My name is Kim Hyunwoo, a typical high school student who'd rather lose himself in the pages of a novel than deal with the chaos of the real world. Books are my portals to more exciting lives, an escape from the mundane routine.
"Phew… finally finished it," I muttered, closing the last page of "Destiny Etched: Footprints of the Stars." My eyes sparkled like newly discovered constellations. This story about constellations, impossible scenarios, and relentless struggles always managed to captivate me.
I've been an avid reader since elementary school, but "Destiny Etched" held a special place in my heart. Maybe it was because I always felt restricted in the real world, and this novel gave me hope for greater adventures.
"Hmm… if only this novel's world could become reality," I whispered, then sighed. A dream too far, too impossible to come true.
As I reached to put my phone in my pocket, a notification popped up, breaking my reverie. "Who's messaging me? Probably just another internet quota offer," I grumbled cynically.
But I couldn't have been more wrong. The message wasn't from a mobile operator, but from the author of "Destiny Etched" himself.
"Is this real?" My eyes widened in disbelief. My heart pounded so hard, it felt like it wanted to jump out of my chest.
Without a second thought, I bolted out of the crowd, searching for a quieter place to digest this information. In my haste, I collided with a girl who looked very familiar: Han Soomin, the school's ultimate popular girl, always the center of attention.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going," I blurted out, not even pausing to meet her eyes.
"It's okay," she replied curtly, with a tone that made me feel guilty.
I didn't have time for a longer apology. With long strides, I ran towards home, hoping the message from the author would still be there when I arrived.
"Hurry… I have to reply to this message before it gets deleted!" I thought, breathless.
---
Home - Gateway to Another World
As soon as I got home, I burst through the door, ignoring the exhaustion and hunger that gnawed at me.
"Finally here! Time to reply to the author's message," I muttered, my eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Showering and eating could wait. The most important thing right now was to find out what was actually happening. I collapsed on my bed, grabbed my phone, and opened the message from the author.
But as I opened the message, the earth suddenly trembled violently. It wasn't an ordinary earthquake, but a jolt that made the entire building creak and sway.
I jumped out of bed and ran to the window. With trembling hands, I opened the curtains and was completely shocked.
In the middle of familiar Seoul, stood a magnificent palace, glittering in the sunlight. The building looked like a dream come true, but it also felt incredibly foreign and menacing.
"What is that? Why is there a palace in the middle of the capital?" I whispered, unable to take my eyes off the bizarre sight.
When I looked back at the message from the author, I realized this wasn't an ordinary message. It was an invitation, or rather, a command.
---
Message from the Creator
"Greetings, My Loyal Reader of 'Destiny Etched: Footprints of the Stars'!
You must be bewildered by the appearance of the palace in the middle of your city, aren't you? That's because I want to invite you to play inside my novel. I hope you can save the world from the impending hell."
My heart was pounding even harder. I felt scared, confused, and excited all at the same time.
"So, this is all your doing, author of 'Destiny Etched'? But why are you involving the whole world in this game?" I grumbled, glaring at the palace with a frustrated look.
As I was still pondering, the sky suddenly filled with strange blue screens. Citizens of Seoul gathered in the streets, pointing at the sky with bewildered and fearful expressions.
"What's that? Why is the sky full of blue screens?" asked a woman with a trembling voice.
I went outside to get a clearer view of what was happening. The blue screens then formed a cute and adorable animated doll.
"Hello, foolish humans! I am Azura, pet of the gods," the doll greeted with a cheerful voice. "You must be confused by the appearance of this magnificent palace, right? Well, to get rid of it, you have to climb that tower, complete the given scenarios, and face the challenging constellations!"
Azura spoke in an arrogant and haughty tone, as if this was just a game. But I knew that this was a matter of life and death.
Strangely, instead of being afraid, the citizens of Seoul were fascinated by Azura's appearance. They took out their phones and started taking pictures and videos of the doll.
"Wow, what a cute doll! I want one at home," chirped a woman with an admiring tone.
I shook my head in disbelief. Didn't they realize the danger lurking?
"So, this isn't a dream," I muttered, pinching my cheek. The pain I felt convinced me that this was all real. "But why did the author have to involve everyone in this?"
Before I could find an answer, Azura snapped her fingers in annoyance. Suddenly, the sky shattered like glass, revealing a horrifying view from another world.
"Alright, you loser humans! The first scenario starts now: Survive the monsters from another world! Goodbye!" Azura said with a cynical smile, then disappeared from the screen.
