The sky trembled as if a colossal entity was attempting to breach this world! Black lines began spreading across the horizon, and ancient symbols flickered in the air, seemingly whispering secrets hidden since time immemorial.
I stood frozen, staring at the giant rift that had opened before me... Behind it lay an infinite void, like a portal to something that was never meant to be revealed.
"Impossible..." I muttered, feeling the air grow heavier, as if the world itself rejected this intrusion!
But the masked man stood calmly, as though he had been expecting this moment.
"You see, Kyle? The world isn't what you thought... There are those who control everything from the shadows."
Suddenly, a dark blue flash emanated from the rift in the sky, followed by a low sound like the rumble of ancient beasts. Then, another figure appeared…
A tall man, wearing a black cloak adorned with golden threads, his eyes glowing with an eerie purple hue. His mere presence caused the wind to cease, as if time itself had frozen!
"I'm a bit late, but no matter..." he said in a voice as deep as the echo of an abyss.
The masked man looked at him and bowed slightly. "My lord, it seems the experiment is proceeding as planned."
I immediately shifted into a fighting stance, trying to comprehend what was happening, but the newcomer raised his hand… and suddenly, I felt immense pressure crushing my body!
This wasn't just ordinary magic; it was something entirely different!
"Calm yourself, Kyle," he said in a tone that was quiet yet carried indescribable dominance. "You are not the enemy here, merely a pawn on the chessboard."
"What do you mean?!" I yelled, trying to resist the pressure, but to no avail.
"Oh… it seems you're still ignorant. Very well, I shall be clear with you. There are seven worlds, each with its own controller, and we…" He offered a faint smile. "We are the ones who decide how things proceed."
Suddenly, a giant hologram materialized before me, displaying seven circles, each connected to the others.
"The world you currently inhabit is but one of these seven. Each has its own laws, and a hidden ruler managing its affairs."
"And what does any of this have to do with me?!"
He looked at me confidently. "You… are the one who could either connect these worlds together or destroy them entirely."
A shiver ran down my spine. This wasn't just vague talk; it felt like an undeniable truth. But before I could respond, the rift in the sky tore wide open, and a giant shadow emerged…!
It was so massive, as if mountains themselves bowed before it. I couldn't even make out its features, but its voice thundered across the entire world:
"It is time to test you, Kyle!"
The voice was like thunder, shaking the earth and sky simultaneously! Before I could process what was happening, a beam of dark purple energy shot out from the giant rift, heading towards me at incredible speed!
"Damn it!" I yelled, leaping backward, using my sword to block the attack. But the moment it touched my blade, I felt an unnatural force shake my entire being!
Suddenly, a tall figure appeared before me, his body blazing with an aura of black flame, while his eyes glowed a deep crimson. He wore heavy armor decorated with ancient engravings, and his every movement caused a disturbance in the magical ether around us.
"Kyle, I am Zeno, Ruler of the First World!"
He raised his hand, and suddenly, the ground around me began to crack, and massive, flaming chains erupted from it, surrounding me from all sides!
"If you wish to survive… show me your strength!"
I had no time to think. I raised my hand and summoned my signature spell, trying to resist his infernal chains.
"Storm Burst!"
BOOOOM!!
A massive cyclone erupted from my body, shattering the chains before they could tighten their grip on me. But Zeno was no ordinary opponent… he was an unimaginable monster!
"Hah… not bad," he said with a smile, before suddenly vanishing from my sight!
◈◈◈◈
In an instant, he reappeared directly behind me, delivering a tremendous punch towards my back! I couldn't evade it completely, but the impact was enough to send me flying through the air before I crashed hard onto the roof of a deserted palace in the middle of the city!
"Kyyyyyyyle!!"
Raina's voice screamed from the distance, but I couldn't respond. My body felt like it was on fire with pain, while Zeno advanced towards me with steady steps.
"If you want to survive… don't just rely on your past knowledge of this 'game.' Unleash your true potential!"
I felt something stir within me… something I hadn't used before. It wasn't just magic or a skill… it was something deeper.
Ether surged through my veins, and I began to see the world differently… An indescribable energy started radiating from me, and the air temperature around me soared.
"This… this isn't possible!" Zeno said, taking a step back.
I looked down at my hands, where black flames had begun to wreath them. But unlike any flame I'd seen before, this was… pure, raw, and terrifyingly powerful!
"It seems you're starting to understand, Kyle."
That voice was inside my head… but who was it?!
◈◈◈◈
My feet sank into the shattered ground as black flames surged from my body like an uncontrollable inferno. Zeno, who had been so arrogant moments before, began to retreat, his eyes wide with undisguised shock.
"How can you…? No, this isn't possible! This energy isn't just ordinary magic!"
His words were filled with astonishment, but he wasn't wrong. This power I felt… it wasn't just magical strength, but something greater, something that transcended the laws of this world.
My head throbbed with strange voices, as if something was whispering to me from the depths of darkness. Mysterious images began to form in my mind: seven kings standing upon the ruins of their worlds, their eyes gleaming with absolute power.
