On the doorstep of my house stood a young man with blond hair and blue eyes. His smile resembled a clown's, sincere but also slightly naive.
I realized that he was standing outside my door only when I caught his attempts to come up with a witty remark.
His expectations were obviously related to the fact that he was preparing for a joke, however, I interrupted his thoughts by quickly opening the door.
— I know that you're going to make a joke now, let's get to the point.
I said with a slight smile.
The situation was extraordinary. I didn't move out of my parents' house because I had found a job in Tokyo. It was a step that opened up new horizons for me, but I didn't feel the need to leave my familiar surroundings.
However, my parents, believing that I was ready for independence, moved out of the house first, leaving it in my care.
This house, once filled with laughter and cozy evenings, became a place of personal growth for me. I filled it with my own memories. Every room held a piece of my childhood, and I was in no hurry to let it go.
Nevertheless, living in a metropolis like Tokyo required adaptation and determination. While my work was interesting and dynamic, I sometimes felt disconnected from what mattered to me.
This young man standing on my doorstep became a bridge between my past and my present. His humor and ease reminded me that sometimes it's worth taking a moment to appreciate the little things.
So Katzu and I approached the locked doors of his teenage room. The door was painted a bright blue color, and there were a bunch of different accessories around it related to his hobbies.
— How are you liking Seoul?
I asked as I watched Katzu pull the key out of his pocket. He looked at me with a smile, as if reminiscing about his first days in the city. Seoul had become a new home for him, full of opportunities and challenges.
When our parents decided to move, Katzu didn't stay behind. He immediately packed up and followed them.
His choice was unusual for most people. Many young people dream of traditional careers, but he decided to pursue professional gaming. This decision became more than just a hobby; it became a way of life.
He now streams on a popular platform. His streams attract a large number of viewers, and he actively engages with his audience. Katzu not only plays games but also creates content, reviewing games and sharing his experiences. This requires a lot of time and effort.
He often talks about his successes and challenges. Seoul offers many opportunities for streamers, but it also has a lot of competition.
Every day, he faces challenges that require creativity and perseverance. I admire his determination and commitment to self-improvement.
— That's good enough. I didn't expect you to get a year-long vacation and decide to try something you hated so much.
— Because there were reasons for it. Keep going!
Katzu, peeking into the room with curiosity, noticed how the dusty atmosphere reminded him of long-forgotten moments.
The blue door, which opened with a distinctive clicking sound, became a symbol of returning to the past.
My brother's room, lost in time, was filled with memories and objects that seemed to come alive at first glance. The dark curtains, carefully drawn, concealed everything from the light of the sunny day.
The center of attention was an old VR headset that had been left unused. It looked somewhat outdated, but it still retained the spirit of innovation.
Next to it was an unusual gaming chair, specially designed for complete immersion in virtual worlds. Without wasting any time, Katzu approached the device, his eyes shining with excitement.
— Oh, my beautiful one! It's been a while since I turned it on!
As Katzu continued to caress the gaming machine, he looked at me with a playful smile.
— So, what are you going to play on my princess?
Before I could finish my thought about what game I wanted to discuss with my brother, someone outside rang the doorbell. This sound made me quickly stand up and head towards the front door.
I was expecting to receive a package that I had been looking forward to. Meanwhile, my brother, named Katzu, was looking at me in confusion, not understanding what I was talking about.
I still hadn't mentioned what game I wanted to try, and there was a slight worry in his eyes.
With caution, I opened the box, which was about the size of a medium-sized plate. Inside was the game I had been wanting for a long time.
— Here, I ordered Log Apofis Horizons
I said with enthusiasm as I showed the contents. At that moment, Katzu's eyes widened as if he had seen something incredible. His hands began to tremble slightly with excitement.
— Do you know that this is the most challenging VR MMORPG game in the world? The top players couldn't even get close to killing the bosses!
At first glance, the game looked rather ordinary. However, the mere fact that it was Log Apofis Horizons evoked a storm of emotions within him.
This game has a reputation among fans, and Katsu, being one of them, knew everything about it.
— Why are you reacting to it like this?
— This game is in the Top 1 of the "Impossible" games in the world, no matter how hard you try to reach the story quests or the boss. You'll die, and often! This is the Joker's trap.
Katsu took the disc from my hands and began to examine the image and description of the game.
— I play it from time to time, too, so if you want something a little easier, you'd better give up on that idea...
— Oh, no! You're not scaring me. I'm only interested in playing Log Apofis!
