Chapter 1
True Despair
Going through security, Jacob was on his way to visit his best friend, Jimmy, in Florida. Both were 30 years old and had been friends since 5th grade. They had gone to school together and joined the Marines together, utilizing the buddy program that allowed them to be in the same platoon during boot camp. Fortunately, even after boot camp, they had managed to stay together in their units. However, over the years, as they pursued their respective careers, they found themselves no longer living in the same state. Jacob was now residing in the scorching oven known as Phoenix, Arizona, while Jimmy lived in the wet oven known as Tampa Bay.
Jacob was at a point in his life where he had everything he needed, yet he still felt deep down that he was lacking fulfillment. As a single 30-year-old man, he was beginning to reach a juncture where he constantly asked himself the same question that most people eventually contemplate: "Why?" Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? It wasn't as if Jacob was a slacker and wasn't involved in anything. He had recently become a Regional Vice President at a company that develops hotels and took pride in this role. However, he couldn't shake off the undeniable feeling deep within his soul that there was more to life than what he was currently experiencing.
It was early December as Jacob made his way to the gate. He was excited to break free from his routine of traveling from state to state, to conduct business for his company. He hoped that this trip and the prospect of seeing his long-time best friend would inject some variety into his life and propel him forward. Jacob had a history of struggling with his mental health, and he knew that meeting his best friend would uplift his spirits.
As Jacob waited at the gate, his phone rang.
"Yo, how long until you depart?" Jimmy asked from the other end of the line.
"Should be boarding in about 10 minutes, but hey, when I arrive, let's just game for a bit. I miss gaming like the old days," Jacob responded.
Both Jacob and Jimmy had an extensive history with video games. It was one of the factors that fueled their friendship. They had played every massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) out there, from shooters to strategies and casual simulations as well, they enjoyed anything that took some talent and skill. On weekends, they had developed a habit of going online and purchasing a new game every week to try out together. Gaming was a fundamental aspect of their friendship, allowing them to stay connected and engage in conversations with their other childhood friends. Thanks to online chat applications, you can easily hop on the computer, find your friends online, and engage in conversations.
Finally, Jacob boarded the plane, preparing to take off. In 4-5 hours, he would reunite with his friend for some enjoyable moments and a classic gaming session. Jacob occupied the window seat, with headphones in, engrossed in a LitRPG audiobook. Given his weekly work-related travels, he had the opportunity to devour books consistently. With two flights and hours of driving each week, he could get through multiple novels a month. His favorite genre was LitRPGs, short for literature role-playing games. This genre typically features a plot where a character from a familiar reality finds themselves in a system like an MMORPG game. Jacob was fascinated by the character's growth and progression throughout the story. He would often put himself in the character's shoes, making decisions in his mind as if he were the protagonist in the book.
“One day, I should write an LitRPG.”
Jacob was taking a nap on the flight when he was awakened by turbulence. He glanced over at the person next to him, who was visibly shaking in her chair.
"It's my first time flying, and I’m absolutely terrified of it. I don’t know how anyone enjoys traveling if they must get in this metal cylinder of death," said the lady, her voice trembling.
The lady appeared to be in her late 20s with long dark brown hair. Despite her obvious fear, Jacob couldn't help but notice how attractive she was. She was on the shorter side, petite yet possessed a fit physique. Her mahogany-colored eyes were captivating.
"Don't worry, turbulence is normal. Trust me, I fly pretty much every week for work. This is nothing," Jacob said with a somewhat proud tone, hoping to impress her.
"Well, good for you. That doesn't help me," the distraught woman replied harshly.
Jacob immediately felt like an idiot and plugged in his headphones. He figured if she wanted to suffer alone, he might as well catch more shut eye. However, the turbulence struck again, this time much more intensely than before. Jacob looked over at the lady next to him, who seemed on the verge of tears.
"It's okay, I promise. Soon we'll be on the ground, and you'll be laughing at all this," Jacob said in his most calming voice, though it had no effect.
