Chapter 1: From Player to God

The glow of the computer screen illuminated the small, cluttered room, casting long shadows across the walls. The hum of the fan was the only sound breaking the silence of the night. On the screen, a beautifully rendered fantasy world unfolded—a sprawling academy filled with vibrant characters, intricate lore, and a story that had captivated him for months. The game, Starlit Academy: Bonds of the Divine, was a yuri fantasy visual novel, and he had spent countless hours immersed in its world.

He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. The clock in the corner of the screen read 3:47 AM. He had been playing for hours, determined to unlock the game's true ending. The protagonist, a kind-hearted girl named Elara, had just formed a bond with the mysterious and cursed Saintess, Selune. The scene was breathtaking—soft piano music played as the two characters shared a tender moment under a starlit sky. He couldn't help but smile. Selune was his favorite character, her tragic backstory and quiet strength resonating with him deeply.

"Just one more scene," he muttered to himself, clicking through the dialogue. The game's art style was stunning, every frame a masterpiece. He marveled at the way the moonlight reflected off Selune's silver hair, the way her violet eyes seemed to hold galaxies within them. He had always been drawn to her, even though she was a side character. There was something about her—something fragile yet unyielding—that made him want to protect her.

As the scene ended, a notification popped up on the screen: Congratulations! You've unlocked the True Ending: "Eternal Bonds." He let out a satisfied sigh and leaned back in his chair. It had taken him weeks to get here, but it was worth it. The story had been everything he hoped for and more. He glanced at the clock again—4:02 AM. He really should get some sleep.

He reached for the mouse to shut down the computer, but as his fingers brushed against it, a sharp pain shot through his chest. He gasped, clutching at his heart. The pain was sudden and intense, like a vice tightening around him. His vision blurred, and the room seemed to spin. He tried to stand, but his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed to the floor, the sound of his chair clattering against the ground echoing in his ears.

The pain was unbearable now, spreading through his entire body. He could feel his heartbeat slowing, each thud weaker than the last. His breath came in shallow gasps, and his vision darkened at the edges. He tried to call out for help, but no sound came. The last thing he saw was the glow of the computer screen, the image of Selune's gentle smile frozen in time.

Then, there was nothing.

When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his room. He wasn't even sure if he had eyes anymore. The world around him was a vast, endless void—a sea of swirling darkness punctuated by faint, distant lights that flickered like dying stars. He felt weightless, as though he were floating in an ocean of nothingness. Panic surged through him, but he couldn't move, couldn't scream. He was just… there.

What happened? he thought, his mind racing. Am I dead? Is this… the afterlife?

The void was silent, offering no answers. He tried to remember how he had gotten here, but his memories felt hazy, like a dream slipping through his fingers. He remembered the pain, the feeling of his heart giving out, and then… nothing. Had he died? It seemed impossible, but what else could explain this?

As he floated in the void, he became aware of something strange. He could feel… power. It was faint at first, like a distant hum, but it grew stronger the more he focused on it. It was as though the void itself was alive, pulsing with energy that resonated deep within him. He reached out—or at least, he tried to. He didn't have a body anymore, but he could still sense the energy around him.

And then, something changed. The void seemed to shift, the darkness parting like a curtain to reveal a faint, silvery light. The light grew brighter, closer, until it enveloped him completely. He felt a strange warmth, like the sun on his skin, and then… he had a body again.

He looked down at himself, his breath catching in his throat. His hands—no, her hands—were slender and pale, with faint, glowing runes etched into the skin. She ran her fingers over her arms, her chest, her face, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. She was… a girl. A young woman, to be precise. Her hair was long and silver, cascading down her back like a waterfall of moonlight. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and covered in intricate runes that pulsed with a soft, otherworldly glow.

She reached up to touch her face, her fingers brushing against her cheeks, her lips, her eyes. Her eyes… they were unlike anything she had ever seen. When she looked into the void, she could see galaxies swirling within them, stars being born and dying in the depths of her gaze. She was beautiful, but in a way that was almost unsettling—a beauty that was too perfect, too otherworldly to be human.

What… what am I? she thought, her voice echoing in her mind. It was her voice, but different—softer, more melodic, and filled with a power that made the void tremble.

As she stood there, trying to make sense of her new form, a flood of memories rushed into her mind. Memories that weren't hers, but somehow felt familiar. She saw herself—no, not herself, but someone—standing in the void, surrounded by darkness. She saw battles fought on a cosmic scale, gods clashing in the emptiness of space, worlds being born and destroyed in the blink of an eye. And then, she saw herself—a young girl with silver hair and violet eyes, standing alone in the darkness, her hands clutching a staff adorned with a pulsating black orb.

Selune, she realized, her heart—or whatever passed for a heart in this form—aching with a strange, possessive longing. That's Selune.

The memories faded, leaving her breathless and disoriented. She looked around the void, her mind racing. She wasn't human anymore. She wasn't even mortal. She was… something else. Something powerful. Something divine.

I'm an Outer God, she thought, the realization sending a shiver through her. And this… this is the void. The place where gods are born.

She didn't know how she knew this, but it felt right. The void was her home now, and the power coursing through her veins was hers to command. She was Eryndra Veylith, an Outer God born from the darkness, and she had been given a second chance at life.

But as she stood there, gazing into the endless expanse of the void, one thought consumed her: Selune. I have to find her. I have to protect her.

The game's story wouldn't begin for another ten thousand years, but that didn't matter. She would wait. She would grow stronger. And when the time came, she would make sure that Selune was hers—and hers alone.

The void seemed to hum in agreement, the distant stars flickering like silent witnesses to her vow. Eryndra Veylith, the Outer God, had been reborn, and nothing—not time, not space, not even other gods—would stand in her way.