Prologue: Origins of Arcania
Long ago, before time could be measured and names held meaning, there existed a being known only as the Ruler of the Universe. Neither god nor mortal, this entity possessed the power to breathe life into ideas, shaping reality itself through pure imagination. From the endless void, he birthed countless multiverses—each a reflection of his thoughts, dreams, and paradoxes.
Among these creations were two worlds that shared a name: Earth.
The first Earth, modern and familiar, bore steel towers, humming machines, and people who walked without magic but carried hearts full of dreams. It was the Earth of Rayan and his friends—mundane, chaotic, and yet full of unseen potential.
The second Earth, however, was different.
A world shaped not by silicon and circuits, but by myth and mana. Long ago, a celestial meteorite crashed into this Earth, saturating the soil, the oceans, and the sky with arcane energy. Creatures adapted. Races evolved. Magic became as natural as breathing, and with it came power—glorious, terrible power.
Races rose: the mighty Dragonoids, the serene Dryads, the celestial beings of light, and the ancient Vampirics who ruled the night. But as with all things touched by power, greed took root.
War erupted.
The races clashed in a blood-cold conflict that would later be called the Extinction War. The Human, Demon, Elf, and Ghoul races formed a temporary alliance to bring down the older, more powerful races. One by one, the historic races fell. Dragonoids were hunted. Dryads burned. Celestials scattered. Vampirics were purged.
And so, the ancient races faded into legend—marked as "Historic Races" in forgotten texts.
But peace was a fleeting illusion.
Corrupted by their own ambitions, the Demons turned on their allies. Betrayal carved the continents apart. Kingdoms shattered. Realms fractured. Thus, the six realms were born—each isolated by chaos, borders, and fear:
The Human Realm
The Demon Realm
The Spirit Realm
The Beast Realm
The Dragon Realm
The Elf Realm
A shattered world built on the ruins of myth.
And now, centuries later, four unsuspecting souls from the first Earth—Rayan, Cezar, Yeon, and Tonio—have crossed the veil between worlds. Chosen not by prophecy, but by fate's whim, they awaken in a land shaped by dreams and nightmares.
Their arrival marks the beginning of a forgotten cycle.
Even the Ruler of the Universe, the being who had once dreamed them into reality, now watches with a troubled heart. For though he forged this world from imagination, even he could not foresee what chaos would unfold.
He regrets summoning them. They argue endlessly, clash over petty things, and disrupt the delicate balance of the world he built—especially Rayan and Ayen, whose fights echo like thunder through the threads of fate.
And in the silence between realms, the Ruler wonders:
What have I done?
For even the Ruler of the Universe cannot predict what happens when imagination rebels.
Firework pops.
It was New Year's Eve, and just like the last five holidays, we spent it at the local computer shop, sweating out caffeine and bad posture while grinding through the same game we always said we'd quit but never did.
"Alright, that's it for me," Cezar groaned, leaning back with a crack of his neck. "My eyeballs are about to fall out. I can hear them crying."
"I can't even see straight anymore," I mumbled, rubbing my temples like I could massage the exhaustion away. "I think I've been staring at the screen so long, I started seeing XP bars in real life."
"Bro, if I gain one more level in real life, I better get a promotion," Yeon muttered, eyes half-lidded.
"Touch grass," Tonio added, deadpan.
We all burst out laughing. Classic Tonio response.
Eventually, we stumbled outside for air. The night was crisp, cool, and buzzing with leftover fireworks. The sky glittered with trails of smoke and light—like the stars decided to have a rave.
As we walked toward the nearby plaza, a familiar voice echoed from behind.
"Wait for me~~!!" I called out, jog-wobbling to catch up with the others.
Cezar didn't even glance back. "You got legs. Use 'em."
"Dude, c'mon," I huffed. "This is supposed to be friendship goals, not cardio training."
"Cry harder," he shrugged. "Faster legs build character."
"Walking together is literally the core of all RPG party bonding," I protested.
"I support that," Yeon chimed in, casually fixing his imaginary cape. "We must stay together. The darkness lurks in solitude."
"…The heck are you on?" Tonio side-eyed him.
We reached the plaza and took a seat on a random bench under the glowing lamp posts. The place was almost empty, aside from a couple stragglers lighting firecrackers in the distance.
Out of nowhere, I blurted, "So... if we got isekai'd—like, transported to another world right now—what kinda powers would you guys want?"
Ayen perked up immediately, grinning like he'd been waiting years for this question. "Easy. Blood manipulation. I wanna be half-vampire, half-human. Dark and broody, but still able to eat garlic bread."
"Bro thinks he's the main character," Cezar snorted. "Also, where'd those glasses come from?"
"Don't question the drip," Ayen adjusted the imaginary shades.
