Prologue 

Jason sighed as he walked down the street toward his one-bedroom apartment, rolling his shoulders after what had officially become the worst month of his life. First, his girlfriend dumped him. Then, two weeks later, he got fired. Sure, he’d been slacking, but could anyone blame him? The city buzzed with life around him, but all he wanted was a hot shower, his couch, and the latest episode of his favorite show. 

Then, a sudden flash of bright light in the sky caught his attention. 

Another police chase? He squinted, watching as the glow pulsed erratically. “Looks like the cops are after Reaver again,” he muttered, quickening his pace into a light jog as he crossed the street. 

As he reached his apartment, the same light from earlier now shone through his window, growing impossibly bright. A warning prickled at the edge of his mind. 

“What the hell?” Jason whispered—before the world erupted into a brilliant white flash. 

“Welcome, Contest Number Fifty, to the Fiftieth Annual Games of Raz.” 

Jason's vision blurred, his eyes burning as he blinked furiously against the searing light. “Feels like I just had a staring contest with the sun... and got my ass kicked,” he muttered. 

As his sight returned, he realized he was no longer in his apartment. He was floating. Suspended in an endless void of blinding white—no walls, no floor, just nothingness. 

A glowing blue orb hovered before him, pulsing gently like a slow heartbeat. 

The moment Jason’s eyes locked onto it, the orb spoke again. 

“Contest Number Fifty, formerly known as Jason. I am one of the Oracles of Raz. You may call me Nexus. Contestant, what name will you be known by in the Razian Empire?” 

Jason’s stomach churned. “Jason is fine,” he said cautiously. “But… what the hell is going on?” 

“Well, Jason,” Nexus spoke in a disturbingly calm tone, “you have been selected to compete in the Games of Raz for the sole purpose of entertaining His Majesty, the Emperor of the Razian Empire.” 

Anger surged in Jason at the floating... whatever-the-hell this thing was. “Hold up. I’m not doing some stupid game for some guy I’ve never even heard of! And what empire? Last I checked, the USA doesn't have an Emperor.” 

A deep resonance vibrated through the void. 

Before Jason could react, a bone-piercing ring shattered the air, slamming into his chest like a sledgehammer. Pain detonated through his body. He gasped, clutching at his chest as an invisible force ripped through his very soul. A violent cough wracked his body, blood splattering onto the empty space below him. 

Gritting his teeth, he glared at the floating orb. “If you think a little sound is gonna—” 

The ringing struck again. 

Agony tore through him, white-hot and relentless. His thoughts shattered, and the last thing he felt before darkness swallowed him whole was the sickening sensation of falling. 

Jason stirred, his body aching as he struggled to consciousness. 

A voice, calm yet commanding, cut through his daze. 

“Hello, Jason. Let’s try this again.” 

His eyes snapped open. 

He was no longer in the void. Instead, he stood in a forest unlike anything he had ever seen. Towering crystal-like trees loomed overhead, their translucent leaves catching the sunlight and refracting it into dazzling prisms. A cool, electric energy crackled in the air, making his skin tingle. 

And in front of him sat a being made of the same blue crystal as the trees. 

Humanoid in shape, it glowed softly from within, its smooth, faceless form watching him with eerie stillness. 

“Jason, I have concluded that we need to start over. Before we begin, it is not permitted to speak ill of the Emperor or his Empire.” 

Jason scoffed. “If you think I give a damn about that piece of shi—” 

His voice vanished. 

His throat tightened, his breath hitching. He tried again, but nothing came out. 

“I have prevented you from committing a heinous crime,” Nexus continued, unbothered. “By removing your ability to make sound, I’ve spared you the consequences of further disrespect. You’re welcome.” 

Jason gritted his teeth, rage curling in his gut. 

A low thump echoed in his chest. 

Nexus tilted its head. “Curious.” 

Another thump. 

Jason clenched his fists. The air trembled around him. A crack formed along Nexus’s crystalline form. 

A thin stream of crystalline blood trickled from its eyes. 

Nexus let out a sharp breath, its glow flickering. “You cannot subdue me,” Jason growled, his voice returning as something deep inside him shattered Nexus’s hold. He stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. “However… I am intrigued. I won’t provoke you further regarding your Emperor.” His eyes darkened. “For now.” 