"Finally… our heir has awakened!"
"What…? Who are you?!" I screamed inside my head, but there was no reply.
"I cannot allow you to survive!"
Zeno roared as he raised his hands to the sky. Suddenly, the space around us tore open, ripped into another dimension! A colossal portal appeared behind him, pouring out a dense, demonic aura.
"World, answer my call! Open the Gate of Chaos, and let me unleash the wrath of the forgotten emperors!"
DOOOM!!
A massive magical explosion erupted around him, turning the sky completely black. Thunderstorms began to strike the earth, while horrifying beings with terrifying auras emerged from the portal.
"Kyle! Watch out!" Raina cried, but she couldn't get close due to the immense energy raging between Zeno and me.
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the new power flow through me without resistance. Then I opened them again… but I wasn't the same person I was before.
"Zeno… don't worry about who I am."
I advanced towards him slowly, but each step made the ground tremble, and the very air began to ripple as if the world rejected my presence.
"I'll show you the real difference between us."
I vanished from my spot.
In a fraction of a second, I was directly in front of him, my sword, now wreathed in black fire, slicing through the air towards his neck at unimaginable speed!
"Impossible!!"
Zeno tried to raise his defense, but it wasn't enough.
BOOOOOOM!!
Zeno's body flew backward, crashing through dozens of buildings before coming to a stop, gasping for breath. But he wasn't dead… no, he was smiling.
"Hahaha… This is fun… This is what I was looking for!"
Then he raised his hand, and suddenly… the portal behind him vanished, and everything faded away.
"You've passed the test, Kyle. But this is just the beginning… Your true power hasn't fully awakened yet."
He gave me one sharp look before disappearing completely, leaving behind a trace of dark energy.
I looked at my burning hands, then raised my head towards the sky.
"So… this was just a test?"
But deep down, I knew I had just entered a conflict far greater than I had ever imagined. And if there were other kings… who would be next?
After Zeno's disappearance, a strange silence fell over the area. It wasn't just the quiet that follows major battles; it was as if the entire world had paused for a moment, sensing that something immense was about to happen.
Raina, who had been watching the fight from the start, approached me with quiet steps, her eyes filled with tension.
"Kyle, do you realize what just happened?"
I looked at her but didn't answer immediately. An inner feeling told me that something bigger had begun, something transcending mere fights with Zeno or other powerful foes.
In a distant place, within a secret dimension accessible only to those bearing the blood of true empires, seven thrones were arranged in a circle.
On each throne sat a different figure, each possessing an overwhelming presence that no ordinary mortal could endure.
In the center stood a tall man with silver hair and eyes the color of dancing flames. He wore a cloak adorned with ancient symbols, expressing the dominance of the old empires over this world.
"The heir to the ancient power has finally appeared…" he spoke in a quiet voice that nonetheless carried a reverence that silenced everyone.
Another man, with fiery red hair and eyes glowing like lava, smiled sardonically. "Oh, so this is the boy who challenged Zeno? I didn't think anyone would dare do so this quickly!"
A woman with long blue hair, seated on a throne resembling shifting waves, looked at the speaker and said calmly, "This means the time is near, correct? The time when the laws of the world will change?"
"Yes…"
The silver-haired man spoke again, glancing at everyone present.
"We must decide now… Will we ally with him, or crush him before he becomes a true threat to us?"
The moment I was pondering everything that had happened, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my head, as if something was trying to penetrate my mind.
"Ah…!"
I clutched my head and momentarily collapsed, but Raina caught me before I hit the ground completely.
"Kyle! What's happening to you?!"
But I couldn't answer.
In that instant, I heard voices in my head again.
"We have chosen you… You are now part of this world's destiny. Prepare yourself… for the true war begins soon."
Then, out of nowhere, a strange scene appeared before me: seven thrones, with seven figures seated upon them… as if they were watching me from afar.
"Who are you?!" I screamed inside my mind, but they didn't answer. They just smiled, and the vision vanished abruptly, leaving behind a profound sense of danger.
When I fully regained consciousness, I looked at Raina, who was still holding me, her eyes filled with worry.
"We need to move, Raina… Something is coming, something big."
"What did you see?" she asked seriously.
I took a deep breath before answering:
"I saw the meeting of the Seven Emperors… and it seems they've finally decided to intervene in this game."
◈◈◈◈
After the strange vision in my mind, I no longer felt as secure as before. I was fully aware that this world hid many secrets, but I never imagined there were seven emperors watching everything from the shadows, deciding the fate of the world as if they were gods.
But the most terrifying part… was that they knew who I was.
"Kyle, we must move quickly."
Raina's words cut through my thoughts. I looked at her and saw her eyes were filled with seriousness, as if she understood part of what was happening.
"What do you plan to do now? Are you going to wait for them to come to you?"
I gripped my sword, tightening my fist around it, before offering a cold smile.
"Of course not. We strike first."
In the few days following that vision, I began formulating a comprehensive plan to restructure the kingdoms I controlled. I had to prepare for a long-term war, a war unlike any I had fought before.
