In life, the things we want, dream of, or long for sometimes never reach our hands no matter all our effort or dedication. It almost always depends on the luck we have or the necessary talent we possess.
Or better yet, the privileges we obtain at birth.
But even then, having talent or privileges does not guarantee you will achieve your goals.
It was something Park Suho had learned over a long period of time.
And while the rapid clicks of a mechanical keyboard echoed, Suho shouted with excitement:
"Quick, quick, quick, kill that miserable Skeleton King!"
The bluish light from the monitor illuminated his face with flickering flashes. On the screen, a dark and gloomy environment displayed the Skeleton King, an imposing undead covered in blackened gothic armor, wielding a sword of the same shade. The ruins of the place were filled with half-destroyed tombstones, wrapped in a dense fog that seemed to breathe with a life of its own.
A quick strike, a precise slash from the character controlled by Lucian, cut through the air.
The Skeleton King let out a metallic roar before crumbling into a thousand dark fragments.
And then, a shower of notifications flooded the screen:
... ...
[Mission Complete – Skeleton King Defeated]
[You Leveled Up: Level 4999 → Level 5000 (Maximum Level)]
[You have acquired the skill – Necromancer]
[You have acquired the skill – Soul Stealer]
[You have acquired the skill – Shadow and Darkness Manipulation]
[New Weapon Acquired – Eternal Death Blade]
[You have acquired – Underworld Darkness Armor]
[New Title Acquired – Hunter of Life and Death]
[New Title Acquired – Tamer of Conceptual Entities]
[Congratulations on defeating the Skeleton King
A unique and exclusive boss of the 2029 Halloween event
The Skeleton King is an avatar of the Conceptual Entity known as Death
You have gained the respect of the God of Death]
[You have acquired +78,000,000 experience points]
... ...
"That's it!" shouted Suho with a satisfied smile. "I leveled up again! I reached the max!"
His hands rose triumphantly.
"Finally… I can't believe it… I just defeated another exclusive boss," he murmured, still in disbelief. "These guys are hard to find and very difficult to beat… and once defeated, they never appear again."
Suho leaned back in his gaming chair, exhaling with a childlike smile.
"I'm the best player to ever exist." He laughed with a touch of irony. "I was born for this game… I live for this game."
In front of him, a 31-year-old man wearing simple home clothes and with completely messy blond hair allowed himself to be wrapped in the dim glow of the LED lights in his room. He had blue eyes, with foreign and Asian features, his eyes clean but empty, like a sky that was once clear but was now tired of seeing the same thing.
His room was a disaster: mountains of empty pizza boxes, plastic bottles stacked in a corner, instant ramen boxes scattered on the carpet, and crumpled papers all over the floor. On one side, the bed unmade for several days; on the other, a window covered by an old curtain that blocked the sunlight.
That place was his refuge. His prison and his escape.
Park Suho was happy… or at least that's what he wanted to believe.
At some point, he had been a dreamer. His goal was to open his own restaurant upon graduating, after studying six years of gastronomy and graduating with honors. He possessed a natural talent for cooking: he mastered complex and advanced techniques, knew the origins of the methods, and could identify the soul of each culture through a single dish.
He had something that few young chefs possessed at his age back then: true passion.
But dreams, like poorly prepared desserts, sometimes get ruined by a single mistake.
And Suho made too many.
When he gathered all the money he had to open his restaurant, he gambled it all on a bad investment. He put his life, his hope, his pride. But the business failed in less than two years.
Debts devoured him as they piled up. Obligations suffocated him.
Every unpaid bill was a reminder of his failure.
He tried working in several jobs, but none gave him back what he had lost: his fortune and dreams.
Suho wanted to be like his father, a world-renowned British chef known for his unique, elegant, and almost heavenly cooking style.
The whole family was built for success as long as they inherited the gift of cooking.
His five siblings, each with their own famous restaurant, appeared in magazines, culinary shows, and international festivals.
They were all the pride of the family.
All except him.
Suho was the mistake, the exception. The one who ruined everything for being "incompetent."
And although he knew he had talent, his father and brothers despised him, turning their backs on him without looking back.
There was no place for a culinary error who couldn't keep his fire burning.
Over time, Park Suho gave up.
What was the point of trying again if he had already lost everything?
What was the point of cooking, if his "flavor" was worth nothing?
That's how he ended up here, in front of a monitor, taking refuge in anime, Webtoons, web novels, and video games.
Maybe he didn't cook dishes in real life, but he cooked strategies in the digital world.
Maybe he didn't have a restaurant full of customers, but he had an avatar that everyone respected.
And that… that was enough.
At least in the game, he was somebody.
At least there, no one called him "failure" or "mistake."
It was ironic: he spent everything he earned on that virtual world.
Every update, every monthly pass, every premium item.
His bank account was in the red, but his character was at the top of the entire server.
And that made him feel good.
Even if his apartment was about to be repossessed, even if his fridge had only leftovers of fast food and bottles of water and soda, at least he could smile when his character defeated a legendary boss with maxed-out stats.
