Chapter 2

Kai lounged in his dimly lit room, surrounded by the depressing glow of multiple screens. Kai, the average shut-in anime dweeb barely had a life in the outside world; his existence primarily revolved around video games. His life, an unremarkable loop of L’s, offered little beyond the digital adventures he sought.

"Another day, another dive into 'Titans MMORPG'," he muttered.

“RING - RING - RING”

"Yo Ryu what’s good man?. I just got reminded I literally got no motion, no love life, no jawline. just another day spiraling into the abyss. You up for some 'Titans MMORPG' to escape reality?"

“Yooo man, would it kill you to be positive once in awhile, geez!, this real world is like the tutorial level, and we've mastered it. Now, let's conquer this new game world and leave our mundane troubles in the dust! Real life can't even respawn; it's a total noob!"

Ryu added with a cheeky grin, "Who knows, maybe we'll find a cheat code for a girlfriend in this game. Level up our love lives, right?"

As the duo delved into the game, their surroundings shifted. The familiar hum of computer fans transformed into an ethereal melody. Their digital avatars manifested into tangible forms.

Kai's lanky frame was now dressed in his avatar’s wizardry skin, and Ryu, his sturdy friend, donned the armor of a knight.

"What the... where's the screen? And why does everything look so real?" Kai questioned, his hands waving mystically.

[Ding! KAI - Level 1 - mage]

[Ding! Level: 1 - Mana: 100/100 - Health: 80/80]

[Ding! Skills: Fireball: Level 1 - Feather fall: Level 1 Lightning bolt: Level 1]

[Ding! Main Quest: Survive and Understand the New World]

"Whatttttttttt... A stat screen?! why does everything look so different? And why do I feel taller? Ryu, do you see this notification interface? Is this some sort of glitch?" Kai muttered still disoriented by all of the notifications.

"Dude, check this out. We've got quests just like in the game.

Ryu leaned in, his eyes scanning the virtual parchment.

[Main quest: Survive and Understand the New World.]

Now, that's a questline I can get behind. What do you think, Kai?"

Kai's initial shock transformed into genuine concern. "This isn't a game glitch or a dream, Ryu. This is real. I mean, we're really here. In this Titan world. I... I can't believe it."

Ryu's usual bravery faltered, replaced by a mixture of awe and uncertainty. "Real huh..? Like, no respawn buttons real? What happened to our screens and comfy chairs?"

"I don't know, man. But the fact that we're standing here, feeling the breeze and not just staring at it on a screen... it's freaking me out."

They exchanged nervous glances, their composure shattered, and uncertainty etched across their faces.

As they got familiar with the peculiar situation, reality struck them. They weren't in the comfort of their virtual rooms anymore. The familiar glow of screens had been replaced by the dappled moonlight filtering through the leaves.

Ryu surveyed their surroundings. "Well, well I’m guessing we’re close to Neon Citadel. Looks like our virtual world is now a very tangible forest. The game just got an upgrade."

Kai chuckled. "Upgrade? More like a difficulty spike. But you're right. Let's survive this like we did in 'Titans MMORPG.'"

As they navigated through the terrain, the scent of damp earth and rustling leaves filled the air. The moon cast eerie shadows, and distant hoots of owls heightened the surreal atmosphere.

Ryu chuckled, unsheathing a virtual sword that now hung at his hip. "Never thought I'd say this, but real or not, we're on an adventure, my wizardly friend. Let's see what this new world has in store."

Kai smirked, staff in hand. "Just like the game. But remember, this time, there's no respawn button.you’d literally die if you try playing solo, pal. We're in this together."

***

Kai, pondering a secure camp spot, was hit by a gnarly stench. "Yo, Ryu! This your doing, that awful smell?" he asked, throwing a puzzled look at Ryu.

"Nahh man! It ain't me," Ryu replied, flashing a playful grin.

The unsettling smell lingered, and a strange vibe settled over Kai. He always had a skill for sensing danger.

Ambush!

His voice echoed through the forest. Startled, Ryu sprang into action, his gear jingling urgently.

"Goblins? Seriously? At least they looked cuter in the game. Ryu, grab your sword or something; we've got company." Ryu gritted, trying to get a hang of his spells.