Nexus steadied itself, though its glow had dimmed. For the first time, Jason saw something in its expression—hesitation. 

“…Very well,” Nexus said, its voice tight. “Let us proceed.” 

With a wave of its hand, five translucent screens materialized before Jason. 

“As a Forerunner, you will be granted five class selections based on your soul calling.” 

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Class Selections: 

1. Fighter (Common): A balanced warrior trained in physical combat and weapon mastery. 

1. Mage (Uncommon): Channels arcane forces for devastating magical attacks, fragile but powerful. 

1. Shadow Dancer (Rare): A master of stealth and assassination, able to phase through darkness. 

1. Lord of the Undead (Epic): Raises the dead, sacrifices life force for immense power. Converts user into undead. 

1. Mystic Swordsman (Forerunner): Summons swords infused with unique abilities, adaptable to any combat situation. 

Jason’s breath slowed as he read through the descriptions. Undead could be cool… but I don’t like the whole ‘turn into a zombie’ thing. 

That left Shadow Dancer or Mystic Swordsman. 

His gut told him Mystic Swordsman. It was versatile, unpredictable—and something about it just felt right. 

He reached out and made his selection. 

Instantly, a surge of power flooded through him. 

A new notification appeared in his vision: 

Innate Skills Acquired: 

* Dimensional Space: Store non-living items in a pocket dimension. 

* Sword Mastery Level 1: Enhanced sword proficiency. 

* Identify Level 1: Grants insight into objects and beings. 

another notification flashed 

Sword Selections Remaining: Two  

Options Available:  

Blade of Undying Flame – Forged in the Ember Peak Forge, this blade grants the user fire-based attacks capable of lighting even stone ablaze. The user gains a spike in strength and stamina.  

Thunder Shock – Once an ordinary sword, Master Swordsman Tempest Edge Azra meditated over it in the Valley of Endless Storms until the storms bent to the blade’s will. This sword grants the Mystic Swordsman the ability to coat themselves in lightning, providing powerful magical defense. The user receives a large boost to agility.  

The Devourer – Created from the bones of a galactic-devouring worm, this blade retains the properties of endless hunger. Feed the blade, and it will rival the gods themselves.  

Jason studied the options carefully. His first choice was clear. He had always been a long-term strategist in his gaming career bunker down, max out his tech, and then obliterate any opposition. He selected The Devourer.  

A small black hole, speckled with glowing white lights, appeared before him. A strange urge compelled him to reach into the void. As his hand entered, an overwhelming feeling of hunger consumed him. When he withdrew, a bone blade the length of his forearm formed in his grasp. Its hilt was wrapped in a worn leather strip. Examining it, Jason ran his thumb along the edge, it was so sharp it immediately drew blood, which the blade absorbed hungrily. A pang of hunger hit him again, a gnawing emptiness that demanded to be fed.  

A notification flashed:  

Touch of the Devourer, Allows the bonded user to break down defeated prey into base components for absorption. 

Warning: the use of this blade can influence the user causing the user to loose themselves to an all consuming desire to consume all. 

Well that's just great love a weapon that will make me go crazy. Jason though with a roll of his eyes. 

All other skills locked.  

Jason frowned thoughtfully but looked back at the menus for his second choice. Both options were appealing: Undying Flame for offense, or Thunder Shock for defense. But in the end, Jason knew his preference. Better to deliver the blows than receive them, he thought, selecting Undying Flame.  

As before, a tugging sensation pulled at him. A warning appeared:  

Warning: Can only have one sword equipped at a time.  

With a thought, the void holding The Devourer opened again, swallowing the bone blade into the darkness. Jason shifted his focus to the new sword, and suddenly, a rent in reality made of roaring fire sprang into existence beside him. He reached into the flame, feeling a warmth that fueled his very soul. But beneath that warmth, he sensed a terrible, violent power capable of unimaginable destruction.  

Jason drew Undying Flame from the fire. It was a katana, its polished steel glowing with an inner fire, as if molten embers pulsed just beneath the surface. With every movement, the blade cast flickering light. Its razor-sharp edge gleamed with a golden hue, radiating elemental power and untamed fury.  

Skills:  

Flame Crescent – Coat the edge of the blade in fire, sending an arcing slash up to ten feet.  

All other skills locked.  

