Az sat at his desk, his eyes glued to the glowing screen of his computer. Papers, coffee mugs, and a half-eaten sandwich littered his desk. Mundane spreadsheets and monotonous emails dominated his workspace, and he'd lost all hope of his workday taking an exciting turn. That was until he received an unusual message that made his heart race.
He had been immersed in a fantasy game on his computer, a brief escape from the daily grind. But just as he was about to embark on a quest to defeat a virtual dragon, an otherworldly voice resonated through the office, echoing from the sky, "Alien creatures will descend in three days' time, choose your class and prepare for battle."
The announcement sent shivers down his spine, and his colleagues around him gasped and panicked, their voices rising in a cacophony of fear. Az, however, sat there, conflicted. He felt devastated, not because of the impending alien invasion, but because he had longed for a taste of fantasy in his life.
He had always dreamt of something extraordinary happening to him – a teleportation to a fantasy world, an encounter with goblins, or perhaps even an old-age wizard being reincarnated in his body. He yearned for something out of the ordinary, something exciting.
As Az sank into his chair, his disappointment was palpable. However, just as his fantasies began to crumble into disappointment, a bright notification popped up in front of him, a holographic projection that captured his attention. It read, "Fill in your class."
His heart fluttered with a newfound hope, and a grin stretched across his face. He'd finally get to experience the fantasy world he'd always craved. But when he looked around, he realized that he was the only one celebrating. His coworkers sat in their cubicles, staring at their screens with puzzled expressions. Some were frantically trying to close the notification, while others were muttering to themselves in disbelief.
The notification wasn't confined to his computer screen; it was floating in front of every single being in the office. His happiness was now starkly contrasted by the confusion and fear etched on the faces of his coworkers.
Az made his choice in an instant, key in the option that had always intrigued him – "Fantasy." The moment he finished key in his class, a burst of ethereal energy enveloped him, and a sense of power surged through his veins. It was exhilarating.
The alien invasion was still a looming threat, but Az couldn't care less. He'd stepped into a world he had only dreamed of. And then, a final notification appeared before him, "Mana detected, simulation system activated. Do you wish to start simulating?"
With no hesitation, Az selected "Yes."
Suddenly, a brilliant and radiant light enveloped him, causing him to lose consciousness.
Az slowly regained consciousness, his surroundings a hazy blur. He blinked his eyes open and found himself lying with his head nestled in the girl's lap. Her sapphire-blue hair cascaded around him like a silken waterfall, and her cerulean eyes gazed down at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
As his vision cleared, he realized that her beauty was unlike anything he had ever seen. Her features were ethereal, and there was an air of otherworldly grace about her. She wore an army vest adorned with various pockets and a mage's hat that added a whimsical touch to her attire.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle and melodious.
Az couldn't help but stare at her, momentarily lost for words. The transition from the office to this fantastical world was so sudden and bewildering that his mind struggled to catch up.
He finally managed to nod, his voice barely a whisper. "I... I think so."
The girl smiled, her expression warm and reassuring. "You'll be fine. It can be disorienting at first, but you'll get used to it. My name's Lumi. What's yours?"
Az cleared his throat and offered a shaky smile. "Az."
As Az tried to sit up, he realized the ground was uneven beneath him. They were in the midst of a lush forest, its towering trees bathed in dappled sunlight. The air was filled with the symphony of birdsong, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
He glanced around, taking in the enchanting surroundings. It was a place of magic and wonder, the kind he had always yearned for. His initial disappointment over the alien invasion was quickly forgotten in the face of this mesmerizing new world.
Unable to contain his exuberance any longer, Az threw his arms wide and let out a triumphant shout of excitement. "Yessssssss!"
His shout echoed through the forest, and a chorus of birds responded with a symphony of chirps and melodic trills. Lumi couldn't help but chuckle at Az's infectious enthusiasm.
Lumi looked at Az with a mix of fondness and amusement. "Az, there are a couple of things I need to tell you. First, this world isn't real; it's a simulation created for your tutorial based on your class. In three days, you'll be transported back to your world."
Az's eyes widened in disbelief, and his initial look of elation quickly transformed into one of disappointment. He couldn't help but make an exaggerated, funny, and somewhat "ugly" face as he processed the unexpected revelation. "Huhhhhh?!"
Az's disappointment lingered, and he couldn't help but curl into a small, turtle-like gesture as if trying to shield himself from the reality of the situation. His enthusiasm had been so abruptly tempered that he felt like he was going through an emotional rollercoaster.
Seeing Az's crestfallen expression, Lumi couldn't bear to see him so disheartened. She crouched down beside him and gently patted his back. "It's not all bad, Az. Trust me."
With a heavy sigh, Az peered up at Lumi, his big, round eyes brimming with a mix of sadness and curiosity. "What do I do now?"
Lumi's smile was reassuring as she explained, "First, we'll teach you how to open a screen in front of you. It's a way to access your information, such as your profile, class, mana, inventory, and other thing."
She extended her arm and, with a fluid gesture, she swiped her hand through the air. As she did, a translucent, holographic screen appeared before Az.
Lumi smiled encouragingly. "Good job, Az. Now, with these screens, you can access your class abilities, inventory, and many other features. It's all part of your tutorial, and it will help you become stronger."
Name: Az
Class: Fantasy
Title:-
Level: 1
STR | Strength: 200
DEX | Dexterity: 200
MND | Mind: 200
INT | Intelligence: 200
ARC | Arcane: 200
Alien Skull Available: 0
Az studied the translucent screen in front of him, displaying his character information. He couldn't help but notice one particular field that remained empty: "Title."
With a curious expression, he turned to Lumi. "Why is the title field empty? Does it mean I'm just an anonymous character?"
Lumi shook her head with a knowing smile. "Not at all, Az. Your title will be given based on your actions. It's a reflection of your achievements and your journey. It'll be something unique to you."
Az nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. "Alright, that makes sense. But what about these other attributes like Strength, Dexterity, Mind, Intelligence, and Arcane?"
Lumi pointed to each attribute as she explained. "Strength makes you physically stronger, Dexterity affects your attack speed and agility, Mind affects your Mana usage and allows you to have multiple magic abilities, with the default being just one, Intelligence makes your magic attacks more powerful, and Arcane is a unique attribute. It will lead you to discover more secrets on what's going on, but be aware that it can also lead to a darker path and greater power."
Az absorbed the information, realizing that his stats would be crucial in his journey through this fantastical world.
"And what about 'Alien Skulls'?" he asked, eyeing the last attribute on the screen.
Lumi's expression grew more serious as she explained, "Alien Skulls are earned by defeating the invading aliens. The harder the alien you defeat, the more Alien Skulls you'll receive. They're a testament to your combat prowess and your contribution to the defense of your world."
As Az focused on his profile, a sudden and unexpected disturbance shattered the tranquility of the forest.
Before Az could react, a colossal object hurtled from the sky, casting a massive shadow over them. The ground quaked beneath their feet as the impact reverberated through the forest. Trees swayed, leaves rustled, and Az stood there in wide-eyed amazement, utterly surprised by the sudden turn of events.