Somewhere on a world called Earth, in a modest school tucked between the city's high-rises, a classroom buzzed with the low murmur of students and the monotone drone of a teacher lecturing about ancient civilizations. But amidst the sea of bored faces, one student stood out—or rather, sat, completely lost in his own world.
Wes Walker, with his raven-black hair falling slightly over his sharp brown eyes, hunched over his desk, intensely focused. Not on the history lesson. No—on the glowing screen of his handheld gaming console. His thumbs moved at lightning speed, blasting through virtual enemies in a fast-paced shooting game.
Tap tap tap — BEEP! PEW PEW!
"Boom! Take that, monster boss!" Wes whispered, leaning into his screen, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Alright, reload... flank left, throw grenade... YES! Triple kill!"
"And that's why the Sumerians were considered one of the first civilizations to develop writing..." the teacher's voice dragged on.
"No! Not the minigun guy again! Where's my health pack? C'mon, c'mon... yes! YES! Eat missiles, sucker!"
The teacher paused mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes. "Wes Walker! Are you seriously playing video games in my class again?!"
The room fell silent. Every head turned toward Wes, who didn't even flinch.
"Just five more minutes! I'm at the boss fight! This is the final phase!" Wes replied, eyes glued to the screen.
"Are you kidding me?! Put that game down and pay attention, or you'll fail this class!"
Laughter rippled through the classroom.
"Seriously, does he ever stop?"
"That guy lives in a game world."
"He's funny, but also kind of a pain."
"Wes is cool, but like... dude, read the room."
"He's gonna get us all extra homework at this rate."
Two rows back, Scarlett Hayes, Wes's childhood best friend, rolled her emerald eyes in exasperation. Her long crimson-red hair, tied in a high ponytail with a black ribbon, swayed as she shook her head.
"Idiot," she muttered.
Just as the teacher was about to explode again, the bell rang.
"Alright, students. That's enough for today. Time to go home. See you tomorrow," the teacher sighed, already regretting tomorrow.
Chairs scraped back as the students stood, chatting about plans for the afternoon.
"Gonna hit the arcade."
"I need to catch up on anime."
"Homework? Nah."
Wes, still sitting, laughed loudly. "Yes! Beat the final boss! I'm a legend! They'll write songs about me!"
Suddenly—
"YOU IDIOT!!!"
A blinding pain shot through the top of Wes's head. "OUCH! What the hell?!"
He looked behind him to see Scarlett, eyes blazing.
"Idiot," she snapped again, smacking him once more.
"OW! Again?! What was that for?!"
"For being a complete idiot! Stop playing games and start paying attention in class!"
Wes clutched his head dramatically. "Games are important! Education? Meh. I just saved a digital world! That has to count for something."
Scarlett's aura visibly flared, her knuckles cracking. Wes froze, sweating.
"U-uh...Scarlett, you're beautiful! Please don't hurt me!"
Scarlett blushed furiously. "Don't EMBARRASS me, you IDIOT!!!"
THWACK!
Wes hit the ground. "IT HURTS! You monster!"
Scarlett's eyes narrowed. "What. Did. You. Call. Me?"
"N-nothing! You're a beautiful queen! Gorgeous! Radiant!"
She sighed. "That's what I thought, idiot."
Wes stood up, rubbing his head. "Your strength's gotten scarier..."
"Let's go home, idiot."
"Alright."
They walked out of school into the warm afternoon light. Wes stretched, breathing in the fresh city air.
"So, what are you going to do when you get home?" Scarlett asked.
"Finish the next game I downloaded last night. Then maybe... eat snacks. Play online. Fight some dragons. Typical hero stuff."
"You mean ignore your homework and hide in your room until your mom screams at you," Scarlett deadpanned.
"Exactly! You've known me forever, haven't you, Red Blaze?"
She stopped, visibly annoyed. "Don't call me that."
Wes smirked. "You love it. I can tell."
She didn't respond. But secretly, she didn't mind the nickname. Not that she'd ever admit it.