"No one asked! Please leave me alone. If I'm going to die, then I don't want to die listening to some loser," the woman said, tears filling her manic eyes. Jacob was stunned and didn't know what to say. He thought to himself, "Why do I even try to talk to people? People these days are so rude. What happened to kindness being a duty?" Granted, the girl was almost paralyzed with fear, so maybe he should cut her some slack.
"I understand. Sorry to bother you," Jacob said. He began to put his headphones back in when the plane started shaking far beyond his comfort zone. Everyone in the cabin grew concerned. The lady next to him let out a scream that felt ear-piercing.
Oxygen masks dropped from above. Jacob was starting to feel extremely uneasy at this point. He knew it was crucial to maintain his composure amid chaos. He quickly donned the mask and turned to the lady next to him. She was having a full-blown breakdown. Concerned, Jacob reached over, grabbed the mask, and placed it over her face.
"Breathe! In through your nose and out through your mouth," Jacob urged the woman. Her eyes darted around, but he could see condensation forming in the mask from her breath, indicating she was breathing. She visibly calmed down somewhat, although she remained too overwhelmed to speak. The plane was shaking uncontrollably now. Jacob noticed flashing lights outside the windows. When he looked out, he saw thousands of orbs in the sky emitting bright lights of unfamiliar colors—colors he couldn't even recognize. Jacob could feel his heart racing, as if it might burst out of his chest. He decided to start praying. If this were to be his last day, he better make amends with God.
Jacob's father was a pastor, making him a notorious PK—a Pastor's Kid. He had grown up in the church, playing in the worship band, and attending church events. He was undeniably a Christian and would stand by that, though at times he knew he could be a black sheep of the faith. With the plane shaking violently, he prayed, "Lord, if this is my time, then so be it. I am ready."
The subsequent events unfolded as a blur. While he prayed, the pilot's panicked voice blared over the intercom, urgently calling for an emergency landing. Then came a colossal explosion—a sound that pierced his eardrums and seemed to scramble his brain. The noise reverberated deep within him, resonating through his soul, and unsettling the very fabric that tethered his reality. It was as if his consciousness was slipping away, and he thought, "This is it, this is the end."
Suddenly, there was nothing but silence—a vast expanse of darkness. Jacob struggled to discern the boundaries of his own body, lost in the inky void. He saw nothing, only an all-encompassing darkness. He grappled with the question of whether he was dead. "Am I in purgatory? Why do my thoughts persist? Is this death? Where is heaven? Or is this... Hell? Please, God, don't condemn me to eternal damnation," he beseeched within his mind. He screamed internally, seeking any semblance of reason in this inexplicable situation. Suddenly, a faint light appeared amid the darkness. The light, a brilliant, almost white hue, pulsed rhythmically, sending shockwaves through the abyss. Jacob was immediately convinced that this was his passage to heaven, and jubilation surged within him.
Then, a voice echoed, "It is not your time." The words seemed implanted directly into his thoughts, an ethereal resonance that felt both ancient and divine. Did God just communicate with me? Jacob wondered. His very core was shaken by the voice. It brought him comfort, yet an intense fear was gripping him, making him realize that without a doubt, the speaker held the power to extinguish him effortlessly.
The pulsations ceased, plunging him once more into darkness. Suddenly, a screen materialized within the void with the words,
“Earth’s amalgamation is commencing.”
"What the fuck does amalgamation mean?!"
"Initiating reality breakdown... Calculating symbiotic union... Integrating administration."
"Reality breakdown? Union?! What administration? What the hell is going on?"
Suddenly, the screen erupted with a burst of energy that engulfed Jacob. Fear gripped him as he found himself instantaneously sprawled face down on his stomach, struggling to breathe. His body felt as if it had been struck by a truck, and a sensation of impending nausea swept over him. He became aware that his body was immersed in something—something wet, akin to a slushy substance. From his face down to his toes, he could sense he was partially submerged. Recognizing the danger of his situation, Jacob summoned his strength, raised his head, and assessed his surroundings. The sight that met his eyes shook him to his core.
