As their new, unknown reality began, everyone stood still. Their attention was drawn to the announcement providing them with vital information for what seemed to be their new life.
[To help you adjust and acclimate to your new life and challenges, every participant will be granted an additional life. Be sure to use it wisely, as death will be permane—]
[Player XXXX is the first player to have lost their additional life. Time of death post-message: 56 seconds.]
[Player XXXX earned the first announcement to display across all land masses in this expanse. Player XXXX: “Hehehe, so that’s how it works. That really hurt, though. Huh!? What is this screen asking me to do? Record my words? For what? Does this mean everyone can hear what I’m—”]
[Player XXXX's words will be recorded into the database. For the accomplishment of being the first to use their additional life, Player XXXX has received a hidden title.]
For a moment, 9,997 people stood frozen in place, dumbfounded by what they had just heard. The words hung in the air, serving as a temporary distraction from everything they had just experienced. However, two individuals didn’t seem surprised in the slightest. Instead, they took comfort in knowing that he was here. With him around, they believed they’d be fine, no matter what came next.
At least, that was their second thought.
Their first? Hoping they might finally get rid of him for good.
Were they serious?
Not really—but they relished the idea for as long as they could. However, each person was certain, Player XXXX, was their leader.
----------------------------------------
But let’s go back to the beginning, before the announcement.
In an expanse, as if summoned there against their will, stood 10,000 participants. Unsure of their purpose in such a place, most of them shared the same thought: “Who are these people?”
If one were to take a bird’s-eye view of the expanse, they would see ten distinct land masses, structured like a staircase ascending to the heavens. From the lowest land mass, each subsequent level appeared more elegant and divine, becoming increasingly aesthetically pleasing, as if the heavens themselves had designed it with purpose. Each land mass was ranked by its position: the very top, ranked 1, and the bottom, ranked 10. The significance of these rankings would soon become clear.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
As the participants acclimated to their new surroundings, challenges quickly appeared, heralded by a strange, stoic, and mechanical voice.
[Welcome to your new reality. This expanse serves as your testing grounds for what lies ahead for your planet… Earth.]
Hearing this unexpected voice, everyone froze and looked to the air, frantically searching for its source. To an outsider, the sight of 10,000 people staring at the sky in unison would have seemed absurd.
But to those same 10,000 people, their actions made perfect sense.
One individual, however, wasn’t just looking at the sky. He was sprawled on the ground, having clearly fallen from a height. Glancing to his side, he noticed the tree he had tumbled out of.
"Uggghhhhh, that wasn’t a fun fall. Thank God she wasn’t here to witness my descent, or I’d never be allowed near a tree again."
Rather than standing up and dusting himself off, he stayed on the ground, his legs awkwardly arched behind his head, as he continued to listen to the strange voice and read the glowing words that had appeared out of nowhere.
[You all have been chosen from the population of your planet to serve as guides for its inclusion into the grander multiverse.]
[Here, you will be granted abilities, skills, weaponry, and other tools to aid you in this test. Rise above the challenge and serve as beacons for your planet’s survival.]
Although the source of the words remained unknown, everyone understood their meaning. Focused and attentive, they continued to listen.
Still sprawled on the floor, the individual glanced at another screen that appeared beside him. A simple message was displayed:
[Hidden Title Unlocked: He Who Denies Fate.]
"Does that do anything, or do I have to figure it out, or...?" he muttered.
[During your stay here, you will be afforded opportunities to advance and grow stronger for as long as you survive.
In the multiverse, abstract concepts are known as forces. Each force, powered by the aether that comprises existence, governs natural elements such as water, fire, earth, and wind, as well as unnatural concepts like speed, strength, or swords.
Every individual, regardless of their talent, is attuned to a specific force. Some may have the potential to become living gods, while others may be destined to grovel at the floor of existence, unworthy of even glancing at the heights above.]
Everyone digested the words of the announcement. A status screen appeared in front of them, displaying their overall stats.
Finally getting off the ground and dusting himself off, the individual glanced at his status screen.
[Name: Kei Yuichi
Title: He Who Denies Fate
Class: Locked
Force Alignment: Breeze
Level: 0
Hp: 15/15
Aether: 30/30
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 2
Agility: 5
Constitution: 4
Intelligence: 10
Will: 10
Charisma: 10
Remaining Stat Points: 5
Skills: None
Force Progression: 0%
Equipment: None]
Kei studied his status screen, unsure of what to make of it. He felt certain, however, that he’d figure out how to optimize his stats as best as possible. But more questioningly, he stared at the final item on his status screen, [Potential: Incalculable]
As Kei observed his status, the remaining participants were doing the same. Some were gleeful at the fantasy-like nature of their situation, while others were scared and mortified by the unknown, especially the realization that death here was very real.