SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 2: Earth Online

From the moment it was announced, Damon was obsessed.

He spent countless weeks scouring shady forums for leaks, dev diaries, and every wild theory available. Betting on himself more than logic, he defied his parents' warnings and poured nearly all his savings into the high-end immersion gear as soon as pre-orders opened. He was certain this wouldn't be just another game. He was right.

Standing now in his old bachelor pad—the very one he’d moved into after leaving his parents' house—he stared at a past that felt impossibly tangible. His focus shifted to the shelf where his VR helmet sat in its usual spot. Moving slowly, he approached and lifted the device.

A torrent of questions rushed through his mind. Was this a hallucination? A vivid dream? How could he possibly be back in this time? His mind searched for a logical explanation, but the facts didn't add up. The date, the familiar room, even the woman he’d seen earlier—it all seemed like a physical impossibility.

Yet, in his gut, he knew. This was no illusion.

Through some miracle or anomaly, he had been sent back in time.

To be honest, the "how" didn't matter to him right now. If this second chance was real, he wouldn't squander a single moment. Not again. He had been betrayed and crushed once before, and he refused to let history repeat itself.

Looking down at the hardware in his grip, he took a long, stabilizing breath.

"Let's do it right this time," he whispered to himself.

He returned the helmet to the shelf and stepped back, needing a moment to reset his mental state.

Damon went into the bathroom, the familiar hiss of the shower soon filling the air. He stood under the scalding spray, letting the heat soak into his skin as he tried to wash away the lingering dread, confusion, and the deep-seated grief of his past life.

For the first time in an eternity, he didn't feel like a total loser. For years, he had woken up feeling drained, but today was different. Fear and uncertainty remained, but beneath them burned a much more powerful sensation.

A sense of purpose.

He looked at his face in the steam-covered mirror. He looked younger and less haggard, as if the weight of the world hadn't yet crushed his spirit.

Depression had been a slow poison, eating away at him like rust on iron, and Damon had been decaying for months. There were times when even standing up felt like an impossible task. He had been unable to face his family or friends, and even a simple walk outside invited mockery. He had tried to stay strong, but eventually, the pressure had broken him.

But this time, the outcome would change. This time, he possessed the ultimate advantage: foresight.

After dressing in clean clothes—far fresher than the ones he usually wore—he noticed the lack of stains and the absence of old pizza boxes in the corner. It felt as though the apartment had been rebooted along with his soul. Had he ever truly been this organized?

With a sigh, he ordered a feast from his favorite Indian spot, adding extra naan and a mango lassi simply because he could afford the luxury.

When the food arrived, the aroma triggered a wave of comfort and nostalgia. He ate with the ferocity of a starving animal. Once finished, he actually took the time to clear and wipe down the table. Looking around the room once more, he pinched his hand hard. He half-expected the vision to shatter, but he remained there, alive and breathing.

Damon pushed aside his lingering anxiety. He couldn't afford to waste time debating the nature of reality. This was happening, and he was going to seize it.

Forcing himself to stay calm, he grabbed a pen and a notepad. Sitting at the table, he began to write. A lifetime of events was difficult to organize, but as he focused on that first day, the memories began to return in vivid detail.

He scribbled down everything he could. The official game launch was only four hours away.

Four hours. It felt like an eternity and a heartbeat all at once.

He tapped his pen against the paper, recalling dates, hidden triggers, and game-breaking exploits that the public hadn't found yet. He noted the spawn times of secret vendors and the exact moment the first world event would lag the servers. His handwriting was a chaotic mess, but the information was gold.

Most players would spend their opening hours wandering aimlessly or marveling at the scenery. Not him. This time, he had a roadmap.

He continued writing: stacking methods for exploits, specific NPC dialogue trees for secret affinity, and early bosses with hidden loot tables. It felt bizarre to document things that technically hadn't happened yet.

He stopped for a second, his pen hovering over the page.

Aiden.

Just the thought of the name felt like a blade in his chest. His former best friend. The person he had trusted above all others.

The man who had publicly destroyed him.

Damon’s jaw tightened, his grip nearly snapping the pen. He took a breath and forced the anger down. There was no time for vengeance yet.

First, he needed power.

Everything else would follow.

By the time he finished, two pages were covered in scribbled notes and a rough plan for the next 48 hours. It wasn't perfect, but it was the greatest head start anyone had ever had. He folded the notes and slid them under his keyboard for safekeeping.

He checked the time. Only fifteen minutes remained.

Damon stood up, stretched his limbs, and returned to the shelf.

He lifted the helmet with both hands, its surface catching the light. He was ready. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he pulled the gear over his head and reclined into a relaxed position.

The visor flickered to life.

[EARTH ONLINE SYSTEM BOOTING...]

Damon shut his eyes as the physical world dissolved into darkness.