The tremors beneath their feet continued, a stark reminder that the danger in Aetheria was far from over. The air, thick with the metallic tang of blood and the hum of Aether technology, was exactly as Finn had always imagined from Alex’s streams—except now it was real. A cold wave of fear washed over Finn; he understood that his theoretical knowledge was nothing like the harsh realities of this new world.

Fort Bastion's battlefield was a mirror image of "Lumina's Defense," a game he'd watched Alex play countless times. Yet, the chill that ran down Finn's spine was far from digital. It was the cold dread of a live battle. The crown felt heavier than he expected, the armor both clumsy and oddly familiar. He’d studied strategy, leadership – endless books and lectures – but nothing prepared him for this. He wasn't interviewing for a job anymore; he was Prince Finn, and the game world is the new reality. "Tell me about a time you faced a challenge," echoed in his head, now a terrifying question with teeth.

Rylan's voice cut through his thoughts, direct and to the point. "The wall has fallen. Crawlers are coming through the walls. Stalkers are killing our soldiers," he stated. “It’s time for you to lead, Your Highness. What are your orders, Prince Finn?”

Finn, still trying to grasp the reality of his situation, looked at the screen that had appeared before him. It was as if the game had transformed to fit him, displaying his stats under the name 'Finn' but with the skills of Prince Capisco. The HUD shimmered into his vision, showing information clearly, as if it was a complex system adapting to his needs and his perception of the world.

Realizing he was somehow connected to the system, Finn began to analyze how it worked and how he could use it to his advantage. The information changed right before his eyes, adjusting with perfect accuracy to his needs. His eyes widened at the display; his stats were abysmal, especially compared to the warrior beside him.

He'd envisioned leading a glorious charge, sword raised high. Instead, Finn was relying on instinct, praying his feet wouldn't betray him. No isekai superpowers awaited this weak prince – just a crushing lack of experience.

Finn Park (The Reluctant Prince) - 1★

* Level: 1

* HP: 80/80

* Skills: None

* Weapon: Ceremonial Royal Dagger

* Aether Capacity: 10/10

* Description: A prince who didn't want to be a prince. He’s read a ton of business books and attended countless workshops, but sadly, none of that translates to real-world skills. Imagine a prince who can deliver a lecture on "team synergy" but couldn't swing a sword to save his life. Right now, he's very confused and probably wishing for a handbook on "How to Survive a War."

Finn's eyes widened at the stats. "No skills? Seriously?" he muttered, feeling a cold dread settle in. His thoughts raced, fueled by a mix of indignation and growing panic.

As the reality of his situation sank in, Finn took a deep breath and tried to steady his racing thoughts. "I’ve been sucked into the game," he whispered to himself, quickly analyzing the implications. "If I die here, then chances are it’s for real ...and yet... These are the stats I'm stuck with?" He couldn't believe how unprepared he was. All those business books and workshops had done nothing to equip him for swinging a sword or fighting monsters.

Determined to make the best of his situation, Finn's mind started working on the best possible strategies. “Alright,” he declared, his voice stronger than he felt. “Let’s show them a prince of the Light always adapts and finds a solution. If things don’t work, you find another one.” Deep down, he couldn't help but wish for a handbook on "How to Survive a War."

Rylan’s voice cut in sharply, snapping Finn back to the present. "Finn! We don’t have time for this. I need you focused on the immediate dangers." The screen flashed, showing the enemies that were coming. "More Stalkers," Finn said, his mind immediately noting the quantity and type of enemy, and also calculating the optimal defense strategies. "Three of them."

Rylan’s expression tightened, his hand almost crushing his sword, but a flicker of fear darted through his eyes.

HUD: Rylan activated [Unyielding Guardian].

HUD: Rylan receives a temporary buff [Defense Up ↑].

HUD: You’ve receive a temporary buff for being near his side [Strength ↑].

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Then, a powerful golden aura surrounded him, a subtle show of power and protection, which caused him to look even more determined. He looked at Finn with focused eyes, his expression neutral, “I’ll hold them off, it is my duty. Get to a safe place. You have to be safe,” he said, his voice firm yet hurried. He steered Finn down the steps, his sword and shield already in a ready position. “Go, Your Highness! I'll give you some time to strategize!”

