"Wow... finally, it's about to start!" a young teen with short black hair exclaimed excitedly as he entered a capsule.
"00:00:010..." Watching the countdown, Ay's face flushed with excitement. The first-ever visual game popularized by the government was about to begin.
A year earlier, a new game had been created by an anonymous company. It was called Limit Breaker. At first, it was advertised on major news outlets,BBC, various global channels, and popular blogs. People thought it was just another game to be downloaded on mobile or PC... but it wasn't.
Limit Breaker was the first and last visual game ever made because it wasn't truly from Earth, nor was it really a game.
Two months after its announcement, shocking news was released:
"This game is real… and this so-called game will determine the survival of the human race. We will attempt to distribute the capsules to everyone possible, so please—play well and survive. This is tied to the future of our species."
The statement from the U.S. President hit the world like a 9.7-magnitude earthquake. Chaos erupted everywhere. How could a game decide the survival of humanity?
But after multiple presidents, world leaders, and influential billionaires confirmed the claim, the world fell silent.
Soon after, capsule distribution began. It took eleven full months before every human on Earth received one. And now, on January 1st, the dawn of a new year, the game officially began, with ten billion people logging in simultaneously.
As a novel reader and anime lover, Ay fit the definition of an otaku a young man who had just turned eighteen this year.
"00:00:001..."
"00:00:000..."
"Game begins."
Seeing those words displayed inside every capsule, people around the world reacted in every possible way. Some were thrilled. Some were afraid. Others wore solemn expressions. Whether young or old, everyone entered with the same thought—to become the best and ensure the survival of humanity.
Moments later, Ay's vision blurred, and he was transported into a vast white space just like everyone else on Earth.
"Welcome to Limit Breaker. I am your host; you may think of me as an A.I. I will now explain the basics of this game."
A small, fairy-like girl appeared before him—cute, ethereal, and shimmering like a hologram.
"First of all, understand this," she said, pausing dramatically. "This is a universal-level game meaning it involves everyone across the universe."
Ay's mind went blank.
A universal-level game?
Does that mean other races exist out there? Are we not alone? Will we meet aliens?
He had a thousand questions, but the little loli fairy continued before he could ask even one.
"Yes, there are other civilizations beyond yours," she confirmed, as if reading his thoughts. "As I said, this is a universal-level game. Different races across the cosmos will participate.
"After this initial login, each of you will gain the power your character possesses alongside another form. In other words, apart from your human self, you'll also gain your character form.
"This game will transport you into another universe, where you'll play your role freely and decide what you wish to become. There, you will evolve grow stronger and shape your destiny.
"Remember this: become as strong as possible if you wish for your civilization to survive. Powerhouses born from this game will be capable of erasing your world with a single thought if your location is discovered."
The fairy paused, then smiled mischievously.
"At the start, each civilization will be given a template. Yours is the God and Demon Template. This means your character will be randomly assigned but you'll be reborn as either a God or a Demon, or at least with their bloodline.
"However, since your physical bodies are weak, you'll begin as the lowest of Gods or Demons, just like other weak races. Stronger races, those with superior bodies or innate abilities—will start at higher ranks: Rank 1, Rank 2, or even Rank 3 beings.
"Earthlings," she said, her tone softening, "I wish you a successful journey. Discover the rest on your own... and have fun."
With that, the fairy vanished into the white void, leaving Ay standing alone.
Ay exhaled deeply, calming his racing heart.
"So the rumors were true…" he muttered.
From the information he'd just received, he finally understood why governments worldwide had urged everyone to participate.
This wasn't just a game, it was a test of survival.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
He had always dreamed of escaping his mundane world. Now, that dream had finally come true.
"Finally," he whispered, his grin widening. "The world just got interesting."
(Perhaps our MC is a little crazy.)
With a devilish smile and eyes gleaming with excitement, Ay pressed the glowing start button.
"Let the fun begin."
********
Opening his eyes, Ay felt disoriented. Darkness surrounded him, and for a brief moment, panic set in.
What's going on? Did something go wrong? he thought, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
Reaching out, he realized he was submerged in some kind of liquid, confined in a tight space. Movement felt sluggish, and frustration quickly boiled up inside him.
"Damn it!" Ay cursed, clenching his fist and punching outward in irritation.
Boom.
A dull sound echoed around him. Encouraged, Ay smirked and punched again.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Each strike grew louder than the last until a faint cracking sound reached his ears.
"I think I'm in a shell," Ay muttered, continuing to hammer away until a sharp crack signaled his escape.
Finally breaking free, he stumbled out, blinking rapidly as his vision cleared. The air was thick with sulfur and smoke; red clouds loomed overhead, and the rocky beach beneath his feet shimmered like cooled magma. The entire landscape felt harsh and suffocating just like the descriptions of the Abyss he'd read about in novels.
"Where am I?" Ay whispered, his voice almost swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere. He took a deep breath, realizing everything felt too vivid, too real to be just a game.
As his eyes adjusted, he noticed countless eggs scattered across the terrain. Some towered ten meters high, while others barely reached his knees. Curious, Ay stepped closer to one of the massive eggs, only to be hit by a sudden, primal hunger that gnawed at his insides.
"Shit…" he muttered, clutching his stomach. Desperation took over as he scanned his surroundings for anything edible. His gaze landed back on his own egg, its surface glowing faintly and releasing an irresistible aroma.
Unable to resist, Ay broke off a chunk of the shell and shoved it into his mouth. The taste was beyond words, rich, primal, and satisfying in a way no Earthly food could match.
Ding!
{System loading…}
{0%... 10%... 25%... 70%... 89%... 99%... 100%}
{System initialization complete.}
The sudden voice in his head startled him, but excitement quickly replaced his confusion.
"A system? Hell yes!" he shouted, his hunger momentarily forgotten. "So what do you do?"
{Welcome, Host. I am a system assigned to all participants. Please note: you are not special.}
Ay's grin faltered. "Oh," he said flatly, frowning in disappointment.
{The system allows you to scan beings within fifty levels of your own provided you are within the same rank. It also displays your stats and provides missions to aid in progression.}
Ay tried asking more questions, but the system fell silent, ignoring him completely. Frustrated, he muttered, "Useless piece of junk…"
As he looked down, he froze. His body had changed—scales covered his skin, sharp claws tipped his hands, and a long tail swayed behind him. He was completely naked, but the absence of cold didn't bother him.
"I guess demons don't feel cold," Ay murmured, his voice a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"Am I really a demon?" he wondered aloud, his gaze lifting to the sky—where three massive, blood-red moons hung in the distance.
"System, show me my stats," he commanded.
Ding!
{RACE: DEMON}
{HOST NAME: UNKNOWN}
{STRENGTH: 5 – 20}
{SPEED: 5 – 20}
{STAMINA: 5 – 20}
{MAGIC: 0}
{SKILLS: LOCKED UNTIL RANK 1}
{RANK: 0}
{LEVEL: 0 – 1}
{STATUS: HATCHLING}
{HEIGHT: 2.5 METERS}
Ay stared at the stats, and a slow grin spread across his face. The numbers were basic but the potential was limitless.
"So, I'm a demon…" he said softly, his grin turning feral as he gazed at his clawed hands.
For the first time in his life, Ay felt truly alive.
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