Master of Zero

Chapter 1: Jack Of All Trades

The world was supposed to be simple. The comfort of home, a familiar gaming chair, the glow of a monitor, and the endless thrill of leveling up and fighting virtual monsters. But none of that prepared him for what awaited.

The protagonist's eyes fluttered open, his head pounding. He tried to shake off the haze of unconsciousness, but a strange weight pressed down on him. It wasn't the usual feel of his bed or the blanket he'd fallen asleep under.

Zane's mind raced as he tried to make sense of it all. His old life… a life spent mostly behind a screen, gaming. Not a bad life, but never really… fulfilling. He'd been shy, reserved—never really the outgoing or social hero type. But this? This was real. He wasn't safe in his room anymore. He wasn't just playing anymore.

As he stood there, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of his situation, he could feel the cool wind against his skin. His short, messy black hair ruffled in the breeze, and his hazel cat like eyes flicked around, trying to make sense of the bustling world around him. His clothes—plain, simple tunic and trousers—felt wrong somehow, as though they weren't his. His name? Zane. But that name seemed so distant now, as if it belonged to someone else. How had he ended up here?

his surroundings were… unfamiliar.

the first thing he noticed was the sheer size of everything around him. Tall, looming buildings crafted from smooth, pale stone stretched toward the sky, their facades adorned with banners and ancient symbols. Everything felt larger than life—unnaturally so.

He blinked, rubbing his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The atmosphere in the city square was dense with energy, as if the air itself hummed with magical power. The smells were sharp—metallic from the forging of weapons, pungent from the sweat of adventurers, and something else he couldn't place—like the tang of something mystical in the wind.

A large crowd bustled past him, each person moving with purpose. There were men and women clad in varying forms of armor, some wielding mighty weapons, others carrying long, flowing staffs pulsing with glowing energy. They paid him no mind as they rushed by, their eyes focused ahead, no time to stop for a stranger.

He stood up shakily, his body still feeling heavy from disorientation. Where was he? This wasn't his room, his apartment, or even his country. This wasn't even his world.

A sudden rush of panic gripped him. His mind raced as he looked around frantically. Is this a dream? Some weird game glitch? But everything felt too real—the cold air brushing against his skin, the distant hum of voices, and the rush of people seemed too vivid. He could feel his heartbeat quicken, the reality of the situation settling in.

Okay, stay calm. Think this through.

He started walking, though the act felt like moving through a dream. His eyes scanned the strange city, taking in every detail. The towering structures with intricate carvings along their surfaces, the banners fluttering in the breeze, the ever-present sound of metal clashing in the distance—like the ongoing hum of a distant battle.

As he walked, his feet hit cobblestone streets that gleamed in the sunlight. There were stalls lined up with merchants selling strange items: potions, magical trinkets, and weapons he couldn't begin to recognize. He caught glimpses of travelers huddled together, exchanging goods and tales. It was a bustling city, full of life, but also… danger.

His gaze shifted nervously to a group of adventurers standing nearby. They spoke with each other, their voices filled with confidence, their expressions fierce. A swordsman wielded a great sword with ease, a mage with arcane symbols glowing on their robes stood nearby, and a healer gently tended to the injured.

It hit him all at once: This wasn't a dream. This was real. And I have no idea how I got here.

As he stumbled forward, he caught sight of a merchant hawking strange potions. A squat man with a thick beard and wide eyes grinned at him.

"You look lost, kid," the man said, his voice gruff but kind. "First time in Errantel? You'd better get used to it. It's a city of danger, but that's where the fun is."

Zane opened his mouth to respond, but the man had already moved on to the next customer. The words didn't register right away, but the meaning did. Danger. Fun. Those words hung in the air, settling heavily in his chest.

then his attention was drawn to something on the horizon—a massive, gleaming gate leading deeper into the city, surrounded by a wall of stone and magic.

A large banner hung from the arch, emblazoned with the symbol of a sword and shield: Errantel—the Adventurer's Hub.

His heart skipped a beat. Errantel?

A city of adventurers. He'd read about it in his games, heard tales of its endless quests and dangerous dungeon crawls, but to be here, standing at the very heart of it? It felt impossible.

As he tried to make sense of it all, a sudden, sharp pang of pain shot through his head.

System Activation Complete.

Welcome, Player.

Class Assigned: Jack-of-All-Trades

Skill System Initialized

Zane stared at the screen, blinking rapidly. The words made no sense. A "class"? "System Initialized"? Was this some kind of joke? Was he dreaming? He raised his hand in front of his face and pinched his skin—no, this felt too real. Too solid.

He tried to tough the translucent blue window but his hand passed right through it

Then, more prompts appeared, this time detailing his stats.

Current Stats:

[ HP: 100/100 ]

[ MP: 50/50 ]

[ Strength: 5 ]

[ Agility: 5 ]

[ Intelligence: 5 ]

[ Sense: 5 ]

Zane frowned. Nothing seemed to stand out. The numbers were all average—too average. He was sure they should mean something, but he didn't know what. Was this supposed to be his power? A "Jack-of-All-Trades"? It didn't make him feel special. Why? Isn't this one of those fantasy novels where I get an op power, It felt like a joke. Still, he couldn't deny the odd feeling in his chest, a knot of uncertainty and… maybe hope.

A message popped up

Quest Available:

• Survive the Initial Wave

Objective: Stay alive in the city square until further instructions are given.

His stomach dropped. Survive? The quest itself sent a chill down his spine. His head spun as he tried to digest the information. Was he really part of some kind of game now? But no, this wasn't a game. He wasn't staring at a screen from the comfort of his room. He was here—physically here.

He took a step forward, feeling the weight of his own body . His clothes were different too—he was dressed in simple, worn tunic and pants, nothing like the casual attire he'd worn before. His fingers were bare, without the comforting weight of his usual gear or tools. He had nothing.

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. This is real, isn't it?

As he tried to piece it together, a sudden tremor in the ground snapped him out of his thoughts. His heart skipped a beat. The entire square shook, the sound of grinding stone and splintering wood echoing throughout the city. The people around him scattered, their movements frantic, their faces twisted in fear.

He barely had time to process the chaos when a monstrous roar pierced the air. It was a sound like nothing he'd ever heard before—deep, guttural, and bone-chilling.

The ground trembled again, stronger this time. The buildings themselves seemed to shudder as the roar grew louder.

His legs nearly gave out beneath him, and instinctively, he backed away from the chaos. People were running—screaming. The adventurers had already drawn their weapons, shouting orders and preparing for battle.

Then, through the throng of panicked people, he saw it.

A giant, reptilian beast emerged from the distant alleyway, its glowing red eyes scanning the crowd. Its scales shimmered with an unnatural sheen, and its enormous jaws gaped open, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

It was a monster. A real, terrifying monster.

The ground trembled again as the beast moved closer, its thunderous footsteps shaking the cobblestone streets. The protagonist stood frozen, unsure whether to flee or face whatever nightmare this world had in store for him.

Then the thought hit him.

This wasn't just a city. This wasn't just some peaceful adventurer's paradise. It was a battlefield.

Before he could take another step, the beast's eyes locked onto him.

And in that moment, the protagonist realized something that would change everything—he was no longer a playing a video game . He was now a part of this world.

Chap 1 End