Around 9:30 p.m., Hyun‑soo arrived at Ji‑ho's house, breathless and wide‑eyed as he bounded up the stairs. He looked exhausted from all the running, but his excitement patched him back together. He had done it, he'd finally convinced Ji‑ho to play the game. For Hyun‑soo, that felt like a small miracle, maybe the best thing he'd ever pulled off.
Hyun‑soo burst through the door, grin too wide for someone who'd just sprinted up the stairs. "Ji‑ho! Let's play together!" he chirped.
A pillow sailed across the room and smacked him in the face. It was a clean, practiced throw, no heat, no hesitation.
"Disgusting," Ji‑ho said.
He didn't look up. The single word landed like a verdict.
Hyun‑soo laughed it off, rubbing his cheek as if the pillow were part of the joke.
Hyun‑soo should have expected nothing warm in return. Still, years of persistence had erased the word give up from his vocabulary. He'd come prepared. He'd even stopped by Anyang's Bakery, Ji‑ho's favorite, and bought a tribute.
Hyun‑soo took out the plastic bag with a flourish, swinging it like a magician trying to hypnotize Ji‑ho with the promise of dessert. "Tadaa! Anyang's Super Deluxe Pudding, fresh from the store, how about that?"
He made the announcement with theatrical bows and a wink that begged for a reaction.
Ji‑ho's expression shifted, just a little. The pudding did its work; temptation flickered across his face.
The corner of his mouth softened for half a breath, "Come in, monkey," Ji‑ho said, coughing indifferently.
Hyun‑soo took that half‑smile as victory and grinned like a kid.
"What should I do with this?" Hyun‑soo teased, "Should I give it to butler Ia—," and froze under Ji‑ho's glare. The joke died mid‑sentence, but Hyun‑soo's grin didn't. He let the silence hang, then bowed exaggeratedly.
'I'm doomed', he thought..
Ji‑ho moved like a shadow and snatched the bag, "What are you doing standing there like a stupid monkey? Come in and close the door."
Hyun‑soo stepped inside anyway, pretending to sulk. He kept one eye on Ji‑ho, already plotting the next small, harmless sting because if he couldn't win with charm, he'd win with mischief.
Ten minutes before the grand launch, Ji‑ho was happily devouring his pudding while Hyun‑soo stared at him like a lovesick fool.
'Watching him eat with that childlike expression makes me want to puke. It's not like him at all,'Hyun‑soo thought, equal parts baffled and amused.
"What are you staring at?" Ji‑ho glanced up, "I won't give you any."
"Huh?" Hyun‑soo flinched. "Don't worry, I'm not going to take it."
"So what do you want?" Ji‑ho resumed eating.
"Did you register already?" Hyun‑soo asked.
Ji‑ho nodded without looking away. "Yeah. I'll add you now so we can find each other in the game. What's your in‑game name?"
"Hyun‑Shot."
Ji‑ho added him before the launch.
"What's with the tacky name?" Hyun‑soo puffed his chest and grinned, as if the insult were a compliment.
Note that players could add friends outside the game; once the servers flooded at launch, finding someone would be a nightmare. Adding each other early meant they could communicate later through the game's telepathy feature.
After Hyun‑soo's name was added, a notification popped up on his phone.
"Huh. So you named yourself Shade," Hyun‑soo said.
"Yeah. Got a problem with that?"
"What class and race are you picking?" Hyun-soo asked.
"Is that necessary? Can't I just play random?"
Hyun‑soo blinked. "You're crazy."
Ji‑ho wiped his mouth, put the pudding container back in the bag, and asked, "How about you? What class are you picking?"
"I'll pick Guardian!" Hyun‑soo declared, puffing his chest for effect. "I'll tank for the team."
Ji‑ho's reply was a single, dry observation, "Musketeer would suit you more."
Hyun‑soo blinked, then laughed, "Eh? Why's that?"
"The game scans real‑life stats," Ji‑ho said, voice flat and uninterested.
Hyun‑soo's grin grew; being told he didn't belong only made him more excited. He tossed the remark back as a joke, a light prod that turned the dry advice into a challenge.
