SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Earth Online

When 2042 rolled in, the entire gaming world had its eyes on one name: Earth Online. It wasn't just the next big release, it was a revolution. Tornado Games had promised something no one had done before: a fully immersive VR experience so real, so responsive, it would make you question where the game ended and your life began.

Damon had been hooked from the start.

He'd spent weeks reading every leak, every dev interview, every conspiracy theory on shady forums. Against his parents' wishes, and with more confidence than sense, he dropped most of his savings on the immersion gear the moment pre-orders went live. He just knew this wasn't going to be an ordinary game. And it wasn't.

Now, standing in his old apartment, the same one he had moved into right out of his parent's house, he found himself staring at the past as it had never left. His eyes drifted to the shelf, where the VR helmet rested exactly where he used to keep it. He walked over, slowly, and picked it up.

Questions flooded his mind. Was he hallucinating? Dreaming? How the hell could he be back here? His brain scrambled for logic, but none of it made sense. The date, the room, even the woman from earlier, it all screamed impossible.

But deep down, he felt it. This was real.

Somehow, some way, he was back in time.

And honestly? He didn't care why. Not right now. If this was real, if this was truly happening, then he wasn't going to waste a second. Not this time. He had been cheated once. He wasn't going to let it happen again.

He looked down at the helmet in his hands and took a slow, steady breath.

"Let's do it right this time," he muttered.

He placed the helmet back down on the shelf and took a step back. First, he needed a moment. A reset.

Damon made his way to the bathroom, letting the familiar hiss of the shower fill the space. The water was hot but he didn't care. He stood under the stream, letting it hit his skin, trying to wash off the confusion, the fear, the grief that still lingered somewhere deep inside.

Today was the first day he didn't feel like a failure. The first time in years he hadn't woken up already exhausted. There was still fear, sure. And doubt. But underneath all of that was something stronger.

Purpose.

He stared at his reflection in the fogged-up mirror. His face looked younger. Less tired. Like the world hadn't beaten him down yet.

Depression was no joke. It crept up on you, wore you down slowly, like rust on metal and Damon had spent months corroding. There were days when simply getting out of bed felt unbearable. He couldn't face his parents. He couldn't face his friends or even walk outside without getting ridiculed. He did not want to let it all get to him but eventually, it did.

But this time, everything was going to be different. This time he knew exactly what was coming.

Damon got dressed in fresh clothes, cleaner than he remembered. No more stains. No more weeks-old pizza boxes stacked in the corner. Everything about this apartment looked like it had been reset right alongside him. Had he really been this clean once?

He let out a sigh and ordered some food. Good food from his favorite Indian restaurant. He added extra naan and a mango lassi, just because he could.

When it arrived, the smell hit him like a wave of nostalgia and comfort. He devoured the meal like a hungry raccoon. After he finished eating, he cleared the table, actually cleared it, and wiped it down. Then he took another look around the apartment and pinched himself in the hand. He half-expected everything to go back to the way it was but nope. He was still here and still breathing.