Rick's eyes fluttered open. His vision was hazy, his head pounding like a drum.
The first thing he saw was a girl—white hair, piercing blue eyes, delicate wings, and a faintly glowing halo above her head.
It took him a couple of seconds to process the sight before a wave of nausea hit him. His stomach churned violently, and before he could stop himself—
Splatter!
He vomited all over the floor. His body trembled as unfamiliar memories crashed into him like a tidal wave. His past, his childhood in this world, his struggles—everything that belonged to this body now flooded his mind.
His breathing was ragged as he lifted his hands, staring at them in disbelief. These weren't his hands. The room around him looked unnatural—walls covered in strange symbols, the floor lined with alchemical circles, and bizarre, glowing plants twisting in unnatural shapes. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, chemicals, and something… wrong.
Rick's gaze slowly drifted back to the girl—his twin sister in this world.
She sighed, placing a hand on her hip, her expression exasperated yet gentle.
[One]: Brother, I told you to stop sleeping in the poison-growing room. It's not good for you.
Rick stared at her, then at the plants, then back at her.
[Zero]: ...What?
It took him a moment to relax, his mind still reeling from the flood of memories—both foreign and familiar. He took a slow, shaky breath, trying to process everything.
[Zero]: So… let me get this straight. I slept inside a dangerous lab… surrounded by poisonous plants… on purpose?
One crossed her arms, nodding with the authority of someone who had given this lecture more than once.
[One]: Yes. Because, and I quote, 'True alchemy requires suffering.'
Zero pinched the bridge of his nose. That definitely sounded like something a mad scientist would say. And from the looks of it, past-him was definitely that kind of guy.
[Zero]: Okay, so let's say I did sleep here for the sake of… poison? What exactly was I trying to make?
One clapped her hands together, looking excited.
[One]: A lethal toxin capable of dissolving flesh within seconds!
Zero blinked.
[Zero]: ...Of course I was.
He sighed, glancing around the strange lab again. The eerie glow of the plants, the softly pulsing vials of liquid on the shelves, the scent of something acrid and vaguely metallic in the air—it was all so surreal.
And yet, somehow… it felt natural.
The memories were settling in now, no longer overwhelming but still disorienting. He was Zero V now. A runaway experiment. An alchemist. A survivor.
And most importantly—he was no longer just playing the game.
He was inside it.
Zero sighed, rubbing his temples.
[Zero]: Right. Flesh-melting toxins can wait. Priorities.
He forced himself to stand, still feeling lightheaded. His body was adjusting to this new reality, but the lingering dizziness from inhaling who-knows-what in this poison room wasn't helping.
His gaze drifted to the corner of the lab, where a sleek black suit hung from a metal stand. It was reinforced with protective runes and lined with alchemical fabrics—his personal creation, if his memories were correct.
[Zero]: Fine, fine. I'll get dressed. But can you at least tell me what this sermon is about?
One rolled her eyes, already grabbing a vial of neutralizing serum to help clear his head.
[One]: The same as always. The Academy preaches about balance, strength, and the responsibilities of those with power. They'll probably mention the upcoming trials, too.
Zero groaned as he reached for the suit.
[Zero]: Great. Nothing like starting my new life with a lecture.
One, handed him the vial, her expression softening just a little.
[One]: Don't fall asleep this time, alright?
Zero gave her a tired smirk before downing the serum in one gulp. It burned on the way down, but the fog in his mind started to clear almost instantly.
Zero coughed, his throat burning as the serum took effect. His energy spiked so suddenly that he almost dropped the suit.
[Zero]: What was that...?"
One smiled innocently.
[One]: Pure caffeine. The kind sold to royalty so they could work overtime without dying.
Zero froze. His hands trembled slightly as the sheer potency of the substance hit him like a truck. His mind felt sharper than ever, his heart racing like he had just chugged an entire pot of espresso in one go.
[Zero]: ...You just gave me royal-grade coffee concentrate?
One nodded proudly.
[One]: Well, you looked half-dead. Now you're only slightly dying. Get dressed, we're going to be late.
Zero exhaled through his nose, forcing himself to focus. He wasn't sure if this world had health warnings for caffeine overdoses, but he was definitely feeling the effects.
Still, no time to argue.
With renewed urgency (and way too much energy), he grabbed his suit and started getting ready.
Still, no time to argue.
Zero quickly put on his suit, the fabric fitting snugly against his form. With a thought, he activated [Great Armor Manifest], and a second layer of armor formed over him—dark, sleek, and lined with crimson etchings. He didn't fully understand how he did it, but his body moved instinctively, as if he had done this a thousand times before.
With everything finally in place, he stepped outside—
And stopped.
The city stretched before him, a breathtaking fusion of fantasy, sci-fi, and medieval architecture. Towering skyscrapers made of enchanted crystal stood alongside grand stone castles, their banners fluttering in the wind. Arcane sigils pulsed with energy on streetlights, while neon signs displayed texts in multiple languages, some he instinctively recognized and others he didn't.
Above, flying vehicles shaped like boats and carriages drifted through the sky, weaving between floating bridges and hovering platforms. Strange beasts—both mechanical and organic—moved through the streets, carrying passengers or pulling carts filled with goods.
It was like someone had mashed together every genre imaginable into a single world.
And somehow… it worked.
A floating taxi hovered in front of him, its sleek design resembling a cross between an airship and a luxury carriage. Inside, One leaned against the seat, arms crossed, her white hair glowing faintly under the soft lights.
She tapped impatiently on the side of the vehicle.
[One]: Hurry up, before that racist teacher finds an excuse to kick us out.
Zero shook himself out of his daze.
Right. This was reality now. And if he wanted to survive in this world, he had better start acting like it.
Without hesitation, he climbed into the taxi.
[Chapter end]
[Note from the Author: Hello! I'll be documenting every discovered ending in Arcades here. Here's one for you:]
[The Demon Lord's Triumph]
"From the depths of Hell, you clawed your way to the throne, defying fate and crushing all who opposed you. The world and its so-called gods trembled before your might as you became the first demon to rule both the material plane and the infernal abyss. Countless lesser worlds now kneel at your feet. But your conquest is far from over—above, the heavens remain untouched, their divine rulers cowering in fear. With a wicked grin, you set your sights skyward, ready to rip them from their lofty sanctuary and drag their sacred realm into the abyss."