The sky over the Grand Arena was lit up in shades of gold and red, setting the stage for something big. The flags of House Edevane and House Draeven hung in the air, still and tense.
Two names rang out more than the cheers:
Leonhart Edevane.
Lucien Draeven.
A fight that seemed meant to happen.
The Arena Changes
This match wasn't your typical stone circle. The high mages had set up a reality field—a battleground that shifted the ground, changed gravity, and mimicked different environments.
One moment we were standing on steep cliffs, and the next, we were surrounded by floating ruins.
"Welcome to the Final Gauntlet," the announcer's voice boomed. "Here, both power and strategy are put to the test."
Lucien stood opposite me, his coat billowing, hands tucked behind his back.
"Let's see which version of you shows up today," he said.
"Just the real me," I shot back.
The bell rang.
Round One: Elemental Clash
He kicked things off with a Void Lance—a spear of dark ice that ripped through the air. I dodged with Phantom Step, weaving around the icy blasts.
"Too slow," he murmured, and the lance exploded in midair, a trick.
I was thrown back, my ribs slamming against a ruined pillar.
He was quick. Sharp. In control.
But I was done playing nice.
I activated Chain Break—a skill I had from my gaming days, now mixed with shadow-fire magic. It broke my limits for five seconds.
I blurred into action, fire spiraling around me.
I landed a punch right on Lucien's jaw.
He was sent flying into a floating platform.
Cheers erupted.
He wiped the blood from his lip and smirked.
"Forgot how much you loved those overpowered builds."
"Old habits die hard."
Round Two: Code Unleashed
Lucien shifted gears.
He pulled back his coat sleeve, showing a glowing symbol—a triangle filled with binary codes on his skin.
"The system isn't just watching," he said, "it's listening."
He raised his hand and said a command:
ADMIN_CALL: RELEASE_MEMORY_FRAGMENT_03
Reality flickered.
The arena morphed into my old bedroom. My PC. My monitor. The glow of Archaic Realms Online—the game I used to lose myself in.
"What's going on!?"
Lucien stood next to a younger version of me, hunched over at my desk, wearing a headset.
"Tell me, Edward… during all those hours, who were you in the game?"
"…Leonhart," I said softly.
"Exactly. This world is that game, but brought to life. We didn't just escape; we combined."
He stepped closer. "You were the hero even then. This is just your final level."
Suddenly, my reflection from the monitor turned toward me… and smiled.
It whispered:
"Game Over is only for those who give up."
Final Round: The Awakening
The dream shattered.
I was back on the battlefield, shaking but now aware.
I raised my hand and summoned two elements at once: thunder and shadow.
I concentrated.
"SOUL CODE: SYNTHESIS MODE — 'Persona Reforge'"
Magic surged through me. My symbol glowed bright. My hair turned silver. Memories swirled around me.
I wasn't just a player anymore.
I was a mix of two worlds.
Lucien's eyes widened.
"You did it…"
I charged.
Magic collided. Time slowed. Our weapons—his icy void, mine of bright light—clashed high in the air, creating a shockwave that shattered the arena's illusion.
Everything went white.
Aftermath
When I opened my eyes, I was on my knees. The crowd was quiet.
Lucien was out cold.
I'd won.
But I didn't feel like celebrating.
I felt… awakened.
A voice called out from within my mark.
"PLAYER AWAKENED: RAISED TO 'World Key' Class."
"Simulation Level: FINAL PHASE — INITIATING."
And then it hit me:
This world wasn't just a fantasy game.
It was a testing ground for souls that had lived before.
A link between lives and the digital realm.
But now… I had the key.
To Be Continued…