Jason marveled at the blade’s beauty and power, feeling its potential coursing through him.  

"Congratulations," Nexus said with a calm, almost eerie smile. "Now that you have become imbued, we can move on to more pressing matters. There are several stages to the Games of Raz. First, you and the five other Earthlings will be given a proving ground to help you catch up with your newfound powers. You will be given ninety days. The other competitors have had their powers for generations—you all have some serious work cut out for you."  

Jason’s mind raced. “Who are the others? Why was I chosen? What do you mean, ‘catch up’? Are we expected to battle these other beings? What are all the challenges I have before me?”  

Nexus remained unflinching. "All will be answered in time. Your first task is to clear as much of the proving ground as possible. You may work with the others, or you may kill each other. the decisions are yours. Make the Emperor proud!"  

With a slow, deliberate motion, Nexus outstretched his arms.  

a golden prompt appeared in front of Jason. 

Quest: 

Defeat the three bosses of the Triumverge Citadel: 

* Pyraxis, the Flame Sovereign 

* Frostmaw, the Eternal Warden 

* Umbraxis, the Shrouded Betrayer 

Jason barely had time to process the words before the world collapsed. 

The world around him began to fall apart breaking piece by piece simultaneously being replaced by a vast, twilight realm where the light seemed to bend and twist, creating endless illusions. He was surrounded with a faint mist, and uneven ground, that was covered with creeping black vines that pulse with a dim, ghostly glow. Tall, jagged spires of obsidian rise from the ground, their reflective surfaces creating distorted reflections of everything around them. Shadowy figures flicker in and out of view, making it hard to distinguish what is real from what is merely a figment of the mind.  

An oppressive aura pressed down on Jason's mind, the air around him thickening with malevolence. Whispers echoed from the shadows, hissing accusations that cut deep into his soul.  

"It was all your fault... you Could have saved her. Should have saved her. But you were weak, afraid... cowardly. You abandoned her to save yourself."  

"No... that's not true," Jason muttered, his voice trembling.  

"Oh, but it is," the ghostly voice hissed, growing louder, more sinister. "You know this in your heart. Why do you deserve to live... when she deserved to die?"  

Jason fell to his knees as images swirled in the shadows around him. A young girl, no older than twelve, running ahead, glancing back at him with a wide, innocent smile. His heart clenched.  

"No!" Jason screamed. "Turn back! I can't... I can't see this again!" Tears welled in his eyes as he choked on the memories. "I... I didn't mean to—"  

Thump. Thump.  

The vision shattered, the shadows dissolving like smoke. Jason’s heart pounded in his chest, the oppressive feeling replaced with something even more chilling. Standing just five feet in front of him was a figure so terrifying, the very air seemed to twist and darken around it.  

The figure loomed over him, its body shrouded in tattered, shadowy cloth that fluttered in an unseen wind. Beneath its hood, two faintly glowing eyes burned through the gloom, cold and pitiless. Long, skeletal hands extended from the folds of its robe, eager to ensnare him.  

Thump. Thump.  

With a guttural hiss, the creature recoiled slightly, as if it sensed something within Jason. Instinctively, Jason used Identify.  

Harrower  

An undead that breaks the will of its victims by forcing them to relive their worst memories repeatedly until their will shatters. Once their will is broken, the Harrower harvests their soul.  

Jason's breathing was ragged, but the fear gave way to something deeper anger. He wouldn't let this thing break him.  

Fueled by a surge of rage, Jason acted on pure instinct. A rent of fire burned through the oppressive darkness, and in a single, fluid motion, he unleashed his first skill: Flame Crescent.  

A brilliant arc of fire sprang to life, slicing through the shadows and forcing the darkness to retreat. The Harrower, caught in the center of the blazing crescent, let out a pitiful shriek its final sound before it was completely engulfed by the searing flames. The creature writhed for only a moment before its form fell to the ground smoldering, the air left smelling of burning decay.  

Jason stood there, breathing heavily, his eyes still locked on the space where the Harrower lay. The rage that had fueled him simmered down, but the intensity of the moment lingered.  

From afar, Nexus silently observed the encounter. His crystalline eyes glimmered with curiosity.  

“Terrifying,” Nexus whispered to himself, almost reverently. “Truly terrifying. If he survives, he may be just what we’ve waited for, Master.”