Without wasting time, I ran towards the armory that usually appeared at the beginning of scenarios. I knew from the novel that the constellations wouldn't be stingy in providing assistance to the players.
As I ran, I saw Han Soomin, the school's popular girl, fighting monsters with a bow and arrow. I was surprised to see her so skilled in combat.
"Oh, so she's participating too," I muttered, then continued my journey to the armory. I knew where the armory was located, thanks to my knowledge of the novel's world.
---
The Armory - Beginning of the Battle
Breathless, I arrived in front of the armory. My heart was pounding, as if it wanted to explode.
"Finally here. Okay, let's go inside," I whispered, grabbing the doorknob.
But before I could open the door, a small goblin appeared behind me, swinging its club at me.
SWOOSH!
"Damn! Good thing I know all the goblins' moves," I cursed, managing to dodge the attack.
I didn't let the goblin attack me again. With a quick movement, I turned around and ran towards it.
"Now it's your turn to die, goblin! Don't you dare attack me from behind!" I growled, clenching my fist.
With one punch, I knocked the goblin to the ground. Without mercy, I rained blows on the goblin until it stopped moving.
"Argh… finally you're dead," I sighed, wiping the goblin's blood from my hands.
As I cleaned the blood, I heard a whisper in my ear.
'Congratulations! You have earned 5 points for killing a goblin monster.'
I smiled in satisfaction. Finally, my adventure in the world of "Destiny Etched" had begun. With firm steps, I entered the armory.
Inside, I was captivated by the various weapons neatly arranged on the shelves. Swords, spears, bows, arrows, and various other weapons gleamed under the lamplight.
"Yo, time to choose a weapon before the scenario time runs out," I muttered, glancing at the large clock hanging on the palace wall. The clock wasn't just a timekeeper, but a marker for the end of the first scenario.
First Scenario End Time: 03:00
I searched for a weapon that suited me, but nothing caught my attention. Almost desperate, I remembered something from the novel.
"That's right! The real weapon isn't here, but in the basement," I exclaimed, with a wide smile.
Without hesitation, I headed to the basement, even though the scenario time was almost up.
"Damn, why does it have to be so rushed?" I complained, quickening my pace.
---
The Basement - Destiny at Your Fingertips
I managed to find the entrance to the basement. Although it was pitch black, I knew that the weapon I was looking for was in front of me.
"Here you are, my weapon! My favorite in this novel," I whispered, with a sinister smile.
I opened the chest with a happy and anticipatory look. Inside, lay a sword with a jet-black blade and a handle adorned with intricate carvings. The sword seemed to exude an aura of tremendous power.
"Finally, I got it," I muttered, reaching out to touch the sword.
As my fingers touched the sword's handle, I suddenly remembered something: the scenario time!
"Crap! I have to complete this scenario before it's too late. Otherwise, I'll be thrown into an endless dimensional space," I exclaimed in panic, my face, which was previously beaming, now filled with fear.
Without wasting time, I grabbed the sword and ran as fast as I could towards the exit.
---
Battle Outside the Armory
I managed to get out of the basement, but the scene outside shocked me. The monsters, consisting of goblins, orcs, and other terrible creatures, were already waiting for me outside.
"Oh, so you guys were waiting for me," I muttered cynically, gripping the sword tightly in my hand. "Even though the system hasn't appeared in this world yet, I can defeat you without the system's help."
The goblins ran towards me wildly, swinging their clubs and swords. One of the goblins swung its club from the side, trying to hit me.
SWOOSH!
The goblin had a happy look on its face, convinced that it would successfully kill its first human.
"Gik-gik! (I succeeded in killing my first human!)," it exclaimed mockingly.
But the goblin was terribly wrong. I was already behind it, bending my knees and preparing to swing my sword at it.
SWOOSH!
The goblin's head was severed from its body, blood spurting in all directions.
"Don't be so happy yet, monsters," I hissed, glaring at the remaining monsters.
The monsters seemed frightened to see me kill the goblin so easily. They took a few steps back, hesitant to attack.
"You think you can run away from me?" I exclaimed, with a sinister smile.
I ran as fast as I could towards the monsters, chasing them with my sword drawn.
"Where do you think you're going?" I shouted, jumping into the air and lunging towards a group of goblins.
With one swing, I slashed the bodies of the goblins from top to bottom.
WHOOSH!
The bodies of the goblins were split in two, their blood and innards splattered on the ground. The remaining goblins looked even more frightened, but I didn't give them a chance to escape.
"GIK-GIK?" the goblins were confused.
SWOSH!
