In a bedroom which was not too big or too small. No light was on. The only thing that brightened the dark room was the computer screen.
On the desk the computer was on and in front of it sat a young man around 20 years old. Black messy hair. Same color eyes. His all focus was on the screen.
Yawn~
"What time is it?" He asked himself. He checked the time on his mobile. Which lay just beside the keyboard.
When he double taps on the screen of the mobile. The screen lit up and showed the lock screen.
"It's 1:24 am." He muttered while looking at the time.
Why was he awake so late at night? Nothing much, just usual. He read some web novels for a while. Then watch some series and then start to play games on his computer. It was like his every night routine.
Currently he was waiting for the new game to be downloaded.
Yeah a new game. He was really excited to play this one. The game was new and launched just a few weeks ago. But he didn't bother to try it.
It's not that he doesn't want to. But he was quite busy with his university. Well, less focus on university. Rather more focus on spending time with his friends.
Though Aron was not much of an outgoing person. He prefers to be at home and spend his time comfortably on comics, anime and webnovels. Sometimes games.
But what can he do? His friends being too stubborn drags him outside. So he occasionally enjoys their company as well. But they are all one hell of bastards.
Every time he go out with his friends they always tries to- no... Not tries to but they always do it. They insult each other. Oddly Aron liked that. It's really fun to tease each other. So, it would be a lie to say that he doesn't like going outside with friends.
It's really good to go outside from time to time rather than staying all day at home. But again he also liked to stay at home. While reading and playing games.
Beep!
Beep!
Just then Aron's computer made a sound. Informing that the game is downloaded and it's ready to be played.
"Finally!" He was excited to play this game.
Aron straightened in his chair, fatigue momentarily forgotten. The loading bar had vanished, replaced by a sleek black icon etched with golden letters. The sleep that had came to him, it had vanished instantly.
Odyssey of Eternal Gods' War
Just the name alone sounded heavy. Like the kind of game that involved gods dying, worlds burning, and heroes screaming their last breath in glorious slow motion.
The game does have Academy. For starting part of story. Measure events would occured in that academy. Later the story would be focused on outside of the Academy. In future updates.
At least that much information Aron had learned from internet.
He cracked his knuckles. "Well… let's see what all the hype is about."
Aron wasn't a hardcore gamer by any means. He didn't grind rankings, didn't chase leaderboards, and definitely didn't spend money on skins. Games, for him, were just another way to relax. Like web novels, anime, or binge-watching a series at 3 a.m. when he definitely shouldn't be awake.
But now it had become habit of his.
The screen went black.
Then.
Boom!
A low, ancient horn echoed through his headphones.
The darkness split apart, revealing a ruined battlefield drenched in blood. Broken banners fluttered in the wind. Corpses, both human and monstrous, littered the land. The sky itself seemed cracked, crimson lightning crawling through dark clouds.
space shattered around by unknown force.
Aron blinked.
"…Damn."
A deep, almost divine voice resounded.
> When gods wage war, mortals become ashes
"The graphics are peak!" He exclaimed joyfully.
The cinematic unfolded like a movie. Armies clashed. Dragons fell from the sky. A radiant figure was pierced by a black spear, their light shattering like glass. Somewhere in the chaos, a lone silhouette stood atop a mountain of corpses, gazing at the heavens with cold, defiant eyes.
Goosebumps rose on Noah's arms.
"Okay," he muttered, leaning closer. "This is actually kinda sick."
The scene faded.
[Welcome to Odyssey Of Eternal Gods' War]
A lobby appeared first.
There was a gallery option. Having a list of important characters of the story.
He clicked on it before starting the first playthrough.
Dozens of names scrolled down the screen, each accompanied by a small portrait and a title.
> Aldric Ashworth
> Lyria Sunweave
> Kael Nightfall
.
.
.
....
Aron scrolled lazily, not really reading in detail. He wasn't planning to start seriously tonight anyway. It was already late, and his eyelids were getting heavier by the second.
They had given the main character and side characters list here. Their information is written here. Aron scrolled it while reading them lazily.
Still, one name made his finger pause.
> Noah Eldritch – ???
"…Huh?"
That name caught his attention.
The portrait belonged to a very handsome young man. Maybe most handsome male character till now. Even more than protagonist. The title slot was empty.There was no description about him. No powers or information.
"That's… weird."
Maybe it was the default name? Or some place holder character? He shrugged. New games always had bugs.
Before he could click anything else, another window popped up.
[Prologue: The Beginning of the End]
[Start Cinematic?]
He hesitated, then clicked Yes.
The screen dimmed once more.
This time, the view shifted to a grand city of white stone and towering spires. People walked the streets, laughing, trading, and living peacefully. Completely unaware of the shadow creeping toward them.
A young man stood on a balcony, staring at the sky.
> Fate is a cruel thing
The narrator said softly.
> Especially for those who do not know they stand at its center
The boy turned. For a split second, his face was clear.
Aron's breath hitched.
"…He's a pretty handsome guy."
The boy had short black hair. Pair of striking gold color eyes.
He was the protagonist of this game. The playable character.
The young man's lips curved slightly. As if smiling directly at Aron.
'What?!'
Before he could process that thought, his vision blurred. The cinematic cut abruptly, replaced by the game's main menu again.
[Servers Online]
[Enter World]
Aron stared at the screen for a few seconds, then yawned hard, rubbing his eyes.
"Okay… yeah. That's enough for today."
He saved nothing. Selected nothing. Just closed the game.
Tomorrow, he told himself. 'I'll actually play tomorrow.'
He shut down his computer, the room plunging into darkness. Crawling onto his bed, Aron didn't even bother setting an alarm. His mind was already drifting, fragments of the cinematic replaying behind his eyelids.
He got up from his seat and lay on bed.
Yawn~
'I will play it properly tomorrow night.'
Gods, War. Those characters. He started to think about them. He had read all the characters information so he won't have any problem later on. While thinking such things, sleep slowly took him instantly.
The thought barely finished before slumber claimed him.
This would be the last time he would sleep in his room.
Then something had begun to feel wrong.
A faint, unfamiliar scent reached his nose.
Metallic. It was sharp smell like blood.
Aron's brows knit together. His body felt heavy, unmoving, as if he were sinking into something cold and endless. The darkness behind his eyelids shifted, no longer peaceful or no longer empty.
Then pain exploded through him. It was scorching, violent and All encompassing.
It tore through his limbs, his chest, his very core, like his body was being ripped apart and reforged at the same time. His breath caught in his throat, but no sound came out.
His senses screamed.
This isn't a dream.
Then slowly he forced himself to opened his heavy eyelids.
Only to find himself in an entirely different place.