The air hung heavy with the stench of rotting food and stale urine, a suffocating blanket of despair that clung to Belial's skin like a second layer of clothing.
His parents had kicked him out, deeming him a failure for not living up to their academic expectations.
They couldn't understand his passion for gaming, dismissing it as a childish distraction.
They demanded he focus on his studies, on achieving their idea of success, on becoming a doctor or a lawyer, a path that felt as foreign to him as a distant galaxy.
Their words, sharp as shards of glass, pierced his heart.
"You'll never amount to anything," they said.
"This is just a waste of time." He felt like a failure, a disappointment, a burden.
He had never felt like he belonged in their world, their expectations a suffocating weight on his shoulders, crushing his dreams and his spirit.
But there was one place where Belial felt truly alive: the digital realm.
In the virtual world, he was free.
He was "ShadowBlade," a legendary gamer, a master of strategy and tactics, a force to be reckoned with.
He spent countless hours hunched over his computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard, lost in the digital realm, honing his skills in online games.
He felt a spark of joy, a sense of purpose, that he rarely experienced in his real life.
He felt a connection to the game, a sense of belonging, that he couldn't find anywhere else.
He found solace in the thrill of competition, the camaraderie of teamwork, and the feeling of accomplishment that came with mastering a new skill.
He could feel the smooth texture of the keyboard beneath his fingers, hear the satisfying click of the keys, and see the vibrant colors of the game world flashing before his eyes.
He was fully immersed in the digital realm, his mind and body working in perfect harmony.
He dreamt of becoming a professional gamer, of escaping the harsh realities of his life through his passion.
Now, he was just another face in the city's underbelly, fighting for scraps with the other forgotten souls.
He pulled out a crumpled sandwich, its once-fresh bread now soggy and moldy. He stared at it, his throat constricting.
He hadn't eaten in two days, but the thought of consuming this putrid offering made his stomach churn. He tossed it back into the dumpster, his heart heavy with a familiar ache of despair.
"Another day, another dead end," he muttered, his voice a raspy whisper. "What's the point, anyway?"
He slumped against the dumpster, his back aching from the cold concrete. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the harsh reality of his life.
He dreamt of a world where he could escape the stench of garbage and despair, a world where he could be someone, where he could be accepted.
He dreamt of being a gamer, of escaping the harsh reality of his life through virtual worlds.
He dreamt of a world where his passion for gaming wasn't dismissed as a childish distraction, but celebrated as a talent worth pursuing.
He had never felt like he belonged in their world, their expectations a suffocating weight on his shoulders.
"I'm a failure," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm nothing."
A flicker of movement caught his eye. A man, slumped on a nearby bench, his shoulders heavy with despair, mirrored Belial's own sense of hopelessness.
The man's face was etched with lines of worry, his eyes filled with a weariness that spoke of a life burdened by hardship.
A pang of empathy jolted Belial. He had always tried to be kind, even in his own misery.
He had learned that kindness, even in the smallest gesture, could be a beacon of hope in the darkest of times.
He approached the man, offering him a cheap calorie bar he'd found earlier.
The man, a foreigner with a bewildered expression, seemed lost and confused.
His clothes were tattered, his hair unkempt, and his eyes held a flicker of fear.
Belial struggled to communicate, but his determination burned brighter than his hunger.
He clenched his fist, meeting the man's gaze, and with a shaky voice, uttered,
"Fighting!" in broken English, hoping to convey encouragement.
The man, however, misinterpreted Belial's gesture.
He saw it as a challenge, a spark igniting his own simmering rage.
He had been living on the streets for months, his trust in humanity shattered by countless encounters with cruelty and indifference.
He lunged at Belial, his fists raining down with brutal force.
Belial, caught off guard, crumpled to the ground, his body wracked with pain.
He tried to shield himself, but the man's blows were relentless, each one a hammer blow to his already battered spirit.
He could taste the metallic tang of blood on his lips, a reminder of the recent beating he had received.
The only sound was the distant rumble of traffic, a constant reminder of the world he had been cast out from. A world where his passion for gaming was seen as a weakness, a childish distraction.
He curled into a tighter ball, his arms wrapped around his knees, his head buried in his chest.
