Roy's day began like most others in his new life—half-awake, blinking away dreams of glowing forests and snarling monsters, as the morning sun spilled across his desk covered in books, notes, and a closed FullDive headset. The contrast between reality and the game world never failed to amaze him.
In one life, he was a high school student—ordinary, quiet, trying to stay under the radar and keep up with his studies. In the other, he was a rising player in New World Online, wielding a spear with deadly precision, carving through monsters to climb the ranks.
And now, the countdown was ticking.
> First Combat Event: 2 Days Remaining
---
Roy hadn't followed the meta.
While most players went for swords, magic, or full-defense builds like that girl Maple (who already had whispers circling the plaza about her insane tanking skills), Roy had chosen something else.
The Lancer.
It was a lesser-known class, offering a balance of reach and mobility. Spear users weren't as flashy as sword dancers or as overwhelming as great-axe warriors, but in the right hands, they were deadly. Especially when paired with a short dagger for quick counters and close-range damage.
He liked the synergy.
The spear for distance and control.
The dagger for close-quarters precision.
"Well never too late to build yourself,"
---
At 5:30 AM, Roy was already logged in.
He had woken before the alarm, too anxious to stay in bed. He materialized in the Northwestern Fields, where higher-level monsters spawned with low traffic.
His target today: Wind Serpents — level 16 beasts that coiled through the tall grass and attacked with slicing wind projectiles.
Roy crouched in the grass, watching the serpent slither between two trees.
"Time to test my new skill," he muttered.
> Skill Activated: Skewer Drive
With a flick of his wrist, Roy dashed forward, his spear glowing faintly blue. He launched the weapon straight through the serpent's coiled body.
> -198 Critical Hit!
Before the beast could retaliate, he closed the distance, drew his dagger, and slashed across its face.
> -45
-60
Monster defeated. +220 EXP. +2 Skill Points. +Wind Scale (Item)
Roy exhaled, spinning the spear in his hand before resting it against his shoulder.
He had gotten faster. Cleaner.
He picked off four more serpents before logging out—just in time to prep for school.
---
Back to Reality
At breakfast, Roy's parents commented on his improved grades.
"You're studying more lately," his dad said between bites of toast. "You used to struggle with physics."
"Guess I'm more motivated now," Roy replied, smiling over his rice bowl.
It was the truth. Though the game took up most of his nights, he refused to slack off in his real-life duties. He still remembered the last life—how easily things slipped when he gave up. Not this time.
---
Classes were mundane. Math review. Japanese literature discussion. English grammar drills.
But the eyes of Reina Fujimoto still occasionally wandered toward him.
She hadn't bullied him in weeks. Not directly. But there was something new in the way she stared.
Curiosity? Suspicion?
Roy ignored it.
He spent lunch reviewing a flashcard app, then finished his history notes before the bell. After school, instead of walking home with the crowd, he took a shortcut—quiet, back alleys with vending machines and chirping cicadas.
At home, he reviewed more notes, then rewarded himself the only way that made sense:
> New World Online: Login Initiated
---
The Fangwood Forest was home to Level 18 monsters: armored boars, bloodhawks, and elemental slimes that split into clones when struck.
Perfect for fast EXP.
Roy's spear whistled as it flew through the air, impaling a bloodhawk mid-dive.
He landed, rolled, pulled out his dagger, and danced around two slimes. Their gelatinous bodies jiggled and split, trying to surround him.
He activated his new AOE ability.
> Skill Activated: Spiral Lash
He spun with his spear in a full arc, slicing through all three slimes as they exploded into shimmering pixels.
> +460 EXP
+Unique Drop: Slime Core
+Level Up!
Level 19
He checked his stats.
> HP: 530
AGI: 30
STR: 22
INT: 16
VIT: 12
Weapon: Stormpiercer (Rare spear)
Dagger: Black Fang
Passive Skills: Precision Pierce, Windstep
Active Skills: Ghost Step, Skewer Drive, Spiral Lash, Twin Fang, Spear Recall
He grinned.
"I might not be broken like Maple... but I'm getting there."
---
That night, he juggled two realities.
He reviewed his physics homework while chewing snacks, occasionally glancing at the sticky note stuck to his wall:
> "Energy = Force × Distance. Don't forget the units."
Then he logged in to face The Timber Maul — a mini-boss with a tree trunk for an arm and armor made of bark and vines.
He fought for nearly twenty minutes, using his terrain, spear reach, and dodging skills to slowly chip away.
When the beast finally fell, a shimmering chest appeared.
> +1,300 EXP
+Rare Armor: Barkscale Vest
+Skill Unlocked: Spear Recall (Summons thrown spear back instantly)
He slumped against a tree, catching his breath.
Every inch of progress mattered.
The First Combat Event was tomorrow.
---
At school, the buzz was all about the event.
Almost everyone was talking about New World Online—team-ups, skill builds, loot predictions.
Even Reina, sitting two rows behind Roy in homeroom, whispered something to her friend while glancing at him.
Roy focused on his notes.
After school, he took care of real-world obligations: cleaned his room, helped his mom with groceries, finished a science worksheet.
Then… one final dive before event day.
---
He returned to Fangwood for one last run.
At the cliff's edge, he encountered a rare spawn: Silverclaw Lynx, a beast known for its teleporting dash attacks and brutal counters.
Roy activated Windstep, speeding his footwork as the lynx blurred into motion.
It appeared behind him.
He spun, blocking with his spear.
Clang!
He dropped to one knee, then launched Twin Fang—two dagger thrusts in rapid succession, one targeting the lynx's chest, the other its paw.
> -184
-210
Critical Hit!
The lynx roared and lunged.
Roy smirked.
> Spear Recall
His previously-thrown spear whistled through the air and impaled the lynx through the back as it struck.
> +2,000 EXP
+Skill Unlocked: Phantom Mark (Marks enemies for increased damage after first strike)
+Rare Drop: Silverclaw Hide
Roy stood in silence, the pixels fading like fireflies around him.
This was it.
He was ready.
---
Roy logged out.
He took a long shower, reviewed his study notes one last time, and collapsed into bed. He clutched his pillow and stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow would be the first major event of his second life.