"So what about you? What's Miss Perfect doing after school? Gonna go beat someone in a fencing match or write love poetry about how awesome you are?"
"I'm going home to review physics and then clean my room. Like a responsible human."
"Nerd."
"Idiot."
As they continued down the street, laughing and teasing, they stepped onto a crosswalk—completely unaware of the speeding truck barreling down the road.
The truck's horn blared.
Too late.
Wes's thoughts raced. If I had one wish... maybe a new world... with Scarlett...
Darkness swallowed them both.
Wes stirred.
He opened his eyes to a vast starlit sky. The stars shimmered like diamonds scattered across velvet.
"...Scarlett?" he croaked.
Beside him, she stirred, groaning. "Where... are we? What happened?"
"I don't know. I think... I think we got hit."
"Obviously! I meant where are we now?! This... isn't Earth."
They both sat up, stunned by their surroundings. Strange glowing trees surrounded them, with colors that shifted gently like liquid rainbows. The sky was vast, alien, and impossibly beautiful.
"This place... is insane," Wes whispered. "It looks like... a fantasy world."
"Are we dead?" Scarlett asked.
"If this is heaven, it's not bad. But I doubt they let idiots in."
"So you're saying you're not here."
"Harsh. But fair."
Scarlett touched her face. "I feel real. My body's not injured... it's like we got teleported."
"I didn't know trucks could do that. Maybe it was a magical truck."
"Idiot."
They stood up slowly, brushing off the strange silver dust on their uniforms.
"Look at this grass... it sparkles. Everything here is glowing."
"This is like every RPG ever. I swear, if a slime monster jumps out of that bush, I'm ready."
"Are you ever serious?"
"I'm always serious... when it comes to loot."
A gentle voice echoed from nearby. "You two have awakened."
They turned sharply.
On a distant throne, under an arching tree of silver leaves, sat a radiant woman with eyes like galaxies.
She smiled. "Welcome to Aetherion."
Wes blinked. "Who... are you?"
Scarlett stepped in front of him protectively. "Where are we? Why did you bring us here?"
"So many questions," the woman said. "All in good time. For now... know this: your journey begins here."
Wes looked at Scarlett. She looked back at him. Neither spoke—but both understood.
Nothing would be the same again.
Chapter 2: The Light Beyond the End
Wes and Scarlett stood frozen, still trying to process everything—the otherworldly landscape, the celestial sky, the fact they had been hit by a truck and yet were somehow alive. But even that paled in comparison to the presence before them.
A breathtakingly radiant woman stood just a few steps away. Her beauty was ethereal—long, flowing silver-white hair shimmered like moonlight, cascading past her waist. Her eyes, glowing with hues of gold and violet, sparkled like galaxies in the night sky. She wore a white and gold gown that floated like silk spun from stars, glowing faintly as if it were woven from celestial light. A shifting halo of light hovered gently behind her head, moving with a hypnotic grace.
She giggled softly, her voice like a melody in the wind. "Me? I am Lady Seraphina Lumeria—the Goddess of Light and Rebirth."
The moment the word goddess registered, both Wes and Scarlett felt their brains fry.
"G-Goddess?!" Wes shouted, his voice breaking.
"There's no way—did she just say she's a goddess?" Scarlett muttered.
They turned and looked at each other, faces pale.
"We're really talking to a goddess," Wes whispered.
"Does that mean... we really did die?" Scarlett said, brows furrowed.
Wes clutched his head. "This really is like anime! We're in an isekai! This is the best and worst day of my life!"
Scarlett stammered, her face twisted in confusion. "Why are we even here? What's going on?!"
Wes turned to Seraphina. "Y-Yeah! Did we do something wrong, goddess? Was it because Scarlett's a violent monster in class?!"
Scarlett's eye twitched. "Shut the hell up!"
THWACK!
Wes hit the ground, flailing dramatically. "Owww! My head! How do I deserve this?! I've been nothing but a humble gamer and respectful class clown! This fist is made of iron and rage!"
"Stop embarrassing me and stop acting like an idiot in front of the actual goddess, you moron!" Scarlett shouted, face red.
