Darkness.
Arin Vale opened his eyes to a sky filled with neon constellations and floating data streams. Towers of chrome and glass stretched endlessly into the distance, their surfaces flickering with holographic advertisements and system code. The air hummed with digital energy.
"Where… am I?" Arin whispered.
A sharp chime rang inside his head.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
[Player Detected: Arin Vale]
[Status: Reincarnated]
Arin staggered back. "Reincarnated?"
Before he could think further, glowing blue panels appeared in front of him like game menus.
[Welcome to the Fantasy MMORPG: ECLIPSE PROTOCOL]
[Objective: Reach MAX LEVEL to escape the game system.]
[Failure to progress may result in permanent deletion.]
Arin felt his heart pound.
"Escape… the game?"
The ground suddenly shook. From the end of the street, a monstrous figure emerged. Its armor burned with crimson energy, and demonic horns curled from its helmet. A massive sword dragged across the ground, leaving sparks of dark fire.
[WARNING]
Enemy Detected: SSS+ Rank Warrior of the Demon Lord
Arin's throat went dry.
"I just got here… how am I supposed to fight that?"
"Hey!"
A voice called from behind him.
A girl sprinted toward him, her silver hair flashing beneath the neon lights. She held a glowing plasma blade in one hand.
"My name's Maria!" she shouted. "If we don't fight together, we can't make it!"
Arin hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fists.
Aron asked with confidence" who are you, mam?"
I am maria. A player like you trapped in this game system, for 2 months, figuring ways to come out.
I see, it seems we have to co operate together now.
"Fine. Let's do it."
Maria nodded.
The demon warrior roared and charged.
Maria dashed forward, her blade clashing against the monster's sword with a shower of sparks. The impact shook the street.
"Arin! Now!" she yelled.
Arin grabbed a fallen energy spear from the ground and rushed in. As Maria distracted the warrior, he lunged forward and drove the weapon straight into a crack in the monster's armor.
A blinding burst of light exploded.
The demon warrior let out a final roar before collapsing into fragments of dark code.
[BOSS DEFEATED]
[EXP GAINED]
Arin dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
"Phew that was really something" Arin said
Maria laughed in relief. "We actually did it."
Arin looked at the glowing system message still hovering in the air.
"We're trapped in this game… but if we level up, we can escape."
Maria extended her hand.
"Then let's promise something."
Arin took it.
"No matter what happens," she said, "we'll escape this system together."
Arin nodded.
"Together"
TO BE CONTINUED...