In life, the things we want, dream of, or long for sometimes never reach our hands no matter how much effort or dedication we put in. Most of the time, it depends on the luck we have or the talent we possess.
Or better yet, on the privileges we obtain at birth.
But even so, having talent or privilege does not guarantee that you will achieve your goals.
That was something Park Suho had learned over a long period of time.
And as the rapid clacking of a mechanical keyboard echoed through the room, Suho shouted with excitement:
"Quick, quick, quick, kill that miserable Skeleton King!"
The bluish light of the monitor illuminated his face with intermittent flashes. On the screen, a dark and gloomy environment displayed the Skeleton King, an imposing-looking undead clad in blackened gothic armor, wielding a sword of the same tone. The ruins of the place were filled with half-destroyed gravestones, shrouded in a dense mist that seemed to breathe as if it were alive.
A swift strike, a precise slash from the character controlled by Park Suho, cut through the air.
The Skeleton King let out a metallic roar before crumbling into a thousand dark fragments.
And then, a rain of notifications flooded the screen:
… …
[Mission Complete – Skeleton King Defeated]
[You have leveled up: Level 4999 → Level 5000 (Maximum Level)]
[You have acquired the skill – Necromancer]
[You have acquired the skill – Soul Steal]
[You have acquired the skill – Shadow and Darkness Manipulation]
[New Weapon Acquired – Eternal Deathblade Sword]
[You have acquired – Underworld Darkness Armor]
[New Title Acquired – Hunter of Life and Death]
[New Title Acquired – Tamer of Conceptual Entities]
[Congratulations on defeating the Skeleton King
An exclusive and unique boss from the Halloween 2029 event
The Skeleton King is an avatar of the Conceptual Entity known as Death]
You have gained the respect of the God of Death
You have acquired +78,000,000 experience points]
… …
"That's it!" Suho shouted, with a satisfied smile. "I leveled up again! I reached the maximum!"
His hands rose triumphantly.
"Finally… I can't believe it… I just defeated another exclusive boss," he murmured, still incredulous. "These guys are hard to find, and very difficult to defeat… and once they're defeated, they never appear again."
Suho leaned back in his gaming chair, exhaling with a childish smile.
"I'm the best player that has ever existed," he laughed with a touch of irony. "I was born for this game… I live for this game."
In front of him, a 31-year-old man, dressed in simple house clothes with completely messy blond hair, let himself be enveloped by the faint glow of the LED lights in his room. He had blue eyes, with foreign and Asian features; his eyes were clear but empty, like a sky that had once been clear but was now tired of seeing the same thing.
His room was a mess: piles of empty pizza boxes, plastic bottles stacked in a corner, instant ramen boxes scattered across the carpet, and crumpled papers spread over the floor. On one side, an unmade bed that hadn't been touched for days; on the other, a window covered by an old curtain that blocked out the sunlight.
That place was his refuge. His prison and his escape.
Park Suho was happy… or at least that was what he wanted to believe.
At some point, he had been a dreamer. His goal was to found his own restaurant after graduating, after studying gastronomy for six years and graduating with honors. He possessed a natural talent for cooking: he mastered complex and advanced techniques, knew the origins of those techniques, and could identify the soul of each culture through a single dish.
He had something that few young chefs had at his age back then: true passion.
But dreams, like poorly prepared desserts, sometimes get ruined by a single mistake.
And Suho made too many.
When he gathered all the money he had to open his restaurant, he gambled everything on a bad investment. He put his life, his hope, his pride on the line. But the business failed in less than two years.
The debts devoured him as they piled up. Obligations suffocated him.
Every unpaid bill was a reminder of his failure.
He tried working at several jobs, but none of them gave him back what he had lost: his fortune and his dreams.
Suho wanted to be like his father, a British chef recognized worldwide for his unique, elegant, and almost celestial style in the kitchen.
The whole family was made for success while inheriting the gift of cooking.
His five siblings, each with their own famous restaurant, appeared in magazines, cooking shows, and international festivals.
They were all the pride of the family.
All except him.
Suho was the mistake, the exception. The one who ruined everything by being "incompetent." And even though he knew he had talent, his father and his siblings despised him and turned their backs on him without looking back. There was no place for a mistake in the kitchen, for someone who couldn't keep their fire burning.
Over time, Park Suho gave up.
What was the point of trying again if he had already lost everything?
What was the point of cooking if his "flavor" was worth nothing?
That was how he ended up here, in front of a monitor, taking refuge in anime, Webtoons, web novels, and video games.
Maybe he didn't cook dishes in real life, but he cooked strategies in the digital world.
Maybe he didn't have a restaurant full of customers, but he had an avatar that everyone respected.
And that… that was enough.
At least in the game, he was someone.
At least there, no one called him a "failure" or a "mistake."
It was ironic: he spent everything he earned in that virtual world.
Every update, every monthly pass, every premium item.
His bank account was in the red, but his character was at the top of the entire server.
And that made him feel good.
Even if his apartment was about to be taken away, even if his fridge only had leftovers of fast food and bottles of water and soda, at least he could smile when his character defeated a legendary boss with maxed-out stats.
