"Akari?! Akari, are you alright? Where are you, do you know where you are?"
Panic surged through my voice as I desperately sought answers in the darkness.
"I- I don't know, they put a blindfold on me! E-everything is dark, I don't know what to do! Please help me!"
Amidst the uncertainty, Akari's trembling words conveyed the depth of her fear.
"Calm down, calm down! Can you tell me anything like what you can hear?"
Struggling to find my bearings, I pressed for any shred of information.
"Ah! There is...ugh!"
The sudden, ominous thud echoed through the call, leaving my heart pounding with dread.
"Akari?! Akari?! Please answer me, Akari!"
Desperation dripped from my voice, my anxiety intensifying with each passing second.
The voice returned, now laced with a chilling, sinister tone—the voice of a man who hid behind a voice changer, a man who seemed to know Manato all too well.
"Now, now, Manato, don't rush. I assure you that I will tell you our location. But before that, I need you to come personally. No bodyguards, no servants, or anyone else other than you. Your presence alone is enough."
My anger boiled over, his words laced with venom.
"You piece of sh*t..."
The enigmatic voice responded with a cold, mocking laugh.
"Hahaha, let's spare the vulgarities and come here and face me alone. I am quite generous. I will not harm your beloved as long as you fulfill my conditions. I know you very well, you won't go unless you are sure you will win, so I will limit you to arrive here 5 minutes from now on. If you don't, well, you know what will happen, don't you?"
Frustration and confusion swirled within my mind as I grappled with the question of who this tormentor could be.
With hesitation, I answered begrudgingly, "...Fine. Where are you guys right now?"
The man on the other end of the line divulged the location, sending a chill down my spine.
"Go to the top floor of the Nexus Company. I left the elevator possible for you to access the top floor. You can see the master ID card to access it on the table beside the elevator. Now, go. Time is ticking. One second late and her life will go bye bye~"
With a heavy heart, I violently threw my Holophone away and activated one of the portals I had secretly prepared nearby. It's usage was merely for the sake of quick traveling but who would have thought I would be using it for rescuing someone? I knew this situation reeked of danger, but I had no choice. I had to reach Akari before it was too late.
...
...
The Nexus Company's towering edifice stood eerily vacant, its desolation in stark contrast to the late hour. Midnight loomed, casting long shadows on the hushed streets below. In the age of digital diversions, the real world seemed abandoned during these nocturnal hours—reserved for those whose daily commitments confined them to nighttime adventures.
Something was amiss at Nexus, and the uncharacteristic emptiness of the building was a disconcerting harbinger. Following the cryptic instructions of an anonymous caller, I found myself before the elevator. Beside its doors sat a black ID card, conspicuously adorned only with a barcode-like chip, unlike any I'd ever seen. Beneath it lay a cryptic note.
"Welcome to the game, Tsukasa Manato."
I crumpled the note and swiped the ID at the elevator's side, prompting it to stir to life.
As the elevator's doors opened on the top floor—the exclusive domain of Nexus's elite—the gravity of the situation hit me. This place was normally the privilege of high-ranking employees, and now, I was here, alone.
Vigilant and cautious, I scanned my surroundings, anticipating an ambush. But my eyes finally settled on a solitary chair in the center of the empty room. Bound and blindfolded, it was none other than Akari, my fiancée. There were no others in sight, yet I remained vigilant, scouting for hidden assailants.
"Ha! You're always so cautious, Manato. Isn't it time you let your guard down a bit?" A voice emerged from the shadows, belonging to the man who had called me from Akari's phone.
"Bastard, release Akari now!"
"Calm down, my friend. You're in quite a rush. The night is young and full of potential. Why rush into the morning?"
In an instant, our blades clashed—a dance of speed and skill. My Magic Sword barely intercepted his weapon, just in time to save my head from an ominous fate.
"As one of the strongest Magic Knights, you're indeed a worthy opponent," he acknowledged.
We engaged in a relentless exchange of blows. Despite my attempts to predict his moves, he managed to shield his weaknesses effectively. He seemed to anticipate my every move like he could read me like an open book.
I retreated briefly to catch my breath, my combat form feeling sluggish. Managing our guild had kept me from the frontlines, making me rusty. However, my experience and skills remained formidable.
