The banners snapped in the wind—deep crimson with silver glyphs etched across their surface, rippling above the courtyard of Saint Eloran Institute.
It was Coming-of-Age Day.
Students lined up in rows under the morning sky, clad in dark school uniforms adorned with their planetary crest: Earth. Dozens of drones floated silently overhead, broadcasting the ceremony live to families, districts, and official Nexus registries. Today wasn't just a milestone.
It was an entry point.
Thalos stood in the second row, trying not to fidget. His fingers twitched inside his jacket pockets. Around him, his classmates whispered, laughed nervously, or stood in practiced silence, trying to look composed. His breath came steadily, but there was a tickle of disbelief beneath it all.
Today… I log in.
In front of the students stood a row of chrome obelisks—seven of them, each pulsing softly with embedded runes. These were the Nexus Gates, the school-linked portals that allowed sanctioned candidates to enter the Creation Hall for the first time.
Principal Elaren's voice rang out across the courtyard, clear and resonant, projected by the audio interface embedded in his collar.
"Today, each of you crosses a threshold. Not just of adulthood, but of potential. Earth's future will not be written in history books alone. It will be carved in dungeons, written in system logs, and sealed in battlefields beyond the stars."
No one interrupted. No one dared.
"Multiverse Online is not just a game. It is our generation's evolution. Your name will not simply be recorded. It will be remembered—or forgotten—based on what you become."
There was a slight hum from the obelisks. The Nexus was activating.
"But before you walk through those gates, remember this: You will start from nothing. No status. No class. Only your race, your name, and your will. Who you were in this world is not who you will be in that one. And yet, who you are—at your core—will determine everything."
Silence again. Then, a single tone echoed from the main obelisk.
"Now syncing qualified participants."
Students shifted, each receiving a soft vibration through their school-issued wristbands. Thalos looked at his: the green light blinked once. Confirmed.
Eligibility Check: Valid
Birthdate: Year 2339, Day 211 — Age: 18
Status: Earth Citizen (Human-Human)
Planetary Entry: Authorized
He swallowed. A few classmates looked over, catching his glance. One gave a thumbs up. Another looked pale. A girl in the front row was already crying silently.
A chime rang again.
"Begin entry."
The line began to move.
One by one, students stepped into the light of the Nexus Gates. Their bodies dissolved into soft particles of light—absorbed and transferred to the Nexus.
When Thalos reached the front, his heart thudded a little faster.
The obelisk flared.
Identity Confirmed.
Name: Thalos
Race: Human
Planetary Tag: Earth
Access Granted.
Welcome to the Nexus.
He didn't look back.
He stepped forward.
And the world turned to light.
He felt nothing.
No pull. No lurch.
Just... a shift.
And then—he stood in a vast, circular chamber, seemingly suspended in space. The sky above was a swirling tapestry of stars, too close and too bright to be real. Below, the floor shimmered with shifting runes, each symbol reacting to his presence.
In front of him, a single phrase hovered in glowing silver letters:
Welcome, Thalos. Begin Creation.
He smiled, his nerves folding into wonder.
"Alright," he whispered. "Let's make something new."
There was no ceiling. No ground, really—only a circular platform of glowing runes floating in an endless void of stars.
The Creation Hall.
Thalos turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. The air buzzed with silent energy, like a symphony holding its breath. A translucent interface materialized before him, elegant and responsive to his thoughts.
Race: Human (Locked)*
Subrace: Choose
Name: Thalos (Confirmed)
"Race is locked, huh…" he muttered. He already knew that, of course—unless you had mixed blood, you couldn't change it. But what really mattered was the subrace.
A new panel appeared. Dozens of glowing symbols began to spin in place—each one a different bloodline, background, culture. Some were familiar from stories. Others were wholly alien.
The first stopped spinning.
Subrace: Ashborn (Human Lineage)
Descendants of those who survived in volcanic death-zones. Ashborn are known for their exceptional fire resistance, high endurance, and temperamental natures.
Thalos blinked.
"Ashborn... that's metal. Fireproof angry people with muscles and molten blood. Warrior material for sure. But man, sounds like every argument ends in a crater. I'd probably melt just trying to sleep."
He flicked to the next.
Subrace: Skyveil (Human Lineage)
Born in floating cities high above the clouds, Skyveil humans are agile and naturally attuned to wind and air magic. They boast extreme aerial control—but suffer from weak constitutions.
"Sky ninjas? Okay, that's cool. Air magic, city-hopping, windriding… but weak constitution? I sneeze too hard and I'm falling off a cloud fortress? Risky."
Swipe.