Finn paused, his fingers touching the ornate hilt of his dagger—a pretty trinket that probably wouldn't do much damage, he analyzed. A sense of hopelessness tried to make itself known, but he dismissed it with a breath and considered the possible uses of such an impractical weapon. Even a useless weapon can have a hidden use, he thought, trying to find a purpose for his ceremonial dagger.

Wait a second… Isn’t this the tutorial level where everyone was meant to die, and only Rylan survived? If that’s true...then… Am I going to die as well?

However, Finn remembered that his brother Alex had experienced a different outcome in his own playthrough. With his tactical ingenuity, Alex had managed to keep some heroes alive. Yet, even then, he could not save the prince and his army. Finn, an unemployed HR graduate who had read every book on leadership he could find, was now Prince Finn, poised for an inevitable tragedy. His most effective weapon, he mused, was likely a powerfully persuasive argument.

Could he use his strategic planning and business skills to survive this? Would his understanding of Alex's gameplay even help? Would these skills and insights be enough to turn the tides in their favor? His business leadership mindset was already working out the possibilities, trying to find a way to make his skills useful in this new environment.

"Go!" Rylan yelled, his voice cracking with urgency, pushing Finn towards the courtyard door. "Get to safety, Your Highness! I'll hold them off, and you can plan your next move once you're safe!" Rylan’s sword flashed, a silver arc against the darkening sky, deflecting a blow from a Mantis Stalker, its chitinous armor a menacing wall of black.

The Stalker was a titan of chitin, easily eight feet tall, its shadow swallowing Rylan whole, its scythe-like forelimbs a blur of motion, its multifaceted eyes burning with a disturbingly intense red glow. A chilling unease settled in his mind; Mantis Stalkers weren't usually this large or this aggressive, he analyzed. There was something deeply unsettling about this, and his tactical mind made him acknowledge that the current situation was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

His jaw hardened as he pushed the thought aside. His immediate priority was ensuring the prince’s safety and understanding the nature of this new threat.

Finn stumbled through the doorway, the horrifying symphony of battle echoing behind him. He found himself in a chaotic melee of soldiers and beasts. Soldiers clashed with massive Mantis Stalkers, the air choked with the tang of ozone and the sickening sound of chitin breaking. A small group of soldiers, already wounded, were fighting for their lives near a crumbling wall. This can't be real, Finn thought in a panic, his mind reeling. This is not my world, and I have no idea what I'm doing. A cold dread washed over him.

Rylan burst through the doorway a moment later, dispatching a Stalker that had nearly reached Finn. He leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths, his face grim. "This is an ambush, Your Highness," he explained, his voice tight with urgency. "We were completely overwhelmed, the attack was more complex than we anticipated. These numbers… I’ve never seen so many Stalkers in one place, and they're larger than any I've ever encountered. Our leaders told us this was supposed to be a minor attack. But this isn't minor. This feels... wrong. It’s as if there has been a change in the enemy’s behavior.” He looked around at the chaos in the courtyard. "There’s just too many of them. And they're fighting with… a ferocity I've never witnessed before.”

Rylan gestured towards a heavy oak door at the far side of the courtyard. "Head through there, Your Highness. Your team is waiting for you inside," Rylan said, gesturing further into the courtyard. "I'll join you shortly, after I've confirmed nothing has followed us through."

He was just an unemployed HR graduate, not a warrior, nor prince, nor leader. He was just minding his own business, trying to land his dream career. Well...So much for that. Cruel fate ripped his plans apart and forced him into a role of a prince who got thrust into the middle of a war. I didn't even signed up for this and seriously, I should have just taken that unpaid internship). Talk about a hostile work environment. Now, all he could do was follow Rylan's lead, blindly. Before him: a large door. I’m not sure where this leads, but what choice do I have right now? He breathed in, gripped the handle... and prayed this was all just a nightmare. Resume, meet shredder.