Summer was ending.
The sun was falling once again. Slowly, the world began to dim down. People began to settle into their homes.
I thought to myself, what an ordinary day...
"It's time to log in for today."
If you asked me, this kind of day, wasn't all that bad. Today might have been nothing but being at home all day, but that's fine.
It's been a year since I graduated from university, and all my friends and acquaintances seem to be having their own lives now. We rarely hang out.
"Hmm?"
My mother would always nag me to get a girlfriend, but honestly, I prefer my idyllic peace. Passing the days, as if nothing in the world mattered. That's all I ever wanted. Maybe.
Was I lonely? Probably. There might have been days when I wished I had someone again.
[Welcome, Number 7 Global Pawn Ranking, Fran.]
The oddly soothing voice of the announcement as I logged into the game, no one would have believed it was artificial intelligence.
"Special Event... huh?"
It's been a year since I played this game, King's Cradle. I don't know how or why exactly I keep playing it, but I just do. While most of my friends quit due to the difficulty, I was the only one who stayed.
"Today is the one-year anniversary? Let me see..."
Of course, I checked the rewards first and went straight through the mail.
It was...
A disappointment.
"What's this...?" I let out a sigh.
[From: Admin]
[Happy First Anniversary! See you all. :) ]
That's all? I thought. No rewards, no special announcement, no nothing.
I leaned back on my chair, contemplating why I even play this shitty difficult game.
"Maybe I should go out more..." I dejectedly smile.
As if interrupting my thoughts, the screen shone brightly. So bright that it started to feel hot... what?
"Wai—"
Without much of a thought or a reaction, I was blinded by that light, and just before I blanked out.
[Welcome to King's Cradle! This is our gift to you, our dear supportive players!]
<<----------->>
"Hmm..."
Looking around, he began to survey his surroundings. Papers, Quills, and his fancy desk. It was more accurate to say he was in some administrative office. Behind him, a huge arched window that was as tall as those found in churches.
[Welcome to EVO-C1191, King Fran.]
"You are...!"
That's right, he has heard this multiple times, the soothing and gentle voice from none other than the game he loved, a player's assistant.
"Axy!"
Glad by the rectangular screen that somehow conjured in front of his face, Fran called out to the assistant that he had been with for the past year, whom he named Axy. Apparently, every player had a different assistant tailored to their personality and preference.
[I also did not expect to be with you again :\ ]
"Haha, I thought I'd have to figure all this stuff alone. I'm glad you're here."
[I'm not.]
This was Axy. Instead of the usual status and interface, King's Cradle instead adopted a personalized AI assistant. Fran and all other players loved it, some would even just log in to speak with their assistant. It's because no matter how many times their characters die, only their assistant stays with them. Some even theorized that they were meant to keep you "hooked" to the game by constantly encouraging you.
[In any case, I have already been given orders.]
"Damn... they're not giving me a break."
Fran didn't know there was an entity above the [King] in King's Cradle. All he knew was that orders were given by the King to the Pawns, and they got rewarded for doing it. Evo, however, explained that the [King] was given a milestone that they needed to achieve, otherwise they would be replaced.
[Sponsor: Evo]
[Hello~! I presume you've arrived safely. Well, I'll give you enough time since you just arrived. Please secure at least one fragment during that time! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧]
[Deadline: 14 days]
[There you have it, King Fran.]
"You calling me King is..."
[No, this is orders.]
"..."
Fran was contemplating how he ended up with this kind of personal assistant in the first place, even though it was entirely because of him.
A few moments passed, as his assistant Axy briefed him on everything he needed to know, and what's different between being a [King] and a [Pawn].
<<----------->>
[In any case, here is your status]
[Fran Asroth]
[Strength - 1 (34%)] [Agility - 1 (52%)] [Intelligence - 2 (7%)] [Endurance - 1 (16%)] [Stamina - 1 (42%)]
[Unique Gift - King's Authority]
[You are the ruler of Cradle EVO-C1191; therefore, any inhabitants of the Cradle will be largely influenced by your decisions and actions. However, this does not mean that your words are absolute. With some exceptions, inhabitants may still oppose you.]
"Hmm, better than a trash 1-star character."
For new players receiving stats like this, they may assume the worst and say they have the worst luck. However, having a stat that's other than 1 is already a good starting point for most veteran players.
[Here are three common wishing tickets. I am to receive one daily and give it to you.]
As Axy declared that, three brown-colored tickets that are easily the size of both of Fran's hands, were conjured on the desk—as if materializing from thin air.
"There's a single star in the middle... I've never seen them before."
While being a veteran player, Fran had absolutely no clue when it comes to being [King], he had only been a [Pawn] up until recently, after all.
[Shall we move to the center of the cradle?]
[Teleport Cradle's Heart (Y/N)]
The center of the Cradle, or the Cradle's Heart, is considered to be the most important part of the Cradle, as it is where [Pawns] are born. Fran had to see it get destroyed multiple times, and of course, it resulted in the Cradle collapsing, eventually killing and destroying everything.
"No."
[Hmm? What's wrong, King Fran?]
"You know me, we're going to the Rift immediately."
Fran stood up from his desk, adjusted his clothes, and looked out the window. It was his first time being this high up and overseeing the Cradle. He scanned his surroundings—the falling sun over the horizon, the training grounds, the inn, the various facilities, and lastly the Dimensional Rift, or Rift for short.
[You're the king, you know...]
[Teleport Dimensional Rift (Y/N)]
Fran knew the risks. If he dies, everything collapses, and he might not even have a great afterlife experience for failing what he was tasked to do. In chess, it's the same as moving the King to attack the enemy. It's suicide.
"Yes."
[Understood. Teleporting...]
However, in his mind, he has already decided. The moment he arrived—no, the moment he came to accept Evo's words, Fran knew already what he must do. He must survive and see through it till the end. To do so, he would need to at least get his hands dirty.
As he stood there, towering in front of him was a gigantic white crystalline door. It appears solid, but when touched, it feels like liquid and shines ever so brightly.
Dusk was approaching.