Ren slouched in his gaming chair, the glow of his PC screen casting sharp shadows across his room. A triumphant smile curled his lips. After five grueling years, he had conquered *Forbidden*, the most punishing MMORPG ever created. His character, Ann Zero, stood at the pinnacle of power—max level, stats maxed out, every forbidden and infinity point meticulously earned. The final boss, a towering behemoth that had reduced lesser players to rage-quitting wrecks, had fallen to Ann's blade like a paper tiger. Ren had cleared all seven stages of the game, from the cursed labyrinths of Low Earth to the celestial spires of High Heaven. He was untouchable.
Yet, as his cursor hovered over the game's icon, a pang of hesitation gripped him. *Forbidden* wasn't just a game—it was a second life. Countless late nights, skipped meals, and moments of heart-pounding triumph had woven it into his soul. Deleting it felt like erasing a piece of himself. His fingers twitched above the keyboard, the "delete" button glowing like a silent challenge. Should he keep it? Try a new character? Or move on to another game entirely?
After a long moment, Ren exhaled sharply. "Time to let go," he muttered. His smile returned, bittersweet but resolute. He clicked the button.
A blinding light erupted from the screen, swallowing the room. Ren's breath caught as a strange sensation flooded his body—a tingling warmth, like static crawling over his skin. His chair, his desk, the familiar hum of his PC—all vanished. Weightless, he drifted through an endless void, his heart pounding as reality unraveled. *What the hell is happening?* Before he could scream, the world snapped back into focus.
Ren stumbled, his boots sinking into soft earth. Towering trees loomed around him, their gnarled branches woven into a canopy that filtered sunlight into emerald streaks. The air was thick with the scent of moss and pine, laced with something otherworldly—a faint hum of mana that prickled his senses. He blinked, disoriented, as a flock of glowing birds darted overhead, their wings trailing sparks. This wasn't his room. This wasn't even *real*.
"Don't tell me…" Ren's voice cracked, echoing in the stillness. He spun around, taking in the sprawling forest. Massive trunks, etched with faintly glowing runes, stretched into the distance. It was hauntingly familiar, a scene he hadn't revisited in years. "The Beginner's Forest? From *Forbidden*?" His laughter was half-hysterical. "No way. This is some isekai nonsense, isn't it? I've seen the anime—guy gets sucked into a game, fights monsters, saves the world. But that's for losers who hate their lives! I *like* my life! Whoever's out there—goddess, game dev, cosmic prankster—send me back!"
His shouts faded into the forest, unanswered. Ren's chest tightened. He wasn't a hero. He was just a guy who'd spent too many hours grinding virtual stats. In *Forbidden*, death was a minor setback—a quick respawn with a few lost points. But here, in this too-real world, the thought of dying sent a chill down his spine. If this was the Beginner's Forest, he was likely level one, a sitting duck for even the weakest monsters. His expertise as a player meant nothing if he was the one swinging the sword.
"Okay, calm down," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe it's a dream. A really vivid dream." He pinched his arm, wincing at the sharp sting. "Ow. Okay, not a dream." His gaze darted around, searching for a clue—anything to explain why he was here. Then, a faint shimmer caught his eye, like a holographic interface hovering in the air. He focused, and words materialized before him, crisp and undeniable:
**[Name: Ann Zero]**
**[Title: Demon Lord of Infinity]**
**[Race: ??]**
**[Level: Max]**
**[Skill Points: Max]**
**[Forbidden Points: ∞]**
**[Infinity Points: 100]**
**[System Shop: Accessible]**
Ren's jaw dropped. "Ann Zero? My character?" He read the stats again, his heart racing. Not only was he in the game, but he *was* Ann Zero—his max-level avatar, the unstoppable force who'd crushed every challenge *Forbidden* could throw. The *Demon Lord of Infinity* title was new, though. He didn't remember earning it. And *infinite* Forbidden Points? That was impossible. In the game, those points were rarer than a legendary drop, used to buy game-breaking items from the System Shop or exchange for in-game currency. Infinity Points were even more precious, reserved for reviving characters, joining tournaments, or powering up for massive raids.
He tapped the air, half-expecting the interface to vanish. It didn't. A submenu flickered open, detailing the points' uses:
**Forbidden Points**: Purchase any item from the System Shop. Exchange for any real-world currency. Enhance personal abilities or summon ability cards.
