Prologue

KK was playing a game like he always did after he returned to his apartment. He was wearing a gaming helmet. It wasn't anything fancy because he couldn't afford the high tech accessories in his position. But it didn't mean he wouldn't enjoy his life. Still, he didn't play many of the high end games because of the in game purchases. But today to let off some steam, he played the most funny and advanced version of the candy crushing game in the system. He always won this game so he thought of boosting his confidence by playing it. After clearing nearly hundred levels, he finally stopped.

He got up and stood in the balcony. The view was nothing magnificent. There were all buildings and the setting sun illuminated and bathed them in an orange hue. He sighed and went back to cook something for himself. KK then again checked the list of available games. There was one advantage to him that he never got addicted to playing. He could play non stop for many days and likewise he would never touch the game equipment for many days. It depended on his mood. Also depended on his bank account. It was due to this, he wasn't in debt like most of the people. The games developed in their era were very attractive as they gave people a way to live their lives without any consequences in virtual world. But as soon as they got out of the virtual world, the real world welcomed them to poverty.

KK was actually an orphan and he moved out of the orphanage as soon as he became an adult. He worked at the grocery store because no matter what happens, food industry will not be hit. He surveyed the types of foods sold and according to the requirements modified the store. This helped the store and his boss was extremely accommodating to him. The job paid the bills and he was happy.

It was this way he spent many of his days not knowing that something will break up his monotonous life like an avalanche. Small at the beginning but ground breaking nearing the end.

All great things or to say terrible things start in a very inconspicuous ways. KK saw an advertisement while playing a shooter game. He was roaming the alleys and then he saw the billboard. The huge billboard was in an eye catching red color. It has only few words. Live your life once.

KK frowned not understanding the sign. He turned away and continued with his game. His team won the round and he logged out of the game. He saw the advertisement many times but did not pay attention till he saw the post on gaming forum.

The post had nearly ten thousand comments and it was just an hour after it was posted. The blogger told about his experience about the new game, Live Life Once. The game was surprisingly easy to play hit they had to sign a death contract. After playing the trial, the blogger was confused whether to sign it. Because it stated if you die in the game, you die in the real life.

Many readers told the blogger to sign because that condition was totally impossible. It wasn't any supernatural game as far as they knew. But the blogger was still hesitating. KK soon skimmed through the comments, where there were two factions. Some people agreed while some disagreed. KK decided that if he wanted to play, he wouldn't ask anyone's opinion. And the game developers were simply making up the contract so that they could have more publicity. He had to admit that this stunt had aroused his curiosity. So KK went to the game store and searched for the game.

The game logo was very simple. It was a fluttering green leaf. He soon clicked the icon and clicked he play option. And then he moved the virtual keyboard away and out on his gaming helmet. The game loaded and he found the screen before his eyes showing the contract. KK read the last paragraph of the contract carefully.

The game allows you to use your virtual belongings. The compulsory requirement is that you cannot die in the game. If you die in the game, you die in your real life. Please continue if you accept this condition.

KK pondered for a full one minute. Because in his boring life, this condition was far extraordinary. He clicked continue and saw the game screen change to a barren land.

Then golden letters appeared.

CUSTOMISE YOUR CHARACTER.

KK choose his avatar as a twenty year old male, level one player with a student background. Because he didn't go to college, he wanted to be a student in this game. So far, the animation was really good and KK marveled at the world in the screen. It wasn't anything comparable to real world but still it was better than every virtual world in all the games he played. He then saw the task bar. His first task was to save the princess. He clicked the task and found himself standing before a tower. It reminded him of Flynn Rider in Tangled. But there were many differences. The movie had a sunny feel but this tower was very gloomy. It had dark spots everywhere and the sky was clouded with dark grey clouds.

KK checked his inventory. It was empty. And here, he started to plan. First thing was to get inside the tower. He knew there was something he overlooked. He carefully observed his surroundings again. The dark clouds formed a shield and obstructed his vision to a certain extent. But his experience of playing escape games finally helped. He found three keys in three positions. One in bushes, other in the water pond beside the tower and the last one stuck in the key hole. The digital screen on the door showed that he had only one attempt to put the key. KK looked at the three keys in his hand and thought.

