Introduction Arc: Chapter 2.
The sun shone on the quiet forest, its rays piercing through the leaves. The soft chirping of birds and the rustling of the trees were the only ambience in the forest; it was peacefully serene. The wind blew faster this time, causing a fruit to fall and land on a young man's head.
"Ugh...." The young man groaned, slowly rising and rubbing his eyes. His vision slowly cleared, finding himself in the middle of a forest. He scanned his environment for a moment, confused and shocked.
"Where the hell is this?" The young man muttered, standing up and finding a sword sheathed at his side. He unsheathed the sword and stared at it. The blade was sharp and clean.
It was unfamiliar to him, yet he felt like he'd been using it for a long time. The young man was also wearing a simple leather armor, it provided the most basic resistance against damage.
"I look like a cosplayer."
Then came the flood of memories, coming all at once. It caused his head to ache, but he remembered who he was, or rather, who this young man was. The memories were short yet painful, no parents, fought in the second world war, and a lone survivor of his unit.
It was his character from the game of Adventure Fable Worlds: Dragon Lords. He was now in the body of Winterry21, a character he created a long time ago.
"Wait a minute. I don't have anything. I reset my character." Winterry21 said, holding his head in disbelief and frustration. "If I had known I'd be transmigrated, I wouldnt've have done it."
He kicked a small pebble out of anger, sending it flying and lodging it against a tree. (Shit, I am inside the game. What the heck do I do?)
In the corner of his eye was a small red brick was suspended in the air. He turned to it and raised a brow, expecting something to come out. (This has to be bricks. I remember that in the intro.)
The brick then shrank, becoming smaller than a pebble. It vibrated for a moment, slowly intensifying. Winterry21 stepped back, furrowing his brows.
"I don't remember this part." *Wham!*
The small brick shot forward, entering his head, making a hole in his forehead. Winterry21 collapsed. Heavily bleeding from the injury. He lay there for a few seconds before coming back to life.
He gasped for air and grabbed his forehead, distressed while shaking in fear. (I died, I died. What the hell was that stupid brick!?) He said, massaging his forehead. The blood was there, but the wound was gone, having healed in an instant.
◆ [ Hello Winterry21, this is Bricks. Your Brain Relay Information Computer Key System. I apologize for the sudden intrusion. It had to be done. You are currently the only live hero. ] ◆
◆ [ I'm partly made from your persona. I'm your assistant. I provide guidance on situations, people, conversations, and combat. I'm a quasi-sentient intelligence, and I'm always learning. ] ◆
Bricks said as Winterry21 didn't say anything.
◆ [ Your stress levels are rising: I will now alleviate it. The results are noticeable within a minute. ] ◆
Bricks remarked to the silent Winterry21, and as Bricks said, his stress slowly faded. Winterry21 rose and took several deep breaths.
"Bricks, why am I here?" He said with a direct tone.
◆ [ You are a hero, you're here to save the world, Winterry21 ] ◆
"From whom?"
◆ [ From all the evils that seek to harm it, Winterry21 ] ◆
"That's very vague," Winterry21 said, sheathing the fallen sword and walking forward.
◆ [ Topography recording has started. Interesting landmarks will be recorded and highlighted. Check the map, Winterry21. ] ◆
Winterry21 paused, raising a brow. "You need to stop referring to me as Winterry21, that's not even my real name." He said with a sigh, already accepting the voice in his head.
◆ [ You are Winterry21 if you want an alternative preferred name. Please state so. ] ◆
(I have a real name, you know?) Winterry21 thought, annoyed by the name that he created decades ago. It was a childish name, and it was already starting to wear him down.
"Wait, Bricks, can you read my mind?"
◆ [ I cannot read your mind, Hero. ] ◆
"I see, then call me Winter."
◆ [ I will refer to you as Winter from now on. ] ◆
Winter, satisfied with the answer, smiled and kept walking forward. The excitement inside him was difficult to contain. A brand new world to explore, brand new possibilities, and most importantly. He was no longer stuck in his minimum-wage job.
However, he paused for a moment.
Winter's real-life parents came to mind along with his three siblings. The idea of abandoning his family filled him with grief and a sense of guilt. (I don't want to leave them behind. I want to help them.)
"Bricks, is it possible to go back to my reality?"
◆ [ I don't understand your query, Winter. This is your reality. ] ◆
"What do you mean my -" Winter said, cutting himself off. (Wait a minute, in the original intro for this game, after you're done customizing your character. The screen would turn black, then a small light would appear. The scene would then change into a forest where your character would be sleeping, then the white light would enter via the head, and then your character would wake up, and then you'll control him from there.)
(Am I that light? It does seem like it. The new intro was different, your character was in a war, and then they die and come back to life because of that light.)
Winter then continued marching forward, this time with greater pace. He unsheathed his sword, cutting down the bushes and branches that were on his way.
(I need to look for a way to go back to my reality, preferably while still being Winterry21.)
*Slash!* "Oh!?" Winter stopped, spotting three goblins rotating a large piece of hind over a fire. The three goblins were preparing a meal, and beside them was the carcass of a large boar. The two parties stared at each other for a moment before they all screamed and readied themselves.
"Three goblins!? What the hell!? I barely started my adventure, and there's already combat!?" Winter anxiously added as the three goblins started to surround him. The goblins' muscles were bulky, and their heights were comparable to those of a child.
◆ [ Goblins are added to the bestiary. They are simple predators who hunt in packs and are social creatures. Their threat level is moderately low. ] ◆
The goblins wore simple loincloths made out of huge leaves and not only that, they reeked.
(They are simple weak mob monsters. They aren't strong, but this is real life now, they look very very threatening!) Winter thought, anxiously gulping. A red circular marker was displayed at the top of all the goblins' heads, signifying that they're hostile.
Winter could feel that Bricks was scanning the goblins in real time. It worked like the in-game lore said it would, but in the main game, all it did was provide flavor text.
◆ [ Analyzing enemies: Cautious and wary. Famished appearance. Negligible weaponry and armor. Hesitant to combat.] ◆
◆[ Analyzing your combat approach: Simple sword techniques, do not let them get behind you. Alternatively, intimidation will cause retreat. ] ◆
"Rah!" A goblin roared, charging forward with surprising speed, but before Winter could adequately react, his body moved on its own and vertically slashed the goblin in two.
The goblin's carcass plopped down to the ground, twitching before finally stopping.
The goblins were surprised, and so was Winter. There was a faint yet noticeable feeling in the back of his mind; it told him that the goblins were not an issue.
Winter's body quivered in anticipation, longing for battle. He faced the two remaining goblins, who were now scared. The goblins saw the man before them as a massive threat that they couldn't overcome; retreat was the only option.
The two goblins instantly dropped their weapons and fled, but didn't get far, as they were sliced down with a single strike, their vision fading to black. *Plop!*
Winter didn't move after killing the two goblins, he remained in place, stuck after swinging his sword. He tried to make sense of what had happened, and he came to the only possible conclusion.
(This character's level, progress, and feats were reset to zero, but the experience that this character has gone through remained. That's the only thing I can think of.) Winter thought, eyes glaring.