The resonant pronouncement from the unseen speaker still echoed in the stunned silence of the forest clearing. Ray blinked, his mind struggling to reconcile the impossible reality with the familiar glow of his monitor from mere moments ago. Around him, the forest stretched in all directions, silent save for the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of unseen birds. There were no other bewildered faces nearby, no immediate signs of the millions who had supposedly been transported alongside him.
His gaze fell upon a young woman who was just regaining her footing a few meters away. Her long black hair was neatly tied back in a ponytail, and her expression was a mixture of wide-eyed disorientation and a subtle alertness. She was of average height, with a delicate yet balanced figure. As her eyes met Ray's, a flicker of shyness crossed her face, but there was also a hint of keen observation in her gaze. This was Clara. It seemed, for now at least, they were alone together in this strange new place.
The booming voice replayed in his mind:
"Hark, beings of a thousand worlds! You have been chosen. The threads of fate have woven your destinies into a grand tapestry of conquest and dominion!
Know this: You stand upon the threshold of a new era. This realm, vast and ripe for the taking, shall be your proving ground.
Half of you shall rise as LORDS! Bearers of unique power, destined to carve kingdoms from the raw fabric of this land! Your path shall be one of leadership, of strategy, and of unwavering ambition!
The other half shall serve as HELPERS! Your strength lies in your skills, your loyalty, and your dedication to the lords you choose to follow. Together, you shall build and conquer!
Ten among you, the most formidable, the most cunning, the most deserving, shall ascend to heights beyond your wildest imaginings! Unravel the mysteries of this world, prove your worth through might and wisdom, and claim your place as the successors to a power beyond your comprehension!
Embrace this challenge! Seize your destiny! Let the age of kingdoms begin!"
As the final word faded, a shimmering, translucent barrier flickered into existence around their immediate vicinity, extending outwards in a perfect square as far as the eye could see through the trees. It pulsed with a soft, ethereal light, a silent confirmation of the promised protection. A collective gasp – though only Ray and Clara were present to voice it – rippled through their small clearing. A fragile bubble of safety in an unknown world, seemingly isolating them from the wider chaos.
Ray watched the shimmering wall materialize, his A-Tier Strategic Echo already sifting through the implications of the announcement. Lords and Helpers. A competition for succession, and it seemed they were starting in their own isolated domains. He looked at the young woman, Clara, who was now observing the shimmering barrier with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Their shared isolation suddenly felt significant.
He took a step towards her, a silent acknowledgment of their shared, impossible predicament. "Did... did you hear all of that?" Ray asked, his voice still sounding strange to his own ears in the unfamiliar air. The weight of the word "Lord" and "Helper" hung unspoken between them.