The world loaded around them in silence. When the light faded, Liam opened his eyes to find himself standing in the middle of a sprawling green field. The air was clear and cool, the scent of pine drifting on the breeze.

In the distance, mountains rose high into the clouds, their peaks capped with snow. Rivers of silver-blue water wound through the valley below, glinting under the twin suns that hung lazily above the horizon.

The sound of birds calling from the forest, wind whispering through tall grass, the rhythmic splash of water from a nearby stream, filled the air.

"Whoa…" Matt's voice broke the silence. "This—this looks real. Like, real real."

He turned in a slow circle, eyes wide. "You can actually feel the air. It's warm and cold at the same time. How is that even possible?"

Lana laughed softly. "It's called immersion, Matt. Welcome to Eternal Realms."

The rest of the group materialized one after another—Harper, Kristy, Elise, Kristopher, and Stacy—all dressed in period-style armor and robes according to their chosen roles. Liam's name hovered above his head in faint golden letters: Aldren.

He wore simple black leather armor with silver threads woven into the seams, a longsword resting at his hip. Beside him, Kristopher's avatar looked like a towering knight in steel plate, a lion crest etched across his chestplate.

"Everyone loaded in?" Liam asked, scanning their party status.

"Yup. Everything's running smooth," Harper said, drawing a curved dagger and twirling it idly. "So… what's the plan, boss?"

Liam smiled slightly at the title. "We're near the Vale of Faron. A few miles west of here is the first city—Eldenfort. We'll start there. It's a safe zone and the main hub for early quests."

Matt, already crouched by the stream, dipped his hand into the water and gasped. "I can actually feel this," he said. "It's cold. It's literally cold!"

"That's neural sync," Stacy said, pushing up her sleeve. Her robe shimmered faintly in the sunlight, embroidered with runes. "The Lucid's neural link simulates temperature and texture through localized nerve impulses. You're not touching real water—it's your brain being tricked."

"Don't ruin the magic," Matt groaned.

"Guys," Liam said calmly. "Focus. We've got a quest to start."

They began walking toward the forest edge. The grass bent softly beneath their boots. Overhead, flocks of pale-winged birds drifted lazily through the sky, casting moving shadows over the hills.

When they reached the treeline, the air grew cooler, the light dimmer. Sunlight filtered through canopies of ancient trees, painting patterns of gold on the forest floor.

"According to the map, this forest's crawling with low-tier monsters—goblins, slimes, and shadow wolves," Liam said. "We'll move in formation. Kristopher, front. Harper and Lana, stay midline. Elise, Kristy, and Stacy—rear guard and support."

"Yes, captain," Kristopher said, his deep voice echoing lightly through his helmet.

Matt raised his bow and grinned. "Let's hunt something."

The forest came alive with sound as they advanced—rustling leaves, distant growls, faint scurrying beneath underbrush. Liam kept his senses sharp, scanning for movement.

Then he saw a group of goblins had gathered near a fallen log ahead. Their green skin glistened with sweat and dirt, jagged teeth flashing as they bickered over a piece of raw meat. There were five of them.

"Targets ahead," Liam said quietly. "Goblins. Standard level ones. We'll take them clean."

Kristopher raised his shield. "Ready."

"Harper, flank right. Matt, stay behind him. Lana, support with mid-range spells."

The group moved as one.

Kristopher charged first, his heavy boots pounding the ground. The goblins shrieked and turned. The first swung a crude axe—but Kristopher's shield met it with a loud clang. He shoved forward, sending the creature sprawling.

Harper darted in from the right, daggers flashing in the dim light. He moved fast, precise, cutting down two goblins before they could react.

"Nice!" Matt shouted, loosing an arrow that pierced another goblin's shoulder.

Lana raised her staff and whispered, "Explosion."

A sphere of orange light appeared above her hand, then exploded outward in a controlled burst. The last goblin dropped instantly, smoldering.

Silence settled over the clearing again.

"Beautiful," Liam said, stepping closer. He knelt beside one of the fallen goblins, watching as its body disintegrated into motes of light. "Loot auto-collected."

"That was… smooth," Kristy said, smiling. "Better teamwork than I expected for our first run."

"That's because Liam's a good shot-caller," Harper said. "I almost forgot we were playing a game."

Matt slung his bow over his shoulder. "Yeah, but admit it—the detail's insane. Did you see how their armor looked burned when Lana hit them?"

"Real-time material reaction," Stacy said quietly. "The game engine adapts to every element in real time."

"Translation," Harper said dryly. "It's magic."

They laughed, the sound echoing softly through the forest.

