March 14th

It started on a gloomy Tuesday evening, rain tapping against the concrete of the city streets, each droplet bouncing off the ground as if made of rubber. Though the weather didn’t affect Leon Mercer, walking through the unusually quiet street, hood pulled up over his head as the rain pelted his hoodie with water. He had long mastered the art of blending into the background, a skill honed by years of navigating the bustling crowds of the city unnoticed. He approached the apartment building, its exterior adorned with flickering neon signs advertising everything from late-night food joints to virtual reality lounges. The soft glow of the lights illuminated the puddles underfoot, casting a distorted reflection on the gently rippling pools of water.

Leon fished the key from his pocket, its cold metal biting into the bare skin of his hand. As he pushed open the door, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. A sense of unease hung in the air, clinging to Leon like a shadow.

“Hey, let go of me you fucking asshole!” a voice screamed out. A girl. He had never heard such panic in someone’s voice before.

“And miss out on a pretty little thing like you? No way.” another voice responded, positively dripping with sleaze. Leon told himself to not be a hero, but his better instincts wouldn’t let him just leave this be. He darted up the dimly lit stairwell, following the source of the distressed voices. His sneakers barely made a sound against the worn-out carpeted steps, and the hood of his black hoodie concealed his face in shadows. As he approached the source of the commotion, he balled his hands into fists, ready to come in swinging if needs be.

The scene unfolded on the third floor. A menacing figure, his face obscured by the dim light, loomed over a young woman pressed against the wall. Fear radiated from her wide eyes, her struggle against his grip evident. The alleyway’s cold air seemed to seep into the corridor, intensifying the tension. Leon's eyes narrowed. He didn’t know the girl, but something in him refused to let her become another statistic in the city’s darker corners. He cleared his throat, loud enough for the assailant to hear. The thug turned to face him, his expression shifting from aggression to surprise.

“Walk away, and I won’t make this messy,” Leon said, his voice steady and laced with an undertone of threat. The thug laughed, his face curling into a crooked grin.

“You think you’re a hero, tough guy? Mind your own business.”

“I warned you.” Leon shrugged and pulled his balled-up fists from his pockets.

His response was swift. In one calculated motion, he swung his fist in an arc, knuckles connecting with the thug’s jaw. A cry pierced the air as the thug staggered, knocked off-balance by Leon’s punch. He eyed Leon with newfound wariness, hesitating for a moment before slipping a hidden knife from his sleeve. The girl seized the opportunity to slip away, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes as she retreated up the stairs.

“You made a big mistake.” the thug growled, malice seeping into his eyes. He lunged towards Leon, brandishing the knife, pointed in his hand. Leon stepped to the side, but he was just a moment too late. A sharp pain exploded in his left side as the blade plunged just under his ribs, the metal buried into him up to the handle.

He staggered back, clutching his side. The world seemed to warp around him, the pain intensifying with each passing second. The thug, emboldened by drawing blood, grinned sadistically, drawing his arm back to deliver a knockout strike. The dimly lit corridor became a battleground, a stage for a confrontation between a reluctant hero and a desperate assailant. Despite the searing pain, Leon summoned every ounce of his resilience. He sidestepped another jab from the knife, his instincts heightened by the adrenaline coursing through his veins. With a burst of strength, he retaliated with a swift kick to the thug’s midsection. The assailant doubled over, momentarily winded. It was a brief window, but Leon seized the opportunity.

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Ignoring the pulsating pain in his side, Leon lunged forward, delivering a well-placed uppercut to the thug’s jaw. His fist connected with the thug, sending the man staggering back, disoriented. Leon took the chance to slam the thug’s head against the wall, knocking him out cold. As the thug crumpled to the ground, Leon stood for a moment, breathing heavily from the effort and clutching his injured side. Then his vision blurred and he fell too, collapsing in the empty stairwell as the world went black around him.

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March 14th, 595 PE

And then he woke up again. The sensation of waking up was disorienting. He found himself lying on something soft and firm, the scent of what he recognised as grass filling his nostrils. He opened his eyes. The world that greeted Leon was a stark contrast to the dimly lit stairwell he remembered. Instead of cold concrete, he found himself lying in a vibrant meadow bathed in the warm hues of a sunset. The air was crisp, carrying the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. The distant sound of birdsong completed the surreal scene.

Leon sat up, confusion etched on his face. His hand instinctively went to his side, expecting to find the lingering pain from the knife wound. To his surprise, there was nothing. No wound, no bloodstains. It was as if the confrontation in the stairwell had never happened. As he tried to make sense of his surroundings, a holographic display materialized before him. The holographic display flickered to life, and a series of unfamiliar symbols and numbers hovered in the air. Leon squinted, trying to decipher the information presented before him.

Player Status:

Name: Leon Mercer

Class: ??? (Undefined)

Level: 1

Health Points (HP): 100/100

Mana Points (MP): 50/50

Stamina (SP): 50/50

Stats:

Vitality: 0

Endurance: 0

Dexterity: 0

Intelligence: 0

Magic: 0

Leon rubbed his eyes, half-expecting the holographic display to vanish and reveal the gritty reality of the city stairwell. Yet, the meadow persisted, and the HUD remained suspended in the air. His fingers hovered over the symbols, attempting to make sense of the information.

“What the hell is all this?” he muttered to himself. Before he could contemplate the absurdity of the situation further, a voice resonated in his mind—clear, calm, and distinctly not his own.

“Welcome, Leon Mercer, to the realm of Altheria. You have been chosen as a player. Your destiny awaits.”

The voice echoed in Leon’s mind, leaving him with more questions than answers. He glanced around the peaceful meadow, wondering if this was some sort of virtual reality simulation or an elaborate dream. But the soft touch of the grass beneath his fingertips and the warmth of the fading sunlight were too tangible to dismiss. As Leon pondered his predicament, the holographic display before him shifted, shrinking into a small icon, three bars at the corner of his vision signifying that the information was now accessible at will. Still perplexed, Leon took a moment to absorb his surroundings. The meadow stretched endlessly, bordered by towering trees on one side and a gentle stream on the other. In the distance, he spotted a small village with thatched-roof cottages. The idyllic scene was reminiscent of a fantasy painting, but Leon couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than mere illusion. The air seemed charged with an energy Leon couldn’t quite grasp, a surreal blend of tranquility and anticipation. As he stood up, he noticed a set of leather armor and a sword lying beside him—a stark departure from the cityscape he had left behind. Leon hesitated, glancing between the gear and the village in the distance. A gut feeling told him that this was not the time for hesitation. He donned the armor, the material molding seamlessly to his frame, and strapped the sword to his side, taking his first steps towards the village.