Bran's POV
Bran's life wasn't extraordinary.But it wasn't terrible either.And for him, that was enough.
He had a roof over his head, a steady—if unimpressive—job, and a girlfriend who made the long days feel a little shorter. Compared to most people he knew, Bran considered himself lucky. His life was simple, predictable… and he liked it that way.
He worked at a paper mill in the lower districts of the city. The pay wasn't anything to brag about, but it kept the lights on and food on the table. In a world like this, stability was a luxury.
The year was 2095.
Thirty-five years had passed since the nuclear war that nearly erased humanity. The conflict had consumed much of the world, leaving entire continents uninhabitable. In the aftermath, a global treaty banned all nuclear weapons, though many believed it was already too late.
What remained of humanity had gathered in the only regions left relatively untouched—Africa and South America.
From the ashes rose a new world order.
Cities were rebuilt, but not equally.
They were divided into three tiers.
The Upper Tier housed government elites, celebrities, and those powerful enough to shape the new world. The Middle Tier belonged to the wealthy and influential—people who thrived even after the collapse.
And then there was the Bottom Tier.
That was where Bran lived.
It wasn't glamorous, but it wasn't the worst place to end up. At least he wasn't in the Wastelands.
The Wastelands were what lay beyond the cities—a lawless expanse where the unwanted, the poor, and the forgotten were left to survive or die. Crime, violence, and desperation ruled there.
Compared to that… Bran had it good.
Or at least, that's what he told himself.
That evening felt no different from any other.
Bran returned home exhausted, his body heavy from a long day at the mill. He threw together a quick meal, ate in silence, and collapsed into his chair.
Like always, he turned to the one thing that helped him escape reality.
His favorite game.
Runic System.
The screen flickered to life, casting a pale glow across his tired face.
He didn't know it yet…
But tonight, the game wouldn't just be a game anymore.