Craig was aroused by the shimmering whiteness, the space he was enveloped in was a vast, empty canvas of white.
Devoid of any features or landmarks.
"Where am I?"
His voice echoed.
Standing in the nothingness, completely naked.
He gazed into the void, his eyes drinking in the pure, unadulterated whiteness that stretched out before him.
Craig furrowed his eyebrows.
There was not a single answer to his question, dwelling in the abyss of nothingness caused him to shiver.
He tilted his gaze, his eyes searched for anything he could familiarized himself with. But there was nothing he could find.
This was a void.
"Where the hell am I?" He asked again.
And yet only his voice echoed back to him.
The emptiness of the space was almost palpable, a sense of absence that seemed to echo through every cell of his being.
Beads of sweats dripped down his cheeks.
Craig was already becoming anxious.
Overwhelmed with fear.
That was when a voice echoed back to him.
"You need not be wary any longer, Child. You're at the doorstep of reincarnation"
A calm baritone voice erupted from all direction.
His eyes stretched wide with caution and awe mixed together. His pupils dilating as he took in the breathtaking sight.
His eyes grew wide with fear, the whites showing all around the iris as he stared into the abyss.
He watched as a door materialized out of thin air, it's presence sudden and inexplicable.
The air seemed to shimmer and ripple, and then the door was opened before him.
Tap! Tap!
Craig heard the approaching footsteps, emerging from the door was a man levitating mid air, grey haired and black eyed.
His face was a map of wrinkles and lines, etched by the passage of time and the weight of experience.
Clad in a jet-black suit, his hands covered in white silk gloves.
His face beamed with smiles as he greeted Craig.
"Who…who are you?" Craig stammered.
He summoned the courage to ask this question, his hands quivered.
"I'm nothing but an humble servant of Fate and you Mr. Craig has been chosen to be Fate's Champion"
"Or should I call you Demon Lord Zephyr?"
His baritone voice echoed was again.
Craig's eyes widened, bewildered by the calm yet terrifying voice of this uncertain entity. From his humaniod form.
One would believe this man is human but Craig knew for a fact. This being could be considered a god.
His presence exerts godly authority.
"De…Demon Lord Zephyr?" Craig asked.
"It's you ofcourse, Mr. Craig Humphrey. I'm sure the Adminstrators of the game must have briefed you of your duties right?"
"The death of the Demon Lord Zephyr and the fall of his land tampered with the fixed point of the game in it's entirety"
"And the imbalance has caused fate itself to get involve"
"I'm a servant of Fate"
"You can call me 'Syzhhkkebghh'"
Craig's eyes twitched, it was like thousands of voices whispering into his ears simultaneously. All he could see was the moving lips of this figure.
His name still unknown.
Craig exhaled a sigh.
He controlled the tension, calming his nerves down.
"I didn't hear what you said before" Craig said but instead, the middle aged man giggled softly.
"I'm sorry but once spoken. My name cannot be repeated"
"I'm here as Fate's courier but beyond this door is the world you will be reincarnated into"
"Have you gotten used to your system guide?" The figure asked.
Craig's brows curled up.
"My system guide? What are you talking about?" Craig asked.
[Notice…..]
[Pandora system has been activated]
A soft melodic voice spoke in a calm, measured tone. Her voice was like a soothing melody, with a pitch that was both calming and authoritative.
Just then a glowing virtual panel appeared right before his eyes. Craig staggered back in shock, stunned to see the floating panel.
"What's this?" He questioned, still startled.
The middle aged figure giggled.
"Be calm Mr. Craig, that's Pandora…..and it's a guide on your adventures in the
"A gift to the one chosen by Fate itself"
His words were calm yet confusing.
"Chosen by Fate? You speak in riddles? Can you elucidate?" Craig asked.
"I'm sure the Adminstrators who approved of your reincarnation must have given you a vague description regarding your role"
"As of this moment. Your identity as Craig Humphrey no longer exist"
"You are the Demon Lord Zephyr"
"The death of the Demon Lord Zephyr created instability in the game. One which disrupts the flow of balance"
"The game was created by Hades as an instrument of balance. A world we're all outer gods and monarchs dumps their treasures in"
"The instability has incurred several invasions from outer worlds and dimensions. It needs correction"
"And you are the one who will make those corrections"
The middle aged man explained.
"Me? Make corrections? How is that possible? I literally lived a trash life before my death. I want to live a simple normal life"
"I ain't a hero"
Craig spoke out.
His words caused the middle aged man to smile.
"And that's why we have chosen you, we don't need you to play the hero. Mr. Craig"
"We just need you to play the villain when the time is right"
"For now. Abide by the rules of Fate"
The middle aged figure stated, and before Craig could utter a single word. The angles and shapes of the space began to blur and distort.
Like a geometric puzzle falling apart, Craig lost his balance.
He noticed the crooked smile written on the lips of the middle aged man.
"It seems Fate has made its decision. We'll meet again Mr. Craig, when fate has made its decision permanent"
"I'll come to you…."
His whispers caused the ears of Craig to bleed, Craig was instantly sucked into a vortex created in the door.
****
Cough! Cough!
Craig's throat dried up, slowly widening his half-lidded gaze. His vision blurred and his eyes twitched.
He coughed softly, as just as his vision cleared, he was met with a scene of utter devastation, the world around him reduced to rubble and ruin.
Revealing the destruction which swarmed the streets, bodies drenched in pool of bloods. Screams echoed from every direction.
His eyebrows furrowed.
"What's going on here?" He questioned.
His attention drifted towards the screams of children which drew closer, stunned to see children dressed in tattered rags running towards his direction.
Their eyes etched with fear.
Emerging from the shadows were armored soldiers, all armed with blades. Their full gaze fixed on the children.
"Don't let those children escape, kill them!!"
One of the soldiers roared out fervently.
Swinging his blade on the air.
Craig stood, bewildered by the situation, but for some reasons his heart stayed cold. Unbothered by the cries of the children.
There was no emotions in his heart. He had no idea what to do.
Just then the virtual panel appeared before his eyes.
[Mission Alert]
[You are a Demon Lord who has lost his home. A Ruler with no nation]
[Fate has gifted you this land, your people are suffering. Save them]
[Kill the Invaders]
[Mission Level: C+]
[Mission Reward: ???]
[You have twenty-four hours to complete the mission]
[Penalty: Schizophrenia!]