"Really?" Hyun‑soo brightened.
Ji‑ho sighed. "With your stupidity, you'll probably get a negative in intelligence."
The clock struck ten. and the grand launch began. Ji‑ho and Hyun‑soo moved to the next room and froze at the sight of five gaming capsules lined up like imperial thrones.
'Father went way overboard with the setup,'Ji‑ho thought.
Hyun‑soo gaped at the gaming room Ji‑ho's father had built. "Ohhh! You're a lucky kid!"
Ji‑ho slid into a capsule, "Hurry up and log in. The town will be flooded with players, and I don't do crowds."
Hyun‑soo scrambled into a capsule. Ji‑ho on the other hand, didn't wait for him; he put on the VR glasses connected to the capsule. The glasses monitored vital signs and would force a logout if the player's real‑life body showed dangerous abnormalities.
[ You are trying to enter the game… ]
[ Please make yourself comfortable before entering the game… ]
[ External damage that places strenuous burden on the user's real body will force a logout… ]
[ Are you ready to enter? ]
"Yes."
[ Entering the game… ]
[ You will begin to lose consciousness… ]
Just as the AI voice warned, Ji‑ho's vision dimmed and everything went black. The game's soundtrack swelled and an introductory video played in the void.
When the video ended, the darkness flipped to white. In an instant, Ji‑ho stood in the middle of a pink, glistening lake. Cherry blossoms danced on a gentle spring breeze.
'What a sight. Everything feels real', his composure faltered.
A small girl in a purple kimono descended from the sky and landed on the water's surface. She looked about seven years old and smiled at him.
"Greetings, player Ji-ho. I am the Phantasy Realm Game Administrator and Novice Guide, Alice. Before we proceed, here is your reward for pre‑registering."
A golden box appeared. Ji‑ho clicked it and a status screen unfolded.
—————
[ Pre‑registration Box Rewards ]
x1 Random Torso and Pants Costume Box
x1 Random Pet Egg ( Level 100 required )
x5 Medium EXP Potion ( 2 hours in-game time )
x1 Random Legendary Class Equipment ( Level 120 required )
x10 Teleport Scroll
x5 Revival Scroll
x15 Medium Mana Potion
x15 Medium Health Potion
—————
Ji‑ho barely blinked at the list.
'Ignoring the level‑locked items, it's the usual pre‑registration bundle,' he thought.
"To start," Alice chirped, flicking her fingers to bring up a glowing interface, "kindly pick your desired Race."
Ji‑ho browsed the races.
—————
/ Humans /
Humans are the balanced, adaptable baseline race. Humans present a wide range of physiologies and fashions; functional armor for soldiers, scholarly robes for mages, and practical leathers for scouts. Humans honor Pan, God of Life, as a guardian of growth, healing, and the cycles of harvest and birth. Mechanically and narratively, Humans serve as the world's social center heavily under Pan's influence. Hearthgate is the human trade city most travelers associate with them: a bustling hub of stone streets, market squares, and tiered neighborhoods that climb from riverfront docks to civic terraces.
Choosing this race grants +5% Affinity with human NPCs.
[ Notice ] Maximizing NPC affinity may activate hidden quests, grant exceptional rewards and legendary equipment, and could unlock a unique race class.
[ Race Specific Passive: Adaptive Resolve ]
+3% Attack Damage; +3% Magic Damage; +3% MP/HP Recovery
[ Unique Race Skill: Pan's Blessing ]
God of Life, Pan watches those under his care with a careful eye. Certain conditions can draw his attention.
Progress: 0.00%
—————
/ Demons /
Demons present a mostly human silhouette with subtle infernal traits: ash‑tinted or ember‑hued skin, short swept horns at the hairline, and faint sigil‑like scars that trace the forearms and collarbone. Eyes often glow with ember, gold, or onyx light, and hair is commonly dark, braided, or threaded with metal rings and ritual charms. Their build is lean and powerful, movement economical and controlled, with clothing and armor cut to conceal or display pact marks as desired. Ashmarrow is the principal demon city, carved into basalt spires and the rim of a smoldering caldera where forges and ritual halls cluster around steam‑veined plazas. Demons maintain a solemn, transactional relationship with Charnel, the God of Death, invoking him to bind fate, honor the fallen, and sanctify rites that trade life for power.
