Chapter 1:
"Victory!"
Leo Makjin grinned as the raid boss exploded into light. Rare loot scattered across the arena. His headset buzzed with his guildmates' cheers.
"Easy run."
"Leo clutched it again!"
"Obsidian Soulshard—no way!"
Leo leaned back. The screen lit his dark room, glowing off half-eaten ramen and empty energy drink cans.
Top of the leaderboard again.
But he felt… nothing.
He sighed and moved his mouse.
Then the screen froze. It flickered.
> [SYNC ERROR DETECTED]
[RECEIVING UNKNOWN SIGNAL...]
A low hum filled the room. The lights dimmed.
"What the—"
FLASH.
Everything went white.
> ...Loading Interface...
Initializing User...
User: Leo Makjin
Class: ???
Starting Zone: Eldorian Forest
Leo gasped.
Cold air stung his lungs. The smell of wet earth and rot hit him hard.
He stumbled upright. Same hoodie. Same joggers. But no room. No PC.
He was in a forest.
Huge, twisted trees towered above him, blocking out most of the sky. The moonlight barely made it through the thick branches.
The ground pulsed faintly, roots glowing underneath.
"What the hell…"
He took a step forward, eyes wide.
The forest felt alive—watching, waiting. Shadows moved even when nothing did.
Then—
> [STATUS MENU OPENED]
A glowing window floated in front of him.
> Name: Leo Makjin
Race: Human
Class: None
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 10
Vitality: 10
Luck: ?
Skills: None
Inventory: Empty
"Level 1. Great."
He waved his hand. The menu faded like fireflies.
Snap.
A branch cracked nearby.
Leo turned fast, gripping a thick stick like a bat. Nothing was there. But the mist felt different now. Closer.
He backed up, heart racing.
Then he saw it—tiny glowing mushrooms. Pale blue. They formed a trail through the trees.
He followed.
The trail led to a wide clearing.
In the center stood a dead tree—massive, gray, and stone-like. It looked ancient, like it had been turned to rock long ago.
At the base of the tree… was a skeleton.
It wore fine, old robes. Not something a traveler would have. Sigils stitched into the cloth. Metal thread along the seams.
Leo hesitated.
Then stepped closer.
A leather-bound book rested beside the bones, partially tucked into a weathered satchel. Leo brushed off the leaves, took the satchel, and opened the journal inside.
> Golem Maker's Journal – Entry 043
If you found this, I've either failed… or you're like me.
The Fog doesn't kill fast. It eats your mind.
I tried to stop it. I built something to resist it.
Maybe you can finish what I couldn't.
My name is Elias Thanem. I was a Golem Maker.
This is my legacy.
Leo's hands shook.
"The Fog...?"
Something shimmered beside the body. A silver ring. It glowed faintly, covered in tiny moving runes.
> [Item Acquired: Whispering Ring]
He picked it up.
The air changed. The tree behind him pulsed once. His vision swam. Whispers brushed his thoughts.
Another window popped up.
> [Item: Whispering Ring]
Rarity: Uncommon
Effect: Slight resistance to mind-affecting effects.
Special: May reveal memory echoes tied to nearby objects or places.
> [Main Quest Acquired!]
Quest: Legacy of the Golem Makers
Progress: [1/3]
Objective: Survive the night
Status: 🔄 In Progress
Reward (Upon Completion): Skill – Survival Instinct
A distant howl broke the silence. Then another. And another.
Leo turned. The forest stayed still. But he knew—they were out there.
He looked down one last time at the bones of Elias.
For a long moment, he knelt in silence.
Then, using a flat stone, Leo began to dig.
It wasn't deep. But it was enough.
He buried the remains beneath the tree where Elias had died, placing the satchel and journal carefully back into his own gear.
A quiet moment passed. Then Leo stood.
He slipped the ring on.
"If this is a game…"
He gripped his stick tighter.
"…then I'm going to win."