They immediately launched into one of their signature arguments.
"You didn't have to hit me that hard! That was like, brain-cell-shattering level!"
"You earned every bit of it the moment you opened your mouth!"
"Saying the truth is a crime now? I was just pointing out that you've got a temper like a volcano with mood swings!"
"You call that truth?! You're lucky I didn't suplex you into another world again!"
"We're already in another world! Your punches must come with interdimensional travel packages!"
"Better than your logic! I'm surprised your brain hasn't short-circuited from all the anime references you keep spewing!"
"That's cultural appreciation, thank you very much!"
"It's cultural insanity! You act like you're the protagonist of some dumb show!"
"And you act like the tsundere love interest who's always one punch away from jail time!"
"I swear, if you don't shut up—"
"Make me, Red Blaze!"
Scarlett suddenly caught Wes in a headlock.
"Okay okay I'm sorry! I was wrong! Let me breathe!" Wes gasped, flailing.
She let go with a huff. "Idiot."
Wes rubbed his neck. "Where were we again...?"
A gentle cough brought their attention back to the radiant figure before them.
"Are you two finished?" Seraphina asked with a bemused smile.
"Oh right... the goddess thing," Wes said, suddenly pale again.
Both he and Scarlett dropped to their knees instinctively.
"W-We're sorry! We didn't mean to disrespect you!" Wes said quickly.
"Please don't smite us!" Scarlett added, trying not to tremble.
Seraphina chuckled. "I won't hurt you. I brought you here myself."
"Brought us...?" Scarlett asked, confused. "Why?"
"Yeah, why us? We're not... anything special," Wes said, still kneeling.
Seraphina's eyes softened. "Because I am giving you both a second chance at life. And more than that... I saw something in the both of you—potential."
Wes's jaw dropped. "Second chance... in a new world? This is totally an isekai! This is the real deal!"
Scarlett frowned slightly, more thoughtful. "What kind of world are you sending us to? And... what power do you see in us?"
Seraphina nodded. "The world is called Aetherion. A realm of magic, swords, and monsters. Kingdoms rise and fall, heroes are born, and destinies are written in flame and starlight."
Wes's eyes sparkled. "Magic swords?! This is a dream come true!"
"But the power you hold..." Seraphina continued, "even I cannot fully see it. It's hidden—unique. But it burns with great promise."
Wes raised a hand. "So uh... how do we get these mysterious powers?"
Seraphina smiled and gently snapped her fingers.
FWOOOM!
A massive violet screen appeared before them, hovering in the air like a digital interface. Glowing with names, skills, abilities, and mysterious symbols, it was like a video game menu come to life.
"Whoa..." Wes breathed, stepping closer. "It's like... a real RPG interface! There's so many classes—Knight, Mage, Trickster... Battle Chef?!"
Scarlett narrowed her eyes. "This is real? We can pick one of these?"
"Indeed," Seraphina said warmly. "Your journey begins with choice."
"Woah... what is this?" Wes stepped closer to the massive violet screen. His eyes scanned the glowing interface, wide with wonder. The letters shimmered in the air, each word alive with a magical pulse.
Lady Seraphina Lumeria smiled, her celestial gown catching starlight as she spoke with grace. "These are classes you may choose from—paths you will embody in this world. Each one comes with its own strengths, weaknesses, and hidden truths."
Scarlett tilted her head, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly. "So it's like a video game menu... but real?"
"Exactly!" Wes grinned. "This is literally an RPG in real life. This is my calling!"
They both began reading the list aloud, eyes jumping from class to class.
"Knight... Mage... Beast Tamer... Shadow Dancer... Elementalist..."
"Paladin... Arcane Seer... Rogue Duelist... Spirit Caller..."
"Gun Monk... Void Blade... Battle Chef—okay, that one's amazing," Wes laughed.
Scarlett's eyes suddenly locked on a glowing name.
"Swordswoman," she said softly. The letters shimmered gold around her.
Wes looked over. "You found one already?"
"It feels... right," she said with surprising conviction. "Precision. Control. Strength with elegance. A blade is straightforward—just like me. It's all about discipline, skill, and clarity."
