Kazuo made his way through the forest, his gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun filtered weakly through the leaves. The sounds of the forest surrounded him, but he did not hear them. His mind was focused on a single goal: reaching the location of the next boss. Distractions had no place on his path. Other people's problems were not his concern.
Then came the scream.
It was a distressing echo that cut through the stillness like a knife. Kazuo stopped. Not because it alarmed him, but because it was impossible to ignore. His ability, "Eye of the Soul", activated involuntarily, revealing a scene he had no intention of seeing.
A faint, trembling yellow glow stood out among the undergrowth. Around it, two figures pulsed with intense red energy, violent and predatory. Their movements were fast and precise, a danger that radiated hostility. Kazuo watched the glow for a moment, assessing it without emotion. The decision was clear. It wasn't worth stopping.
He took a step forward, diverting his attention. His path was already set. But just as he was about to continue, something happened that broke his concentration. "Save them, Kazuo."
The voice echoed in his mind with a clarity that made him stop in his tracks. It was female, soft but firm, and carried a weight he couldn't ignore. It wasn't the first time that voice had reached him. It had been there before, buried deep in his memories. But even so, its origin eluded him.
Kazuo frowned slightly, uncomfortable with the intrusion. He wanted to move on. He wanted to ignore it. However, the voice repeated itself, this time more persistent.
"Save them."
He clenched his fists and let out a short sigh before turning around. A cold, calculated determination drove him straight towards the source of the cry. The yellow glow was now more unstable. He had little time.
When he reached the bend in the road, the scene unfolded before him.
An older man knelt beside a broken cart, the reins still tangled around his arm and a rusty knife trembling in his hand. The creatures harassing him were short but muscular, with sharp limbs and metallic bodies that reflected the sunlight. Their coordinated movements were reminiscent of experienced predators toying with their prey before finishing it off.
The old man closed his eyes, the knife falling from his hand as he waited for the inevitable. The roar of one of the monsters filled the air, and then the sound changed.
A deafening impact echoed through the clearing. The man opened his eyes just in time to see one of the beasts flying through the air, its body thrown with such force that it crashed into a tree and split it in two. The creature fell into the undergrowth, its metallic form motionless as dust settled around it.
The other monster moved quickly, roaring as it spun to attack the intruder. But before it could react, a brutal blow struck it in the centre of its chest. The force was so devastating that its body exploded in a burst of blood and metal fragments, splattering the ground and staining even the sacks on the cart. The red energy pulsing around the creature vanished instantly, leaving it as a fleeting memory in the air.
Kazuo remained in the centre of the clearing, his arm still raised from the last blow. His expression was as blank as ever, but his gaze was fixed on the spot where the creature had disappeared. He showed no signs of exhaustion or satisfaction. Only an overwhelming calm contrasted with the violence he had just unleashed.
The old man remained motionless, his eyes wide as he tried to process what had just happened. 'Thank you...' he murmured, barely able to find his voice. 'I thought... I was going to die.'
Kazuo didn't respond immediately. His 'Eye of the Soul' picked up the man's aura, which now seemed to be stabilising. The yellow light was dimmer, but it had regained some solidity. However, he didn't think much of it. He lowered his arm slowly and began to walk away, his footsteps echoing on the dry leaves.
'Please wait,' said the man, stumbling over his words as he tried to stand up. 'I don't know who you are, but... thank you. My name is Otto, I am a merchant. If you ever visit Raushen, the capital of the Kingdom of Elyndria, look for me. I promise to reward you. Whatever you need.'
Kazuo did not stop. His back remained forward, ignoring the old man's words. But as the shadows of the forest enveloped him, the voice rang out again, clear and persistent:
'Save them, Kazuo.'
Kazuo continued along the forest path, leaving the merchant and the defeated creatures behind. The tension of battle was now a thing of the past, and his gaze remained fixed on the horizon. But even as he walked with his usual calculated calm, something disturbed him.'Save them, Kazuo.'
The female voice continued to echo in his mind, persistent like an echo that refused to fade away. His jaw tightened slightly as he tried to block it out, but the intrusion was so clear that it seemed engraved in the depths of his thoughts. It was annoying. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to face the weight it carried.
