Staring into space, I stayed fixed on the bed's edge. Time dragged; thirty minutes gone, perhaps longer, yet my body refused to shift. Thoughts spun wildly, tangled in the shock of what morning had revealed.
Could it be that I'm living again now?
Could it be true - another opportunity handed my way?
Round and round they spun, never stopping - every answer pulled at a new question.
This thing - how did it even come about? Could be tied to me taking in that Quantomni Artifact's power.
Still, it felt off. Time tricks or bringing people back - none of that was listed in the Artifact's traits. Not a single mention of reversing destiny in what we'd read.
So how?
How Am I Here?
Inside my skull, pressure built. Confusion pressed hard. Impossible thoughts hammered without pause. My head ached with every beat.
Now what should I do? Even my thoughts feel unclear.
A shape I could hold. Not just a thought, but weight in my hands.
Fingers closed around the phone resting on the wooden stand. A quick glance revealed what the clock said.
11:04 AM.
The numbers sat there, then - out of nowhere - a thought rose up from long ago.
Right now… back when I lived differently….
Sleep took me under. Out cold, drained after staying up too long.
Yet Trita Jhawar, my sister, was nowhere near the house.
That morning, she said she'd be at college. Except it wasn't true.
It was true - she attended a Vihan Raichada show. Not something expected, yet it happened.
Vihan Raichada steps into view. A face known by many, shaped by performance. His voice carves paths through songs, sharp and clear. Rhymes follow, built slow, then fast. Around him, whispers rise - admiration sticks like dust on light. Girls watch closely, drawn without reason.
Folks saw him as smooth, gifted, warm - someone who gave off a gentle vibe without trying too hard.
Truth was something I already held.
That man? Pure danger. Quiet tricks shaped his words. Coldness lived in his actions. Beauty masked what he truly was.
Fear sat heavy in my chest each time I spoke. Every single warning fell flat. She wouldn't listen - eyes fixed on a version of him that wasn't real. Words poured out, again and yet again.
Yet silence was her answer every time.
Back then, before everything changed, I argued with her the moment she walked through the door that day. It got ugly. The air between us turned sharp. Not a word was kind.
Right then, she looked me dead on and told a lie. After calling her out, everything snapped - her voice rose fast. Hours passed like that, voices clashing without stop.
Fumes faded after a while. Like a fool, I said sorry.
For hours I kept chasing her approval, dropping to my knees as if that would fix anything. That act of pleading changed nothing in the end.
Everything went wrong thanks to one person. Him. Vihan Raichada, cold and careless. Blame lands right there.
Well then - she picked him instead of me. That was her call.
It was her who broke my trust. Right behind me, she drove it deep. All because of him. That moment changed everything.
Fingers clamped down hard, pressure building till the skin paled. White took over where color once showed.
Not this time.
This time around, things would shift. The path ahead held a new rhythm. Change waited just past the next turn. A quiet reset unfolded slowly.
Fed up with pouring energy into those who ignore mine. Worthless effort, honestly.
Finished placing faith in people. That phase ends now.
Something clicked - my idea took shape, slow but sharp, fitting together without noise.
Out of here is where I have to go first.
Everything I had, that's what I'd grab. Stuff it into bags without looking back. Vanish while the world still blinked. Ties? Snip every single one.
Before walking away, I'd slip a card into her drawer. Enough cash inside so she could pay the bills for a while. Rent would be taken care of. Meals too. The small things that keep life running. That amount wouldn't last forever - just long enough to catch a breath.
Far from affection.
Out of obligation.
That part of my life has closed. Her worries don't land on me now.
This moment marks the end of any connection. Silence takes over from here. Not a word will pass between us again.
My life would be mine alone. Just me.
If I saw her again, after everything - should she try to return despite what happened - my answer would be fast. Then silence.
I'll kill her.
Move fast. Show no pity.
This was the depth I had reached.
Something stopped me cold - just as I began to rise, just as I reached for my bag.
A picture sits beside the bed. The stand holds it steady each night.
Out of nowhere, my fingers moved toward it - shaking. The air felt thick as each inch passed.
A faded photo, tucked away so long it almost vanished. Rarely seen, though never quite forgotten.
Three people stood together, smiling.
Father first. Then mother comes next. I follow after.
That picture shows me as a kid. Joy filled my eyes back then. Pure, without weight.
There was a time, long ago, when I thought everything around me meant well.
Holding it there, fingers curled around the edges, my eyes stuck on those two faces. These were my mother and father. The ones who cared for me more than anyone else ever did.
Just like that, they vanished.
Breath caught sharp in my ribs. A wall rose behind my windpipe.
Something rose behind my eyelids. A dampness started building up without warning.
Out of nowhere, the picture frame pressed against my ribs, held tight as if letting go would mean falling through the floor.
I cracked right there.
"Father... Mother..." I whispered, my voice cracking. "This world... it's given me so much pain. So much suffering."
Heat rushed down her cheeks, falling fast before she could stop them.
"The people here... they're so cruel. So heartless. They smile at you, make you believe they care, and then they stab you in the back the moment it benefits them."
Out of nowhere, my words came faster, sharper. A strange urgency pushed through each syllable. Not calm anymore - volume rising like wind before a storm.
"I trusted them. I loved them. My sister. My best friend. The girl I thought I'd spend my life with. And they all... they all betrayed me. They threw me away like I was nothing."
My face buried into the wood, tears came fast. The edges dug deeper as I held on.
"I don't know if you can hear me. I don't know if you're watching from wherever you are. But I need you to know... I'm so tired. I'm so broken."
Quietly, my words slipped into a hush. The sound faded low, almost gone.
"I don't know how to trust anymore. I don't know how to feel anymore."
Time passed while I stayed still, gripping the picture, allowing tears to stream down.
Slowly, the crying came to an end.
My breath came in short bursts as I dragged my sleeve across my cheek.
