Chapter 1
First.
The world’s first virtual reality game.
And also, a game labeled as a complete failure.
Slow response time, clunky graphics, endless bugs, and an insanely difficult game balance.
Despite its grand title as the first VR game, everyone had turned their backs on it.
Except for one.
“Hoo…”
A single person remained.
A man stood tall before First’s final boss monster—the Golden Dragon of Greed.
Ranked #1 in First—Mir.
That was my in-game name.
“GRROOOAAARRR—!!”
The Golden Dragon, befitting its role as the final boss, was the strongest monster in First.
It was impossible to hunt alone. Only large-scale guild raids could stand a chance.
Yet here I stood, alone before it, holding a weapon worthy of the game’s top-ranked player.
[Zeus’s Lightning, Astrafe]
The lightning bolt of the god, gleaming in gold.
Just holding it caused electricity to crackle and magnetic fields to form around me.
A mythical weapon.
Among all items in First, it ranked among the highest tier—divine weapons.
And Astrafe was the weapon of Zeus, the god among gods.
CRAAACK—!
I hurled it at the Golden Dragon.
A blinding speed.
Astrafe cut through the air like a streak of golden light—like lightning itself.
An unavoidable, unstoppable attack.
Though it was a divine weapon, I used it as if it were a disposable throwing item.
“GRRAAAAAHHH!”
The Golden Dragon let out a scream.
With lightning embedded in its nape, its entire body seized and began to burn from the electric surge.
Indeed, a divine weapon.
Its devastating power even paralyzed the final boss monster—only Astrafe could do that.
Still, this was First’s final boss.
Even while electrocuted, the Golden Dragon’s eyes held firm.
In a few moments, even divine lightning would wear off, and its claws would strike once more.
But I wasn’t about to let that happen.
“Luke.”
— Yes, Master.
At my call, a black flame flickered in my palm and another item appeared.
[Poseidon’s Trident, Triaína]
If Astrafe belonged to Zeus, Triaína belonged to Poseidon, god of the sea.
With a sweep of my arm, I summoned the trident born of black fire and hurled it at the dragon.
SHHHRRRK!
It was as if the vast sea itself had condensed into this weapon.
Triaína pierced through the dragon’s scales, burying deep near its heart.
But that wasn’t the end.
Just like Astrafe summoned lightning, Triaína released seawater, forming a sea dragon that wrapped itself around the Golden Dragon, binding it.
CRACKLE!
“GRRAAAAAHH!”
Water and lightning synergized, further restricting its movements.
[Artemis’s Golden Bow, Crysellacatos]
Next came the goddess’s bow—Crysellacatos.
I drew the string with all my might, and nocked the divine arrow Iokeira.
FWIP. THWIP-THWIP-THWIP!
True to its name, “Rain of Arrows,” the golden arrows became a storm, raining down hundreds—no, thousands—upon the Golden Dragon.
[Hermes’s Staff, Caduceus]
The power of Caduceus followed, dimming the dragon’s vision.
[Demeter’s Scythe, Chrysaor]
Then Chrysaor dug into its throat.
Every weapon I used was among First’s most powerful, legendary items—each one a unique, god-tier item, said to exist only once in the game.
And they were all in my possession, gleaming in my hands.
“GRRROOOAAARRR!”
The Golden Dragon couldn’t even swing its claws or tail—only scream.
After embedding eleven of the Twelve Gods’ weapons into its body, I prepared the final strike.
[Ares’s Sword, Enyalius]
The war god’s sword.
Among the Twelve Gods’ weapons, it had the highest pure attack power.
I gripped it and swung.
“GRA—!”
SLASH.
In an instant, the Golden Dragon’s head was severed.
The final boss of First fell in just twelve attacks.
All by the hands of a single player.
Its body crumbled into dust, and from it, a golden spear—resembling its scales—dropped to the floor.
It was the most powerful spear in the game, excluding divine weapons.
