The few hours separating me from my meeting with Seo-jin flew by surprisingly quickly, entirely absorbed as I was in the "System Help" section of the Game Nexus. It was a treasure trove of information, even if the "Access Level: Basic" hinted that there was still much I couldn't see.

  I started with the [Beginner's FAQ]. The questions were direct, almost as if the System anticipated a new Awakened's confusion.

  "What is the Game Nexus?"

  Answer: The Game Nexus is an interface layered over your reality, designed to catalyze and quantify the latent potential of selected individuals. It provides tools for growth, survival, and the achievement of objectives that will be revealed to you in due time.

  "Catalyze latent potential"... "objectives revealed in due time"... It was vague and a little unsettling, but it confirmed this wasn't just a game for fun. There was a larger, still obscure purpose.

  "Why was I selected?"

  Answer: The selection criteria are complex and multifactorial. Consider this a unique opportunity resulting from a convergence of circumstances and potential.

  Even vaguer. Basically: "That's just how it is, deal with it."

  "Am I the only one?"

  Answer: No. Other individuals have been Awakened. The number and location of other Players are not information accessible at your current access level.

  Confirmation that I wasn't alone. That was a relief, even if I didn't yet know how to find the others.

  "What are Gates?"

  Answer: Gates are unstable tears in the fabric of reality, leading to alternate dimensional spaces or different strata of your own world. They are sources of danger, resources, and opportunities for evolution.

  "Different strata of my own world"... The idea that the Goblin Cave could be a hidden version of Korea, or something similar, was disturbing.

  "What happens if my HP reaches zero?"

  Answer: "Provisional Death". That was slightly reassuring, but the "more permanent consequences" were a clear threat. Survival remained the absolute priority.

  I then moved on to the [Glossary of Common Terms]. Many things were intuitive for a gamer like me (HP, MP, XP, Levels, Stats), but some clarifications were useful. I learned that "Gate Crystals" were indeed the basic currency used for trading with certain special NPCs (who hadn't appeared for me yet) and potentially for some advanced System functions. Their individual value was low, but they might be needed in large quantities.

  The [Basic Tutorials] covered the mechanics I had more or less understood instinctively: how to allocate stat points, use skills, manage inventory. There was a section on the "Item Rarity System" (Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical), which confirmed that my "Uncommon" Crude Leather Gloves were a good start, but that there was much better to be found. The Shadow Shard, classified as "Unknown Artifact," was off-scale, reinforcing my feeling that it was special.

  While I read, my HP bar continued to slowly climb. Natural regeneration was a welcome advantage. I felt almost fully recovered from my injuries, although a mental fatigue lingered.

  I decided to test my new skill, [Shadow Camouflage]. I stood up and focused. "Shadow Camouflage."

  A strange sensation flowed through my body, as if I were becoming lighter, less substantial. My interface indicated that the skill was active and that my MP was slowly draining (1 MP every 10 seconds, for now). I looked at myself in the small mirror above my sink. My outline seemed slightly blurred, my figure blending more into the shadows of the room. It wasn't total invisibility, far from it, but in a dimly lit environment or with enough distractions, it could certainly help me go unnoticed or position myself for a surprise attack. I could already imagine its usefulness in the Goblin Cave.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  I deactivated the skill to save my MP. I would need to practice using it effectively.

  The time for my meeting with Seo-jin was approaching. I felt a little more prepared, armed with new information, but still apprehensive about his reaction. How was I going to explain all this to him without sounding like a lunatic?

  I took a deep breath. I would just tell him the truth, or at least, what I understood of it. He had seen the interface, that was a starting point. If he didn't believe me, so be it. But I had to try.

  I checked my appearance one last time. Clean, wearing my jeans and a simple t-shirt, my new leather gloves stored in my inventory. The Shadow Shard was there too, a reassuring presence even when invisible. I no longer looked like someone who had just been in a street fight, just an ordinary student. Almost.

  I left my room, the blue interface still faithfully in place. As I walked through the corridors, I paid more attention to the inscriptions floating above the heads of other students. Most were [Carefree Civilians - Lvl ?]. But I noticed one or two variations: a girl engrossed in a book with [Diligent Bookworm - Lvl ?] and a muscular guy coming out of the gym with [Determined Athlete - Lvl ?]. It was as if the System assigned "titles" based on their activities or dominant traits. Intriguing. But no sign of another blue interface.

  The cafe near the East Gate was a popular spot, usually crowded with students taking a break between classes. I found Seo-jin sitting at a table near the window, nervously tapping on his phone. He looked up as I approached, his expression a mix of relief and worry.

  "Min-joon! There you are!" he said, half-standing. "So? What happened this morning? You looked like you'd seen the devil himself. And your screen... is it still there?" He lowered his voice on the last part, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

  I sat down opposite him. "Yes, it's still there," I said quietly, looking at the interface that floated between us. "And as for what happened... it's a long story. A completely crazy story. Are you sure you want to hear it?"

  Seo-jin stared at me, his eyes gleaming with intense curiosity. "Man, after seeing a dagger disappear into thin air and a game screen follow you everywhere, I'm ready to hear anything. Spill it."

  I took a sip of the water he had ordered for me. "Okay," I began. "But promise me you'll listen to the end without interrupting, and most importantly, without thinking I'm crazy."

  He raised a hand. "Promise. Scout's honor... even though I was never a scout."

  So, I told him everything. My death. The truck accident. The void. The reincarnation, or at least, what looked like it. The appearance of the System, the interface. The dagger, the Shadow Shard. The Mutated Rat quest. The fight, the victory, the level-up. The exploration of the Gate, the Goblin Cave. The fights against them, the new level, the rewards.

  I spoke in a low voice, trying to keep my tone as neutral and factual as possible, even though emotion threatened to overwhelm me several times as I relived those events. Seo-jin listened intently, his expression shifting from disbelief to shock, then to a kind of horrified fascination. He didn't say a word, just nodded occasionally, his eyes fixed on me, or sometimes on the interface that only he, besides me, seemed to be able to see in this crowded cafe.

  When I finished, a long silence settled between us. Seo-jin stared at me, his face unreadable. I waited, my heart pounding, dreading his reaction. Would he laugh? Call psychiatric help?

  Finally, he let out a long whistle. "Wow... Min-joon... That's... that's the craziest thing I've ever heard in my life." He shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts. "A game... but real. With monsters, levels, skills... And you died, then came back?"

  "That's about it," I confirmed, suddenly feeling very tired.

  He leaned forward, lowering his voice further. "And that dagger... the Shadow Shard... do you still have it?"

  I hesitated for a moment, then I thought: "Equip Shadow Shard."

  The dagger materialized in my hand, resting on the table between our coffee cups. Its subtle purple glow seemed almost unreal under the fluorescent lighting of the cafe.

  Seo-jin's eyes widened. He reached out a hesitant hand, as if to touch it, then pulled it back. "Incredible..." he murmured. "It's... it's like Solo Leveling, but real."

  The fact that he made that reference reassured me a little. At least he had a framework to understand, even if it was fiction.

  "So," he said, his gaze returning to me, more serious now. "What are you going to do? And... is this going to happen to other people? Am I in danger?"

  Those were the crucial questions. And I didn't have all the answers.