[Greetings Arc Williams, Not everyone gets this chance. You've been selected to experience something few know exists. A game, unlike any before, awaits your insight.
Details will follow soon. Watch for them.
Welcome aboard.]
"How suspicious" said Arc, though contradictory to what he said, his eyes sparkled in genuine curiosity and excitement,
"A link is also attached…"
After Arc clicked the link, a program with an icon of two axes crossed over to each other began to download on his phone. When the download was complete, Arc launched the app and was greeted.
[Welcome newcomer]
[Please enter your name]
As Arc entered his name and pressed Enter, His mind went blank and he suddenly collapsed….
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Wild and legendary creatures roam freely beneath the open sky in the middle of an unending, rolling grassfield where the air is alive with the whispers of nature. While the winds whirl about him and the distant roars of invisible monsters reverberate in the distance, a lone figure lies still, splayed across the earth, unconscious, amid the vivid sea of green.
Unexpectedly, a person in faded brown robes emerged, his outline piercing the mist of the undulating grass. The stranger glanced quickly at the unconscious man and knelt next to him, lifting him gently over his shoulder. Without saying a word, he vanished into the wide open space, carrying the enigmatic figure into the safety of his remote home tucked away in the middle of the fields with steady, purposeful feet.
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"Where am I? What on earth took place?" Arc murmured, his voice hardly more than a rasp, His surroundings continued to be a blur when his eyes opened, with forms and colors blending into a disorienting haze. Every muscle in his body felt as though it had been drained of life, and his head throbbed with a dull anguish that pulsed through his skull. His limbs felt heavy, like if they were bound by invisible chains. When he attempted to get up, the room whirled about and he fell back onto the cozy, strange bedding. The air was scented with wood and herbs, but other than that, nothing made sense. Where had he gone? What had brought him here?
As his vision gradually cleared, Arc gritted his teeth against the pain, pushing himself up despite the pounding in his head. He stumbled toward the door, his knees swaying under him, the weight of his body still strange and rigid. He tentatively grasped the doorframe, bracing himself while he turned the handle slowly.
The door creaked open, revealing a man standing just outside. He was middle-aged, and the years of wisdom carved on his face were evident in his short, black hair. The man was dressed in a dark, flowing traditional Japanese kimono, but Arc's focus was drawn to the sword by his side. The blade was a crude, old looking katana, tied neatly about his waist, its hilt covered in fading linen, but there was something off about it. A weird feeling crept down Arc's spine as he met the sword's sheath. There was a faint hum in the air, and he had the impression that this was no common weapon.
"You're awake" the man said softly, "I trust you're feeling better?"
"Not really but it's getting better" Arc replied,
As Arc's head began to clear, he took in his surroundings. The chamber he was in was modest but solid, composed completely of rough hardwood that had endured the test of time. Alongside the earthy colors of the cottage, there was a subtle hint of pine in the air. Despite their age, the walls were spotless, with not a grain of dust to be seen. On either side he could see two little bedrooms with their doors partly open, and beyond that he could see the dim light of what appeared to be a kitchen, with a hearth smouldering in the corner. It was clear the cabin had seen many years, yet it was lovingly maintained, as though someone cherished this space like a haven. But Arc couldn't get the mysterious individual out of his head.
"May I ask who you are?" Arc's voice was hoarse but steady as he broke the silence, the man regarded him with a calm, unreadable expression before responding. "Sakaguchi" he said simply, his tone measured and deliberate. "And you are?"
"I'm Arc"
"So, Arc," Sakaguchi began, his tone calm but with an edge of suspicion, "I have a question for you. Why were you lying unconscious in the middle of the grasslands? You don't carry a satchel, so I doubt you're a lost traveler or a wandering scholar. And..." his gaze sharpened, "...you lack the slave mark, so you're not an escaped fugitive either."
He shifted slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. Though the weapon remained sheathed, the subtle movement spoke volumes—a silent warning. "Who are you really, and what is your purpose here?" Sakaguchi's voice dropped, laced with a quiet intensity that made the air feel heavier. His grip on the hilt tightened, ready to draw the blade in a heartbeat should the wrong answer pass Arc's lips.
Arc's mind raced, a storm of panic and desperation swirling in his thoughts. 'Shit, what do I even say? I can't tell him the truth—that I downloaded some sketchy app and woke up in this crazy place. He'd think I'm out of my mind—or worse, lying. There's no way he'd believe me. Hell, I barely believe it myself!'
He stole a quick glance at Sakaguchi's hand, still poised on the hilt of his katana, and felt a cold sweat drip down his back. 'This guy looks like he wouldn't hesitate to cut me down if I give the wrong answer. I don't know where I am, what this place is, or who he really is... but one thing's for sure, I'm not dying here, not now.'
"Alright" he answered. He paused, looking for any reaction from Sakaguchi, but the man remained expressionless, his hand still firmly gripping the katana hilt. "I… I don't remember much, honestly. I must've hit my head or something because everything's a blur. Maybe I was attacked? I'm not sure. I just woke up out there."
'Great, he's not buying it' Arc thought, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.