Ethan''s eyes fluttered open to a blinding light, his senses overwhelmed by the sudden change in his surroundings. Moments ago, he was in his small apartment, clicking through the final cutscene of the MMORPG he had played for years. The game, "Estithae Online," was a sprawling open-world adventure that had captivated millions. But Ethan had achieved what no one else had: he had completed the game.


    Blinking rapidly, Ethan tried to adjust to his new environment. He found himself standing in the center of a bustling medieval town square, surrounded by cobblestone streets and vibrant market stalls. The air was filled with the sounds of chatter, the clinking of armor, and the cries of merchants selling their wares.


    "Welcome to Estithae," a disembodied voice echoed in his mind. "You have been chosen to embark on a new journey. Survive, thrive, and conquer."


    Ethan''s heart raced. This couldn''t be real, could it? He glanced down at himself, seeing his familiar avatar from the game. He was clad in basic leather armor, holding a rusty sword that was clearly labeled as a D-rank weapon. A notification appeared in his vision:


    Character Rank: D


    Weapon: D-Rank Sword


    Before he could process the information, a series of gasps and screams erupted around him. Ethan turned to see a player, wild-eyed and grinning maniacally, slashing through the crowd with a gleaming S-rank weapon. Players scattered in every direction, some already lying lifeless on the ground, their bodies remained right there. Some of their libs were severed


    A chilling realization hit Ethan: here, death was permanent.


    Ethan''s instincts kicked in. He needed to understand his situation better. A familiar command came to mind, and he opened his stat window. Alongside the usual attributes—Strength, Agility, Endurance—there was a new entry:Skill: Inspect (???) - Allows you to view the stat windows of others.


    Testing it out, Ethan glanced at a nearby player who was frantically trying to escape the chaos.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Name: Talia Hargrove


    Level: 1


    Character Rank: C


    Class: None


    Weapon: C-Rank Bow


    Unique Skill: Quickstep [C] - Increases movement speed for a short duration.


    Ethan''s mind raced. This skill could be invaluable. He needed to know more about the people around him, to understand who could be allies and who posed a threat.


    A flash of movement caught his eye. A burly player with an A-rank axe was charging toward the crazed killer, only to stop abruptly, clearly evaluating his chances. The crazed player, with his S-rank sword, seemed unbeatable.


    Ethan glanced around, noticing others running for their lives. The atmosphere was thick with tension and fear.


    Ethan began to walk through the chaotic town square, trying to make sense of his surroundings. As he passed by different players, he discreetly used his Inspect skill, gathering as much information as he could.


    Name: Joran Thorne


    Level: 1


    Character Rank: C


    Class: None


    Weapon: C-Rank Sword


    Unique Skill: Stone Skin [C] - Temporarily increases defense.


    Ethan moved on, noticing another player practicing spells with a B-rank wand, attracting a small crowd.


    Name: Mira Callahan


    Level: 1


    Character Rank: B


    Class: None


    Weapon: B-Rank Wand


    Unique Skill: Fireball [B] - Launches a powerful fire attack.


    He overheard a group discussing strategies for survival, their faces filled with concern.


    Name: Lira Dennell


    Level: 1


    Character Rank: B


    Class: None


    Weapon: B-Rank Staff


    Unique Skill: Healing Light [B] - Heals allies within a certain radius.


    "Stick close to others if you can," Lira advised another player. "It’s dangerous to be alone, especially with lunatics like that running around." She nodded towards the S-rank player, who had just slain another unfortunate victim and was now striding confidently out of the town gates.


    Ethan continued to wander, absorbing the atmosphere and the snippets of conversation around him. The tension in the air was palpable, with everyone on edge, uncertain about their new reality. Prices for essentials had skyrocketed, and arguments broke out frequently over resources.


    "It''s going to take a while to get used to all this," Ethan muttered to himself. "But I''ll adapt. I have to."


    As the day wore on, Ethan found a secluded spot to rest, his mind racing with the day''s events. He had conquered Estithae once before, but this was different. This was real. And he was determined to survive and thrive, no matter the odds.