Prologue

The hammer fell, the ringing sound echoed throughout the ethereal chamber. A dream like hand reached into my own as if dragging me further into the dream that I inhabited. I saw as the metal was forged, a smile on the ethereal figure's face as it guided my hand towards a refined future, a refined blade, one given purpose by my very hand.

From an ingot of the purest metal, destroyed, melted into a new form, it took shape. I saw the whole process and could not help but be captivated as the blade took form. Even if it was by my own hands it did not feel as if it was, it felt as if the same ethereal hand that took its warmth in mine was the real creator however I could not help but take this to memory. The feeling as the hammer fell, as the blade took form, of how I was able to capture the very fate of the future in the blade. A blade that cut through karma, through the bonds of time as its edge cut through the chains holding me to the karma that so bound me.

"You can have it all, a world that would allow for the creation of the prefect blade" I heard, the strange voice echoing into my very soul.

"I can…?" I say as best I could, the hold the dream held over me taking me far from the being that offered my future, my purpose.

"Yes" it whispered, "just ask and you shall receive" another bell like voice echoed, a strangely angelic tinge to it.

"I want… I want to forge it, please, give me the opportunity"

A smile was the last I remembered of the dream. One so beautiful that I couldn't help but memorize it, just as I had the forging process.

…

The yelling of classmates, of the teachers and even of the very nature disturbed me from my rest.

[Welcome to your new life] a sadistic voice said, its voice echoed into my very soul, like some sort of parasite.

[I have done your species the honor of being added into our eternal game.] it explained even as explosions rang out, the very atmosphere turning ablaze as many coughed.

Blood spilled from their lips however it was not the red you would expect, no, it was the darkest black, something you would only dream of. A color more akin to the void than an actual color.

[As some of you may have noticed, your bodies haven't exactly adapted to the mana. And to those who I'm addressing, know that you'll die within moments.]

It said, the being even sounding like it was laughing. Even as the majority of my class died around me, the teacher keeling over as black blood seeped from his eyes. It still laughed.

[For those of you who have survived, congratulations. You passed. Your world will be devoured in seconds, I would rush to the nearest portal if I were you.]

With that vague statement the presence left as a huge portal appeared in the room I was sat in.

"Hah" I breathed out, my eyes filled with resolve as I dash from where I was towards the portal. I ignored the bodies around me, even when vomit threatened to rush from my mouth I still ran. My dream, to create the greatest weapon overpowered any fear or disgust that I felt towards the dead bodies that littered the floor.

I looked around as I ran and saw that there were only five others that were able to adapt but they seemed paralyzed in fear.

I ignored them, even when their eventual screams reached my ears, I ignored them.

A hand touched the portal and my vision was taken from me, the once vibrant light of the room being replaced with absolute darkness akin to the blood of the dead I had previously seen.

…

[Welcome, you have passed into the tutorial tower. Survive and grow]

A message flew into my face, the darkness receded as the message took center stage.

Though as soon as I had read through the message it had disappeared, an entirely different screen taking its place.

[Mihr Masamune]

Vitality: 1

Strength: 1

Dexterity: 1

Mana: 1

[Skills]

[Memoria(rank 1) (0%)

Allows the user to remember]

…

I read through the basic character sheet, it had only my name, stats, and skills. Aside from the one skill I had which I did not know the usefulness of, my stats lacked. I did not know if 1 was what everyone started with or if it was only me that was that pathetic but I did not dwell on it. If this was anything like a game that it had tried so hard to portray then there would be countless ways of either boosting or leveling up my stats.

My skill on the other hand on a second look appealed to me more than any combat skill. It seemed lackluster at first until I remembered the dreams that I had been having since I was little. The ones that had put it into my head to make the greatest blade in existence.

I had always swore to myself that I would remember the techniques, the way the hammer moved, of the various emotions that went into creating the weapon but no matter how hard I tried I could only vaguely remember.

It grated on me, to see my dream so close yet so far away but now with this skill there may just be a way.

I did not know if rank 1 was good or not but I didn't care, I only cared for if it could help with my dream or not.

Soon though I was brought out of my thoughts by a bright light that filled my vision. The scenery around me had changed and I could not help but marvel at the vast world that seemed to drag on forever. It wasn't even beautiful, nor was it even a place. It seemed more like a box, a cage that seemed to drag on forever.

Some might be wondering why I would marvel at this and it was for no reason other than the fixture staring at me.

A rudimentary room, one with a bed and a table. However that was not what had grabbed my attention so much. It was the whetstone that stood to the side.

My feet carried my body to its side where I picked it up, a bucket of water appearing next to it.

A smile appeared on my face, if the tower could provide me with these things then it would no doubt be able to give me a full forge and all the materials that I would need.

Though I was brought out of my thoughts of grandeur soon as more notifications appeared in my eyes.

[Welcome to the tutorial tower, please select your difficulty]

[easy]

[normal]

[hard]

[extreme]

[nightmare]

The smile had not disappeared, I reached a hand out to the message.

"Of course I would choose…"