[1] : Prologue (I)
In a certain dimension
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"So, you're telling me that if I protect a world for 100 years, I'll get a second chance to live?"
Aiden crossed his arms in front of the cosmic entity before him. Its ethereal body was transparent, but it still retained the features of his previous life.
His gaze reflected a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.
He had died just hours ago, murdered by a deranged woman who blamed him for her lover's death. Of course, it wasn't his fault; there was no evidence incriminating him.
But that didn't stop that crazy woman from taking his life.
'Kayaba Akihiko, that damn bastard... He disappeared without a word. And on the very day we were going to celebrate SAO's launch, he vanishes,' he thought, with contained anger.
In his previous life, Aiden had been friends with Kayaba, the genius behind the technology that revolutionized virtual reality: the NerveGear.
Together, along with other technological prodigies, they had created the first true full immersion system.
Aiden had been second-in-command on that project, which made him an easy target when Kayaba did the unthinkable: trapping 10,000 players in a death game.
The guilt followed him, even though he wasn't responsible for any of it.
However, the world didn't see it that way.
As players began dying in the real world too, the blame fell on him, and he was sentenced to prison.
But before he got there, a crazy woman stabbed him to death during his transfer.
'Seriously? Damn useless cops, they didn't even react in time! I ended up covered in stab wounds...' he recalled with frustration.
Now, in this strange limbo, Aiden stared at the cosmic entity, awaiting an answer to his question. If he truly had a second chance at life, he would take it without hesitation.
No one wants to die young, especially not at just 20 years old.
His desire to live burned fiercely, and he waited anxiously for the cosmic being's verdict.
"Yes, as I said, I'll make you an offer: if you can protect a world from invaders seeking to destroy its civilization for 100 years, I'll grant you a second life."
The cosmic entity spoke in a deep, resonant voice as its form emitted a blinding glow.
Aiden, by pure reflex, covered his eyes, though it was a futile gesture since he no longer had eyes that could be hurt.
An instant later, the glow subsided, and the entity took on a humanoid figure.
"I believe this form is more comfortable for interacting with humans," said the entity, now in a more approachable tone.
"Yes..." Aiden murmured, nodding.
Though he didn't show it, his insides were a whirlwind of nerves. How could they not be? Just hours ago, he had died, and now he was face to face with a being that only existed in the novels he read in his spare time.
Everything that was happening seemed straight out of a fantasy.
But he knew, with every fiber of his being, that this wasn't a dream.
"May I ask something?" Aiden said, his voice full of caution.
"Of course," the entity replied with unshakable calm.
"How am I supposed to protect a world? I don't know if you noticed, but in my previous life, I was just a normal human. Maybe I had a slightly faster brain than average, but that's about it," Aiden admitted, feeling a bit ridiculous as he said it.
"You don't have to worry about that," the entity responded, its tone almost comforting. "I'll give you what you need to become stronger over time. Eventually, you'll be able to protect that world on your own. If you manage to fulfill the 100 years defending that world, you'll get to keep that power and do whatever you wish. Of course, that's if you accept my offer."
Aiden nodded slowly, beginning to process what he was hearing.
It all made sense, at least within the strange context he was in.
It was like living inside a light novel... only much more real and unsettling.
"And so, Aiden Avalon, do you accept?" the entity asked with a voice that resonated through the void.
"Of course," Aiden responded without hesitation. "At least I have a second chance. If I complete the deal, I get a new life. If I don't accept, I'll probably just disappear, right?"
The idea of disappearing chilled him to the bone, far more than the memory of the stabbings that had brought him here. That woman who killed him... he hoped she would be caught. At the very least, someone should pay for his death.
"Yes," the entity confirmed with serene frankness. "If you don't accept, I can only send you to the natural cycle of reincarnation. The god in charge will cleanse your soul, and you will lose everything that makes you you. In other words, you will cease to exist. So, accepting my offer is a wise decision. Although you'll have to work hard for those 100 years, believe me, it will be worth it."
Aiden smirked sarcastically. "Well, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, right? But I won't complain... a new life with superpowers and all doesn't sound bad at all."
"Wait a second... I won't die of old age, right?" Aiden asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.
"You don't need to worry about such minor details," the entity replied with a hint of amusement. "I will grant you the power to live forever. It's the least I can offer you for protecting that world for 100 years. Additionally, I'll grant you a few powers—three in total—to ensure you don't die. Over time, you'll develop more abilities on your own."
Though in his ethereal form, Aiden twisted his lips in surprise. The idea of not aging was tempting—impossible to reject.
"I see. Thank you… uh, sir? Ma'am?" Aiden asked, slightly confused.
He wasn't sure if this entity had a gender, but courtesy was the least he could offer in this strange moment.
The entity let out a vibrant laugh.
"Hahaha~! Beings like me have no gender, but you may call me Yog-Sothoth."
"Cough, cough," Aiden began coughing, even though he had no physical body.
The name sent chills down his very essence, and a familiar terror coursed through him.
Yog-Sothoth? It couldn't be the same being he knew from Lovecraft's myths.
That cosmic horror, that entity beyond human comprehension.
Though it seemed unlikely, the mere coincidence of the name made him shiver.
"You can't blame me for being terrified, can you?" he thought.
There was no way this kind, amicable being was the same as the monstrous cosmic horror he had read about in the myths.
The entity laughed again, this time with a teasing yet non-malicious tone. "I'm not the entity you're thinking of, haha~. Humans have such boundless imaginations, and that's what makes them so delightful."
"...."
Aiden exhaled, assuming he could do so in his current state.
There was no way this entity was the same as the dreadful Yog-Sothoth from the myths.
He relaxed a little but remained determined to be extremely respectful.
After all, the name alone was still intimidating, even if the two entities were unrelated.
"Very well, let's not waste time. I'll now explain the basics of that world and the enemies you'll face," said Yog-Sothoth, raising a hand.
Immediately, hologram-like images began to appear around them, floating like spectral visions.
"This will make it easier to explain," they added with a mysterious smile.
Aiden's eyes glowed with amazement at Yog-Sothoth's magic, but he quickly focused his attention on every word.
"When I finish the explanation, we'll sign the contract, and I'll grant you the powers to fulfill your part of the deal."
And so, Yog-Sothoth began their tale, guiding Aiden through a vast fantasy world, each image revealing secrets and dangers that awaited him.
[***]
End of Chapter
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A/N:
I'll upload 4 chapters today since this is the introduction to the novel.
Just a heads-up: I don't have much experience writing, so this will simply be what I enjoy.
It might be bad or full of clichés, but that's how it'll be, okay?
So, if you're looking for something perfectly constructed or super well-written... well, you won't find it here since I don't have that level of experience yet, okay?
Also, I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know if the grammar is fine since English isn't my first language, and I'm translating the story using various tools like ChatGPT.
Thanks!
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[Image of Yog-Sothoth from the myths] ←
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[Image of Yog-Sothoth] ←
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