ESCAPE

Winston Lin

i|Page
Copyright © 2023 by Winston Lin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in

any form whatsoever without written permission except in the case of
brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Printed in the United States of America.

For more information, or to book an event, contact :

winstonlin2082@gmail.com

Book design by Winston Lin

ii | P a g e
Cover design by Winston Lin

ISBN - Paperback: 123456789

ISBN - Hardcover : 123456789

First Edition: November 2023

 CONTENTS

1 .......................................................................................................................... 1

2 .......................................................................................................................... 6

3 ........................................................................................................................ 14

4 ........................................................................................................................ 18

5 ........................................................................................................................ 24

6 ........................................................................................................................ 30

Epilouge…………………………………………………………………………………………………………35

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ......................................................................................... 38

 1
NEW BEGINNING

F
uck, I'm trapped in a game," murmured Kirito.

It was November 14, 2032, the line between reality

and virtual reality had become blurred. People spend more
time in the digital world than in the real one. Yuuki Kirito,
an introverted high school student who scarcely talked to
anyone in his 16 years of life, was no exception. His life was
governed by codes and pixelated landscapes of different
games.

Kirito had always been fascinated by the idea of immersive

virtual reality experiences, yet just yesterday, news about
a virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-
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playing game (VRMMORPG) called "ESCAPE" was released

in Japan; the game promised to be a world beyond anything
he had ever experienced, offering the perfect escape from
the monotony of his life. He knew he had to try it.

As Kirito covers his head with the VR headset, the real world
melts away, replaced by a surreal landscape.

As the virtual world materializes, he stands in a futuristic

yet realistic domain—glowing lines of code swirl around
him, creating a mesmerizing dance of light. The ground
beneath him feels amazingly real, each step sending a
tactile response through the advanced haptic feedback
system.

He could feel the every bit of his senses; this was all done
by the VR headset that came along with the game; the
headset can send fake signals to the five senses — but also
blocks and reroutes the orders that the brain sent to the
body. In other words, it blocks the signals that our brain
sends down our spines and changes them so that we can
control our avatars in this world. This allows players to
move freely as in real life here this virtual realm.

"Finally, I'm here, where I truly belong."

Kirito muttered as he closed his eyes to appreciate the

world around him. The virtual world was breathtaking,

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filled with lush forests, towering mountains, and

enchanting creatures. The air is filled with the scent of
unfamiliar flora, and a gentle breeze rustles through virtual
trees. He still couldn't believe his eye; all of this just seemed
too natural to be true; he felt like his soul was sucked out of
his body.

In fact, his brain's just seeing and listening instead of his

eyes and ears. . .along with the signals the headset sends.
Such concepts is far too complicated for anyone outside
this era to understand.

As Kirito reopened his eyes, the clamorous chatter

surrounding him grabbed his attention; hundreds of
thousands of players had also stepped foot on this unknown
land, each face was all emphasized by the same
astonishment and stupefaction.

As an experienced gamer like Kirito, he knew resources are

the key in this kind of RPG game; without hesitance, he left
the "starting city" and headed out to the practice area where
he could practice his skill and accumulate resources.

The first day was a complete blast. Throughout the day,

Kirito discovers hidden treasures, solves puzzles, and
encounters different mobs. The virtual world unfolds as a
playground of endless possibilities, offering a taste of both

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adventure and creativity.

However, one thing Kirito did not contend with was to

forge connections with other players. As a VRMMORPG or
any RPG game, other than fighting resources, the next thing
every player should prioritize is to make friends and forge
connections with other players; this is extremely important
since friends can share resources and form teams or even
guides in the future, collaborating with fellow players
enhances the overall gaming journey, it's the essence of the
experience.

Together, players can tackle formidable challenges, gather

resources, and strategize for success. Most importantly, this
significantly boosts your survivability; having someone at
your back is always a positive thing.

However, someone like Kirito, who has been captivated by

the thought of isolation and has strong apathy toward
drawing connections with others, instinctively decided to
work his way up himself; simply like what he accomplished
in other games he played, he's determined to clear the game
himself.

