Chapter 1: Game of the Dead
Darkness. Weightless, breathless silence. Then... a voice, calm as eternity.
"So, you're finally awake."
A strange warmth wrapped around me, like the echo of a dream I couldn't remember.
"Where... am I?"
"Am I… dead?"
"Yes, child. You're dead."
There it was. Simple. Cold. Final.
No thunder. No screaming. Just those words.
"I… I'm only fifteen," I whispered. "How… did I die?"
"That memory has been erased. It would only bring pain."
And just like that, the panic dulled. Like someone had pressed a mute button on my fear.
I couldn't remember the pain. Only a quiet emptiness.
"Oh… I see."
"Listen carefully. I created a world—a little experiment. It was meant to be fun, a place where stories played like games."
"But now… something's wrong. Chaos brews. Balance is shattered."
The voice paused. Then softened.
"I need your help. Fix it. And in return, you can live again—in that world."
"Wait. Help how? I'm just an ordinary guy. I'm not strong. I don't even know how to fight properly. At best I know a few things… basics."
"You won't need to fight with fists. Just play a card game."
"...A card game?"
"Yes. In this world, strength flows through cards and clans. Each person is chosen by a divine clan—a reflection of their soul. Every card holds power: monsters, weapons, traps, support."
"The stronger you play, the stronger you become. Level up, summon, evolve."
It sounded insane. Like something out of an anime.
"So… I just play cards? And I can get stronger?"
"Like, literally?"
"Literally. And fate… is watching. So, tell me—"
"Choose. Which Clan do you belong to?"
A luminous circle lit up around me, and glowing sigils turned to ten. Each one pulsed like a heartbeat, whispering ancient promises in a language I didn't understand—but somehow felt.
Justice – Divine judgment, retribution, and unbreakable order.
Hero – Glory, sacrifice, and unwavering courage.
Chaos – Unstable energy, unpredictable tactics, and entropy.
Dark – Forbidden power, soul curses, and unholy force.
Knight – Discipline, defense, and honorable warfare.
Holy – Healing, miracles, and radiant light.
Warrior – Brute strength, relentless offense, and battle instincts.
Magician – Elemental control, illusions, and arcane arts.
Assassin – Swift death, high offense, stealth, and precision strikes. Low defense but lethal in one hit.
Hunter – Tactical traps, terrain control, balanced skills, and adaptability. Not as strong as a Warrior, but hard to counter.
"Each clan speaks to a different soul. Each gift comes with a cost. Strength, wisdom, cunning, purity... Choose what echoes inside you."
My heart pounded.
Justice? Strength? Deception? Survival?
What kind of card player… what kind of warrior… would I become?