Friday, January 9th – 4:30 PM
The school bell rang, signaling the end of classes.
Teacher: "Have a good weekend, everyone."
Students: "Thank you, sir! You too!"
The students poured out of the classroom in a cheerful uproar—except for four, whom the teacher stopped before they could leave.
Teacher: "Max, Matheo, Rehann, Anthony. Stay for a moment. I need to speak with you."
The four exchanged a puzzled glance. What could this teacher possibly want from them?
The teacher rummaged through his bag and pulled out an old, weathered scroll, yellowed by time.
Teacher: "Before I hand this to you, I must confess something. I am not truly a teacher. I come from another world. I was sent here to find people worthy of trust, people capable of helping us. You are those people. As the astrologer of the world of Ascend, I, Audrey the Second, beg you to accept my request…"
He knelt on one knee and held the scroll out to them.
The boys burst out laughing.
Max: "Wow, sir, that's embarrassing… seriously, stop playing around."
Rehann: "This guy's like forty, married, with kids—and he's doing this crap?"
Anthony: "This is nonsense."
Matheo (dying of laughter): "AHAHAHAHA!"
Audrey (serious): "We don't have time for jokes. The situation is dire. You must accept this mission. Take the scroll."
Rehann (mocking): "Alright, fine, we'll play your little game."
He snatched the scroll, still chuckling.
Anthony: "And then what, huh? What are we supposed to do with this?"
Audrey: "Tonight, at nightfall, unroll it. You will be sent. But be warned: no one else must be nearby."
Max: "Okay, that was funny, but I need to go. Don't wanna miss my bus."
Audrey: "Very well. We will be waiting… Hurry, noble heroes."
The four left the classroom, shrugging it off.
Nightfall – 10:30 PM
Group chat
Matheo: "Who's down to come over and play PlayStation?"
Rehann: "Maybe me."
Anthony: "Nah, too lazy."
Max: "Same, too lazy."
Matheo: "You guys are always lazy, damn…"
Max: "Anyway, what the hell was up with Mr. Audrey today? Lol."
Anthony: "He was acting way too weird, I swear."
Rehann: "That's what a midlife crisis looks like, huh?"
Matheo: "We're laughing now, but imagine if he wasn't joking."
Rehann: "Shut up, Matheo."
Matheo: "Alright, alright… but if we end up getting sent to his world, don't say I didn't warn you."
Max: "You know what, just unroll the scroll. Let's see what's written on it."
Anthony: "Bet it's something super cringe."
Rehann unrolled the scroll.
Rehann: "I don't know what this says… but it looks badass."
Suddenly, their houses shook violently. Bookshelves crashed, objects rolled across the floor. A blinding, searing light filled their rooms.
Matheo (screaming): "RAAAAAH!!!"
Max: "AAAHHH!!! HELP ME!!!"
Anthony: "DAMN IT!!! AAAAAHHH!!!"
Rehann: "RAAAAAAAAH!!!"
The tremors grew stronger. The light more unbearable.
Their parents, panicked, tried to force open the doors.
Max's parents (banging): "MAX! OPEN UP!"
Anthony's parents (terrified): "ANTHONY! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!"
Rehann's parents (struggling): "HOLD ON!"
Matheo's parents (using a crowbar): "MATHEO! OPEN THE DOOR!!!"
Then… silence.
The screams stopped. The light vanished.
When the doors finally burst open, chaos awaited them.
The four boys were gone.
Only their parents remained, shocked, powerless… doomed to call the police.
The boys opened their eyes.
Before them stretched a strange world—black and blue, woven with glowing lines and shifting symbols, like a living stream of code.
Still shaken by the pain, they gasped in ragged breaths, unable to calm down.
Max: "What the hell is this?!"
Matheo: "I TOLD YOU IT WAS REAL!"
Anthony and Rehann trembled too hard to speak.
Suddenly, the void itself quaked. Above them, the dark wall shattered, revealing the Milky Way—millions of stars blazing, some brighter than others, emitting a piercing hum as if they were trying to communicate. The noise grew unbearable, stabbing through their skulls.
Then… a figure appeared. Silent. Floating. Wrapped in a black cloak, face hidden beneath a hood.
???: "You have been chosen, noble heroes."
Their hearts pounded against their ribs as they staggered back.
Max: "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! SEND US BACK HOME!!"
Matheo: "SEND US BACK!!"
The figure's voice was cold, implacable:
"A mission awaits you, in a world that needs you. Close your eyes. You will now enter the interface."
Rehann: "ARE YOU DEAF?! WE WANT TO GO HOME!"
Anthony: "LET US GO!"
???: "You may return once your quest is complete. There is no other way. Now… close your eyes."
Terrified, resisting, the boys finally obeyed. A white light exploded, their bodies lifted, and each of them saw an interface appear before their eyes.
Max: "W-what is this…?"
Anthony: "Looks like… a character creation screen…"
Matheo: "So we're supposed to make avatars…?"
Rehann (anxious): "Let's just do what it says. It's the only way out…"
Max stared at the screen, hesitating.
"…I'll stay as I am."
Rehann tapped the interface cautiously.
"Maybe I'll just change my hairstyle."
Matheo (stressed): "We're on the brink of death and you're worried about hair?!"
Rehann (shrugging): "Might as well die in style."
When their appearances were set, a new option appeared: Choose a Class.
Max's eyes narrowed at the list of glowing choices. Countless classes. Hundreds of weapons. But one stood out:
Martial Warrior of Kael.
Max: "…No weapons. Just fists. Brutal. Authentic."
Rehann chose Weapon Master.
Rehann: "I'll just learn them all."
Matheo, with determination:
Matheo: "Tank. I'll take the hits for us."
Anthony, quiet and focused:
Anthony: "Assassin. Fast. Precise. Silent. Perfect."
The choices locked in.
Weapons materialized before them.
Rehann reached for a long staff.
Matheo picked up a massive axe and shield, though his hand trembled.
Anthony claimed a black scythe etched with ancient runes.
The cloaked figure spoke again, darker this time:
"This world lies in ruin. Beasts unknown, unstoppable, have invaded.
No kingdom has defeated them. Kael, Shaulkkia, Zartox, Shak, Yano…
All have fallen.
That is why you were summoned.
You must become the strongest.
And quickly."
The ground quaked. The void around them shuddered.
"Good luck."
Without warning, the floor vanished. They plummeted, screaming as the wind ripped past their faces.
"WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!"
The forest below rushed toward them. They crashed violently, trees exploding on impact.
Then silence.
Coughs. Groans. Pain.
"It hurts everywhere…"
But miraculously… no broken bones. Just fear, and agony.
Max forced himself up, wincing. The sky above was tinged red. The forest loomed, oppressive, alien.
Max: "What do we do now…?"
No one answered. They had no map, no guide, nothing but themselves in this unknown world.
Then Anthony, still trembling, spoke:
Anthony: "Guys… I'm not sure, but… while we were falling, I saw a path to the west. We should head there…"
They stared at him, realization dawning.
This wasn't a joke.
This wasn't a dream.
Rehann: "Then let's go."
Step by step, slow, battered, uncertain…
They walked toward their first destination.