Yet a change took root within. A quiet turning began deep down.
It hadn't faded, that deep soreness inside, yet under its weight, another feeling began to rise.
Resolve.
Determination.
The photograph slipped into place on the wooden stand, fingers calm. A breath passed before I stepped away.
Later, I promised myself something.
One day, payback finds each person who hurt me. Revenge walks quietly behind every betrayal.
All of them - each without exception.
Facing her felt like facing a mirror cracked down the middle. A laugh we used to share now echoes differently. Trust once solid began crumbling without sound. Twelve names etched where loyalty should have stayed. Vihan Raichada stands among them, unflinching.
They'll all pay.
Yet deep down, it went beyond settling a score.
Fresh start ahead. Everything shifts now.
Stopping the tragedies I survived - that came first. Pulling in crowds, one by one, into OmniWars shaped what happened next. Training them hard kept everyone ready. Strength built before the shift meant fewer were shocked when gameplay bled into real life.
When Season 2 arrived, merging reality with gameplay, lives would be spared. Tragedies? Fewer of them would happen on my watch.
It wasn't because they cared.
Out of necessity.
A solid planet brought extra friends. Extra supplies came along too. Power grew out of that.
Power became necessary just to stay alive, let alone claim victory in this new existence.
Tomorrow shifts because of me.
I'll rewrite everything.
Tension tightened my face, gaze unyielding. A quiet resolve carved every line.
This moment changes everything. Not again will I stand broken. A different path shows ahead. What once was taken now feels distant. Strength arrives without warning. The past stays behind where it belongs.
This moment shifts under my hands now.
Up I rose from the mattress, balance holding firm through my limbs.
Without delay, it began. The moment stood still, yet moved fast. Hesitation had left completely. Nothing held back now.
No more doubt.
Fresh start, that moment arrived again. Life restarted without warning.
A sudden urge pulled me toward the closet first. Fabric rustled as I yanked shirts from hangers without looking. Paperwork went in next, stiff edges poking the canvas of the bag. The machine with keys and screens got tucked carefully near the bottom. Last came small things - objects holding weight far beyond their size.
Whatever wasn't mentioned might remain unchanged.
Few things were ever necessary. Having them wasn't a habit.
Fingers moved fast, shoving each item into the duffel without pause. Feeling stayed behind. Doubt never showed up.
Out the door I go - this spot stays in the past. Done for keeps.
City Center Arena Concert Venue
Fans filled the arena so tightly no spot stayed empty, voices rising like a storm. Energy pulsed through everything, carried on scents of sweat, fragrance, and something wild in the mix.
In the middle of everything, a single name rang out across the people, sharp as a warning bell
"VIHAN! VIHAN! VIHAN!"
"HO HO HO, VIHAN!"
Sound poured from the crowd without pause. Voices rose like a storm that refused to pass.
Fingers gripping cardboard, voices cracked mid-shout while screens glowed in shaky hands. Faces wet, names yelled like prayers tossed into noise.
"I'll be your mistress! I don't care! Just notice me, Vihan!" one girl shrieked, clutching her chest dramatically.
Another girl pushed forward, shoving past others. "Marry me, Vihan! I love you! You're my everything!"
Someone yelled, "Mine - stay away!".
Wild energy filled the air. Not calm, never slow. Almost madness took hold.
A figure cut through the crowd - not loud, but seen. Sharp bones in her face, a chin lifted like she owned the room. Hair pulled tight, not a strand out of place. Painted eyes, lips even - no smudges, ever. Cloth hung on her: labels known by price alone, meant to stop glances in their tracks.
It wasn't only cheers coming from her. The air shifted when she moved, like the whole show bent toward where she stood.
Her friend leaned in close, practically yelling over the noise. "Trita! Come on, scream louder! We need to make sure Vihan stays number one!"
Flicking her hair back, Trita wore a grin like it belonged there. "Of course," she stated, voice full of quiet certainty. Winning comes naturally to our Vihan. Always has."
A sudden lift in her voice cut through the air, matching the group's rhythm but sharper, edged with fire. Her gaze held something bright - not just resolve, though that was there - but a quiet kind of worship too.
"VIHAN! VIHAN! VIHAN!"
She stood among many others just like her - shouting, weeping, clapping, lost in devotion to someone unaware of their names.
Fingers snapped the zipper shut on the duffel, one last pull sealing it tight.
Done.
Over my shoulder I tossed it, eyes sweeping the room for a final glance.
Years I lived there, a roof that once knew me. Now? Just walls without memory.
Trapped, that was the only word for it.
Time to go.
The morning air hit my face as I walked down the steps, duffel swinging at my side. Behind me, the latch settled into place with a soft snap. That moment sealed everything - no returns, no hesitations trailing after.
Now that door has closed behind me. The story ends here.
Shadows stretched wide under a hushed sky, sunlight thinning into the curb. Over by the corner, past the cracked mailbox, a three-wheeler slowed without asking.
"Area where hotels are," I told him when getting inside.
He gave a small nod. Into the flow of cars we moved.
Finding a halfway decent spot proved tougher than I thought it would.
A musty odor greeted me right away upon entering. Stains covered the walls, while broken tiles lined the floors, caked with grime. The person at the front desk never lifted their eyes from the screen. That first inn turned out worse than expected.
Yeah, no.
I left immediately.
A building stood out because it seemed well kept, signs were clear. Yet when words came up about cost, the number shared surprised me completely.
How much each night? I said, surprised.
"Yes, sir. We're a premium establishment."
Fair price? Hardly seems that way.
Out the door I went, after saying thanks.
That third place looked rough right away - sticky floors, shady vibes, a sofa in the front with stuff spilled on it I could not name. Walking in, my gut said skip checking anything out.
Hold up. Surely there's one good thing nearby.