Wes blinked. "Wow. You already sound like a pro."
"It suits me. I don't need flashy powers or fancy magic. Just give me a sword and let me handle the rest," Scarlett replied, her voice calm but firm.
"Remind me never to spar with you," Wes said, raising a brow.
"I already hit harder than most weapons," she said, smirking.
Wes turned back to the screen, his tone suddenly quieter. "Okay... let's see what suits me."
He scrolled through the options, whispering to himself.
"Too tanky... not stealthy enough... too holy... hmm, interesting but nah..."
He kept browsing until something stopped him. A faint glow. A name.
Magic Gunslinger
Wes's eyes lit up. His grin returned.
Scarlett noticed immediately. "What is it? I know that look. What did you find?"
Wes pointed with a confident nod. "Something that matches me perfectly."
"Well, don't keep me in suspense."
He smirked. "Magic Gunslinger."
Scarlett blinked. "You're serious? Guns and magic?"
"Absolutely. It's stylish, fast, long-range, and unpredictable. It's got strategy and flair. Fits my vibe, don't you think?"
Scarlett crossed her arms. "Honestly... yeah. It fits your chaotic charm."
Seraphina watched them both with a knowing smile, but behind her galactic eyes lingered something unreadable.
Is this the moment he chooses his perfect path... or the beginning of a destiny that could destroy him—and everything around him?
Wes took a deep breath and raised his hand toward the shimmering violet screen.
"Alright... let's do this," he said, and his finger tapped the glowing name: Magic Gunslinger.
The moment he touched it, the screen pulsed with radiant light, wrapping around his body in a gentle swirl. Symbols danced through the air, and energy flowed into him, illuminating his figure.
"Whoa...!" Wes gasped. He felt lighter and stronger at the same time—as if fire and wind now moved with his every heartbeat.
"Magic Gunslinger," he whispered with a grin. "This is perfect. Precision, range, power... and style. This class was made for me."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Figures you'd pick the class that looks like your favorite video game character. All flash and explosions."
Wes grinned back. "Can you blame me? It fits me like a glove."
Lady Seraphina giggled softly, her voice echoing like chimes in a breeze.
Wes turned. "What's so funny, Goddess?"
"Oh, nothing... I simply knew you would both choose those exact classes," she said, her golden-violet eyes shimmering with knowing light.
Scarlett blinked. "Wait, what? You knew we'd choose these?"
"But how? We didn't even know these existed until now," Wes added, confused.
Seraphina smiled mysteriously. "Because I saw it—your potential. I did not assign these classes... but your souls already walked these paths before you ever arrived."
Wes and Scarlett looked at each other, speechless.
"That's... weirdly deep," Wes muttered.
"Also kinda creepy," Scarlett added.
"And now," Seraphina said, stepping forward, "I have gifts for the both of you."
"G-Gifts?" Wes stuttered.
Scarlett's eyes widened. "What kind of gifts?"
"Something to match the choices you've made."
Seraphina gently clicked her fingers.
FWOOOOOSH!
Two radiant lights appeared before them, swirling with divine energy. From one of them, a sleek, double-edged longsword emerged.
Its blade shimmered with a crimson-tinted silver glow. The guard took the shape of twin wings—one feathered, one ablaze with flame. Engravings of Seraphina's sigil adorned its sides, and the grip was bound with red dragon-hide leather.
Scarlett's eyes lit up. "This... is beautiful. No, beyond that. It's... perfect."
"It is forged from Embersteel," Seraphina said. "A mythical ore that can only be shaped in the presence of a warrior's unspoken resolve."
Wes leaned in. "Whoa... so like, it only forms for people who carry that deep, silent strength inside them?"
Scarlett ran her hand along the hilt, in awe. "This sword... feels like it waited for me."
Seraphina nodded. "It did."
She turned to Wes. "And now, for the Magic Gunslinger."
From the second light emerged a sleek revolver—silver-and-midnight black, elegant and deadly.