The scene that Jacob found himself in could only be described with a single word: chaos. He discovered himself in a clearing the size of multiple stadiums that appeared to be centered in a forest, surrounded by ankle-deep, dark, almost blackish mud. Countless individuals were trapped in the same predicament as him, struggling within the mire. Above, an unending stream of lights shaped like human forms descended from the sky, creating small impacts as they plunged into the mud. Was this how he ended up in this forsaken land? Observing one of the lights colliding into what resembled a three-foot-deep pool of liquid and mud, and Lord knows what, his suspicions were confirmed. A woman in her late 20s emerged from the muck, uttering curses against everything in sight.
“Where the fuck am I, what in the flying fuck is going on? Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Screamed the woman.
After hearing her outburst, he recognized that this was the same voice as the lady from the plane. He began to straighten himself, preparing to approach her, when suddenly a deep, and loud horn rumbled from the forest. His gaze swiftly shifted from the girl to the forest itself.
The forest was a sight to behold. Its leaves bore the colors of autumn, yet they were far from withering; these were thriving plants. The wood and bark on the trees appeared dark, providing a striking contrast against the yellows and reds of the leaves. Upon the trunks, Jacob could discern barbs and spikes protruding from the sides of the tree. They possessed an eerie beauty, casting an ominous aura that seemed to press down on his soul, weighing heavily on his spirit. The trees began to tremble and sway, a mesmerizing dance with the dusky sky, as lights cascaded from the airborne forms descending towards their new reality.
Abruptly, Jacob realized that the trees weren't the source of the pressure. His realization struck when an 8-foot-tall humanoid-like creature emerged from the tree line, followed by what appeared to be an endless number of similar colossal beings approaching the clearing. Upon closer inspection, the giant-like creatures had a reddish tone to their skin. They bore 3-5 spikes on their heads, resembling horns growing from their skulls, with the larger specimens sporting even larger spikes. Their eyes resembled those of a goat, with hues of yellow and red like the leaves on the trees from which they emerged. These beings were powerfully built, with visible muscles covering their bodies. One could liken them to an extremely toned sumo wrestler, with every muscle intricately defined. Their mouths were another spectacle. Exceptionally large, they featured 2 massive tusks protruding outward. Yet, these tusks weren't uniform; their orientation seemed random, resulting in a distinct appearance for each creature. Adorning their forms was rough, gritty armor, reminiscent of something worn by orcs in a fantasy movie. There was no visible use of metal, however, this armor appeared to be made from a deep sanguine red clay, plated onto a material resembling black and worn leather. They bore weapons on their waists and backs, the majority of which were one- or two-handed axes, while a few wielded blunt objects that closely resembled maces or hammers. The weapons were crude, but in no way did they appear to be weak.
With each step the creatures took towards the growing group of bewildered and terrified individuals, the ground trembled beneath them. Fear hung heavily in the air as more and more people noticed the approach of these beings. Panic began to grip the crowd, causing individuals to stumble, slip, and collide as they fled in the opposite direction. Jacob remained where he had initially laid, attempting to comprehend the unfolding chaos before deciding to join the fray. As the fleeing groups edged closer to the opposite side of the clearing from where the gargantuan creatures emerged. The closer these beings drew, the more intense the pressure felt upon his inner being. Jacob took a step towards the direction of the fleeing crowd when he witnessed a man, appearing to be in his late 30s, finally reach the tree line. Suddenly, one of the giants, pushing closer to almost 9 feet tall revealed itself directly from behind the tree. The man stumbled backwards in shock falling over. Just as Jacob was about to scream a warning to the man, the colossal humanoid raised its leg, preparing to stomp down.
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"RUN!" Jacob's cry resounded urgently.