Snarling goblins charged, led by one with a wickedly sharp dagger. Kai unleashed a bolt of flame, engulfing the goblin leader. Ryu swung his sword, dispatching another goblin with precision. The remaining three fled, their cries echoing through the forest.

"Okay, this is weird. I used to click buttons to cast spells; now I'm waving my hands like a lunatic.”

“We just gotta bet on instinct, I guess. We're in a ruin with no manual, no tutorial. It's like starting a new game blindfolded." Ryu concluded.

"Get the ears! Get the ears! We could trade them for gold at the sages hut once we get to town, we’d need some sort of money if we’re gonna survive here" Kai exclaimed, drawing his razor-sharp dagger. Ryu caught on, and soon they had two grotesque trophies tucked away.

"Now what?" Ryu inquired.

"We need to find a safe haven," Kai replied. "The forest is crawling with goblins, and we're outnumbered."

Ryu suggested climbing a tree for defense, but Kai hesitated. "Being cornered like a fox with goblins barking below doesn't sit well with me."

"Then to Neon Citadel it is," Ryu insisted. "It's nearby, and we can vibe up there."

Kai frowned at the suggestion. "True, it's a fortress, but who knows what kind of monsters lurks within its walls now? I couldn’t clear its map back in the game"

"Sigh fine, let us take refuge just behind the neon walls of Neon Citadel," Kai declared.

As goblin hunting calls echoed, Kai and Ryu sprinted up the path, reaching a fork. A barely discernible path led right, while a clear one led left, lit by flickering firelight.

After stumbling down a game trail, they saw the moonlit Neon Citadel. Unfortunately, the battle cries of their pursuers grew ever nearer. Glowing eyes gleamed in the darkness.

The outer wall of the castle loomed before them, about ten feet high and in a state of decay. Panic set in as they realized there were no openings on this side large enough to pass through.

Ryu, the swifter of the two, disappeared around the far corner of the wall.

“Whoosh!"

A short spear whistled past, narrowly missing Kai's head.

"Die, filthy vermin!" Kai screamed, unleashing a blast of flames from his finger tips. The goblins' screams pierced the night, soon silenced by the engulfing flames.

With no more goblins in sight, Kai hurried to catch up with Ryu.

"Broo, you've definitely wiped that entirely party. they'll respawn in no time though. We have the wall can we hold it?" Ryu said.

"We could go in," Kai suggested, pointing towards the neon-lit keep beyond the courtyard. The fortress, stood in a state of eerie stillness.

The situation around Neon Citadel had escalated quickly, the air thick with tension and danger. The goblins had respawned in their fierce groups, desperately forcing their entrance into the castle.

Kai, sizing up their predicament, swiftly scrapped the idea of blocking the entrance, recognizing its futility. "Two ain't holding all four walls! Into the ruins, Ryu!" he added.

In a swift dash, they ran towards the castle doors. Kai grappled with the creaking double doors. Ryu, vigilant, clamped the doors with a hefty bar.

Debris scattered, sealed wooden doors interrupted stone walls. A blocked stairwell gestured towards an upward path. As the front doors shook violently, Kai's eyes fixed on the arrow slit, where Goblin eyes and axes relentlessly attacked the castle entrance.

“I think we should go further Into the castle, this entrance door is going to give in any moment now” Kai remarked Signaling Ryu.

Just then, Kai scrutinized the tracks on the floor. Unsettling imprints, a blend of human-sized and massive, barefoot marks—no goblin traits.

Then, a glint caught Kai's eye—a glistening eye through a decaying hole in the left door. He quickly directed the lantern's beam, confirming his suspicion. It wasn't human!. The shadows seemed to writhe, concealing an ominous presence that sent a shiver down Kai's spine, hinting at horrors lurking just beyond the dark threshold.

-

The realization struck them. This wasn’t just a game anymore. It was their reality—a dark, mysterious realm filled with challenges, monsters, and the unknown. The digital dreamscape they once controlled now controlled them, and Neon Citadel, once a beacon of safety, seemed to hold secrets more terrifying than any goblin horde.

Their quest had just begun, and the path ahead was darker and more perilous than any dungeon they had explored in the pixels of 'Titans MMORPG.'