Chapter 1: The Fractured path

The clamor of bustling students filled the corridors of Liberty High, but for Kim-no, every step was a reminder of how invisible he had become. Whispered words and stolen glances painted him as an outcast, a shadow among the vibrant lives of his peers. His limp was a constant testament to the accident that had claimed half his classmates' lives and the use of both his legs. Kim-no’s only solace came from MyMonline, an MMO that had redefined the gaming landscape with its boundless possibilities. The game offered an escape from reality, a world where he could become anything—except it seemed, successful. Even in this virtual realm, he had managed to fail knight school after grinding for gold endlessly. His in-game constitution was terrible with swords, which meant his dreams of becoming a knight were shattered. Kang-lim, on the other hand, was everything Kim-no wasn’t. Wealthy, charismatic, and always the center of attention, Kang-lim was a godhood candidate in MyMonline. He moved through life with the ease of someone who had never known hardship. "Seriously, Kim-no," Kang-lim's voice dripped with condescension as they sat in the school courtyard, "You spent all that time grinding for gold just to find out you’re bad with swords? That's pathetic." Kim-no forced a smile, feeling the sting of Kang-lim's words. "Yeah, well, not everyone can subdue a dragon and make her their apostle," he muttered. Kang-lim's eyes lit up with smug pride. "It's not easy, you know. Subduing a dragon without killing it requires finesse and strategy. But that's why I'm a godhood candidate and you're... well, you." The conversation shifted, and Kim-no found himself narrating how MyMonline had revolutionized gaming with its nearly lifelike graphics and limitless freedom. It was a world where players could choose from nearly infinite paths and classes, making the experience as immersive as real life. Despite Kang-lim's sneering, Kim-no felt a sliver of hope whenever he logged into the game. It was his sanctuary, a place where he could temporarily forget the pain of his real-life injuries and the constant reminder that his only friend had drifted away after the accident. That fateful day was etched into Kim-no's memory with excruciating clarity. The school bus ride that started with laughter and chatter had ended in chaos and tragedy. The collision was sudden and brutal, leaving Kim-no with two broken legs and claiming the lives of half their class. Kang-lim had emerged unscathed, both physically and emotionally distancing himself from Kim-no ever since. As months passed, Kim-no's parents cut him off, tired of his incessant gaming. He took up odd jobs to make ends meet, returning to his tiny apartment each night to escape into MyMonline. The game was his refuge, a lifeline that kept him tethered to hope. One day, after a particularly brutal bar fight, Kim-no collapsed and found himself back in the hospital. Bored and restless, he redownloaded MyMonline, discovering a new update that intrigued him. His original character was lost, so he created a new one—this time, a descendant of his previous avatar, the fearsome wardemon Ravage. As he logged in, a sharp pain shot through his chest. The doctors rushed to save him, but it was too late. Kim-no’s spirit lingered, floating in a liminal space, until he was transported into the world of MyMonline as his new character. Kim-no, now Ravage, opened his eyes to the vast, immersive world that had once been his escape. Equipped with custom armor inspired by Iron Man and Assassin's Creed, he was ready to make his mark once more, determined to rise from the ashes of his former life. The journey ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in years, Kim-no felt a glimmer of hope. In this virtual world, he had a chance to redefine himself, to become the hero he had always dreamed of being.

"welcome to the beginning"