I decided to employ a technique I'd been honing, despite the pain it inflicted. It was a move I'd rarely used due to its toll on my legs once used, but it was time to test its mettle. It's not a perfect technique but I have no other choice but to deal with the consequences. The life of someone important to me is on the line and I will not let anyone die again under my watch.
I lunged back into the fray, the battle escalating to a fierce crescendo as I unleashed this formidable ability, knowing full well the price it demanded. I just hoped my legs wouldn't crumble once I executed this move.
PENG!
First step.
PENG!
Second step.
With every step I took, my sword cleaved through the air with precision. Each swing of my blade was a dance of deadly elegance, seamlessly intertwined with the forward movement of my feet. Yet, it wasn't fast enough; I needed to push myself harder and become faster than I ever thought possible.
A taunting voice interrupted my relentless practice, and I turned to face my unexpected critic. "Heh, Manato, if you'd chosen the path of a Samurai instead of the Magic Knight, perhaps your footwork and blade work would flow as smoothly as a river," he remarked with a sly grin.
No! I'd long forsaken the way of the katana. I couldn't allow myself to be haunted by its memory. But his words stung, and I couldn't ignore them.
Abruptly, he halted and distanced himself from me. Frustration surged through me as I clenched my teeth. "Why did you stop?" I demanded.
"Your fighting style is dull, Manato, terribly so," he declared, shaking his head in disappointment. "I've improved myself over time, but you, it seems, have regressed. It's not even worth holding back. I've had enough." With a dismissive wave, he motioned for me to leave. "Go."
Suspicion gnawed at me. "What are you planning?"
"Planning? Manato, do you really think I'd waste my time plotting against you? You're too boring now," he scoffed, settling onto a nearby sofa and grabbing a bottle of wine from the table.
I couldn't let his cryptic words distract me. My priority was Akari; she needed immediate attention. Rushing to her side, I gently removed her blindfold, revealing tear-stained cheeks. What had this man done to her?
Carefully untying the restraints on her arms, I noticed signs of her struggle. But there was something else, an inexplicable sense of unease that washed over me.
As I reached for the restraints on her legs, an ominous feeling gripped me, like a shadow lurking in the corners of my consciousness.
STAB!
I quickly performed a quick stab at the person who was trying to assault me. Of course, I made sure to stab it on the fatal part to ensure success.
"Guhk... agh..." blood oozes out of the stab wound as I stabbed it too deep this time using the pocket knife I am carrying always in my pocket to cut off the restraints of Akari.
But...I still got caught off guard.
STAB!
A sharp pain registered in my chest when a kunai appeared to be embedded in my flesh. It didn't pierce too much but it was enough to remain there and slowly bleed me.
"Damn...it!" I grit my teeth in pain. It seems like the kunai has a paralyzing and poisoning effect in it. I managed to avoid getting stabbed in the vital signs but the poison was flowing right through me. If I didn't do anything, I would die.
"I knew that something was wrong... Akari..."
Yes. That's right. The one who assaulted me is none other than Akari. I knew something was wrong with her but I couldn't just pinpoint what was currently wrong. Maybe I have developed something that would allow me to detect anything that can lead to betrayal and stuff after countless betrayals and lies I faced in my entire life.
Akari already died. I stabbed her chest with the pocket knife with full force on her heart. I made sure it was fatal. However, it was still not fast enough as she managed to deliver a final kunai to stab me with poison and paralysis effect. I am not a cleric and my class has no skills that can heal the effects of these things, that is why I am stuck with suffering the effects. The only thing I can do is to remove the kunai and stop any poison from spreading further into my body. But as I try to do so, my strength seems to be fading, failing on doing such a simple task.
All I could do was lie there, helpless and paralyzed, awaiting my impending doom. The poison coursing through my veins drained the life out of me, but I couldn't just give in. My only option was to stall the poison's progression, clinging to my sanity as if it were a lifeline.
Yet, I refused to succumb to this cruel fate. With sheer determination, I harnessed my latent mana, infusing my entire being with a surge of energy. Even in my paralyzed state, I broke free of the poison's hold, though I knew the toll it would take on my body once its effects wore off. But I welcomed that pain, for I had no intention of surrendering to death. I needed help; I needed to find someone who could aid me. Suppressing the poison was only a temporary solution; I had to rid myself of it completely.
