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Chapter 1: The End of a Soldier
The battlefield was silent, save for the faint groans of the wounded and the heavy panting of the survivors. The once-proud kingdom of Dunreth had fallen to the might of the invading forces from the north, and the soldiers—Caden among them—lay strewn across the bloodied earth, their lives extinguished in a series of savage clashes.
Caden stumbled through the carnage, his armor cracked and his body bruised, exhaustion weighing heavily on his limbs. His sword hung limply in his hand, the blade coated in blood, some of it his own. The world around him spun, and his vision blurred with each painful step. He had fought valiantly, as he always had, but today the battle had been lost.
"Damn it," he muttered, collapsing to his knees. The words barely escaped his lips before a sharp pain shot through his side. He gasped, blood staining his tunic, the crimson spreading out onto the dirt beneath him. His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to remain conscious. The world was fading fast. He'd been struck by a spear—one that had torn through his side like a hot knife through flesh—and now his life was slipping away, one breath at a time.
He had fought for the kingdom his entire life, hoping that one day his efforts would be rewarded. But no—his name would not be sung in songs or celebrated in history. His body, like so many others, would be forgotten in the wake of war.
His fingers twitched weakly around the hilt of his sword, and for a moment, he thought about his family. His mother, his father—both gone in a raid when he was just a child. The memories came and went like the flickering of a candle, dimming slowly. A soft sigh escaped his lips. He had always been just a soldier, nothing more, nothing less. His life would end as it had been lived—insignificant and unremarkable.
"Is this it?" he thought, closing his eyes for the final time. "Am I going to die here, alone?"
As darkness began to claim him, a voice—low, ancient, and powerful—echoed through his mind. It was as if the voice came from the very air itself, reverberating through his skull.
"You are not meant to die."
Caden's body jerked involuntarily, his eyelids snapping open. He looked around, confusion clouding his vision. There was no one nearby—no enemy, no ally, just the desolate landscape of battle. Yet, the voice remained, a distant hum in the back of his mind.
"You are chosen."
The words were incomprehensible. Was this the fevered ramblings of a dying man? Or something more? Caden tried to focus, tried to understand, but his strength was waning. His head grew heavy, and his vision faded once again.
Just as his consciousness threatened to slip away completely, a burst of energy flooded his body. It was a warmth that spread from the depths of his core, radiating outward, filling every aching bone and battered muscle. His pain faded, replaced by a sudden clarity that surged through him like a bolt of lightning.
His breath came easier. The bleeding slowed. And as his body began to heal, a glowing interface materialized in the air before him.
SYSTEM: Initialization Complete.
The words appeared before his eyes, written in golden letters, each one glowing faintly as if imbued with power. Caden blinked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. He was alive—alive in a way he had never been before. The pain in his side had disappeared, the blood on his armor vanished, and even the weakness that had plagued him moments earlier seemed to be gone.
"What... is this?" Caden thought, reaching out instinctively to touch the glowing letters. The moment his fingers brushed against the air, the screen expanded, revealing a series of icons, tabs, and strange symbols. It was an overwhelming sight, yet it felt strangely familiar—as if it had always been a part of him.
SYSTEM: Welcome, Chosen One. Your journey begins now.
Caden's mind reeled. He had no idea what was happening, but he could feel the power coursing through his veins, an untapped force waiting to be unleashed. His heart raced as the realization began to sink in: this wasn't just some hallucination. The System was real. It was offering him something... something that could change everything.
A new tab appeared on the screen in front of him:
Title: Soldier
Level: 1
HP: 10/10
Mana: 5/5
There was more, but it made no sense to him. Level 1? Was this some kind of game? Was he dreaming? But no, everything felt too real. Too vivid.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his body once again, but this time it was different. The pain was not from injury, but from the System itself, as if it were making him face something more profound—something he couldn't comprehend.
"Choose your path." The voice echoed again, more insistent this time. "What will you become?"
The options were laid out before him in stark clarity. Each choice held incredible potential—each one could lead him down a different path. His hands trembled as he saw the choices:
1. Warrior: Become a master of combat, wielding weapons with unparalleled skill.
2. Strategist: Command armies with tactical brilliance, shaping the battlefield to your will.
3. Mage: Harness the power of magic, manipulating the elements and forces of nature.
4. King: Build an empire, commanding not just soldiers, but kingdoms.
Each path spoke to him in its own way. But the one that caught his attention most was the King option. The word itself stirred something deep within him—an urge, a longing for power and control. He had always been just a soldier, but now, with this power, he had the chance to be something more. He could rise above the chaos, above the destruction, and create a legacy.
Caden hesitated for only a moment. There was no going back.
SYSTEM: Path Chosen: King
You have chosen the path of destiny.
Before he could process what had just occurred, the system flared to life once more. A flood of new information filled his mind—skills, abilities, and the foundations of empire-building that were now at his disposal. The voice spoke once again, its tone final and commanding.
"You have been chosen. Your empire awaits."
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