The foot crashed down upon the man, obliterating his legs as he attempted to crawl away. An agonized scream echoed through the air, piercing everyone's ears. The man gazed upon his mangled limbs, crushed to a pulp under the immense weight of the creature's foot. Despite his efforts, he struggled to escape. The colossal being lifted its leg again, then brought it down on the man's head, emitting a shockwave that reverberated throughout the vicinity. The creature lifted its leg, seemingly inspecting the underside of its foot, producing a noise akin to a malfunctioning chainsaw. Was this massive being laughing? Jacob's thoughts swirled, leaving him uncertain about his next move. However, before he could decide, the massive humanoid pulled a large two-handed axe from his back. The axe must have been 6 feet long and dawned a 3-foot-long crescent razor-sharp axe head, featuring a hefty spike on the opposite side of the blade. It emanated a pressure that felt as if the very essence of rage and brutality were contained within the weapon. It was as though the spirit of war and tyranny had been etched into the axe creating its very own soul. Jacob found himself immobilized, just by the sight of it. Despite being at least the length of a football field away from the creature, his legs trembled. What kind of twisted place had he stumbled upon? Before he could fathom an answer, the colossal being raised the axe with both hands above its head, aiming it at the crowd of people attempting to escape. A yellow emblem materialized on the creature's forehead, intensifying the aura of rage and brutality, bearing the weight of countless lives it had taken. Fear overwhelmed Jacob as he witnessed the axe descend toward the ground in front of the group of people, who were now fixated on every move the being made. A shockwave rippled through the clearing, as if it were about to tear apart the very fabric of space and time. A massive surge of energy coursed through the group, instantaneously reducing 100s of onlookers to a gruesome blend of blood, bone, and organs. Jacob, positioned about a hundred yards away, was showered with quarter-sized fragments of gore and mists of blood. The large being returned the axe to his back and let out a series of incomprehensible words, unrecognizable to Jacob. The other beings comprehended the command and began charging at the humans. As more of them emerged from the forest, wagons with cages began to appear.
“Were these creatures attempting to capture them? Jacob wondered to himself.” It was soon confirmed when one of the large creatures appeared right behind Jacob. With a punch to the face, his consciousness slipped into darkness.
Jacob awoke to what felt like gentle shakes and a massive headache. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in one of the wagon’s cages. Inside the cage were four other members. The manic woman from the plane, who seemed to be in no better state than before; her left arm was clearly broken, but she appeared oblivious to the injury, blankly staring into the distance and muttering nonsense to herself in the back corner. Of course, I’m in the cage with her, he thought. There were also two other men in the cage. They appeared to be twins due to their matching facial features, likely in their early 20s. They were visibly terrified, holding each other in the fetal position near one side of the cage. The last person in the cage was in the worst shape of them all. His leg was barely hanging on, with the femur protruding from his leg and blood flowing out. Jacob couldn't fathom how this man was still alive; with the amount of blood in the cage, he should definitely be dead by now. As the blood flowed, the man's face grew paler and paler. This would be the second person Jacob had ever seen die before his eyes, the first being the time when he was the first one to arrive at the scene of a car accident. Jacob had tried to save the man, but unfortunately, his efforts fell short. This time, Jacob thought, maybe I could help this guy, maybe I could be enough to make a change. Jacob started to make his way over to the dying man.
"Oh God, please help me. These brutes are leaving me to die. I don’t want to die; I want to go home. Please, help me for the love of God," the man begged.
"You're going to be okay," Jacob said, trying to comfort the man, though he knew these were likely the man's final moments. As Jacob attempted to stop the bleeding, one of the Brutes slammed his axe against the cage, yelling more incomprehensible words, but it was clear they wanted Jacob to stop.
"This man is dying! He needs help!" Jacob tried to reason with the brute, understanding that this was a dangerous game. The wagon abruptly stopped, and the brute opened the gate to the cage. Jacob backed away, fearing for his life. The brute grabbed Jacob by the throat and screamed at him, clearly angered by his actions. Jacob could feel his vision slipping yet again.
“This is it; this is where I die.”, he thought.
However, before his vision faded completely, he was thrown to the corner of the cage where the lady was. His back slammed into the bars of the cage, knocking the wind out of him, and what felt to be a few broken ribs. As he fell, he landed on the lady, triggering her to go into a frenzy, attacking him like a feline. She began pelting him with fists that didn't cause any significant damage besides a stinging pain, mostly due to the fact one of her arms was broken. The brute did not approve of this behavior. He yelled again in the language of the brutes, but she paid no attention, continuing to attack him. Jacob, still trying to recover from being knocked out and slammed into a wall, and who knows how many broken ribs he just got, lay there helplessly as she continued to punch him. Finally, the brute had had enough of the chaotic situation in the wagon. The brute reached in and grabbed the woman. Jacob felt somewhat relieved, as the punches were starting to become incredibly irritating.
