The nightmare began when she couldn't find the logout button. It was just a game, it was not real. However, that announcement changed everything. Some took it as a joke. After a day or two, nobody doubted it anymore. The first scene of death ensured everyone how serious the situation was. The first few days were chaos for her. Nowadays things had calmed down to some degree.

The name which she had in the real world had no meaning here. Her bright, floating HUD, visible only to players who opened it, showed the name she now bears in this world. Ein Shevalom. That was now her name. That was now her reality.
Sound of snapping branches turned her attention back to the field. Three men clad in heavy armors, clearly Warrior classes, were fighting a walking trunk. It was actually a monster, the enemy in this game, and a weak one as well. Ein was surprised at how strange the monsters’ shape could be, but now she had somehow gotten used to it. It was obvious that the victory belonged to the men. Not just outnumbered, but they were experienced enough to dodge the enemy’s futile attacks. The trunk was staggering at this point. One more attack would finish it.

[center][b]Energy Ball[/b][/center]

From her hiding spot, Ein launched the basic Mage class attack magic. She had timed the cast delay of the magic to strike the monster at its weakest state. Rather than the men’s, the monster’s kill now belonged to Ein instead. Quickly she scrambled out from the bushes, picking all items dropped by said monster. Wind element swirled around her armor, giving her enough movement speed to outrun the chasing men.

“That’s kill steal, you b*tch! I’ll cut you down!” their angry voice grew more distant as she put her entire strength to her feet. Another minute and she had lost them. It was the city wall already. She dropped down into the ground panting, trying to catch her breath. The fatigue was real. Even if she knew that this is merely a game, her brain refused to do so.

She opened the HUD again. The monster’s loots were obscure materials players usually sold to NPC for a few coins. To her job, Chef, they were necessary for cooking. Added by water she could gain for free from the city fountain, she ended up making soup item. That was how she survived with virtually no money. It wouldn't do to keep on doing it, though. Kill-stealing in game was frowned upon, even she knew that. Yet she had no choice, as her class had little to none attacking power.

The soup brought warmth to her body. It was false warmth, but enough to satisfy her for now.