Rain hammered against the cracked windowpane of the orphanage.
Eren's pale fingers danced across his keyboard, eyes fixed on the glowing screen that had become his escape from reality. The game's dungeon timer ticked down — ten seconds before the final boss spawned.
"If I can clear this, I'll finally hit Level 100…" he muttered, his voice barely audible beneath the storm.
Behind him, the old orphanage door creaked open.
Riel, his younger brother, peeked in with a small smile and a tray of food.
"Brother, you haven't eaten since morning. The caretaker said—"
"I'll eat later, Riel. Just… give me a few minutes."
Riel sighed, walking over to the desk. The light from the monitor painted both their faces — the brothers shared the same sharp eyes and faint silver hue in their hair.
The game boss roared. A massive explosion of light filled the screen as Eren's avatar swung his sword — and the moment the hit connected, the monitor flared too bright.
SYSTEM ALERT: DIMENSIONAL SYNC REACHED.
Transfer Initiated.
"What—?" Eren started, but the words never left his mouth.
A surge of energy erupted from the computer. Symbols of blue light spread across the floor, pulsing like veins.
"Eren!" Riel shouted, dropping the tray as the food scattered. He rushed forward, but the moment he touched Eren's shoulder, the symbols expanded — swallowing them both in light.
For a second, everything went silent.
Then came the wind.
The scent of iron.
And the sound of chains rattling.
Eren opened his eyes to find himself standing in an ancient stone hall. Floating in the air before him was a glowing blue screen:
> [Welcome, Player. You have entered the Realm of Valtheris.]
He blinked in disbelief — the same interface from his game hovered right in front of him.
But this wasn't VR. This was real.
"Where am I…?" he whispered, staring at the endless horizon beyond the hall's broken windows.
And somewhere, far away — under a different sky — Riel woke up too.
But there was no system screen before him.
Only the endless forest, and the sound of monsters awakening.