Because, in his mind, the game gave him what the real world never could: recognition.
The game was called: [The Rise of the Legendary Hunter], abbreviated as (TRLH).
An open-world MORPG so popular that, according to forum jokes, "it existed in every infinite corner of the universe."
And judging by the fanaticism it generated, maybe they weren't that wrong. It was one of the best open-world games, surpassing games like GTA IV, Red Redemption 3, Sekiro Shadow Twice 2, and Black Myth Wukong II.
It was a massive game, with astonishing gameplay and an absorbing narrative. But it wasn't the typical game where the protagonist had to save the world from the Demon King or stop a multiversal cosmic catastrophe threatening the existence of creation.
"None of that."
In this game, you decided your destiny.
You could be a hero or a villain. You could found an empire, destroy or build civilizations, get married, have children, or betray everyone, stand with everyone, become someone insignificant, or choose any profession. Here, you were free to do whatever you wanted, with a free will that no one questioned.
You could even rule an entire world if you had the skill and patience.
The world-building was so vast that many players never managed to explore even 4.5% of the map, not even a tiny fraction of that percentage.
There were parallel timelines, alternate universes, races, epic fantasy beasts… it was digital madness turned into art. No—rather, it was a Masterpiece, something that would make any film critic say: "Peak fiction! This is ABSOLUTE CINEMA!"
Park Suho had also read the original web novel, which had more than 3,750 chapters and an epic ending. He knew every secret, every twist, every betrayal.
And although the game followed that story, it had changed enough to offer total freedom. "The Legendary Hunter"had no fixed destiny.
The destiny was in the player's hands.
Park Suho loved that.
He invested his money in the game, his time, his soul—everything was worth it.
It was the only thing that kept him sane.
"At least here I can be happy," he murmured, resting his head against the back of his chair.
"If I were to die or something like that, I'd at least like to reincarnate into my current character. I'd literally live in the best video game world, just like the Webtoons and fantasy web novels I read," he said with a deep sigh.
His voice sounded soft, tired.
The glow of the monitor reflected in his eyes, and for a second, the reflection of his avatar—an imposing figure wearing bluish leather armor with magical gems and emerald-green eyes—merged with his own face.
"At least here… I'm not a failure," he whispered.
Deep down, he knew his real life was a disaster.
He was aware that he had become a good-for-nothing NEET, a man without direction who had let his dreams die. But as long as his fingers stayed on the keyboard, as long as the game's music filled the room, the emptiness seemed to disappear for an instant within that game.
Not knowing what to do with his life in the real world, despite never being able to achieve a normal life, Suho was here the best—inside a fictional avatar.
Suho had never done very well in love.
Although it wasn't because of his looks, because—in reality—he was quite an attractive man. He had a well-defined face, a strong jawline, and a calm gaze when he was relaxed.
But his problem wasn't his appearance.
It was his insecurity.
Every time he spoke to someone, especially a girl, his voice trembled, his mind went blank, and his breathing grew erratic.
That silent anxiety ruined any attempt at connection.
So he never managed to have a real relationship.
While his brothers were already married, had children, and lived lives of luxury around the world, he remained alone, locked inside his own cave, unable to see the true outside world.
He was always left behind.
But that no longer mattered to him.
He didn't need it.
Why live in a world that never gave him anything, when he could live in one he controlled perfectly?
Why love someone when, in his game, he could command armies, build kingdoms, and challenge gods—eventually even obtaining a partner?
"Who needs the outside world when I already have a max-level character?" Suho said with a tired smile. "In a game where surviving is almost impossible, I'm the best."
He let out a long yawn as he stood up from his chair. He lazily stretched his arms and heard his back crack softly.
"I've been playing too much today… I need a break," he murmured between yawns. "I'll come back later."
He rubbed his eyes and picked up his phone from the desk.
The screen's light blinded him for a moment before showing the time:
[November 2, 2029, time: 5:10 a.m.]
"What…?" Suho blinked in surprise. "It's already five in the morning?"
He frowned and let out an incredulous laugh.
"No way… how does time pass so fast? I was playing so much that I didn't even notice the time."
The sound of phone notifications broke the silence of the room.
When he opened Discord, he found himself in his favorite server: the official one for
[The Rise of the Legendary Hunter].
The chat was boiling with messages about the recent Halloween event.
Players were talking nonstop:
LordChaos120: "Does anyone know how I can find the exclusive boss Skeleton King?"
Park Suho raised an eyebrow as he watched the replies arrive instantly.
Kraken_012: "What a stupid question. Do you really think that if we knew where he was, we'd tell you? Exclusive bosses are unique. They appear only once and disappear forever. It's almost impossible to defeat them."
QueenPancake03: "Don't be like that, Kraken. He's probably new, that's why he's asking. But unfortunately, the boss was already defeated by someone."
Kraken_012: "What? That fast? That event just came out! Who the hell was capable of defeating it so quickly?"
LordChaos120: "No way! I at least wanted to try… damn it."