In the blink of an eye, all the goblins were lying on the ground with their bodies split in two.
"Gik-gik (Why is this world upside down?)," moaned one of the goblins before taking its last breath.
"Well, now everything has been defeated. Time for us to farm points," I muttered, grinning widely.
I ran towards the other monsters, slaughtering them without mercy. Every time I killed a monster, I heard a whisper in my ear.
'Congratulations! You have earned 10 points.'
The more monsters I killed, the more points I got. I felt stronger and more excited.
First Scenario End Time: 00:10
"Alright, maybe this is enough to get the first rank," I muttered, with a satisfied smile.
I stood in the middle of the battlefield, looking at the large clock in the magnificent palace with a proud look.
3...2...1...0...
Suddenly, the sky that was previously overcast turned clear again. The sunlight shone on the earth, warming my tired body.
All over the world, people breathed a sigh of relief. The first scenario had ended.
Suddenly, the sky was filled with blue screens again. Azura appeared on the screen, smiling cynically.
"Congratulations to those of you who managed to complete the first scenario. For those who failed, enjoy the journey in the endless dimensional space," she said mockingly.
Azura snapped her fingers. Instantly, everyone who had not earned points disappeared from the earth, leaving a terrible void.
"Alright, here is the world ranking for the most point acquisitions," said Azura, displaying a leaderboard on the screen.
World Leaderboard:
1, K.H. (Kim Hyunwoo) : 3,500 Points
2, Han Soomin: 1,300 Points
3, Park Jinwoo: 900 Points
I smiled widely seeing my name at the top of the leaderboard. I managed to be the best in the world!
However, my happiness was slightly disturbed when I saw the name Park Jinwoo, the main character from the novel "Destiny Etched", in third place.
"Why is the main character of the novel in third place?" I muttered confused.
I didn't pay much attention to it further. In front of me, appeared a blue screen that offered rewards.
Choose a Reward:
- Bracelet: Healer without Mana (50x)
- Invisible Suit: Disappearing Yourself for 1 Hour
- Status Points: 10x
I thought for a moment, considering which reward would be most useful for the next scenario.
"Since the next scenario will take place in the forest, I will choose the healer bracelet," I decided.
[DING! You Have Selected Heal Bracelet. Description: Heals 50x.]
I sighed in relief, feeling ready to face the next challenge. As I turned around, I saw Han Soomin looking at me with a shy face.
"You're amazing, Kim Hyunwoo," she said, smiling sweetly.
---
Soomin's POV - A Hidden Admiration
My name is Han Soomin, a popular girl at school. I am always surrounded by friends and admirers, but my heart is always set on one person: Kim Hyunwoo.
Every day, I see Kim Hyunwoo reading a novel in class. I'm always curious about what he's reading, what world he's immersing himself in.
"What novel are you reading, Hyunwoo?" I murmured softly, looking at his back from afar.
However, I'm too shy to approach him and ask directly. I always feel nervous and insecure when I'm near him.
With heavy steps, I left Kim Hyunwoo's class window, followed by my best friend, Jieun.
"Where are you going after this, Soomin?" Jieun asked curiously.
"Maybe I'll just go straight home," I replied listlessly.
"Ah, that's no fun! Why always go home?" Jieun complained.
I just smiled thinly. Actually, I wanted to ask Kim Hyunwoo to come with me, but I was too afraid to express it.
A Surprising Journey Home
As I was about to cross the street, I saw Kim Hyunwoo again. He looked rushed, his face showing a strange expression.
"Why does Kim Hyunwoo seem so rushed?" I muttered confused.
BANG!
Suddenly, Kim Hyunwoo and I collided. I staggered backwards, almost falling. But what surprised me even more was Kim Hyunwoo's expression. He looked very panicked and hurriedly apologized.
"I'm sorry! I didn't see you," he said hastily.
"I should have gotten to know him," I thought regretfully. "But why can't I talk to him?"
"It's okay," I replied briefly, with a tone that made me feel stupid.
Kim Hyunwoo immediately ran away, leaving me still transfixed in place.
As I was waiting for the bus at the bus stop, suddenly a magnificent palace appeared on the side of the road, glittering in the sunlight.
"Luckily I didn't get run over," I muttered in relief. "But what palace is this?"
A man tried to touch the palace, but he was immediately electrocuted and fell to the ground. I was shocked and took a few steps back, afraid to approach the palace.
"Luckily I didn't touch it," I whispered, my heart pounding hard.