A third spot turned up empty. The first showed a busted cooling unit humming weakly in the corner. In the second, voices rose through the wall - sharp words bouncing off thin plaster late into the night.
Broke through after five tries - on the sixth, there it was.
The Crescent Inn.
Away from luxury, yet spotless inside. Though small, the entrance area showed clear care. A greeting came with kindness. Cost sat just right - not so high it drained funds fast.
"I'll take a room," I said.
"Single occupancy?"
"Yes."
She handed me a key card. "Room 307. Third floor. Checkout is at noon."
Up there, I went after handing over the cash - enough for three days. A quick nod was all it took.
A cramped space, Room 307 still got the job done. Inside sat one bed, nothing more than that - just enough room to rest. Nearby stood a wooden desk, its surface worn from use. Pulling up beside it was an old chair, slightly tilted on uneven legs. Tucked into the corner lay a miniature bathroom, barely large enough to turn around in. Through the glass of the lone window, people passed by far beneath, moving along the sidewalk without looking up.
Perfect.
The weight of the duffel thudded onto the mattress. Inhaling slowly, I stayed planted mid-room.
Fine. Clear the noise. Now it is practice time.
Time slipped away too fast to risk losing any. Surviving OmniWars meant more than luck this round - dominance required preparation. Strength in the body mattered. So did sharpness of mind. Heart had to stay steady, too.
Now it begins.
Belly on the ground, I shifted into place.
Push-ups.
One. Two. Three.
Burning hit my muscles right away. Out of shape, really - months without effort had left me soft, slow from that old routine.
Not this time.
Fifty-four. Fifty-five. The burn climbed higher. One breath between movements. Grit stayed sharp. Numbers kept me moving.
Ten. Fifteen. Twenty.
Water fell from my face to the ground. Shaking moved through my limbs, yet the motion continued.
Thirty. Forty. Fifty.
Fifty-nine pushed me close, yet at sixty every muscle begged to stop. Still, air sharp in my throat, I drove through four then a fifth. My arms gave way next, folding into the floor, each breath loud, slow, dragging.
Alright. This begins it.
Once I caught my breath, squatting was next.
Down I went, feet spaced like my shoulders' width. The first move hit hard - fire lit up my legs right away, muscles screaming at what they'd just been asked to do.
Look away. Keep moving anyway.
One by one I kept track, pushing further down, staying tight while my legs trembled beneath me.
Twenty. Thirty. Forty.
Cramps twisted through my lower legs. Pain settled into each knee joint. Still, movement continued.
Fifty. Sixty.
When it ended, my legs wobbled without strength. Up against the wall I pressed, gasping, every inch of me soaked through with sweat.
This journey has barely started.
After that, I moved on to planks. The workout focused on the core. Then came burpees, slow at first. Finally, some stretches to wind down.
Foot by foot, I kept moving, even when every muscle screamed to quit. The ache burned deep, yet something louder than fatigue held on. Thoughts begged me to give up, but I stayed fixed ahead. Each breath tore through like fire, still I did not slow.
Fragility costs too much. That is something I cannot pay.
Not this time.
Hours passed.
Only then did I pause, finding the sky already swallowed by night. Light from distant lamps crept in, painting weak streaks across the floor.
Falling across the mattress, every muscle on fire, breath coming hard. The weight of exhaustion pulled me deep into the sheets, air sharp in my lungs.
Still, a quiet kind of rightness settled in.
Stronger. Focused.
My hand reached for the phone on the nightstand, then I looked at what time it was.
5:59 PM.
Breath caught in my chest.
One minute.
My back straightened, eyes locked on the glowing display, holding still.
Faster than a flickering light, thoughts spilled through my head, chasing each other in tight circles. What came next shaped every detail I'd stored away, now rising like smoke.
Soon enough, a screen might hover into view. This one could ask if you want in on OmniWars. Say yes, it takes you inside. That simple.
Fighting in OmniWars felt real. Not pretend. Each battle forced you to grow stronger by taking down creatures. When one fell, it left behind gear or items that helped later. Money came too - one kind for trades, another for rare unlocks
Torin Points along with Lifeline Points.
Out here, folks traded with NPCs using Torin Points - no other currency worked most of the time. These points opened doors: upgrades for artifacts showed up, gear became available. Without them, moving forward got tricky real fast.
Few ever saw Lifeline Points. Players swapped them around, sure - yet their real role struck when someone fell. Death triggered it: points gone, life restored. Run out? Then the character lay still, unmoving.
Starting out, each player had only a handful of Lifeline Points - barely enough to cover a couple of early mistakes. When they were gone, though, one wrong move meant game over.
Monsters? Hardly gave up any Lifeline Points at all. So each time someone died, it counted.
After that came how OmniWars was built. Its shape unfolded slowly.
A round of play broke into seasons. Each season carved itself into chapters.
A dozen chapters made up the first season.
This is when things started twisting apart
Every chapter required finishing
Clearing a chapter never depended on just one person, always required a collective effort. When a team finished a chapter, it became unavailable to all others.
Picture this: two teams start off identical. One pushes ahead while the other lags behind. When the faster crew wraps up the stage, every benefit flows their way - XP, gear drops, Torin Points, even Lifeline gains vanish for the rest.
Nothing goes to Group A. That is how it ends.
Faster next time is what they'll need. Done it stands, no second chances at that part. The chapter won't wait, already closed. Forward is the only way now. Next one comes whether they're ready or not.
A harsh battle emerged. Not only did competitors face creatures, but they also pushed to outrun one another.
Falling behind at the start? That often spelled trouble later on. Huge payoffs came from finishing Chapters - rewards strong enough to shift how things played out. One misstep early, and catching up felt impossible through the whole Season.
Mid thought, the time shifted without warning.
6:00 PM.
Breath caught in my chest, eyes fixed on the space right there before me.
Nothing.
Seconds passed.
Still nothing.