As the virtual sun dipped below the horizon, its fading rays
cast a warm, nostalgic glow over the digital landscape; the
sparkling twilight soon took over the dark, which is when

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Kirito realized it was time to call off a day; he swiped open

the menu screen to search for the «LOG OUT» button that
allowed you to escape from this world.
He moved his hand down in a movement that had almost
become a habit and —

His body froze. A glimpse of terror sliced through his body.

It wasn't there.

The «LOG OUT» button that was supposedly located at the

bottom of the menu screen was nowhere to be seen.

Kirito started at the empty space for a couple of seconds,

then looked through the menu again, ensuring it hadn't just
changed its position.

Yet, it was no use; the button vanished as it was never meant

to be there.

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 2
Unexpected encounter

K
irito remained speechless for the next five
minutes, still trying to process the circumstance;
the world suddenly seemed to slow down, and he
could hear his own heartbeat trembling as to
remind him of the reality.

Not just himself, he could sense the fear of other players

around him; some began to panic, some screamed in
despair, and some started desperately hitting and
scratching their heads as to attempted to take off the
headset.

However, it's useless.

 Winston Lin

The headset blocks all the signals from their brain and
reroutes them to move their avatar here; therefore, there is
no way to move their bodies in the real world.

Kirito, after just a quick moment of despair, quickly regains

his senses; as an experienced gamer, he knows that
MMORPGs are a battle of resources between players, and
only those with more resources and money are likely to
survive.

He took a deep breath and was about to take the first step,
several conversations made him hesitate once again.

"Hey, what would happen if we died here?"

"Are we going to die in the real world as well?"

"Can't we just commit suicide or something?"

"You think that'll work?"

"I'm not going to risk my life!"

"I don't want to die yet."

Kirito found themselves enveloped in a crescendo of

screams. The air echoed with a dissonance of fear, despair,
and urgency.

Right. Death...

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What would happen if I died here, Kirito wondered;

innumerable questions began flowing in his mind, yet
instead of sinking into despair, he decided to move forward
and face it, like he always did in every game.

With a leap of ambition, uncertainty, determination, and

the possibility of dying, he escapes the crowd and ventures
into the field of wilderness.

At that moment, Kirito committed to move on his own and

clear the game himself, not acting as a hero but as himself.
Who he’s supposed to be.

As the person who'll always work the way out himself...

After a long and persistent sprint, a strong urge of fatigue

and hunger soon took over him, and that is when he
decided to set foot in a small alley to spend the night.

To clarify, two basic bodily needs still exist in the game:

fatigue and hunger.

In terms of tiredness, it's pretty simple to understand;

virtual and real information were no different to the users’
brains.
If a player's brain turned tired due to overload or work,
players would ultimately feel sleepy in the game as well;
when that happens, they could go to an inn and rent a room
to sleep, depending on how much money they had in their
pockets.

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However, the concept behind hunger is much more

complicated; a player will feel hungry due to signals sent
from the brain, and the food consumed in this world will
not affect the body in the real world. It simply clears the
"hungriness" the player is feeling.

As the virtual moon cast a silvery glow, painting the

landscape with an ethereal radiance, the star shone
lustrously across the blank quiescence sky.

"Wow, this place really is amazing, huh"

On the empty valley, Kirito's voice echoed through the

darkness as he peacefully lay on the grass, a profound sense
of tranquility washed over him. The cool, simulated breeze
whispers through the digital blades of grass.

The endless night was filled with multiple nocturnal

symphonies; the somnolence began to take over him. Yet,
just as he's about to enter a deep slumber, a cold thought
reins through his veins.

"What's the point of fighting?" Kirito murmured

He knows well that he could be someone who just stayed

behind like all others. Waiting for the game to be clear
eventually.

But.

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What if the game was never clear?

What if the players can never find the exit to the real world?

Just the thought made Kirito shiver, yet that was the reason
that drove him to continue. Kirito knew well that if the
game was never clear, even if his avatar was still alive in this
world, what would happen to his body in the other world?
Yes. It would eventually die.

There was no escape, Kirito thought.

"Escape, Huh?" he smirked with contempt.

The word resembles the name of this game.

As to remind every player in this hopeless world that there

was no escape.

