BEYOND the GAME

Chapter 1

Adam opened his eyes slowly, feeling a little confused because the dazzling light penetrated his eyelids. His mind still felt hazy, as if he had just woken up from a very deep sleep. However, when he tried to move his body, he felt something strange. The bed, which was usually soft and comfortable, now felt hard and cold.

Feeling increasingly confused, Adam looked around him. Wherever he was, this wasn't his usual bedroom. The ceiling above him was no longer the familiar ceiling, and the room around him felt unfamiliar.

"How long have I slept?" Adam muttered, his voice shaking amidst uncertainty. He tried to get up, but his body felt heavy and stiff. Like someone lost in a dream, he tried to understand what was happening.

As Adam tried to remember, flashes of memory came to him with surprising speed. The feeling of extreme fatigue, like an unbearable burden pressing on his shoulders every day. The job constantly demands him, pulling him into a vortex of boring routine. However, that was not the only burden he felt.

There is a deeper pressure, which comes not only from work, but also from the responsibilities he carries as a husband and father. Adam feels trapped in the role he has chosen, but sometimes he longs for the freedom he has long lost among the pile of tasks and expectations.

And then, in a flash of painful flashback, came the moment he had tried to forget. A sudden and unexpected departure from the real world. Adam remembered how he felt incredibly tired, how every breath felt like a struggle, and how his eyes slowly closed in an inability to fight the sleepiness that came over him.

Those were his last moments in the world he knew, but when his eyes closed, he no longer felt pain or fatigue. Instead, he felt extraordinary peace, as if the burden he had been carrying had been lifted from his shoulders.

However, now, as Adam looked around him in this unknown world, the flashes of memory brought a complicated mix of emotions. There was a sense of relief that he had left the shackles of the real world behind, but there was also a sense of worry growing within him, wondering about his fate in this new world.

In confusion and anxiety, Adam realized that he had to look for answers. He couldn't stay still in this strange place. He must understand his situation and find a way back home — if there is one. With hardened resolve, he decides to embark on a journey that might change everything.

"Is this... the Realm of Arcadia?" he muttered, voice shaking with a mixture of confusion and excitement. He had spent countless hours on the game, sometimes late into the night, but never in a form that seemed as real as this.

Carefully, Adam examined his new body. He noticed the steel suit he wore, the large sword hanging from his waist, and the heavy sensation on his back that suggested the protection of armor. Everything felt so real, even more real than the world he left behind.

Adam realized with a start that he had woken up in a dungeon that felt so familiar to him. A confusing sensation struck his mind as he realized that he was no longer in the real world, but inside the world of his favorite game, the "Realm of Arcadia".

Feelings of awe and confusion mixed within him. He felt like he had entered a dream, but the cool sensation of the dungeon stone and the damp scent in the air immediately confirmed the existence of this virtual world as something much more real than just an illusion.

Carefully, Adam tried to remember every detail about the game. He pondered whether this was the opportunity he had been waiting for to explore a world he had only enjoyed through a computer screen.

However, he also knew that he had to remain alert. Although he was familiar with the environment of this game, he knew that there was danger around every corner. Ferocious monsters and deadly traps may lurk in this dungeon, ready to confront him.

With careful steps and his sword ready to be held, Adam decided to explore this dungeon in the hope of finding the answer to the mystery of his existence in this game world. New adventures await her, and she is ready to face any challenges that may come her way in the world she loves so much.

Adam walked along the first floor of the dungeon carefully, his sword always ready to be used in case of sudden danger. His steps produced sounds that echoed in the dark corridors filled with the scent of earth and dampness.

As he walked, Adam began to pay attention to the details of his surroundings. The rough stone walls, sometimes looking like they bear the traces of long ages, tell stories of a mysterious past. The torches hanging on the walls provided a dim light that sometimes swirled around, creating eerie shadows that sent shivers down his spine.

Adam came to an abrupt halt when he saw the first monster in his way. A moss green slime monster was in the middle of the hallway, making a ridiculous squishy sound. The slime looked at him with unruly eyes, seemingly ready to attack.

Carefully, Adam assumed a ready fighting stance, holding his sword tightly. He knew that although slimes looked easy to defeat, they could become dangerous enemies if allowed to approach too closely.

With a quick movement, the slime swooped closer, trying to startle Adam. However, Adam quickly dodged and countered with his sword attack. The slime split into several small pieces when Adam's sword penetrated it.

Adam breathed a sigh of relief after successfully defeating the slime. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around him vigilantly, making sure there were no other threats around.

Adam drew his sword quickly, ready to face the attack of the blue slime that was attacking him. He looked around him, figuring out how many enemies he had to face. The blue slimes continued to gather, they attacked in quite large numbers.

Without hesitation, Adam leapt forward and began swinging his sword rapidly. Every time his sword touched the slimes, they broke into small pieces. However, they kept coming, tirelessly.

Adam raised his eyebrows when he realized the unique nature of the blue slime that was attacking him. The water particles that make up the slime are apparently able to stick together again after being split. This made the fight more difficult than he had originally anticipated.

With this new understanding, Adam thought quickly. He knew that the old approach would not be enough to overcome an enemy that could fuse back together after being split like that. He had to find a way to stop the process of reunifying the water particles.

Adam carefully watched the movements of the remaining blue slime. He tries to look for patterns or weaknesses that can be exploited. Then, a sudden idea hit him.

Adam approached the nearest blue slimes and quickly divided them into small pieces with a flick of his sword. However, this time, instead of just relying on cutting, he tried something different. He took out a bottle from his kit and quickly filled it with water from a nearby source.

When the water particles from the blue slime tried to stick together again, Adam threw water from his bottle at them. That fresh water upsets the balance of the water particles, preventing them from reintegrating quickly.

The strategy worked. The blue slimes couldn't recombine efficiently, giving Adam the opportunity to destroy them one by one. With quick and measured movements, he managed to overcome the threat and continue his adventure with more caution.

Adam, who really liked playing video games in his previous life, really enjoyed his second chance this time. Plus he now occupies the body of a muscular and handsome teenager. Adam feels that his new adventure will be even more exciting in his current condition.

But in the midst of his admiration for the beauty of the game world which is now a reality, there is a feeling of unease growing inside him. Questions haunted his mind: What happened to him? Why is he here? And most importantly, is there a way to return to the world he once knew?