A warm glow illuminated a small room, causing the boy nestled on his bed to shuffle his feet underneath the covers.
"Arthur, hun," he heard from outside. "You're gonna be late if you don't hurry!"
This prompted the boy to slowly rise. He looked around before stretching his arms while yawning.
This was Arthur Bennett, a boy with a carefree attitude.
How could he not be unrestricted by anxiety or responsibilities? He was home, and he felt safe under the protection of God.
Somewhere in the distance, laughter echoed, mingling with the sound of a wooden door creaking open. Voices floated in, muffled yet familiar, and he knew yet could not see—his mother and father.
Their images remained elusive, as if their faces were obscured like smudged white ink on a canvas.
"Come on, Arthur, it's time for church!" the woman said.
The tone—loving but firm—nudged him from the comfortable cocoon of his bed. He rose from his bed as his tiny feet padded softly against the cool floor.
It was time to attend their regular church service.
After preparing himself accordingly, he followed the echoes of laughter that led him to the door. The instant his parents opened the door, his eyes squinted against the brilliant glow.
The world outside was vibrant; colours were sharper and more vivid than he had remembered. It was as though the universe conspired to present him with a chef d'oeuvre.
He stepped forward, his hand grasping firmly in a larger one, moving as one with his parents toward the church that beckoned from the distance.
The church stood tall and proud, its steeple reaching for the clouds. The structure itself emanated warmth and grace, inviting souls from all walks of life to gather within its sturdy walls.
Arthur could almost hear the hymns, filling his heart until it swelled to bursting.
He enjoyed attending church. It was one of the few places where the light shone the brightest.
The chatter of the congregation continued around him as families exchanged greetings.
"Is that little Arthur?!" a woman gleamed at him. He couldn't make out her features, but he remembered this to be the pastor's wife—a loving woman who knew how to make him smile. "Look how big you've gotten!"
Arthur couldn't help but laugh and give a genuine smile as she embraced him.
Inside, the wooden pews were polished to a shine, filled with faces turned upward in reverence. All remained indistinct, blurred by a mysterious haze.
Arthur's heart skipped as he climbed up to the front of the church. With arms lifted, he praised our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Though he doesn't see God, he cannot deny the existence of the Almighty and believes on Jesus.
Joy washed over him like sunshine on a spring day, and he closed his eyes, letting the music envelop him, feeling as if he were floating on a cloud.
The service eventually came to an end.
As the congregation stirred into joyous conversation, Arthur casually stepped outside.
There, he took everything in. He breathed in the crisp air and felt a sense of happiness that nothing on earth could fill.
His childhood was one of innocence and privilege. He was the solitary bloom in his parents' garden, nurtured with an abundance of love and care.
Their home wasn't as big as those affluent, earthly mansions. But it was somewhere he grew up—a place that held meaning.
From the towering oak in the backyard that served as his personal kingdom to the winding paths that led him to the heart of the woods, his world was an expansive playground.
Summers were hot, and winters were cold. Yet, amidst the seasons, Arthur was taught the good of this world.
His mind was a sponge, absorbing knowledge with an insatiable curiosity. Books were his companions, which allowed him to garner some knowledge.
His parents, recognizing this spark, cultivated it with care, tutoring him and mentoring him personally as opposed to sending him to public schools. This, of course, relied heavily on biblical principles and true stories from the holy bible.
However, Arthur's education extended beyond the confines of academia. Life itself became his greatest teacher.
Through experience and growth, he came to understand the depths of the heavens above and the earth beneath. Man's heart was also made known unto him, for there was nothing that he didn't understand.
The playground was his classroom, where he learned the nuances of friendship, the sting of betrayal, and the power of empathy. Companionship was a lesson in compassion that he would never forget.
A lie exposed, a trust broken, taught him the value of honesty.
Through these experiences, Arthur was moulded, his character was refined like precious metal in the furnace.
He was learning the art of resilience, the importance of perseverance, and the power of connection. Be it evil or good, he understood it and embraced the spirit of wisdom.
His own spiritual growth was equally profound. Church was more than just a Wednesday and Sunday gathering; it was a sanctuary where he found solace and connected with something greater than himself. The teachings of Christ resonated with his soul, planting seeds of faith, hope, and love. These values became the bedrock upon which he would build his character.
Overall, his childhood was rich in colour and texture, a foundation upon which he would construct the rest of his life. It was a time of innocence and discovery, of growth and transformation.
And as he stood on the precipice of adulthood, he carried within him those same formative teachings for years, a compass guiding him through the uncharted waters of things to come.
Back at the church, as Arthur's family and him prepared to depart, a figure emerged from the throng of the churchgoers. An older man approached him with an intensity that captured his attention. Much like his parents, the man's face was obscured by a hazy light.
"Arthur," the pastor said. "I have a prophecy for you."