His stomach twisted with a gnawing emptiness, a hollow ache that mirrored the hollowness he felt inside.
He tasted blood, his vision blurring as the world around him faded into a dizzying kaleidoscope of pain.
As the world blurred around him, Belial's mind raced.
He was a failure, a disappointment, a burden – a weight that his parents had cast upon him, a weight that threatened to crush him.
"You're a loser, Belial," his father's voice echoed in his mind, a cruel taunt that never seemed to fade. "You'll never amount to anything. You'll always be a disappointment."
The news on the flickering television droned on about the latest drone strike, the latest political scandal, the latest societal collapse.
It was a world he had no place in, a world he had been cast out from. He longed for escape, for a world where he could be accepted, where he could feel like he belonged. He longed for a world where he could be more than just a failure.
He wanted to scream at them, to tell them how real it felt, how alive he felt when he was lost in the digital world.
He wanted to tell them how his virtual victories, though meaningless in their eyes, felt like triumphs, like a validation of his existence.
But he knew it was pointless. They wouldn't understand.
He was a gamer, a digital nomad, a virtual warrior. He lived for the thrill of the game, for the challenge of overcoming impossible odds, for the satisfaction of achieving victory.
The flickering glow of the monitor was his sanctuary, a digital escape from the harsh realities of his life.
He dreamt of becoming a professional gamer, his fingers a blur across the keyboard as he honed his skills, his mind fully immersed in the virtual worlds he inhabited.
Within these pixelated landscapes, he found a spark of joy, a sense of purpose that eluded him in the mundane routines of his daily existence.
But in this world, he was nothing. He was a nobody. He was a failure.
Yet, his parents, consumed by their own ambitions, dismissed his passion as a childish distraction.
They couldn't fathom the allure of a world where skill and strategy reigned supreme, where the boundaries of reality blurred and dreams took flight.
Now, as his vision faded, he thought, "If I could just be the best gamer in the world... even for a moment..." He yearned for a world where he could be accepted, where his passion could be celebrated, where he could finally feel like he belonged.
A wave of nausea washed over him, and then everything went black.
.....
When Belial awoke, he was in a dimly lit room, the air thick with the scent of disinfectant.
He sat up, his head pounding, and noticed an alarm clock beside him.
He was no longer on the streets, but his surroundings were unfamiliar.
He tried to recall how he got here, but his memories were hazy, fragmented.
The air shimmered, and a holographic grid materialized before him, a shimmering network of icons and data streams that pulsed with an ethereal light.
Suddenly, a message materialized before him, glowing with an ethereal light:
[Ding! Transferring host consciousness to nearest compatible player in this world]
『Random World No#153 : Unknown Realm』
『Installing Sub-system to the player!』
『1%...26%...56%...100% Installation Complete!』
『Status, Scan, Storage function, is online
Map, Task and Store function is offline』
『Status』
Name: Belial Scarlet
Age: 10
Height: 148cm (4'10 ft)
Weight: 38kg (84 lbs)
Blessing: Gamer System
Class: Omni-Gamer
Subclass: Player
HP: 20/20
SP: 10/10
『Attributes:』
STR: 1
AGI: 2
DEX: 3
PHY: 2
END: 1
INT: 3
WIS: 2
PER: 1
SPI: 4
CHA: 1
LUK: 1
『Items: None』
『Talents: None』
『Evaluation: A fledgling newcomer who don't even know nothing about basketball but has extraordinary talent』
It was the "Gamer System," his gateway to a new world. A world where he could be more than just a failure. A world where he could be a hero.
Belial stared at the screen, his heart pounding. He had been isekai'd, transported to a new world with a system that promised to unlock his potential.
But the system also revealed a harsh truth: he was now a ten-year-old boy, frail and weak.
He had always dreamed of playing basketball, but his body had never been strong enough.
He had watched countless games, mesmerized by the athleticism and skill of the players, but he had never dared to dream of being one of them.
Now, he had a chance to experience the game in a way he never thought possible.
He could feel a surge of excitement, a feeling he hadn't experienced in years.
He had a chance to pursue his passion, to prove himself, to finally find his place in the world.
A new message popped up:
『Congratulations to you for successfully reincarnating inside a universe that we made, the [Newbie Package] has been successfully delivered to your storage. Do you want to open your [Newbie Package]』
[Yes/Yes?]