In this expansive virtual world, a tapestry of wonders and

perils unfolded as far as the digital eye could see. The
towering mountains and the sprawling forests conceded
both hidden treasures and dangerous threats. Each corner
of this virtual world held the promise of both discovery and
menace.

As players open the game menu using their digital hands,

they can identify their location and access the entire map
of this world. Each region on the map represents different
difficulties and the degree of risk.

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However, though the exact difficulty level remains vivid,

players can easily tell which areas "seemed" dangerous due
to the conspicuous name of the place. For example. "The
Enchanted Forest".

A week has passed since the game started; Kirito has made
his way past several regions and cities; however, there has
yet to be a sign of clearing the game.

Today, Kirito set foot on a place known as "The Enchanted

Forest," which most players have marked as "RED ZONE,"
indicating how dangerous it is; just hearing the name makes
people shiver.

Kirito, on the other hand, has a hunch that this place is the
key to clearing the game; the more dangerous it is, the more
likely the exit tends to lay.

As Kirito makes his way over to the entrance, a sudden voice

stops him.

"Hey! The swordsman over there." A person with a white

cloak, tattered pants, and a lustrous belt emerges in the dark.
His contradicting apparel makes Kirito pause for a second.

Behind him were two polearm users with outfits similar to

the first person's.

Realizing a group of unfamiliar approaches, Kirito's hand

instinctively rested on the hilt of his trusty blade, preparing

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for an inevitable fight.

"Whoa whoa, chill man, it's alright, we come in no harm,

just here to say hello." Said the second person, who's a bit
taller than the first one

"Yeah, think about it; if we're here to pick up a fight, we can

simply place an ambush or something."

The third person with a stupid-looking beanie quickly

follows up.

Under the faint moonlight, the trio's face finally appears

before Kirito; he quickly glances through them, realizing
they're around his age.

"What do you guys want, and who are you?" Kirito

responded with caution; hand still firmly placed on the hilt.

"Damn, that's straightforward, c'mon, relax...... Let me

introduce myself. I'm Sebastion, and this is Henry. The one
in the back is Anthony." The person named Sebastion
pointed at his two comrades.

"We're here to ask if you need any help; we're also

preparing to enter the forest; it would be nice to have more
people together, no?

Realizing their intention, Kirito slowly removed his hand

from the hilt; a feeling of fear and uncertainly ran through
his veins, for someone like Kirito, who has isolated himself

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for most of his life, does not believe in such things as

teamwork or friends.
An unexpected proposal like this caused Kirito to sink into
deep contemplation. He knew the road before him was
treacherous and risky; any careless actions might result in
his death.

"Nah, I'm good on my own; I can handle things myself." He

answered in silence.

Despite how intriguing the offer is, a desire for solitude and
self-sufficiency surfaces in Kirito's heart, creating an
inviolable wall from others. He decides to continue seeking
solace in the quiet journey of self-reliance, focusing on
overcoming obstacles alone.

"Are you sure about that? This isn't somewhere you can
travel alone; this place is dangerous as hell; just hearing the
leaves shimmer makes me quiver". Sebastian replies in
astonishment, dumbfounded by the decision Kirito makes.

With a reluctant gaze, Kirito splatted unpolitely.

"I said I'm good on my own, appreciate your offer, but no.”

Sebastian quickly backs off, raising hands in surrender

"Alright, no need to get defensive. Just trying to be helpful
here."

With that, Kirito turned his head, ignoring the odd feeling
of his chest being restricted, and ran ceaselessly into the

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woods full of unknown and danger.

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 3
The Enchanted Forest

A
s Kirito ventures through the enchanted forest, the
night sky is no longer visible; in exchange are
innumerable Ancient trees, their gnarled branches
entwined like skeletal fingers, stretching ominously
overhead, casting long shadows that block the final
remaining bits of moonlight.

Mysterious whispers flutter through the dark forest; the

dead stillness of the forest emphasizes each tentative
footstep. In this realm, where boundary between reality and
fantasy becomes blurred, time seems to slow down; each
moment results in a person's doubtlessness in their
existence.
 ESCAPE

As one progresses through the darkness, the luminescent

eyes of unseen creatures flicker in the shadows, launching
devastating blows at whatever is in its path......