"The first thing we must do is strengthen the military power of every kingdom."
I stood before a huge map of the world, surrounded by several commanders and generals who had sworn loyalty to me.
"We will focus on developing three key elements: the Army, Resources, and Alliances."
1- The Army: I needed to train the existing soldiers and raise their level to a point where no ordinary army could stand against them. For this reason, I started sending powerful commanders to train them intensively. I also laid plans to recruit warriors from other nations and have them join my forces.
2- Resources: Controlling kingdoms means nothing without strong resources. So, I established a vast trade network connecting the kingdoms, ensuring a smooth and rapid flow of gold, food, and weapons.
3- Alliances: I knew other powers would oppose me, so I had to build strong alliances, not just within my own kingdoms, but even with some neutral powers that hadn't yet decided which side to take.
But it wasn't that simple.
As I began implementing my plan, a new, unforeseen danger emerged.
"Lord Kyle!" One of the guards rushed into the grand hall, falling to his knees, panting.
"There are… strange creatures appearing on the eastern borders of the kingdom! Beasts unlike any we've seen before!"
"Beasts?"
I frowned, then looked at Raina, who stood beside me.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?"
Raina closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again and saying in a low voice:
"These aren't just ordinary beasts… They are the Ancient Beasts, beings summoned from primordial times by the Seven Emperors."
I wasted no time. I moved out with an elite squad, and soon we found ourselves confronting one of these beasts.
It was a massive creature resembling a dragon, but its body was covered in black crystals that pulsed with strange energy. Its breath alone was enough to scorch the earth around it.
"This thing… it's stronger than any beast I've ever seen!" one of the soldiers cried out.
"Hold your positions! Do not fall back!"
I raised my hand and launched my sword toward the beast, aiming for a direct hit. But instead of being wounded, the sword's energy was absorbed as if it were completely unaffected!
"What?!"
Before I could think of an alternative plan, the beast began gathering immense dark energy in its mouth, preparing to unleash its deadly attack!
"This isn't good…"
Just as I was about to evade the attack, a massive shadow appeared before me with incredible speed, colliding directly with the beast and stopping its attack!
I looked at the shadow and saw…
A tall man with white hair and eyes the color of gold… wearing black armor with ancient engravings, carrying an immense, regal aura.
"I've finally found you, Kyle."
I was stunned for a moment before asking sharply:
"Who are you?!"
The man smiled calmly and said:
"I am one of the Seven Emperors… and I came to see whether or not you are capable of surviving."
The white-haired man stood before me, staring with golden eyes that held a mixture of curiosity and dominance. His aura was dark but not entirely malevolent, more like impenetrable shadows.
"One of the Seven Emperors?"
I frowned, placing my hand on my sword hilt, while the soldiers around me retreated, terrified by this strange presence.
"I am Zivar, Emperor of Shadows."
His voice was calm but carried immense weight, as if his words alone possessed an energy that could crush anyone with a weak will.
I watched him cautiously, then said coldly, "If you've come to fight, let's get this over with quickly."
Zivar smiled faintly. "Reckless as ever, Kyle… or should I say, Ryuji?"
In that instant, a chill ran through my entire body.
How does he know my real name?!
No one in this world was supposed to know that I was originally a skilled player reincarnated into Kyle's body… Yet, this man before me spoke my name with utter clarity, as if he knew everything about me!
"You… How do you know that?"
Zivar chuckled lightly, then turned slowly, seeming to relish revealing the truth.
"We Seven Emperors… are not mere rulers. Each of us has a task in this world, and I am charged with monitoring the balance."
He looked directly at me and added:
"And you… you broke it."
In the next moment, Zivar vanished from before me, reappearing behind me in the blink of an eye!
"That speed… it's not normal!"
I spun around rapidly and swung my sword, but the blade only struck empty shadow. Zivar reappeared above me, delivering a swift strike with his hand, which was covered in a black aura!
"Damn it!"
I raised my arm to block the attack, but the moment of contact sent shudders through my entire body! Terrible power surged through my arm; I felt as if I had hit an invisible wall.
"This man… he's stronger than I expected!"
But I wasn't going to give up so easily.
"You want to test my strength? Fine, don't regret it later!"
At that moment, I raised my hand to the sky, summoning all the magical elements at once!
Fire, Ice, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Darkness, Light…
The elements intertwined around me, and I unleashed my most powerful technique:
"Magical Chaos Storm!"
A massive wave of energy erupted from my body, consuming everything in its path! The ground shook, the sky cracked, as the elements merged to form a vortex that no ordinary creature could survive.
But when the storm subsided…
Zivar stood there, unscathed.
"Not bad, but that's not enough to pique my interest."
Zivar began walking towards me slowly, then stopped a few steps away and said:
"You are strong, Ryuji… or Kyle, whichever name you prefer. But there's one thing you must know."
He looked at me with glowing eyes and added:
"The Seven Emperors are not just rulers. We are bound to this world in ways you cannot imagine."
I hesitated for a moment before saying, "What do you mean?"
Zivar laughed softly before answering:
"You think you're the only player here?"