Chương 2: Chapter 1

After extricating himself from the low-quality bed and its ratty blankets, Sam spent nearly an hour in the shower contemplating the existential dread of his own death. At intervals, he found himself kneeling before the porcelain throne, trying to hold back the vomit that threatened to rise every time either his own death – or the previous owner's – resurfaced in his mind. With considerable effort, he eventually wrestled his scattered thoughts into something resembling order.

The memories, tinted with rage and despair, were shoved into a deep mental pit. Still, Sam knew that sooner or later he would have to confront them. He couldn't live like this… First, though, he needed information – about this new life, the resources available to him, and the general direction his future might take.

Sitting before the futuristic computer – or, as it was known to the people of this world, a piece of junk – he began doing rough calculations based on the memoires he could access without triggering another emotional backlash. He could, of course, invest in a few companies using knowledge of future developments and live off that while deciding what to do next. Or… He could make use of the gaming knowledge he had inherited.

He could enter Magic Unbound early, invest on the side for financial security, avoid the pitfalls that had led to the previous Sam's misery, and leverage both his foreknowledge and his understanding of the genre. A quick internet search confirmed something surprising: there was a glaring absence of virtual reality novels in this world. That path, however, carried risks. The game's inevitable popularity would attract all sorts of powerful figures – just as it had in the other Sam's memories.

And even with foreknowledge, avoiding every entanglement would be difficult. Looking up the company responsible for the game's release, Sam found that Future Unknown would launch Magic Unbound in three months – on January first, to celebrate the New Year. With a name like that, Sam felt it was a little too on the nose, but looking at the mouth of a gift horse and all that. Satisfied that the information matched his memories, he leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly.

Standing over the bathroom sink later, he studied his reflection carefully for the first time. The body was remarkably similar to his previous one: tall, average features, black hair, and the beginnings of a dark stubble. The differences were stark, though – deep dark circles under his eyes, a gaunt frame bordering on malnourished, and nealry thirty kilograms less weight than he had carried before. A sedentary life behind a screen had not been kind to his previous body. Unfortunately, Sam was inherently lazy.

But if he intended to excel in Magic Unbound, he would have to maintain his physical condition. At higher levels, physical health influenced in-game responsiveness and the ability to last longer when playing. A healthy mind in a healthy body – and all that jazz. And as he expected, the elite players had discovered this long before it became common knowledge. And as he stared into his own eyes, he realized it wasn't really a question of what he should do. He had been given a second chance. A new world. A new body.

And access to a game that had been nothing more than a dream in his previous life. He leaned forward, bracing both hands on the sink. Then he nodded. A decision was made. It took him a week to get a handle on the life he had been granted anew. He went to the bank and consolidated his accounts – changing the passwords just to be safe. He ensured everything was aligned with his plans. Death and taxes were the only true constants, after all.

He also bought some books to help process traumatic memories, purchased a set of new clothes, and began searching for a new apartment. According to the inherited memories, the first major event that had driven the other Samuel into deep poverty had been the burning of his apartment building. Later, it was revealed to be arson – committed to clear space for a high-rise development. But all of that required money. Thankfully, he had effectively traveled back in time.

The knowledge rattling around in his head provided more opportunities to earn money than he could reasonably pursue. The real question was how much attention he was willing to attract. There were betting opportunities that would soon become infamous. Certain investments would skyrocket in value. Any of those could set him up comfortably. But they would also attract scrutiny he wasn't comfortable with.

In the end, he chose something subtler – something even the other Samuel would never have expected to become useful. After Magic Unbound rose to dominance, other games inevitably declined. Before their fall, however, they had been highly profitable and riddled with secrets. Once their popularity waned, long-time players began monetizing their expertise and experience.

They released online videos explaining game histories, hidden mechanics, efficient money-making routes, combat strategies, and long-concealed exploits. Among these videos, the most famous were those that exposed the glitche, exploits, and loopholes players had used to dominate their respective games. The previous Sam had watched them for relaxation – laughing when they covered games he hadn't played and groaning when they were revealed as missed opportunities in ones he had.

Now, Sam could capitalize on these exploits before they became public knowledge. Sitting at his computer, he navigated to a website dedicated to buying and selling gaming secrets: Shadowland. It wasn't exactly legal – but it also wasn't illegal, either. They operated in a gray zone. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. For Sam, it was perfect.

He created an account and uploaded the required proof of legitimacy – a small but verifiable piece of information that would become publicly visible upon registration. The site used such proofs to discourage fraud. Of course, money could still bypass most safeguards. Then he waited. His first upload was modest: a detailed guide on acquiring a small space skipper in Conquest of Nine Realms. It wasn't the most powerful ship in the game, but small-ship racing through asteroid fields had become wildly popular.

To compete effectively, players needed specific technologies to upgrade their vessels. And the easiest way to obtain those technologies? Rip it out of existing ships. One of the most coveted models was precisely the ship Sam's guide described how to acquire. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't worth a fortune. But he knew that the same information would leak in about a month – released by a disgruntled guild member. The guildwas the only one who had access to the small ship.

The previous Sam had once cursed himself for missing the opportunity. This time, he wouldn't miss it. To be thorough, Sam briefly logged into Conquest of Nine Realms to confirm that nothing had changed. The simple space-fighter, trading, and exploration game failed to hold his interest. He liquidated the materials and equipment on the account and never logged in again.

After ensuring his post on Shadowland had gone through, he browsed the internet while waiting for responses – checking the news, looking up movies, and so on. He barely had to wait an hour before the first thank-you message arrived, followed by confirmation that his registration had been approved and he could fully utilize the site. He deliberately waited another hour to build credibility before uploading more prepared guides. Then he opened the list of active requests. And went hunting.