Breath caught sharp in my ribs. A quiet dread began humming just behind my thoughts.
Maybe it fails. Perhaps they do not include me now. Could be... something else instead
And then, suddenly -
BZZZZT.
A noise began, cold and metallic, not quite human. This one came deep, vibrating through walls as if something huge had stirred awake.
A soft light formed a rectangle ahead, hanging without support. Around its borders, tiny dots danced - appearing, vanishing, warping slightly. It didn't sit still, that frame of code and glow.
A sound began, sharp and hollow, slipping through thought like frost across glass. It did not come from ears but settled inside, clear yet distant. Not human, not alive, just precise words without warmth. The silence before it broke felt heavier after.
What if a game made every hurt feel genuine?
Step inside OmniWars if you choose
A choice showed up, one path here, another there. Either direction waited, visible at once
[ACCEPT] [REJECT]
I didn't hesitate.
My finger moved. The button lit up under it.
A burst of light filled the display. It glowed sharp and sudden, like ice catching sun.
You Have Accepted the Invitation
Player Enters Omniwars Game World
Floating there, the space just fell apart, pieces turning into tiny dots of glow. Walls slipped first, then the ground, finally the top above my head. Nothing stayed solid anymore.
A sudden lightness took hold, as if gravity had loosened its grip without warning. Space stretched around me, pulling me forward with quiet force.
Next thing, a flash filled the air. White swallowed every edge.
A flash - and it was gone.
Footsteps fading where the door should be. Blank space now, no frame, no glass, just air where walls once stood. Sheets vanished, mattress gone, even the light from outside disappeared without a trace.
Darkness pressed close, without edge or break. A weightless drift carried me forward - no floor below, nor ceiling overhead. Direction meant nothing here. Empty space stretched in every way.
Just...
nothing.
Out of nowhere, the quiet broke - same cold, machine-like sound bouncing off every wall.
BZZZZT.
A soft light formed a rectangle ahead, jagged static dancing along its borders.
A whisper of machine tones cut through the silence once more, steady without warmth.
You Are in the Job Selection Zone
Choose a job first to keep going
Out of nowhere, the display blinked away. All at once, heaps of glowing panels hung in the air - maybe even countless ones - floating close by. A wide ring took shape, every panel showing its own unique job path, filled with numbers, explanations, and level scores.
Floating in that moment, options circled like birds above. Thoughts ran fast through the quiet space behind my eyes.
Alright. Focus.
This thing? I recognized it immediately. Back when I lived that old version of my life, I did all this before - only I had no idea what was happening. The weight of choosing never really hit me until now.
Your way through the game came down to what you did for a living. Not merely labels or roles, but something deeper. Shaping how you fought. How you moved. Where you excelled. Where you struggled. The road ahead bent around that choice.
Some jobs came up a lot - like Warrior, Mage, Archer, Healer, or Assassin. Picking one was open to everyone. These paths worked well because help existed everywhere. You'd find tips, tools, mostly everything needed without trouble.
Yet some jobs showed up less often. These came in types like Common, then Epic, all the way to Mythic.
Harder to find a job like that, stronger it gets - yet tougher to learn. Mastery takes longer when few pursue it.
Fear took over back then, so I grabbed whatever came first - a Holy Knight path, rank Mythic. Excitement surged; it seemed too lucky, like hitting a jackpot out of nowhere.
Powerful, that much I knew. Holy Knight carried me far - right up to level 99. Surviving wave after wave of fights, it never failed when things turned rough.
But now?
These days, it makes more sense to me.
Waiting felt right. Not picking anything just now. Options matter more when you've seen them all. Staying open meant not locking myself in too soon.
A shape appeared ahead, slow at first, then clearer. One screen caught my eye, words drifting across its surface. Each line made me pause before stepping toward the next. Distance blurred as I focused on what was written.
Warrior Common Rank
Mage Common Rank
Berserker Epic Rank
Shadow Blade Epic Rank
Finding my own path meant leaving voices behind, moving ahead without pause, always looking toward what might come next.
And then -
I froze.
A single display caught attention amid the others.
A shade of red filled it. Not just any red - crimson, pulsing stronger than anything nearby. Around its borders, sparks flickered wildly, as if something inside fought to stay locked in.
Breath tight, I drifted closer - pulse hammering in my ears.
Right when the words came into view, I stopped breathing.
[OMNIWEAVER]
[Rank: Omniril]
[Type: Hidden Class]
For just a moment, everything inside my head stopped. Then it came back.
Omniril rank?
My eyes stayed fixed on the display, shocked by the image unfolding. What appeared there made no sense at first glance. A moment stretched longer than it should have. Reality seemed to pause while my mind caught up.
Higher than Mythic stood Omniril in ranking. Back then, I discovered it existed only after battling Blaze, watching what he could do.
But a Hidden Class?
A different kind of moment altogether. What just happened sat outside every usual frame.
A single soul shaped each Hidden Class - no copy, no repeat. Unlike common paths open to all, these formed for just one individual. Claim it, and it vanished without trace. After that moment? Gone beyond return.
Something built just for you. Unique. One of a kind.
Back then, I went with Holy Knight - not rare exactly, though it sat high on the ladder. Others like me walked through OmniWars too.
But this?
Omniweaver.
An Omniril-rank Hidden Class.
If I'd found out about it earlier….
Fingers tight, I watched the screen's red glow pulse without warning.
Yet uncertainty began to grow.
Could it be a trick? Might this odd-sounding job just collapse into nothing despite the big promises?
Nothing came to mind when I heard Omniweaver. Only a title and position showed up - no details at all.
Maybe picking it will lead to second thoughts later.
Up above, caught between thoughts, everything blurred. My head wouldn't stop racing - stuck in a loop I couldn't name.
What if I go ahead anyway? Could staying cautious mean choosing what's familiar instead?