The brute forcefully slammed the woman onto the ground, causing blood to spray from her mouth upon impact, instantly shattering multiple rib bones. Her arm, already broken, was rhythmically gushing blood as a massive piece of bone protruded from the injury. Standing over her, the brute loomed as she struggled to gasp for air. Jacob felt utterly helpless as he witnessed the scene unfold. Despite his lack of fondness for her and the fact that she had attacked him, the sight of her now in this harrowing state sent shivers down his spine. Bending over, the brute palmed the woman's head, his hand clamped on as if her eyes were indentations for a bowling ball. He began to squeeze, gouging her eyes out. The woman attempted to scream, her mouth moving to form the sound, yet no noise managed to escape her blood-soaked mouth. With a swift 180-degree pivot, the brute swung his arm over his head, her head still grasped in his hand and her body trailing behind. He was going to slam her, but in that frozen moment, as the brute executed his brutal maneuver and as the impending impact drew near, Jacob's eyes were locked on her face. Her face held a mixture of fear, confusion, indescribable torment, and suffering. Hope was utterly lost in her expression, and he witnessed true despair in that moment - a moment that felt locked in time and etched into his memory. But he could only watch, feeling complete powerlessness. As the body collided with the ground, the brute maintained a tight grip on her head, wrenching it free from her body in a gruesome decapitation. And just like that, she was dead. The woman who had been terrified and complaining about the flight not long ago was now reduced to a headless corpse in the mire. The brute spared a brief glance at the severed head, emitting what appeared to be a chuckle, before callously tossing it aside as if it were mere refuse. The gate to the cage was shut, and the wagon moved on to join the rest.
The trail of wagons must have been a couple of hundred, Jacob thought to himself. Even with the large number of wagons, he pondered, it wouldn't be enough to contain the number of people he had seen in the clearing and the number of lights that were still yet to fall. He assumed that a good chunk of people must have died. The caravan of wagons and Brutes trailed through the forest like an evil snake, producing sounds of suffering and agony. From the cage, Jacob could hear wailing coming from nearby wagons, including his own. The old man was moaning. How was he alive? Jacob wondered. Anticipating that the brute would return if he tried to help, so he did the only thing he could do.
"I am sorry, friend.” The old man met Jacob's eyes in response. His body was in a state where he could barely feel anything. He was on his way to the afterlife.
"Damn… these… bastards… I pray… you kill…" And with that, the man let out his last breath.
Jacob leaned back against the cage wall, with his own hope wavering.
How could this happen, teleportation? A ritual? Some sort of satanic summoning? Jacob was utterly confused with his current situation. His blood was racing, sweat dripping from his brow. In the short time he had arrived in this new land he had already witnessed so much pain and suffering that fear began to lock itself around his heart. Jacob knew he had to keep calm, the last thing he wanted to do was to panic. This marked the first occasion since his arrival in this peculiar land that he could truly collect his thoughts, and with that he took a deep breath and assessed his wounds and took in his surroundings more comprehensively. His ribs burned with pain; his body covered in mud. Distraught by the traumatic events that acted out before him he sat there and endeavored to recollect the sequence of events that had unfolded. One moment he had been on the plane, the next an explosion, and then the sudden appearance of a screen.
“Wait a minute, what had that screen been?” Almost in synchrony with the thought, a screen materialized before Jacob.
Name: Jacob Ham
Level: 1
Progression to Level 2: 2.750%
Race: Human F
Status: Slave to Rok’thorian
Health Points: 25 of 30
Mana Points: 5 of 5
Stamina Points: 7 of 10
Attributes:
Strength: 4
Agility: 3
Dexterity: 3
Perception: 4
Endurance: 2
Vitality:3
Intellect: 3
Spirit: 4
Free Points: 0
Abilities:
Primordial Augmentation to Reality – Ability - Unique - Passive – Rarity: ###### – Assists in the user’s growth.