Its six-shot frame glowed faintly, etched in ancient celestial runes. The barrel, slightly longer than average, was marked with arcane symbols resembling dragon wings and elemental sigils. The grip was obsidian wrapped in fire-dyed leather, warm to the touch. At its center, a muted blue gem pulsed with quiet power.
"This," Seraphina said, her tone now reverent, "is Reveria. The first and only of her kind—crafted not by hands, but by divinity and desire. She is your partner, your weapon, your will made manifest. Speak to her. Respect her. And she will answer with power the world has never seen."
Wes and Scarlett both stared, jaws dropped.
"D-Did she say... the gun has a name?" Wes asked.
"Reveria," Scarlett echoed. "That sounds more like a person than a weapon."
Seraphina's eyes darkened with ancient memory.
"There is one thing you must know about her," she said.
Wes tilted his head. "Yeah? What's that?"
Seraphina's smile widened—but there was something haunting behind it.
Scarlett and Wes both tensed.
"That weapon you see floating in front of you… is not just a tool, Wes Walker. Her name is Reveria, and once—she was a goddess."
Everything went silent.
"...WHAT?!" Wes and Scarlett screamed in unison.
"You're telling me my gun is a sealed goddess?!" Wes shouted, pale.
"Long before this world had kings or heroes," Seraphina began, "there existed a goddess of judgment and balance. Reveria, Lady of the Final Word. She was neither cruel nor kind—but exact. Every war, every hero, every beast that crossed the line of chaos... she ended them. One pull of her divine trigger, and balance was restored."
Wes swallowed. This gun... used to be a goddess?
"But the other gods feared her," Seraphina continued. "Her power was too absolute. Too final. No redemption. No mercy. Only truth. So they sealed her—not in chains, but in form. Her divinity compressed, bound, and forged into what you now hold."
Scarlett shook her head. "They sealed away a goddess... inside a weapon. That's insane."
"It is divine punishment and divine preservation," Seraphina said. "She has watched countless worlds rise and fall, her soul dormant within. And now, she awakens—not because you chose her... but because she chose you."
Wes stared at the revolver, trembling slightly. "So... if I mess up—"
"She will fire without you," Seraphina finished. "Because she is judgment itself."
Wes breathed out. "Cool... terrifying... but cool."
"She will allow you to forge elemental bullets as well," Seraphina added. "A power unique to your bond."
Wes's face lit up. "You're kidding. Elemental magic gunslinger?! Yes! This is so my thing!"
Scarlett smiled faintly. "Sounds explosive. Fits you."
Suddenly, both the sword and the revolver shimmered and dissolved into radiant light. The lights swirled and then shot into Wes and Scarlett's chests.
"Ah!" Wes yelped.
"What the—?!" Scarlett gasped.
"Your weapons are bonded to your hearts now," Seraphina said gently. "They will answer your will."
"Sweet," Wes said, grinning.
Scarlett folded her arms. "Okay... now what?"
Seraphina smiled. "Now, you go to the new world. Live your second life."
Wes and Scarlett nodded slowly.
"Okay," they both said.
"Are you ready?" Seraphina asked, her voice soft and warm.
Scarlett glanced at Wes. "You ready for this?"
Wes breathed in deeply, looking up at the starlit sky. "Yeah... I'm ready. To become the Magic Gunslinger."
"Then go," Seraphina whispered. "I hope to see you again... someday."
"Goodbye, Goddess," they both said, bowing.
Seraphina's smile lingered. "Good luck, my Wes and Scarlett."
She snapped her fingers.
FLASH!
In an instant, Wes and Scarlett vanished.
Moments later, they reappeared—standing in the middle of a beautiful forest. Tall trees shimmered with strange fruits and glowing leaves. Crystalline streams ran through emerald grass. The sky was warm and pink, casting everything in a dreamlike glow.
"...Whoa," Wes said.
"It's... gorgeous," Scarlett whispered.
She turned to him with a soft smirk. "Ready?"
Wes grinned, the wind ruffling his hair. "I'm ready to start my new life... as a Magic Gunslinger."
To be continued...