The Games Begins

Zoren sat hunched over his laptop, fingers deftly dancing across the keyboard. The cool glow of the screen illuminated his focused expression as he navigated his favorite strategy game.

His kingdom, a meticulously crafted digital empire, stood tall after months of planning and careful upgrades. Towers and walls gleamed under the in-game sun, markets bustled with activity, and his armies were stronger than ever.

He leaned back slightly, admiring his work. "Not bad," he thought, a small smile playing on his lips. But the satisfaction was short-lived. A sudden alert flashed on his screen—an incoming attack.

His eyes narrowed as he saw the notification: he was being ambushed by a coalition of players from across the server, a strategic alliance hell-bent on bringing his kingdom down.

Zoren's heart rate quickened, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He quickly scanned the map, seeing the armies advancing from all sides.

"They think they can take me down with sheer numbers?" Zoren's grin turned into a determined smirk.

His fingers flew over the keys, issuing rapid commands. He deployed his troops, reinforcing weak points in his defenses, and activated hidden traps he'd meticulously placed around his kingdom.

The screen flickered with battle scenes as arrows flew, catapults launched boulders, and soldiers clashed in the digital battlefield.

"Alright, let's see what you've got," Zoren muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of battle.

One by one, the enemy armies clashed against his walls, but Zoren was ready for them. He had anticipated the ambush and had planned his defenses accordingly. As the battle raged on, his enemies began to falter, their forces crumbling against his strategic onslaught.

A well-timed flanking maneuver caught a key player off guard, his troops overwhelmed by Zoren's hidden reserves. The alliance of players, thinking they had him cornered, now found themselves outmatched and outmaneuvered.

Zoren's grin widened as victory messages began popping up on the screen. He watched as the remnants of the enemy forces retreated, their numbers decimated, their strategies shattered.

"Nice try, but not today," he muttered to himself, his hands finally slowing on the keyboard as the battle came to a close.

With a final click, the game displayed his victory. Zoren leaned back in his chair, the tension slowly draining from his body. He took a deep breath, savoring the moment of triumph. The ambush had been a fierce challenge, but he had come out on top.

"I still got it," he thought, feeling the rush of satisfaction that only a hard-fought victory could bring.

Suddenly, a bright flash of light filled the room, forcing Zoren to squint and shield his eyes instinctively. When he lowered his hand, a strange, glowing screen hovered in front of his face, floating in mid-air.

[NOTICE!]

[EARTH 305677]

[Your World is about to end.]

[You have been selected as one of the representatives to save your world.]

[Would you like to play a game where you have a chance to save your world, but your own life is on the line?]

[1 minute]

[Yes] [No]

Zoren blinked in disbelief. "What... the hell?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes as if to clear away the remnants of a daydream. But the screen remained, its ominous message unyielding.

He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, but his fingers passed through the light. The timer in the corner kept counting down, making him feel more nervous.

"This has to be a joke," Zoren whispered, shaking his head. He looked around his room—everything seemed normal. The scattered game guides, the empty soda cans, the unmade bed. Nothing suggested he was dreaming.

Another message appeared, the words sending a chill down his spine:

[If you say no, your world will be overrun by monsters.]

[31 Seconds]

Zoren felt his breath hitch. "Is this real?" he wondered aloud, his voice tinged with fear.

The screen's glow cast eerie shadows around the room, and the reality of the situation began to sink in. This wasn't a game, at least not in the way he understood games. The stakes were higher—much higher.

[23 Seconds]

"What kind of sick prank is this?" he said, panic rising in his chest. The countdown was relentless, and he was running out of time.

[15 Seconds]

"Come on, think, Zoren," he told himself, trying to calm down. "If this is real... can I risk ignoring it? Can I risk not choosing?" The thought of monsters flooding the world, destroying everything he knew, was terrifying. And yet, the idea of staking his life on some twisted game was equally horrifying.

[8 Seconds]

With a final glance at the screen, heart pounding in his chest, Zoren made his decision. "I can't just do nothing," he whispered, and with a shaky hand, he selected [Yes].

The screen flashed, blinding him momentarily. When his vision cleared, the room around him began to dissolve, pixelating into a million tiny fragments. It felt like he was being pulled through a tunnel of light, the sensation both exhilarating and terrifying.

When the world reformed around him, Zoren found himself standing in an open, endless blue void. All around him were others—hundreds, maybe thousands—each looking as confused and disoriented as he felt.

He recognized none of them, and yet some of their appearances were unlike anything he had ever seen. A woman with pointed ears like an elf, a towering blue-skinned giant, a man with the head of a tiger—creatures that belonged in fantasy games, not reality.

"Where are we?" someone near him shouted. "What's happening?" another voice echoed, panic evident in their tone.

"Welcome to the Realm of Survival," a voice boomed across the void, commanding instant silence.

Everyone turned to see a figure floating above them, dressed in a sharp white suit, his entire body black like the void itself. His face was devoid of any features save for a wide, unnerving smile, like a twisted version of the protagonist in a sci-fi thriller. His body, lanky and tall, bore an eerie resemblance to something out of a nightmare.

"Who the hell are you?!" a burly man bellowed from the crowd. "Take us back, now!" he angrily demanded, stepping forward.

The figure in the suit simply clicked his fingers. The man's head exploded in a violent burst, showering those nearby in blood. Screams erupted from the crowd, fear spreading like wildfire.

"Oops, habit of mine," the figure said with a nonchalant shrug, his smile never wavering. "I prefer quiet around here. Anyone else want to test their luck?" His tone was light, almost playful, but the threat was clear. Silence fell over the crowd. No one dared to speak.

