Chapter 1 - The Account
Akari Hoshizuki stared at the cracked ceiling of her tiny apartment. The flickering streetlight outside cast long, shifting shadows across the damp walls, and the cold wind slipped through the broken windowpane, whispering against her skin. The city was merciless—just like life.
She pulled the thin blanket over herself, not for warmth, but to block out the gnawing hunger twisting inside her stomach. She hadn’t eaten properly in two days, and her part-time job barely covered the rent. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered.
Her fingers twitched as she held her old, second-hand phone, scrolling through random forums and news feeds. That’s when she saw it.
"Cultivation Magic Online - A New World Awaits."
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
A game? No… a world. The post described it as a fully immersive experience, a place where anyone could cultivate and grow stronger. People were already raving about it—talking about how real it felt, how they could wield magic, tame beasts, and rise in power. Some even claimed they had brought "something back" from the game.
Akari snorted. Probably just some overhyped VR scam. She had no money to waste on this nonsense.
And yet…
She hesitated. It was free to register. No fees. No catches. Just create an account and log in.
Her empty stomach churned, and for a moment, she closed her eyes. A world where she wasn’t starving. A world where she wasn’t nothing.
"...What’s the worst that could happen?"
With a deep breath, she clicked the link.
The screen glitched, flickered—then a black window popped up.
> Welcome, Traveler. Please enter your name.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed:
> Akari Hoshizuki.
> Confirm? [Yes] [No]
She tapped Yes.
The moment she did, her vision blurred. A deep, echoing chime rang through her ears, like the sound of a temple bell in the void.
The air around her shifted. The cold, damp room vanished—replaced by a vast, endless night sky filled with swirling silver mist. Her heart pounded. This wasn’t VR. This wasn’t a game.
Something was calling her.
Then, she fell.