The world vanished in a blink. One moment, Neraxis was sitting at his desk, the warm glow of his lamp falling on a book about ancient history. Next, the world Vanished. There was no sound, no flash of light, just a sudden and complete absence of everything he knew. The scent of old paper and lukewarm coffee was replaced by an earthy smell.
When his senses returned, he was standing on a rough stony grey floor. A cloud of fog closed in from all directions so thick that he could barely see from a feet away.
Panic gripped his heart.
"Where am i?"
"Am i dreaming?"
He pinched his arm, hard.
"Ouch!"
The pain was actually freaking real!. It actually wasn't a dream.
Before the panic could truly take hold, a soft chime, rang in the air directly in front of him.
A pale blue light appeared into existence, floating before his eyes.
[Welcome, Challenger, to the Immortal World.]
[You, along with billions of others from your home world, have been chosen.]
[You are now a Lord. This small space is your Territory. It is your home and your castle.]
[The goal is simple: Survive. Grow strong. Conquer.]
Neraxis stared, his mind struggling to catch up. He was a history buff and a lifelong fan of strategy games, so he understood the words, but the reality of them was staggering. This was a transmigration. An event he had only read about in fantasy novels was happening to him right now.
The blue screen, which he quickly understood was a System, continued to display information.
[Basic Rules of the Immortal World]:
Your Territory is Your Safe Zone: For now. You can build it up and make it stronger.
Recruit Your Army: You are a Lord, and a Lord needs soldiers. You will summon monsters to fight for you and protect your land.
Beware of the Fog: The fog is not empty. It is filled with wild, native monsters that will attack your Territory.
Beware Other Lords: The billions of others brought here are also Lords. They are your rivals. They may become your enemies or your allies. Choose wisely.
Gather Resources: To build and to grow stronger, you will need to find resources like wood, stone, food, and a special energy called Genetic. Genetic energy is like the soul of the world, and you need it for almost everything.
[Beginner's Protection Period]:
You have been granted a seven-day protection period. During this time, a magical barrier will protect your Territory from all harm. No monsters or other Lords can enter without your permission.
After seven days, the barrier will fall. You must be ready.
[Beginner's Gift Package]:
A gift has been placed in your inventory to help you start your journey. We wish you luck, Lord.
The blue screen faded slightly, becoming semi-transparent. Neraxis could now see a small icon in the corner of his vision that looked like a little bag. His gamer instincts quickly took over. His panic reduced and he calmed down slightly. This was a terrifying situation, but it was one with rules. And if there were rules, there was a way to win.
He took a moment to look around his territory. It was a small, square room, about ten feet by ten feet. The walls were made of the same rough, grey stone as the floor. There was a single, heavy-looking wooden door set in one wall. In one corner sat a simple wooden bed with a thin blanket, and in another corner was a small wooden crate. It felt more like a prison cell than a lord's chamber.
He focused his thoughts on the bag icon. A new screen popped up, showing an empty grid, like an ad in a game. There was one item in it, a small wrapped gift box. He thought the word 'open,' and the box glowed.
[Opening Beginner's Gift Package...]
[You have received: Rations (3 Days) x1, Clean Water (3 Days) x1, Basic Wood Axe x1, Basic Stone Pickaxe x1, Random Monster Card (Bronze-rank) x1.]
The practical items were a relief. At least he wouldn't starve or die of thirst right away. The tools meant he could gather resources. But his eyes were fixed on the last item, The Monster Card. In every game he had ever played, the starting unit was crucial. A good start could set you up for victory and a bad start could mean a frustrating end.
The card solidified in his hand with a soft shimmer. It felt like it was made of polished bronze. On its surface awas the image of a young woman with long, silver hair and sad eyes. She had wings, but they were strange. One was a large, beautiful wing made of black feathers, like a raven's while the other was a tiny, dried up white wing, almost like a lump.
[Monster Card: Halfling Fallen Angel]
[Rank: Bronze]
[Type: Angel/Humanoid]
[Description: A being with a trace of angelic blood, but whose lineage has been diluted and corrupted. They possess neither the pure power of an angel nor the full potential of a human. Known for their sorrowful nature and weak combat abilities.]
Neraxis's heart, which were filed with hope, sank quickly. Bronze-rank, that was the lowest possible rank. And a "Halfling Fallen Angel"? His mind, full of knowledge from countless game guides and lore books, screamed at him. Halflings were universally seen as a weak combination. They were masters of nothing, a mix of two things that resulted in something less than either. They couldn't fight well. They couldn't use powerful magic. They were usually referred to a "trash pull" by gamers.
He felt deeply sad. Out there were billions of other Lords, some must have gotten powerful dragons, mighty giants, or clever goblins. And he got this. He was doomed. The seven-day protection felt less like a grace period and more like a countdown to his own death.
He sighed slightly. There was no other choice. He had to summon her. He needed to see what he was working with, no matter how bad it was.
The System prompted him. [Summoning this monster will cost 10 Genetic energy. You have 100 starting Genetic energy. Proceed?]
"Yes," he whispered, his voice hoarse.
He held the card out. The 10 Genetic energy points drained from his small pool, and the card dissolved into motes of golden and black light. The light swirled in the air before him, slowly gathering into a human shape. It solidified, and standing there, in the middle of his tiny stone room, was the girl from the card.
She was just as the picture had shown. Her long, silver hair fell around her beautiful face. Her eyes, a deep shade of violet, showing a hit of sadness . She wore a simple, tattered grey gown that did little to protect her from the cold. Behind her, the single, large black wing was tucked close to her back, while the small, useless white one shook a little.
She looked at Neraxis, and then slowly, she knelt on the stone floor, bowing her head.
"I am Lilian," she said, her voice sounded like a soft whisper that was full of sorrow. "My Lord, I am yours to command. Though my strength is little, I will serve you until my last breath."
Neraxis looked down at her. His sadness was still there, twisting his stomach. He knew she was weak. But as he looked at her kneeling form, at her sorrowful beauty and her unquestioning loyalty, he felt a sense of responsibility. He was a Lord, and she was his subject after all.
He let out a long sigh. "Stand up, Lilian," he said, his voice steady.
She rose, her sad violet eyes staring at him.