After days of exploring the forest, Kirito has uncovered

one-third of the enchanted forest, defeating all enemies
before him, once again proving his ability to stand alone.

This day, he came across a giant gate on the western part of

the woods; the complex carvings on the gate resembled a
luxurious chest from the ancient Romans.

Instinctively, two theories flickered through Kirito's mind:

this is either a pitfall or a reward.

As an experienced gamer, he knows it is crucial to cultivate

the habit of doubt. Only skepticism can keep us from death.
That's the kind of principle that keeps him alive.

After significant consideration, Kirito decides to open the

gate. As he slowly draws and places his sword on his
shoulder, he cautiously opens the gate.

An eerie noise cracked as the door flung open. A massive

dark room emerges before him; he slowly walks deeper
into the dark, perilous room.

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 Winston Lin
Just as Kirito took his 5th step, a soft, ethereal growl
emerged from the dark, followed by a dazzling glow that lit
up the room.

As the chamber bathed in an otherworldly luminescence,

the scene unnerved him. A grotesque, towering nightmare
appeared before him with razor-sharp fangs, bloodshot
eyes, and mottled, oozing skin. Its menacing growls echoed
through the room, sending shivers down Kirito's spine.

For a moment, he couldn't move, as the scene petrified him,

yet he quickly pulled himself back to consciousness.

He took a deep breath, then, with a giant leap of intrepidity

and determination, he clashed with the gigantic monster.

As Kirito swung his sword maliciously along with alacritous

footwork, the monster's hp gradually dwindled.

Blood and death circulate the atmosphere for the next ten
minutes, at this moment, the monster's hp remains around
one percent; just as Kirito's about to cast the fatal blow, the
monster becomes outraged and raids toward Kirito with
drops of blood in its eye, it's booming step results in the
room to quavers.

Kirito, who remains patient, in a seamless display of

reflexes, a graceful sidestep evaded the fatal blow as the
monster charged past him; with the split of a second, Kirito

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placed his sword on his shoulder, launched toward the

demon in incredible velocity; with swift precision, he
unleashed a mesmerizing dance of steel which pierced
through the monster's heart.

Shortly after, as the monster's hp turned zero, it

disintegrated into millions of particles and vanished into
thin air.

Kirito, on the other hand, lies on the ground with a radiant

smile on his face.

After the clash with the monster, Kirito's self-assurance and

ambition of clearing the game alone increase to
unprecedented heights; he's confident that his ideals of
standing alone will succeed again.

"Hmph, so that's about it, huh? Who needs a party to clear

this goddamn hell of a game."

he splatted with a smirk on his face as he drove deeper into

the woods.

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4
Shadows of Mistrust

O
nce again, fatigue is one of the basic bodily needs in
the game; when a player continues without sleeping,
their avatar's ability, including agility, strength,
awareness, etc, will gradually decrease. That goes
for players without consuming food, as well.

Another few days had passed since Kirito entered the forest.
In other words, he hadn't slept for days.

The tiredness and somnolence began to overcome him.

Kirito knows better than anyone else that as soon he falls

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asleep here, he'll become wholly defenseless and

obliterated by any monster.

In MMORPGs, when a player dozes off, their avatar

becomes utterly vulnerable, mirroring the susceptibility of
real life. Anything might happen during this slumber, and
the risk of perishing in the virtual dream world might
transpire anytime.

Suddenly, a faint voice rang beneath the bottomless abyss

of his heart. Blurred but clear:

It would be nice to have someone on your back.

True, if players travel as a party, each player can take turns

to rest safely, knowing someone is looking after you.

Yet, Kirito deterred the faint thought encircling his heart;

his determination and perseverance once again overcame
him.

"No, not yet. I can't give up; I can't die here."

He quietly mumbles, forgetting all the unnecessary

thoughts. The will to survive is the only thing that motivates
him to continue.

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 Winston Lin

As Kirito finally arrived at the deepest end of the forest,

another massive gate awaited him.

This gate. Around ten times the size of the one he

encounters the monster. Its monumental size makes people
tremble just standing before it.

