With my hands resting on the ground and my breathing still heavy, I kept thinking about what had just happened.
First, I had lost all my senses. Only despair remained.
I saw myself sinking into a swamp that slowly swallowed me. My heart ached unbearably, and then... I felt as if nothing mattered anymore.
My despair disappeared. My anguish became meaningless.
I felt light. Detached. As if I only needed to find some kind of logic and move forward.
But the way I felt was wrong.
It wasn’t natural.
And that coldness pulled me by the feet until I finally returned to the surface.
"Argh... Guide... I believe you can give me an explanation."
My voice came out weak, but no less calm.
So many things had happened all at once, and perhaps... perhaps I needed an anchor to pull me out of this place instead of remaining stagnant.
The Guide answered in a relieved tone.
For a moment, it had thought everything had gone terribly wrong.
[I had to use an emergency reserve from my system to bring you back before you completely broke down. Your emotional anguish pushed you to extreme limits, and you nearly became like a broken doll, without any will of your own. So I granted you a skill and activated it independently... Aster, remain calm. Drowning in despair will not solve your problems, nor will it help you move forward.]
Aster nodded.
"You’re right. Dwelling on this now won’t do me any good."
He was right. I couldn’t remain like this.
I also needed explanations. I needed some kind of guidance about what to do, because I had no idea what I was supposed to do now.
I took a deep breath and adjusted myself so I could sit. My arms and legs were still trembling, but I forced myself to remain steady.
I looked ahead while running a hand through my hair.
"You’re going to explain everything to me, right?"
"The reason I’m here."
"Exactly what you want me to do."
"The meaning of the terms you keep using... that so-called ’Throne’."
[Very well. I will explain what you need to know for now. As you progress, more information will become available.]
I wanted to protest and demand all the answers, but I knew I wouldn’t receive them.
And remaining stuck here would get me nowhere.
A little was better than nothing.
So the Guide began to explain.
I was told that I had been chosen to participate in a game whose initial objective was to grow stronger, conquer, and establish new lands.
I would have to choose one of the available worlds and conquer everything until the entire planet stood beneath my banner.
The Guide compared it to RPGs based around construction, development, and conquest so I could understand the concept more easily.
My eyes widened in shock.
"You want to send me to a world so I can build an empire and conquer everything?"
I asked skeptically.
I mean, I had been nothing more than an ordinary worker until a short while ago.
Wasn’t it expecting a little too much from me?
[That is correct, Host.]
"Hahaha... You really think I can accomplish something like that? Do you think I’m Trajan?"
I asked in disbelief.
How could it expect some nobody like me to accomplish something of that magnitude?
It was ridiculous.
[Unfortunately, you have no choice, Aster... Remember, you were supposed to be dead. Your return came with this purpose... It is inevitable.]
The Guide explained it simply and calmly, as if trying to make Aster understand that there was no escape.
It understood his concerns, but there was nothing it could do about them.
"Of course."
Aster nodded with a bitter smile.
"I was dead, and somehow, by fate or whatever this is, I’m here now, being told to play emperor, conquer everything, and put everyone under my banner."
Aster let out a heavy sigh.
’I don’t even know how to do any of this.’
Seeing Aster’s despair, the Guide tried to reassure him.
[Do not worry too much. You will not start empty-handed.]
[You will receive tools that will help you greatly along the way. One of them is me, and another is something you will receive once you reach your chosen world.]
"Well... I don’t really have a choice, do I?"
[No... You do not.]
"Ahhh, fine!"
I rubbed my hands through my hair before turning my attention back to the screen.
"But you still haven’t told me what this ’Throne’ is. I highly doubt it’s the throne of some empire or kingdom... That would be too obvious."
Aster narrowed his eyes.
[That is correct! The ’Throne’ is something far greater and more important than a seat made of precious stones or a symbol of royalty. In truth, it is a symbol, a title of immense importance that all participants of the ’Lords’ Game’ seek. It is the final objective, and only a few chosen ones—those who remain until the very end—will have the right to claim one for themselves.]
"Wait!"
I raised my hand and stopped him.
"There are other participants in this ’Lords’ Game’?"
[Hm? Did you think you were the only one?]
"Well..."
Aster became slightly embarrassed by his ignorance.
But thinking about it more carefully, it was obvious there would be others.
[Without others, how would you compete to conquer and grow stronger? I said there were Thrones to be conquered, not a single Throne.]
"Alright, alright. No need to stab me in the heart. My mistake."
I raised both hands in surrender.
