Overgeared: Babylon

"So this is it...

Satisfy," the golden-haired young man muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he took in his surroundings with undisguised awe. His bright red eyes widened as they swept across the scene before him, his heart pounding in his chest.

The towering grand castle loomed in the distance, its spires piercing the sky like jagged teeth. Its stone walls, weathered by time yet still imposing, were adorned with banners bearing unfamiliar sigils that fluttered in the breeze. Surrounding the castle were rows of medieval-style buildings—half-timbered houses with thatched roofs, bustling market stalls, and cobblestone streets that seemed to stretch endlessly.

Everywhere he looked, people moved with purpose. Men and women clad in tunics and cloaks hurried about their business, while armored knights and soldiers patrolled the streets, their swords clinking at their waists. The air was filled with the sounds of clanging metal, distant shouts, and the occasional neigh of horses. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread wafted from a nearby tavern, mingling with the earthy smell of hay and leather.

After collecting himself for a few seconds the golden-haired young man let out a sigh and muttered. "Okay, so now I am in the game.... what will I do..."

***

Two Months Ago

A groan echoed in the somewhat bright room, pulling the young girl from her restless sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, and she jolted upright, her heart racing as she turned toward the source of the sound. There, on the hospital bed, her brother stirred, his face pale but alive.

"Damn... that was intense," the young man muttered, his voice hoarse as he blinked slowly, his vision adjusting to the light. He stared at the blurry ceiling for a moment before pushing himself up into a sitting position, his movements sluggish but deliberate.

Sehee, the young girl, sat frozen for a moment, her wide eyes locked on her brother. Her mouth hung slightly agape, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Then, as reality sank in, her face lit up with a mixture of relief and joy.

"Sehee..." her brother began, his voice soft and groggy.

"Waahhh, Oppa!!!" Sehee cried, launching herself at him. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, tears streaming down her face. "Sob sob the doctor said you were gonna die!" she wailed, her voice trembling with emotion. "They said... they said there was nothing more they could do... but you're here... you're really here..."

Her brother winced slightly at the force of her hug but didn't push her away. Instead, he gently patted her back, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Hey, hey... I'm okay, Sehee. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Sehee pulled back slightly, her hands gripping her brother's shoulders as if to make sure he was real. Her tear-streaked face was a mix of relief and lingering fear. "But how? The doctors... they said you were in a coma from the lightning that struck you... that your brain activity was fading... I thought I was going to lose you, Oppa!"

Her brother's eyes widened at her words. "Lightning? What are you talking about?"

Sehee blinked, surprised by his confusion. "You don't remember? It happened two weeks ago. When you are working at construction sites, a bolt of lightning struck you, and you... you just collapsed. The doctors said it was a miracle you were even alive, but... but they didn't think you'd wake up."

The young man sat in silence, his mind racing as he processed everything that had happened. The memories of his past life—no, his previous life—flooded his mind, intertwining with the memories of the body he now inhabited. It was disorienting, overwhelming, and yet... strangely familiar.

"I see..." he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. 'So just like the lightning that made me dead, the reincarnation also involves lightning to make me alive again. There's also the memory of this body... it feels strange... like you have a life that you don't know, and everything's warped in first-person view...'

He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if to confirm they were real. They were different from the hands he remembered—calloused, and marked with faint scars. This body had lived a life, a life he could now recall in fragments. A life of hardship, struggle, and... loneliness.

'It fells unreal, I got reincarnated and now I replaced the position of the protagonist, the Fate of the world now lay in my hand'

The weight of that realization settled heavily on his shoulders. In his previous life, he had been an ordinary person, an avid gamer, someone who lived in the shadows of a bustling, modern world. But now, he was someone else—someone important. The memories of this body told him as much. He was no longer just a bystander; he was a key player in a world teetering on the edge of chaos.

He was reincarnated into a futuristic Earth where Satisfy, the most advanced VRMMORPG, dominates global culture. With over two billion users, Satisfy is more than just a game—it's a way of life, a source of income, and even a platform for political and economic power.

And in the center of all of it, Shin Youngwoo or Grid the original protagonist of the novel began his journey by obtaining an item known as [Pagma's Rare Book]. He starts as a deeply flawed and unlikable protagonist but later evolves into a respected leader and hero. His journey from a selfish, lazy, and greedy individual to a selfless, responsible, and powerful figure is a central theme of the story, making him a relatable and inspiring character for readers.

'And honestly, the story is almost perfect in my opinion, if for the fact that the ending kinda felt rushed.'

He then looked at a nearby mirror to get a good look at his face. 

'Yep, plain and unremarkable face, with no particularly striking features except for the red eyes, which are also rather dull and lifeless, lacking energy and ambition.'

"*Sigh* I still have a lot work to do..."

And Gil, now Shin Youngwoo looked at the hospital window in silence while contemplating about his future. The truth is, his reincarnation not happening by chance, no, it was because of the inversion of a higher being, and that being wanted him to guide this fateless wolrd and become the new protagonist who became the anchor that held the world...

"Oppa?" 

"Sorry, I'm musing a bit about my situation."

"It's okay." Sehee wiped the tears that piled up in her eyes and smiled softly, "I'm just glad you are awake now..."

***

*BANM*

The hospital door swung open to reveal two people standing in the doorway. Their mother, a petite woman with tired eyes and brown hair, immediately rushed forward, pulling Youngwoo into a tight embrace. "My son," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're awake. You're really awake."

Youngwoo hugged her back, his throat tightening as he felt the warmth of her arms around him. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Mom," he said softly.

His father, a tall man with a weathered face and calloused hands, stood a few steps behind, his expression a mixture of relief and guilt. He had always been a man of few words, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes. When their mother finally released Youngwoo, his father stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You gave us quite a scare," he said gruffly, his voice cracking slightly. "Don't do that again, you hear me?"

Youngwoo nodded sheepishly and said, "Well, at least I will try not to work when a storm is coming."

Sehee stood to the side, watching the scene with tears in her eyes. She had always been the glue that held their family together, and seeing her brother safe and sound was a dream come true for her from the last two weeks.

***

The hospital room was bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, its light filtering through the blinds and casting long shadows across the floor.

After he wakes up, he spent three days at hospital so the doctor can check him if he really okay and ready to be discarded.

Now, Shin Youngwoo sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in the same simple clothes he had worn before the accident. His hospital bag was packed and ready, but he lingered for a moment, staring at the empty bed where he had spent the last two weeks in coma or in his part, assimilating with his past life.

Gil realize that he is not only Gil Clinton, but also Shin Youngwoo, the two fused together to create entirely new person. He closed his eyes, and the floodgates opened. Memories surged through his mind, overlapping and merging in a chaotic dance. He saw himself—no, not himself, but Gil Clinton—sitting alone in a cramped apartment, scrolling through forums about *Satisfy*, dreaming of a world he could never truly be a part of. He felt the ache of loneliness, the sting of failure, the quiet determination to keep going despite it all. And then, like a switch flipping, he saw Shin Youngwoo—working tirelessly at a construction site, the sun beating down on his back, his hands calloused and rough. He felt the weight of responsibility, the love for his family, the fear of never being enough.

The hospital door creaked open, and Sehee peeked inside, her face lighting up when she saw him. "Oppa, are you ready to go home?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

Youngwoo turned around and nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, let's go."

As they stepped out of the hospital, the cool breeze brushed against his face, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers. It was a stark contrast to the sterile air of the hospital, and Youngwoo took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of freedom. For the first time in weeks, he felt alive.