I found myself falling from the sky along with hundreds of people. Or maybe thousands. There was no wind, no sound. Just a rush of air that didn't feel real. And I realized they were wearing the default armor for beginner classes while I still had the same stinky clothes I wore when I was at the beach. Then, with a jolt that knocked the breath from my lungs, I hit solid ground. I lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky. It was too perfect. A dome of soft blue stretched above, broken only by distant clouds and the silhouettes of flying ships drifting across the horizon. My fingers brushed the floor beneath me—marble, veined with light.
I stood. "First, I have no class, then no armor? what the hell..." I muttered, catching a whiff of the stench coming from my hoodie.
All around me, more people were dropping from the sky, slamming into the plaza with grunts, gasps, and the occasional scream. One after another, they landed in scattered clusters, sprawled across the gleaming floor like digital debris. And I realized that I'd landed in the heart of the colosseum in Arkanos, the starting zone of Etherveil. The first haven.
"W-Woah…" I stuttered, observing the surreal surroundings. "This view might be better than New York City..."
Towers rose around us, tall, majestic, carved with glowing runes that pulsed like veins through stone. Floating lanterns drifted overhead, their warm glow casting dancing shadows across the plaza. In the far distance, waterfalls spilled from cliffs suspended midair, defying logic.
To the east, a bazaar buzzed with life. Rows of wooden stalls lined the stone streets, each draped in colorful silks and fluttering banners. Vendors barked prices in a dozen languages, waving roasted skewers, fragrant dumplings, and steaming bowls of stew. The smell was overwhelming—spices and firewood, caramelized onions and sizzling meat. My stomach growled, and for a second, it felt like a real place. Like I could live here.
To the west, the clang of metal rang out from the blacksmith's row. Massive forges glowed red behind iron-grated windows. Swordsmiths and armor dealers lined their storefronts, showing off gleaming weapons and intricately carved shields. Enchantment crystals hovered above racks of gear, pulsing faintly with elemental energy. Players who came earlier than I did crowded around the shops, wide-eyed, and conversed.
The city was alive.
A kid with bright yellow hair shouted, "I'm a mage!" He pointed his staff in multiple directions until he accidentally slapped a walking warrior.
Meanwhile, I stood there in my soggy and stinky hoodie. Totally unprepared.
Then a deep voice echoed across the colosseum.
"Welcome, Chosen Ones, to Etherveil."
Everybody raised their heads.
A glowing NPC with a golden knight avatar descended slowly from the sky, its body surrounded by a soft halo of light. Its armor shimmered like diamond, every edge catching and scattering the light in brilliant flashes. With a controlled, weightless motion, it landed on the ground. The impact sent a faint pulse through the earth, more for effect than force. Then it spoke, its voice echoing through the air like a loudspeaker in a cathedral.
"Rejoice! For you, five thousand champions... have been reborn into this world. A world where you can become a hero."
Some cheered, some whispered nervously. A guy near me gasped, "W-Woah…"
I tried to look casual, like I belonged here.
"Hey, how do I go home?!" someone shouted. "I actually forgot to turn off my oven…"
The NPC turned its head slowly, locking eyes with the speaker.
"I'm afraid that's impossible," it replied. "You must clear this game if you wish to go back to your original world."
A heavy silence followed. No one moved. The air felt like it had thickened.
Then, a voice cracked through the silence. "Wait, what if we die here?!"
The NPC turned its head again slowly, locking eyes with the speaker.
"You're not just playing. You've been reborned here." it said. "You were transported, completely. Your body. Your soul."
The NPC stepped forward, the sound of its metal foot clanking against the floor.
"If you die here… then you die for real." It said. "This is no longer a game. This is your new life."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Someone screamed. Someone fell to their knees. I could tell from their faces that they've regretted the decision they made.
A girl near me whispered, "Wait… we can't all go back on our own will? My mom…"
A guy with thick glasses sank to his knees. "My cats…"
A tall guy in battered plate armor yelled. "How do we level up?! Where are the mobs?!"
