Role: Extra

"Finally! The 1000th soul has come!"

After the thunder swept us, I thought that I would meet my end. Life started flashing in my mind, reminiscing every moment I spent with Hope. I was in the middle of this grieving when that voice diverted. 

It was a voice with a trace of majesty that kept ringing in my mind like an echo. Every word uttered seemed to nourish my soul and brought me peace. My aggrieved heart from earlier healed, albeit rather slowly. 

As time passed, I just enjoyed the voice that continued to echo and heal my soul. Eventually, I lost the disappointments, sadness, and regrets that I used to have a moment ago. 

My mind became clearer and probably in its best state. 

Once I felt that the voice ended its "endless" echo, I opened my eyes and what greeted me was a boundless space of void. 

There was no one in this space, only my body that continued to traverse this white expanse. Or should I say, my soul? 

I couldn't feel my body at all. If I were to describe my appearance based on my perception, it would be a ping-pong ball size of seeming clouds. 

This could be life after death. The void was probably the heaven that they were talking about in their scripture. It's just that there were no other things or entities here beside me. 

As if my thoughts were being read, the voice from earlier resounded once more… 

"This is no heaven. This is the path to reincarnation, the life that you all from Earth are fantasizing about." 

The voice paused for a while before continuing. 

"As much as I want to illuminate this place's greatness, we don't have much time left at our disposal. Let me explain the details. This is Euphoria, the World of Swords and Magic. A thousand souls that undergo death from Earth's humanity are chosen to participate in the making of this World's Prologue. You only have to fulfill the role and tasks you are given to survive. Now, do you have any questions? We still have a minute before the Prologue commences" 

I was stunned. How am I supposed to process every detail that he said in a span of seconds? I had no time to think further as the voice rushed me up... 

"Just 55 more seconds" 

The countdown made my mind erupt with thousands of thoughts. As I was in distress, a single image formed in my mind that drove my thoughts off. It was a figure of a small girl that was crying inside an unsteady house. 

It was Hope. 

I got mad at myself for forgetting about her for a moment. In my absence, just what fate would Hope fall into? I couldn't even imagine the life that a 4-year-old girl would have living on her own. It was a certain misery. 

My heart became broken again though I am now a mere soul. My heart would be throbbing from pain right now had I still had it. I became glad for a second that I was in this form, for I didn't have to witness the tears and be soaked by them. 

At this moment, the voice resounded again…

"Why cry at this crucial moment? With that fragile composure, I bet that you won't last a week in Euphoria"

"You only have 30 seconds to ask questions" 

Seconds still passed with me getting distressed about Hope's situation. The voice seemed unable to contain its annoyance and uttered once more. 

"If you are not going to ask any questions, then let me see your inner desire…" 

I felt a presence entering my soul and seemed to explore it for a second. It left after that then came the voice…

"So that's the situation. You pretty much lived a hard life, but who does not? Every 1000 souls who entered here have their own story to tell. Your inner desire tells me that you want power. A power to protect your loved ones, your daughter, and give her the life she deserves. Well, behold, the World of Swords and Magic offers you a chance to do that! Money? Life status? Power? Euphoria could give you all that!"

A life force entered my soul after the voice rang. The force entered with ease and cleansed my entirety. The life force seemed to radiate with my soul and formed a bond with it. After that, it found a place to settle inside my soul. 

I had no clue what it was. I was still on the lonely and pathetic side of me. I knew I looked miserable at that moment but I could care less about my appearance. 

Seconds continued to pass after that. The voice just remained silent until the countdown ended. 

"Now's the time. You are now going to be transported to Euphoria. I wish you a nice journey and survive till the next time." 

A crack appeared in the void after that and from this crack, a strong pressure dragged me. I doubt that even with full resistance, the pressure would drag my powerless soul regardless. 

As I didn't fight back, the force dragged me rather easily then came the light that shone brightly. 

The light soaked my body that had now returned. I closed my eyes as the bright light pained me. The light touched my arms that brought me sensational peace from losing my body that felt like a millennium. However, all these occurrences were masked out as notifications that were similar to technological announcements rang in my mind...

[Installing the system…]

[Determining the Host…]

[Host "James Heussaff" is being analyzed…]

[Analysis has been completed]

[Embedding the system] 

[Ding!]

[The system has been embedded successfully]

[The Host can now access the system] 

[It is detected that the Host has entered the world "Euphoria"]

[Role is being chosen at random]

[Ding!]

[Congratulations! The Host has successfully drawn the role of "Extra!"]