Chapter 2: Very Wrong Day

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Very Wrong Day

Fernando snickered at the bleeding, broken shape of Victor on the road.

"That’s one way to get rid of trash." He remarked, before walking away without a second look.

"Someone call the police. It’s a hit and run truck."

"Oh, my god."

"How horrible."

People gathered around, the music and dancing stopped. But no one made a move to help.

Victor’s remaining good eye twitched. He could see the horrid expression on their faces.

For them to look at me like that. Damn it! My situation must be bad. So this is it. This is how my life ends.

He gave a mocking laughter, but blood poured from his lips—a result of his punctured lungs.

I have been mocked and berated all my life. Living unseen in the shadows. I am 22 and I have never even felt a girl’s hand.

Cough Cough.

But why? What did I do to deserve such a life?

Just as the question came, his eye landed on the game console resting in his now mangled arm.

A good part of it was already stained with his blood.

Ahhh, yes. I remember. You. It all started that day.

Victor’s mind flashed back to the most traumatizing day of his life.

The day his world turned upside down—the day the entire world turned upside down.

The beginning of Blackest Night.

He remembered the earth quakes that came when the abominations poured into the world, and how their apartment building had buried him and his mother under all that rubble.

The one instruction she gave before she died was, "don’t look back, Victor. Please... just keep your eyes on the game."

Victor knew she did not want him to see her in that broken state.

And for fear, with tears leaking down his eyes, his gaze did not peel from the console.

He played the game for the three days he was buried under. Until the founding Rankers who had awakened their powers, came to the rescue.

At least life had spared him the horror of seeing his mother’s face crushed underneath the crumbled wall.

But it did not spare him the knowledge of it.

Ever since that day, I haven’t removed my eyes from this console. Just as mother instructed. Because I spend most days playing the game and snacking, I began to get fatter.

And my size in turn made it harder for me to make friends. Approaching girls was a different kind of nightmare.

And whenever people tease or mock me, I’ll just retreat back to my safe space—my console. Which made me become worse.

A never ending rabbit hole.

But...

The image of his mother’s smile appeared in his head.

"Victor, my great little man. One day you are going to be big and strong."

"And I’ll give you many grand kids mum." Little Victor added.

She giggled lightly. "Yes you will."

The memory echoed in his mind.

Tears fell down his one good eye. He was suddenly filled with so much regret.

No... I don’t want it to end like this. To die a virgin. I didn’t get to live my life to the fullest, kiss a girl. And worse, I didn’t give my mother grand kids.

Please... I don’t want to die.

Cough cough.

More blood spilled from his mouth.

As if in response to his pleading, the screen of the game console flickered on.

[DUNGEON CONQUEST: Your Adventure Begins]

Victor stared at the screen as the most unbelievable thing was happening in the background.

The artificial sun was falling.

He was not the only one to have noticed. People once distracted by his unfortunate accident now pointed towards the hope that sustained their little city.

Then came the SCREAMING.

The massive ball of fire smashed into the earth in a massive groaning explosion that expanded outwardly, consuming all life...

...

[Congratulations Player, Your soul has been chosen]

[Welcome to Dungeon Conquest]

A beautiful feminine voice spoke with the signature game screen Victor was all too familiar with.

Hold on what’s this? Am I going to game heaven?

Is it really true what they say... that gamers and Otakus have a special place in the afterlife?

He wanted to speak out loud, but he could not find his voice. He could not even find his tongue.

[Select an in-game character]

A long list appeared before his eyes.

They were; Witch, Gargoyle, Dark Knight, Incubus, Sorcerer, Book Mage, Golem, Barbarian, Dark Elf, Spirit...

[Waiting...]

[Waiting...]

"Huh!?"

[Player is currently incapable of picking an in-game character]

[In-game character shall be chosen based on last game play]

[In-game character: Barbarian]

[Player name; Milkshake22]

Wait! Was that not my in-game name?

[Player shall begin in Mallet Arena: FIRST TRIAL]

[Please note that Log Out feature cannot be initiated during raids, missions or quests]

[In-game losses and gains will directly be reflected on the player both within and outside the World of Gavalon]

[Good Luck, and please, remember to keep having fun]

...Then came the darkness.

Victor felt a sudden weight. A body that wasn’t exactly his. It was too heavy in the shoulders, and too solid in the arms.

The roar of the crowd. The same opening words from the game. The Opening of the rusted gate.

The Dragon.

He could not believe his eyes. Hell, he could not believe any of his senses.

The smell of the place was putrid, like he had refused to bath for an entire year and then rolled around in his own filth.

How did he know?

Being a shut-in came with its downside.

Back then, even he was disgusted by his living conditions, but was too lazy to clean up. But this time around, it was not just him, everyone in the arena stank.

"Your first opponent of the Encroaching Darkness is the Basalt Dragonic Lizard." The Barbarian King Boramo, announced from his high podium.

Like most in this Arena, he was ash skinned, shirtless, with only a loin cloth to cover his lower half. His huge muscular frame had a mix of tattoos, and the skull of the former barbarian king he defeated rested around his neck.

"Oh no—I am really in Dungeon Conquest" Victor muttered shocked.

"Brother, isn’t this great? We can finally bring honor to our father’s name. And after the Basalt Dragonic lizard, we shall challenge Boramo for our father’s throne." An older dark haired man by his side, remarked, as he grabbed Victor by the shoulder proudly, raising the giant battle axe in his other hand.

"Brother!?" Victor did not understand. However, he felt a weird familiar bond with this Barbarian that called him brother.

"ATTACK!!!" The Barbarian king ordered and the barbarians roared as they charged forward.

"HUH!!?" Victor gasped.

[Author’s note: Add the book to your library if you love barbarians]