My brows scrunched as I scanned the surrounding area. This clearing was undoubtedly the same place where I had been teleported at the start of the Tutorial phase. Everything appeared familiar, yet a disquieting feeling pricked at my consciousness. Hoping to gain clarity, I opened my player status.

***

Player: Akira Sakamoto (Aoi Player)

Level: 7

Class: Marksman

Subclass: Gunner

Title: Lover of Peach

Health Points (HP): 160 — 100%

Mana Points (MP): 300 — 100%

Main Stats:

Strength (STR): 8

Dexterity (DEX): 7+1

Wisdom (WIS): 3

Charisma (CHA): 1

Intelligence (INT): 30

Luck (LUK): 2

Free Stats Points: 18

Overall Prestige (PRE): +120% (Max 1000%)

***

My stats were looking solid, all updated after that messy goblin fight. Gold, tools, items, skills; they were all there, just as they should be. But something was off.

I scoped the treeline and the ground once more. Were there any clues to explain this uneasiness? The trees stood as they always had. The clearing’s dimensions were unchanged, but an unnatural stillness had settled in. A sort of haunting absence of life juxtaposed with my first arrival. It was as if the very essence of the forest had shifted, leaving an emptiness where there had once been energy and excitement.

To find answers, I activated the full map, its holographic display overlaying the terrain I had traversed. It confirmed my location. It was definitely the very forest clearing where I had first entered this virtual realm. Puzzlement tiptoed in as I pondered the implications.

What’s the deal here? Is this the staging area? Then, where are the other players?

My gaze drifted skyward, squinting at the blue expanse above. “Oi, System, is this another one of your jokes?”

As if in response to my protest, a commotion erupted from the undergrowth nearby. Instinct kicked in, and I readied my slingshot, narrowing my eyes on the source of the disturbance.

“Who goes there?” I called out, my voice steady, though a strange sense of déjà vu crept over me, as if I had walked this path before, faced this moment with uncanny familiarity. Before I could ponder further, a figure emerged from behind a tree, causing my eyes to widen in shock. It was the goblin I had defeated when I first entered this forsaken game world, unmistakable, with the distinctive scar marring his left cheek.

The goblin tilted his head to one side, a crooked grin spreading across his face. “Fear not, young warrior, I mean you great harm,” he sneered, his voice high-pitched and mocking, the words interspersed with a chilling laugh.

“Yeah, right,” I shot back. Without missing a beat, I quickly loaded a kōkyū into my slingshot, the motion almost instinctive, and released it with accuracy.

The goblin, caught off guard, barely had time to react before the projectile struck his forehead. He toppled backward, his body hitting the ground with a lifeless thump.

I approached the fallen goblin. As I drew closer, a cognizance struck me. If this was indeed the same goblin I had encountered on my first day in this world, why didn’t he show any recognition? My thoughts were halted by the appearance of the familiar blue screen before my eyes.

***

You have killed a Common Goblin

Gold: 10

***

“Eh? Why is the reward lacking?” I pondered aloud. “Where are the free points and the ring? And why didn’t I level up?”

I knelt by the goblin’s side, turning his head slightly to examine the scar more closely. It was unequivocal, the very same. I glanced back at the blue screen. Something wasn’t adding up. My stats were right, my items intact, but the environment and events felt off, like a warped reflection of my initial experience.

I stood up, brushing off the dirt from my knees. My eyes swept across the clearing. What was different? The silence pressed on, worrying and abnormal. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting.

“All right, System,” I clenched my fists and looked at the sky again. “I’m not falling for this. What’s really going on here?”

No answer came, just the wind swirling through the leaves. But I knew something was out there, something that wasn’t part of the original design. And I was going to find out what it was.

My gaze shifted to the Ring of Mischief wrapped around my finger, and suddenly it hit me like a lightbulb moment. Was it because I’d already acquired the item? No wonder the level progression had stalled. At my current level, I needed way more experience points to advance. It made perfect sense, but come on, couldn’t the System throw me a bone here?

Turning my attention to the goblin’s dropped loot, I saw a stone ax and an obsidian dagger. I stashed them in my Tool/Items list. I mean, adding weapons from fallen foes to my arsenal was always a smart move. Plus, those bad boys could fetch a nice price from the online store. The System was savvy enough to differentiate between loot acquired from enemies and what you might just pick up lying around. Smart play, considering how unpredictable this game could be.

Rubbing my chin thoughtfully, I considered the events that transpired. Each piece of this puzzle pointed toward a journey back in time. Could it be a glitch? A sigh escaped my lips as I acknowledged the need for more information to validate my suspicions. Patience had to be my ally. I’d have to wait and see how this played out.

On the dot, a howl pierced the quietness.

Ah, those pesky little horned devils. My suspicion about traveling back to the opening stage grew stronger.

Before long, I was on the same trail to the spot of my first encounter with those lewd creatures. Taking cover behind the dense underbrush, I positioned myself like a hawk, eyes locked on the path ahead. Moments later, the first horny rabbit appeared. With a wry grin, I greeted it like an old friend.

“Hey there, little guy. No humping coming from you today,” I taunted before unleashing a kōkyū.

The rabbit was sent flinging backward, its life snuffed out by my well-aimed projectile. Satisfaction spread across my face. Now, for the rest of these horny buggers.

As expected, the remaining rabbits emerged from the undergrowth, confused by my welcoming aggression. I could practically hear their little hearts beating fast. With a villainous laugh, I confidently wielded my slingshot, preparing for the skirmish ahead. Before they knew it, my rapid volleys turned them into a plush carpet of fur.

In less than a minute, the forest floor lay strewn with their dead bodies. A notification screen promptly appeared, detailing my rewards. Six gold coins and an additional free stat point.

“Yes!” I exclaimed, pleased with the outcome.

With the creatures dispatched, I focused on the next task in my memory from that inaugural day in this fantastical realm. I’m talking about the cave. Keeping this mission front and center, I pressed onward through the forest.

An hour’s journey brought me back to my original refuge, the familiar landscape casing around me like a reassuring grip. The murmur of a nearby stream provided a calming backdrop to my thoughts. But that tranquility was sharply interrupted by memories of the ogre. That monstrous swing had sent me flying through the air. It was certainly an image I couldn’t shake, no matter how hard I tried.

Should I find a new base and start over? I placed my hand on my chin, but I swiftly dismissed the idea, shaking my head at the very notion. I had never been one to back down from challenges. Just as I had mastered the Time Crisis II arcade game with unremitting dedication over two years, I understood that patience and perseverance were ingrained in my very being.

Moreover, I had two weeks to formulate a plan. The deadline hovered over me, an urgency that intensified my situation. Instead of freezing in place, I stood tall, focused on my next steps. I needed to analyze the ogre’s patterns, study its movements and behavior, and exploit its weaknesses. Maybe I could enlist allies or acquire resources that would turn the tide in my favor. I could already envision the possibilities. A carefully composed ambush, a strategic distraction, or even a last-minute escape if things went south.

The moon ascended into the night sky. I enjoyed the cool evening air. I straightened my posture and inhaled deeply as the forest came alive with the sounds of nighttime creatures. Lost in thought, I considered my next move. Whether my predicament was a glitch in the system, a trick of fate, or a test from the game’s designers, I stood firm. If it meant facing elimination once more and returning to the tutorial phase’s starting point, so be it. I would rise to the challenge, as I always had.

An idea rolled in, and I rubbed my hands together eagerly. Now, I couldn’t wait to see what Pokey’s meat tastes like.