Belial hesitated.He didn't know what the package contained, but he felt a sense of unease. He had always been cautious, wary of promises that seemed too good to be true. He decided to wait, to explore his new world before diving into the unknown.
"What the heck is this package anyway?" he muttered, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.
He stood up, his legs wobbly, and approached a door at the far end of the room. As he opened it, a burst of sunlight flooded the room, revealing a scene that took his breath away.
A makeshift basketball court, surrounded by vibrant green grass and towering trees, stretched out before him.
The air was filled with the sound of laughter and the rhythmic thud of a basketball bouncing on the pavement.
A group of kids, their faces flushed with excitement, played a spirited game, their movements fluid and graceful.
And then, he saw her.
A young girl, her platinum blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight, stood on the court, her sapphire eyes sparkling with excitement.
She held a basketball in her hands, her smile as bright as the sun. She was a vision of pure joy, her energy radiating outwards, filling the air with a contagious enthusiasm.
"Hey, you're finally awake, sleepyhead!" she exclaimed, her voice full of energy. "Come on, let's play another round!"
"???"
Belial was stunned.
He had never expected to find someone else in this world, let alone a girl who seemed so full of life. He hesitated for a moment, his mind reeling from the sudden change of events.
He had been alone for so long, his world reduced to the harsh realities of the streets.
Now, he was faced with a world that seemed so different, so vibrant, so full of possibility.
"Who are you? How did I get here?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"I'm Aria, and you're here because you need to rest and recharge, you silly," she replied, her smile unwavering.
She approached him, her movements light and graceful, her eyes filled with a warmth that melted away his apprehension.
Belial's confusion lingered, but he couldn't deny the sense of peace he felt in her presence.
The idea of playing basketball with Aria was too tempting to resist. He had always dreamed of playing, of feeling the thrill of the game, of experiencing the camaraderie of teamwork.
"Okay, let's play," he said, a smile spreading across his face.
He took the basketball from Aria, his heart pounding with anticipation. He felt a surge of excitement, a feeling he hadn't experienced in years.
As they walked towards the court, Belial noticed a group of kids playing basketball nearby.
They were all around his age, their faces flushed with exertion, their movements fluid and graceful.
He approached them tentatively, and they welcomed him with open arms.
They introduced themselves, their voices filled with a youthful energy that was contagious.
"Hey, I'm Kai," said a boy with a mischievous grin. "You're new here, right?"
"Yeah, I just woke up," Belial replied, his voice still a bit shaky.
"Welcome to the game!" shouted a girl with bright red hair, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"We're playing a pick-up game. You wanna join?"
Belial hesitated. He had never played a real game before, his body always too weak, too fragile. But he looked at Aria, her smile encouraging, her eyes filled with a belief in him that he hadn't felt in years.
"Sure," he said, his voice gaining confidence. "I'll give it a try."
He joined the game, his body feeling strangely light and agile even to his form his clumsy and his movement awkward.
He was nervous, but he was also determined to embrace this new opportunity. He had a chance to prove himself, to show the world that he was more than just a failure.
As he dribbled the ball, he felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins.
He had never felt this alive, this free, this connected to the game. He moved with a newfound agility, his movements fluid and graceful.
He felt a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, that he had never experienced before.
He passed the ball to Aria, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She caught it with ease, her movements effortless, her skills honed by years of practice.
She dribbled the ball down the court, her eyes focused on the basket, her movements a symphony of grace and power.
She shot the ball, the orange sphere arcing through the air, a perfect parabola against the backdrop of the blue sky. The ball swished through the net, a satisfying sound that echoed through the air.
Belial watched in awe, his heart pounding with excitement. He had never seen anything like it. He had never felt this connected to the game, this inspired, this alive.
"Nice shot, Aria!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration.
Aria smiled, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Thanks, Belial. You're doing great too!"
Belial felt a warmth spread through his chest, a sense of belonging that he had never experienced before. He was part of something bigger than himself, something that transcended the boundaries of his past, his pain, his failures.
He was a gamer, a player, a part of this world, this community.
And he was ready to play.
...
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the court, the game came to an end. Belial, his body aching with exertion, his heart filled with a newfound joy, sat on the bench, watching the other kids pack up their gear.
