Omar stood before the glowing gate, his heart pounding like war drums. The light spilling from it was both mesmerizing and terrifying, a feeling that he was about to step into a level he had never dreamed of before.
He took one step forward, then suddenly heard footsteps behind him. He spun around to find a zombie unlike any he had faced. Not slow, not moving randomly, but fully aware, calculating every step, every choice before acting.
"This… this isn't normal!" he muttered, his hands sweating on the controller, eyes tracking every movement of the zombie.
His first strike was random, barely effective. The zombie approached faster than expected, and his heart raced.
He remembered what he had learned in Chapter Four: control your movements, dodge, use the environment. He ran, jumped, avoided obstacles, noticing that every mistake cost him part of his energy.
With each movement, Omar gained a better understanding of the game's rules. Timing was more important than strength, quick thinking made the difference between life and death. Precise strikes, calculated steps, counterattacks. A small thrill of success, but he knew the game hadn't revealed all its secrets yet.
Suddenly, another shadow appeared, larger, more threatening—half real, half digital, eyes glowing with an unfathomable rage. It was clear this entity wasn't attacking randomly—it was testing him, playing with his fear.
"Why…?" Omar muttered, yet excitement surged through him. He was no longer just a player; he was a participant, an observer, an experiment in a world with no limits.
After a brief skirmish, Omar managed to escape to a safe corner, breathing hard, hands shaking. But he had gained his first real skill: understanding enemy patterns, predicting their moves, reacting faster.
Still, safety didn't last long. From afar, the light from the gate revealed a mysterious symbol on the ground, large and glowing, radiating threat. It was not just a mark—it was a message:
"The real stage begins now… are you ready?"
Omar swallowed hard, heart heavy, but felt a surge of power for the first time since the accident. He knew he was no longer just a kid playing a game; he had entered a world with its own rules, where each step would unveil greater secrets, greater dangers, and new skills he would need to master.
The gate began to expand, colors shimmering, and from within came a mysterious whisper:
"Here, everything begins… choices are limited, and tim
e runs out."