The most suitable one was the key which was the same color as the key hole. But he found it in the water pond. Whereas the one in the bushes was am good fashioned one. The key stuck in the key hole had an obvious damage to it like it was jammed in forcefully. According to logic, the first key was the best option. But he paused before inserting. In cases like this, the most inconspicuous one was the best one. Isn't it what happened in novels and books? So he finally took the last option anyone could choose. He himself felt that he was doing something crazy and wrong but he gave it a try. Anyway this task wasn't a compulsory one. He put the tattered key which seemed like it would break if he inserted in the keyhole at any moment. But it didn't happen. As soon as he inserted the key, the door changed and the whole place changed like it was an illusion. The clouds dissipated and the tower looked like an ancient building. It had yellow walls and the door also became old fashioned. In this way, the key correctly fit and the door opens with a click. KK was really dumbfounded at this operation. He thought the programmer was certainly insane to have thought of this way. And also due to his luck, he was able to pass this hurdle.

KK then climbed up the steps. He noticed several paintings on the wall as he climbed. At a certain moment he saw a betting card. He picked it up and felt at a loss when he saw it was a blank card. Anyway, he put it in his pocket and resumed his journey. He finally reached the top and sw the furnishings of the room. There was a bed a chair and a table. And the supposed princess was knitting sitting comfortably on the bed. It looked like he was very happy. So how would he rescue her when she didn't need it. He really felt that the game challenged his limits.

KK logged out of the game and thought for a while. He drank water and opened the game forum where users said that they weren't dead after failing the first level. KK found it funny. Ofcourse they wouldn't die. It was just a publicity gimmick. He saw the time and it was very late. He decided to play the game the next day.

He spent the morning working in the store. And logged in the game after dinner. He was still standing in the same place he left yesterday. The princess had successfully finished knitting a large portion of a sweater. Her movements were very life like. He finally decided to talk to her.

"Hello, miss?"

She didn't reply. He asked her many questions but it was as if she she couldn't see him and treated him as air. He finally yelled at her but there was no result.

"Is this princess deaf?" He murmured to himself. But to his surprise he saw her eyes change from cloudy to clear. He was surprised at her behavior.

"Do you want to go out?" Again there was no reply.

He asked again.

"Princess, do you want to go out?"

"Why?" Her voice was very smooth. KK really like the dubbing artist who worked for this character.

"Aren't you bored and alone here."

He lost her focus again. He seriously thought what was wrong in this situation. He found that she only replied to some sentences. Was he asking her wrong questions? He thought for a long time but found no answer. This question plagued him for many days and he was stuck in this task.

Everyday he talked to her but one day he finally noticed where there was something wrong. He found that she only answered when there was a princess word in the sentence. So it was like a codeword. He took this opportunity to ask her some more questions.

"Princess, let's get out of here."

"Why?"

"Princess, outside there are people. You can play and enjoy there."

"Why?"

"Princess, you don't have to be alone. You can make friends and live happily."

"Why?"

"Princess, there is delicious food there."

"Why?"

"Princess, you can wear beautiful dresses."

"Why?"

"Princess, you can watch movies, go shopping, visit many places, enjoy your life."

"Why?"

Now, ever her beautiful voice didn't stop him from getting irritated. Her whys were making him crazy. He didn't understand the point of this task. It was like talking to a robot who was stuck on something. Again, he couldn't find any logic in this situation, so he had to find clues about this task. He was frustrated and logged out in a hurry. He wanted to throw his gaming helmet but he didn't. No matter how irritated he was, he couldn't show it on the helmet. His helmet was an intermediate gaming gear with AR features. He didn't need any monitor or keyboard while playing which made him immensely happy.

So he logged in again.

He looked at the princess staring at him and declared in a very open manner. Like a knight, he bowed and then kneeled and said," I'm here to rescue you princess."

With a ding, he screen changed.

TASK COMPLETE

KK was very bewildered at the crude way of this task's implementation. The key words were resue and princess which was essentially the name card of the task. The story creator was a giant crazy guy in his opinion. The task was simply word play. There wasn't any hidden clue. Just the task was to rescue the princess. He wondered if most people thought this way while playing games or was he the only stupid person. Maybe he was the stupid one here. If he had said, I'm here to rescue you princess, when he talked to her first, would the task be comsidered complete?