Some names in this world eventually become legends.

But no one knows how those legends are born from loneliness.

And no one understands why a man would give up everything and cling only to "games."

This is how Sefa Yücel's story began.

As the first light of morning struck the gray buildings of Istanbul, an artificial light flickered in Sefa's room.

A computer screen.

And on that screen, the icons of the games he had spent thousands of hours playing.

Sefa was a 32-year-old ordinary Turkish citizen.

But behind the screen… he was a legend.

The man who completed the first solo raid in Void Emperor Online.

The only Turkish player to make it into the global rankings in BattleRise.

The one who shook European forums with his 1v10 victory in Shadow Chronos.

The lone warrior who defeated the final boss in Everfall, despite the bugs.

But the real world… hadn't offered him the same praise.

He had dropped out of university.

Changed jobs twice, unable to hold on to either.

Lost contact with his family, and his old friends had left him behind.

Love? It was just a word to him.

What was left?

Keyboard. Screen. Games.

Games had become his reality.

When he started his livestream, the chat exploded:

> "Just buy the damn game already!"

"Rise or Die is waiting for you!"

"You're the only one who can finish this game, bro!"

"Sefa, this game will make you immortal!"

"If not you, no one can beat it!"

Sefa smiled.

But beneath that smile, there was the despair of a tired man.

"Maybe… this is my last chance," he whispered to himself.

He pulled up his hoodie.

Drank a cup of coffee and left the house.

The streets were calm.

But in his mind, a storm raged.

"What if this game really is different?"

"What if I actually feel something at the end?"

In a shop window, a black box...

RISE OR DIE

It was as if it had been waiting for him.

He stepped forward…

And at that moment: a harsh glare of headlights, the sound of impact, a body hurled.

Silence.

Death.

But this… was not the end.

"Welcome…"

That tone echoing in the void belonged neither to a human nor a machine. It was cold, metallic, and yet ancient.

Sefa's eyes were closed, but his mind was awake.

The moment he regained his body, the first breath he took felt like a blade of ice cutting through his lungs.

"Welcome…"

"Welcome…"

The voice repeated.

Each echo brought it closer, clearer, and deeper.

When Sefa opened his eyes, he was in utter darkness. No ground, no sky… only emptiness and silence.

Just as he looked up—

CRAAACK!

A sharp pain pierced his left shoulder, dropping him to the ground.

"AHHH!"

A goblin.

Green-skinned, razor-sharp teeth, lunging at him with a slender dagger.

In its other hand—a rusty chain.

Sefa rolled back on reflex, crashing into a wall.

His heart pounded violently. His body trembled.

"This must be… this has to be a dream," he whispered.

But the pain in his body was all too real.

Before the goblin could strike again, Sefa grabbed a small rock from the floor and hurled it at its face.

The dazed creature staggered, exposing its neck.

Sefa threw a punch.

Grabbed the dagger from the ground.

Sprang to his feet and—

"HHHAAA!"

First kill.

First blood.

First fear.

A moment of silence.

Then, glowing text in the darkness:

"Mission: Basic Combat Test – Phase 2"

This time, five goblins emerged from the shadows.

One with a spear, one with chains, the rest with daggers.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Sefa muttered, but he had no choice now.

Blood still trickled from his shoulder, and standing upright was already a struggle.

He lunged at the first attacker, redirecting the weapon and kicking its knee to bring it down.

But the others didn't wait.

A chain grazed his side.

A spear came from the right.

He dropped low, rolled, and kicked one of them while falling.

Eventually, they were all down.

He was exhausted.

Drenched in blood and sweat.

But it wasn't over.

"Phase 3 – Basic Endurance Test"

10 goblins.

Then 30.

The floor became slick.

Balancing on the mix of blood, sweat, and dust was a test in itself.

Every move, every dodge… came down to split-second precision.

But this is where the difference showed.

He was a legend.

He was used to spotting weaknesses.

He noticed the goblins' attack patterns.

> Weak point on the right shoulder.

They tense before striking.

Pupils dilate before attack.

He was running simulations—live.

A goblin jumped.

Sefa slipped behind it mid-air and stabbed it through the back in one motion.

Kicked the next two.

Blood splashed.

Fire blazed in his eyes now.

But the system didn't stop.

New mission:

"Intelligence Test: Strategic Choice"

Four paths appeared in the dark room.

Each marked with symbols.

> Left path: ☐☐△

Right path: △○☐

Down path: ○○△

Up path: △△△

"Repeated symbols…? No, it's a trap."

He paused.

Thought.

The left path's symbols reminded him of the 'balance' icon in games.

Risky—but the others screamed death.

He chose the left.

And lived.

Final test: The Labyrinth.

Alone.

Silent.

Fog-filled.

His footsteps echoed.

He could hear his own breath.

Then suddenly—

SWOOSH!

An arrow pierced his back.

He collapsed.

Knees slammed into the stone floor.

"Damn it…" he groaned.

Every step felt like death.

His vision blurred.

But he crawled forward.

Around corners, past traps, through rotating walls.

He was losing too much blood.

Then, as he leaned against a wall—

his hand brushed a symbol.

It glowed.

And the entire labyrinth vanished.

From above, a voice echoed to the fallen Sefa:

"0th Floor Test Completed."

A beam of light descended.

"Access to the 1s

t Floor granted."

The legend was just beginning.

But this… was only the first step.