Chapter Zero - Welcome Player

The plot takes place from when Cadell arrives in the cave.

/// Arthur Leywin ///

The walls of the cave quivered and trembled, knocking me off balance as I held on to Sylvia's body, the subtle warmth that almost welcomed me whenever I was missing my family, being replaced by an icy cold sensation as her life force slowly drifted away from her, her lavender eyes becoming dull. All of this for what..? Just to get me to safety. To help me.

I hated it. I hated being weak, I hated it all. Was I going to lose someone I considered family.... again? It was a mere thought. She was still alive, however even imagining it made me tremble in fear. I didn't want to lose her.

The wall crumbled as a figure made its way inside. He stepped inside. A step screaming confidence and brimming with power. I took an instinctive step back. My core trembled as I felt his aura weight down at me, pulsating. I gasped for breath.  My lungs felt like they were twisted in an icy grip. Just as I felt out of air, a wave of relief like a spring breeze washed over me as I saw Sylvia stand in front of me. A strained expression over her face,

"Leave the boy out of it." She spoke up but it only came out as a harmless whisper.

"You already have been stirring enough problems for the High Sovereign, Lady Sylvia. It'll be preferable if you give up. Struggling is useless." He spoke, his voice making me almost buckle to my knees. A metallic taste invaded my mouth as I realised that I had been biting my lower lip.

The world seemed to lose its colour. It was a visible process. I could see the stress over Sylvia's face increase. Grimacing, she let out a slight groan. I ran towards her. Just as I reached her I heard the sound of bones crunching.

Shaking, my tear-brimmed eyes looked at Sylvia, a huge sword jutting out from her chest, where the festering wound used to be.

No.....

NO....

NOOOOOO......

"NOOOOOO!!!" "SYLVIAAA!!!"

I cried, screamed as I saw her magnificent form fall on the ground. I fell on my knees, my shaky hands slowly travelling towards her. I shaked her- no response. I did it again but the same result. A primal howl of agony tore from my throat as I touched her glacial body. I even jabbed it, punched it- hoping to get a response, a twitch, anything.... But it never came. Despair took over me as tears of despondency and tribulation cascaded down my cheeks.

I berated my luck, my life for bringing harm to people no matter the world and time.

It's always the same.

The same as before.

I always fail them.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

My instincts kicked in as I squated. A claw passed by side at a blinding speed as the tip of my hair got severed. I looked back, the meagre amount of mana that my black core held already travelling from my core, coating my body in a slim sheen of protective mana.

The demon-like figure looked at me, his piercing red eyes evaluating me. He tilted his head for a second like he was thinking something and then suddenly like a realisation hit him he smacked his fist in to the palm of the other hand,

"For a 4 year old what you just did should be impossible. Same goes for your awakening. That means one thing," he paused.

Does he know about my reincarnation?

"You're the reincarnate. You might be an anchor but you're a thorn on our side." he spoke as I felt mana build up around him.

Anchor? Thorn? What is he talking about?

A snap of fingers brought me out of my trance as my gaze darted warily towards the demon. A small wisp appeared on the demon's index finger. The wisp grew in size without any sizzle, transmuting into a sickly grey flame. I looked at the flame, radiating no warmth nor sound any normal flame would emit. My eyes stayed glued over to him, unwavering.

I blinked.

Damn it, where is he?

Instinctively I looked back to see him standing there as his hand stretched and caught me from the scruff of my shirt, lifting me. I placed my hand over his arm, imbuing fire mana and compressing it. Overloading the said compact place I exploded it by over-injection of mana hoping I could escape his clutch. I couldn't die, not after Sylvia sacrificed herself to protect me.

But nothing is easy, ever!

I saw the dust becoming clear, his arm still grabbing me and an unamused expression plastered over his face. His other hand coalesced with the grey fire came close to me as he tapped his finger on my chest. Like a hungry beast it entered the small wound I had on my chest. My insides churned as my whole body twisted in pain. I felt it- the feeling of being eaten alive on the inside. Like a parasite it seemed to feed on my own mana to grow even stronger and corrode me from the inside.

My own screams seemed ear-splitting as I felt the flame feed at my very soul. Tears formed in the edges of my eyes as I fought the battle against the flames, barely keeping my soul from being ripped to smithereens. I looked at the one responsible for my agony with a spiteful gaze. His features softened as a sinister smile graced his face,

"This shall be your end, King Grey."

He spoke as he started to leave. A primitive howl filled with hatred and agony tore from my throat as I saw him walk over towards Sylvia. I cursed, screamed and cried but I wasn't even able to get rid of my own pain. How was I able to not let him touch her?

That was when I did something I thought I'd never do. Even in two lifetimes I never thought I'd fall so low that I will be reduced to do this, but I did. I prayed to whatever God out there was out there,

I don't want to die like this-

Just one more time, just give me one more chance, that's all I ask for....

An unimaginable wave of pain flooded my entire body like a raging tsunami as I felt the flames reach my core. Audible cracks ran all along it as my legs tapped desperately on the ground from the excruciating pain.

The faces of my family- past and current flashed in my mind like a distant memory. Nico, Cecil, Mom, Dad, my unborn sibling.

I don't want to die....

I don't want to....

Please.....

No....

[Completion requirements for the 'Secret Quest: the Courage of the Powerless' has been met.]

Huh? Is my brain playing tricks on me when I am about to freaking die? What requirements? What quest? Wait...... where did the voice even come from?

[You have acquired the rights to become a Player. Will you accept?]

A rather effeminate voice ringed in my ears again, somehow slowing the mind numbing pain in my whole body. Accept? Will it help me protect my loved ones? Will I be able to avenge Sylvia? A plethora of questions invaded my mind. In this slowed world I saw the horned man pick Sylvia up, although the process was extremely slow. The cracks on my core were still growing in size however they too had gotten slow. It was like everything except my thinking abilities had slowed down.The voice in my head asked again as if to urge me on.

[There is not enough time left for you to make your decision. Your heart will cease functioning precisely 0.02 seconds after you refuse to accept. Will you accept?]

Now that the things had devolved to such a degree, I might as well.

"....If you're giving it to me, then just give it to me already." I screamed at the voice, without knowing the repercussions.

[Congratulations on becoming a 'Player'.The system will overtake the host's body for now.]

"..what?" was the last thing I could mutter before I felt myself being chained in the warm confines of sleep.

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(A/n: I know it's a short chapter but well..... Prologues are bound to be short. Will update soon. Arthur will  be OP, more than canon but not to the point where it gets boring to read. Remember, Monarchs and Rules cannot roam on earth freely so they have to become one with the lessers or *cough* you know who... I am planning it with SkyfallReaper so it will all work just fine. *cough cough* Believe me.)

(E/n: I'll be the one who will handle Jarry. My job is to prevent him from screwing up and editing every chappie. Ships will be decided later.(He'll decide on the ship so...) *wheeeze*