akashi Ren, a doctor with sleek black hair and piercing green eyes, stood before a patient, delivering the news of a successful surgery.
"The surgery went off without a hitch. You're going to be just fine," Takashi reassured the patient, his voice laced with a mix of confidence and relief.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, the patient clung tightly to her young son, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, Dr. Takashi! You've saved my life! I can't express my gratitude enough," she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.
Takashi offered a soft smile, observing the emotional scene before him, his thoughts drifting into the realm of cynicism. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, his gaze flickering momentarily.
As Takashi prepared to leave, the nurses bid him farewell, expressing their admiration for his skill and dedication. "Great job today, Dr. Takashi! You're amazing!" one of the nurses exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine awe.
Takashi nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes conveying gratitude for the nurses' support. "You too, girls. Nothing happens here without your hard work," he replied, his voice reflecting a sense of camaraderie.
As he took his leave, one of the nurses couldn't resist whispering to her colleague, her voice barely audible. "He is so hot."
The other nurse, equally discreet, whispered back, unable to contain her thoughts. "Yeah, and he's the perfect man—smart, kind, and good-looking. The whole package!"
Takashi overheard their comments and couldn't help but scoff, a hint of disdain curling his lips. "Simply pathetic," he thought, dismissing their shallow admiration.
Walking down the bustling streets of Tokyo, Takashi became aware of the admiring gazes from girls passing by, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and infatuation. He let out a disgusted sigh, feeling the weight of the mundane world bearing down upon him.
"This world is so mundane," he mused silently, his gaze scanning the crowd. "Day in and day out, I have to wear this mask, pretending to care about people's lives. But the truth is, I became a doctor for the money, not some noble cause. This world lacks direction, no monsters to defeat, no legendary heroes to save the day, and most importantly, no true Villain to fear."
Arriving at his spacious apartment, Takashi entered the shower, allowing the warm water to cascade over his well-toned physique. Thoughts of his long-lost dreams resurfaced, and he couldn't help but reflect upon his past aspirations.
"I once had a real dream," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of rushing water. "Something far beyond this reality..."
Exiting the shower, droplets of water glistening on his skin, Takashi faced his reflection in the mirror. His piercing green eyes met his own gaze, filled with a mix of longing and resignation.
"I wanted to be a villain," he whispered, his words carrying a weight of unfulfilled desires.
Dressed in solitude within the vast expanse of his apartment, Takashi surveyed the emptiness surrounding him. The spacious rooms echoed with silence, a stark reminder of the absence of true purpose.
"Sadly, in this world, there are no heroes or powers to oppose," he lamented, his voice tinged with a touch of bitterness. "Hence, no need for a villain..."
Approaching his high-end computer desk adorned with three expansive monitors, Takashi turned on the screens, revealing his favorite MMORPG, Arkania Online, in all its virtual glory.
"This is my escape from this dreary existence," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the digital wonderland before him. "Arkania Online, with its vast class systems, 300 in total. Not counting the countless undiscovered classes. That is one of the reasons it's the most popular MMO on the market. Totaling a whopping four hundred million registered players. Everyone and their grandma are playing this game. However, the reason I play is the open-ended ability to roleplay. This is the one place where I can truly be a villain, where I find solace."
Logging in, the familiar surge of excitement coursed through Takashi's veins as he realized the launch of the newest expansion, "Reign of Change," had finally arrived.
"Today's the day!" he exclaimed, a spark of anticipation lighting up his eyes. "The expansion I have been waiting a whole year for. I have to create a new character since the expansion takes place 200 years in the future from where the awesome cliff hanger at the end of the base game took place. I'm ready to immerse myself in this new realm of possibilities."
Creating his character within the game, Takashi was surprised to find that the avatar resembled his own appearance with uncanny accuracy. He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.
"What's this? They even captured my looks?" he pondered aloud, a mix of curiosity and amusement in his voice. "Well, they track everything we say online, so it's not surprising. It's kind of cool in a creepy way."
Takashi clicked the create button, and a blinding flash filled the room, engulfing him in a radiant glow of light. When the brilliance subsided, he found himself standing in a strange room, disoriented and bewildered.
"What's happening? Where am I?" Takashi exclaimed, his voice laced with confusion and a touch of alarm.
Rushing to the nearest window, he threw open the curtains and gazed outside, only to realize he was no longer in his familiar world of Tokyo. Instead, a breathtaking landscape of Arkania stretched out before him, captivating his senses.
He took a step back pinching his cheek, a chuckle escaping his lips as the absurdity of the situation settled in.
"I guess this isn't a dream after all," he remarked, a mix of amusement and wonder dancing in his eyes.
His gaze shifted downward, and with a murmured command of "Status," a holographic window materialized before him, displaying a myriad of attributes and statistics.
Takashi chuckled, his eyes scanning the details of his virtual persona.
"Straight-up isekai'd, huh?" he chuckled, a hint of intrigue coloring his voice. "Wow, my stats are all above average, ranging from 7 to 8." He kept scanning and his eyes widened in shock. "My Intelligence stat is an astounding 39! Are they pulling our real-life stats into the game?"
Examining his abilities, he noticed one particular skill that caught his attention.
"Evil Intentions?" Takashi read aloud, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and excitement. "This skill grants a 5x XP gain. Gives a passive +10 to charisma. That's not the most impressive thing here, though. I also gain the ability to summon the two-faced mask. While wearing it, my appearance changes, and my faction is changed to the monster race."
Sweat trickled down Takashi's brow as he burst into laughter, his amusement echoing through the room. "The requirement to gain this ability was dedicating my life to an evil, unachievable dream...."
"This is it! Years of preparation have paid off!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with a sense of triumphant glee. "Not only do I get a head start, but I also obtained a skill that can make my dreams come true."
Takashi approached the mirror in the room, his heart pounding with anticipation. His eyes glinted with determination as he whispered the words, "Evil Intentions!"
Instantly, an Oni-like mask materialized on his face, transforming his sleek black hair into flowing locks of white, and his piercing green eyes turned to a vivid shade of blue. The mask was a distorted visage of a smiling Oni with two horns protruding from the forehead. A twisted smile curled upon his lips as he gazed at his altered appearance. "This is a face that would give anyone nightmares."
A notification alarm brought Takashi out of his happy daze. A message appeared in his status window, drawing his attention.
"Congratulations! You and 4,000 other players have successfully arrived in this world. Please save it."
Takashi removed the Oni mask, his grin widening, a glimmer of mischief gleaming in his eyes. His hair slowly turned back to its natural color. "And so, I have my heroes..." he whispered, his voice resonating with anticipation and a touch of wickedness.
Thus begins Takashi Ren's ultimate game—the Villain's Game.