Chapter 1: A Gamble on Dreams
Liam Gray sat in his rundown apartment, staring at the bulky, outdated gaming capsule sitting in the middle of the room. The flickering light from a single, bare bulb above cast long shadows across the cracked walls and peeling paint. Outside, the muffled sounds of the city drifted through the thin windows: honking cars, distant chatter, the occasional wail of a siren.
He sighed, his eyes flicking to his phone lying on the counter. The screen showed his bank account balance: $0.34. That was all he had left after scraping together every cent to buy this ancient machine.
The gaming capsule was a low-tier model, the kind manufacturers had stopped producing years ago. Its metal frame was scuffed and dented, and the interface panel blinked faintly, barely functional. Most people wouldn't even bother with something like this. But for Liam, it was a lifeline.
"Eternal Realm," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The name carried a weight that had captivated billions. It was more than a game—it was a phenomenon. A fully immersive virtual world where fortunes were made, fame was won, and for those skilled or lucky enough, lives could be completely transformed.
For Liam, it was a gamble. A desperate, last-ditch attempt to escape the crushing poverty that had defined his life. His parents were long gone, leaving him to fend for himself since his teenage years. Odd jobs and long shifts had kept him afloat, but barely. This game was his shot at something better.
But the odds weren't in his favor.
Powering Up
The capsule's interior was cramped and cold, the padding worn thin. Liam hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the activation button. If this didn't work—if the capsule failed, or if he couldn't succeed in the game—he had no backup plan.
"Come on, Liam," he muttered, forcing himself to press the button.
The machine whirred to life, a low hum filling the room as lights flickered on inside the capsule. The faint scent of ozone and old electronics filled the air.
"Initializing Eternal Realm. Please relax and prepare for full immersion."
Liam took a deep breath and leaned back as the capsule's lid closed over him. Darkness enveloped him, followed by a sensation of weightlessness. His heart raced as the familiar voice of the game's system echoed in his ears.
"Welcome, adventurer, to the Eternal Realm."
The Character Creation Screen
When Liam opened his eyes, he was standing in a vast, glowing void. Colors swirled around him, forming shapes that dissolved as quickly as they appeared. In front of him stood a tall, ethereal figure cloaked in shimmering robes, their face obscured by a soft light.
"Welcome, adventurer," the figure said in a calm, melodic voice. "You are about to begin your journey in the Eternal Realm. Please proceed with character creation."
Liam felt a rush of excitement as a translucent screen appeared before him, displaying various options for customizing his avatar. Unlike many players, who spent hours perfecting their looks, Liam stuck with something simple: a lean, average build, brown hair, and sharp green eyes. It wasn't flashy, but it was practical.
"Done," he said, confirming his choice.
The screen shifted, now displaying his starting stats.
"Rolling initial attributes," the system announced as the numbers began to spin like a slot machine.
Strength: 85
Agility: 75
Endurance: 92
Intelligence: 50
Luck: 98
Liam blinked, his breath catching in his throat. Luck. A stat most players dismissed as irrelevant, but those who understood the game's mechanics knew its value. High luck meant higher critical hit rates, better loot drops, and—most importantly—the chance to trigger rare and hidden events.
And 98? That was absurd.
The glowing figure tilted its head slightly, as if acknowledging the anomaly.
"Congratulations, adventurer. Your high Luck has unlocked a Hidden Class."
Liam froze. A Hidden Class? On his first roll?
"Class Assigned: Primordial Sovereign."
"What…?" Liam whispered, barely able to process the words. Hidden Classes were the stuff of legends. Entire guilds spent fortunes trying to unlock them, and here he was, a broke nobody, getting one right at the start.
The figure raised its hand, and the screen shifted again.
"As a Hidden Class holder, you are entitled to an enhanced starting package. Drawing talents and skills now."
The Draw
A massive wheel appeared before Liam, its edges glowing with vibrant colors. Each section was labeled with ranks: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, EX.
"Talents first," Liam muttered, watching as the wheel began to spin.
The pointer ticked past F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, before coming to a slow stop on EX.
"Talent Acquired: Eternal Harvest (EX)."
A description appeared: "Increases all EXP, gold, and item drops by x1000."
Liam's jaw dropped.
The wheel spun again. And again. And again. Each time, it landed on EX.
Talents:
1. Eternal Harvest (EX)
2. Infinite Growth (EX)
3. Sovereign's Will (EX)
4. Elemental Domination (EX)
5. Lifeweaver (EX)
6. Worldbinder (EX)
7. Soulforge (EX)
8. Chrono Control (EX)
9. Voidbreaker (EX)
10. Omni Adaptation (EX)
Liam stared at the list, his heart pounding. He didn't even know what half of these did yet, but just seeing the EX rank over and over was enough to send his mind reeling.
"Skills next," he muttered, bracing himself as the wheel reappeared.
Just like before, it landed on EX every single time.
Skills:
1. Worldbreaker Slash (EX)
2. Time Reversal (EX)
3. Elemental Surge (EX)
4. Shadowless Step (EX)
5. Sovereign's Barrier (EX)
6. Infinite Blade Dance (EX)
7. Eternal Flames (EX)
8. Void Shatter (EX)
9. Primordial Roar (EX)
10. Sovereign's Command (EX)
By the time the process was complete, Liam's hands were trembling. The glowing figure spoke again.
"Character creation is complete. Welcome to the Eternal Realm."
Arrival at the Starter Village
The world materialized around Liam, vibrant and alive. He found himself standing in a bustling village square filled with players and NPCs. Wooden stalls lined the cobblestone streets, merchants hawking wares while adventurers clamored around quest boards.
A panel appeared in front of Liam, displaying his stats and abilities.
Name: Liam Gray
Class: Primordial Sovereign
Level: 1
HP: 10,000/10,000
MP: 5,000/5,000
Strength: 85
Agility: 75
Endurance: 92
Intelligence: 50
Luck: 98
Talents: 10 (All EX)
Skills: 10 (All EX)
Around him, players were shouting about their starting rolls.
"Another F-rank skill? Are you kidding me?"
"I got a C-rank! That's not bad!"
"Lucky you. All I got were D-ranks."
Liam quickly closed his panel, keeping his stats hidden. If anyone saw what he had, it would cause chaos.
"Hey, newbie!" A burly warrior bumped into him, sneering. "You look like easy pickings. Hand over your starting gear, or I'll make sure you can't leave this village alive."
Liam clenched his fists, his instincts screaming at him to activate Worldbreaker Slash and end this bully in a single blow. But he held back. Revealing his power now would only draw attention.
"Sure," he said, forcing a smile. He handed over a rusty dagger and a tattered cloak—basic starting items he didn't need.
The warrior laughed and strutted off, oblivious to the mistake he had just made.
Liam turned toward the nearest quest board, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"Let them underestimate me," he murmured. "For now."
With his first quest accepted—a simple wild boar hunt—Liam strode out of the village.
Little did the world know, the most powerful player in Eternal Realm had just begun his journey.