A normal person might have thought this entire situation was some elaborate prank or a sophisticated virtual reality simulation, especially considering the advancements in technology.
It was not far-fetched to imagine that modern technology could create such an immersive and realistic experience. However, Kingsley immediately dismissed this notion.
He knew his friends far too well to believe they could pull off something of this scale. Not only were they as broke as he was, but none of them had the skills, resources, or connections to organize anything remotely close to this.
This ruled out the idea of it being a prank, which left him with only more questions and no answers. Who or what could be behind all of this? And why him?
---
Player [Kingsley] is undergoing awakening.
---
The mysterious voice echoed once again, crisp and cold, cutting through the air like a blade.
Almost immediately after hearing it, Kingsley felt an intense heat begin to rise from deep within his body. It wasn't the kind of heat one might experience from physical exertion or sitting too close to a fire.
No, this was far worse. It was as if his very blood was boiling and his organs were being cooked alive.
The heat grew steadily, spreading through his body like wildfire, intensifying with each passing second. Soon, he found himself drenched in sweat, his clothes sticking uncomfortably to his skin as he writhed on the ground, unable to remain still.
"Argh!!!" Kingsley screamed at the top of his lungs, clutching his stomach in sheer agony.
His cries of pain echoed through the empty, moss-covered castle, but there was no one around to hear him, no one to offer him any help.
The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. It felt as though his body was being torn apart from the inside, every cell igniting with unbearable heat.
He rolled around on the cold, hard floor, desperately trying to find some form of relief, but there was none. He had no idea what was happening to him or why it was happening.
Minutes dragged on like hours as Kingsley endured the torment. His vision blurred, his breathing became ragged, and his strength began to wane. Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, the pain started to subside. It didn't vanish all at once but gradually diminished, leaving him lying there, trembling and gasping for air.
"Huff... huff..." Kingsley panted heavily, his chest rising and falling as he tried to regain his composure.
"What was that?!" he shouted angrily, his voice echoing through the empty castle. His frustration and confusion were evident, but there was no one to answer his question.
---
Player talent has awakened.
Updating all systems based on the player's talents.
---
Kingsley groaned as the cold, mechanical voice returned, its emotionless tone only serving to increase his irritation. He forced himself to sit up, his body still weak from the ordeal.
"What is happening?" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his damp hair. Nothing about this situation made any sense to him.
Drawing on his years of watching anime, reading manga, and immersing himself in fantasy novels, he began to piece together a theory.
This was clearly a scenario straight out of one of those overpowered protagonist stories. But even with all that knowledge, it was just a guess.
He didn't understand why he was being referred to as a "player" or what kind of game he was supposedly involved in.
If this was some sort of twisted game, then what were the rules? Who else was playing? And most importantly, how could he survive?
---
Lord talent [Domini] awakened.
Rank: ???
---
Lord Kingsley has been determined not to need any help from the systems.
Deleting all system abilities.
---
[Chat] and [Lord's Eye] have been deemed necessary and thus shall remain.
---
"Eh?!" Kingsley shouted, his eyes widening in shock.
"What the fuck?!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.
Just as he thought he was beginning to understand the situation, everything was turned upside down. The voice—cold and detached—had just informed him that all system abilities were being deleted, leaving him with only two functions: [Chat] and [Lord's Eye].
"What do you mean I don't need help?!" Kingsley yelled into the empty air, his frustration boiling over.
If his theory about this being a game-like scenario was correct, then he had just been stripped of the tools that would make survival possible.
In the stories he'd read, each lord was given unique talents and access to a system that allowed them to summon troops, build infrastructure, and manage resources. Without these features, he was essentially crippled.
"Are you kidding me?!" he muttered, pacing back and forth.
The implications were clear: he wouldn't have access to the same advantages as everyone else. If this really was a survival game, then he was already at a disadvantage. And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't a punishment.
"Domini... what does that even mean?" he questioned aloud, his mind racing.
The voice had mentioned it as his "Lord talent," but what did it entail? Why was it's rank unknown? and what made the system decide he didn't need help?
Despite his frustration, Kingsley couldn't afford to panic. If this was anything like the stories he was familiar with, then survival depended on strategy, quick thinking, and a willingness to adapt.
For now, he had to figure out what [Lord's Eye] and [Chat] were and how he could use them to his advantage.
One thing was certain: he was going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what it took.