[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
New raid instance initiated
It was after the fifth system message that I started to realize maybe I wasn't dreaming. I tried to sleep — that didn't work. After the second message, I'd tried to wake myself up. I splashed cold water on my face, slapped and pinched myself. Nothing worked.
That's when it started to set in. I sat down on the luxurious satin sheets, grasping at them as panic took hold. My breath came in short bursts I couldn't control. I staggered into the washroom. No windows — just torchlight evenly spaced along the walls. The red glow from the flames caught my reflection in the mirror.
This face wasn't mine. These hands weren't mine. I was too tall, too broad. The panic rose like a tide. I wasn't Jayce Connor anymore — at least, not in my body. I was trapped inside the body of the last raid boss, Lord Vaelric. Which could only mean… I was really in Crownfall Online.
I slammed my palm onto the stone sink I'd been leaning on. My newfound strength shattered it instantly.
The chamber door squeaked open.
"Lord? Are you okay?"
I didn't even know the maid's name. Didn't care to ask when I first met her — I thought this was all a dream.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied.
She lingered in the doorway for a moment longer.
"Do you need anything from me, Lord?" she asked softly.
"Just tell me your name."
"It's Maelis, my Lord."
"Maelis… where are we?" I asked, moving slowly back toward the bed.
She looked puzzled. "We're in Crownfall Keep, my Lord."
Of course. I felt like an idiot. I'd wiped on this boss fifty times. How did I not put it together?
My questions only seemed to confuse Maelis more.
"Do I always go out and fight groups of adventurers?" I asked.
"Well, of course, Lord. You always say it's the only time you get to have fun." She gave a small, confused smile. "Is everything okay, my Lord? You seem… off."
I kept my gaze on the floor. Eye contact felt wrong. Vaelric's programming probably ensured he enjoyed killing, but… what now? If I kept holding off the raid, what would happen?
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
New raid instance initiated
I was still confused, but curiosity was winning.
"Teleport me to the raid instance, System," I said aloud.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Teleporting
A sudden rush — like the wind picked me up — and the room vanished. I was now on Vaelric's throne, staring at a new group of adventurers brimming with determination.
Until… they weren't.
I was shirtless. In just my underwear.
I scratched the back of my head and started awkwardly yelling at the system.
"TELEPORT ME BACK, SYSTEM!"
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
The instance has started. Cannot teleport out of the instance
Shit. The adventurers' determined stares shifted to pure confusion. I grinned and whispered, embarrassed,
"System… can you at least teleport me my clothing?"
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Chaos Armor equipped
Chaos Broadsword equipped
Crown of Ash equipped
Armor, sword, and crown materialized instantly. The armor's weight settled on my shoulders, but the crown felt heavier than all of it combined.
At least the system was proving useful — if still obnoxious.
The adventurers kept exchanging glances. I couldn't blame them. The final boss of their grand journey had appeared half-naked, then magically armored up in front of them. Oh well. They were just NPCs, right?
I cleared my throat. "ADVENTURERS! READY TO DIE?"
It sounded way cooler in my head. I'll have to work on my one-liners.
I stepped down from the throne as a new system prompt flashed in my vision:
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Die on the steps?
Or
Kill your enemies?
Obvious choice, right?
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
New Objective:
Kill 0/20 armed adventurers
Kill 0/15 ranged weapon & magic adventurers
Kill 0/5 healer adventurers
Reward: Become a player
Become a player? Interesting. I was in Crownfall Online, but not as a player… yet.
Well, if this was the way to get answers, so be it.
I drew Vaelric's massive blade. A red aura pulsed around it. For these NPCs, this was supposed to be a fair fight. What they didn't realize was that Vaelric was now being piloted by someone with thousands of hours in MMOs.
They moved just like any meta raid party. The melee DPS rushed first, buffed by Barbarian's Rage. Four druids and one priest for healing — rookie mistake. Priests were terrible healers.
I swung with all my strength, cutting down most of the melee DPS instantly. Chaos circles flared beneath the ranged fighters and healers, scattering them and leaving the healers wide open. I cut them down in seconds.
The mission counter ticked upward in my peripheral vision:
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Kill 18/20 armed adventurers
Kill 5/15 ranged
Kill 5/5 healers
Twelve to go.
I used Act of the Damned, raising the dead around me. Bones cracked back into place as corpses lurched to their feet, eyes black as ash. I pointed my sword at the ranged fighters — they obeyed, turning on their own teammates.
The last melee fighters fell quickly.
Everyone was dead… almost. The counter still read:
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Kill 20/20 armed
Kill 14/15 ranged
Kill 5/5 healers
One remained — an elvish mage crawling toward the locked throne room doors.
She looked back, terror in her eyes.
"They're just NPCs," I reminded myself. "None of this matters."
"Please… don't kill me. I just want to go ho—"
"No!" I shouted, but one of my undead plunged a sword into her before I could stop it. Her body hit the floor — and my undead collapsed into lifeless heaps.
I dropped to my knees.
I was an NPC. How could I be so cruel… NPC or not? A tear slid down my face. This didn't feel like a game anymore. This was real.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Congratulations!
You have slain all your enemies.
Accept reward (Become a player) now?
Yes or No?
I didn't want to look at it. I slammed my fist into the ground.
"System… teleport me to my chambers. I'll answer later."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Must finish the following task
Accept mission reward?
Yes or No?
No escape.
"Well… being a player has to be better than this, right?"
"Yes. Become a player," I said.
Instantly, I was transported back to my chambers.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Welcome to Crownfall Online, Vaelric Ashthorne!
You are now a player!
*Strength significantly decreased
*Agility significantly decreased
*Dexterity significantly decreased
*Defense significantly decreased
Vaelric Ashthorne is now unbound from Crownfall Keep.
Vaelric Ashthorne is now a player. You will start from level 5.
New quest line unlocked.
Would you like to go over your new Heads-Up Display (HUD)?
Suddenly, the armor and sword I wore felt impossibly heavy. I stripped them off in a hurry, letting them crash to the floor. Dust swirled in the air where they struck.
I'm actually playing the game now? It seemed I had no choice but to stick it out in this body. At least I looked tough.
"System, let's go over the HUD. Also… is there any way I can call you something other than 'System'?"
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Of course. I am here to serve you on your quest. What would you like to name me?
"Let's go with Lyra," I said.
The system's voice shifted. Now, as Lyra, it no longer sounded mechanical — it was warmer, almost human. Just giving her a name had somehow given her life.
[Lyra]: Perfect. Now, let's go over your HUD, Vaelric.
The HUD was similar to the one in Crownfall Online, except now it was built directly into my vision. I could see status bars like experience points, health, and even my reputation with specific people.
[Lyra]: You can now access your Menu. When you want to open it, just think about it and it will appear. No need to speak out loud to me anymore.
"Thanks, Lyra," I said.
Menu, I thought.
A panel unfolded in my vision. Tabs for Storage and Skill Tree glowed faintly. I could spend hours here exploring skill routes, but reality set in — I didn't have the hulking strength to keep me alive anymore. And I was still trapped in Vaelric's body.
"Lyra," I asked, "why am I in Lord Vaelric's body?"
[Lyra]: I do not have that answer, Vaelric.
Great. So even Lyra was in the dark.
"What's the first quest?" I asked.
[Lyra]: It's quite simple, actually.
[QUEST]
Kill 5 wild boar
Reward
150 EXP — 2 Silver
Well… it is an MMO after all, I thought.