Wein could feel the cold wind seeping into his body, making him shiver violently.
Wait—why can I feel cold?
Wasn't I just playing a VR game?
That's when he noticed it—the virtual buttons that should've floated around him were gone. The entire game interface had completely vanished.
Did my VR pod malfunction? Panic started to rise in his chest.
But that didn't make sense. He had just bought the VR pod three months ago—it was practically brand new. Could it really break this fast?
Maybe it's just a glitch. He decided to try the voice command.
"Log out!" he shouted.
Silence.
"Game, log out!" he called out louder, desperation creeping into his voice.
Still nothing. Not even an error prompt.
His heartbeat quickened. Fear slowly seeped into him as he took a better look around, his senses sharpening.
The breeze chilled his skin like ice water. The fresh grass—too sharp, too real—its scent flooded his senses. The grit of the dirt pressed hard against the soles of his feet, the discomfort impossible to ignore.
Why does everything feel so… real?
The grass, the sky, the wind—I can smell it. I can feel it. What the hell is going on?
Am I not supposed to be lying comfortably in my VR pod at home?
Did I… die while playing? Did I fall asleep? Am I dreaming?
But this didn't feel like a dream. Everything was too vivid. Too solid.
Could this be… a hallucination?
Before he could process it further, a sudden rustling came from the tall grass behind him.
He spun around in surprise.
A massive brown rat—its body the size of a pig—emerged from the bush. Its greasy black eyes gleamed with greedy hunger as it stared him down.
Wait—that's… that's a Ratcha! Wein's eyes widened in shock. That's a monster from Level 1 of Beast Realm: Eternal Dominion!
Why is it here?
A terrifying thought struck him.
"Am I… am I inside the game?" His lips trembled.
What the hell is happening? he screamed internally as he carefully backed away, eyes fixed on the beast that was eyeing him like fresh prey.
"Okay, buddy, let's calm down…" he muttered nervously, raising his hands slowly. "Let's pretend we don't see each other, alright? We're just strangers passing by…"
The Ratcha let out a sharp squeak and bared its yellowed teeth.
Wein's mind raced to recall the in-game bestiary.
[Ratcha: A rat the size of a pig with the appetite to match. Gluttonous and aggressive. Ratchas reproduce quickly and always hunt in packs.]
His blood ran cold.
Right—they always hunt in groups!
He quickly scanned his surroundings.
Sure enough, the grass all around him was rustling. Dozens of them. He could hear the squeaks closing in from every direction.
"Damn it!" Wein cursed, panic overtaking confusion.
He didn't know what was happening, but his instincts screamed at him to run.
So he ran.
"Ahhhh! Somebody help me! Just what sin did I commit to deserve this?!" he cried, sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him toward a distant line of trees.
His bare feet pounded the dirt, twigs snapping beneath him as his heart hammered in his chest.
He risked a glance back—the Ratchas were fast, unnervingly fast for creatures their size. Their short, stubby legs carried their heavy bodies with terrifying speed as they squealed in hungry pursuit.
Why are you guys running so fast? he screamed in his head. Damn it! I should've listened to my brother when he told me to exercise! This is the worst cardio ever!
His lungs burned. His legs screamed in protest.
But he pushed harder. Faster.
"No! No—I don't want to be eaten!" he sobbed, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.
Just then—a voice echoed through the wind.
"Over here! Run this way!"
Wein whipped his head toward the sound.
A young man on a large, furry lion-like beast waved at him from atop a nearby hill. His short brown hair stuck out from beneath a black bandana wrapped around his forehead. His tanned skin and rugged look gave him the air of a seasoned hunter.
The man held a crossbow and had a large bag of bolts slung over his back.
"Move! Circle to the left—don't go straight!" he shouted, urgently pointing to the left.
I don't have time to think—he's my only shot!
Wein gritted his teeth and veered left, his frantic footsteps crackling over dry leaves.
Behind him, the loud squeals of the Ratchas grew closer. They were gaining on him.
He weaved around a patch of rocks, his breath ragged, until he finally neared the edge of the forest.
Then—thud, squeal, crash.
Wein glanced back.
At least twelve Ratchas had fallen into a massive pit covered by leaves and branches—a hidden trap.
"…a trap?" Wein gasped, realization dawning on him.
The man had deliberately lured him through the hunting snare.
The remaining four Ratchas screeched to a halt, but before they could retreat, the man swiftly raised his crossbow and fired. His bolts struck with deadly accuracy, one after another, dropping the remaining monsters in seconds.
The man grinned wide and pumped his fist in the air.
"Great hunt today! I nailed it!" he shouted proudly, as if Wein's near-death experience was just another good day of work.
Wein, still panting and wide-eyed, stared at him in disbelief.
"Wait… don't tell me… did I just get used as bait?!"
The man just grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Fast bait makes for easy hunts!"
Wein collapsed onto the grass. "You've got to be kidding me…"