The ruins of the world burned in silence. Ash fell like black snow over shattered towers and crumbling walls. Flames devoured the earth, and the horizon was painted with smoke and despair. Among the devastation, atop the broken skeleton of a once-proud building, a lone figure sat with lifeless eyes.
"We've lost…" Angel whispered. His voice was void of strength, his gaze fixed on the world that was now nothing but ruin, ravaged by incomprehensible beasts born of nightmare.
Behind him, a figure descended like lightning given form. A man clad in white and gold garments, his long golden hair flowing like sunlight, sparks of thunder dancing at his fingertips. His very presence carried the weight of Olympus.
He rested a steady hand on Angel's shoulder.
"Do not lose hope just yet," Zeus said, his tone firm yet carrying a fragile thread of compassion. "Our final card has yet to be played."
Not far away, perched like a predator waiting for battle, was another figure. His features were sharp, almost mischievous, his body lean yet brimming with immortal strength. He wore a golden headband, and in his grasp rested a black-golden cudgel that could shatter mountains. His amber eyes glinted as they studied Angel.
"You remember everything we told you, don't you… Chaos Lord?" Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, asked. His voice was not mocking this time, but solemn.
Angel did not respond immediately. His silence was broken when another man stepped forward, his aura heavy enough to fracture the air. Dressed in a flowing black hanbok, long black hair falling past his shoulders, a sword sheathed at his waist that pulsed with killing intent—he was none other than Yeon Ma, the Heavenly Demon of Murim.
"You will have to risk your life once again," Yeon Ma declared, his voice low and sharp. "Even if it means surpassing us, even if it means taking what was never yours to begin with. No matter the path, you must grasp it. Grow stronger. Stronger than gods, demons, or fate itself."
Angel finally rose to his feet. His eyes, once lifeless, now burned with a black-orange fiery aura that erupted from his body like a storm. His words were steady.
"I know."
At that moment, the air around them vibrated, distorted by the power of time itself. A cloaked man stepped forward, his presence ethereal. His hair was silver, and his eyes reflected the endless flow of the cosmos. This was Chronos, the Divine Ruler of Time.
"Everything is ready," Chronos intoned.
Zeus raised his hand. "Then let it begin. Chronos—do it."
Angel smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it. "I only hope you don't come to resent me for what happens next."
The ground beneath them trembled violently. From every direction, countless beasts surged forward, abominations of shifting flesh and nightmare forms. Their howls shook the very air as the final battle began.
"Everyone! Protect Angel and Chronos!" Zeus roared, summoning storms that split the skies with thunderbolts. "Not a single beast must reach them!"
And so, the final stand began. Thor swung his mighty hammer, every strike tearing apart legions of monsters. Sun Wukong danced across the battlefield, his cudgel smashing demons into dust. Yeon Ma's sword and fists carved through the tide of horrors with martial mastery beyond comprehension. Gods and legends alike fought side by side, not for glory, but for a single fragile hope.
"Everyone… thank you," Angel shouted over the chaos, his aura blazing brighter. "Leave everything to me!"
Then the world froze. The screams of beasts, the clash of weapons, the roar of thunder—all fell silent. The flow of time reversed, a sound like shattering glass echoing across eternity. The timeline unraveled, threads of destiny spinning backward.
20XX… 2025.
---
"Hah!" Angel woke with a gasp, drenched in sweat. His heart hammered as his eyes darted around. White walls, a ceiling fan humming gently, and the familiar sight of his small apartment. His chest rose and fell as realization struck him.
"…It worked." His trembling hands touched his arms, his face, his body. Flesh and blood. Whole. Alive.
He rushed to the window and pulled the curtains aside. Outside, the world was vibrant and alive. Towering glass skyscrapers shone under the sun, holographic billboards flickered with color, and self-driving cars lined the neon-lit roads. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig—the heart of the Philippines.
"This time," Angel whispered, clenching his fists, "I'll save everyone. No matter what it takes."
The sudden ring of his doorbell cut through his thoughts. He opened the door to see a group of delivery men wheeling in a massive capsule, sleek and futuristic, its metallic frame humming with faint energy.
"Delivery for Mr. Angel," one of them said. Minutes later, the crew had installed the VR capsule in his room and left.
Angel stood before it in silence, his eyes filled with intent. His voice was low.
"If only I had realized sooner…"
The capsule was the gateway to Fantasy Road, the newly released VRMMORPG that had taken the world by storm. But Angel knew the truth: it was more than a game. It was the crossroads between reality and destiny.
"No stats. No levels. No health bars," Angel muttered, recalling its design. "Just the system's cold truth—your status revealed, your choices absolute. A game where reality and fantasy are one."
He stepped inside the capsule, lying down as its interior lit up around him. His heartbeat steadied.
[Brain Link: Complete]
[Resource Extraction: Complete]
[Player Database: Complete]
[Enter your name]
"Angel."
[Player Name: Angel]
[Age: 22]
[Welcome to Fantasy Road. May your journey begin.]
A flash of light consumed him, and when it cleared, Angel stood at the gates of a vast kingdom. White walls rose into the sky, bustling streets filled with players and NPCs alike, all immersed in life-like vibrance.
[Starter Region: Mariaz Kingdom]
"It's just as I remember…" Angel murmured, scanning the familiar streets. His reflection in a nearby fountain revealed ragged beginner's clothes. He chuckled. "Still handsome, though. Korean drama lead levels."
But his smile faded. "Now then… it should appear any moment."
…
[New Player Detected. Would you like to begin the Tutorial for Fantasy Road?]
"There it is." Angel grinned. "Yes."
[Confirmation received. Transporting to private tutorial zone.]
The scenery dissolved, replaced by fire and screams. He stood in a burning village, its people fleeing in terror as goblins, ogres, and lesser demons tore the land apart.
"Exactly the same as before," Angel said coldly.
[Please choose one of the five starter weapons: Longsword, Spear, Greataxe, Bow, Wand, Staff.]
"Longsword."
[Longsword granted. Good luck on your journey, Player Angel.]
The blade appeared in his grasp, plain yet sturdy. Memories surged through him like a flood. Training, battles, and techniques long forgotten yet deeply ingrained.
"Come!" he roared, drawing the monsters toward him.
He stepped forward, eyes blazing.
"Eclipse Sword Style—First Form: Dawn Breaker!"
His blade cleaved upward in a radiant arc, severing an ogre's chest. More enemies surged, but Angel's sword danced like the eclipse itself, weaving light and shadow into death.
"Hah… Hah…" He panted after the last fell. "Still need to work on stamina."
[Remaining Monsters: 0/20]
[Tutorial Completed]
[Granting tutorial rewards…]
"Easy choice."
[You have chosen: Iron Moonblade.]
A new sword appeared in his hands, its silver blade reflecting the pale glow of the moon.
[Congratulations. You are the first to discover a hidden path within the tutorial zone.]
Angel's eyes narrowed. "The Ash Chamber. Even now, it still feels wrong."
He walked through the dark corridor, lined with weathered statues of knights. As he reached the end, the statues stirred.
"You should've attacked sooner." Angel leapt back as one swung an axe.
Clutching the Iron Moonblade, he drew a stance.
"Eclipse Sword Style—Third Form: Crescent Blaze!"
A crescent-shaped arc of fire tore through their legs, shattering stone. Angel vaulted upward, his blade piercing the glowing cores within their heads.
The statues fell still. He pressed forward and opened the final door. Inside, a colossal corpse lay. A dragon, black as night, its heart pulsing with voidlight.
Angel's lips curled into a manic grin.
"Nioravel…" He reached toward the abyssal heart. "The Chaos Lord returns."