This gate, lacking any symbols and carving. Its simplicity

design and the uncertainty behind it form a perfect
dichotomy.

After much preparation, Kirito took a deep breath, his

hunch once again telling him what lay behind it was the key
to clearing the game.

As Kirito pushed open the gate, he drew his sword to

prepare for the worst; however, what appeared before his
eye left him awestruck.

Beyond the entrance lays a moumental labyrigth, its vast

expanse stretching as far as the eye could see—towering
walls adorned with contrast carvings enclosed a
labyrinthine network of twisting paths and grand chambers.

When Kirito was ready to make his first step toward the
labyrinth, a sudden voice interrupted him.

"Swordsman! Wait up!"

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Kirito turned his head and realized it was the trio from
before; they were running through the darkness as to catch
up to him.

Kirito, who firmly held his sword with a threatening eye,

indicates a sign of unfriendliness.

"Hey swordsman, damn, you sure are fast."

Sebastian said while gasping. Henry and Anthony soon

catch up, and the trio from before again stands before Kirito.

Kirito, with a sigh of annoyance, splatted.

"What are you guys doing here? Have you been following
me for the past few days? Did some ridiculous guild send
you guys?"

"Whoa whoa man, chill man, what's wrong with you, you’re
not feeling good or something?"

"Damn, your face is dead as hell!! What happened to you,

you alright?"

Anthony frowed; then, the two kept making random

assumptions about Kirito and offering him help.

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Seeing no response from the swordsman, Henry, who kept

quiet the whole time, finally speaks up.

"Listen, I don't know what's going through you, but you

should seriously consider working with us, see? We're the
only ones that make it this far; we hope to clear the game!
And look at you, your tiredness clearly shown on your face;
if this continues, you might end up killing yourself anytime
soon. "

His words cut like knives, each remark hitting a nerve.

Kirito, now even more tenacious and driven, couldn't bear
the idea of being belittled or collaborating with others, not
to mention asking for help.

Kirito, stung by the comments, conveys his response

without using words; he shoots a look of menace and
suspicion at the trio, then decisively turns away, leaping
swiftly, as he proceeds toward the labyrinth.

Henry's voice rings behind him again.

"If you need help, just ask, and we'll assist you. You're not
alone. You know?" —

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 ESCAPE

The thin air within the labyrinth was thin and filled with
ancient auras; the night sky was not visible by any means;
above him was a pitch-black universe with echos of
unknown creatures; the cold wind carrying with an icy
breath that seemed to penetrate the very bones of those
who dared to venture its course.

Yet, the true nature of the challenge became apparent as

Kirito moved deeper into the maze; the menace glows of
monsters began looming from the corners, eerie growls
echoed throughout the twisting corridors, followed by
monsters, grotesque and formidable, lurking in the
shadows.

In addition to the monstrous inhabitants, deadly traps in

the shadows await their victim; each step within the
monumental labyrinth is a great test for whoever steps foot
on it.

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5
The Labyrinth

T
wo days have passed since Kirito stepped foot in the
maze; in other words, almost a week since Kirito last
slept, as a side note, the record of consecutive days
for any human being without sleep is 11 days. At this
very moment, Kirito began to hallucinate as each step
became utterly unattainable; his vision started to blur while
he continued down the dark corridor; suddenly, in the
midst of fainting, a loud alarm took him back to conscious.

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He realized he had stepped on a deadly trap; the trap
covered by layers of mud caught him unexpectedly.
His tiredness finally overcame him; thus his avatar became
so frail that he could no longer detect the trap.

A large glistening sword suddenly emerges from the

shadow with incredible velocity; It's size is big enough to
take Kirito's life with one strike.

As the swordsman was about to evade, he froze.

He couldn't move.

Kirito glanced at his leg; vines from the ground entangled

him; before he could take a second thought, An unthinkable
pain overwhelmed him; he lowered his head, and a mighty
sword appeared to pierce through his stomach.

Time seems to have momentarily frozen as the cold steel

sank into flesh; a searing, gut-wrenching sensation began
flowing through Kirito's body.