Seconds passed.
That moment, I chose what to do.
No.
This round feels different. Risk sits heavier now. No more holding back.
A fresh opportunity showed up - no reason to repeat old steps.
A sudden touch brought my finger to the bright red display.
CLICK.
A sudden flash of light filled the screen. Back came the mechanical-sounding voice.
You picked OMNIWEAVER. That choice stands now
[Rank: Omniril.]
[Type: Hidden Class.]
My heart jumped. A smile crept up, slow and sharp.
Yes.
But then -
BZZZZT.
A sudden flash of yellow lit up the display. Warning symbols blinked without pause.
Your profession is still unconfirmed
A test stands between you and your chosen path. Finish it, then the role is yours
My grin vanished.
What?
A whisper cut through, sharp like metal. It didn't warm up.
Each player needs to complete a test before their selected role is confirmed
Thirty minutes in the jungle. Not just hiding. Staying alive while goblins track you down. Every step matters when something is looking. Time stretches when danger moves close. Jungle air thick with sound. One wrong move gives position away. Minutes pass like hours under tree cover. Something watches from behind vines. Movement between trees could save or end everything
[Rules:]
A half hour without dying means your job sticks. Stick around that long, rewards come your way instead
Should death come in the Trial, your picked path vanishes for good. Gone without return, erased beyond reach
My stomach dropped.
Fine. That moment when everything changed.
This one slipped my mind entirely.
Not one person skipped the Trial meant to lock in their role. A harsh challenge waited - dropped cold into dangerous terrain, bare bones, nothing to fight with, up against foes quicker, tougher, wiser. Each step forward came at a price.
Few managed to survive. Should death come in the Trial, every gain vanished. Gone - the role you'd built. Starting again meant choosing something new, assuming fate allowed a second turn.
Then came my pick: an Omniril-tier Hidden Class.
Failing this Trial means Omniweaver is gone - just like that.
A flicker of gold lit up the display, holding its breath till I answered.
Step into the Trial Zone like it's your first time seeing daylight after weeks underground
Got something on your mind before stepping in?
Out of nowhere, air filled my lungs slow and heavy. My body just waited, still.
Faster than a blink, thoughts surged - old memories of the Goblin Trial resurfaced, each fragment snapping into place. Ways forward formed before I even blinked again.
Speed defines goblins. Hunting happens together, always in groups. Fierce they stay, never letting up once they start.
Yet you can see it coming a mile away.
Survival is the only goal. Nothing more matters now. If forced, then defend - otherwise keep moving. Vanish between shadows when possible. Living through this comes first, always.
Fingers curled tight, teeth pressed together hard.
Failing now isn't an option after coming so far.
The words came out sharp as I stared at the display. It felt steady, that moment, voice cutting through without rush.
"I have a question."
A reply came through fast.
[State your question.]
A pause came before my words. That silence broke when I said something.
"I don't have any questions. I just want to see my status window."
Got it. Showing the Status Window now
Floating ahead, a fresh display appeared, lit by pale words.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Sknasim Jhawar
Level: 1
Profession Omniweaver Pending Confirmation
Stats:
Intelligence: 10
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Available Stat Points 5
The figures sat there, thoughts racing ahead without warning. Numbers blurred into motion before I could stop them.
Perfect.
It never crossed anyone's mind back then. Before the Trial started, checking your stats - figuring out where to put those points - was something nobody saw coming.
It never occurred to anyone they could check their status earlier. Only once the half-hour trial ended did folks reappear in town. This is where players usually noticed the interface appear. Their ability scores became adjustable then.
Still, it ended up amounting to nothing.
Starting out ahead meant every step felt easier - quicker moves, sharper reflexes, readiness built in. Those who planned early moved through the challenge like wind through trees.
Only after a player figured out the method and shared it did others see it. Too slow. Nearly everyone had finished their Challenges by then. Nothing changed because of it.
But now?
Finding ways to make it work feels different today.
That secret? I'd share it without hesitation.
Out in the open, this detail might appear - disguised, sure. Clues would show up across sites, quiet on purpose so only those paying close attention catch them, yet obvious once seen. People would piece it together if they looked hard enough.
Survival meant relying on others. That is why they mattered.
Floods of monsters spilled onto city blocks when Season 2 launched. The game bled into daily life, blurring every line. Humans brushed past NPCs at bus stops. Stone-ringed dungeons cracked up through parking lots.
Many lives would be lost - countless individuals gone in an instant.
Facing what lay ahead - cutting down the toll - it meant getting everyone ready. Tough. Set to go.
At this moment, OmniWars is reaching about a million individuals across the globe with invites. In the days ahead, those numbers start climbing fast - each round adding far more than the last. Before the week wraps up, almost every person alive will have gotten one.
Some would accept.
Many would reject.
Those who said no would find themselves exposed once Season 2 arrived.
Getting folks into OmniWars is what I'm aiming for. People showing up matters a lot here. Pulling in more players feels like the right direction. The goal? More participants, one way or another. Reaching out widely makes sense. Inviting others seems to help. This effort keeps moving forward.
Yet doing it out in the open wasn't possible. Showing my hand early meant risking exposure - of a kind that could turn deadly. Curiosity would follow. Officials might start digging. Those twelve betrayers could catch wind of what I was up to.
No.
It couldn't be obvious. I moved like a shadow, quiet on purpose. Every step planned before it was taken. Not rushed. Never careless.
Focusing on me comes before anything else at this moment.
Back to the status window I looked, right at that line showing five stat points ready to assign.
Okay. Now it is time to assign.
There was no doubt in my mind about their place.
Agility.
When the Goblin Trial started, moving quick meant staying alive. Fast they were, yes, but also cruel and never stopping. Hunting together, they struck as one - timing every move like a blade in the dark.
To stay alive, going straight at them wasn't an option. Running faster was the only way out. Moving constantly made me harder to catch. Slowing down meant trouble.
