The world around me crumbled and fell, cries and chaos echoed in every direction. The sky had turned a fiery red, flames danced wildly, and sinister creatures roamed, claiming innocent lives.

The world was unraveling, but why? It was just a game, wasn't it? Why did I feel this overwhelming sadness and a burning desire for revenge? Why?

"Shuten-doji, lend me your full power. This is my last request. No, this is my final command."

"Does this mean..."

"Yes, take my soul or whatever it is."

"... HAHAHAHA! THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!" The voice within my mind laughed maniacally as a surge of power coursed through my body.

"Fuuh... How can it be like this..."

Indeed, how had it come to this? It all began five years ago...

---

"OHHH! ANOTHER VICTORY FOR IZUMI!"

The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, drowned out by the deafening cheers of the crowd. The noise was so overwhelming that I couldn't even hear my own thoughts.

"So, how does it feel to win the Death Tournament for the seventh time? Any words for the audience?" The announcer thrust the microphone towards me.

"Well... It's not really anything special, but I've decided to retire."

"Oh wow... RIGHT NOW?"

"Yes."

"Why!?"

"I'm exhausted, and my back is killing me. Besides, the game I've been waiting for has finally been released, so I'll be dedicating my time to gaming."

"Oh, dear... Well, at least tell us the name of the game."

"It's called 'The Heroes of The Crumbling World.'"

And so, as I mentioned, I immersed myself in a single game – one where you could harness the power of historical figures and even gods. To make it more challenging, it was a hardcore game. Death meant losing all your progress and starting anew. The enemies adapted to your playstyle, boasting over a hundred different movesets, all while facing RNG-based challenges.

The game was hard, but it was undeniably fun. After six months, I realized I'd completed the story mode over 775 times, and this was my 776th playthrough.

I did it all to experiment with the myriad powers the game offered, combining them into various builds. It never grew boring. I also cherished the virtual relationships I formed with the in-game characters, something I couldn't experience in real life.

But as I began a new story mode, a message suddenly appeared on the menu screen.

[Hello! This is TinyBit, the company behind this game. I'm Asakusa, the project director. We're grateful for your dedication to this game, especially considering the player of this account is Mutsu Izumi – that's quite surprising! As a token of our appreciation, we'd like to gift you the VIP Feature of this game. To activate it, create a character and enable the experimental mode.]

I was genuinely taken aback by such an important figure reaching out to me in-game. And the mention of a VIP Feature piqued my curiosity. As a naturally inquisitive person, I promptly created a character, as always, in my likeness. I then activated the experimental mode before starting the game. However, the loading seemed to take an eternity.

I grew so weary of waiting that I resorted to watching videos on my phone until fatigue overcame me, and I drifted off to sleep.

.

.

.

*GASP*

My eyes snapped open, and I gasped for air as if I'd been deprived of breath for a moment. Gradually, I managed to calm my racing heart and took in my unfamiliar surroundings.

I found myself lying on a bed in what appeared to be a typical apartment. But whose apartment was this?

*Ding*

The phone on a nearby shelf began to ring, drawing my attention. I picked up the phone and saw a message.

[From Asakusa]

[Welcome to the VIP Experimental Feature of "Heroes of The Crumbling World." You've been transmigrated into the world of your favorite game, and this is no longer a virtual experience. Common questions can be found in the 'FAQ' app on your phone, so keep it with you!]

"Surely, this is just another run in this game, right?"

This couldn't be real, could it? Was this really the VIP Feature? I struggled to comprehend what was happening.

It took me about five minutes to collect my thoughts and regain my composure. Then, I opened the FAQ app on my phone.

[You possess the same abilities, talents, and appearance as your former self, but your internal structure is different. What sets your new self apart is that your physical capabilities have doubled. Furthermore, your skills from your past self have also been enhanced!]

Reading the opening of the FAQ had me completely engrossed, and I ended up spending an hour going through all of it.

[Most importantly, you MUST help us save this world. To do that, you will be given three different paths, each with its own buffs and nerfs.]

[1. The Hero: Embark on a noble and virtuous path, becoming a hero who saves the world. Your remarkable actions will inspire others.]

[2. The Bringer of Chaos: Embrace a darker persona, a cruel and ruthless individual. Defeat every villain and be willing to be vanquished by the Main Cast.]

[3. The Gray: Embody ambiguous moral values, keeping others guessing about your ultimate intentions.]

A choice was presented before me, and I felt a strange excitement at the prospect of saving the world through a predetermined path.

After careful consideration, I opted for the third path. Why? Because I knew I wasn't inherently a good person. The idea of becoming a hero felt far-fetched.

As for why I didn't choose to become a villain, it was because I wasn't that evil. I might have taken a life or two, but I wasn't a maniac.

So, the third option, the one that allowed for moral ambiguity, felt like the perfect fit. Without hesitation, I selected the third path.

[Path 'The Gray' has been chosen.]

[Buff:]

[Cold Blooded]

[Calm Mind]

[Path Skill: The Main Villain]

[Path Skill: The Main Hero]

[Path Ultimate Skill: The Main Character]

[Special Bonus: Body Capability x1.5]

[Balancing:]

[Moral Grayness]

[Mana Pool +50%]

[Mana Recovery -75%]

[Potion Sensitivity +20%]

[-40% Effectiveness when using magic for damage]

[+15% Effectiveness when using Binding and Defense magic]

[-15% damage taken against those with 'Villain' trait]

[-15% Stat when facing 'Hero' trait]

[Nerf:]

[-15% Social Skill]

[Emotional Grayness]

[-30% Legendary Equipment Effect]

[-50% affinity with elements]

[-50% affinity with spirits]

As I faced this paragraph's worth of information, I suddenly felt an overwhelming drowsiness. My eyelids grew heavy, and my eyes closed, sending me into a deep, peaceful slumber.