Tonio shrugged. "I'd go with transformation. I wanna turn into a dragon... or a fridge. Whatever works."
"…A fridge?" we all blinked.
"Hey, fridges are powerful. They store your food and keep your drinks cold. That's peak utility."
Cezar cracked his knuckles. "I'm going for something practical. Like perfect precision. Hit any target I throw at. No matter the conditions."
"So... Hawkeye but cracked?" I tilted my head.
"Basically."
"Man, all y'all thinking cool powers and I'm over here wondering if I can just shapeshift between forms or get some god-tier ability that makes me immortal during plot-important moments," I laughed.
"Main character energy detected," Tonio said.
We kept laughing, the kind that comes easy on late nights with people you've known forever.
Then... it happened.
A strange gust of wind whooshed past, colder than any breeze that should've existed in this mild winter night. The lights in the plaza flickered violently.
And then everything stopped.
The world... paused. No fireworks, no background noise—just eerie silence.
"...Did y'all feel that?" Cezar asked slowly.
We turned to see it—a crack forming in mid-air. Not in the sky, not on the ground—literally in the middle of the plaza. Like someone took a knife and slashed open reality itself.
A swirling vortex of black mist and pulsating energy opened up in front of us, distorting the space like a broken mirror trying to reflect nightmares.
Everyone froze.
"OH HELL NAH, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON THIS 2035 NEW YEAR'S EVE?!" Tonio screamed, doing a full 180.
"I—I don't think this is a firework," I stammered, my body tensing.
"Y'ALL, FALL BACK. BACK AWAY SLOWLY," I ordered, arms spread like I was about to herd sheep.
Cezar kept staring, voice low. "...That thing looks alive."
"Yeon, why are you hiding behind me?!" Cezar shouted as Yeon ducked behind him, clinging to his back.
"I DON'T WANNA DIE! NOT NOW! I HAVEN'T SEEN MY KIDS OR MY KIDS' KIDS!" Yeon wailed. "IF THIS IS A DEMON KING SUMMONING—I'M OUT. Cezar, go tank it."
"Didn't even hesitate to offer me up, huh?" Cezar scowled.
"I vote we run!" Tonio shouted, already taking slow backward steps.
"No, wait—LOOK AT RAYAN!!" Ayen pointed.
I had stopped moving.
I was standing inches from the portal. And I could feel it. The pull. The magnetic hum in the air. Like destiny reached out and grabbed my collar.
"…Guys, I think it's calling me," I said, eyes wide.
"THEN IGNORE THE CALLER ID!" Yeon screamed.
Too late.
The void reacted.
[System Notification: Rayan has entered the Unknown Portal. Destination: Ƥ+@)*|#]
Everyone froze.
"…Did y'all hear that system voice too?" Cezar asked.
"YES. AND I THINK IT JUST ATE OUR FRIEND," Ayen panicked.
"I CAN'T LET HIM DIE ALONE!" Yeon screamed and dramatically leapt toward the portal.
[System Notification: Yeon has entered the Unknown Portal.]
"Wait, what?! That fool actually went in!" Cezar shouted.
"He really tried to be a hero, huh?" Tonio muttered.
"Lowkey noble. Highkey stupid," Cezar added.
"…So we're going in too, right?" Tonio asked.
A beat passed.
"Screw it," Cezar and Tonio said in unison as they ran into the vortex.
[System Notification: Cezar and Tonio have entered the Unknown Portal.]
Scene Change: The Divine Realm
When we opened our eyes again, we were floating.
Not in water, not on land—in space.
But not like NASA space. More like... anime final boss cutscene space. Stars twinkled, galaxies turned, and we hovered as if physics took a day off.
Then, he appeared.
A cloaked figure of cosmic proportions—literally glowing and trembling—stood before us.
"Summoned Heroes…" he boomed. "I am the Ruler of the Universe. I have chosen you to save this world."
"Wait, what?" I blinked. "Who summoned who now?"
"I will grant each of you power beyond comprehension. But no questions. Just know… the foes you'll face will be... beyond even us."
The Ruler trembled. The dude literally shook like a scared cat.
"Please... save us," he whispered.
Then everything went white.
And we forgot.
Scene Change: Unknown Field
"YAWN... Huh? Where am I?!" I bolted upright like a malfunctioning toaster, whipping my head around like someone had just pressed the respawn button.
Grass. Trees. Mountains in the distance. Bright blue sky.
Not a single sign of our beloved urban jungle or the internet.
"Why the heck is it so bright? Where's the plaza? Why are birds chirping? Why do I taste grass?!"
I started spitting like a sprinkler. "Is that... is that DIRT in my mouth?! I didn't sign up for organic breakfast!"
Next to me, the boys were out cold—peaceful, blissful, unaware of the incoming chaos.
I marched over like a man on a mission.