[You will understand everything as you progress, Aster. You do not need to worry about being lost without knowing what to do... You will get used to it.]
"Alright."
[Now it is time for the preparations... We cannot stay here forever.]
"Hm... And what am I supposed to do?"
[Look behind you. Do you see that small altar? Go there.]
I looked behind me.
At the far end of the room stood a circular altar made of smooth white stone.
I stood up and walked toward it.
"I didn’t notice this before."
My eyes fell upon a support in the center, where a translucent crystal floated above the pedestal.
Its colors constantly changed as the light reflected across its surface.
"What is this?"
[Prick your finger against the tip of the crystal and let your blood touch it.]
I hesitated for a moment, but then moved my finger toward the crystal.
It pierced my skin, and a drop of blood flowed onto its surface.
A faint glow emerged from the crystal as it absorbed my blood.
Then, a large holographic screen appeared before me.
[CHECKING BLOOD COMPATIBILITY AND PERMISSION TO ACCESS THE INDIVIDUAL’S CHOICE REGISTRATION RECORD...]
[ACCESS GRANTED.]
[WELCOME TO THE REGISTRATION AND CHOICE TERMINAL OF THE ’LORDS’ GAME’.]
[LORD ASTER REGISTERED IN THE DATABASE.]
[ANALYZING AVAILABLE WORLDS FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY...]
[LIST COMPLETE!]
[A LIST WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE, DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTORS, FOR THE REGISTERED INDIVIDUAL TO CHOOSE FROM.]
[PLEASE CHOOSE WISELY.]
Before me, the hologram displayed a vast list divided into four sections labeled as sectors.
I stared at the enormous list, not knowing what I was supposed to look for or choose.
If I tried to analyze all of it...
"How long would I have to stay here?"
I stared in disbelief at the colossal number of options before me.
There were no names.
Only numbers.
As if it were my lifeline, the Guide intervened.
[Host, you do not need to trouble yourself over this. As your Guide, I analyzed all available worlds and filtered them until I found the one with the greatest opportunities for your growth.]
[Go to Sector 1 and choose number 27,344.]
Having no better option, I decided to follow its instructions.
"How do I choose?"
[I have already provided the command. You only need to issue it.]
I nodded and gave the command to the hologram before me.
"My choice will be... Sector 1, World 27,344."
[COMMAND RECOGNIZED. REGISTERING THE CHOSEN WORLD IN INDIVIDUAL ASTER’S DATABASE.]
[COMPLETE!]
[AWAKENED-LEVEL WORLD SELECTED.]
The hologram then changed, revealing the image of a world floating in the distant reaches of space.
"Wow..."
My mouth fell open at the sight.
It was beautiful.
Deep, wild green covered much of the globe. Auroras surrounded the world, while lights of countless colors could be seen glowing across its surface.
It was enchanting.
A shiver ran through my skin.
[WITH YOUR CHOICE REGISTERED, PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE CIRCULAR TERMINAL BESIDE THE REGISTRATION CRYSTAL.]
Aster snapped out of his daze and looked at the pedestal.
Beside the crystal was a white sphere about the size of a bowling ball.
I extended my hand toward it.
[INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT POSSESS CHANNELS CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING ENERGY. THEREFORE, THE INDIVIDUAL IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE AWAKENING OF THE LORDS’ SUPPORT SYSTEM.]
[TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, THE TERMINAL WILL PERFORM A BODY RECONSTRUCTION.]
[REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO INITIATE THE PROCESS...]
"Wait, what is—"
Meanwhile, somewhere far away, beyond Aster’s perception...
There was a space surrounded by stars, with a white floor that seemed to stretch endlessly into the void.
At the center of that place stood a throne.
Something was sitting upon it.
It was difficult to describe exactly what that figure was.
A deep voice echoed through the strange space.
"Fufufu."
"So he has already started."
"I thought it would take him longer, since his mind would be filled with doubts, but... you surprised me, Aster."
"I like those who are decisive. Take this as a gift, just to make me happy."
"PERMISSION GRANTED!"
The being sitting upon the throne extended a hand.
Pale, delicate skin emerged from beneath the cloak, with fingernails painted black.
The being pointed a finger toward the void.
A small violet light emerged from its fingertip and flew across the infinite starry sky.
"I gave this to him as well."
’Perhaps I’m spoiling him too much.’
A mischievous smile formed beneath the veil.
After remaining silent for a moment, the voice spoke again.
"No. It’s merely an appetizer for impressing me. There is no problem."
"Fufufufu..."
"...I expect a great deal from you... Aster."