A New Beginning
Ron sat in his dimly lit room, his body weighed down by exhaustion and despair. Life had been relentlessly cruel to him. As an orphan, he had known nothing but hardship, scraping by each day without any sense of purpose or hope. He had no family, no friends, and no answers about where he came from or why he was left to fend for himself. His entire existence felt like a series of unanswered questions, leaving him drained and hollow. That night, as he slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the cracks in the wall, he had never felt more alone.
Then, out of nowhere, something changed.
On the small table beside his bed, a book suddenly appeared. Ron blinked in disbelief. The cover was made of some strange, shimmering material, and no title adorned it. His curiosity stirred, despite his weariness. Tentatively, he reached out, opening the book to its first page. Instead of words, a soft, glowing light emanated from the pages. The light seemed to pulse, almost as if the book were alive, waiting for him to act.
"Are you lost? Do you seek answers?" a voice echoed in his mind.
Ron, startled, glanced around, but there was no one in the room. The voice, however, persisted.
"I can offer you a new beginning—a chance to change your fate. I can give you the power to find your parents and learn the truth about your past."
Ron's heart skipped a beat. His parents? He had never known anything about them. His entire life, he had wondered who they were and why they abandoned him. Was this book offering him the chance to finally know?
Intrigued but cautious, Ron asked aloud, "What do you want in return?"
The voice answered, calm and reassuring, "Only your willingness to walk a new path. If you agree, you will be transported to another world—one where hard work is rewarded, and you can become strong enough to find the answers you seek. But you must make the choice."
The thought of leaving his current life behind, a life filled with loneliness and suffering, appealed to Ron more than he could explain. With barely a second thought, he nodded in agreement.
In an instant, the world around him shifted. A portal materialized before him, swirling with energy, and without hesitation, Ron stepped through. His heart raced as he was pulled into a new realm, the sensation of weightlessness overwhelming him.
When he opened his eyes, Ron found himself standing in a vast, unfamiliar landscape. The air was crisp, the sky an unfamiliar shade of blue, and towering structures rose in the distance. He felt different—lighter, yet stronger, as though this world itself was energizing him. The book appeared in his hand once more, opening to a new page.
"Check your status," the voice instructed.
A strange interface materialized in front of Ron's eyes, showing him his basic stats:
Strength: 5
Stamina: 6
Intelligence: 10
Agility: 4
Mana: 0
Skills: ---
"These are your starting stats," the voice explained. "In this world, progress is determined by hard work and effort, not by luck. To grow stronger, you must train, acquire new skills, and challenge the trials ahead."
Ron absorbed the information, noting how weak he seemed compared to this world's potential. His intelligence was his strongest attribute, but without physical prowess or skills, he would struggle. Before he could ask further questions, the voice continued.
"This realm is governed by gods and demons. To ascend and fulfill your goals, you must choose a deity to follow. I recommend a god who once was human, someone who gained their divine status through practice and discipline. Their path may align with your own journey."
Ron's mind raced. A god who had once been human? Could someone like that guide him to the answers he sought? The voice paused for a moment, then delivered the final piece of the puzzle.
"The ultimate goal of this world is to ascend the tower. Built by gods and demons, it was destroyed by the God of Death, Shiva, but has since been rebuilt. It contains 100 floors, each filled with trials. Reach the top, and you can become a god or demon yourself. But beware—the journey will be perilous. Many have tried, and few have succeeded."
"Why should I do this?" Ron asked, still uncertain of his role in this world."