Fighting hard? Fine. Yet none of it counts when you're boxed in before the clash even starts.
Smarts? Won't help today. So far, nothing I can do grows stronger when my mind sharpens.
Sure, speed wins every time.
A flick of my finger touched the display. Five dots slid into Agility, one by one.
Right away, the figures changed.
[STATS UPDATED]
Intelligence: 10
Strength: 10
Agility: 15 ↑
Stamina: 10
It hit me right away.
Tingles crept up from my feet, climbing fast. Lightness followed, like tension had dissolved overnight. Sudden clarity hit - movements came easier now. Responses snapped quicker than before.
A quiet change took place, nothing loud or sudden. Still, the air around me felt different. The way things sat in my mind had shifted slightly.
Good.
My lungs filled slowly, grounding my thoughts.
Still one detail sat unclear inside my head: gaining levels handed out Stat Points, not the act of taking down creatures itself.
Back then, confusion spread fast among players. Some believed slaying beasts boosted their strength numbers. So they kept hunting, hour after hour. Yet nothing changed on screen. Questions piled up while characters stayed weak.
Yet things unfolded differently.
Fighting monsters taught you something each time. When the lessons added up, your level changed. Only then did you get points to spend on stats.
Every day, folks missed what stood right there - plain, quiet, doing its job without fuss.
This round? I'm out. For real.
Shutting the status screen, my gaze wandered across the empty space.
Alright. I'm ready.
"I'm done," I said aloud. "I want to proceed to the Trial."
BZZZZT.
A metallic-sounding reply came without delay.
A shape forms right there in front of your eyes. Step through it when ready - your test starts on the other side
A ripple ran through the air ahead, wobbling like heat above stone. Out of that quiver came a slow thrum, followed by a spinning gateway - deep blue edged with black, sparking along its rim, tugging everything nearby into its pull.
Light glows inside the archway. Step through whenever you choose
Frozen in place, my pulse hammered through me.
This is it.
Far past the point of retreat.
Fingers tight, I shifted my weight. Shoulders loose, a breath came. Forward moved one foot.
Into the portal I stepped, no pause, no second thought. The moment just carried me forward.
A shape began to fade where nothing had been before. Darkness slipped away like smoke caught in a breeze.
Then came darkness, total and sudden.
A hush hung in the air where golden light spilled from above. There she was, perched on a carved chair near one end of the polished table. The dress shimmered faintly, its fabric rich but quiet beneath the glow. Voices crackled through the phone tucked tight beside her face. Seconds stretched, then tightened, pulling worry into her eyes. Each breath came slower than the last.
"The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off. Please try again later."
Away went the phone, her eyes locked on its dark face. Silence pressed into her thoughts - he never missed a call before. Now it's switched off, no word, nothing. A quiet dread crept up without warning
Fingers tapped the phone once more - just that robotic voice again.
Something moved close, leaving soft thuds in the quiet. She heard each one clearly, following without hurry.
A figure slipped into the room, steps barely making sound. Her gaze landed on the one across from her, eyes tracing the tightness around their mouth. A quiet moment passed before she spoke, voice soft near the edge of concern. What's sitting heavy on your mind? Trouble showing clear in your expression
The moment stretched, quiet, as Sweety stayed bent over her phone. She hadn't lifted her gaze once. Sknasim vanished after dawn, no word since
The other girl paused, then crossed her arms. "Sweetheart, are you seriously talking about that guy? Sknasim Jhawar?"
"Yes," Sweety said, her voice rising slightly. "I've been trying to call him all day, but his phone keeps going to voicemail. It's switched off."
The girl frowned thoughtfully. "Have you tried calling his sister? What's her name... Trita Jhawar? Maybe she knows where he is."
Sweety sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I did. But she's at the Vihan concert right now, and she has no idea what Sknasim is doing."
A glint danced in the other girl's gaze. She tilted her head slightly - "Fiance, you call him?"
A flush crept into Sweety's cheeks without delay, colour rising gently over her skin. Her gaze slid sideways, teeth pressing lightly on her lower lip.
The girl grinned wider. "This is only the second time I've ever seen you blush, Chiri. The first time was for Sknasim. And now, for Vihan." She leaned in closer, her tone teasing. "Interesting."
Red crept across Chiri's cheeks, yet hearing Sknasim's name tugged her thoughts downward. The light in her eyes dimmed. She brushed it aside with a breath. Silence from his phone gnawed at her insides. A quiet dread settled in instead
The other girl - Nivea - waved a dismissive hand. "He's probably just busy with something. Why are you so worried about him anyway? He'll be fine."
Chiri hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Maybe... maybe you're right. He's probably working or something."
That's right, Nivea replied, taking a seat next to her. Overcomplicating things won't help
Out came a slow breath from Chiri, shoulders dropping. Sure thing, she said under her breath - Nivea had a point
Leaning into the chair's edge, Nivea tilted her head slightly while watching Chiri. A pause came before she said anything - then words arrived, soft but clear: Tell me something... is that okay?
Chiri glanced at her. "Of course. We're close friends. Ask away."
Nivea tilted her head, her expression turning more serious. "You like Vihan Raichada, right? That makes sense - he's famous, talented, charming. But... you also like Sknasim Jhawar. Why?" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Vihan I understand. But Sknasim? He doesn't have anything. He's poor. Ordinary. What do you see in him?"
A pause settled over Chiri as her hand moved along the table's rim. That quiet broke when her lips lifted - just slightly, like she held a secret.
"It's simple, really," she said softly. "When I get bored of one, I play with the other. When the second one bores me, I go back to the first. And when the first one bores me again, I return to the second." Her voice was light, almost playful, as if she were discussing a casual game.
She paused, then continued, her tone shifting slightly. "And besides... they're both handsome. Incredibly handsome. I don't think I'll ever find another man in this world who looks as good as either of them."
