Chapter 0
───────────
Episode 0 - Adel.
─────────────────────────────────
Click! Click! Click! Click!
The laptop screen dimly illuminated the dark office.
Displayed on it was a fully completed character: his eyes were covered with a white cloth blindfold, his hair was the same color, as pale as moonlight, and he had a face anyone would consider perfect.
As I stared at the screen, I couldn't help but think.
'The character is already finished, however…'
Creak!
At that very moment, the door to my office opened.
A woman entered carrying several papers in her hands.
"Hello, superior."
I nodded at her greeting and shifted my gaze toward my assistant, then to the documents she was carrying.
She placed them on my desk, and after a second, I asked:
"That idiot again…"
My assistant sighed.
"Superior, even if he's the CEO's friend, he still holds a position above yours."
"And does that matter? My position and that guy's are practically the same anyway."
With another sigh, my assistant decided not to continue the topic.
After all, speaking seriously, only the CEO and the owner of the company ranked above me.
Looking at the papers once more, I asked:
"So, this is…"
My assistant immediately understood and nodded.
"Oh, yes. They're for your approval seal."
"Understood."
Then I focused on the computer once again.
Shortly afterward, my assistant, who still hadn't moved, asked:
"Superior, is the new character's story already finished?"
"Yes… well, something like that. The character himself is already complete, and so is his story. However, because of how cruel he is, the game might end up being rated for adults only… and changing that would take quite a long time."
"That would delay the update's release, wouldn't it?"
I nodded without taking my eyes off the screen.
My assistant stepped beside me and looked at the character's design.
"For the final villain of the story… and also the final boss… isn't his design a little too… beautiful? I mean, handsome, even cute… despite being a villain."
I tilted my head slightly.
"The design is the least important part. What matters is his power. As the final enemy, both his strength and his story are essential. However, in multiplayer mode he'll be a playable character, so the final enemy can change."
The game I had worked on for years would finally reach its conclusion with the next update.
In single-player mode, you can only choose one character: the protagonist, and follow the main story.
Meanwhile, in multiplayer mode, you can select a wide variety of characters, with the exception of the protagonist.
The final villain will also be playable.
After all, in multiplayer, decisions are free: the final enemy can be someone else… or even the story itself can change completely.
That means that if you select any multiplayer character and insert them into single-player mode…
Basically, they become someone who never existed in the story before, but now is part of it.
"But, superior… what exactly is wrong with the story?"
"As I said, it could be too intense for a younger audience. The laws in several countries could force us to change many things."
At my words, my assistant replied:
"So, the character's story is already finished."
"Yes. But just in case, I'll write another version as well… and also in case the investors don't approve it."
My assistant nodded after my explanation. Then, after staring at the character's design for a moment, she said:
"From the way you designed him, superior… he looks more like a cheerful character, with that smile… than the final enemy of the story."
"He is."
My assistant nodded.
However, when I observed the character's smile more closely, I couldn't help but frown.
For some reason…
It looked fake.
And it seemed… lonely.
And above all…
Sad.
'Is it just my imagination… or is it because of how cruel his story is?'
I shook my head, dismissing the thought.
Then I looked at my assistant.
"Don't you have work to do?"
"Oh… uh… right. Sorry, superior. I'll take my leave."
After my assistant left, I let out a sigh.
Then I moved the cursor across the screen. I was about to test this character's gameplay.
'Adel, huh…'
That's his name.
Adel is completely blind; however, his senses are far beyond what anyone could imagine.
Although, in truth, it is not absolute blindness. He cannot see "normally," like any other character.
His vision is completely black… yet even so, he can perceive things no one else could.
'Besides, he's fairly strong from the start… though not enough to break the balance between the other characters.'
Anyway, once I finally placed the cursor over the button to start the test, I clicked.
The screen turned completely black.
'Mhm… what's going on?'
Not expecting something like this, I frowned. However, a few seconds later, the darkness disappeared.
'I thought the computer had broken down…'
But then, what appeared was the same interface as before, showing Adel with a forced smile.
This time, however, something was different.
It was as if he were looking at me.
'What the hell…?'
Before I could react, a sharp headache struck me.
My vision suddenly blurred.
And within seconds, everything around me went dark.
***
"Ugh… what the hell was that…?"
Still dealing with a slight headache, I tried to look around, but…
'Why can't I see anything?'
Everything was dark.
It was like having my eyes closed… but I was sure they were open.
'No way…'
I brought my hand to my face.
Something was covering my eyes.
After carefully feeling around, I realized I was wearing a tied blindfold.
When I pulled it down… I still couldn't see anything.
I put it back in place.
A thought immediately crossed my mind.
'I'm… blind.'
What the hell is this supposed to mean?
Panicking, I moved my hands around, searching for something to support myself.
Soon, I felt a firm surface.
I pressed against it and, with some effort, moved my legs until I managed to stand up.
It seemed to be a bed… judging by how soft it was.
There also had to be a small table nearby.
I slowly moved forward, waving my hands around as I walked through what seemed to be a room.
'There's no doubt…'
I stopped.
And focused.
As much as I could.
Then…
White lines began to appear in the middle of the darkness.
At first they were faint and blurry… but little by little, they started taking shape.
Those lines outlined the environment around me.
It was as if someone were sketching the world onto a black canvas with a white pencil.
Within seconds, everything took form.
And that only confirmed my suspicions.
'This is definitely… Adel's body. The villain… and the final enemy of Holy Land.'
That revelation should have been shocking to anyone.
But I didn't feel anything in particular.
'That means I'm inside the game… in that case…'
I wasn't sure how I would "see" this. But since this was a blind character, the interface had to be different.
"Status Window."
Normally, it would appear in front of me.
But this time, it was different.
As if something were being projected directly into my mind.
Mentally, almost like magic.
Something appeared within my imagination.
——————————
Name: Adel
Age: 18
Status: Player
Mana: ★ ★ ★ 〖88.59%〗
■| Sword Arts
∆ Mercenary Fencing.
■| Traits
∆ True Sight (Mastery/Max)
∆ Senses of the Nine Heavens (Mastery/Max+)
∆ Weakness Detection (Mastery/Max)
∆ Mana Sense (Mastery/Max)
∆ Immunity to Pain (Mastery/Max)
∆ Without emotions (Mastery/Perfection)
∆ Beyond Limits (Mastery/Max)
■| Unique Trait
∆ Eyes of the End
■| Heart's Strength
∆ Elixir of Recovery
■| Equipped Items
∆ Bandage Beyond Reason (Rank/Mythic)
■| Runes
〖Inventory〗 〖Quests〗
——————————
'As I expected… everything else is the same, but…'
The last part left me bewildered.
'A pair of simple bandages are Mythic-ranked?'
'And that Unique Trait…'
Waking up in Adel's body, or even inside the game Holy Land, had not stirred any emotions in me.
But the rank of those bandages… and that trait…
Awakened a faint sense of disbelief within me.