The Immortal Player

An average looking man who is in his twenties rushed up the stairs as if he was being chased by a bull.

"Oi, Pedro!" His grandma shouted while running out of the kitchen trying to give chase to the young man.

The young man reached his room. He slammed the door with full force and locked it off. He panted heavily and laid his back to the door. Slowly, he released his hand that was holding his bag, letting it slide down to the floor.

"That was close! *Hah *Hah *Hah!" Pedro wiped the beads of sweat that drips from his forehead as he catches his breath.

"I would have gotten myself another set of scolding from grandma if she was able to catch up!"

The image of his grandma scolding him played into his mind that made him shook his head. He felt relieved, thinking that he was able to avoid such an event occurring for that moment.

'This is a strategic retreat! A strategic retreat! Grandma will scold me for playing AVR games again. Though I can hold my self back from retaliating or saying offending words to her... who knows, she might trigger my -soft spot- and make me answer her disrespectfully.'

Pedro thought to himself as he grabbed his bag and placed his bag on the top of his table. Then, he took off his socks and changed to the clothes he wears at home.

This situation often happens and Pedro had become used to it. He was raised by his parents and his grandma to be a kind person. Besides being a kind person, He also has no problem with his grades at the university.

However, He is one of the younger generations who loved playing games. Due to this hobby, He spends less time together with his family. This is something that angers his grandma and his father.

"It is not that I don't want to spend that much time with grandma and my parents. It's just that games... They became my stress reliever. Hah... It's 5:30 PM. I still have three hours before dinner. I have nothing to do for tomorrow. I might as well play Dragona Online, hehe!"

[Would you like to start the game engine?]

"CONNECT!" He was excited and lost his consciousness slowly. After seconds, He wakes up in an empty, square room with a huge screen on one side.

[Game engine run, successful!]

[Welcome back to Bearth Online!]

[Logging in!]

Seconds later, a different virtual scene started to materialize around him. He appeared inside a huge room and he was standing in front of a throne and looked like a King. Beside the throne stood two red flags that had yellow writing in it.

"ARES"

"It seems like I am the first one to log in from the guild!" Pedro smirked as he scanned his player interface. Seeing that no one is online on the guild tab, he decided to head out first.

"I can't waste time just by waiting. I might as well go around the field and kill some low-level monsters."

"Something is wrong... I'll know later. For now, I need to log off and eat dinner. Father and Grandma will surely give me some scolding if I don't join them."

He returned to the throne, seated in it and logged off the game.

As expected, His grandma and his father joined together to scold Pedro. He just kept silent on his seat and ate. After dinner, Before he went back to his room, his worried mother approached him.

"Son, please understand your father and grandma. After all, this is all for your sake! We want you to have a bright future. I'd admit that you are lucky for being in a well-living family. But you can't underestimate reality! One day you are at the top... tomorrow, you might be at the bottom!"

"Don't worry mom! I know..." Pedro nodded to her mother while forcing a smile.

"I see. I have high hopes for you then!"

"Of course, Mom! I won't let you down."

"I'll keep those words from you, goodnight son."

"Uhm. Goodnight Mom." Pedro nodded with a smile as he waved goodnight to his mother.

This time his guildmates were already online. They went out of the kingdom and looked for some areas to farm mobs.

"Gui... Gui... Guild Master!!! Isn't that a Hidden Dragon Dungeon??"

A girl who holds a staff and looks like in her 20's, shows a shocked face. She pointed into a warp which was about 300 m from their party.

"Ja~Jackpot!!" Pedro smiled as he stares at the warp.

"Good eyes Annie! everyone let's go!"

"Gooooo!" Every one of the five-man party of Pedro rushed towards the dungeon

Playing for almost 5 years in this AVR game, Pedro and his party entered the dungeon and swept up to the door of the boss room. They've got tons of rare materials from the mob but there were no weapons or accessories. This is for the reason that the weapons and accessories were dropped only by the bosses of each dungeon.

"Guys, this is it. Everyone ready?"

Everyone nodded in response as they grasped their weapons. The ancient door of the boss room opened slowly with a 'Creeeeek!'. In the middle of the boss room is a black dragon that was awakened from its sleep.