Choosing this race grants +5% Affinity with demon NPCs.
[ Notice ] Maximizing NPC affinity may activate hidden quests, grant exceptional rewards and legendary equipment, and could unlock a unique race class.
[ Race Specific Passive: Pact Fury ]
+12% Attack Damage; +10% Critical Damage; +3% Double Attack
[ Unique Skill: Charnel's Blessing ]
God of Death, Charnel watches those under his care with a careful eye. Certain conditions can draw his attention.
Progress: 0.00%
—————
/ Elves /
Elves are tall and lithe with elongated features and an effortless poise. Their skin and hair echo forest hues, pale greens, silvers, and soft golds while eyes often gleam like polished leaves or moonlight. Sylvaris is the city most associated with the elves, built among ancient canopy and carved stone terraces where trees and architecture weave together. Elves revere Liberon, the God of Freedom, as a guiding spirit of choice, movement, and the sanctity of the wild.
Choosing this race grants +5% Affinity with elven NPCs.
[ Notice ] Maximizing NPC affinity may activate hidden quests, grant exceptional rewards and legendary equipment, and could unlock a unique race class.
[ Race Specific Passive: Lethal Grace ]
+10% Magic Damage; +8% Critical Rate; +12% Critical Damage
[ Unique Skill: Liberon's Blessing ]
God of Freedom, Liberon watches those under his care with a careful eye. Certain conditions can draw his attention.
Progress: 0.00%
—————
/ Dwarves /
Dwarves are compact and powerfully built, with broad shoulders, thick forearms, and faces weathered by forge heat and stone dust. Beards are a cultural hallmark, long, braided, and often threaded with metal rings or clan tokens while hair colors range from iron gray to deep chestnut. Their clothing and armor favor layered leather and hammered plate, decorated with geometric runes and hammered motifs that double as both ornament and subtle warding. Majority of dwarves lives in Stonehelm, the great dwarf city, carved into the heart of a mountain where veins of ore and warm geothermal springs converge. Dwarves revere Thorr, theGod of Rune and craft, as the patron of smithing, binding, and the secret language of metal. Thor's runes are etched into weapons, armor, and civic pillars; rune‑wrights study his patterns to bind strength, resilience, and purpose into forged works.
Choosing this race grants +5% Affinity with dwarf NPCs.
[ Notice ] Maximizing NPC affinity may activate hidden quests, grant exceptional rewards and legendary equipment, and could unlock a unique race class.
[ Race Specific Passive: Stoneheart ]
+8% Attack Damage; +10% MP/HP Recovery; +5% HP
[ Unique Skill: Thorr's Blessing ]
God of Rune, Thorr watches those under his care with a careful eye. Certain conditions can draw his attention.
Progress: 0.00%
—————
/ Byumas /
Byumas present a largely human silhouette softened by a suite of animal features that mark their tribal heritage. They stand roughly human height with muscular, athletic builds and humanlike hands, but several distinct bestial traits are woven into their form. Kharun Vale is the principal Byumas settlement, a ring of stout longhouses and raised platforms built among wind‑scarred plateaus and thorned scrublands. They revere Albus, the God of Magic, as the source of their clan rites and the raw, untamed sorceries they channel in battle. Clan shamans and rune‑carvers invoke Albus to temper feral power into controlled bursts, inscribe warding marks on weapons, and lead seasonal rites that bind luck and storm to the hunt.
Choosing this race grants +5% Affinity with byuma NPCs.
[ Notice ] Maximizing NPC affinity may activate hidden quests, grant exceptional rewards and legendary equipment, and could unlock a unique race class.
[ Race Specific Passive: Feral Momentum ]
+8% Attack Damage; +8% Critical Damage; +6% Movement Speed
[ Unique Skill: Albus' Blessing ]
God of Magic, Albus watches those under his care with a careful eye. Certain conditions can draw his attention.
Progress: 0.00%