The scent of damp earth and overgrown moss was the first thing that pulled him back to consciousness. Then came the rustling of leaves and the rough, abrasive texture of tree bark pressing against his back. It was vivid. Far too vivid for the sensory feedback of any VR capsule on the market.
Sted slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the harsh sunlight piercing through the canopy. Instinctively, he raised a hand to shield his face—and froze.
It wasn't the hand of the young man he was familiar with. It was slender, the skin a sickly, porcelain white that lacked any warmth of flowing blood. Cold fingertips brushed against long, silver-gray hair cascading down his cheek. Looking down, he found himself clad in a dark, gothic lolita-style dress draped under a pitch-black cloak. The fabric carried a realistic, heavy weight.
Resting against the trunk beside him was a colossal scythe, its curved blade gleaming ominously in the dappled light.
It was his in-game avatar. A True Vampire.
"You've gotta be kidding me..."
The groan that escaped his lips was a clear, melodic girl's voice. Sted's eyes widened. He immediately swiped his index finger through the air, trying to summon the holographic User Interface.
Nothing. No glowing menus. No Log Out button. Not even a guild chat icon.
Crash! Clank!
The violent rustling of bushes and the heavy thud of metal breaking branches broke the silence. Sted immediately grabbed the shaft of his giant scythe. The cold bite of the wood and the dense weight of the iron blade only amplified the terrifying reality of the situation.
Stumbling out from the thicket was a burly, muscular dwarf. He was clad in gleaming golden heavy armor, a mechanical engine and a flamethrower strapped to his broad back. The dwarf was furiously swatting the empty air in front of him.
"Hey! Where the hell is the menu? Did the system freeze?!" the dwarf bellowed, violently tugging at his own thick, crimson beard. He then locked eyes with Sted. "What are you looking at, little girl?! Never seen a pissed-off— wait... Sted? That gear, that scythe... is that you?!"
"LP?" Sted replied, his new feminine voice ringing clear. He let out a long sigh as the puzzle pieces started falling into place. "Looks like we have a massive problem, man."
Before LP could respond, a chorus of panicked shouts erupted from all directions.
As Sted and the dwarf stepped out of the treeline into a wide clearing, they were met with absolute chaos. Over a dozen of their guildmates were waking up, all trapped inside their Level 100 avatars.
Kanaya, now a blonde girl in a tight-fitting cleric's habit, sat on the grass hugging her knees, her emerald eyes darting around in sheer panic. A few yards away, a man in full samurai armor was frantically drawing and sheathing his katana like a madman. On the other side, a half-dragon warrior yanked his own scaly tail, yelping out loud to test if the pain was real. They were all swiping at the empty air, begging for the system to appear.
"It actually hurts! Hell, I'm not dreaming!" "I can't log out! Someone ping the GMs!" "Magic... I just lit a spark on my hand, and it's actually burning!"
The panic was infectious, spreading like wildfire. Sted gripped his scythe tightly. In the past, he would have been the first to lose his temper, but surrounded by this collective hysteria, a strange, chilling calmness washed over him. He opened his mouth to shout them down, but someone beat him to it.
"Shut up. And get a grip. Now."
The voice wasn't deafening, but it was freezing, authoritative, and carried a suffocating pressure that instantly silenced the entire clearing.
Everyone turned toward the source. Stepping out from the shadows of a massive oak tree was a slender woman in sleek, practical leather gear. Twin short swords hung at her hips. She was calmly wiping a streak of fresh crimson blood from her own palm—a self-inflicted cut she'd just made with a throwing dagger. Her sharp, calculating gaze swept over the seventeen pale-faced guild members.
Death. The Guild Leader and the absolute mastermind of the group.
"I just tested it. The blood is real, and the system windows are completely gone," she stated, her tone flat but carrying undeniable weight. "The most logical conclusion: we have crossed over into this world for real, inside our avatars."
She raised her bleeding palm for everyone to see. "But note this—while physical sensations are fully functional, our 'Pain Resistance' passive is still working exactly like it did in the game. That cut didn't cause any agonizing pain; it merely felt like a strong, blunt pressure."
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her people. "Conclusion: we are made of flesh and blood, but some of the game's physics crossed over with us. So stop panicking like a bunch of rookies."
A heavy silence fell over the clearing. Everyone knew that when the Guild Leader started breaking down the game mechanics, playtime was officially over.
"If a Mass Isekai phenomenon occurred, it means we aren't the only ones. The major tyrant guilds or other power factions might be here too. Exposing our true identities is our biggest liability right now." Death stepped forward, making eye contact with every single member. "For our own survival, starting this very second, absolutely no one is to use their real name or old ID."
She rested her hand on the hilt of her short sword, tapping it lightly against the scabbard to hammer the point home.
"Everyone uses their avatar's alias. Are we clear?"
The dwarf in golden armor let out a huff through his nose, a smirk finally breaking through his beard. He hoisted the heavy flamethrower onto his shoulder. "Whatever it takes. Call me Lars."
The blonde cleric on the ground slowly dusted off her skirt and stood up, looking visibly relieved now that someone was taking charge. "I'm... Mila."
Watching the scene unfold, Sted let out a soft, playful chuckle. The lingering anxiety was completely overtaken by a familiar thrill. He twirled his massive scythe with effortless mastery, a smirk forming on his pale lips.
"Copy that, Boss," he said, fully embracing his new reality. "As for me, I'm Sera. Nice to meet you all."
Death gave a slow, resolute nod. "Good. I am Talia. Now, check your gear and inventory. We find a way out of this forest before nightfall."