Shock, disbelief, and overwhelming pain collided, and a

scene of death flashed through his mind.

A silent gasp escaped his lips as he realized the perilous

wound.

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 Winston Lin

Kirito glanced at his HP bar on the right; around two

percent remained. Yet, just as he's about to pull out
medicine to heal. A monstrous creature with scales as dark
as midnight and eyes of hell dashed through shadow.

In a split of second, it stands before the petrified

swordsman.

"So that's it, huh? That's how it'll end." he muttered.

The monster raises its shimmering claymore as Kirito

closes his eyes in quiet contemplation, embracing
imminent death with regrets and despair.

As the sword falls toward him, the trio's image slowly

materializes in his mind.

You're not alone. You know?

A distant yet familiar voice resonated in his heart as to

remind him of his ignorance. He reflects on his journey,
including the encounter with the trio; he imagines the
outcome if he accepts the offer and collaborates with them.

Would this path lead to a similar fate as well? What would

happen if he opened himself and not being isolated and

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stubborn? A flood of thoughts and emotions began
overpouring him.

It was at that single moment, one solirary word slowly

flowed out from Kirito's mouth.

Help

The voice was so small yet resonated with sincerity as the

wind carried it across the world.

As all hopes were to disappear, a flash thundered behind

him as an arrow plunged the monster back.

Subsequently, as Kirito reopened his eyes, the monster had

vanished, and a blurred vision indicated three figures
standing before him. Before he could speak, he fainted into
deep slumber as the pain overwhelmed him. —

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"UGHHHHHHH!"

Followed by an enormous scream, Kirito jumped up as he

instinctively checked his stomach, where the large wound
struck by the claymore had miraculously disappeared; he
then looked at his surroundings, the scene of death still
swirling in his mind.

"Yo, you're finally awake."

Kirito looks to the right as Sebastian looks at him with a soft

smile to reassure him. Beside him were Henry and Anthony.

"No need to worry, everything is fine now, well, at least in

the meantime, depends on how you define the word "fine,"
cause, well, currently we're stuck in goddamn game, so
probably we're not fine. Well, you know what I mean."

Anthony chuckled as he scanned the map of the labyrinth.

Kirito, though dumbfounded, still remains vigilant.

"What happened in detail? Tell me."

Henry sits up and explains in a "Not worth mentioning"

tone.

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"Well, long story short, basically, you fell for a trap, and a
monster's about to slice you into pieces. But!~ we arrived
in time and saved you."

"Hum....."

Seeing his silence again, Henry quickly adds on.

"Hey, guess what? We've found a shortcut that might lead

directly to the labyrinth's heart; it might be the key to
ending this nightmare. Wanna join us? Just this time, at
least."

"Ever hear of the idiom never before, never again? ~~~"

giggles Anthony.

Kirito, who fell into a deep muse, again felt uncomfortable

about the situation, but this time, his stubbornness and
obstinacy began to melt away as the warm atmosphere
embraced him. The sincerity and genuineness of the trio
finally dissolve his solid heart, and he decides to join them.

At least this time.

"Sure, let's go"

The swordsman answered with a doubtful yet undeniable

tone.

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6
ESCAPE

N
avigating the shortcut alongside the trio, Kirito
found the existence of someone beside him felt
extremely uncomfortable yet reassuring.

Surprisingly, the journey unfolded with unexpected ease

and fluidity; Enemies, once formidable, seemed to
succumb much more quickly with allies by his side.

As the trio moves along the dark corridor, they finally reach
the heart of the labyrinth. Once again, a collosol gate stands
before them. This time, it was carved with multiple aspects
of the game, including the monsters and the chests.

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While the trio admires the incredible scene before them,

Kirito, who takes the first step.

"You guys ready?"

The answers to all the mysteries lie behind this gate; this
must be the ESCAPE we're all looking for, thought Kirito.

"Yup, you bet!"

"What are you even waiting? ~"

"Let's clear this game and go home!"

The trio answered with great enthusiasm and

determination.

As Kirito opens the gate, he glances at the trio not with an

eye of threat and suspicion but with genuine and cordiality.

" I can never understand why you guys are willing to save
me, but if we ever make it out.........."

