All over the realm, millions of players were roaming the world, engaging in countless quests with a single goal in mind: to beco as strong as possible, as fast as possible.
The buzz among players was palpable. Ever since they learned about the existence of a mysterious being who had achieved feats no one else had even co close to, a fire had been ignited within them. The na "Notamonster" had beco legendary, a figure both admired and resented. A wave of motivation had swept through the player base as they raced to catch up to him.
Among those paying close attention to Notamonster's achievents was Lily, Kai's sister. Unaware of his true identity, she had been following the announcents and stories about him with growing curiosity.
Ever since that fateful day when she saw a spark of life in her brother's eyes, a glimpse of happiness she hadn't seen in years, Lily had been intrigued. Kai, who had spent the last few years battling the loss of his mobility, vision, and much of the life he once knew, had finally found sothing that gave him joy—sothing that broke through the dread and silence that had haunted their conversations.
That sothing was Realms of Monster, the revolutionary ga that had taken the world by storm. Boasting an unparalleled level of realism, the ga had captivated millions. Rumors swirled that the player base was nearing one billion concurrent players, and Lily was about to join their ranks.
When she finally entered the ga, Lily found herself standing in the center of a quaint village. She had just completed her character and class selection.
There had been a dizzying array of choices: becoming an elf, a dwarf, or any number of fantastical creatures. For soone new to gaming, the choices had been overwhelming. In the end, she had chosen the simplest and most relatable option: a human. To her surprise, the ga offered no option to modify her appearance.
But character creation wasn't what fascinated Lily. It was the world. She looked around, her limbs moving fluidly as she adjusted to the controls.
Her jaw dropped.
"Wow... everything seems so real," she murmured, her voice filled with awe.
The textures of the wooden cottages around her, the warmth of the simulated sunlight on her skin, and even the faint scent of wildflowers in the breeze—it was all so vivid, so lifelike. She finally understood why her brother had been drawn to this world. Here, he could live again. He could move, see, and experience life in a way that reality had denied him.
Lily imagined Kai going through a similar process, marveling at the world as she was now. She believed he had started just like her: stepping into this incredible place for the first ti. But she couldn't have been more wrong.
Just as she began to explore the village, a loud chi echoed in her mind, accompanied by a glowing blue notification:
[Player Notamonster has made progress in the World Quest (3%).]
Lily blinked at the announcent as murmurs erupted around her.
"Him again?! How is it possible that all worldwide announcents have his na in them?" one player groaned, clearly annoyed.
"I know, right? He probably has so overpowered secret class or sothing. Either that or he's the son of the company that made this ga," another chid in.
The ntion of the ga's creator sparked a familiar debate among the players. Despite the imnse success of Realms of Monster, the identity of its creator remained a mystery. None of the major tech companies had claid responsibility, and no one could pinpoint who was behind it. Theories ranged from an eccentric billionaire to a secretive, underground developnt team.
While others vented their frustration, Lily found herself smiling faintly.
I wonder what he's doing right now, she thought, an image of her brother flashing in her mind.
It had been a long ti since Lily had visited him. Life had pulled them apart—school, family obligations, and their parents' insistence on separating the siblings had left her with little opportunity to see him. She hadn't told Kai she was joining the ga today. She wanted to surprise him once she got the hang of things.
Still, she regretted not asking Kai more about his in-ga adventures. The world of Realms of Monster was massive, and she had no idea where to even start looking for him.
"Huh? What's that?" a nearby player exclaid, pointing toward the horizon.
Lily turned and froze.
Far in the distance, barely visible beyond the trees, was the faint top of a massive, glowing blue sphere. Even from this far away, it was impossible to miss.
"What... is that?" Lily whispered.
Players around her were just as baffled. The sphere shimred with an otherworldly glow, radiating power.
"Is that a Mana Sphere?!" an experienced player exclaid, their voice trembling with disbelief. "How can a Mana Sphere be so... big?"
As soon as the words left their mouth, panic rippled through the group. Everyone made the sa connection.
The worldwide announcent about Notamonster had co barely a minute earlier. Now, this colossal Mana Sphere—larger than anything they'd ever seen—dominated the horizon.
"Don't tell he made that!"
"He's already this powerful?! Insane..."
"He has to be cheating! There's no way anyone could summon sothing like that after just a week or two of playing!"
The accusations flew, but no one could deny what they were seeing. The strongest players in the ga could barely summon a Mana Sphere the size of their fists, yet this sphere was so massive it dwarfed entire mountains.
Then, soone voiced the thought on everyone's mind:
"Wait... isn't this a little dangerous? What if he releases that Mana Sphere on us?"
Before anyone could respond, the sphere began to move. Slowly, ominously, it descended, disappearing behind the distant treetops.
For a mont, silence reigned.
Then, the earth trembled violently, a deep, deafening explosion ripping through the realm.
BOOOOM!
The shockwave rolled through the landscape, shaking buildings and sending players staggering. The sound was unlike anything Lily had ever heard—raw, overwhelming, and terrifying.
She stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest.
Just what the hell is this ga?! she thought, her wide eyes fixed on the horizon.
Her mind raced as she clutched the hilt of her weapon tightly.
Kai... I hope you're as far away from this as possible.
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