After the New Life server was forced shutdown, I too shut myself in my room. I don't know what to do, what would happen to my family's debt? I was such a fool, if only I didn't stick to this game and sold my items for real money, then the debt of my family would be paid.

"I was such an idiot!" I cursed myself for almost an hour until I fell asleep on the chilly ground next to the bed.

[10:46 PM, Sunday]

"N-Noooooo!" I suddenly woke up from my slumber, sweating in fear while having reddish and teary eyes. "W-what just happened?" I questioned myself, peering out every corner of my room to see if it has been a dream or a reality.

"Ohh... A dream," I took a deep breath, gradually forgetting the scene from that dream.

Tututut~ Tututut~ *Phone Ringing*

"My phone?" I took the phone off the desk opposite the window after hearing a series of distress alarms.

I hurriedly swipe down the notification bar and learned a shocking news that will change the world that I lived in.

[NDRRMC: Isang napakalakas na lindol ang naganap sa sa buong lugar ng Pilipinas, inaasahang magkaroon ng mga paunti-unting mga aftershock. Lahat ay inaatasang lumikas kaagad at umiwas sa mga makikipot na daan at sa mga matataas na imprastraktura na maaaring gumuho sa anumang oras.]

TRANSLATED: [NDRRMC: A very strong earthquake occurred in the entire area of ​​the Philippines, it is expected that there will be gradual aftershocks. Everyone is instructed to evacuate immediately and avoid narrow roads and tall infrastructure that could collapse at any minute.]

I thought that it was all misinformation until the earth crumbled and the weather changed, with torrential rains gushing could be seen outside the window. "Is this the end of the world?" I wondered as I reflected on the good and terrible times in my life.

The earthquake stopped while nothing could be heard except for the countless distress alarm from my phone.

"Mom, Sister! Are you okay?" I hurriedly went into the room of my two precious family members and was reassured to see them both safe and sound.

"T-Theodore?" She look into my eyes while showing a worried expression on his face.

"Mom, it's me, don't worry!" I took the hands of my mom and sister and slowly evacuated outside the house.

"T-This? our house.." Mom's eyes slowly turned reddish while tears could be seen flowing steadily under his cheek.

"Mom.." I hugged both my sister and mother while softly patting them from behind.

"Theodore.." Her tears continued to flow until it gushed towards my broad shoulder.

"I'm sorry mom... For everything." I am relieved that I am finally able to tell her the word that I kept for almost a month.

"Brother, your hands." 

"Ohh, a wound.. Don't worry malayo to sa bituka." 

{TRIVIA: "Malayo to sa bituka" or "Malayo naman to sa bituka" is a proverb originated from Philippines. This means, the wound was far from the intestine or it was just a small wound that cannot be taken as a deep wound that threatens the life of one's individual.}

An hour passes, I took the chance to check any news on the internet and saw an even more shocking news. A news that escalated throughout the whole world. 

[NEWS: This is Jane, a reporter from ABS-CBN. The earthquake that occurred throughout the entire Philippines was temporarily subsided but another piece of shocking information has been reported to us by an unknown civilian.]

"Please tell us what you've witnessed."

"I-I saw an unknown being lurking upon the forest closer to where I live in."

"Ohh? please tell us what kind of monster was it or is there any similar appearance that you know of after seeing the said monsters?"

"It was a monster probably about 90 meters long and as big as a matured pig."

"Can you please be more specific?"

"Ahh, It looks like a boar but that difference was it is more powerful and has a leaf on its head."

"Powerful? how powerful was it?"

"I saw dozens of it ravaging those tall trees like a madman."

"This information of yours was credible right? do you have any evidence nor a picture of it taken by your phone?"

"Ohh, yes I have. Please take a look at this!"

"O-Ohh, it was really true. Thank you for telling us a piece of important information. This is once again Jane, a reporter from ABS-CBN, coming back from the studio."

...

I felt that the monster was kinda similar and decided to take a screenshot of it and posted it on F******k.

After some time passes I check my post on F******k and was shocked that it goes viral. I immediately scrolled down the comments and finally learned that the appearance of the said monster was similar to mobs from New Life or to be precise, a Lvl03 Leaf Boar that could be found in the newbie map; Windy Forest.

I scrolled down once again and learned another piece of important information regarding to New Life. "To those old players of new life, try to chant the word 'Open Status Bar' and you will be shocked at what will going to happen."

I immediately spoke the command word and was taken aback after seeing a transparent bar in front of me.

"Wait, isn't this a status bar similar to New Life? This was a reality right?" I asked myself, slapping my face to know whether it was a reality or if I was dreaming.

"Ouch.." I felt pain and was finally sure of one thing. "It was real!"

"If Status Bar existed then, an inventory might also be here right?" I tried to chant the command word to open the inventory and was more shocked as to what I've seen.

"W-What was this?" I saw a familiar items similar to what I used to have when I was a player of New Life. I saw a lock icon on each of every side of the items and pondered, "Isn't this a symbol of bound items?" I immediately checked the description of the items and learned that "It was really bound.. But even so, I could still use it right?" I suddenly scream out loud inwardly while having an expression of excitement on my face. 

"If this was an opportunity given by the heaven, then I will gladly take it!"

End of Chapter 01

Author: Zorenico