"Guh!" A searing pain pierced my chest as I continued to suppress the poison, but I pushed through, refusing to yield. I tasted blood in my mouth, but the battle raged on.
CLAP CLAP CLAP
The sound of clapping reached my ears. That fiend... he was applauding my struggle.
"Bravo, Manato," he sneered. "I didn't expect you to put on such a show, even in your dire straits. It's impressive that you uncovered Akari's betrayal."
"You orchestrated all of this," I spat, my voice strained.
"Oh? You caught on faster than I thought," he mused.
"I sensed something was amiss with Akari, but to think she was working for you..."
"Yes, Manato," he admitted with a sly grin. "I'm quite cunning, aren't I? Your beloved fiancée never loved you; she was a traitor plotting your demise. Though, I must say, I didn't anticipate you discovering her treachery so quickly. I had everything meticulously planned, but it seems you see through deception quite well."
"Who are you... and why are you doing this to me?" I demanded, my anger simmering.
"Ahh, there's that dense nature of yours," he chuckled. "Well, since you're about to meet your demise, why not indulge you with a reveal?"
With a theatrical flourish, he removed his mask. The sight of his face sent my blood boiling, releasing a torrent of rage that had been building within me.
"KAZUKI! YOU BASTARD!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" His maniacal laughter reverberated through the room. He met my gaze with crazed eyes, his grin unsettling. As I struggled to maintain consciousness, my body refused to cooperate.
"GAME OVER, MANATO."
...
...
...
I awoke to the putrid stench of rotting garbage, my body sinking into a heap of trash bags. It was a surreal moment, realizing that I had been discarded like worthless refuse. A kunai remained embedded in my chest, its poison still coursing through my veins. Miraculously, I had managed to stall the poison's deadly effects, leaving me incapacitated but not yet claimed by the abyss of death. Even the slightest twitch of a finger sent searing agony rippling through my body.
But then, a voice broke through the haze of pain.
"Young man..."
The voice was oddly familiar, reminiscent of characters from the video games I used to play—those apocalyptic landscapes filled with demons and angels, and a lone hero navigating the chaos. Yet, this voice was deeper, more mature, exuding an undeniable air of confidence and strength, a blend of "Chad" energy with a distinct sense of masculinity. I couldn't help but think that some girls might swoon over it.
"Quit your aimless musings, young man. Time is of the essence."
I blinked, realizing that I wasn't merely daydreaming; someone was genuinely addressing me.
"You're finally coherent, I see," the voice continued, its tone tinged with impatience.
Struggling to focus, I squinted my eyes and made out a figure standing before me. To my shock, it was none other than Nobuhiko Kasaguchi, the developer of Alternate World, the VR game that had revolutionized the world, granting players access to magic and fantastical abilities.
He still radiated that "Chad" aura that was unmistakably him. Why he was here, menacingly looming over me, was beyond my comprehension.
"What has your life been like so far?" he inquired.
I clenched my teeth but managed to reply, "If I said it's been pretty terrible, would you believe me?"
He sighed. "I haven't lived your life, but I've witnessed your struggles. That alone tells me you've endured far more than your fair share of suffering."
"Ha... yeah, and now, I'm here in a dumpster, awaiting a pathetic demise. This is the lowest point and the lamest way to go. I won't even get the chance to lose my virginity, damn it."
Nobuhiko listened intently, then abruptly changed the subject. He extended his hand, placing an unusual device in my palm. Despite my immobile state, I recognized it as a small button-like device. In my other hand, I held a syringe. Both items seemed to emanate an enigmatic power.
"If you're disappointed with the way your life has turned out, push the button," he instructed, his eyes unwavering. "If you simply wish to end it all, don't bother. But if you have the will to fight, press it. Afterward, use the syringe. I have a gift for you."
"Wait, what? Hey, old man! Care to explain?! Hey?!" I implored, but he walked away without a word, leaving me with more questions than answers.
I couldn't see what he had handed me, but his message lingered in my mind. Push the button if I am dissatisfied with my life's outcome. It was undeniably suspicious, but at this point, I was teetering on the precipice of death. There was nothing left to lose by pushing that button, and I couldn't bear the thought of succumbing to the pain in my chest.
With time slipping away, I decided it was now or never.
CLICK!