I looked at the tall guy. "Is this guy a total newbie?" I thought.
The NPC raised a glowing hand, and the sky lit up with a burst of shimmering light. A scroll unfurled in midair, then multiplied, dropping copies into every player's hands.
"To aid your journey, each of you will receive a map of the first haven of Etherveil." It said.
Hands eagerly unfolded the maps. I flipped mine open and stared at the sprawling world— cities, forests, mini dungeons, and ominous areas marked with "???" that screamed danger.
"For the next 24 hours, all players will receive double experience and gold from every activity. Use this time wisely. This is your head start." The NPC said and shattered into fragments.
The crowd erupted. Someone shouted, "Let's GOOOO!" and everyone bolted toward the nearest gate.
I stayed still, trying to blend in as the chaos swirled around me. Everyone was already plotting their grinding routes like their lives depended on it.
I glanced down at my map and grinned.
A tiny forest icon, barely visible and unlabeled, sat in the lower-left corner. I remembered it. Back in the early beta, rumors swirled about a hidden chest buried deep in that forest. No one ever confirmed it, but I spent hours scouring forums and clipping through trees until I stumbled upon it once by accident. It should contain a random item that'll help me for a bit. And I decided to go there before anyone else even knew it existed.
"Time to see if my memory's still sharp," I thought, jogging toward the nearest gate—toward the woods, toward my only edge in this insane new world.
The forest loomed dark and misty on the horizon. It was too quiet. No birds chirped, no wind stirred the leaves. Still, I pressed on, zigzagging between ancient trees until I found the crumbling stone marker I remembered. Ten paces north, three east—and there it was. Nestled in the roots, half-buried under moss and dirt, a wooden chest trimmed in gold, faintly glowing. I knelt, heart pounding, and lifted the lid. Inside sat a mysterious item. A system window popped above it:
[ITEM ACQUIRED]: EASTER EGG
—???
My smile faded. "Great."
But there was more: a rusty-edged dagger, a single health potion, and a scroll that could summon a chicken leg.
I stared at it. "Well… not exactly Excalibur, but I'll take what I can get."
I was about to stash everything when the ground trembled beneath me. A low vibration. Then heavier. Thud. Thud. Thud. Footsteps. Coming closer.
A voice echoed through the trees:
"Give me what you looted."
My eyes snapped open. "Crap. I'd forgotten there were players like this too."
Slowly, I stood, fingers tightening around the rusty dagger. If they thought I'd hand over my loot without a fight, they were dead wrong.
An American, tall, muscular player stepped into the clearing, drawing a bronze sword. He radiated smug confidence. His class was warrior.
"Didn't think anyone else knew about this place," He said. "Too bad for you."
He slashed the air, and suddenly crimson lines burst across his body.
A system window popped over his head:
[Skill Activated]: Frenzy
[ATK Speed +50%, ATK Power +30% for 10 seconds]
My jaw dropped. "I don't remember the warrior class being overpowered. Maybe they made some changes…"
Then another system window appeared in front of me:
[New Skill Detected]: Copy Skill? [Y/N]
"Huh?" I whispered.
Before I could think twice, I tapped "Yes."
[Skill Copied: Frenzy]
My vision sharpened, heartbeat pounding. The skill hummed in my blood like a live wire.
"This feels so real…" I said. "Way too real."
He lunged. I dodged just in time. Blades clashed—dagger against sword. I was faster, sharper. Not skilled, but desperation gave me an edge. My blade nicked his arm. He snarled, "FUCK! THAT HURTS!"
We traded sloppy, scrappy beginner blows.
Finally, I feinted and slammed the blade of my dagger into his ribs. He gasped, staggered, then shattered into fragments.
An announcement window flashed from the sky:
[Player 601: William Lincoln — Eliminated]
I dropped to one knee, breathing hard. The dagger was cracked. My health potion, I consumed. The scroll was still clutched tight in my hand.
"So this is really real…" I said.
Then I smiled. Because I had something better than a class or gear.
I had a secret no one else knew.
I could copy skills.