Darkness enveloped young Michael Elliott as his battered body plummeted into the abyss. The dimming light above faded rapidly, swallowed by the endless void as he fell hundreds of feet from the chaotic world above. He reached out instinctively, grasping for the unreachable light, but his efforts were in vain. The color of the surrounding rocks shifted from a deep, desolate black to a hellish red, the air thickening with the stench of decay. As his life flashed before his eyes, the stale air flooded his punctured lungs, each breath a painful reminder of his impending demise.
Michael's descent ended abruptly as he landed softly on a circular altar, his body seemingly suspended in the air for a brief moment before settling. A cold, disembodied voice echoed around him, emanating from an unknown source.
"What do you wish for?"
Michael's mind, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness, barely registered the question. The blood loss had finally overpowered the adrenaline surging through his veins, dragging him into the depths of delirium.
"What do you wish for?" The voice repeated, just as cold and commanding as before.
Through parched, bloodied lips, Michael managed to whisper a single word: "Power."
In that moment, despite his fading consciousness, a status menu materialized before his eyes, displaying an unfamiliar prompt:
"God of Death #073 wishes to change your class to 'Death Angel.' Do you accept? [Yes/Yes]
"God of Death #073 wishes to sacrifice all your levels to fulfill your wish and grant 'Optimal Race Change + Full Heal.' Do you accept? [Yes/Yes]
"God of Death #073 wishes to alter your status menu. Do you accept? [Yes/Yes]
Failure to select an option will result in the default choice [Yes] being selected for all options.
Time remaining: 12 seconds.
Michael had only a brief moment to glance at these options before the darkness overtook him completely, his life slipping away.
But then, the unseen deity intervened:
"God of Death #073 sacrifices [The Ebony Heart] to end the timer."
The choices were locked in.
Class changing… Failed. Wish must be fulfilled first… 'Full Heal' downgraded to 'Partial Heal' as compensation.
Wish being consumed… Success. Race changing… Success. DNA altered to Fallen Seraph. 'Partial Heal' applied… Success.
Class changing… Failure. Restarting… Class changing… Success! Class changed to Death Angel.
Status menu altering… Failure. Restarting… Status menu altering… Success! Status menu has been optimized according to user's desires.
Warning! God Kings alerted! God of Death #073 has been eliminated for tampering with the system. Balance restored.
Fortunately for Michael, he remained unconscious in a pool of his own blood, oblivious to the fact that the God Kings of the universe were now monitoring his every move.
But let's rewind the clock to a time before this child found himself thrust into a world far too cruel for someone born in the 21st century.
March 14, 2022.
Tuesday—the most ordinary day of the school week. It was the second week of the semester, and Michael Elliott, a high school senior, stood at his bus stop, dreading the math and history homework he had neglected the night before. Standing at 180 centimeters, his dark brown hair caught the early morning light.
After a 30-minute bus ride, Michael slumped into his seat for the first period. As usual, he was ignored by everyone—a situation he found convenient, as it allowed him to sleep through class after finishing his work. It was an easy course, practically a free period, and he relished the chance to catch up on sleep.
His average appearance—neither ugly nor particularly handsome—ensured he blended into the background. He was always neat, his hair kept short and tidy, but it did little to help him in social situations. He had never pursued a relationship, content with his solitude. He wasn't shy, capable of giving presentations with ease, but he preferred to stay out of the spotlight, avoiding the judgmental stares that occasionally came his way.
As the bell signaled the end of class, Michael awoke from his nap, sweating and rushing to avoid being late for his next class. Metallurgy, his favorite subject, was up next—a rare offering at his tech school that allowed students to work with their hands and easily boost their GPA. However, being the last to arrive, Michael was stuck with the worst tools, further souring his day.
As he focused on crafting a brooch he had been working on for several days, a familiar voice chimed in behind him.
"Good morning, Michael~"
The voice belonged to Valencia Sterling, the school's goddess and Michael's childhood friend, who was the only person to talk to him willingly. Standing at an average height of 162 centimeters with jet-black hair that cascaded down to her waist, Valencia was a sight to behold.
"When are you going to finish that piece of jewelry and give it to me?" Valencia teased, her tone playful.
If looks could kill, Michael would have died a thousand deaths from the envious stares of the other guys in the class. He always dreaded these interactions—yes, she was cute, and yes, she was kind, but the attention they drew exhausted him mentally.
"I'm not going to give it to you," he replied curtly, hoping to end the conversation quickly so he could fade back into the background.
"What do you mean, no? Aren't I your girlfriend, after all?" Valencia's voice was light, but the tension in the room skyrocketed as the other males glared daggers at Michael.
"You're not. Now, please go away," Michael muttered, hoping his rejection would diffuse the situation. Instead, it only seemed to enrage the others.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Michael swiftly put away his tools, tucking the finished brooch into his shirt pocket before escaping the classroom. The rest of his day went surprisingly well—he managed to avoid getting scolded by his math teacher for forgetting a multi-week assignment. But as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, his luck ran out when he realized he would miss the bus due to an urgent need to visit the restroom.
After quickly finishing his business, he heard voices echoing in the empty math building.
"I told you, I'm not interested in dating you. Please leave me alone."
"Come on, I saw the way you looked at me in ELA today. I know you have feelings for me, more than that loser Michael."
"Don't call him that!"
"Why not? I know he knows you like him, but he'll never accept you. Let me deal with him—he doesn't deserve someone like you."
Curiosity piqued, Michael crept closer and was shocked to find Ethan Parker, the most handsome guy in school, pinning Valencia against the wall. She looked terrified. Though Michael wasn't particularly fond of Valencia, he couldn't just leave her in such a situation.
"Hey! Get off of her, Ethan!" Michael shouted, stepping forward.
"Would you look at that, Valencia? Your little hero has decided to play the knight in shining armor. I'll show you just how superior I am to this twerp."
As Michael reached out to push Ethan away, a fist suddenly connected with his face, dislocating his jaw and sending him crashing to the ground.
"See that, Valencia? He's so weak he couldn't even defend himself. Let's go. I'm much better for you than he is."
But Valencia rushed to Michael's side instead, trying to comfort him.
"Michael! Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?" Michael, dazed and in pain, could barely move, the searing agony in his face making it difficult to even turn his head.
"Ethan! How could you do that? He didn't even try to hurt you!" Valencia berated Ethan, but he simply shrugged it off.
"Who cares about a weakling like him? Let's go watch a movie tonight; it'll help you forget about this loser."
None of them noticed the faint dodecahedron forming around them, its edges glowing as it reached its full size. In an instant, the strange shape flared brightly, engulfing the three students in light and transporting them to an unknown world, billions of light-years away.
As these three unwitting adventurers began their journey in this new, perilous world, the school struggled to explain how three students could have simply vanished into thin air, caught on camera in a flash of light. But as time passed, the world moved on, leaving their disappearance a forgotten mystery.