QueenPancake03: "Well, according to the rumors, it was zombisinister_300. That guy is unbeatable. He always does it. It's like he has some kind of power no one else understands. Some say he dominates the game at an impossible level."
Suho let out a small smile.
"There's no need to exaggerate. I know I'm very good, but I didn't expect it to be to the point that they'd think that about me."
Park Suho let out a silent chuckle.
If only they knew the truth…
If only they knew that the most feared and admired player on the server, zombisinister, was nothing more than a lonely man locked inside a messy room, yawning at five in the morning.
"If they knew who I really am…" he murmured with a sad smile and eyes brimming with tears.
As he scrolled through the messages, a notification appeared at the top of the screen:
[New mail received – Unknown sender]
Park Suho frowned.
"An anonymous mail?" he said curiously. "Must be some kind of game announcement…"
He tapped the notification.
The mail opened slowly.
And the first thing he saw left him frozen.
The sender was creavity500.
The very name of the author of the original novel.
The original author of the novel that inspired The Rise of the Legendary Hunter.
"What the hell…?" Suho felt a chill run down his spine.
Why would the author of the game send an email to him?
To a simple failure like him?
He opened the message.
The text was short, but its content made his skin crawl.
"Dear zombisinister_300:
For your dedication and support to the vast and infinite universe we have built,
I grant you an opportunity to live in the world you love so much."
Suho stared at the screen, unsure whether to laugh or worry.
"What kind of joke is this?" he said, letting out an incredulous laugh. "The author of the game writing to me? What's next, inviting me to dinner?"
He closed the email and left the phone on the desk.
"What nonsense… it's probably spam or a prank by some bored fan," he murmured as he threw himself onto the bed.
His body landed with a slight bounce.
The white ceiling of the room seemed to spin slowly from accumulated exhaustion.
"Although…" he said between yawns, his eyes half-closed, "I don't know how he knew I was zombisinister_300… bah, it must be pure coincidence. I'm way too sleepy right now."
He closed his eyes.
And silence took over the room.
But then, something changed.
He felt a strange pressure on his chest, as if he were being slowly dragged underwater.
He opened his eyes… and he was no longer in his bed.
He was falling.
Falling into a liquid darkness, deep, bubbling, as if he were submerged in an infinite ocean.
He tried to move, to scream, but his body wouldn't respond.
Only the sound of bubbles and a distant roar filled the void.
His consciousness floated between sleep and reality.
Suddenly, a strong, warm breeze struck his face.
He felt the air cutting against his skin, the wind whistling in his ears.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Light.
Too much light.
Park Suho blinked several times until his vision adjusted, and what he saw took his breath away.
He was in an immense landscape, with colossal mountains and clouds moving beneath his feet. The ground trembled, and a deafening sound echoed everywhere.
"Where… where am I?" he murmured, staggering. "I don't remember leaving the house…"
His voice trembled.
The air smelled of ash, fire, magic.
"Is this a dream…?" he whispered. "But it feels so real…"
"This must just be a lucid dream."
Then, a roar shook the sky.
In front of him, emerging from the burning clouds, appeared a gigantic creature:
a purple dragon, with scales like shining obsidian and a deep scar over its left eye, completely blind.
Its voice thundered like lightning:
"Any last words to say, damn useless wretch?"
Park Suho stepped back, paralyzed. It was a creature far too terrifying—he was dreaming something far too real to be true.
"Are you… a dragon?" he stammered. "I don't know what you're talking about… but… please… don't eat me! I didn't do anything wrong!"
The dragon roared with fury, its breath shifting the mountains around them.
"Are you pretending to be senile, bastard?" it bellowed. "Do you think you can fool me, Zarkrion Volcanius IV? Don't play with me, failure!"
The ground trembled. The peaks of nearby volcanoes ignited with living fire.
Suho looked around and saw dozens—perhaps hundreds—of dragons watching from the heights.
Their eyes stared at him with contempt.
As if he were being judged.
"Zarkrion… what…?" Suho struggled to breathe. "What are you talking about? I don't understand anything!"
The purple dragon roared again, its rage restrained.
"Today is your exile from the Dragon Kingdom!" it declared with a voice of judgment.
Suho felt his heart stop.
"My exile…? Dragon Kingdom…? I already told you, you're mistaken! I'm not who you think I am!"
The dragon narrowed its good eye.
"Don't play dumb, Zarkrion Volcanius IV." Its voice lowered, filled with disdain. "You are no longer our legitimate king. Get lost already."
Suho was left speechless.
"Why are you calling me that?" he whispered.
His hands trembled.
But when he lowered them, he noticed something impossible.
His hands were not human hands.
They were enormous, covered in crimson-red scales, with sharp, dark claws.
His breathing quickened.
He felt his body… colossal, powerful, burning. And a gigantic shadow was reflected on the ground: immense wings spread out behind him.
His heart pounded violently, mixing fear and confusion.
"What…!" he shouted. "Am I… a dragon?"
His roar echoed like thunder, making the very air tremble.
Park Suho… or perhaps now Zarkrion Volcanius IV… was no longer in his world.