The teleportation unfolded just as it always did in Elysium Online.
A blink of an eye, a brief jolt in the chest… and the world in front of them was no longer the same.
The sky was such a vivid shade of blue it almost hurt to look at.
The air shimmered in visible waves of heat.
Orange-tinted sand stretched endlessly in every direction, like a solid, infinite sea.
Beneath their feet, a cracked road of pale stone ran straight through the desert.
At the corner of each player's vision, a red icon appeared:
[Condition: Heat Exhaustion – Slow Progress]
Jay squinted, feeling the dry air scrape his throat as he inhaled.
"Okay… this is officially the hottest place I've ever set foot in."
"And the worst part is you can't even say 'it's just a game,'" Sienna muttered, wrinkling her nose. "Because it's actually hot."
Ethan surveyed the landscape, shielding his eyes with one hand.
"Elysium has never drawn a line between 'game' and 'reality.' We've known that since day one. If the system says it's a desert… then we're going to live a desert."
Elenya pointed toward the horizon.
"There. Do you see it?"
In the distance, cutting through the glare of the heated air, pale walls emerged. Tattered banners fluttered in a scorching breeze, alongside the silhouettes of tents and stone structures.
"Sahari…" Ethan read as subtle text appeared in his interface. "Central City of the Second Floor."
Marcus adjusted the long sword strapped across his back, tightening the leather harness.
"First objective: get there before we melt."
Sienna let out an exaggerated sigh and rested her hands on her knees for a moment.
"Marcus… just throwing the idea out there," she said. "If you carry me all the way there, I promise I won't complain about the heat for the rest of the day."
Marcus slowly turned his head.
"No."
"Cold and direct," she commented. "Just like this desert."
She straightened up and lightly slapped her own cheeks, as if psyching herself up.
"Fine," she said. "Before my virtual makeup starts running."
Jay let out a short laugh, and they began to walk.
The closer they got, the heavier the heat seemed to press down on their shoulders. The red icon pulsed slowly, like a silent warning. With every step, fatigue crept in.
When they finally crossed through the main gate, the sensation changed instantly.
It was like passing through an invisible barrier.
The heat was still there, but it no longer crushed their lungs.
The exhaustion stopped worsening.
Their HP stabilized.
SAHARIM was alive.
Tall tents made of thick fabric cast precious patches of shade. Small fountains spilled cool water at strategic points
throughout the city. Pale stone buildings surrounded the central area, where a floating panel displayed notices.
NPCs moved in every direction — yet nothing about them felt artificial.
A middle-aged man with a short beard and simple clothes, carrying two large water jars balanced on a pole across his shoulders, approached as soon as he saw them.
"First time in SAHARIM?" he asked with a friendly smile.
Ethan nodded.
"We just arrived."
"Hah! Then welcome." The man gestured with his chin toward the city center. "The fountain water is for everyone. Don't head back into the desert without hydrating first. The sun out there is worse than any blade."
"We noticed," Jay replied, wiping sweat from his forehead.
A woman carrying baskets of yellowish fruit passed by, sizing the group up from head to toe.
"You've got the look of people who came from far away," she said. She picked up one of the fruits and offered it to Elenya. "Try it. It helps cool you down."
Elenya accepted it, a little shy.
"Thank you."
She took a bite. Sweet, slightly acidic juice spread through her mouth, leaving a refreshing sensation behind.
"This is good."
"It's the least we can offer to those who challenge the desert," the woman said, continuing on her way.
As they walked through the plaza, they noticed more details.
Stalls hung with bundles of herbs. Blacksmiths working at small forges. A group of children running between stone pillars, laughing. Mixed in with the locals were other players — some chatting, some trading, some simply sitting in the shade, watching.
A boy stopped in front of them, slightly out of breath but grinning.
"Where are you from?" he asked. "The forest floor?"
Sienna raised an eyebrow.
"You know about the other floors?"
"Everyone here knows the stories," he replied, eyes shining. "They say there's a massive forest, with trees so big they hide the sky, and a giant beast guarding the path."
Ethan exchanged a quick glance with the group.
"Yeah… that's more or less right."
The boy stepped closer.
"What's it like?"
Elenya took a deep breath, looking upward for a moment, as if she could still see the trees of the First Floor.
"It's humid. Cool. You hear water all the time. The ground is covered in leaves, and the air smells like wet earth," she said slowly. "There are monsters too. But… it's beautiful. Even with the danger, it's beautiful."
The boy smiled, like he was listening to a legend.
"I'd like to see a forest like that someday."
Sienna gently ruffled his hair.
"Take good care of the fountains here, and maybe one day you'll make it there too."
He laughed and ran off.
At the center of SAHARIM, a floating panel displayed warnings:
WARNING: Beyond the city walls, temperature increases continuously.
Prolonged exposure in the desert without proper protection will result in constant HP loss.
Water fountains and rest tents are available to all.
Marcus studied the situation.
"Without the right armor or equipment, we won't last long out there."
"Then first, let's find out what's roaming those dunes," Ethan said. "After that… we'll figure out the rest."