Subrace: Duskborn (Human Lineage)
Raised in the twilight realms, Duskborn excel in stealth, illusion, and shadow manipulation. Masters of evasion, but lacking in direct combat strength.
"Hmm… sneaky types. Shadow cloaks, illusion tricks. Sounds fun for an assassin build, but I'm not really the 'stab you in your sleep' kind of player."
Swipe.
Subrace: Stonekin (Human Lineage)
Grounded warriors with a natural affinity for earth and metal. Durable, slow, and nearly impossible to knock down. Preferred by tank-type classes.
"Stonekin… big, bulky, dependable. Probably punch through walls but can't outrun a turtle. Tempting, but I want to move, not become a walking boulder."
Swipe.
Subrace: Nomad-Blooded (Human Lineage)
Descendants of wandering clans who survive in extreme environments. Balanced stats, high resistance to elements, but weak in specialization.
"The jack-of-all-trades pick. Kind of safe. Survivable. Versatile. Boring? Maybe not if I had a plan, but I don't. So… next."
He kept scrolling. Half-elf hybrids. Beast-blooded travelers. Mirage-walkers from desert dreamscapes. Every one of them offered unique potential, quirks, and challenges.
Then one icon caught his eye—a black sigil framed in crimson light.
Subrace: Vampire (Human Lineage)
Elegant predators descended from ancient bloodlines. Vampires are fast, magically inclined, and thrive under moonlight. Their strength increases at night but comes at the cost of blood hunger and sunlight vulnerability.
Thalos leaned closer.
"Vampires? No way… blood magic, night power, shadow flair. And they look cool doing it. A little edgy, sure—but come on. That's awesome."
His finger hovered over the sigil, hesitation creeping in.
"Probably not the most optimal pick for a first-timer… but…"
He grinned.
"I'm not here to break the game. I'm here to enjoy the ride."
And with that, he tapped the icon.
The moment Thalos tapped the Vampire sigil, the platform beneath him shifted.
The starry void dimmed to a deep crimson, the runes on the floor pulsing in time with a slow, rhythmic thrum—like a heartbeat. Above him, the sky twisted into a tapestry of night: moons, stars, and clouds coiled in elegant, shadowy patterns.
A voice—not a machine, not quite human—spoke directly into his thoughts.
You have chosen: Vampire (Human Lineage).
Initializing Blood Echo...
A detailed panel unfolded in front of him. This was no simple tooltip.
Subrace: Vampire (Human Lineage)
Descendants of noble bloodlines that thrive in shadow and silence. Vampires are agile, magically attuned, and dangerous when fed. Strength increases in darkness but wanes in sunlight. Must regularly consume blood to prevent instability.
Base Traits:
Nocturnal Vision – See clearly in total darkness.
Blood Hunger – Must feed periodically. Lack of blood leads to berserk states.
Sunlight Sensitivity – -15% to all stats during daylight. Prolonged exposure causes HP decay.
Affinities:
Blood Magic: High potential
Dark Magic: Moderate potential
Holy/Light Magic: Vulnerable
Advantages:
+10% power boost in dark environments
Healing through blood consumption
Enhanced agility and magical control
Disadvantages:
Requires blood to remain stable
Weak against light/holy spells
Distrusted on some planets and by certain factions
A soft hum pulsed through his chest as new glyphs began spinning in the air.
Randomizing Starting Traits...
Two from Human. Two from Vampire.
The glyphs locked into place with a final pulse.
Human Lineage Traits:
Adaptive Soul – Gain +1 to all attributes per level.
Quick Learner – +10% experience gain from all sources.
Vampire Traits:
Blood Resonance – Heal when drinking blood. Temporarily boosts physical stats.
Nocturne Blade – Increased combat and perception in dark environments. Decreased effectiveness in bright or daylight settings.
Thalos let out a low whistle.
"Alright... bonus stats every level, faster EXP, I heal when I bite, and I'm scarier at night. Downside? Gotta keep a full tank and avoid high noon."
It wasn't the perfect build. He wasn't invincible. But it was balanced, and it fit the vibe he was going for—agile, magical, a little dangerous, a lot mysterious.
He reached out and confirmed his selection.
Character Creation Complete.
Welcome to Planet Duskgrave.
Alignment: Earth-Human.
Age: 12 (Game Age Sync Enabled).
Initializing Soul Anchor.
Generating Origin Lineage.
A final thought brushed across his mind as his body began to dissolve into crimson mist.
He wasn't here to be a chosen one.
He was here to explore.
To live something new.
To carve out something that was his.
And just like that, Thalos was gone—scattered into starlight and blood.