In the nihilistic void where neither time nor space existed, a single voice resonated—a cold, mechanical sound that knew no mercy.
It was the voice of the "System."
[Ding!]
[You have failed to pass the final trial. Commencing countdown for the erasure of the world...]
The "Player" felt a chilling cold seeping into his limbs. There were no screams; only a funeral silence that preceded the storm.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"0"
[Erasure in progress... Please wait for loading to complete...]
[Erasure successful.]
Everything ended. The world, the mountains, the seas, and billions of humans vanished. Nothing remained but darkness... and the System screen floating before that lone individual.
[System Error!]
[An element exists that the System cannot erase.]
The screen flickered violently as symbols began to clash and overlap.
[Deleting Player... Please wait for loading to complete...]
[System Error!]
[Deleting Player Account...]
[System Error!]
The soul was resisting. Something deep within this human refused to succumb to nothingness. The System began to malfunction like a broken machine.
[Deleting Player Skills...]
[System Error!]
[Deleting Player Body...]
[Deletion successful.]
[System Error!]
[Deleting Player Soul...]
[Deletion successful.]
[System Error!]
Silence reigned for a second... then red light exploded everywhere.
[The Player's soul refuses to detach from its erased body!]
[Attempting to re-establish connection between them...]
[System Error!]
[System Error!]
[Error.. Error.. Error..]
Messages cascaded at a frantic speed until the screen nearly shattered. The System was no longer able to comprehend this "Glitch."
[Due to the presence of a Corrupted Element that the System cannot process, it will be exiled to the Abyss Zone.]
[Exiling...]
[Exile successful.]
In the Depths of the Abyss
The "Player" opened his eyes—or what remained of his consciousness—to find himself before a magnificent entity, a black aura that swallowed the light.
[The Lord of the Abyss welcomes you to his domain and wishes to make you his next successor.]
[Do you accept to be the successor to the Lord of the Abyss, "Zambuza"?]
"3"
"2"
"1"
The Player did not move. He did not speak. He was drowned in the shock of losing his world.
[No response from the Player.]
[Loading System auto-reply based on the last question answered by the Player before his exile...]
The System retrieved the final words the Player had uttered while facing death in his shattered world:
"Do you think you will survive, you human scum?"
The Player had answered then with sheer pride: "No, but at least I'm taking you with me!"
[Answer identified: "No."]
[The Player has rejected the gift of the Lord of the Abyss, Zambuza!]
The Abyss shook with fury. Zambuza's gaze shifted from welcome to pure contempt.
[Lord Zambuza has declared you a sacrifice for the resurrection of his next successor.]
[You have been rejected by the Lord of the Abyss!]
The System began searching desperately for a place to cast this "Outcast"—one accepted neither by Death nor the Abyss.
[Searching for a suitable location....]
[No results found.]
[Searching for a suitable location....]
[No results found.]
[Searching....]
Suddenly, a majestic golden message appeared, drowning out the darkness of the Abyss.
[The Dragon Lord has decided to accept you as a slave in his grand palace.]
[Loading data...]
[Operation successful.]
A magical brand appeared on the Player's soul—the mark of eternal servitude.
[The Dragon Lord welcomes Slave No. 98912111]
[Shutting down System...]
"3"
"2"
"1"
"0"
Everything went dark. The true nightmare had just begun.