She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with confidence. "And you know what, Nivea? You'll see soon enough. Sknasim is going to propose to me. Very soon."
A grin tugged at Nivea's lips, her gaze sharp. Could it be true, she wondered
That's true," Chiri replied, her grin growing broader.
Laughter spilled between them while they kept speaking, the fancy room alive with sound as darkness lingered outside.
Out came my foot, then I fell onto hard earth.
Vines clung to ancient trees when my feet hit solid ground. Suddenly, silence gave way to chirps, growls, and the whisper of wind through broad leaves. Humidity pressed against my skin like a damp cloth fresh from a rinse. Each breath felt slow, loaded with earthy scents and something wild just beyond naming.
Out of my chest came air, slow. My hands found stillness.
Alright. I'm in.
It started, that trial. Quiet at first, then voices rose.
Out here, my feet found rhythm fast - pushing forward beneath tangled green shadows. Above, trunks rose like columns, crowding the sky into patches of light. Loops of vine dangled just within reach, while gnarled roots broke through soil in crooked lines. Tangles of leaves stood firm between open spaces, woven tight by time.
Running my eyes over the land now. Quick. Getting to know every bump and dip before moving ahead.
Five minutes passed while I walked, piecing together the layout inside my head. Places to hide came into view one after another. Narrow passages showed up where movement slows. Each detail stuck, useful if things went wrong. My thoughts sorted what could help me later.
Then I stopped.
Beneath the tangle of branches, I dropped to my knees, then froze without breath. Silence followed movement like shadow after light.
Breath tight in my chest, energy racing down my arms - yet thoughts stayed sharp. Stillness inside even as everything screamed to move.
Focus.
Fear had no place here. That moment demanded calm.
Thinking came first. Then planning followed. Strategy took shape after that.
This time around focused less on staying alive. More on gaining insight. Grasping the details. Getting ready - whatever followed.
This - this - was just the start.
Down among the dark shapes, I held my breath steady while ideas slipped loose.
OmniWars.
Everything shifted when the game arrived.
Folks everywhere started opening envelopes today. Not many had any idea where this would lead. To them, it seemed like play - something light, maybe even silly, something to pass an afternoon.
Frozen in silence, they stood unaware. A quiet distance stretched between thought and truth.
One week later, every person alive got a letter. As soon as the second season started, reality blurred into the game.
Out of nowhere, monsters filled the sidewalks. In the middle of downtown, dungeons popped up overnight. Walking down the avenue, people saw NPCs blending into the crowd.
Folks everywhere could face deadly outcomes, a staggering number slipping away.
Strength had nothing to do with it.
Facing it without a plan. That changed everything.
Back then, I stood there watching. Whole towns vanished while I looked on. People died - killed by things they had no defense against. Homes shattered like glass. Cities turned into broken piles of stone. Power faded, rulers fell, everything cracked open.
It just happened, with me unable to do a thing.
This round feels different.
Finding my footing came easier now. Past tries taught me something real. The path ahead? Clearer than before.
That knowing sat heavy in my chest, shaping what came next. It pushed me toward steps that might reach more than a few.
Yet thinking clearly mattered most back then.
Facing folks with honesty wasn't an option. Trust vanished before words even left my mouth. Madness was the only label they had ready.
No.
It started with small nudges. Not quite telling, more like pointing toward answers. A tip here, a thought there. People needed reasons to jump into OmniWars early. The timing mattered - getting in before Season 2 changed everything. Helping them see it wasn't just another game.
Out there, someone might share advice without a name attached. Creating step-by-step walkthroughs could happen quietly. Details on how stats add up, which jobs fit certain playstyles, what works best at the start - those bits tend to move fast once they're loose.
If it were up to me, I'd make sure people knew what lay ahead. Preparation would come first, whatever the cost.
The strength of humankind grew with every person left standing, ready for what came next.
Grabbing every player I find. They grow tougher under my watch. This bunch? Soon they march like soldiers.
When the twelve traitors acted - when they attempted to pull their "Lord" out of a different world - I stood prepared.
I'll stop them.
I'll kill them.
Every single one.
Tension locked my jaw, fingers curling into tight balls at my sides.
This time around, I'm holding on tight. Not letting go again.
Something scratched through the air, pulling me back.
My muscles locked tight, stuck in place like stone. Stillness took over without warning.
Something's coming.
Breathing sharp, I stared between leaves. Branches hid me while fear pulsed behind my ribs.
That is when my eyes caught sight of it.
A Goblin.
A tiny thing stood there, roughly four feet high, covered in dull green-gray skin. Long ears, sharply angled, rose from its head, while jagged yellow teeth lined a half-open mouth. Light barely touched it, yet the eyes shone - dim, steady, locked onto movement nearby.
A rough-hewn stick swung at its side, every step twitching without rhythm.
Yet speed came through.
Breath caught, eyes locked on its every move.
Level 0.
These creatures defined bottom-rung foes in OmniWars. Fragile by nature. Dragging their feet across battlefields. A novice fighter could handle them without trouble.
Just because it seemed calm didn't make it safe.
Out in the wild, goblins move together. A single sound, a small mistake - suddenly they're on top of you. Fast. Everywhere.
A careless move, that's all it took - even a weakest foe might end you.
A shadow crept near, testing the wind with quick sniffs. Its gaze darted sideways, then back again.
Still as stone. Not a single breath escaped.
Movement now. Continue ahead.
A move came next.
Then another.
After that moment, it shifted direction, showing me only its back as it moved off into the distance.
Now.
Down low my fingers crept, finding a stone the size of a clenched palm, tucked under soil. Tight it sat in my grasp, every muscle pulled taut, ready.
A shape moved close - ten paces off - with eyes fixed ahead, never turning my way.
I stood.
Flying ahead, that was me. Then came the rush of motion.