Jacob found himself dumbfounded, caught between a dream and a nightmare, for he knew what this screen was. He had seen it countless times. A character screen, a tumult of confusion and excitement flooding his thoughts. Then, a somber reality crashed upon him:
"Slave to Rok’thorian. Beware of what you wish for, huh?" It appeared that Jacob was now trapped in a world reminiscent of an RPG.
"Of course, the moment I find myself in an RPG-like world, I become a slave. How in the hell am I supposed to survive this?" he pondered. The LitRPG books he had read often depicted countless deaths and immense suffering for the characters. Moreover, the protagonists endured trials of fire throughout their narratives.
"Alright, so I'm a slave. I need to change that. And not to mention, a pathetically weak one at that. Not even double digits" He thought, disappointed by his meager strength of 4. He reflected on all those days spent in the gym, even with no comparison to judge what a 4 in strength even was, he was still upset that he wasn’t at least a 10.
"Primordial Augmentation to reality? What is this?" Jacob's mind raced as he leaned toward the twins.
"Did either of you happen to see a screen when you arrived here, or do you now have a menu-like screen?" he inquired, leaving both perplexed by his sudden line of questioning.
"Brother, ignore him. That man has lost his mind; he'll get us killed."
"Yes, brother," one responded to the other. Jacob thought that he was likely the only one with this menu-like interface, maybe he was special. The notion struck him: perhaps the primordial augmentation to reality referred to this menu. Such a feature would indeed assist in navigating a world that made no sense whatsoever. But was that all?
“A help menu would be nice.”
"Hello, I am your guide. You can refer to me as Guide," a robotic voice echoed in Jacob's mind. Startling Jacob, it caused him to be visually caught off guard. He took another deep breath, and Jacob began to calm his nerve. He soon realized that this ethereal menu-related information was accessible through mere thought. Where am I? Jacob directed his query to the guide. There was no immediate response. Perplexed, Jacob attempted once more. How do I gain experience?
"Experience can be acquired through various means, most commonly by hunting, and training within one's professions such as class or trade. Practice makes perfect," the voice, devoid of emotion, resounded, though Jacob sensed a hint of smart ass in its tone. Could it be that I obtained some kind of experience from attempting to aid the old man, assuming the role of a healer?
"Even through failure, one can learn," the voice declared. It seemed this guide had a touch of personality.
"Thank you, Guide,". With this in mind, he decided to conduct an experiment. He tore his shirt off, revealing his physique, that while not out of shape or obese, still clung to a bit of persistent baby fat he had carried for 30 years and counting. Jacob tightly wrapped his shirt around his abdomen, providing support for his broken ribs. He then brought up his character sheet.
Progression to Level 2: 5.850%
Health Points: 26 of 30
"It worked!" Jacob exclaimed, startling the twins who were still holding onto each other. There must be some kind of log where I can track this. And just like that, a screen materialized before him.
You have tended to broken ribs.
Efficiency: Low.
Calculating Experience.
Experience Awarded.
Perfect, Jacob thought, just as he assumed. He even confirmed that when he tried to help the man that it too benefitted him, but it wasn’t the attempt to help the old man that gave him experience.
You attempt to help man.
Efficiency failed.
No Experience awarded.
You engage with Rok’thorian Soldier.
Rok’thorian Brute inflicts blunt damage.
Efficiency – High
Rok’thorian Soldier Disengages.
Calculating Experience
Combat Experience awarded.
It seems that you don't necessarily have to kill to gain experience. Engaging in combat itself yields results, although labeling that encounter as 'combat' was overly generous, Jacob mused over.
As excitement began to surge within Jacob, his imagination took flight, leading him to daydream about casting fireballs or dexterously slicing through monsters like a samurai. However, reality quickly jolted him out of his reverie when the wagon came to a halt. The caravan of slaves had reached their destination.