"Good," the Admin began, his voice smooth and dripping with amusement. "I suppose introductions are in order. I am the Admin of this server, Server 204, to be precise. You all come from different worlds, plucked from your mundane lives for one simple reason."

He paused, letting the tension build before continuing. "The Monarchs, the beings who rule over existence itself, are bored. Yes, you heard me correctly. Trillions of worlds, teeming with life, and the Monarchs wish to destroy them all for their amusement. But, alas," he chuckled darkly, "not all Monarchs agreed. Some thought it would be... more entertaining to give your worlds a chance. A slim one, of course, but a chance nonetheless."

The Admin's laughter echoed through the endless void, a sound that chilled the participants to their core. "War, chaos, bloodshed—these are the things that bring them joy. And so, they conceived this little game. A game where your survival is tied to the fate of your world."

With a snap of his fingers, a massive screen appeared, showing a planet being torn apart by colossal monsters, teetering on the brink of annihilation. The participants recognized it instantly—it was the world of the man whose head had exploded earlier.

Zoren swallowed hard, the gravity of the situation pressing down on him. This was no joke. This was life and death.

The Admin's grin turned sinister. "Live, and your world lives. Die, and your world dies with you." He snapped his fingers, and the screen changed to show the participants' own worlds, each one peaceful, serene—yet now ominously fragile. "Your world is in the palm of your hand."

His eyes gleamed with madness as he scanned the faces before him. "The rules are simple. Survive. Kill. Entertain the Monarchs. Because in the end, it's all just a game to them. And to me." He let out another maniacal laugh, a sound that left a lingering sense of dread among the participants.

The Admin leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that somehow filled the entire void. "So, fight, struggle, cling to life with everything you have. Because if you don't, your world will end, just like his."

He nodded toward the screen, where the doomed world continued its descent into chaos. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the images vanished, leaving only the cold, empty expanse around them. The Admin's expression softened into something almost friendly, though the malice behind it was unmistakable.

"Welcome to the game, players. May the odds be ever in your favor," he finished, his voice oozing with mockery as he disappeared, leaving the participants to their fate.

Before anyone could react, the void around them dissolved, and Zoren felt himself being pulled through another tunnel of light.

When the world reformed around him, Zoren found himself standing in a vast open field under a sky unlike anything he had ever seen.

The air was fresh, filled with the sounds of nature.

"This is real..." Zoren whispered, the reality of the situation finally hitting him. "As long as I live, my world lives." He clenched his fists, determination flooding his veins. He couldn't afford to fail.

A new screen materialized in front of him, pulling his attention away from the surreal landscape.

[Main Objective]

[Develop your Kingdom] [ Build your armies] [Conquer Holy Sites] [Conquer Lost Kingdom][Survive!]

Another screen popped up, offering him a choice.

[SELECT BEGINNERS PERKS]

[Glory of the Empire] [Chivalry] [Art of War] [Bushido] [Balance of Yin and Yang] [The Matador]

[You can Choose Another Blessings after a month.]

He reviewed the details of the perk:

[Glory of the Empire]

Gain increased morale and combat effectiveness when fighting for your homeland or under the banner of your empire.

[Chivalry]

Adhere to the knightly code of conduct, enhancing your reputation and gaining bonuses in combat and diplomacy.

[Art of War]

Master the strategies and tactics of warfare, allowing you to outmaneuver and outthink your enemies, and gain faster building speeds.

[Bushido]

Follow the way of the warrior, enhancing your skills in combat and your resolve in the face of adversity.

[Balance of Yin and Yang]

Achieve harmony between opposing forces, gaining equilibrium in your abilities and enhanced spiritual power.

[The Matador]

Master the art of evasion and counterattack, allowing you to gracefully avoid enemy strikes and retaliate with precision.

Zoren stood before the glowing interface, each option hovering in front of him. He knew that his choice would shape the future of his fledgling kingdom, and he couldn't afford to make the wrong decision. He reviewed the options carefully:

"Glory of the Empire" would bolster his forces' morale, but his kingdom was not yet established enough to have a strong sense of homeland. "Chivalry" offered noble ideals and diplomatic gains, but he needed something more immediate. "Bushido" and "The Matador" both appealed to his warrior spirit, but he needed a broader advantage.

His eyes kept returning to "Art of War." The idea of mastering strategies and tactics of warfare struck a chord with him. Faster building meant stronger defenses and a quicker establishment of his base. He could outmaneuver and outthink his enemies, turning every battle to his advantage.

"Art of War it is," Zoren decided, his voice firm. He selected the perk, feeling a surge of confidence as the knowledge and power of ancient strategies flowed into him. This was the edge he needed to carve out a place for his kingdom in the world.

A surge of energy, knowledge and power of ancient strategies flowed through him as the screen accepted his choice. Another screen appeared with his first quest.

[Main Quest 1]

[Quest Name: First Steps]

[Difficulty: E] [Time Limit: 24:00]

[Details: Find a place to become your territory. Plant your flag in it.]

[Reward: 1 Week Territory Shield x1, Summoning Hero Card ]

[Quest Fail: Die from Monster Attack and Starvation ]

Zoren's status screen updated:

[Kingdom Overview]

[Kingdom Name: Kingdom_1270548]

[Server: 204] [Power: 101] [City Level: 0]

[Inventory: Flag x1]

Zoren took a deep breath, absorbing the enormity of his situation. He needed to find a place to establish his kingdom and secure resources for survival. The first quest was clear, but the path ahead was uncertain.

"Let's do this," he whispered to himself, steeling his resolve. "I won't die here."