Because, in his mind, the game gave him what he could never obtain in the real world: recognition.
The game was called: [Rise of the Legendary Hunter], abbreviated as (ROLH).
An open-world MORPG so popular that, according to forum jokes, "it existed in every infinite corner of the universe."
And if you saw the fanaticism it generated, maybe they weren't so wrong; it was one of the best open-world games, surpassing games like GTA IV, Red Redemption 3, Sekiro Shadow Twice 2, and Black Myth Wukong II.
It was an immense game, with amazing gameplay and an absorbing narrative.
But it wasn't the typical game where the protagonist had to save the world from the Demon King or stop a multiversal cosmic catastrophe that threatened the existence of creation.
"None of that."
In this game, you decided your destiny.
You could be a hero or a villain.
You could found an empire, destroy or build civilizations, get married, have children, or betray everyone, side with everyone, become someone insignificant or choose any profession—you were free to do whatever you wanted, with free will that no one questioned.
You could even rule an entire world if you had the skill and patience.
The worldbuilding was so vast that many players never managed to explore even 4.5% of the map, not even a tiny part of that percentage.
There were parallel timelines, alternate universes, races, beasts of epic fantasy… it was a digital madness turned into art. No. Rather, it was a Masterpiece, one that would make any film critic say: "Peak fiction! This is ABSOLUTE CINEMA!"
Park Suho had also read the original web novel, which had over 3,750 chapters and an epic ending; he knew every secret, every twist, every betrayal.
And although the game followed that story, it had changed enough to offer total freedom; the "Legendary Hunter" had no fixed fate.
Destiny was in the hands of the player.
Park Suho loved that.
He invested his money in the game, his time, his soul—everything was worth it.
It was the only thing keeping him sane.
"At least here I can be happy," he murmured, resting his head on the back of his chair.
"If I were to die or something like that, I'd at least like to reincarnate as my current character, I would literally live in the best videogame world. Just like the Webtoons and web novels I read," he said with a deep sigh.
His voice sounded soft, tired.
The monitor's glow reflected in his eyes, and for a second, the reflection of his avatar—an imposing figure with blue leather armor embedded with magical gems and emerald green eyes—merged with his own face.
"At least here… I'm not a failure," he whispered.
Deep down, he knew his real life was a disaster.
He was aware he had become a good-for-nothing NEET, a man without direction who had let his dreams die.
But as long as his fingers remained on the keyboard, as long as the game's music filled the room, the emptiness seemed to disappear for a moment in that game.
With no idea what to do with his life in the real world, even though he had never managed to obtain a normal life, Suho here was the best in a fictional avatar.
...
...
Chapter 0 (Part 2) – The Roar of Awakening
Suho had never been very successful in love.
Although it wasn't because of his looks, because—in reality—he was quite an attractive man. He had a well-defined face, a strong jawline, and a calm gaze when he was relaxed.
But his problem wasn't his appearance.
It was his insecurity.
Every time he talked to someone, especially a girl, his voice trembled, his mind grew cloudy, and his breathing became unsteady.
That silent anxiety ruined any attempt at connection.
So he never managed to have a real relationship.
While his siblings were already married, had kids, and lived luxurious lives around the world, he remained alone, shut inside his cave, unable to see the real outside world.
He always fell behind.
But he no longer cared.
He didn't need it.
Why live in a world that never gave him anything, when he could live in one he controlled perfectly?
Why love someone when in his game he could command armies, build kingdoms, challenge gods… and even get a partner?
"Who needs the outside world when I already have a max-level character?" Suho said with a tired smile. "In a game where surviving is almost impossible, I'm the best."
He let out a long yawn as he stood up from his chair. He stretched his arms lazily and heard his back crack softly.
"I played too much today… I need a break," he murmured between yawns. "I'll come back later."
He rubbed his eyes and grabbed his phone from the desk.
The screen's brightness blinded him for a moment before revealing the time:
[November 2, 2029, time: 5:10 a.m.]
"What…?" Suho blinked in surprise. "It's already five in the morning?"
He frowned and let out an incredulous laugh.
"No way… how does time go by so fast? I was playing so much that I didn't even notice."
The sound of notifications broke the silence in the room.
Opening Discord, he found himself in his favorite server: the official server of
[The Rise of the Legendary Hunter].
The chat was exploding with messages about the recent Halloween event.
Players kept talking nonstop:
LordChaos120: "Does anyone know how I can find the exclusive boss Skeleton King?"
Park Suho raised an eyebrow as responses came instantly.
Kraken_012: "What a dumb question, do you think we'd tell you if we knew where he was? Exclusive bosses are unique, they appear once and vanish forever. It's almost impossible to beat them."
QueenPancake03: "Don't be like that, Kraken. He's probably new and that's why he's asking. But unfortunately, the boss was already defeated by someone."
Kraken_012: "What? That fast? That event just came out! Who the hell managed to defeat it so soon?"
LordChaos120: "No way! I wanted to try at least… damn it."