But I didn’t even glance at it.
“Again, huh…”
Again.
That’s right.
This wasn’t my first time defeating the Golden Dragon.
I had done it 1,000 times.
As proof, a glorious system message floated above my head:
[Achievement Unlocked: Dragon’s Nightmare]
Condition: Defeat the Golden Dragon 1,000 times
Reward: +100% drop rate for high-tier items
“What’s the point of this now… there’s only one item left.”
Despite the complaint, a smile tugged at my lips.
The achievement system—designed to guide players through in-game challenges.
Truthfully, earning this meant I’d had terrible item drop luck—so bad I needed to kill the boss a thousand times.
Still, the achievement brought joy.
As the top-ranked player, my goal was to collect every item and complete every achievement in First.
This reward might finally help me get the last item.
“The real challenge starts now.”
I turned my back on the fallen dragon and stepped forward.
At the dungeon’s end was a room filled with treasure.
At the center: a massive treasure chest.
“One-in-a-million drop rate for the final reward… seriously?”
I stood before it.
It was great unlocking Dragon’s Nightmare, but this was where the real test began.
If the item I wanted didn’t drop, I’d have to defeat the dragon again… and again… and again.
To beat those 0.0001% odds.
Though with achievements, potions, and equipment boosting drop rate and luck, my odds were better than most.
Still, with only a few luck-boosting potions left, I used one and opened the chest.
And then—
SHIIING!
[Golden Dragon’s Heart]
“It dropped!”
There it was.
The Golden Dragon’s Heart.
The final item in First, only obtainable at an abysmal drop rate after defeating the boss.
I hadn’t expected to get it so quickly. My luck had always been awful.
“Is it thanks to the achievement?”
Probably.
Dragon’s Nightmare increased rare drop rates—surely that helped.
As I gripped the heart in my shaking hands, the ultimate message appeared:
[You have collected all items in First.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Master of All Things]
Condition: 100% item compendium
Reward: All item stats increased by 1.5x
“It’s hereeeee!!”
I screamed with joy.
A surge of delight.
I had finally collected every item in First.
But it didn’t stop there.
[You have achieved all achievements in First.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Akashic Record]
Condition: 100% achievement completion
Reward: Savior of the World
The Akashic Record—only granted to those who completed every single achievement.
At last, I had accomplished what no one else ever had.
“I did iiiiiiiiit!!”
THUMP.
With arms raised in victory, my legs gave out and I collapsed backward.
The piles of gold coins cushioned my fall.
“It’s over…”
Every item. Every achievement.
I had carved a path that all others had abandoned—and reached the end.
An overwhelming satisfaction and pride welled up inside me.
“…Guess it’s time to quit now.”
Having nothing left to do.
Sure, I could duel—but in a dead game like First, there weren’t any worthy challengers left.
Even if duels happened, no one could stand up to someone who had completed all content.
“Haa…”
I logged out.
My vision quickly dimmed.
No longer the janky in-game sensations—this was real life.
The VR capsule I used was an outdated model—far from the sleek ones in stories.
In fact, the First-compatible capsule was pricey, and I’d only managed to afford the lowest-tier model.
But even with its terrible specs, I’d reached the top of First.
Well, most players had quit long ago, so competition was thin.
Still, as I tried to exit the capsule—
Tick.
“What the… Why won’t this open?”
The locks that should’ve released after logout stayed in place.
I was startled, but chalked it up to my old capsule.
I reached for the emergency release.
Crackle.
“What’s going on today…”
It wouldn’t budge.
And then I heard it—a faint, ominous crackle.
Panic crept in. The more desperate I got, the worse the lock responded.
Then, slowly and carefully—
Click.
“Whew…”
Just as I began to rise—
ZZZZZZAAAAP!!
The image of the Golden Dragon being electrocuted by Astrafe flashed through my mind.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!!”
A sharp jolt of pain tore through me as I collapsed.
