Godlike Player in a Game-Like World

\'Damn, what the hell is this? \' As Raydon knelt on the ground, his body contorted in agony, and his mind raced as it attempted to make sense of the searing pain that was ripping through him. 

The memory of his previous awakening as an item holder flashed through his mind, but the torment he was experiencing now felt very different, leaving him confused and disoriented.

When he had experienced pain comparable to this in the past, it was due to the fact that he was awakening as an item holder. However, what did this pain mean for him this time around?

"This better be worth it," Raydon muttered, his words laced with frustration. 

He accepted the invitation and arrived here, knowing full well that this would not be a simple task and risking his life in the name of adventure. However, because there weren\'t any terrifying monsters to vanquish or exciting adventures to take part in, he couldn\'t help but wonder if this ordeal was just a test of his stamina.

As Raydon fought through the excruciating pain, it seemed as though time had lost all of its relevance. His body repeatedly gave the appearance of coming apart and then putting itself back together, and the time that passed seemed like it went on for an eternity.

Another thing that was frustrating for him was that, as a result of the pain he was experiencing, he was unable to comprehend precisely what kind of change was occurring in his body. As a consequence of this, he arrived at the realization that the suffering he was compelled to endure served only one purpose, which was to torment him rather than provide him with the strength he was looking for. 

And finally, just as he was coming to the end of both his physical and mental strength, he had the sudden sensation that all of the pain was quickly leaving his body.

Raydon felt a wave of relief rush through his veins, and he was finally able to let out the breath that he had unknowingly been holding for what seemed like an eternity.

\'Damn. \' Raydon murmured, his voice trembling with exhaustion. 

As he gave in to exhaustion and sought a brief moment of relief, his eyelids began to droop and flutter shut. However, the brief reprieve he had was cut short when he heard a concerned voice and felt someone place a caring hand on his shoulder.

\'\'Are you okay? \'\' Samuen\'s voice carried a blend of concern and curiosity.

When Raydon eventually opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of the familiar underground chamber, which was illuminated by the warm glow of flickering torches. Samuen was there, standing in front of him with a worried look plastered all over his face. 

\'"I am... back?" Raydon\'s voice shook as he struggled to lift his battered body off the ground and uttered the first words he had been able to muster in quite some time. 

"It seems you were pulled into another dimension, but what happened there? Are you alright now?" Samuen\'s voice conveyed both relief and worry as he assisted Raydon in rising.

Raydon had only been out of their sight for a fraction of a second, but when he reappeared, they noticed that he had returned to them in such a weakened state that they realized his brief disappearance was not simple.

In the realm of matches that took place across different dimensions or involved inheritances, the passage of time within the system remained synchronized with their own world. For example, if an item holder participated in a match that lasted three hours in another dimension when the match ended and the item holder returned to their own world, three hours would have passed in their own world as well. This was the established norm, and the system maintained control over the flow of time.

But when they saw that Raydon had vanished for just a second before reappearing in this state, they found it impossible to believe that he had become like this in such a short amount of time. Instead, they came to the conclusion that the location at which he had vanished must have been outside of the system\'s ability to control the passage of time.

Samuen, who was incapable of containing his astonishment, scrutinized Raydon intently while his expression conveyed a mixture of awe and joy. 

\'\'I don\'t know what you\'ve been through, but it seems like you\'ve gotten an incredible reward in return. \'\' He exclaimed, his smile reflecting his genuine wonder.

"What do you mean?" As he struggled to recover from the mental toll of his recent experience, Raydon asked, startled.

When he looked at Samuen\'s face, he could tell that there was a great deal of surprise hidden behind the genuine smile. He cast a quick glance in the direction of the others, all of whom were staring at him with wide eyes, the level of shock on their faces clearly visible.

"Has something happened to my appearance?" Raydon inquired, his curiosity piqued as he gradually regained his composure, unaware of the changes that had occurred in his own body.

Zephyr, his mouth agape, responded, "Hell, something definitely happened to your appearance... but it goes beyond that."

Elara trembled as she added, "Am I hallucinating, or has his presence completely transformed?"

Seren chimed in, "No, I sense it too. It\'s as if he is no longer the person he was just seconds ago."

Diam, her shock intermingled with an unmistakable excitement, declared, "He\'s undoubtedly the same person, but I can say with certainty that he is no longer an ordinary human being."

\'What the hell they are talking about? \'As Raydon observed the responses of those around him, his curiosity grew to an even greater degree. He turned his attention inward, making efforts to regain his sense of self, and eventually, the changes that had occurred in his body became noticeable. 

"Shit... I really feel stronger," Raydon exclaimed as he began to move his body, sensing a newfound power that had been absent just moments ago.