As I sighed in relief, suddenly a strange blue screen appeared in the sky. Light gathered and formed a cute and adorable animated doll.
"Hello, foolish humans! I am Azura, pet of the gods," the doll greeted with a cheerful voice. "You must be confused by the appearance of this magnificent palace, right? Well, to get rid of it, you have to climb that tower, complete the given scenarios, and face the challenging constellations!"
I felt confused by the doll's explanation. What does all this mean?
Suddenly, beside me appeared a strange building that looked like a warehouse.
"What warehouse is this? Why does it say 'Weapon Warehouse'?" I muttered, approaching the door of the warehouse.
I swallowed, feeling nervous and scared.
"Okay, let's go inside," I whispered, grabbing the doorknob.
---
Inside the Weapon Warehouse - Beginning of the Struggle
I entered the weapon warehouse carefully. Inside, I was captivated by the various weapons neatly arranged on the shelves. Swords, spears, bows, arrows, and various other weapons gleamed under the lamplight.
"Are these real arrows?" I muttered, grabbing a bow and arrow. "But why do these arrows look like they're in a game world?"
As I touched the arrow, suddenly a strange image appeared in my hand.
"What's this?" I muttered confused, looking at the image that appeared in my hand.
I sighed and decided to get out of the weapon warehouse. But as I was about to step out, I saw a terrible sight.
"What monsters are these? Why are there so many monsters?" I exclaimed in fear.
The monsters, consisting of goblins, orcs, and other terrible creatures, surrounded the weapon warehouse. I felt threatened and desperate.
But I remembered Kim Hyunwoo. I want to be stronger so I can protect him.
"I have to save Kim Hyunwoo! After that, I will become his girlfriend," I vowed, gripping the bow and arrow tightly in my hand.
Without hesitation, I aimed the arrow at the goblin's head and released it.
KRAK!
The arrow pierced the goblin's head accurately, causing it to stagger and fall to the ground.
My hands moved quickly and nimbly, as if I had been an expert in archery for a long time. I constantly shot at the goblins, finishing them off one by one.
When my arrows ran out, suddenly my bow was automatically refilled. I kept shooting non-stop, protecting myself from the monsters' attacks.
As I was fighting, I saw Kim Hyunwoo running quickly. His gaze was full of determination, without the slightest hint of fear.
"Could it be that Kim Hyunwoo isn't scared at all?" I muttered in surprise.
I tried to push that thought away and focus on the battle in front of me. I have to defeat these goblins so I can help Kim Hyunwoo.
Even though I was exhausted, I kept fighting with all my might. I don't want to give up. I want to be someone worthy of Kim Hyunwoo.
---
First Scenario Completed - A New Beginning
After hours of fighting, the first scenario was finally completed. I sighed in relief, my body feeling weak and sore.
I saw Kim Hyunwoo standing calmly in the middle of the battlefield, without the slightest hint of fatigue.
"Kim Hyunwoo... he's really not scared at all," I thought in admiration.
Suddenly, a blue screen appeared in the sky displaying an announcement from Azura.
"Congratulations to those of you who managed to complete the first scenario. For those who failed, enjoy the journey in the endless dimensional space," said Azura mockingly.
Azura snapped her fingers. Instantly, everyone who had not earned points disappeared from the earth, leaving a terrible void.
"Alright, here is the world ranking for the most point acquisitions," said Azura, displaying a leaderboard on the screen.
World Leaderboard:
1, K.H. (Kim Hyunwoo) : 3,500 Points
2, Han Soomin: 1,300 Points
3, Park Jinwoo: 900 Points
I was shocked to see my name at the second rank, but I was even more shocked when I saw Kim Hyunwoo's name at the top of the leaderboard.
"K.H.? Could it be..." I muttered, looking at Kim Hyunwoo with a disbelieving look.
As soon as I saw his name, I immediately knew who K.H. was.
"You're really amazing, Kim Hyunwoo," I whispered, smiling admiringly. "Well, my plan to save Kim Hyunwoo and become his girlfriend failed."
I sighed, feeling a little disappointed. However, I also felt proud of Kim Hyunwoo. He's really amazing.
I turned towards Kim Hyunwoo, who was about to leave the group.
"Where are you going, Kim Hyunwoo?" I thought curiously.
Is this an opportunity for me to get
---
Chapter 1 Completed.
---
Hello, my name is Haikal. I am the author of "Engraved Reality: Climbing the Tower with Novel Memory". If you are not fluent in English, you can find the Indonesian version on Fizzo Novel & Wattpad! Please support my work! 🙏
– Haikal 📝