Soulbound Odyssey: From Zero to Hero

Ryan's fingers danced across the keyboard, the dull glow of his monitor the only light in his cramped studio apartment. The countdown timer on the screen flashed: 14 seconds remaining. His character, a low-level swordsman, stood in a narrow dungeon corridor, surrounded by snarling Shadow Wolves. Each click brought a frantic dodge or swing of his rusty sword, but the wolves closed in, their glowing red eyes narrowing.

"Come on," Ryan muttered, his voice tight with desperation.

A crimson claw slashed across the screen, and his health bar dipped dangerously low. Another strike, and the bar was gone.

GAME OVER.

The game clock ticked down with relentless urgency: 0:10, 0:09, 0:08. Ryan's heart raced as his fingers flew across the keyboard, each click and keystroke a desperate attempt to turn the tide. His character, a scrappy Level 1 swordsman, faced a trio of Shadow Wolves, their crimson eyes glowing menacingly in the dim dungeon corridor.

"Just a little longer," Ryan muttered, his voice tight with concentration. He activated [Dodge], narrowly evading the swipe of a wolf's claws. His sword swung in retaliation, striking the beast's flank.

-15 HP (Shadow Wolf: 10/30)

A faint flicker of hope sparked in his chest. If he could take out just one, maybe—

The other two wolves pounced. His screen lit up with damage notifications as their claws raked across his character.

-20 HP-25 HP (HP: 0/50)

The screen went dark, replaced by a stark message:

GAME OVER.

Ryan leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. His cramped studio apartment seemed even smaller in the dim glow of his monitor. The piles of takeout containers and unwashed laundry around him only added to the weight of his failure.

"Great," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Another waste of a night."

The cheerful sounds of victory music from a neighbor's window made him wince. Somewhere out there, someone was winning. Not him.

A soft chime drew his attention back to the screen. A strange notification blinked in the corner:

Congratulations! You have unlocked the hidden achievement: "True Despair." Would you like to claim your reward?

Ryan frowned. He'd played Soulbound Odyssey for months, and he'd never seen anything like this. Hidden achievements were rare but not unheard of. Still, "True Despair" felt a little too on the nose.

"What kind of reward do you get for losing?" he muttered, hovering his cursor over the notification.

Curiosity won out. He clicked.

The screen flickered and went black. Then, a cold, mechanical voice echoed through his headset:

Player 321, your journey begins now.

Before Ryan could react, his body was flooded with a searing jolt, as if lightning coursed through every nerve. He gasped, reaching for the headset, but his muscles refused to obey. Pain and light consumed him until the world dissolved.

When Ryan opened his eyes, he wasn't in his apartment anymore.

He lay on his back, staring up at a sky painted in hues of violet and gold. The soft rustling of grass surrounded him, accompanied by a faint breeze that carried the scent of wildflowers. He sat up slowly, his head spinning.

"Where… am I?"

The landscape stretched out before him: rolling fields dotted with vibrant flowers, a dense forest looming in the distance. Everything looked impossibly vivid, as though he'd stepped into a hyper-realistic game.

He glanced down at himself. Gone were his worn hoodie and jeans. Instead, he wore a simple tunic and light leather armor. A sword hung at his side, its hilt plain but sturdy. His hands, covered in fingerless leather gloves, trembled slightly as he reached for the weapon.

A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. He blinked as a translucent interface materialized in front of him:

Name: Ryan (Player 321)

Class: Novice Swordsman

Level: 1

Skills: [Basic Slash], [Dodge]

Quests Available: 1

Ryan stared, his breath catching. This was the Soulbound Odyssey interface. But how? Was he dreaming?

"This can't be real," he muttered, reaching out instinctively. The interface responded to his touch, shifting and expanding as his fingers brushed against it. It was too detailed, too immersive to be a dream.

A new notification appeared:

Quest: Survive the First Day

Objective: Stay alive until dawn.

Reward: +50 EXP, [Beginner's Pack]

"Stay alive?" Ryan said aloud. "What kind of quest is that?"

The sound of distant howls sent a chill down his spine. His gaze snapped to the forest. The sun was dipping lower on the horizon, the shadows stretching longer by the second.

Gripping the sword at his side, Ryan stood. His heartbeat quickened as he moved toward the tree line. The open field felt too exposed, and every instinct told him he needed cover—fast.

The forest was darker than it had appeared from the outside. The towering trees blocked most of the remaining sunlight, leaving the ground dappled in faint patches of light and shadow. Ryan's footsteps crunched softly on the leaf-strewn path. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves made him flinch, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

A sudden rustle to his right made him freeze. He turned slowly, his breath caught in his throat. From the underbrush emerged a small, scrawny goblin. Its beady eyes gleamed with malice, and it brandished a crude dagger.

Goblin – Level 1 (HP: 20/20)

The nameplate floated above its head. Ryan's stomach dropped. This was no cutscene. The goblin lunged with a high-pitched screech, its dagger aimed straight for his chest.

Ryan barely had time to react. He stumbled back, his body moving on instinct as he activated [Dodge]. The goblin's attack missed by inches, and Ryan swung his sword in return. The blade connected, slicing across the goblin's side.

-10 HP (Goblin: 10/20)

The creature hissed, baring its jagged teeth as it lunged again. Ryan sidestepped, adrenaline surging as he countered with [Basic Slash]. His sword cleaved through the goblin, and its health bar emptied. The creature collapsed, dissolving into a shower of glowing particles.

+10 EXP (EXP: 10/100)

Ryan stood there, panting. His hands trembled as he stared at the spot where the goblin had fallen. This wasn't a game anymore. The fear, the pain, the rush of victory—it all felt too real.

A soft chime drew his attention back to the interface:

Skill Unlocked: [Quick Reflexes] (Passive)

Effect: Slightly increases reaction speed and dodge effectiveness.

"Okay," Ryan said, his voice shaky. "This is happening."

He glanced around, the forest suddenly feeling much larger and more dangerous. He could hear distant howls and the faint rustle of movement in the shadows. The sun was gone now, and the faint glow of moonlight through the canopy did little to ease his nerves.

"Stay alive until dawn," he repeated under his breath. "Yeah, easier said than done."

With his sword in hand and his heart pounding, Ryan pushed deeper into the forest, knowing the night had only just begun.