I took the game box from my brother's hands. Katzu sighed in understanding and turned to the VR helmet in understanding, turning on the VR helmet.
— Since you've decided, give me the game's hard drive. But don't complain or call for help later!
I ran happily to the game machine, sat down, and handed the game's hard drive to my brother. He put the VR helmet on me and pressed the golden "Start" button.
— Vyatko, get ready...
My brother started to say something, but I couldn't hear him anymore. My mind and eyes were focused on the green game logo that appeared on the screen.
[ Welcome to Log Apofis Horizons! Pioneer! ]
«Yes, hello, Mr. Game. I don't know anything yet, but it looks interesting»
[ Would you like to create an Avatar before playing?]
[ YES/NO ]
«No. I don't care about looks, let it be at your discretion."
You know, it's like when you download a mobile game and you're too lazy to create a character, then you just pray to the goddess of luck and expect to look good. That's why I skipped creating an avatar and went straight to the name.
[What should I call you? Enter your name]
Green letters were flashing in front of my eyes. Then I realized that I was a master at making up names, so I entered a new name. I didn't want to be a girl in the game world, especially since I had chosen the female gender out of curiosity.
[ Do you want to call yourself "Disava"?]
Yes, Mr. Game. I want to call myself Disava!
[ Okay, then have a good game in Log Apofis Horizons!]
Everything around me turned black, and I began to float in an infinitely dark space, where I surprisingly began to feel cold. The sensations were so real that I almost thought it was all real.
Katzu once said, "VR games use special electrons exposed in the helmets, and the electrons share information with our brains, allowing us to experience everything we feel in the real world."
In the darkness where I was floating, a green dot appeared. As I floated towards it, I clicked on it, and the world changed dramatically. I felt the ground beneath my feet, and my eyes saw colors, lots of colors.
The blue sky was visible through the six-meter-tall ferns.
After observing for a while, I decided to stand up and look at my body. The first thing I saw were humanoid hands with a hint of green. At least I had blue shorts on.
— I'm a little embarrassed about this. Oh!
I was startled by my own voice, which was a little deeper and different from the one I had in the real world.
After finding a small puddle, I looked into it, but I shouldn't have done that. In the puddle, I saw the face of a human or a toad, but why was it so cartoonish?
— It looks really strange.
There was a worn-out dagger near me, with a stone tip and a hardwood handle wrapped in grass. I was curious about what it was, so I brought the dagger closer, and a translucent green icon appeared.
[Homemade Dagger]
Level: 1
Quality: Common
A worn-out, handcrafted dagger. Its tip is carved from a rough-hewn stone, and its handle is made of sturdy wood and wrapped with dried grass for a comfortable grip. Despite its simplicity, this weapon is capable of delivering a swift strike and deterring small predators.
Damage: 2-4
Durability: 15/15
Attack speed: High
Feature: Light, but fragile. Breaks easily in combat.
"Better than bare hands... but only a little."
Although I was somewhat used to this place, my confusion was screaming at me to do something rather than stand still. Just as an opportunity presented itself, a noise came from the nearby bushes.
"I'm afraid to ask who's there"
A small green creature came out of the bushes, with a small red rosebud for a head. The creature was moving around in a panic, as if it wanted help.
— My little one, how would you like me to help you?
Suddenly, the flower's hand-like roots changed their shape and developed red thorns. The bud itself began to hiss.
— Don't tell me you're a bad boy! Game, show me who it is!
[Pink Predator]
Level: 1
Class: Mutant Plant
Quality: Normal Mob
A creature that looks like a fused bud and beast, hiding among the vines. Its body is covered in tree bark and thorns, and its head is a bright red rose with jaws. These monsters often lie in wait for careless travelers. Their "petals" emit a sweet scent that lulls caution.
Health: 120 HP
Damage: 8-14 (physical, piercing)
Attack speed: Average
Ability: "Petal Fragrance" — reduces target's defense by 10% for 5 seconds.
Feature: Attacks from ambush, often appears in groups.
"The beauty of a flower is rarely harmless."
I'll have to agree with you, it's a good thing I have this dagger. To be honest, I've never fought monsters before, and this is my first time.
So I need to be careful, even though I know about the peculiarities of this bud, I'm afraid that if it pricks me with its thorns, I'm done for.
The Pink Predator pointed its thorny sprouts at me, and with unexpected speed, red thorns flew in my direction. Quickly assessing the situation, I hid behind a nearby rock.
"I have to act, or this Pink Predator will take my life, or I will take it myself!"