"Let's meet up so I can repay you guys."

There is a great interval between the two sentences, Kirito,

who has been isolated for his entire life, decides to open up

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to them, his words indicating his willingness to interact with
others in the real world as well.

As the gateway swung open with a haunting creak, the final

challenge awaited them.

Before them, the final boss stood alone in the center of the
giant space: A collosol monster that resembles a skeletal
centipede.

In the air before the monster, crimson letters materialized,

seemingly drawn with ethereal blood, forming the ominous
words: "The Skull Reaper." Each letter displayed an eerie
energy that sent terror toward whoever stands before it.

However, the group shows no fear toward the colossal

monster, and with an exchange of unwavering glances and
a determined nod, the final dance begins ——

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 ESCAPE

The air was filled with blood and desperation as the four
players worked in immaculate chemistry, devouring the
monster toward its final stage.

Kirito, fueled by unwavering determination, executed a

masterful sequence of strikes, each stroke a dance of lethal
precision. The Reaper makes its final struggle as Kirito
lands a final vicious strike on its skull.

Cling.............

As the Reaper's health turned, suffering the same fate as

other creatures, disintegrating into millions of particles.

As the group was about to celebrate, the entire chamber

collapsed; at the edge of despair, the world around Kirito
suddenly dissolved into an overwhelming expense of
blinding white light, he could felt his soul being transmuted
into pixels, whisked away from the virtual realm.

In an instant, the familiar hum of the VR apparatus faded,

replaced by the beeping sound of the cardiac monitor.
Kirito, with a final effort, pulled off the VR headset; he
found himself lying on a hospital bed with a big window
beside him. The sunlight danced rhythmically through the
window as if to welcome him.

"It's finally over," muttered Kirito

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 Winston Lin

Through this journey, Kirito has learned the importance of

teamwork, cooperation, and, quite possibly, friendship. It is
impossible to conquer or overcome anything alone; having
someone on your back to look after and assist you is what
one can always dream of.

This odyssey, full of excitement and challenges, marked an

end. Yet, a new journey unfolds for Kirito, where he'll learn
to open himself to people around him; experience an
entirely new world where friends and teammates exist, and
explore a place where help can be found everywhere.

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 ESCAPE

Epilouge

I t was a sunny day in Tokyo; Kirito take a

look at his watch: five more minutes till the
appointment.

A month had passed since the incident, all ten

thousand players who were trapped in the game had
escaped thanks to the effort of Kirito and the trio.
Today is the day when he finally comes in contact
with Sebastian, who contacts his fellow companions,
Henry and Anthony.

They made an appointment here, under the Tokyo

SKYTREE.

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 Winston Lin

Kirito has begun to assimilate into a new lifestyle

since the incident; he started making friends and
openly asking people for help; he no longer isolates
himself nor hides his feelings.

"Hey, swordsman!" A cheerful voice disturbed him;

he raised his head.

It was Sebastian, alongside Henry and Anthony

"Hey guys"

"Hehe, as cold as always," Chuckled Anthony

Instinctively, Kirito shoots a cold glance toward him.

"By the way, you never told us your name!" Henry

exhaled.

Suddenly, he realized he had never actually told

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 ESCAPE
them his name. With a faint smile across his face, he
answered.

"Kirito"

As the sun gracefully descended beyond the horizon.

The quartet moves with determination toward the
bright future ahead of them.

A long-lasting bond finally formed between them.

38
 Winston Lin

About the Author

Thanks for making it this far; this is the author, Winston

Lin, a random dude from Taiwan. Yes, it was a bit longer
than I expected; I apologize for that. However, the story
perfectly conveys the message I'm trying to deliver, which
was pretty nice. It was hard to write such a long story for an
average 17-year-old student like me, and yes, I looked up
lots of vocabulary to fit in context to make the scene much
more detailed and attractive. I also spend lots of time
thinking of the word combinations to put them into phrases,
trying to escalate the description a bit more.

Lastly, it does take a SUPER DUPER long time for me

to finish this incredible story, so I genuinely hope you'll
enjoy it. Thank you very much for reading!!

On a random day in November 2023

Winston Lin

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