The rhythmic thrum of machinery echoed through the industrial maze of Velmont's lower districts. Giovanni Sungwo leaned against a rusting beam in the corner of the warehouse, the dull glow of his scanner flickering as he logged another shipment of drone parts. His shoulders ached from hours of repetitive labor, but he didn't stop—not because he cared about the job, but because stopping gave Horace, his manager, an excuse to yell.
The world outside was no better. Velmont was a city defined by desperation—a tangled sprawl of broken buildings and flickering neon signs. Each day felt the same: wake up, work, go home.
Giovanni rubbed his temple as the scanner jammed again. "Piece of junk," he muttered, giving it a half-hearted shake.
The warehouse speakers crackled to life. "Sungwo! Move it or you're clocking out early," Horace barked.
"Wish I could clock out forever," Giovanni murmured under his breath.
His mother, Kaori, was the only thing tethering him to Velmont. She worked tirelessly, stitching clothes and taking in repairs for wealthier districts, her ancient sewing machine humming late into the night.
"Don't forget why you're doing this, Gio," she'd said once.
Her voice echoed in his mind now, a mix of love and quiet resignation. She had always been the strong one, the one who stayed even when everything fell apart—when Ayane, his sister, left for Naris-7, and when his father…
Giovanni shook his head. He didn't like thinking about his father. The man was a ghost, more rumor than reality. All he knew was that he'd been a soldier—a figure of strength in a world that ground people down.
The Ring around Giovanni's neck was the only thing left of him. It was plain, worn, and heavy—an heirloom passed down through the family, though its origin was a mystery.
Kaori had once said it came from an ancestor who'd fought in some forgotten war, but her explanations always trailed off, as if she wasn't telling the whole story.
Giovanni's shift ended like every other—except for the sky.
He stepped outside, the air thick with smog and the faint hum of distant traffic. But tonight, the usual amber glow of Velmont's artificial lights was drowned out by something far stranger.
The sky churned, streaked with red and gold, as if the universe had torn itself open. A low vibration hummed through the streets, setting every Ring in the district aglow.
"Holy shit," someone murmured. A crowd began to gather, staring upward.
"It's the Stellar Flare Event," said another voice.
Giovanni had heard about it on the news—a cosmic phenomenon visible once every century. Scientists had been buzzing about its arrival for weeks, but Giovanni hadn't cared.
Now, it felt impossible to ignore.
His Ring grew warm against his chest, and Giovanni instinctively grabbed it. The metal vibrated, an unnatural hum resonating through his body.
"What the hell…" he whispered.
Before he could process what was happening, the world froze.
Everything went silent.
Giovanni blinked, his breath catching as Velmont dissolved around him. In its place was a vast, endless void—an expanse of shifting light and shadow.
Then came the voice.
"Welcome, Giovanni."
It wasn't loud, but it cut through the silence like a blade. He turned, his heart pounding, and came face-to-face with… something.
The being shifted constantly—jagged lines of light, spiraling darkness, and flashes of incomprehensible shapes. Its form defied logic, as if it existed to mock reality itself.
"I..." Giovanni stammered. "What is this? Who are you?"
The being tilted its head, a grotesque approximation of curiosity. "Oh, I have so many names. But you…" Its voice shifted, becoming sharp and mocking. "You can call me the Architect."
The name resonated in Giovanni's mind, but it didn't translate properly. Instead, it fractured into incomprehensible symbols: ^^&&%%#.
He clutched his head, stumbling.
"Oh, delightful," the Architect said, its tone dripping with amusement. "You can't even comprehend my name, can you? Humans are so fragile."
Without warning, the void shifted again. Giovanni was surrounded by visions—worlds collapsing, cities burning, and people screaming as crimson fire consumed them.
"These," the Architect cooed, "are your predecessors. Each of them thought they were special. Each of them believed they could outwit me."
Giovanni's breath hitched as he saw their faces contort in agony, their screams echoing in his mind. The images burned into him, searing themselves into his memory.
"Stop it!" he shouted.
"Stop?" the Architect laughed, the sound shattering like glass. "Oh, Giovanni, this is just the beginning."
The void cracked, and Giovanni felt himself being pulled apart. His body shattered, reformed, shattered again.
"Oops," the Architect said with mock regret as Giovanni collapsed. "I think I broke you. Let's fix that."
Giovanni gasped as he was suddenly whole again, his heart pounding.
"Too easy," the Architect murmured. "Do try to last longer next time."
As Giovanni tried to steady himself, a new set of symbols appeared before him:
[WELCOME TO THE RING SYSTEM.]
[USER IDENTIFIED: GIOVANNI SUNGWO.]
[FIRST MISSION: ACQUIRE PROFIT. MINIMUM: $1,000.]
[FAILURE: MEMORY FRAGMENTATION.]
"What... what is this?" Giovanni asked, his voice shaking.
"It's a game," the Architect said, its tone sweet and condescending. "And you're the newest player. Isn't that exciting?"
Giovanni staggered back, shaking his head. "I didn't sign up for this!"
The Architect leaned closer, its shifting form filling Giovanni's vision. "Oh, but you did. The moment you put on that little trinket. Now, run along. Let's see if you survive."
Giovanni jolted awake, the cold pavement of the alley digging into his back. The hum of the Stellar Flare Event was gone, replaced by the distant sounds of Velmont's chaos.
His Ring pulsed faintly against his chest, and the System's timer hovered in his vision:
[MISSION TIMER: 23 HOURS, 47 MINUTES REMAINING.]
Giovanni sat up, his breaths shallow.
"What the hell just happened?"
The Ring gave no answer.