In a clearing within a silent forest, a man with white hair and blue robes examined a translucent, ethereal panel, his eyes shining with a mix of curiosity and satisfaction.
A thin smile formed on his face as he murmured:
"So, you've finally found your way home..."
On the other side of the forest, Art walked alongside Elias, his body heavy with the fatigue of the journey. Looking up at the sky covered by tall branches, he commented between breaths:
"What do you think this Daemon... and the Demiurge are?"
Elias, walking with firm but equally exhausted steps, replied without taking his eyes off the path:
"I have no idea. Maybe... mystical entities, who knows."
Art shook his head, frowning.
"Entities? What if they're... gods?"
Before Elias could answer, the sky above them was abruptly disturbed. A winged figure emerged, descending from the clouds like a celestial shadow, both imposing and terrifying. Its sheer size and presence made the air feel heavier.
The figure murmured words in a language Elias and Art did not recognize, but whose sound reverberated in their minds like soft thunder.
Suddenly, the world around them shattered like breaking glass; the trees, the ground, even the wind froze in time, immobile and silent.
In the blink of an eye, everything changed.
Elias and Art found themselves in a scene straight out of a fable: vast green fields where small streams meandered, and, in the distance, an immense castle stood tall against the golden sky of sunset.
At the castle's base, a bustling village exuded life with its stone-and-wood buildings, chimneys releasing clouds of smoke that slowly dissipated.
The two remained silent, shock evident on their faces. Elias was the first to murmur, almost to himself:
"What... is this?"
Art took a hesitant step, his eyes wide as he gazed at the castle.
Elias surveyed the scene around him, an unusual gleam in his eyes. With a slight smile, he commented:
"This is simply... incredible."
Before they could take their first steps toward the village below the castle, a deep, metallic sound echoed around them, followed by a message that seemed to resonate in the air as if coming from all directions:
[First Mission: Rescue the Maiden. Reward: 100XP.]
Elias stopped, frowning as he looked around, intrigued.
"Did you hear that too?" he asked Art, who was still frozen, staring into the void as if searching for the source of the voice.
Art nodded slowly, still processing what had just happened.
"Yeah, I heard it... It seems like this place has missions, like a game or something." He paused, scratching his head. "I think it'd be wise to head to the village and figure out what this is all about."
Elias crossed his arms for a moment, considering the idea.
"If this is a trap, it could be dangerous. But... ignoring it doesn't seem like an option either. We need answers, and that village is the first step."
Cautiously and with heightened senses, the two began descending the hill, moving toward the village.
The glow of torches and the distant chatter grew clearer with each step, while the feeling of being part of something far greater only intensified.
As Elias and Art walked toward the village, the winged figure that had teleported them reappeared in front of them, blocking their path.
With an expressionless face, the entity stared at them before speaking in a firm and authoritative tone:
"You have been chosen to save the maiden of the village #####. Unfortunately, you have been separated from the original group of candidates. This mission, which was meant to be undertaken by one hundred individuals, will now be completed by only the two of you."
Art, trying to hide his nervousness, stepped forward and asked:
"You're the Daemon, right?"
The winged figure tilted its head slightly in acknowledgment. Taking the opportunity, Art continued:
"You mentioned that this mission was for a hundred people. Where is the rest of the group? Why were only the two of us separated?"
The Daemon remained calm, but his next words made the hairs on Art and Elias's necks stand on end:
"They failed the mission."
Elias, who had been silently observing the conversation until then, swallowed hard and cautiously asked:
"They... died?"
The Daemon nodded affirmatively, confirming the grim fate of the others. Before he could continue his explanation, he asked:
"If there are no more questions, it is time to begin the mission."
But Elias, unable to ignore the questions swirling in his mind, intervened:
"Wait. How did we get here? Why were we selected for this mission? And who or what is this Demiurge?"
The Daemon turned to him, fixing a piercing gaze, and replied with the same icy serenity:
"You were not chosen by anyone specific. You were selected by an algorithm programmed by the one the inhabitants of this world, and an ancient people you call the Greeks, nicknamed the Demiurge. He is the architect of this world and the entire multiverse."
Art, still perplexed, interjected again:
"So... he's a god?"
The Daemon stared at him, as if pondering the simplicity of the question, before responding:
"You humans often call him that."
Silence hung for a few seconds before the Daemon looked up at the sky, as if listening to something distant. Without wasting time, he added:
"If there are no more questions, it is time to begin."
Without waiting for a response, he flexed his imposing wings and took flight, disappearing quickly into the horizon, leaving Elias and Art alone.
As they approached the village, Elias and Art were greeted by an elderly, slightly hunched man.
He displayed a toothless but welcoming smile as he introduced himself:
"Welcome, travelers. My name is Edmund. If it's not too much trouble, could I ask a favor of you?"
Elias, maintaining a polite and formal tone, replied respectfully:
"Of course, sir. How can we help?"
Edmund smiled, relief gleaming in his eyes, and said:
"We need you to save the daughter of the lord of the castle. We villagers will provide the necessary equipment. Please, follow me."
The old man led them down a dirt path. Along the way, the villagers emerged from their homes to watch them, their expressions a mix of curiosity and distrust.
After a few minutes of walking, Edmund guided them to the far side of the village, stopping in front of a sturdy building.
At the entrance, two imposing guards in full armor, armed with long swords, stood watch with intimidating postures.
