The Second Life of Adam Cosmos

At 6:30 PM, the shrill sound of an alarm pierced through the stillness of Adam's apartment. The persistent beeping dragged him out of the lingering daze of his post-game nap. He silenced the alarm with a quick tap, groaning as he sat up and rubbed his face. Tonight was important, and there was no time for sluggishness.

Adam moved mechanically, heading for the bathroom. He turned on the shower, letting the water run until it reached the perfect temperature before stepping under the stream. As the warm water cascaded over him, he cleared his mind, his thoughts shifting from the intense, sprawling world of Pangea back to the realities of his life in 2020. He wasn’t just preparing for any dinner—this would be a reunion with his family, orchestrated by none other than Mr. Hao.

After drying off, Adam wore a sleek, tailored suit, smooth fabric against his skin. He stood before the mirror, carefully combing his hair back, opting for a neat, mature look. A far cry from the Adam of old. Before he regressed, he had been a mess in fashion, often experimenting with awkward "emo" looks—dark hoodies, skinny jeans, and heavy eyeliner. He had tried so hard to emulate trends that never quite fit him, always ending up with mismatched outfits that drew snickers from classmates. But now, his reflection showed someone else. Someone refined. His jawline was sharper, his hair neat, and his posture was more confident.

Adam’s phone buzzed on the counter as he adjusted his tie. He picked it up and saw a message from his mother, followed by one from Selene.

His mother’s message read:

"Hi, Adam, sweetheart! We’re going to have dinner tonight. It’s been so long! Can you please join us? 7:30 PM at Hao Wei Palms International Hotel."

Selene’s message was shorter and more casual:

"Hey, Adam. Dinner with the family tonight; don’t leave me alone with them 😅. See you there? Hao Wei Palms International Hotel, 8 pm."

Adam smiled, his fingers hovering over the screen for a moment. He knew about the dinner thanks to Mr. Hao’s earlier invitation. In fact, Mr. Hao had deliberately notified him in advance that the Cosmos family would be attending, a subtle gesture that wasn’t lost on Adam. It was a move of thoughtfulness and consideration, allowing Adam the upper hand in a situation that could have been awkward otherwise.

He silently thanked Mr. Hao for his foresight. The old businessman always knew how to play his cards, which was no different.

It had been months since Adam had last seen his family. Though Selene sometimes visited him, their encounters were brief. Adam was often too caught up in the world of Pangea to spend much time in the real world, and even when Selene dropped by, they often missed each other. Tonight would be different—tonight, the whole family would be present, and Adam was curious to see how they would react to the changes in him.

With one last look in the mirror, Adam pocketed his phone and grabbed his keys. It was time.

Adam hailed a cab and settled into the back seat, quietly watching the city pass by as he made his way to the hotel. He arrived thirty minutes earlier than the scheduled time, stepping out into the cool evening air outside the imposing facade of the Hao Wei Palms International Hotel. The building exuded quiet luxury, with polished glass doors and uniformed staff welcoming guests with practiced elegance.

As Adam stepped out of the cab, the hotel’s polished facade gleamed under the soft evening lights. Yet, despite the outward calm, Adam’s instincts—honed from years of both in-game survival and his own regression—itched with unease. He glanced around, his gaze lingering on the shadowed corners of the building. Nothing seemed out of place, but his instincts warned him of something he couldn’t quite put his finger on—at least, not yet.

As he entered the hotel lobby, Adam approached the reception desk. Just as he opened his mouth to introduce himself, the receptionist, a sharply dressed young man, greeted him with a warm, professional smile.

"Good evening, Mr. Cosmos," the receptionist said smoothly. "We've been expecting you. Please allow me to escort you to your table."

Adam raised an eyebrow, impressed, but said nothing. The staff clearly had been well-prepared, with a small but thoughtful touch. He smiled, nodding in thanks, and followed the receptionist through the grand hallways of the hotel. The plush carpet beneath his feet and the subtle scent of expensive cologne in the air reminded him of the vast wealth around him.

