Realms Online -
A game that openly goes beyond conventional thought or understanding. It was the breakthrough point of humanity into a new beginning and the influence it has on daily life is projected to exceed the impact electricity had on civilization.
The game is built in an alternate dimension called the Astral Realm. A real plane of existence invaded by human powerhouses and controlled by arcane technology.
The Astral Realm is split into 9 regions, all filled with abundant resources for cultivation a realm abundant in force. However, the human body can't enter into the realm and only human consciousness can ably enter into the realm, leading to research into games as a means to build a stable connection to the Astral Realm.
Arcane crystals formed by the fragments of the A.I. main core that was corrupted within the realm were found to be able to allow consciousness that had been projected into the realm to reflect their strength into the real world making it possible for humans to grow stronger via these means
The 9 regions were structured under the influence of these crystals making them the most precious resource in the Astral realm. Some human powerhouses sacrificed their physical bodies to enter the Astral realm to obtain these crystals. Upon obtaining a bunch of them they discovered that each crystal had a different function some were responsible for the world structure some for the occurrence of disasters, and many were even responsible for the creation of living things, some of which could even utilize the energy of the Astral realm to make intelligent creatures.
On realizing the crystals' uniqueness these powerhouses tried to retrieve them however as they were only consciousness, they could not recover a lot of them. But after several sacrifices, they obtained 99 crystals which were used to create the foundation of the game. Several ability users integrated the crystals into the core of the Astral realm making the humans that access the Astral realm via these unique cores appear as regular inhabitants of the Astral realm
Finally, the servers were built to make the most of the few crystals they could get. Although humans accessing the realm are different from the inhabitants they are beloved of the realm due to the aura of the crystals on them. Drawing on this, the powerhouses aimed to conquer the Astral realm with the new army of human players and their unique abilities. And refine the realm's core to break through the Grade 9 Divine Being realm. This caused friction between the higher leading to various factions forming all needing to take possession of the Astral realm for their own holy and unholy purposes
However unknown to them a powerful hidden faction had obtained the 100th Arcane crystal. They obtained this crystal from the very core of the Astral realm the hidden 10th region and this crystal's server had just come online, able to turn the fate of both realms on their heads.
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As the bright light faded Alex found himself in a boundless white-washed space not a shadow in sight
"Where am I?" Alex asked puzzled
"This is the independent server, Alex." a childish voice said from beside his ear
Startled he steps away sharply, to discover a midnight black cat with startlingly glowing eyes, like two soul-stirring orbs floating within a darkness that seemed to devour the surrounding white
"Who are you?" Alex asked making a conscious effort to seem unfrightened by the bizarre creature's appearance. "Where is this?"
"This is the independent server separate from the human's general server. Unobservable by everyone friend and enemy alike." The creature responded there was no way such a thing could be a cat
"Then why am I here?" Alex asked gradually calming down knowing that no matter what at the moment, his life was not at risk as this being needed him alive for some reason.
"Because you are special." The creature replied with a toothy grin appearing on its face.
"Who are you then and what do you know about me?"
"I am called Felix by those close to me. I am the guardian creature of the Keepers sworn to guide each new patriarch to their full potential and as for you." Felix said approaching Alex and walking in the air till he was directly in his face staring directly into his eyes peering into Alex's soul as though he wanted to draw it out and play with it.
"You are the three hundred and sixtieth patriarch."
Those words seemed so binding when put together in Felix's voice that it sent goosebumps through Alex's body.
"Don't be shocked Alex you come from a long line of first sons going back to the prestellar eras. I've been watching you for a very long time." Felix said and pointed at his forehead releasing a streak of black light and several images appeared in his mind. Some showed him lying asleep in a cradle with Felix by his side. Others showed how Felix had protected him on several occasions growing up, protecting him from minor troubles. One even showed Felix standing on his mother's sick bed while he was with her. Alex could feel that these images were not forged. Calming himself down after the reveal he thought of what to say and asked suddenly.
"Is my father alive?"
Felix smiled again fully displaying rows of sharp opined teeth but was silently staring at Alex as though measuring him up. For a solid minute, neither said a word and neither looked away. Just when Alex was thinking of retracting his words Felix said
"He is but he isn't."
"How is that possible?" Alex asked shocked not actually expecting a response
"No no no you are too weak," Alex Felix said teasingly in his childish voice which seemed so jarring in contrast to its demonic look.
"That knowledge won't do you any good. In fact, you are too weak to even know of my existence. If she should find out you exist or have even come here the world as you know it would be gone in an instant gone over the edge before you could even blink.
Stunned by the sudden change of topic Alex lost his next words and before he could say anything Felix said
"The reason you are here is more important than the answers you are seeking."
"So why am I here?"
"For the Origin Trials," Felix said solemnly
"What are the..." Alex was saying but was immediately cut off by Felix who began to explain
"I'm getting to that. The Origin Trials are a set of tests five in number that test your Intellect, Determination, Adaptability, Fate, and Morals. Even in all my millennial existence, I have never seen a more dangerous but comprehensive test done. The trial will not be done on your Body Mind or Consciousness however it will be done directly on your Soul. You will not have any memories before the start of the trial as your soul will be directly tested in its entirety, hence the name Origin trials. If you fail you will lose the title of Patriarch of the Keepers but should you pass even one of the tests the rewards will be beyond your imagination. The rewards with the strength to stand above all of existence."
As Felix spoke his eyes seemed to glow with ever-growing intensity the atmosphere turned electrifying Alex's heart was pounding with emotions too complex to describe a passion building up in intensity within his very being the terrible reality of his weakness, how his mates had left him in the dust due to his failure to awaken his ability his powerlessness as he watched his mother die his close friend forced to go the wrong path due to their powerless state having to live as though navigating a dark alleyway cautious of every shadow along the way
The yearning within him seemed to be awakened, his body burning in a previously sealed hunger for power, for dominance, for peerlessness. He was unleashed.
Felix calmly watched as all this was happening even as Alex seemed to gather all of these crazed emotions and within a minute calmed down. Taking a long deep breath he opened his eyes. A glint of Mania flashed but instantly vanished like an illusion
"Felix," he said in a shockingly calm tone
"Start the trial."
"You have to know that this trial is no ordinary trial. While the trial is ongoing time is of no consequence to you, as you would return to this very moment when the trial was started. However, due to the trial's nature, your body would never age during this period. Are you sure you want to go ahead with it now? It is very likely your entire personality and memories would be distorted due to the trials. You may even lose some treasured memories." Felix asked coyly.
"Just do it," Alex said sternly.
Felix smiled and swiped in the air and all light was suddenly lost
Within the real world at the tree stump, a special frequency was suddenly released from the ring hanging from the necklace. A massive spectral cat seemed to appear and swallowed Alex up, a spatial crack suddenly engulfing the cat leaving only the silent courtyard.