The sky glowed a foreboding grey, urging mortals to flee and save themselves. The sun burned crimson, a sinister omen of the blood that would soon stain the heavens. Violent winds tore across the lands, toppling mountains and ripping apart the earth, while the sea roared with fury, its monstrous waves crashing together in chaos. Amid this cataclysm, we, the beings of absolute power, prepared for battle—a war that pitted the myths of old against the legends of a new age.
The struggle was fierce, a maelstrom of opposing forces clashing in a storm of devastation. We, wielders of unparalleled authority, began to falter. Our blood painted the sun red, and the anguished cries of our fallen soldiers filled the skies with sorrow. The great ones, relentless and unyielding, brought us to our knees, their might overwhelming even the strongest among us.
"Oh, my mighty soldier… last of the sons of the Beginning," a voice echoed, shaking the very fabric of existence and cracking the foundations of the universe. "Poor soldier of mine…" Another voice, filled with sorrow and worry, resonated with a power capable of breaking even the strongest spirit.
"Oh, Great and Destined One, tell me what you desire," a third voice intoned, soothing wounds and dispelling the deepest pains.
In that moment, I understood the gravity of the situation. These voices, each more profound than the last, belonged to none other than the Beginning itself, the origin of all creation.
"I, the last of your children, wish to fulfill your final request. My body is frail and battered; I can no longer serve my purpose in this war," I said, bowing in reverence before the Beginning.
"Then I shall command you my last request," the healing voice replied.
"Enter the land of mortals and bestow a gift upon a child," spoke the sorrowful voice.
"Be born anew and deliver absolute order to the mortal realm," commanded the trembling voice.
With these words, my purpose was set. I was to leave the realm of absolute power and descend to Earth, the world of mortals, to deliver a gift from the Beginning to a destined child.
The mortal world was fragile and feeble, a place where powerless beings struggled to survive. Unlike us, mortals were bound by the inescapable chains of fate, their lives dictated by an unyielding force that swung between fleeting triumphs and crushing despair. Upon arriving on Earth, the stark contrast to my former realm was immediate. The vibrant green fields and towering mountains were undeniably beautiful, yet tinged with an underlying cruelty.
I wandered through this fragile world for what felt like an eternity, searching for the child deemed worthy of the gift. A millennium passed without success until one day, the anguished cry of an infant pierced the stillness on the outskirts of a southeastern land. The sound mirrored the wails of my brethren as they fell in battle, their blood staining the skies. My heart broke at the sight of the abandoned child, vulnerable in a merciless world where predators roamed freely. Driven by the grace of the Beginning, I knew this was the child.
This precious soul would receive the gift—a beacon of hope against the chains of fate.
As I bestowed the gift upon the child, my form began to disintegrate. My mission complete, I prayed a final wish: that this child would prosper under the watchful eyes of the Beginning.
Seventeen years later...
I woke up from the same dream that had haunted me for as long as I could remember. Ever since I was taken in by the orphanage, the dream of an ancient war and divine voices had been a constant presence in my mind.
I never knew my parents. The caretakers told me I was found as an infant in a remote village high in the mountains. They gave me the name Ezekiel Rhea, after the orphanage's late owner, who had passed away from old age. Every year since I turned thirteen, I've visited his grave to thank him for giving me a home, even though I wasn't his own.
Now seventeen, I still lived at the orphanage. Unlike other teenagers who embraced the joys of youth, I'd never had the luxury to explore such freedoms. The orphanage provided private tutors for my education, and I consistently earned high praise for my studies. While I regretted not attending a proper school, I'd made peace with this life.
From a young age, I was drawn to epics and myths, losing myself in tales of gods and heroes. They fueled my imagination, letting me envision a world where such beings might exist.
"Weather forecast announcement: A super typhoon is set to hit the country. Please remain indoors until the storm passes."
A typhoon? That's strange; it's summer, and March isn't usually rainy. Deciding to act quickly, I headed to the public library, just fifteen minutes away, to borrow a book before the storm arrived. As I browsed the shelves, a peculiar book caught my eye. Bound in silver with golden linings, it was heavy and exuded an air of mystery. Without much thought, I checked it out and brought it back to the orphanage.
"Weather forecast update: The super typhoon Yolan has now made landfall."
That was faster than expected. Sitting on my bed, I held the strange book in my hands, an odd sensation stirring within me. Suddenly, the book opened on its own, its pages glowing with an otherworldly light. Golden chains emerged, binding me and pulling me toward the book. I couldn't move, my eyes fixed on the radiant pages.
Before I could comprehend what was happening, I was fully drawn into the book.
I found myself in a land so vast and untamed that nature itself seemed capable of consuming my very being. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks hidden by swirling mists. Rolling plains stretched endlessly, dotted with vibrant wildflowers and strange, luminous plants that seemed to pulse with life. The air was thick with an energy that made my skin tingle, a reminder that this was no ordinary place."Status window activated."
What? Where did this come from? A translucent window suddenly appeared in my field of vision, resembling the interface of a game. It displayed my current stats:
Name: Ezekiel Rhea
Age: 17
Sex: Male
Level: 0
Class: [None]UA: ??? [conditions not met]
Stamina: 8
Strength: 6
Agility: 7
IQ: 6
Mana: 0
Mind: 6
Skills: [None]
All my stats were low, as expected. But the more pressing question was: where am I? And what is UA?
I had countless questions swirling in my mind, but survival was my priority. This was an unfamiliar land, and acting rashly could prove dangerous. I began walking, eventually finding myself at the edge of a dense forest. The trees were impossibly tall, their canopies forming a natural roof that blocked out much of the sky."This should be a good spot to find shelter and food," I muttered to myself. Gathering wood and sticks, I piled them in a small clearing. Along the way, I came across some berries and collected them cautiously. The forest seemed peaceful for now, but I couldn't ignore the possibility that it might become perilous at night. The sounds of distant wildlife kept me alert, every rustle of leaves a potential threat.Piecing together my situation, I concluded that I'd been transported to another world. The unfamiliar insects and trees were evidence enough. The strange interface, resembling a game status window, only added to the surreal nature of my predicament. Was this one of those scenarios where someone gets reincarnated into another world? But I hadn't died. Maybe I'd just read too many novels about reincarnations and system mechanics.
Piecing together my situation, I concluded that I'd been transported to another world. The unfamiliar insects and trees were evidence enough. The strange interface, resembling a game status window, only added to the surreal nature of my predicament. Was this one of those scenarios where someone gets reincarnated into another world? But I hadn't died. Maybe I'd just read too many novels about reincarnations and system mechanics.As I contemplated, a growl erupted from the bushes to my right. My body tensed, instinct taking over as I readied myself for whatever emerged. I grabbed a nearby stone and hurled it toward the sound. A massive bear lumbered out of the foliage, towering over me.This wasn't any ordinary bear. It was at least three times the size of any grizzly I'd ever seen. Its glowing blue eyes pierced through me, and its crimson-tinged fur was interspersed with snake-like scales that gleamed menacingly.
I didn't need to think twice. I had to run.