PLAYER NUMBER 1
—VERA'S POINT OF VIEW—
Blackthorn Forest was too quite.
The usual hum of insects had vanished, leaving only the whisper of wind through twisted branches. Moonlight streamed through the uneven canopy in fractured silver shards, barely reaching the damp earth below. The air was thick with the scent of rain-soaked soil—laced with something sharper. Something unnatural. Magic
Vera knelt, her gloved hands tracing fresh claw marks gouged deep into the roots. They were recent. Whatever had made them was large, dangerous—and close.
A chill coiled around her spine as she exhaled softly, her breath misting in the night air. Beside her, Nightpiercer lay still, its jet-black blade dulled under the moon's natural glow. It had been her companion for years—crafted in the ancient forges of the Kingdom of Thorns, light, silent, deadly and lethal. She had wielded it in battle, taken lives with it. Violence was nothing new.
Yet tonight, something felt different.
A faint hum pulsed beneath her fingers as she brushed the hilt—a whisper of energy, barely perceptible, but deep enough to stir something in her bones.
She rose slowly, every muscle taut and heavy, her cloak swirling around her like liquid shadow.
Then, the silence shattered.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the air, vibrating through the ground beneath him feat. It wasn't the growl of any natural beast. It was something far worse—something wrong.
A predator lurked nearby, observing, watching, waiting.
Vera tightened her grip on Nightpiercer steadying her breath. The wind shifted, carrying the heavy stench of decay and sulfur. Overhead, the trees trembled, their thorn-covered branches rustling in agitation.
Then, it appeared.
A twisted mass of writhing black tendrils burst from the darkness, its shape shifting and seething like a living shadow. Its mouth yawned impossibly wide, lined with rows and rows of gleaming needle like fangs dripping with dark viscous poison. But it was the eyes—too many of them, glowing like embers in a dying fire—that made Vera's pulse stutter.
They weren't just looking at her. They were looking at her very soul.
She moved on instinct.
Sidestepped the creature's lunge, her cloak billowing as she unsheathed her blade in one smooth motion. The moonlight caught Nightpiercer, but instead of reflecting silver, the steel seemed to drink in the light.
The beast hesitated.
Vera's heart pounded. Was it...afraid?
Her fingers tightened around the hilt. What is this thing? And why—why did it recognize her weapon?
The moment passed. And the creature lunged.
Vera dropped low, rolling under the attack as its claws sliced through the air inches from her skin. She twisted, rising to one knee, and struck hard across its side—
Nothing.
The blade passed through as if cutting mist.
Cold dread pooled in her stomach. The creature screeched, its form flickering, warping as though it barely existed in this world. Not flesh. Not human. This was something something born of sorcery.
Then—heat. A sudden, searing burn against her collarbone.
Vera gasped, staggering as her vision blurred. For a heartbeat, the forest disappeared.
She saw a throne room bathed in silver light. A skeletal throne. A sword embedded deep in its core—The Soul Sword.
A voice—not hers, not human—whispered in her mind.
" You are chosen. "
Her knees nearly buckled as the mark on her skin pulsed in response. And fuck it's hurted like hell!
The creature lunged again. This time, she didn't hesitate.
Vera moved without thought, her body reacting before her mind caught up. She spun mid-air, bringing Nightpiercer down with all her strength.
The blade didn't just cut—it sang. A deep, resonating hum vibrated through the air, rippling outward in a wave of force.
The beast let out an unearthly shriek. Its forn shattered into wisps of darkness, dissolving into nothing.
Silence fell.
Vera stood, breath unsteady, fingers trembling around her sword. But the mark on her collarbone still burned.
Then, words formed before her, woven from glowing purple electric light.
" A throne awaits. A challenge begins. Will you claim your fate? "
Her throat tightened. She knew what this was. Every kingdom did. Every heir had heard the legends of that brutal game.
The Emperor's Game.
The mark pulsed again. If she refused, it would be seen as forfeiture. Another would take her place.
She had spent her life avoiding politics, rejecting the weight of a crown she never wanted.
But if she won—
No longer a pawn. No longer an heir bound by duty.
If she triumphed, she would be emperor.
A slow smile curled across her lips. she lifted Nightpiercer, resting it against her shoulder, her eye glowed purple and she raised her chin toward the words of light.
" I, Vera Thorns, accept the challenge. "
The world exploded into blinding light. The ground vanished beneath her feet.
She didn't disappear instantly. She unraveled—pulled apart thread by thread, as though unspooled from reality itself. Cold seeped into her bones—not the chill of winter, but something deeper. Something ancient.
Whispers brushed past her ears. Laughter. Screams
A battlefield ablaze beneath a dying sky. A city reduced to ash. A throne left empty
Then—darkness. Solid ground met her feet. She staggered breath hitching.
The forest was gone.
She stood somewhere else now—something old, where the air crackled with raw magic. A massive arena stretched before her, carved from dark stone, five towering pillars rising at its edges, each marked with an ancient symbol.
And she was not alone.
Four fingers stood across from her, weapons drawn, eyes sharp.
The five heirs had arrived.
And the game had begun.
—END OF CHAPTER—
Hello, brave adventures and curious wanderers!
This is my very first fantasy Novel, so please be gentle with my poor, fragile soul! QAQ I poured my heart, soul and possibly my sleep schedule into this story and I really hope you enjoy it.
Now, about the main characters—because why stop at just one when you can have five? That's right, this story isn't just following a single hero, but a whole squad of chaos!
If you like what you're reading, please like, comment, and send positive vibes! This writer survives solely on feedback, caffeine, and the desperate hope that you're enjoying the journey. Let's embark on this adventure together!
Much love, <3