When Riku opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his cluttered room. Gone were the empty soda cans, the cluttered desk, and the hum of his gaming rig. Instead, he found himself in a vast, unfamiliar landscape—a world of impossibly tall mountains and forests that stretched far beyond what his eyes could see. The sky above was a deep purple, with shimmering stars dotting the heavens, and a glowing crescent moon cast an eerie light over the land.
He stumbled to his feet, his body feeling lighter than usual, as if gravity itself had shifted. The ground beneath him was soft, almost like moss, and he felt an odd connection to it as he stood.
"What…?" Riku’s voice trembled as he looked around in disbelief. His heart was racing, but not with fear. There was a strange sense of exhilaration bubbling up inside him. This place… it felt familiar. Like something he had dreamed of.
He looked down at his hands, expecting them to be the same as always—but they were different. They were glowing faintly, like they were charged with some kind of energy. His body felt lighter, more agile. He could almost feel power pulsing beneath his skin.
"It’s... Endaria?" he whispered, his mind struggling to comprehend what was happening.
But this place didn’t look like any part of Endaria he’d ever seen. It was far more... real. The trees were alive with vibrant colors, the wind whispered through the branches, and the air smelled like earth and magic.
He took a cautious step forward, the world around him shifting slightly with each movement. As he walked, his feet barely seemed to touch the ground. He could feel the faintest connection to the world, like it was responding to his presence. The sensation was like nothing he had ever experienced before. It wasn’t just an escape—it felt like he was inside the game, like he was a part of it.
"What is this place?" Riku muttered under his breath, his voice full of awe. He couldn’t even tell if he was dreaming or if this was somehow real.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him—a tall, cloaked figure with glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. The figure tilted its head, as if studying him.
"You’ve arrived," the figure said, its voice deep and resonant, as if it came from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Riku, the one who has earned his place in Endaria. Welcome."
Riku blinked, his mind struggling to keep up. "Wait... you know my name?"
The figure nodded. "You were chosen. You are no longer a mere player. Welcome to Endaria, the realm of limitless possibilities. The journey has only just begun."
Riku’s heart hammered in his chest. "Chosen for what?"
The figure’s hood lifted slightly, revealing a serene smile. "To protect this realm from a darkness that threatens to consume it."
Riku's thoughts raced. This couldn’t be happening. "Me? I’m just a kid from Earth. I don’t know how to do anything in this world."
The figure’s smile remained unwavering. "You’ve proven yourself time and time again in the digital realm. Here, your skills are not just pixels on a screen—they are your reality. You have been granted the power of the Guardian. It is now your duty to rise to the challenge."
Riku took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "Okay... I’ll do it. But how? What do I do?"
The cloaked figure extended a hand, holding a glowing sword. The blade was made of pure light, humming with an energy that seemed to resonate with the core of his being. "The sword of the Guardian. It’s time for you to wield it."
Riku took the sword with trembling hands. It was surprisingly light, almost weightless. As he held it, he felt something stir within him—a power that seemed to awaken his very soul. "What do you mean, I’ve been chosen?"
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The figure’s smile grew. "You possess a strength and resolve that is unparalleled in this realm. The prophecy foretold of one from another world, one who would come to Endaria and stand against the shadows. That one... is you."
The weight of the sword grew heavier in Riku’s grip, the gravity of the situation setting in. He had always felt like he was meant for more, that his life had some grand purpose, and now it seemed that it was all coming to a head.
"But why me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The figure's smile grew. "Because, Riku, you have the heart of a hero."
And with that, the figure disappeared into the very fabric of the air, leaving Riku standing alone in the mystical forest, sword in hand. The silence that followed was deafening. The glow from the sword in his grasp cast eerie shadows around him, and the wind picked up, carrying whispers of secrets and challenges to come. The gravity of the moment washed over him, and he felt both terrified and thrilled.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He knew he had to get a grip on reality—or what was left of it. He focused on the sword, feeling its power surging through his veins. He looked down at himself and suddenly, a transparent menu popped up in front of him, floating in the air.
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Username: Riku
Level: 1
Strength: 1 (+500)
Magic: 1 (+500)
Defense: 1 (+500)
Stamina: 1 (+500)
Speed: 1 (+500)
Weapon: Guardian’s Sword of Light (divine-grade item)
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Riku stared at his stats, disappointment quickly settling in. Level 1? He had been stripped of everything—no experience, no progression. His hard-earned stats had been reset, and it felt like a cruel twist of fate. But then, his eyes fell to the sword in his hand—the Guardian’s Sword of Light.
His heart skipped a beat. This wasn’t just any weapon. This was a drop from one of the hardest bosses he had ever faced in Endaria. A divine-grade item, a myth in the game’s world due to how impossibly rare it was. Most players could only dream of wielding something like this, let alone actually owning it. And yet, here it was, humming with power in his grip.
The sword practically pulsed with energy, its glowing blade radiating an aura that seemed to resonate with his very soul. The stats on his menu showed +500 to every attribute—Strength, Magic, Defense, Stamina, Speed. It was an overwhelming boost, like nothing he had ever felt before. He had the power of one of the game’s most legendary weapons in his hands, and despite his reset, he could sense its weight—not just physically, but in the responsibility it carried.
“Maybe I’m not so powerless after all…” Riku muttered to himself, a sense of awe creeping into his voice. The sword wasn’t just a weapon; it was a symbol of his new role in this world, and it made him feel... different. He wasn’t just a player anymore—he was a Guardian.
But as Riku took his first step forward, something strange began to happen. His muscles twitched with sudden exhaustion, as if the very act of holding the sword was draining his energy. His breathing became shallow, and a cold sweat began to form on his forehead. It was like a weight was pressing down on him from all sides.
He stopped and steadied himself. "What…?" He shook his head, trying to push the discomfort away. He had never felt anything like this in Endaria before, but the sensation quickly intensified. The sword—its power—it was overwhelming. His legs felt weak, and his arms trembled from the strain. This wasn’t just a sword—it was something far more taxing.
Riku glanced at the glowing blade in his hand, and that’s when he noticed it. The light from the sword seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, and the energy it radiated was seeping into his body, filling him with an unnatural warmth. But it wasn’t just warmth—it was draining him. The more he wielded it, the more his strength seemed to fade.
Realization hit him like a cold wave. The sword was meant for someone far more experienced, someone who had the endurance to handle its power. He wasn’t ready. He wasn’t prepared for this.
But there was no time to dwell on that. The village was nearby, and he needed rest.
He made his way toward it, each step feeling heavier than the last. By the time he reached the village, his legs were shaking, and his breath was coming in ragged gasps. As he stumbled into the inn, the owner looked up in surprise, but he didn’t have the strength to explain himself. He just needed a bed, a place to lie down.
“Room for the night, please,” he mumbled, collapsing onto the nearest chair. His vision blurred, and the world around him seemed to spin.
The innkeeper nodded, leading him to a small room. As he collapsed onto the bed, Riku closed his eyes, exhaustion taking over. He didn’t even have the energy to think about what had just happened. All he knew was that the Guardian’s Sword of Light was a power beyond his current abilities, and that realization terrified him.
The side effects weren’t something he could ignore—he’d need to be cautious. As he drifted into a restless sleep, the feeling of the sword’s weight still lingered in his mind, a reminder of the dangerous road ahead.