"Humans..."

The black dragon yawned and stared at them as the party walked forward!

"You dare wake me up from my sleep!"

"Man... what a scary dragon!" a male player with a bow said with a mocking smile.

"Be on your guard! Ready your teleportation crystals, Something is weird about that dragon!" Pedro grasped his teleportation crystal in his left hand. He stared at the dragon with a frown.

Everyone in the party followed and took out teleportation crystals

This is a common safety method done by the players who play AVR games these days. This is due to governments imposing laws on AVR games like "Death penalties on AVR games should result in true death of the character".

This law was based on the study of a psychologist to help develop different skills like social or survival skills of the people, especially the young ones who play games most of the time.

However, AVR games have some cases this law was not applicable, like deaths due to losing on Duels or valid PvP battles, some main quest or tutorials and the like.

The risks they face were very high since its a Hidden Dragon Dungeon. One of the considered rarest and hardest dungeon in this game. At the same time, the hard work they put on their characters in those past 5 years would be lost if they die.

"Vex! Charge now!" Pedro pointed his sword to the dragon.

The party's main tank (MT) grasped his sword and shield while staring at the dragon, full of killing intent. Then, he nodded in reply and activated a skill that made him ram straight to the dragon.

As everyone was following up the charge of the main tank and execute their combo, the dragon turned its head towards the party in a lazy manner.

"Humans! You're brave... But not strong enough!"

Their mouths went agape as the dragon was still able to move after being hit by the tank's charge skill which should have had a 'stun' effect.

'How much immobilization resistance does this boss have?'

Everyone wore a grim look as they were now able to check the dragon's name and information. The information only appears after it was engaged.

Monster details, like names, do not appear unless engaged. This was one of the features of that AVR game to avoid certain abuses by players.

[Atlas, The World Dragon]

Description: [unknown]

Skills:

[unknown]

[unknown]

A series of [unknown] greeted the party. It is at this moment that they realized that the dragon isn't something they should mess with.

As quick-witted as everyone was, they immediately activated the teleportation crystal in their hands.

"TELEPORT! NOW!" Pedro was anxious as his teleportation countdown of 5 seconds starts.

They activated their teleportation crystal and the countdown started. This moment seemed to be the longest 5 seconds in their life as the dragon stared at them.

Suddenly, the dragon showed a faint smile and exhaled a blue flame out of its mouth.

"You think you can escape me, humans...." the dragon chuckled as everyone had a grayed vision and received a notification...

[You Died! Character deletion and automatic logout will commence in 3!]

2!

1!

...

"Nooooooo!" Pedro screamed very loud as he regains his consciousness in the real world

After a few seconds, Pedro got up in his bed into a sitting position, removing his AVR helmet carefully while still in a state of disbelief to what happened.

'What was that?! A God rank... in a Dungeon?! God rated NPCs can only be seen by triggering Main Story Line Quests, right!?'

While questions arise in his head, someone slapped hard at the back of his head. He glanced in that direction and saw his angry father and his worried mother standing near the door of his room.

"You useless piece of @@@@!" his dad shouted while pointing his hand to Pedro "Can't you see that we are already sleeping?! It's 2:00 AM PEDRO! 2:00 AM! Here we thought something bad happened to you, only to know you... "

"Ca~ Calm down, honey... Calm down!" His mother stopped his father by hugging and pulling his father away from Pedro.

....

"This is the last time you'll do this young man! one more time and you'll be living in a new house!" His father scolded before quickly leaving Pedro's room.

When his father left the room, his mother sat down on the side of the bed and tapped Pedro's back.

"Don't mind him too much. Your father... he was just angry. The moment we heard your scream, he rushed to your room. He feared that something bad might have happened to you! Only after seeing you holding your gaming helmet, that he became annoyed. He only cares about you, son! I hope that you understand. Now, go back to sleep. It's only 2:00 in the morning, I'll go talk to your father."

"Thanks, mom!" Pedro bowed slightly while he was sitting, with a sad look!

'Sleep? I hope I can!' He lied down back to his bed and pulled his blanket up to his face.