A teenage boy stared fondly at his PC screen. The name "Neo" was displayed proudly on it, and he smiled—like a proud father watching his son succeed.
James: "Man... Conquest of the Legends. Such a damn good game. Five years, and these guys are still killing it."
Satisfied, he stood up, stretched, and flopped onto his bed. Sleep took him easily.
But when James opened his eyes again, he wasn't in his room. He stood in a void surrounded by countless stars. There was no ground, no sky—just endless, beautiful nothing.
Then, a voice—a woman's—spoke, soft and powerful.
Voice: "Your death is a death most would envy, James."
He looked around instinctively, but there was no one in sight.
Voice: "No need to search. I'm already by you. I exist everywhere and nowhere. My true form would crush your soul."
James remained surprisingly calm, piecing things together.
James: "So... I'm dead. Am I going to hell or something?"
Voice: laughs gently "Your realm isn't even high enough to deserve that. And I couldn't judge you even if I tried. I'm far from perfect."
James: "Perfect?"
Voice: "Indeed. But anyway... James, your fan killed you. Died in your sleep. Quite simple, really. You could say death made you die lazily."
James blinked. "Seriously? That's it?"
Voice: "Oh, and that game you were playing... What was it called again?"
James: "Conquest of the Legends."
Voice: "Yes. Over two million logins. You really loved that game."
James: "I did."
Suddenly, a swirling dark energy appeared before him, forming into a vivid 3D model. The figure was a man with violet skin, silver hair, and glowing red eyes. A dark cloak flowed around him, and twin daggers hung at his side.
James: "Neo…"
Voice: "Yes. Or should I say... your alter ego?"
A pause.
Voice: "Now listen carefully, James."
A new image shimmered into existence. A girl, kneeling on a calm pond, her golden hair reflecting the light. She had pale skin and short, pointed ears.
Voice: "Her name is Eluna Vianor, a half-elf from the Vianor family. She's basically an extra in a novel. Background noise, if you will."
James: "Wait a minute… this is starting to sound like some shitty love story."
The voice fell silent for a beat, then burst into laughter.
Voice: "No, no. It's not what you think. The Vianors are known for their Magic Swordsman class. But Eluna? She's a Spirit Master. Rare. Unwanted. Especially by her own family. Half-elves like her get no love. And the humans? They hate elves altogether."
James: "Let me guess—male humans hate male elves, and females hate female elves?"
Voice: "Exactly."
James: "Makes sense."
Voice: "Eluna also has a sister. Lili. But the family doesn't treat her any better."
James: "So the whole household's just trash. Got it."
Voice: "Good. Now, James… you're going to be Eluna's Spirit Guardian. As Neo."
James: sighs "Do I have a choice?"
Voice: "None whatsoever."
James grumbled, but accepted it. Just as the darkness began to envelope him again, the voice added one last thing.
Voice: "Oh—and don't you dare go aura farming like you did in the game."
James: "Oh, you know I'm going to do exactly that."
And with a grin, he vanished.