'Shut up,' he muttered under his breath, his tone cold and laced with irritation.
He didn't understand why that voice had so much power over him. It was almost as if it was mocking his presence in this place, as if he couldn't escape it no matter how hard he tried. But what bothered him most wasn't the voice itself, but what it did to him. Because with each repetition, it inevitably took him back to the moment he never wanted to remember. The moment when he once felt loved.The rain fell heavily on the city pavement, hitting the ground in a steady rhythm that mingled with the murmurs of the crowd. The lights from the billboards and giant screens bathed the atmosphere in artificial tones, reflecting off the puddles and filling the space with a vibrant, cold light.
Kazuo walked among the people, just another figure in a sea of strangers. Around him, life went on without him, ignoring his presence as if he were invisible. His expression was the same as always: empty, unperturbed. Despite the noise and movement, there was nothing in this world that could distract him from his indifference.
A man and a woman walked together, their hands intertwined as they laughed at something only they understood. Further ahead, a little girl ran towards her mother, laughing with joy as the woman lifted her into the air with a hug. It was a perfect scene, almost unreal, but Kazuo did not take his eyes off it. And he felt nothing.
It had been too long since anything had managed to touch him. The emotions that others found so natural were like a foreign language to him. He had long ago accepted that they would never return.
The screen of a nearby building caught his attention for a moment. It was large and eye-catching, its bright lights standing out against the grey of the city. It showed images of combat, fantastical worlds and characters immersed in epic battles.'Welcome to Aether's Realm! The ultimate immersive MMORPG! Experience adventure like never before!'
The images showed players facing colossal creatures, each blow accompanied by spectacular effects that filled the screen. But what really stood out in the ad was the last line:
'Special exclusive access giveaway! Only a lucky few will be able to experience this world with free equipment and gameplay. Will you be one of them?'
Kazuo stared at the advertisement for a moment, but then looked away. It didn't matter. It was just another empty promise in a world built on illusions.
Suddenly, a young man bumped into him as he ran through the crowd. The impact was strong enough to knock him off balance, but the boy didn't even stop. Kazuo barely glanced at him, but his attention was drawn to an old woman who was kneeling nearby, picking up the belongings the young man had knocked out of her hands when he pushed her.
Without saying a word, he bent down and picked up some of the items, handing them to her without a word. The old woman looked up and gave him a warm smile. 'Thank you, young man. How kind of you.'Kazuo didn't reply. He got up and continued on his way.
That's when he saw something on the ground: a shiny ticket, partially covered by a puddle of water. It was the same one that appeared in the advertisement, a pass for special access to Aether's Realm. It surely belonged to the young man who had run by, but when Kazuo looked up to find him, he was gone.
After a moment of silence, Kazuo picked up the ticket and put it in his pocket, without thinking too much about it. There was no clear reason. He just did it.
Days later, as he was walking home, his phone vibrated with an unexpected notification: 'Congratulations. You have been selected as one of the players for Aether's Realm. Submit your access code to receive your immersion equipment.'
Kazuo stared at the screen in silence. He could ignore it. He could throw away the ticket and forget about the game. But he didn't.
When the day arrived, he put on the immersion visor without any expectations. He had no desires. He had nothing to lose. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness envelop him. And when he opened them, he was no longer in his world.
The memory faded, and Kazuo clenched his fists. This place bothered him. Everything about this world bothered him. And now he understood that there was no way to escape it. Not while he was here.
As he moved forward, the air changed. The tension emanating from the Tower of Echoes grew more palpable with each step. When he finally reached the entrance, the shadow of the structure stretched out before him, a challenge in physical form. Kazuo pushed open the metal doors, letting the sound of grinding fill the air. The interior was dark, suffocating, and his senses adjusted to the new environment.But before he could move forward, a scream broke the silence. 'Help! Please, help me!'
The sound reverberated off the walls, amplified by the echo. Kazuo stopped, his gaze fixed on the darkness in front of him. His irritation grew, but he kept moving forward. Because in this world, there was no other choice.