A split second passed before I reached them. The gap vanished fast, like it never existed.
Before it could twist its head, the world went dark.
A heavy stone flew from my hands, crashing hard against its head. Power surged through me as it dropped fast, smashing bone without warning.
CRACK.
Bones cracked under the force, skin tearing like paper. A shrill cry escaped the goblin before it dropped face-first, twitching wildly. Pain hit hard, sudden, raw.
I didn't stop.
Footsteps thudded behind me as I drove downward, knees locking its body flat, then lifted the stone once more.
Beneath my weight, the goblin kicked up dust, fingers raking the ground while screams tore from its throat - raw, shrill, full of fear.
The stone landed with a thud. It had been lifted before, now it rested again.
THUD.
Again.
THUD.
Again.
THUD.
A sudden rush of warmth hit my skin - red droplets spreading fast. Heavy liquid clung to fingers, streaked up sleeves. The sharp scent filled the air right away.
A crack split the goblin's head open, sending shards of bone and wet tissue skittering over dirt. One jerk - then another - the limbs shuddered before falling limp. Silence took it.
On and on, I swung again. Then once more without stopping.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Blood soaked my fingers, each heartbeat loud in my ears. The world narrowed to a single point ahead. Air tore into my lungs like broken glass.
It needs to stay down. Must confirm. Can't risk it rising again. Not happening
BZZZZT.
Floating there, a window screen glowed faintly before my eyes.
A goblin lies dead at your feet - its level was zero. The fight is over now.
Reward 4 Torin Points
Breath caught, I fixed on the alert glowing there.
Four points.
That's it?
The stone fell from my grip, leaving streaks behind. I rubbed my palms down the fabric of my legs. Thoughts came fast, one after another.
Four Torin Points for a level zero foe. Honestly? That feels like almost nothing at all.
Only later did it hit me.
True, the challenge here is minimal. Zero-level creatures like these goblins barely pose a threat. Their purpose? To fill space in early fights. Hardly worth much effort at all.
A step up in rank meant fatter returns. That much was clear.
Right now, though, I stood at Level 1. These goblins? They barely counted as threats - about the weakest you could find.
Even so. A gain of four remains a gain of four.
Breathing slow, I stared at the broken body of the goblin below. The shape on the ground barely looked real anymore.
Pools of blood gathered underneath, deep and shiny. The face, only pieces remaining, could not be known.
Fingers shook without warning. A quiet tremor ran through each hand.
Not from fear.
From adrenaline.
That moment came. The deed was done.
That was when the sound reached me.
Voices.
Screeches.
More goblins.
Many of these. Some others too.
Shit.
Maybe they heard the sound. Could be the scent of blood reached them.
Out the door before answers could show up.
Spinning away, I took off fast.
Breathing hard, I pushed forward into the thick green, sharp twigs slicing skin as I dodged sideways. Every footfall cracked over twisted vines that curled like traps beneath wet leaves.
Thoughts sprinted through my head without pause.
Something in the air catches their nose. Here I am, they think.
Down at my body, I stared. Clothes soaked, skin splattered - goblin gore stuck everywhere. Walking out of a butcher's floor, that's what it seemed like.
This has got to be wiped away. Right now.
Still, not a drop of liquid in sight. Not even a trace of a river. A stream? Nowhere close.
Damn it.
Footfalls heavy, I wove past trunks, lungs burning while the shrieks of goblins faded behind me. Branches slapped my arms as speed became survival, every twist buying seconds they couldn't reclaim.
Running took up my time for a full tenth of an hour.
Breath on fire. Muscles screaming through each step. Still moving forward, though.
There it was. After all that waiting.
A fence.
Standing high, made of wood, rough in shape - yet clearly one thing.
Footsteps screeched to silence as surprise lit up my face.
A fence? Out here? Really?
Footsteps slow, I edged forward, staying near the ground, eyes fixed on the spaces between planks.
Beyond the fence stood a cluster of homes, quiet under morning light.
A scattering of rough timber shelters, set out in a wide ring. In the middle, an ash-filled hollow where flames once burned.
A goblin town.
Yet inside, nothing waited.
Stillness hangs thick. Not a single goblin stirs nearby. The air stays locked in place.
Where are they?
Suddenly, I understood.
Everyone has gone looking. Out there, they're trying to find where I am.
The creature I had taken down - now they dispatched others to investigate. That left the village without protection.
My cheeks lifted into a smile. The corners of my mouth widened without warning. A quiet laugh followed close behind.
Perfect.
A chunk of earth gave up a stone when I bent down. Smashing it into the fence made splinters fly. Wood cracked loose with a sharp snap. Through that opening, narrow but passable, I slipped.
I slipped inside.
Wind moved through empty streets. Buildings stood still under gray sky. No voices broke the quiet.
Footsteps fast, I went hut to hut, eyes scanning for whatever might help. Then silence - nothing stood out at first.
Some held nothing at all - only dust on the ground, pieces of old bone lying around, sleeping mats made rough. A few had no sign of life - earth packed hard beneath, fragments of skeletons tossed aside, makeshift pallets torn and worn.
In that fourth little shelter, there it was - something waiting. Not much, just enough to make me stop.
A hand axe.
Though worn down by time, covered in orange stains, its edge still bit clean through air. Heavy in hand, awkward to hold, yet keen enough to scare.
Up I lifted it, feeling how heavy it seemed. Then came the sense of balance, shifting slightly between my fingers.
This'll do.
Out past the doorway I looked, eyes fixed on the silent streets where no goblin moved.
That moment, laughter took over.
Quietly at first.
Then louder.
Laughter burst out of me, loud, until my voice bounced off every corner of the village.
"You're all going to die," I said, my voice cold and filled with dark satisfaction. "Every single one of you. By my hands."
Fingers curled hard around the handle, a smile creeping across my face.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"