Adam stared at the stat window that appeared before him. It was a sleek translucent screen glowing with a soft blue light.
Name: AlphaBoss
Species: Human
Class: Administrator
Level: 1
Experience: 0/100
Stamina: 5
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 5
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Luck: 3
Unassigned Points: 0
Skill: Reality Manipulation (Level 1)
His eyes locked onto two words Reality Manipulation. The phrase was alien. He had played the original game for years and had never encountered such a skill. What did it mean? How could a skill in a game manipulate reality? The very name sounded impossible and unbelievably powerful. A mix of awe and trepidation bubbled inside him. He could not comprehend how logging in with his old account resulted in such a monumental change. This 'Administrator' class and its godlike skill had to be a unique reward for being the only player to finish the original game.
Before he could spiral further into these thoughts the golden avatar clapped its hands. Its shining eyes focused on Adam. "Welcome to Row Online," it began its voice formal and resonant. "This is an open-world game with an encouraged storyline. We grant our players freedom to discover experience and utilize their unique powers. Exploration is the core of this world."
Adam remembered this speech perfectly from his past life. The words were identical. But last time a different avatar delivered them. The change was another mystery tied to his new status.
The golden avatar bowed slightly. "You may now design your character" it announced. "You may also choose to retain the appearance from your previous account."
Adam's choice was instant. A clear image of his old character flashed in his mind. It was a reflection of his ideal self striking and mysterious. He remembered the flowing black clothes the half-face mask hiding his features the sharp dagger at his waist. He recalled his stark white hair and piercing blue eyes. That avatar was a comforting memory an old friend.
"I'll keep my previous character design," he said his voice clear and confident.
The golden avatar nodded once. A strange shift washed over Adam's body. His hair bleached into pure white. His eyes transformed into an intense glowing blue. Black clothes materialized around him and he felt the familiar weight of the dagger at his waist. He was AlphaBoss again.
A wave of confidence surged through him. This was not just about aesthetics. He remembered that his old gear when worn together provided significant stat boosts. He was starting this new game with an immediate advantage over everyone else. He looked down at his new form a faint smile of satisfaction on his face. This was the character he had built the identity he would reclaim in this new world.
Before Adam could speak the golden avatar's voice boomed one last time. "Welcome officially to Row Online. Your tutorial ends here. Your journey in the real game begins now."
With those final words the golden being vanished in a shimmer of light. The space around Adam fell silent. He was alone suspended in the vast dark void with the planet rotating far below. His heart sank. He knew what came next. It was the standard entry method from the old game.
His fists clenched in dread. "Oh no," he muttered. "I hate this part."
A powerful force seized him pulling him down. He plummeted toward the planet a terrifying roar of wind in his ears. The ground rushed up to meet him impossibly fast. His stomach lurched and his heart hammered against his ribs. He gritted his teeth and braced for the inevitable impact. He crashed onto solid ground.
Miraculously he was unharmed. The ground beneath him was unmarked as if the impact never happened. He pushed himself to his feet and brushed off his new black clothes out of habit. A dry chuckle escaped his lips a mix of relief and lingering terror. "No matter how many times I experience that I can never get used to it."
He stood tall and took in his surroundings. He was in a massive open field. The vibrant green grass swayed in a gentle breeze. In the distance enormous mountains capped with snow pierced the sky. A dense ancient forest stretched out to his left. To his right a clear river snaked its way through the landscape.
He took a deep breath of the crisp clean air. Despite the adrenaline from the fall a sense of calm washed over him. This was the starting point. This was the beginning of his second chance.
He flexed his fingers inside the black haptic gloves. They felt like a second skin. He drew the dagger from its sheath at his waist. The blade gleamed sharp and deadly in the virtual sunlight. He smirked. It was a simple weapon but it had served him well in the early days of the old game. "Well that's a start."
He took a step forward the grass crunching softly under his boots. The world felt completely alive. He could hear birdsong in the distance the rustle of leaves in the wind and the faint rumble of a waterfall. The immersion was total.
A powerful excitement built inside him as he walked. This was a new beginning in a world he knew a chance to fix his past mistakes. But it was also a chance to explore possibilities he never had before. With his knowledge of the future and the mysterious Administrator class he could push the boundaries of what was possible. He could reshape not just the game but reality itself.
His bright blue eyes scanned the horizon. The real journey had just begun and he was ready.