My body leaches off the solid concreate beneath me.
As my eyes opened I was only able to see nothing but pure darkness.
Darkness stretched everywhere in the room as though infinite in size. Noting this I panted loudly.
(Good evening User Welcome to the world of rankers.)
"Who said that?"
Panic wells up inside me. my head tilts, looking in all direction only to be met with nothing.
"Hello! Are you here!?" My voice echoes in the void, filled with desperation.
I was met with silence once more, I cursed at myself.
"What motivated me to touching that devil's box"
I groaned loudly
The area couldn't have been deciphered.
My surroundings are a void of darkness, nothing being seen.
"Where... where am I anyway?" I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible
"Let me recollect my thoughts..."
"Okay, so my regular night after my work was done, I undoubtedly got sent to some other realm." My palm made a contact with my forehead
"Sure! that checked out!"sarcasm at the back of my throat.
"Not only that but there's something more here." reaching into my pocket, my phone stood in hand, no signal and with barely any light stretching from the phone's screen towards the darkness.
"How did my phone ended up here with me?"
I know I'm alive, so that's good. a small sigh escapes my parted lips as I confirmed my thoughts
"Everything happened so fast, one second I'm in my room relaxing, the next I'm in, wherever this place is."
That voice just called me a User didn't it. how do I decipher the situation I'm in? My eyes widen as an idea was edged into my mind.
"That's right! why didn't I think of that before. turning on the flashlight" I was disappointed to be met with nothing but the dim light that only revealed my fingers
"You're kidding, I can't I use any form of light in here."
the only reason I'm still sane right now is because I'm not dead. But if there isn't a way to escape this area, then....I might as well be dead.
Hello!!!
Hey!
I know someone's here!
Hey! voice from earlier, you know, you can come out of hiding or wherever you are?
There was dead silence same as before. Nothing.
several hours go by, in a mere instant, at least how much time was countedI sat in the black void, hoping for some sort of conversation before my mind loses it.
how can I counter this....
I was met with a sudden shift in the air, suddenly, numerous amount of words visualize in my head with a similar menu board close to that of a video game.
(Selecting appropriate skills for player)
(…)
(Dark null has been selected for User as base skill, requires 0 mana and 0 stamina, locked.)
(Impenetrable a skill that hardens the player's body to avoid projectile and weapons, locked.)
(Ultra skill Gluttony, allows user to consume mana from anything, tusk allowing user unlimited skills, locked.)
(Air vacuum, a skill that allows user to store weapons even more efficiently
in already acquired dark null, unlocked.)
(Players profile.)
Name: ???
Race: Human/???
Class: ???
Rank: 240
Skills: Dark null, Impenetrable, Water breath, Air hole, Gluttony.
Perks: Electricity Immunity, Fire Immunity, Ice Immunity, Poison Immunity.
Level: ??? starter
So it's like a video game, please let it be like that one game with the party and the demon king, My eyes fluttered with excitement.
No! I need to keep my priorities straight, I might have these skills now, but who's to say I even know how to use them, not only that but this area i'm in, there's no exit, if so, how did I even end up in here.
Can you explain where I am, or any valuable knowledge about this place.
(Answer! User has been brought into the death room, a separate realm from the prestigious spade kingdom, this room was once created by the she-devil 50 years ago.)
(Extra: The kingdom of spade's wealth was built on the rare 'Mithril' mines deep within the mountains of zeldin. Traders from distant lands flocked to markets, to exchange silk, spices, and precious stones for small quantity of valuable metal. The king of this kingdom, is a elderly man, 88 years of age, the king is known as Forger de, le mune, The queen had past away 18 years ago."
Hmm, the more knowledge I have on this world the more easier it is for me to navigate throughout this place.
A strong grip seizes my hair, yanking me forcefully.
Startled I yell out in excruciating pain.
"Ow ow ow! What the hell are you doing, you damn brute!?" My hands pounded on what felt like a shoulder.
My body being pulled along with my hair, I felt the floor getting colder, the more my foot ached against the solid stone floor.
A liquid like substance covered my body before I had felt the texture stone again, touching my foot.
I was dragged in a dark room, surrounded by knights and a man in a black robe, imposing and intimidating.
The man releases his grip. I sigh in relief.
Okay, now this must be the area out of the death room realm.
"It doesn't look like she's from around here."
Said one of the men, the armor silver, dented and intimidating.
"Perhaps a ranker. Can't you feel her mana?"
"But her mana feels like..."
The man in a black robe stomps his staff, silencing them.
"Silence!"
"Yes, Great Emperor!" they all bow instantly, impressive considering their heavy armor.
Glaring at the knights, he raises his staff. His gaze is cold, far more intimidating than my boss.
"Why does your hair look like that? I'm sure you're aware it is an insult," he booms.
