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Legacy of the Forgotten Soul

Nathaniel "Nate" Cross was a man of wealth, wit, and unfathomable boredom. His opulent existence in the sprawling metropolis of Luminar City offered everything—everything except challenge. In search of distraction, he'd thrown himself into the virtual world of *Eclipse Ascension*, an action-packed fantasy game that allowed players to embody different protagonists, each with their unique backstory and gameplay. But among them all, one character stood out like a sore thumb: Kael Draylen, the most despised figure in the *Eclipse* fandom. 

Kael was a simp—an embarrassing mix of pitiful romantic obsession and uninspired mediocrity. Yet, driven by some perverse desire to complete the impossible, Nate had painstakingly grinded his way through the game as Kael. He endured Kael's glaring flaws, his misplaced devotion to his apathetic fiancée, and his tragically stunted mana. And, against all odds, Nate succeeded. The screen glowed triumphantly as *"Game Cleared!"* appeared.

But before he could revel in his achievement, his world spun violently. Light and shadow swirled into a vortex, pulling him into the depths of the unknown.

And to his horror, he awoke as Kael

Legacy of the forgotten soul

Nathaniel "Nate" Cross was the embodiment of earthly success. At just 28, he was the sole heir to the Cross industrial empire, a sprawling conglomerate that dominated the fields of technology, finance, and luxury goods. Born into privilege and sharpened by Ivy League education, Nate could have had anything he wanted with a snap of his fingers.

Each day blurred into the next: sterile boardrooms, scripted pleasantries with executives twice his age, and networking events where smiles were as artificial as the champagne. His penthouse apartment, perched high above the bustling streets of Luminar City, was filled with treasures from his globe-trotting escapades. But each ornate artifact—be it a Ming dynasty vase or a limited-edition HoloVision VR headset—only served as a reminder of how hollow his existence had become.

His only refuge lay in a place far removed from reality: Eclipse Ascension. To most, it was just a game. To Nate, it was a respite—a chance to escape the crushing weight of expectations and immerse himself in a world where every choice carried palpable consequences. It didn't matter that Eclipse was grueling, or that its fanbase was notoriously ruthless in dissecting its lore and gameplay. For Nate, it was the only thing that made his heart race.

But his approach to the game was as peculiar as it was meticulous. While most players sought the most powerful characters and strategies, Nate had a penchant for the underdogs, the misfits, and the outright failures. There was something about fixing their messy stories that felt oddly cathartic.

And then there was Kael Draylen, the ultimate pariah. Playing as Kael felt like wading through quicksand while carrying bricks. His fiancée despised him. His mana was so stunted he couldn't perform even basic spells properly. His adoptive noble family tolerated him as little more than a footnote to their legacy. And yet, Nate found a grim satisfaction in mastering the impossible. Over countless sleepless nights, he dissected Kael's story, memorized every strategy, and squeezed every last advantage out of the System's premium features. Against all odds, Nate cleared the game.

The victory was supposed to bring him a sense of closure. Instead, it left him staring blankly at the glowing "Congratulations!" screen, his hands trembling with fatigue. He laughed—no, cackled—at the sheer absurdity of it all. He'd spent countless hours playing as the worst character imaginable, and for what? Bragging rights on a forum he didn't even post on?

He leaned back in his leather gaming chair, the city skyline glittering beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Maybe I really have lost it," he muttered to himself. He closed his eyes, the hum of the VR system lulling him into what he thought would be a much-needed nap.

A sharp jolt coursed through his body, as if lightning had struck him. His eyes snapped open, only to find that his surroundings had vanished. In their place was a swirling vortex of light and shadow, pulling at him with an irresistible force. His voice was lost in the cacophony as the world around him fragmented into shards of color and sound.

Chapter 1: The Worst Role Ever Played