As they continued deeper into the woods, the trees grew denser. The air carried the scent of moss and rain. Occasionally, shafts of light pierced through the canopy, illuminating dust motes that shimmered like tiny stars.

Soon they reached a narrow clearing where an ancient stone arch stood, half-covered in vines. At its base, a faint blue glyph pulsed softly.

"Portal rune," Liam said, recognizing it immediately. "It's dormant. Probably linked to the next city. We can use it once we gather materials to activate it. And we can also secure it and use as a source of income for us."

Kristy traced a finger over the glyph. "You really built all this?"

Liam smiled faintly. "Let's just say I helped it exist."

They pressed onward, cutting through scattered enemies along the way—slimes that burst into mist when struck, spectral wolves that vanished into shadows. The battles were quick, coordinated, and filled with laughter whenever someone made a mistake.

At one point, Matt misfired an arrow that ricocheted off a tree and narrowly missed Harper's head.

"Hey!" Harper yelled. "Are you trying to assassinate me?"

"It was a warning shot!" Matt shouted back.

"Against what? My hairline?"

Laughter erupted again, loud and carefree.

Even Liam couldn't help but grin. "Focus, you two. We're almost at the ridge."

When they emerged from the forest, the land opened up into a vast plateau. Below, the ruins of a forgotten fortress sprawled across the valley floor—crumbling walls, broken watchtowers, and a massive gate that lay half-buried under vines..

"Wow…" Elise whispered. "It's beautiful."

"That's Eldenfort's outskirts," Liam said. "One of the oldest ruins in the starting region. There's a minor boss here—The Hollow Knight."

Harper's grin returned instantly. "Boss fight already? Don't threaten me with a good time."

"Don't rush in," Liam warned. "This one uses corrupted mana. Stay alert."

They descended the rocky slope carefully, weapons drawn. The wind carried a low, metallic hum—the sound of mana corruption.

When they reached the main gate, a figure emerged from the shadows.

It was tall—almost twice Kristopher's height—clad in ancient black armor that glowed faintly at the seams. The faceplate was cracked, revealing hollow darkness inside. Its sword, a massive black blade, dragged across the stone with a shriek.

||The Hollow Knight – Level 8 Guardian of Eldenfort||

The name appeared above its head in red letters.

Matt whistled. "Looks friendly."

"Spread out," Liam ordered calmly. "We'll test its pattern first. Kristopher, draw its aggro."

Kristopher charged, shield up. The Hollow Knight swung once, and the impact shook the ground. Sparks exploded where their weapons met.

"Defense holding!" Kristopher grunted.

"Good. Harper, flank. Lana, fire barrage—target the joints."

"On it!"

Flames burst from Lana's staff, striking the Hollow Knight's arm. The armor sizzled, molten cracks spreading down its gauntlet. Harper darted forward and struck twice before rolling back.

Matt fired from behind, his arrows glowing with faint green light. "Piercing shot!"

The arrow struck the Hollow Knight's chest, embedding deep. It roared, the sound like grinding stone, and raised its sword high.

"Brace!" Liam shouted.

The blade came down with a blinding arc. Kristopher's shield shattered under the blow. The impact threw him backward, slamming him into the wall.

"Kristopher's down!" Elise cried.

Liam moved instantly. "Kristy—heal him. Stacy, barrier!"

Light erupted from Kristy's staff, mending the cracks in Kristopher's armor as Stacy's barrier shimmered to life, absorbing the next wave of energy.

"Now!" Liam yelled, charging forward.

His sword glowed white with mana as he leapt, slashing clean through the Hollow Knight's arm. Black smoke poured from the wound.

"Everyone, full attack!"

They surrounded the boss in perfect sync. Spells, arrows, and steel collided with corrupted armor in a storm of color and sound. Finally, the Hollow Knight staggered, its sword falling from its grasp.

Liam stepped forward and drove his blade through its chest.

The creature froze, then dissolved into light.

A chime echoed: [Boss Defeated – Loot Distributed]

The group collapsed to the ground, laughing and cheering.

Matt threw his arms up. "That! That was amazing!"

Harper groaned, rubbing his neck. "Remind me never to take a hit from something that big again."

Kristopher got up slowly. "Next time, I want a sturdier shield."

"Next time?" Lana said with a grin. "You're already talking about round two?"

"Of course. That was fun."

Liam sheathed his sword, smiling quietly. "Good work, everyone. You fought well."

As they stood there, the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson.

"It's hard to believe this is just a game," Elise said softly.

"Now, come on, guys. We haven't even started," Liam said.

Their adventures continued until they reached their daily usage limit.

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