My hair? What's wrong with my hair? Failing around, I touched my hair grabbing it looking at my changed hair, but not much could have been seen through the dark room.
Okay, okay, calm down, It's only a hair change, this is fine.
I always wanted to dye my hair anyways... I said to myself, calming down.
"Only rankers have such color hair. If you're imitating them, you'll be executed without hesitation. Your words had better be worth my time."
The knights draw their swords in unison, their steely glares bearing down on me.
Shit.
"Am I kidnapped...?" I stammer, barely audible.
The knights gave a look of confusion.
Oh god, of course this would happen.
I can't understand them, and they can't understand me in turn.
What do I do in this situation, I can't exactly take out a book and practice their language mid kidnapping
(Would player like to activate translate )
Or maybe I can!
If what the voice just said is true, That would mean, I'd just be able to speak their language...
I have don't have much time for this, they seem to be getting closer and closer the more time passes by, that only leads me with this choice.
Alright, use translate.
(...)
(Translate 1%)
(Translate 2%)
My palm makes a loud contact with my face. It stings. The knights all gave me a weird look.
I'll die if I don't do something. Trust a voice in my head. What was I thinking!?
The knights tighten their grip on their swords, the metal glinting ominously in the dim light. Slowly, they begin to advance.
The sound of their armor clinking together sent chills down my spine as they closed the distance, their eyes locked onto my own with unwavering intensity.
I can't die, not like this, I haven't gotten to do the thing that she wanted.
"No!"
I won't let that happen. These people are in the way of my dream, I've always wanted to become a certain role in fantasy.
I hold my arms up in a guarding position. "Whatever you do, please don't kill me!"
My voice echoes throughout the room, almost carrying weight. The knights all stare in shock, my eyes widen as well.
Had I just...obtained the translation?
The Emperor's lips curl into a sinister smile.
"Can you hear me?" He said, with a sharp raspy yet almost calm tone.
"Uh, yeah, who are you?" I responded.
His voice and tone felt less aggressive and more polite than before
"So you're back, truly."
"Luci-"
My face scrunches a little in confusion.
Seeing my confused reaction, his smile falters before he had finished.
"I see, so that's your situation."
"In any case we'll meet again"
His attention turns back to the men in armor.
The dark emperor took a stance off of his throne, his arms made a motion to a light oak door.
"Well men, what are you waiting for? Take her to the king!"
The knights dust me off and lead me into another room. It's a vast hall adorned with shimmering tapestries depicting ancient battles. Golden chandeliers hang from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over the polished marble floor.
"If you're wondering why we didn't kill you, it's a complicated matter I'm afraid," a knight says, resting his hand on my back to keep me at ease.
"Remember this: If you come across a black flame, it'll explain everything to you."
The knight has paused before saying something, meeting my gaze, he muttered something under his breath, something that I couldn't make out properly.
"What was that?"
I said as I stopped walking, my foot now tapping on the ground.
The knight bows along with the others. A small smile forms on my lips. I hadn't any idea what was going on, but it felt nice having others bow down to me.
A dream was happening right now.
Being in a castle, had always been a fantasy of mine as a child. Well, it may have been to be the princess of the castle, but close enough.
At that moment, my smile fades as they nod and walk away. I feel part of my safety vanish along with them.
A sudden question played in my mind.
Why did they suddenly stop and act differently once they heard my voice? There seems to be something beneath the surface here.
The thought weighed heavily on my mind.
(Conclusion: Voices of rankers can be sensed easily due to the skill known as Authority over Will, a glowing energy that fills the air with authority.)
Eeeek! My heart leaps into my throat, and I stumble back, my pulse racing. I dust myself off and rise to my feet.
"Don't do that, okay! I'm already anxious here. I don't even know the layout of this castle."
Sweat trickles down my back, and my hands shake uncontrollably. My breath comes in short, shallow gasps.
(Understood)
(Temporarily deactivating to not startle user.)
Wait, no, don't!
As the voice fades, frustration washes over me.
God dammit.
Frustrated, I take time to think about what the voice said. This Authority over Will could be useful, but that wasn't in my skill board.
About the knights' reaction, something feels like it's missing, like an incomplete puzzle.
I knew deep down that the Great Emperor had been hiding something.
With that thought in my mind, I continue my path across the empty hall, taking in the aesthetic of the area.
If it's true that I've been transported to another world... I have to make it count. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
And to make my dream come true, to do that I must continue on from here.
What lies ahead, only my future self would know.
Oh please, who am I kidding? Judging by how close to death I was just moments ago, I'll barely make it.
My feet pound against the cold, hard tiles, each step echoing through the narrow corridor. The distance between me and the door ahead seems to shrink as my pace quickens, driven by a desperate surge for answers.