In two weeks of relentless work, Sam earned enough money to pay the deposit on a better apartment in a safer part of the city. In the process, he also made both enemies and friends across several gaming communities. He shared dungeon locations, mount acquisition methods, material-gathering routes, hidden quest NPC coordinates, planetary jump points, fighting-game combo chains, and so much more. Watching entire communities erupt in chaos every time he released new information was endlessly entertaining.

Still, he was careful not to reveal the truly dangerous exploits – the ones used by players with serious economic influence and, potentially, real-world power. Shadowland claimed anonymity, but Sam knew better. If enough cash – or enough intimidation – was applied, identities would surface. Standing in the middle of his cramped apartment one final time, Sam took a long look around. Within a week, everything inside would be reduced to ash. Not that he would miss it. The neighbors were loud.

Something perpetually smelled on the floor below. And he was fairly certain the tenants upstairs were manufacturing something illegal. For a fleeting moment, he considered anonymously tipping off the police about the planned arson. But according to rumors in the other Sam's past life, the police were already in the pocket of the developer responsible for the land grab. Interfering would be pointless. Or worse.

The other Sam hadn't paid attention to news outside of gaming, but the few relevant details had burned themselves into memory. As he walked toward the door for the last time, Sam half expected something to go wrong – some twist of Fate forcing him back onto the original timeline. But nothing happened. No accident. No emergency. He stepped outside, closed the door behind him, and headed toward the nearest public transportation station. His new apartment was on the seventh floor of a skyscraper.

The rent was reasonable, the soundproofing excellent, and the neighbors practically nonexistent. They even had a reception desk with a guard who was below the age of forty… The unit itself was modest but functional: a living area with a small workout corner, an open kitchen, a bathroom equipped with an absurdly advanced shower system, a bedroom, and a separate room dedicated entirely to gaming. Currently, that room held a desk, an upgraded computer, and a comfortable ergonomic couch for VR use.

In the future, full immersion capsules would become available—though only six months after Magic Unbound launched. The previous Sam had suspected early access units existed for those with connections. Sam agreed. That sounded about right for this world. Sweat glistened down on his naked chest as he raised the weight in his hand, illuminated by the fall sun through the windows of his new apartment. With great willpower, Sam managed to keep to a simple exercise routine with some cardio and weightlifting.

And thanks to his new income, paying attention to his food – while also trying all the new foods a new world revealed – and the exercise itself, his former gaunt and sickly body graduated to a normal, somewhat healthy one. He had more meat on his bones, and the black circles under his eyes were almost a thing of the past. Sam would say that he almost looked handsome… Placing the weight down with a small grunt, he took a towel from the stand next to him, cleaned his face, and walked to his window.

The sight that greeted him still took his breath away, even after a month of living in the new apartment. The futuristic city that he now lived in was amazing to see. There were no flying cars, but the buildings were definitely reaching higher than he was used to. The styles of the buildings and the lights illuminating them distinctly reminded him of the many cyberpunk novels and movies he read and watched before his death.

He had only spent a few months in this new world, but Sam could already tell that while it wasn't a full-blown cyberpunk dystopia, it wasn't sunshine and optimism either. Every day, the news—both televised and online—carried stories of powerful individuals exploiting those beneath them. The 'little people' had limited chances to rise. Sam intended to be one of them. Based on the notebooks filling his gaming room and the plans he had drafted for launch day, his odds weren't bad.

Now he only needed to see what consequences his interference would create. For Christmas that year, he visited a small cemetery near his apartment. Inside stood a modest shrine – not dedicated to any specific religion or deity, but open to all. Shivering slightly in the winter cold, he brushed snow from his jacket and stepped inside. The interior was quiet and dimly lit. He removed a candle from his pocket, lit it, and placed it on the shrine. Bringing his hands together, he bowed his head.

"Mom, Dad, I don't know if you can hear this, but I'm okay. Didn't even feel the steel beam…" He let out a chuckle at his own morbid humor.

"I'll make the most of this second chance. I'll make you proud." He stood there for a few quiet moments before lighting a second candle. This time, he glanced around discreetly to ensure no one was listening.

"Sam… God, it's strange saying that. Samuel, I'll remember you. I'll make sure everything you worked toward – everything you hoped for – doesn't go to waste. I can't promise revenge. But if an opportunity presents itself, I won't ignore it. Rest easy." As the final word left his mouth, a faint breeze slipped into the shrine, carrying a trace of winter chill. Strangely, Sam felt warmth instead. He straightened, ensured the candles were burning safely, and left. Only a few days remained until launch.

He had preparations to finish. On January first, Sam lay on his couch with one monitor displaying the countdown to Magic Unbound's release. He fidgeted with his VR helmet as the timer ticked down. Two minutes remaining. He exhaled slowly, reclined fully on his comfortable couch, and secured the helmet in place. Darkness swallowed his senses. Then a single line of white text appeared. [Please wait as the game loads…] The message barely had time to register before the world shifted.

He found himself floating in nothingness, facing the grand opening screen of Magic Unbound. Magical in every conceivable color swirled around in the background. A colossal warrior clashed with a titanic dragon. A circle of robed magicians chanted ominously, adding to the cacophony. A blacksmith feverishly hammered white-hot steel while a noble in finery was observing with icy detachment.

And at the center of it all, gleaming in silver light: [MAGIC UNBOUND] Below it, the prompt he had both anticipated and dreaded since reincarnating: [New Account Registration] He hesitated for only a second.

"You only live once, right?" he chuckled. Then he pressed the button. The title screen dissolved into a new prompt. [Please choose a name!] Sam didn't hesitate.

"Solar."