Aria approached him, her smile as bright as ever. "That was a great game, Belial!You're a natural!"
Belial blushed, his cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and pride."Thanks, Aria. I've never played before, but I'm starting to get the hang of it."
"You're a quick learner," Aria said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You have a natural talent for the game."
Belial felt a warmth spread through his chest, a sense of validation that he had never experienced before. He had always been told he was a failure, but Aria's words gave him a glimmer of hope, a belief in himself that he had almost forgotten.
"So," Aria said, her voice playful, "what do you say we grab some dinner?My treat."
Belial hesitated, his stomach grumbling in protest. He hadn't eaten a proper meal in days, and the thought of food was a welcome distraction from the anxieties that had been gnawing at him.
"Sure," he said, his voice a little hesitant.
"I'm starving."
They walked to a nearby pizza place, the aroma of fresh dough and melted cheese filling the air. They ordered a large pepperoni pizza, and as they waited, they talked about their lives, their dreams, their hopes.
Belial shared his story, his voice filled with a vulnerability that he had never shown before. He told Aria about his parents, their expectations, their disappointment, his struggles on the streets. He told her about his dream of becoming a gamer, of escaping the harsh realities of his life through virtual worlds.
Aria listened intently, her eyes filled with empathy and understanding. She told him about her own life, her passion for basketball, her dreams of traveling the world, her desire to make a difference in the world.
She also shared her struggles, her worries about living up to her parents' expectations, and her fear of failing to achieve her dreams.
As they ate their pizza, they shared stories and laughter, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment. Belial felt a connection with Aria that he had never felt before, a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose. He had found a friend, a confidant, a kindred spirit.
...
As the night deepened, and the moon cast its silvery glow on the world, Belial and Aria sat on the floor of the room, their conversation flowing effortlessly. Belial felt a sense of contentment he had never experienced before, a feeling of peace and belonging that washed away the anxieties and insecurities that had plagued him for so long.
"I've never felt this happy before," he said, his voice filled with a newfound sense of wonder.
Aria smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "I'm glad, Belial.You deserve to be happy."
Belial looked at Aria, her beauty illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. He felt a connection with her, a bond that transcended the boundaries of their different worlds, their different experiences. He felt a sense of hope, a belief that he could find happiness, that he could create a new life for himself, a life filled with purpose and meaning.
"I'm glad I met you, Aria," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "You've given me hope."
Aria smiled, her eyes sparkling with warmth."I'm glad I met you too, Belial. You're a good person, and you deserve to be happy."
Belial felt a warmth spread through his chest, a sense of validation that he had never experienced before. He had always been told he was a failure, but Aria's words gave him a glimmer of hope, a belief in himself that he had almost forgotten.
He looked at the clock, the hands ticking slowly, reminding him of the passage of time. He knew he couldn't stay in this world forever, that he had a life to live, a destiny to fulfill.
"I should probably go," he said, his voice filled with a tinge of sadness. "I have a lot to figure out."
Aria nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "I understand, Belial. But I hope we can do this again soon."
Belial smiled, his heart filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension. He knew he would never forget this night, this encounter, this connection. He had found a friend, a confidant, a kindred spirit. He had found a place where he belonged, a world where he could be himself, a world where he could finally feel like he was home.
He stood up, his legs a little wobbly, and walked towards the door. As he turned to leave, he looked back at Aria, her smile as bright as the moon, her eyes filled with a warmth that filled his heart with hope.
He stepped out of the room, his heart filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. He had a lot to learn, a lot to discover, a lot to achieve. But he knew one thing for sure: he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
He was a gamer, a player, a streetball prodigy. And he was ready to play.
...
As Belial walked through the streets of his new world, he felt a sense of purpose he had never experienced before. He had a system, a gift that promised to unlock his potential. He had a passion, a love for basketball that burned brighter than ever. And he had a friend, a kindred spirit who believed in him, who inspired him, who made him feel like he could achieve anything.
He knew he had a long journey ahead of him, a journey filled with challenges and obstacles. But he was ready to face them, to overcome them, to become the best gamer, the best player, the best version of himself.
He was Belial Scarlet, and his story was just beginning.