Ch-1 A Weird Game

Pink petals drifted through the air, carried by a lazy breeze. The cherry trees stood in full bloom, their branches swaying gently, as if sighing with the season.

"Hey, so which high school are you going to?"

"Oh, that... I'm—"

"Wait, really? You confessed to him?!"

"Damn it, I'm gonna miss you guys..."

Amidst the scattered students exiting Newton Ridge Middle School, a boy with black bangs covering his eyes walked alone, perfectly blending into the background.

Laughter and sadness often go hand in hand during graduation. Students feel happy to escape the strictness of middle school, yet emotional at the thought of leaving behind a familiar life.

"Youth... an excuse that lets even the worst behavior be overlooked. People call it an exciting period of life."

"Adults say it's okay to make mistakes. That it doesn't matter if your heart breaks once or twice—just live life to the fullest, make tons of friends."

"But I say... that's a lie. Hypocrisy spoken by those who've never felt heartbreak. Who have no idea what it's like to be bullied. 'Make tons of friends'? What a joke."

"Even if they do, most don't know a thing about each other. The weak have to adjust themselves, wear a mask just to fit in."

"Love in youth... it's just a romantic way to describe failed relationships. Honestly, why would a student—whose only job is to study—have time for that crap?"

As the boy walked, lost in his thoughts, no one spared him a second glance—except for a girl with long pink hair and thick glasses, giving off a nerdy vibe.

"I wonder if we'll ever meet again, Alex... In the end, I never got to talk to you," she muttered, clutching the admission letter to SoraTech High.

The boy, Alex Grey, walked alone on the street. To someone like him, who didn't have a single friend, things like graduation parties were meaningless. On the way, he stopped at a store he frequented.

'Instead of wasting my time on fake relationships, I'd rather improve my gaming skills,' he thought.

He walked through the automatic door, eyes scanning the hundreds of games on display.

"Girls... can they be as interesting as this?"

He shook his head hard after thinking it was very rude of him.

"I'm sorry, God of Games, for comparing your grace to mere flesh and bone."

He silently played.

"Really, that's why you're single."

Alex snapped out of his prayer he looked at the counter there he saw a young lady with brown hair, a tear mole under her blue eyes and a sweet smile and with a model like body.

She gave a carefree vibe. She was what they call every man's inner fantasy.

"Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' me.I've known you for ages now" she said with a smile.

"Maria... got anything interesting today?"

"Hehe, you never change, do you, Alex?" Maria chuckled slyly as she raised her hand to pat his head.

Alex stepped back, avoiding her hand.

"Oh, come on! You used to be so sweet—now look at you!" she said dramatically, covering her eyes and pretending to cry.

"Something. New. Do. You. Have?" Alex asked with a deadpan expression.

Maria's mouth twitched looking at his nonchalant expression.

"Wait!" she said, bending down to rummage through the counter.

"So... any girls confess to you?"

"No. Why would they?"

"Ohhh, what a loss for them."

Maria placed a few physical game copies on the counter. Leaning forward flirtatiously, she said, "So does that mean I can have you all to myself?"

"Don't say that. I feel like I'm gonna puke," he muttered, his face slightly red.

Maria laughed at his reaction.

Trying to escape his embarrassment, Alex focused on the game titles.

"City of the Dead, God's Grace, DvN... pretty interesting," he murmured, checking their descriptions. Then his eyes fell on one that caught his attention.

"Chaos? What a cringe name. Maria, why doesn't this one have any details written on it?"

Maria looked at the game in his hands—it was pitch black, with no design or description.

"This one? I don't know... It was just there when I checked this morning. I'm pretty sure I never ordered it," Maria said, looking genuinely puzzled.

"What? You're the owner and you don't even know what games are in your own store?"

A vein popped on Maria's forehead at Alex's commentary. What followed was a series of colorful insults from her end, which Alex patiently listened to in silence.

Don't get him wrong it's not because he can't come up with good comebacks, but he simply respect her and understand just how petty she can be.

"Thank you for shopping with us!" Maria said sweetly as Alex walked out.

In the end, he bought Chaos—mostly to make up for her oversight.

"Sigh... Women are such difficult creatures."

Soon, Alex arrived at his house—a 200-square-meter, two-story building with a garden. He opened the door with a spare key.

"Hmm, looks like Mom's out... Well then, let's play."

He grabbed some chips from the kitchen and a chilled can of Coke, then headed up to his room on the second floor.

His room was a total mess. Empty chip packets lay everywhere, clothes were scattered on the bed along with manga and novels.

But Alex didn't care. Powering on the console, he inserted the physical copy of Chaos.

[1%... 20%... 50%... 100%]

As the game loaded, Alex tore open his chips and munched away, not expecting much.

"I knew I shouldn't have bought this... but I wonder just how bad it really is."

Put he having already paid for it and doubting Maria will return his money after it has been over an hour.

[The Gears of Fate have begun to turn, The Worlds have been in settlement for eons.]

[A New Era awaits, Named Era of Chaos]

The loading screen turned black, white text slowly appearing. A strange chill ran down Alex's spine—a mix of goosebumps and excitement.

Unknowingly, Alex had taken his first step into the abyss.

To Be Continued...