am I dreaming? Did I go insane? Is this some kind of sick prank?!"
Jan's thoughts spiraled in chaos, but one desperate instinct clawed its way to the surface.
"I need to escape this place."
For the next hour, he tried everything—each attempt more desperate than the last.
He tried screaming at the wolves, hurling rocks, even running to different gates—nothing worked.
At one point, he managed to outrun the wolves, only to be trapped by goblins who took pleasure in killing him slowly and painfully.
Once again, Jan found himself succumbing to the darkness, his body overwhelmed by the relentless assault.
The goblins' laughter was the last thing he heard before everything went black.
[Congratulations, you've obtained a new skill: Pain Resistance LV.1.]
[YOU DIED]
'How many times?'
'10? Maybe more,'
'I've lost count...'
[You won't receive any penalties or punishment. In Valkeries City, you respawn 3 seconds after death with only 20% of your HP.]
[Valkeries City]
Jan gasped as his eyes shot open, his body whole once more—yet the phantom pain of countless deaths still lingered.
"I don't want to die anymore."
He clutched his chest, feeling the frantic pounding of his heartbeat.
He didn't know how he kept coming back. But one thing was clear: This was real. Death was real.
The thought of stepping outside the city again sent a cold shiver through him.
Could he ever leave?
Would he be trapped here forever?
Where even was 'here'?
How did this happen?
Why him?
So many questions. But no answers.
He might not be physically injured, but he was mentally exhausted.
His legs moved on their own, wandering through the dimly lit streets of the city.
His mind wandered—until he collided with something solid.
Jan stumbled back, rubbing his forehead. "What…?"
His blurry vision adjusted to the darkness.
It wasn't a wall.
It sounded metallic.
He squinted harder—that's when he saw it.
A massive hand reaching out for him.
A deep voice rumbled.
"Adventurer? You're back!"