"WAKE UP, YOU PLOT DEVICES!!" I barked as I gave Yeon a solid slap to the face. Not too hard... but satisfying.
"WHO DARES DISTURB—WAIT... WHY DO I HAVE CLAWS?!" Yeon shot up like a dramatic anime villain. "WHAT'S GOING ON?! WHERE'S MY BED?! WHO SHRUNK MY NAILS INTO WEAPONS?!"
"I think you're having a panic attack," I said.
"I AM A VAMPIRE PRINCE!" he wailed, examining his reflection in the river nearby. "My skin... flawless. My jawline... immaculate. My ears... pointy?!"
Tonio sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes like a dude who didn't sign up for an alternate universe at 8 a.m. "Why are you two yelling like we're under attack? Are we dead?"
"Bro," I said. "Look around. We're either in a Skyrim mod or a really high-quality hallucination."
"Is that a goat with two horns and wings?" Tonio asked, pointing.
We all turned.
Sure enough, there it was.
It bleated... ominously.
"...I'm not touching that," I whispered.
"Same," everyone nodded.
Cezar stretched and let out a big yawn before blinking at his palms. "Guys... guys, look. I have a HUD. A status screen. I'm not joking."
He raised his hand, and sure enough, a floating hologram popped up—gold-bordered and unnecessarily dramatic.
Cezar (Shoyo Murata)
Title: Emperor of the Beasts
Race: Humanoid Beast
Rank: S
Creator Skill: Precision & Accuracy
Legendary Skill: Beast Form (Wolf)
Unique Skill: Instant Transmission
Uncommon Skill: Flash Step
Attribute Skills: Earth, Water
We all leaned in.
"AYOOO—Cezar got some JUICE!" I howled. "You look like someone's boss battle."
"'Emperor of the Beasts'? You sound like the final evolution of a jungle Pokémon," Tonio added.
"Yeah, well, at least I didn't get the 'Self-Proclaimed' title," Cezar smirked.
"What? What do you mean by that?" Yeon frowned. "There's no way mine's that bad. I bet mine's cooler. Open sesame! Uh—no wait—STATUS OPEN!!"
A shining screen floated into view.
Yeon (Jinn Yenchun)
Title: Royalty, Self-Proclaimed Dark Lord
Race: Humanoid Vampire
Rank: S+
Creator Skill: Blood Manipulation
Legendary Skill: See Through
Unique Skill: Overdrive Mana
Uncommon Skill: Telepathy
Attribute Skills: Lightning, Ice
I stared at it. Then stared at him.
"SELF-PROCLAIMED DARK LORD?!" I wheezed. "That's STUCK on your file forever?! You didn't even earn the title—you gave it to yourself!"
Yeon stood tall, brushing imaginary dust off his cloak.
"Labels are merely perceptions of the weak. I am the Dark Lord. And soon, the world shall kneel—"
"Yeon, stop roleplaying before I throw this acorn at you," Tonio deadpanned, holding a random nut.
"Dude got a whole final boss kit and still sounds like he works at Hot Topic," Cezar said, shaking his head.
"I shall rise!" Yeon pointed to the sky. "From the ashes, from the void, from—"
"From your mom's basement?" I added.
Yeon's glare could kill insects. Maybe even birds.
Meanwhile, Tonio sat in a lotus position, eyes closed, mumbling.
"...Status... open... please open... yo, screen-san... unlock… anyone there..."
A few seconds passed.
Nothing.
"…Is it broken?" I asked.
"No status screen," Tonio said. "I think I got skipped. System discrimination. I demand a re-roll."
"You got the 'slow-release DLC' version of your power," Cezar nodded. "Comes out next patch."
"I swear," Tonio muttered, "if I end up as a merchant NPC, I'm suing the universe."
Meanwhile... In the Divine Realm
The Ruler of the Universe was watching them through a cosmic scrying orb, visibly shaking.
"They're... alive. Okay. Okay. That's good. Mostly. Mostly good."
He gulped.
A shorter god with round glasses and a clipboard raised an eyebrow. "You sure about them being the chosen ones?"
"They're the best I could find on short notice," the Ruler muttered.
A third god leaned in. "Didn't you forget to give the calm one his starter pack?"
The Ruler froze. "Wait—WHAT?! I DIDN'T—"
A fourth god slapped him on the back. "You always mess this up."
"Shut it," the Ruler snapped, dramatically flipping his cloak as if that would make him more competent.
"You said that last time," the gods groaned in unison.
"Okay but this time, for real, I got this."
"He says after sending the Blood Emo, the Wolf Chad, the Calm One With No Skills, and the Delusional Main Character Wannabe to fight a world-ending calamity."
The Ruler took a deep breath.
"…I think I made a mistake."
"YOU THINK?!"
[Divine Council has dismissed.]
End of Chapter 1