The words struck Arthur like a bell's toll, ringing with both dread and intrigue.
"A prophecy?" he replied. "What do you mean, pastor? What kind of prophecy?"
The pastor smiled gently, yet there was gravity in the depths of his eyes as he said, "You will face a trial, young one. A test that will take you far beyond these familiar shores. You will meet strange faces, forge a route that will leave behind destruction and chaos wherever you step, and together you will traverse into the enemy's territory."
Arthur blinked, puzzled by the cryptic message. "Enemy's territory?" he asked. "What does that mean? And why can't I see anyone's face? Why do you all—" His words tumbled over themselves, concern building in his chest.
"The workings of fate are complex," the pastor interrupted, his tone both soothing and firm. "What I can tell you is this: Never lose faith, for faith will be your ally. When temptation calls and doubt pulls at your heart, let your faith in Jesus guide you. You are destined for greatness beyond your years, but the road will not be easy."
Arthur's heart pounded, the weight of the message settling like a heavy cloak.
"I—I'll try to remember. But… What do I do?" he asked, desperation thick in his voice.
"Trust in no one you meet, my son," the pastor encouraged, his expression softening. "Trust in God and God alone."
Before Arthur could respond, the pastor reached out, and warmth enveloped him like a father's embrace. Then the world around him began to blur away, the brightness swallowing everything whole, and for a heartbeat, fury and anguish buzzed in his chest.
A sudden rush of wind yanked him back as he slowly opened his eyes.
Arthur lifted his head, feeling the firm branches on his back. The coarse bark pressed against him like a reminder of the solid world he occupied.
He blinked into the darkness, the den of night swallowing his surroundings in deep hues.
He had been dreaming—dreaming of a time when he was on earth. But it hadn't felt like a dream. It was more like a distant memory that he had forgotten over the years.
Arthur was always able to dream, even in this digital world. Yet this felt more like a vision.
It took a moment for his senses to acclimate to his environment. He leaned against the sturdy branch beneath him, taking in the all-too-familiar sounds of the world he dwelled in: the rustling of leaves, the distant chatter of creatures, and the gentle murmur of his own breath.
This was no quaint church; this was the world of ninjas—the world of Naruto.
Several months after his arrival at Elysium's headquarters, he was thrust into this strange world after being lied to.
Taken to prison on his first hour here, he had made a declaration not to be trampled on but to become a villain that this world had never seen.
Although there were six others taken here with him, he was the solo player and the only one who understood the severity of this experiment: dying here meant dying in real life.
But Arthur, being the Christian that he is, is not scared of death. No, not anything.
As such, he did whatever it took for him to gain an edge over his enemies. These non-playable characters (NPC) might have felt real and alive, but they were not more than digital bards constructed by artificial intelligence.
To him, they were nothing more than stepping stones, mere tools to help him achieve his ultimate goal—escape. To thrive in this world, it wasn't always about power but about perseverance and acclimation. He more than just adapted to his new environment; he suckered their leaders, survived tumultuous battles, and overcame treacherous beasts of gargantuan sizes.
Who among the fans of this world could truly survive this evil and godless world like Arthur has been doing? Surely there is none.
After acquiring various Kekkei Genkai, or special bloodline techniques, he faced countless battles. Be they were the main characters or the other players themselves, through faith, he was able to overcome his adversities.
He by no means can be counted on as a killer, a murderer, or a liar, for these things are what sinners do on earth. Yet he was not on earth; he was living his life in a game—one that required him to do what he needed without breaking the laws of salvation.
That saying isn't for everyone or easy to handle. That's what makes him special.
With a soft sigh, Arthur shifted his position, allowing the tingling sensation in his limbs to fade.
He reached for the small pouch strapped to his waist and pulled it closer, searching within its depths. With care, he withdrew a scroll and stared down at the initials scrawled across its surface: "N + S."
It was a simple combination, yet it burned with significance that could potentially ignite this world in flames one day.
This scroll represented something monumental—the key he needed to unlock the potential he felt was attainable, the power that would allow him to rise against the challenges ahead.
The faint glimmers of distant stars peered through the branches above, twinkling reminders of hope.
Arthur clutched the scroll tightly in his hands as the memory of the pastor's words echoed around him, wrapping him in a gentle cocoon.
"You are destined for greatness beyond your years," he whispered to himself.
Staring into the vast expanse of the night sky, he remained ever-so calm. He could hardly fathom the journey that lay before him, but he could feel the stirring of something incredible beginning to awaken in his core.
With resolve, he scanned the darkened forest, knowing that shadows could not snuff out the flame of faith ignited in his heart. He took a relaxed breath, the cool air filling his lungs while keeping those same flames burning.
Regardless of the challenges the darkness presented, he would always remain vigilant, embracing each encounter with the strength of Christ as his guide.
Tonight was only the beginning.