He had always known Mr. Hao was a man of means, but this level of attentiveness hinted at something more.

Revealing his identity to Hao Jun had been a calculated move. Adam originally planned to hide his real-life persona, especially when their interactions centered solely on alchemy lessons. However, as his dealings with the Hao Wei Guild deepened over the past few months, he realized that the strategic benefits of building a positive relationship with the influential guild far outweighed the risks. After all, many of his plans could progress faster with a wealthy ally. Besides, Hao Jun had no idea that Adam was preparing for something far more serious—a looming real-world catastrophe.

As they walked, Adam’s sharp eyes caught fleeting details that gnawed at him. The woman in the sleek black dress was standing by the bar, her posture too rigid to be casual. Then, the man in the crisp white suit seated near the window, his gaze flickering toward the entrance every few seconds. Another, in a grey suit, stood near the terrace, appearing more like a sentry than a guest. And then, the waiter from earlier, whose focus seemed sharper than it should be for a server.

'Maybe it’s nothing,' Adam thought.

After all, the billionaire owner of this hotel was dining tonight. The staff and security detail might simply be on edge because of Hao Jun’s presence. Maybe that was all there was to the tension he was sensing.

"Would you like some coffee while you wait, Mr. Cosmos? You’re also free to smoke on the terrace if you wish," the receptionist offered as they approached the dining area.

Adam's smile deepened slightly. Months earlier, during one of their conversations in Pangea, he had mentioned in passing that, despite all the money he was making, he still enjoyed simple pleasures—a cup of coffee and a cigarette were all the "snacks" he needed. Apparently, Hao Jun had remembered.

'I guess that's how you become a billionaire,' Adam mused. 'You take note of the small details.'

When Adam stepped onto the terrace, the subtle hum of the evening filled his senses. As he scanned the room out of habit, something felt… off. There were people scattered around the hotel, but they struck Adam as strange. It wasn’t anything he could put his finger on, but it stood out—subtle movements, certain postures, an air of alertness that seemed out of place in such a luxurious setting. His instincts, honed through years of survival, flickered at the edge of his awareness. Yet, there was no immediate threat, no sign of hostility. Just... something odd.

Adam’s gaze lingered on a waiter who appeared to be lingering longer than usual, his eyes darting around the room before disappearing into the kitchen.

'Probably just nerves,' Adam thought. 'Maybe it’s just because I’m not used to being around this many rich people. After all, this hotel is owned by Hao Jun—one of the wealthiest businessmen in the world.' Shrugging off the feeling, he focused back on the moment.

The staff offered Adam a comfortable chair by the open balcony. Adam chose to sit facing the outside, enjoying the cool, fresh air and the view of the night sky. Moments later, a waiter arrived with a tray, setting down a steaming cup of coffee and an ashtray. Adam’s eyes lingered on the ashtray for a moment. It was sleek, polished, and not your average glassware piece. He chuckled to himself. 'Even the ashtrays here are probably worth more than my first gaming rig,' he thought, amused.

Lighting a cigarette, Adam leaned back in his chair, taking a slow drag as he sipped the rich, smooth coffee. The combination of the quiet ambiance, the city lights in the distance, and the familiar warmth of a cigarette between his fingers put him at ease.

As Adam enjoyed the calming blend of coffee and cigarettes on the terrace, his moment of solitude was interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps approaching. He glanced up, his eyes catching sight of a beautiful woman in a traditional Chinese dress, her movements graceful and deliberate. The deep red silk of her qipao clung elegantly to her figure, adorned with intricate golden embroidery. She looked both refined and commanding, her presence impossible to ignore.

It was Hao Ling.

“Hello, Adam,” Ling said with a soft smile, her voice smooth and charming. “Do you mind if I join you?”

Adam gestured to the chair beside him. “Not at all. Please, sit.”

They greeted each other in Mandarin.

