It started like any other day: alarm clock blaring, rushing through breakfast, and making my way to school. After a half-hearted attendance check in homeroom, I slumped back in my seat, half-listening to the teacher's lecture. It was the usual routine, nothing out of the ordinary.
But then, without warning, everything changed.
A sudden, blinding flash of lightning tore through the classroom, crackling and roaring with an intensity that left us all stunned. For a moment, it felt as if the sky itself had shattered. My vision went white, and then... nothing. Darkness swallowed me whole.
When I came to, I wasn't in my classroom anymore. Instead, I found myself sprawled on the ground, surrounded by my classmates. We were in a vast, unfamiliar place, the air thick with a strange, electric hum. It looked like a grand hall from a fantasy RPG—towering pillars, intricately carved walls, and flickering torches casting shadows on the floor.
"What the hell is this place?" someone muttered, their voice echoing in the cavernous space. But the words barely registered as I looked around. Weapons of every kind were scattered around us: swords, bows, daggers, magic staffs—you name it, it was there. It felt like we had stepped straight into a game.
"What's going on?" Aki, my best friend, said, his eyes wide as he picked up a sword. The others quickly followed suit, each drawn to a weapon as if it were calling their name. Most of the guys grabbed swords, while the girls gravitated towards the magic staffs, the glowing crystals at their tips sparking with potential. The air buzzed with excitement and confusion.
I couldn't move, my eyes fixed on something strange. Embedded in the back of my hand was a crystal, pulsing with a faint blue light. Everyone had one, each a different color, shimmering with a mystic glow. As I stared, a floating screen appeared before me, startling me back to reality. It was like a video game stat window, and it listed my name and a bunch of attributes: Strength, Agility, Magic, Defense, and more. Below was a pool of unassigned points, waiting for me to allocate them.
"Distribute your points wisely," the screen read in glowing text.
Everyone started tapping on their screens, choosing their stats with eager faces. Aki split his points evenly, going for a balanced build. I noticed my classmates doing the same, spreading their points across the board. But me? I was different.
I took a step back, still trying to make sense of it all. My eyes wandered, and that's when I saw it—a shield, propped up against a nearby wall, slightly dusted but still gleaming. Unlike the swords and staffs, it looked sturdy, dependable. My hand reached out almost instinctively, grasping the cool metal of its handle. It felt right.
The moment I touched it, my stats window flickered. I hesitated, but something told me to do it. Ignoring every other stat, I dumped all my points into Defense. I felt a rush of energy, like a heavy wave crashing over me, and the screen flashed once more.
"Congratulations, you have been awarded the title: Tank."
The word hung in the air, bold and undeniable. I glanced around, seeing my classmates testing their new weapons and skills. Some were slashing through the air, others casting spells, all looking stronger and more confident. But none of them had the word "Tank" floating above their heads like I did.
"Tank? Seriously?" Aki laughed, giving me a nudge. "You're really going all-in on defense, huh?"
I shrugged, feeling the weight of the shield in my grip. It was heavy but reassuring, as if it were whispering that I'd made the right choice.
"Yeah," I said, smiling. "Guess someone has to take the hits."
Little did we know, this was just the beginning of our journey. In a world where danger lurked around every corner, I was ready to stand my ground. With my shield in hand and my newfound title, I was more than just a student. I was the Tank—the one who'd protect us all.