Gone

In a small, dimly lit apartment room, a boy with golden hair and striking blue eyes sat in front of the glowing computer screen, his headphones snugly covering his ears.

The only sound that filled the silent room was of the occasional clatter of keys and the faint hum, of the computer screen.

On the computer screen, the title Legends of Aldoria was displayed in bold, and glowing letters as the box navigated through the game's interface.

His fingers moved with practiced precision, as he clicked at a speed that spoke of the endless hours, spent perfecting the craft.

Hours passed like seconds as the boy immersed himself deeper in the virtual world. His eyes never leaving the screen, as he completely focused on the characters and battles unfolding before him.

The boy's memory was sharp, almost unnaturally so, as it allowed him to recall every attack pattern of the enemies, every hidden mechanic in the game and every little detail about the sprawling world of Aldoria.

Though this wasn't just any hobby; for the boy, it was an obsession. A way to escape reality. He had poured over 8,000 hours into the game, and with his exceptional memory, he had become a walking encyclopedia of Legends of Aldoria. To him, playing this game was like a second nature.

Boss fights, intricate puzzles, and strategies that would leave most of the players struggling were easy for him. His mind processing every move and counter-move effortlessly, as if the game was specifically designed for him.

As the game entered its final stage, the tension in the room became almost palpable. The boy's hands moved with lightning speed, as his fingers danced across the keyboard and mouse as if they were an extension of himself.

His golden hair clung to his forehead from the hours of concentration, but his piercing blue eyes never leaved the screen.

Why?

Because, this was it. After thousands of hours of dedication, countless failures, and endless retries, Wayne was now closer than he'd ever been to achieving the perfect ending of the game—something that was rumored to be nearly impossible in the worldwide gaming community.

Wayne's smile widened, a mix of excitement and pride tugging at the corners of his lips. Every move he made was calculated, his every decision flawless.

The boss's health bar dwindled as he executed combos after combos and dodged it's attacks with precision that would leave anyone in awe.

"Finally come on…" he muttered under his breath, as his voice was tinged with exhilaration. The climax of Legends of Aldoria, the perfect ending, was well within his grasp.

For the first time in years, the boy had felt an adrenaline rush unlike anything he had ever experienced—not just because of the game, but because this victory was his alone.

"Yesss!" the boy shouted, as he pumped his fists into the air, his chair spinning from the force. A grin from ear to ear spread on his mouth as the final credits rolled across the screen.

He had done it—he had achieved the elusive perfect ending in Legends of Aldoria. The golden light from the game's conclusion bathed his face, and for a moment, he felt invincible.

He was ecstatic. All those sleepless nights of his, countless hours of strategizing, memorizing attack patterns, and perfecting his builds had finally paid off. It wasn't just a simple win; it was a testament to his unwavering determination and skill.

"I actually did it," he murmured to himself, as he leaned back in his chair, still basking in the glow of his triumph. His heart pounding in his chest, his breath shallow with excitement.

For a brief moment, he just stared at the screen, as the names of the developers scrolled by, and let the victory sink in.

However, just as he was about to celebrate further, the computer screen suddenly blacked out.

"What the—" he muttered, leaning forward towards the computer to check if the system had crashed. But before he could do anything, a translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes, hovering in midair, startling him so much that he almost fell from his chair.

Though in the next moment the boy froze, as his heart skipped a beat. "What... is this?" he whispered, waving his hand through the screen, only for it to remain unaffected and pass through it.

___________________________________

 100% progress completed.

 Initialising the integration process.

 Breaking the ancient seals.

 Soul Integration process started 1%..2%...

 Welcome Back, (The Celestial Lord)

Azhreal.

___________________________________

As the boy read the screen in confusion, he didn't have much time to react as a sharp, searing pain erupted throughout his body.

"Arghhh!" he screamed, as he clutched his chest, falling from his chair onto the cold floor.

The agony was beyond anything he had ever felt—it wasn't just physical; it felt as though his very soul was being torn apart, ripped forcefully from his body. The sheer intensity of the pain made his vision blur, as his breaths came in shallow and desperate gasps.

Though, in his writhing agony, Wayne had failed to notice two ominous occurrences which were happening simultaneously.

First, was the world outside of his small apartment. It was in chaos. The clear sky had darkened, turning into an ominous shade of purple and blue.

Winds roared violently, as they teared through the streets, uprooting the trees, and sending debris flying in every direction.

Thunder roared, and lightning crackled across the heavens, illuminating the unnaturally, swirling clouds.

The atmosphere felt heavy, as though something that shouldn't happen in the world was happening.

Second, was his own body. Wayne's own body began to glow faintly, as his skin illuminated with eerie light. Then, intricate seals—ancient and otherworldly—started to appear all over his body, pulsating with power.

One by one, the seals began to crack and shatter.

Crack.

The first seal broke, as it unleashed a wave of energy that pulsed throughout the room.

Crack.

Another seal broke, and Wayne's screams grew even louder, as his body convulsed on the floor.

Each shattered seal released an energy that reverberated throughout the room, shaking the walls and scattering his belongings. The power within him, that was long contained, was being unleashed.

Then, in the middle of the room, a rift appeared—a tear in space itself. The swirling black-and-purple void radiated an enchanting aura, the kind that made it impossible to look away.

Wayne's body, now limp and glowing faintly, hovered toward the rift. His consciousness had faded completely, his last thoughts drowned in the excruciating pain.

And with one final pulse of energy, the rift enveloped his soul entirely. The room turned silent, same for the distant crackle of thunder.

And just like that, only Wayne's body remained and he was gone.