My Isekai Life in Hard Mode

Prologue

Late into a summer night, powerful wind gusts swept inland from the ocean, carrying a chilling coldness.

In a quiet, desolate neighborhood, a couple walked side by side, their discontent palpable.

Suddenly, under the streetlight's glare, the girl came to a halt, delivering a startling message to her disheveled companion before he could fully turn around.

"Ryoshu... I'm sorry, but... it's over between us."

The already frigid air seemed to drop a few more degrees at her words, sending a shiver down his spine.

Caught off guard by the sudden events, Ryoshu struggled to find words, his throat constricting with the weight of his emotions.

His expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, breaking the silence of the serene night with a heavy sigh.

Attempting a forced smile, he managed to convey his heartfelt farewell:

"I hope you find someone who truly deserves you."

Adapting perhaps too quickly, he hurried away, leaving the girl alone with her thoughts in the melancholic night.

Unaware of her feelings, consumed by his turmoil, Ryoshu pondered whether he should look back.

With a suddenness akin to a gust of wind, he darted away, a sorrowful arrow too painful to shed tears.

"Is this... the end? Why... why is this happening?"

Unable to contain his emotions any longer, he ran faster, each breath heavier than the last, tears streaming down his face.

Arriving at his rented room, Ryoshu found solace in the familiarity of his surroundings, despite their dismal state.

Gazing at a fallen photograph, he muttered to himself, gently placing it back in its rightful spot.

He saw his family in that photo - a bittersweet reminder of happier times tinged with sorrow.

This was his family, or what remained of it. His parents were gone, leaving behind only memories and an uncertain future.

Yet the photo was his only tangible connection to them, a stark reminder of their absence.

Their sudden deaths had left no will, their assets falling into the hands of indifferent guardians who callously turned Ryoshu and his sister away.

Behind their facade of concern lay cold, calculating words that stoked Ryoshu's anger.

But thanks to his love for his sister, he had pleaded for her support, sacrificing his education to ensure her well-being.

And now, his sacrifices had borne fruit - his sister was thriving, oblivious to the hardships he had endured.

Unable to suppress his self-deprecating thoughts, Ryoshu chuckled bitterly, his laughter tinged with the pain of regret.

Turning to his computer, he found temporary refuge in his streaming habits, a relic of his former glory.

Recalling the golden days of his streaming career, he couldn't help but lament his past decisions.

But it was too late for regrets now.

Sighing deeply, he closed the program, returning to what he deemed his "real work."

Double-clicking on a familiar game, Ryoshu immersed himself again in Rainfall Disorder.

This was his turning point, or so it had once seemed.

As he navigated the game's virtual world, battling formidable foes and forging unlikely alliances, Ryoshu couldn't shake the feeling that he was reliving his life's struggles.

But in a moment of carelessness, his character met an untimely end, echoing his past mistakes.

Frustrated by his failure, Ryoshu cursed his mediocrity, realizing the consequences of his actions too late.

In a desperate attempt to rewrite his fate, he exploited a game glitch, hoping against hope to undo the irreversible.

A few years back, everyone thought this game was unbeatable.

Ryoshu had played it until the end, facing a catastrophic event that wiped out millions of players. It didn't matter who you were—race, power, talent—everyone died. Even the players themselves.

Rainfall Disorder was notorious for being insanely difficult. Playing it conventionally made victory seem almost impossible.

During those unbeaten years, the game received regular updates and bug fixes, making it slightly more balanced.

Then, just two years after its release, a renowned player completed it, making headlines worldwide. Since then, more and more players beat the game, including Ryoshu, who was the 69th.

"Done!" Ryoshu hit his self-made button to end his record-breaking playthrough.

After scrutinizing the clock, he proudly noted his new personal record.

"17 hours... 24 minutes... 15 seconds... 5 milliseconds!"

He quickly uploaded his achievement to the Speedrun page, noticing the top player had beaten it in 14 hours.

"Why are they getting faster?"

On MineTube, he found no drama, a rarity since he started creating content.

With zero notifications, Ryoshu felt disheartened. He switched to social media, only to stumble upon his ex-girlfriend's post with another man.

"Could today get any worse?"

He turned on the TV, learning about the upcoming Virtual Reality version of Rainfall Disorder.

The CEO of Ber Productions hinted at major changes, teasing Ryoshu's curiosity.

"This game will change the world," he declared before the TV turned off.

"Forget to pay the cable bill..." Ryoshu sighed, returning to his computer.

"The VR version..." he murmured, knowing he couldn't afford it.

Despite past hardships, Ryoshu vowed to focus on making money, but he couldn't hate the game that had brought him joy.

After another successful completion, he felt nostalgic but tired. Deleting his channel's golden age, he uninstalled the game, planning to sell his computer.

"Time to sleep."

And then...nothing.

Upon waking, Ryoshu found himself in a strange room, panicked initially, then curious.

"Darn it, kidnapped?"

He noticed the eerily familiar cityscape as he looked out the window, prompting a message on his watch.

"What is this?"

An invitation to Spiral Academy appeared, and Ryoshu finally recognized where he was.

"Why didn't I realize it sooner?"

"Oh, Spiral Academy..."

Looking out at the

city, he realized he was in for an unexpected adventure.

‘’Damm…”