**Infinity Points**: Ascend to higher worlds. Summon items or entities from other realms.
Ren's mind raced. The System Shop was straightforward—buying items or boosting stats made sense. But *real-world currency*? Did that mean he could exchange points for dollars or yen in this world? And *Infinity Points*… Ascending to higher worlds? He vaguely recalled *Forbidden*'s lore: seven worlds, each a higher plane of existence. Low Earth, where he stood now, was the weakest, with a level cap of 100. Higher worlds like Mid Earth or High Heaven housed gods and monsters far beyond that. Ascending could mean climbing that ladder, but what did "summoning from other realms" entail? Weapons? Allies? Something stranger?
"I'm Ann Zero, max-level, with infinite Forbidden Points," he said aloud, testing the words. A grin spread across his face. "This might not be so bad." If he had Ann's power, he was untouchable, even in the Beginner's Forest. But a nagging doubt lingered. If he died here, would those 100 Infinity Points revive him like in the game? Or was death permanent? He shoved the thought aside. No use panicking until he had answers.
Ren trekked through the forest, his boots crunching on fallen leaves. The air buzzed with mana, a sensation he'd never felt in the game—a reminder this was no simulation. Soon, he reached a shimmering lake, its surface reflecting the glowing canopy above. Curiosity tugged at him. Did he *look* like Ann Zero? He knelt by the water, peering at his reflection.
Long silver hair cascaded past his shoulders, framing a sharp, almost ethereal face. His black, sleeveless coat revealed a chiseled chest, adorned with a coiling dragon tattoo that pulsed faintly with mana. Tight leather trousers hugged his legs, and a silver ring gleamed on his finger—the *Ring of Orion*, a mythical artifact that granted perfect control over mana, amplifying spells and reducing their cost to near-zero. Ren touched the ring, feeling its warmth. In the game, it had made Ann a spellcasting god, able to weave devastating magic as easily as breathing. Here, it felt alive, humming with power.
"Holy crap, I'm *actually* Ann," he whispered, half-awed, half-terrified. Every detail matched his character's design, down to the intricate stitching on his coat. But the ring's weight, the breeze on his skin, the ache in his legs from walking—it was all too real. He wasn't controlling Ann from behind a screen. He *was* Ann.
A rustling in the underbrush snapped him out of his thoughts. The air grew heavy, charged with a primal menace. Ren's instincts, honed by years of gaming, kicked in. He didn't move, but his senses sharpened, tracking the sound. A low growl rumbled from the shadows, and a creature emerged—a D-rank wolf, level 30, its fur matted with dark energy. Red eyes glared at him, fangs bared as it stalked forward.
Ren's pulse quickened, but he didn't flinch. In *Forbidden*, a D-rank monster was fodder for a max-level player. With Ann's stats—max defense, max everything—this thing couldn't scratch him. Still, the sight of its claws glinting in the sunlight sent a shiver through him. This wasn't a game anymore. Pain was real. Death might be too.
The wolf lunged, jaws snapping. Ren raised a hand, more on instinct than intent. The *Ring of Orion* flared, and a pulse of mana surged from his palm—not a spell, just raw energy. The air crackled as the wolf was blasted backward, slamming into a tree with a sickening crunch. It didn't get up.
Ren exhaled, his hand trembling. "That… was way too easy." He glanced at the ring, its glow fading. In the game, he'd have input a command, maybe a hotkey for a basic spell. Here, the magic had flowed like an extension of his will. "Okay, that's cool. Terrifying, but cool."
He scanned the forest, half-expecting more monsters. The silence felt heavier now, as if the world itself were watching him. A faint chime sounded in his mind, and the system interface flickered again:
**[Warning: Anomaly Detected. Balance Breach in Low Earth. Initiating Observation.]**
Ren froze. "Balance breach? What's that supposed to mean?" His infinite Forbidden Points, the *Demon Lord* title—something about him was breaking the rules. Was the system sentient? Or was someone—a developer, a god—watching from beyond? His gamer instincts screamed that this was the start of something bigger, something dangerous.
He opened the System Shop, curiosity overriding caution. A holographic menu unfurled, offering everything from legendary weapons to mundane potions. One item caught his eye: *Map of Low Earth – 10 Forbidden Points*. Cheap enough to test. He selected it, and a parchment materialized in his hand, its edges glowing faintly. The map detailed the Beginner's Forest, nearby villages, and a ominous marker labeled "Sealed Gate."
Ren's grin returned. "Alright, game world. Let's see what you've got." He tucked the map into his coat and started walking, the weight of the *Ring of Orion* a constant reminder of his power—and the mystery of why he was here.
---