Ling sat down next to him.

“My grandfather will be joining us shortly, but I figured I’d come ahead and join you for a bit,” she said.

Adam nodded, settling back in his chair as they both relaxed into the conversation. It had been months since they first crossed paths in Pangea, a far less friendly encounter than this. Back then, they had met in combat, with Adam killing Ling and her entire party during their ill-fated ambush. The memory of their battle, where he decimated her team using a combination of stealth and fire magic, lingered in the back of Adam’s mind. He couldn’t help but chuckle at how far things had come since then.

In the months following that encounter, they had developed a strange rapport. Despite the rocky start, Adam had begun teaching Ling alchemy lessons within Pangea- at Hao Jun's behest. She had proven to be a quick study, though their lessons had started with some reluctance on her part. After restarting her Paradigm and class as a crafter, Ling had initially struggled to warm to the alchemy class, finding it tedious compared to her preferred combat roles. But as the lessons continued, something had shifted. She had grown to enjoy the process of brewing potions and learning about the intricate art of alchemy.

As the conversation flowed, Ling’s curiosity bubbled to the surface. “I saw the server-wide announcement recently,” she began, leaning in slightly. “The one about you rescuing the nobles. You’ve become the first 1st Class Auxiliary… and there’s talk about those duels in Fort Vindolanda- I can't believe I missed those! We just met there! You’ve been busy.” Her smile widened. “Then, I hear you’ve created two new potions—high-grade ones. Care to share the details?”

Adam chuckled, clearly amused by her intrigue. “You’ve been keeping tabs on me, haven’t you?”

“Of course,” she replied, her eyes gleaming with interest. “You’ve been making waves.”

Ling had, indeed, been paying close attention. Though they had met in conflict, her respect for Adam’s abilities had grown over time, both in-game and in the real world. She had restarted her character to focus entirely on crafting, and what had begun as reluctant alchemy lessons had now become a genuine passion. Ling admired Adam’s skill in the craft, and the fact that he had created two new potions of such a high grade was something she couldn’t help but be curious about.

“The potions were something I’ve been working on,” Adam explained, lighting another cigarette. “One is an advanced antidote, and the other… well, it’s poison. Both were tricky, but I finally cracked them.”

Ling’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I want to see those formulas someday.”

“You might if you continue with your alchemy practice,” Adam teased. “You’re getting better, but you’re still a few steps behind.”

Ling playfully rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her admiration. “You’re always a step ahead, aren’t you?”

As they continued to chat, Adam felt a certain ease in Ling’s company. It hadn’t been long since he had revealed his real identity to her and Hao Jun. Ling had taken a keen interest in him since then—not just as an alchemy mentor but in a more personal way. There was something unspoken in her gaze, a subtle attraction that went beyond just admiration for his in-game prowess.

And Adam… well, he couldn’t deny that Ling is attractive, either. Ling was beautiful and intelligent and shared his interest in alchemy.

But Adam knew what truly mattered.

He wouldn’t let anything distract him from his goals. He enjoyed the banter and Ling’s company, but he had no intention of pushing it further.

They spent the time in light conversation, discussing the world of Pangea and their various adventures. Though this was their first time meeting in the real world, there was an unexpected ease between them. Adam had grown accustomed to their virtual interactions, but seeing Ling in person, dressed elegantly in her qipao, brought a new dynamic to their connection.

"Strange, isn't it?" Ling mused with a smile. "Finally, meeting outside of the game."

Adam nodded. "Yeah, it’s different, but not unpleasant."

As they chatted, Adam found himself appreciating Ling’s presence more and more. Despite their first deadly encounter, she was intelligent, curious, and someone who had become a welcome acquaintance in both the virtual and real world.

Adam glanced at his watch and noted the time. 'It shouldn’t be long now,' he thought.

He exhaled the smoke into the cool night air and relaxed, enjoying the calm before the inevitable family reunion. He was ready to face whatever would happen at dinner on his terms.