[EXECUTING PROJECT RESET... COMPLETE...BOOTING UP IN THREE...TWO...ONE... BOOT COMPLETE...PROCEED TO DELETE THE CURRENT TIMELINE'S FUTURE AND RETURN TO THE PAST. REBOOTING... SUBJECT MANATO TSUKASA... REGISTRATION COMPLETE. SETUP COMPLETE. WELCOME BACK TO THE PAST, TIMELINE TRAVELER. YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS ANEW.]
In an instant, my entire being stretched, as if I'd been pulled taut by an otherworldly force. The sensation was akin to what one might imagine when confronting the maw of a voracious black hole. My desperate screams were swallowed whole, consumed by the enigma that gripped me.
And then, like a cosmic magician's act, I found myself standing beneath an impossibly colossal tree. Its sheer magnitude dwarfed even the mightiest of Earth's skyscrapers. Before me, a woman of ethereal beauty, her white hair cascading like a waterfall, clutched a mysterious box to her chest. Her gaze locked onto mine, though her features remained shrouded in obscurity. My vision wavered as if caught in a dream's embrace.
"So...you must be... .... ... I... see... I... will be waiting..."
Her words danced on the edge of comprehension, a cryptic riddle unraveling in my mind. I yearned to reply, but the void beckoned once more, and my consciousness dwindled.
...
...
...
BLAG!
With a jolt, I was thrust back into reality, pain radiating through my skull as if the universe itself were pounding upon my mind.
"Ugh... I've fallen from my bed..."
Despite the meager distance, my skull throbbed as though I'd taken a fall from the heavens. I gingerly massaged my throbbing cranium, slowly coming to grips with my surroundings. Yet, an enigma lay within my grasp.
"A syringe? What is this...Urk!"
The moment my eyes fell upon the mysterious object, a cascade of memories inundated my consciousness. Information flowed like a torrent, a painful deluge that left me reeling in anguish. My screams rent the air as I clutched my head in torment.
And then, clarity emerged from the storm. I didn't hear that voice as a mistake, right?
"Huh? Have I truly journeyed back in time?!"
I rushed to the mirror, staring at my reflection in disbelief. There, before my very eyes, was my younger self, a blast from the past. An impulsive urge led me to pinch my side, and boy, did it sting! I winced, regretting the impromptu test of my corporeal existence. Note to self: gentler pinches next time.
But let's not dwell on that. I found myself pondering an extraordinary question: if I've been transported back in time and regressed to this youthful state, does that mean I can rewrite my entire history? The possibilities danced tantalizingly before me.
The allure of this newfound power was undeniable. I tried to summon memories of my adult life, and, to my astonishment, they were still intact. My eidetic memory was an invaluable guide in this bizarre journey, ensuring I wouldn't forget a thing.
Yet, lurking beneath this incredible opportunity was a shadow of doubt. Altering the past could trigger an avalanche of unintended consequences, rendering my cherished memories obsolete. The pros came with equally weighty cons.
No matter how daunting, there was no turning back. I was strapped into this rollercoaster of a life, hurtling through time with no seatbelts or emergency exits. My only option was to forge ahead on this uncharted path.
As I reflected, my past and present memories began to meld seamlessly. Thankfully, my recent days had been uneventful, sparing me any confounding contradictions.
I glanced at the calendar, discovering today's date: January 7th. The release of "Alternate World" and the advent of the Reality Verse lay a mere year away. Not an eternity, but certainly enough time to prepare. The school year was on hold due to worldwide changes in teaching methods. A perfect opportunity.
I was alone in our Tokyo home; my parents managed their business in Nagoya. Freedom beckoned. My first mission: amass a whopping 5,000,000 yen (approximately 44,000 dollars) this year. A colossal sum, especially for a jobless student. Though in-game, such wealth was achievable in a day, here in the real world, it would require unwavering determination.
Luckily, daily necessities and rent weren't concerns, as our home was our own property, and utilities were a non-issue. This allowed me to concentrate solely on my financial goal.
"Alternate World" promised to reshape reality, and a strong start in the game could be my ticket to success without relying on anyone else. I was determined to seize control of my destiny, starting with Kazuki and Akari. They may have been innocent so far, but I vowed to shape their futures differently. My power, my oath. Watch out, world.