Today on the night of December 31st, 2030 as the clock ticked closer to the New Year. DK was surrounded by Ryan and the other greedy associates of Awfun Entertainment Inc. on the rooftop where the New Year Party was organized. The world of gaming was reeling as headlines exploded across social media and news outlets:
"DK's Abrupt Departure from Crimson Knights Deals Major Blow to Awfun Entertainment Inc."
"DK Reportedly Dismissed Over Allegations of Sexual Misconduct"
"Crimson Knights Accused of Wrongfully Targeting DK to Oust Him from Top Rank"
"DK Terminated After Advocating for Enhanced Health Benefits for Gamers at Awfun Entertainment Inc."
The gaming and tech worlds were taken by surprise when a series of headlines appeared on the morning of December 31, 2030.
Daniel Kyung, best known as DK for his Death Knight character, was a prominent figure in the global MMORPG "Fragmented Skies: Fall of the Celestial Titans."
Set in a fantasy world on the verge of collapse due to an ongoing war between primordial creatures known as the Celestial Titans, the game called upon heroes to restore balance.
The game was released in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 crisis to capitalize on people staying at home, and it became an instant hit across all age groups.
The game required a VR headset and once logged in, the players were able to enjoy a fully immersive experience. Even the NPCs in the game were extremely life-like, many players even marrying in-game characters.
DK was a freshman in online college when the game first launched. Being stuck in virtual classes for the first three years provided him the opportunity to dedicate eight hours a day to the game.
By the time he finished college, he had founded the top-ranked guild, Crimson Riders, from his apartment, along with his best friends Ryan and Marie.
Their guild was designed for enjoying the game together and exploring new areas in the game world and undertaking daring adventures..
Over time, the Crimson Riders' guild grew in both strength and numbers, winning competitions and tournaments within the fantasy world of "Fragmented Skies," and earning millions in the process.
However, the trio of founders—DK, Ryan, and Marie—were not immune to cyberbullying. While DK and Ryan remained largely unaffected, Marie, being a woman, became a frequent target. Critics often ridiculed her physique and playstyle.
Eight years into the game's existence, Marie unexpectedly committed suicide, unable to cope any longer with the constant harassment and its toll on her personal relationships.
This tragedy deeply affected DK, who wanted to disband the guild and reevaluate its promotion of players. Ryan, however, had different plans. He saw Marie as a weak link and merely as clickbait for controversies that could attract more attention and revenue to their guild.
Disillusioned, DK withdrew from managing the guild's logistics. Seizing this opportunity, Ryan affiliated the guild with Awfun Entertainment Inc., which assumed operations and turned the guild into a profitable enterprise, much to DK's chagrin.
Deciding to take control of the situation, DK aimed to dissolve the guild within the game. However, Ryan, in collusion with Awfun Entertainment Inc., was prepared for this move.
They revoked DK's admin privileges, recognizing that he was becoming increasingly unstable and uncontrollable. Now, they sought a permanent solution to eliminate DK from the equation.
So they went ahead with controlling the media narrative and released a bunch of news articles accusing DK of sexual assault and firing him out of the guild.
"Look, DK, we had to take action against you," Ryan said. "Otherwise, the entire company and our fortune would collapse. I hope you understand this and harbor no resentment toward us. If you'd disbanded the guild, hundreds of thousands of players would lose their community in Fragmented Skies. Have you considered the ramifications?"
DK scoffed. "You're all peddling lies. You view players as mere cash cows. Ousting me from the guild won't stop what I've started. Players join the guild not because of its name, but because of me."
Ryan bristled. "You wouldn't dare to start anew," he snarled, shoving DK toward the balcony. "I've worked too hard and tolerated your naïve ideologies since day one. No more. Tonight, it ends."
All of a sudden, in a fit of rage, Ryan pushed DK off the balcony on the 35th floor.
DK was in utter shock. He had always considered Ryan a close friend, pragmatic in managing the guild's operations for the long term. But it was now clear that Ryan's true motivation was greed.
As DK plummeted from the 35th floor, time seemed to slow. His mind is filled with flashbacks of his life.
Visions of his foster parents flickered before him; they'd taken care of him only because the state required them to. It wasn't until the Crimson Riders that he felt genuine closeness to others—Ryan and Marie.
Their collective struggles and sleepless nights had seemed to forge a bond, now shattered. Tears filled his eyes as he thought of what could have been—a united gaming family.
His time was running out. Filled with regret, he caught sight of Ryan and the executives standing above, almost smiling as he fell.
He did not really care about the executives. The friend that he considered family did not even feel one ounce of sadness for him?
His mind went blank. There was now only one thought that was in his brain.
"I can't die like this. Is this the end? Will I simply—"
THUD.
***
SYSTEM: NEW CANDIDATE IDENTIFIED FROM PLANET 14042023, LOCALLY KNOWN AS EARTH.
SYSTEM DESIGNER CHRONOS: Are you absolutely certain that this candidate possesses the requisite qualities?
SYSTEM: THE CANDIDATE DEMONSTRATES AN IDEAL ALIGNMENT OF MANA AND STRENGTH CAPABLE OF BENDING THE THREADS OF FATE.
SYSTEM DESIGNER CHRONOS: You've made similar assertions about our last seven candidates. Each one showed promise but ultimately failed.
SYSTEM: THIS SELECTED CANDIDATE HAS BEEN OPTIMALLY CHOSEN BASED ON NEW PARAMETERS AND IS PREDICTED TO OUTPERFORM HIS PREDECESSORS. SHALL I INITIATE THE SOUL TRANSMIGRATION?
SYSTEM DESIGNER CHRONOS: Very well, proceed. But remember, this kind of soul transference drains an immense amount of Primordial Essence, a resource that is extraordinarily difficult to replenish.
SYSTEM: THE SYSTEM ACKNOWLEDGES THE ASSOCIATED COSTS AND RISKS. INITIATING REALM SOUL TRANSMIGRATION. AUTHORIZATION COMPLETE. COUNTDOWN BEGINNING: 3... 2... 1...
***
"Where am I? Why is it so dark?"
DK's consciousness stirred in a void of unimaginable emptiness. A pitch-black abyss stretched infinitely in all directions. It was a strange feeling. It was like he was detached from everything, even from his own body.
DK waited, suspended in a reality—or unreality—he couldn't comprehend.
The last vivid memory he held was of his friend's face, of the betrayal that had cost him everything. Anger swelled within his formless being; he yearned to shout, to give voice to his rage, yet no mechanism existed for him to do so.
Then, without warning, a luminous blue screen materialized before him.
[Welcome to the Celestia Realm]
"Hmmm?" Dk was confused to say the least. "Who are you? Where am I?" He murmured in a weird state of disorientation.
[Transmigration will commence in 3... 2... 1...]
"Transmigration? What the fuck!. Does that really exist?"
This was something he had only read in fantasy stories. How could something like this happen in real life? The very idea was so absurd that it snapped him out of his stupor.
In that moment, a radiant burst of light emanated from the screen, enveloping DK's consciousness or whatever he was at the moment entirely. When the light finally subsided, DK felt the uncanny sensation of plummeting from a great height.
"Aah!" DK, found himself, surprisingly not in the abyss but atop a luxurious bed. Beside him, there was a strikingly beautiful young woman. .
With wide eyes, she took one look at Dk and then began to shout, "Summon the healer! Notify the Master's parents! Master Aiden has awakened!"