Elias, cautious, averted his gaze to avoid any misunderstanding or potential hostile reaction.
Art, however, with an innocent and curious expression, stared at the guards like a tourist fascinated by something exotic.
This attitude made Elias grit his teeth and cast an impatient look at his companion, once again wishing to give him a lecture—or something more direct.
Finally, Edmund gestured toward the door with his hands and said:
"We're here, warriors. Enter and feel free to choose any equipment you wish."
The interior of the armory contrasted with its simple exterior. It was spacious, with rows of armor, weapons, and shields, all meticulously arranged.
Every piece seemed to shine, reflecting the light streaming through the small windows of the place.
"You can choose to wear full armor, partial pieces, or none at all if you prefer greater mobility. The choice is yours," Edmund explained calmly.
Elias scanned the room with an experienced eye, carefully analyzing the available items. Art, on the other hand, seemed mesmerized by the sheer number of options, like a child in a toy store.
Elias didn't remember exactly what it was like to play an RPG, but he knew enough to recognize that the choice of starting weapon influenced the role you would assume.
Determined to pick something that matched his skills and style, he began evaluating his options.
His first thought was to go for a bow. It was a powerful weapon in antiquity, its range reminiscent of the effectiveness of modern rifles.
However, he quickly recognized its limitations.
The first problem: an archer required training to handle a bow efficiently.
The second: a constant supply of arrows would be necessary, making him dependent on resources.
And finally: the bow was useless in close combat, leaving him vulnerable if the enemy managed to close the distance.
With this in mind, Elias turned his attention to the spear. It was a versatile weapon, effective at both medium range and in close combat.
Moreover, its simple design required less maintenance compared to a bow.
The only downside he could foresee was physical exhaustion during prolonged confrontations, but with the abilities the panel seemed to provide, this didn't appear insurmountable.
Having made his decision, he chose a spear and glanced at Art, who had picked an oriental-style sword.
Elias resisted the urge to question the choice. After all, they were both equally inexperienced in this world, and it didn't make sense to criticize a decision as intuitive as his own.
As he moved toward the armor section, something peculiar caught his attention: a book resting on a distant shelf. Its cover, adorned with runes from an unknown alphabet, sparked his curiosity.
Elias looked away briefly, but when he turned back, the inscriptions on the cover had transformed into readable words.
Intrigued by the phenomenon, he picked up the book. As soon as he touched it, a notification echoed in his mind:
[Grimoire of Necromancy – Do you wish to learn? YES/NO]
He frowned and murmured to himself:
"Necromancy? What could that be?"
The panel revealed some important functionalities. The first was the ability to display detailed descriptions of certain items.
The second, perhaps even more practical, was allowing objects to be stored in a virtual inventory.
Elias, curious, expanded the description of the Grimoire of Necromancy on the panel, reading the information carefully:
[A grimoire is a collection of texts containing spells. This specific book contains necromancy spells, the art of manipulating corpses, and offers the bearer the opportunity to become a necromancer.]
With an intrigued expression, Elias murmured to himself:
"Manipulating corpses?"
Pondering the peculiar description, a sudden idea struck him like lightning: "Could this book help me avoid infection?"
The possibility began to grow in his mind. After all, if necromancy involved controlling dead bodies, wouldn't it be logical to assume that the same principle could interfere with something like a zombie infection?
The more he considered the idea, the more it made sense.
Manipulating and studying corpses seemed closely tied to what he needed to face—and perhaps even overcome.
With a focused expression, Elias looked at the grimoire as if holding the key to an unexpected solution.
Elias turned his attention to the panel's message:
[Grimoire of Necromancy – Do you wish to learn? YES/NO]
Without hesitation, he selected "YES."
Immediately afterward, he opened the panel again to check his updated attributes and better understand the changes the grimoire might have brought. Feeling satisfied that he was strengthening himself for the challenges ahead, he moved toward the armor section.
Elias Moureau
Origin Universe: Terra:K-283
Level: 1
Experience Points: 50 / 100
Class: Initiate Necromancer
Age: 30
Appearance: Tanned skin, dark hair, brown eyes.
Species: Human
Status: Healthy
Attributes
| Health (HP) | 70 / 100 |
| Mana (MP) | 20 / 20 |
| Strength | 10 |
| Agility | 10 |
| Wisdom | 10 |
| Magic | 10 |
Special Skills
| Skill | Level |
| Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) | 1 / 10 |
| Versatility | 1 / 10 |
| Mental Resistance | 2 / 10 |
| Physical Resistance | 2 / 10 |
| Marksmanship | 3 / 10 |
| Diagnostics | 1 / 10 |
| Corpse Manipulation | 1 / 10 |
Inventory
Bayonet (Rank: F)Spear (Rank: F)Necromancy Grimoire (Rank: B)
Inventory weight limit: 10/60 kg
Aware that he would need mobility, he chose light armor that offered protection without compromising his agility.
To complete the ensemble, he opted for a cape, both for its utility in different weather conditions and for the touch of authority it conveyed.
Feeling more prepared, he left the armory with confident steps and waited while Art finished selecting his equipment.
To avoid wasting time, Elias decided to approach the old man. He knew that in any mission, the quantity and quality of information could mean the difference between success and failure.
He needed more details before heading to the castle.
"I'd better take this chance to learn everything I can," he thought, adjusting his cape before walking toward Edmund.