Stood alone, Walk alone, and fight alone...
Those are the last words my parents left me before dying.
Now, at 21 years of age, I am the very definition of loneliness.
And it's safe to say, it's been a tough life. Living alone, working for my stomach—everything has been hard.
Even now, I sat alone in my own room, covered by darkness.
The bright light of the computer display illuminated a small portion of the room, displaying various things scattered around.
As I scrolled through social media, a low ding sound caught my attention.
It was a popup notification.
Elddrise Archives
Updated Successfully.
I stared blankly, my eyes emotionless.
I moved my mouse pointer and clicked on the small fireball icon on my desktop.
A rectangular window appeared in the middle of the display.
A vast landscape, with a man wearing armor, standing tall...
Multiple emotions bubbled up inside me—rage, happiness, and most importantly, nostalgia.
But there was also a part of me filled with sadness. Because it's all about to end.
The game Elddrise Archives is ending today.
The servers, the following, the listing—everything will end today.
It's been 6 years since this game's release. It gained popularity with a blink of an eye.
I was also one of the first players.
We used to play a lot. I also had many friends online.
But now, I am alone. I only play this game, and everyone seems to have forgotten it.
One of the reasons was that this game is unbeatable.
Till this day, no one has beaten it.
I also tried, but it was the same.
Leaving was also an option, but I couldn't. This game means a lot to me.
And now, standing here on this day, I am about to go on a last journey, and coincidentally, they added a last update.
I pressed the start button without thinking much.
But...
Good luck, ZERO
Those were the words written on the display...
My eyes widened. Soon after, my vision darkened, and I found myself falling to the floor.
Then everything went dark.
---
As my eyes opened, I found myself lying down.
It was a comfy bed, with white bed sheets and pillows.
Surrounding me were walls made of concrete, with a light green color.
As I got up, confused, I tried to think back.
Memories?
Some unknown memories, both mine and someone else's, swirled inside my mind.
Some merged, making it confusing.
But as if noticing something, the memories separated, creating a synchronized flow.
I now understand something... I am not on Earth anymore.
It's Elddrise.
And as if a trigger had been flicked, my head started to fill with information.
---
[Character Profile]
Name: Zero Black.
Age: 16.
Rank: 2-star intermediate.
Energy: Soul
— Description: An energy made of the purest form of Aether. Potent but hard to cultivate.
Trait: Calm Mind.
— Description: Calms the user's mind. Whenever the user is in danger or high emotional stress, it calms the user's mind within seconds.
•Attributes:
Strength: 2-star intermediate
Stamina: 2-star beginner
Defense: 2-star beginner
Speed: 2-star expert
Willpower: A;
•Soul Energy: LVL. 1 | 20 MAX.
•Skills:
1. Blink (G)
2. Aura Shield (D)
3. Basic Swordsmanship (C)
•Gifts:
1. Eye of Dominance
Rank: Unique
— Description: Can see through anything.
-Effects:
When activated, the user's eyes will glow intensely, and looking into the user's eyes will make anyone flustered and fearful.
-Side effects:
Can cause headaches.
•Combat Arts:
Eclipse
— Description: Black family's art.
— Mastery: 6%
---
I stared blankly at the sudden information appearing inside my head.
It's similar to the game's character profile. But instead of a window, the information is in my head.
But...
"Zero?"
My question left even me bewildered.
Good luck, ZERO
Those words lingered in my mind, the same words I saw before my vision darkened.
But even before my mind could turn chaotic...
Trait: Calm Mind Activated. Calming user's mind.
Soon after, with a soft hum inside my head, the trait Calm Mind activated.
My chaotic thoughts calmed down, like a river.
This sensation is good...
I felt like floating in a cold river...
"But still, it's weird."
"To think, I got transported into Elddrise Archives? And that message…" Gears turned in my mind as I thought of possibilities.
Somehow, someway, I am inside this game, as Zero Black, not a known character, but someone I've never even seen in the game.
"Am I an Extra?" I questioned to myself, my hand on my chin.
Thankfully, my mind is calm due to my trait Calm Mind, or I would have jumped from a building or something.
But, something isn't adding up...
That message...
"The developers?"
"No, it can't be them, then?" I asked, my mind wandering...
"Some god?"
"That's the only conclusion."
"But why? What are they trying to achieve?"
As I was saying that, a blinding light filled the room, and soon, a piece of paper appeared.
It landed gracefully on my lap, glowing with a divine light.
I gulped and picked it up...
Soon, unknown words started appearing on the paper.
— Wait, I can understand?
-
I know what you are thinking...
How can a mere human understand a language such as the divine language?
It's simple. You don't.
The only reason you can is because I let you.
Now, coming to the main reason.
Think of your situation as fixing an error.
A few decades ago, we higher beings made a mistake, resulting in souls being divided into parts and scattered around the multiverse.
At first we thought of leaving at as it it, but as times goes on, it became hard to manage.
So we decided to bring those souls back.
And about your memories, it's just too much of an hassle...
So yeah, it's your life. Live as you like...
-
I stared blankly at the piece of paper. Blinking multiple times.
"What?!!!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
Trait: Calm Mind Activated. Calming user's mind.
My mind calmed down—well, at least I could stay calm in a situation like this.
The paper in my hand started to disappear into thin air, as if it never existed.
—As expected of divine objects, I said in intrigue.
But...
"What now?"
"It's not like I can go around and tell everyone, 'Look at me, I'm a transmigrator.'"
"No, that's hilarious."
I contemplated.
"There's also the option to live peacefully."
But there is a problem.
I belong to the Black family, one of the five main families ruling the Gaya continent.
So yeah, we are quite popular. But not me, though.
And being from a great family comes at a cost. We, as the next generation rulers of Gaya, have some duties to fulfill.
One of them is to graduate from the Academy.
Although I have no intention of getting involved in family matters or the storyline, but I still have to go...
Because in my previous life, I didn't attend high school...
Yeah, pathetic.
But at that time, I had to work to live.
But now that I have a chance, I'll take it, even if it's a magic academy.
And the game isn't that tough anyway.
If you look from a player's perspective, yeah, it's hardcore, but not for me. I'm just an extra. I have no storyline.
I smiled...
"How long has it been since I smiled?"
I can't remember, but I'm sure of one thing.
This time, I will live happily.
"I don't know who you were, but thanks, even if you didn't intend to."
"Thanks for bringing me here."
Click—!
The door opened slowly...
"Big-Brother, are you talking to ghost's?"
Peeking from outside was a little kid around 5 years old.
Her small face with her green eyes looked at me curiously.
"Ah!... No, I was talking to myself," I said, scratching my head with a wary smile.
"Big brother is boring!" She said looking disappointed. "And Mommy is Calling, breakfast is read."
"Coming."
As soon as I said that, she was gone,the sound of her footsteps lingering...
Sigh—! Kids.
Letting out a sigh, I turned toward the distance, the buildings through the window.
Standing tall in the distance was a tower, piercing the heavens.
"Let's see what the future holds."
==================
FF(Fun fact): While writing this my little cousin came to my room, and had almost the same conversation... Lol
A/N: Writing quality will be like this for the rest of the novel, it's easy and fun to write. Idea from Korian Novels.