QueenPancake03: "Well, according to rumors, it was zombisinister_300. That guy is unbeatable. He always does it. It's like he has some power no one else understands. Some say he dominates the game at an impossible level."
Suho let out a small smile.
"No need to exaggerate. I know I'm very good, but I didn't expect them to think of me like that."
Park Suho chuckled silently.
If they only knew the truth…
If they knew the most feared and admired player on the server, zombisinister, was nothing more than a lonely man in a messy room, yawning at five in the morning.
"If they knew who I am…" he murmured with a sad smile and tears running down his eyes.
As he scrolled through the messages, a notification appeared at the top of the screen:
[New email received – Unknown sender]
Park Suho frowned.
"An anonymous email?" he said curiously. "Must be some game announcement…"
He tapped the notification.
The email opened slowly.
And the first thing he saw froze him in place.
The sender was creavity500.
The very name of the original author of the novel the game was based on.
The original author of the novel that inspired The Rise of the Legendary Hunter.
"What the hell…?" Suho felt a chill.
Why would the game's author send an email to him?
To a simple failure like him?
He opened the message.
The text was short, but its content made his skin crawl.
"Dear zombisinister_300:
For your dedication and support to the vast and infinite universe we have built,
I grant you an opportunity to live in the world you love so much."
Suho stared at the screen, unsure whether to laugh or worry.
"What kind of joke is this?" he said, letting out a disbelief-filled laugh. "The author of the game writing to me? What's next, him inviting me to dinner?"
He closed the email and placed the phone on the desk.
"What nonsense… it must be spam or a joke from some bored fan," he murmured as he threw himself onto the bed.
His body bounced lightly.
The white ceiling seemed to spin slowly from exhaustion.
"Although…" he said between yawns, eyes half-closed, "I don't know how he knew I was zombisinister_300… bah, must be a coincidence. I'm too tired right now."
He closed his eyes.
And silence took over the room.
But then, something changed.
He felt a strange pressure in his chest, as if he were being pushed underwater, sinking slowly.
He opened his eyes… and he was no longer in his bed.
He was falling.
Falling into a liquid darkness, deep and bubbling, as if he were submerged in an endless ocean.
He tried to move, to scream, but his body wouldn't respond.
Only the sound of bubbles and a distant roar filled the void.
His consciousness floated between dream and reality.
Suddenly, a strong, warm breeze struck his face.
He felt the air cutting against his skin, the wind whistling in his ears.
He opened his eyes slowly.
Light.
Too much light.
Park Suho blinked several times until his vision adjusted, and what he saw took his breath away.
He was in an immense landscape, with colossal mountains and clouds moving beneath his feet, the ground trembling, and a deafening sound echoing everywhere.
"Where… where am I?" he murmured, staggering. "I don't remember leaving home…"
His voice trembled.
The air smelled of ash, fire, and magic.
"Is this a dream…?" he whispered. "But it feels so real…"
'It must be a lucid dream, nothing more.'
Then, a roar shook the sky.
In front of him, emerging from blazing clouds, appeared a gigantic creature:
a purple dragon, with obsidian-like scales and a deep scar over its left eye, completely blind.
Its voice thundered like a storm:
"Any last words to say, you useless wretch?"
Park Suho stepped back, paralyzed. It was a creature far too terrifying—he was dreaming something far too real to be true.
"Are you… a dragon?" he stammered. "I don't know what you're talking about… but… please… don't eat me! I didn't do anything wrong!"
The dragon roared with fury, its breath shaking the surrounding mountains.
"Playing dumb, bastard?" it bellowed. "Do you think you can fool me, Zarkrion Volcanius IV? Don't play with me, failure!"
The ground trembled. The peaks of nearby volcanoes lit up with living fire.
Lucian looked around and saw dozens, maybe hundreds, of dragons watching from above.
Their eyes looked at him with disdain.
As if he were being judged.
"Zarkrion… what…?" Suho breathed heavily. "What are you talking about? I don't understand anything!"
The purple dragon roared again, filled with contained rage.
"Today is your exile from the Dragon Kingdom!" it said in a sentence-like tone.
Suho felt his heart stop.
"My exile…? Dragon Kingdom…? I told you you're confused! I'm not who you think!"
The dragon narrowed its good eye.
"Don't pretend, Zarkrion Volcanius IV." Its voice lowered, dripping with disdain. "You are no longer our rightful king. Get out."
Suho was speechless.
"Why are you calling me that?" he whispered.
His hands trembled.
But when he lowered them, he noticed something impossible.
His hands weren't human hands.
They were huge, covered in crimson red scales, with sharp, dark claws.
His breathing quickened.
He felt his body… colossal, powerful, burning. And a gigantic shadow reflected on the ground: immense wings spread behind him.
His heart pounded, mixing fear and confusion.
"What…!" he screamed. "Am I… a dragon?"
His roar thundered across the sky, shaking the very air.
Park Suho… or perhaps now Zarkrion Volcanius IV… was no longer in his world.