[Welcome to War of Kingdoms]
—Okay, let's head to the Kingdom of Britain, where King Arthur Pendragon resides. My goal? Become a knight.
(Why Britain? Because according to the official site and the pre-release guide… it has the strongest economy and gives the best quest rewards.)
I still don't get why they released a full guide before launch, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the League International Games (LIG), the official sponsors behind Arcade.
Rumors say this game will determine—without a doubt—who the best gamer in the world is. Trusted sources claim that Shimamoto Mitsuki, president of Arcade and the Gaming League, will make a huge announcement on launch day.
Only twelve days left for the event. I need to be ready if I want to be number one.
Curious, I opened the in-game store to look around.
System Store = /Special Offers/
—What the hell is this?!
Just then… everything shattered.
The screen began to flicker, like someone flipping through static-filled TV channels. Then came the noise—violent static crackling in my ears and burning through my eyes.
Then came the pain.
A blinding, unbearable heat surged through my body.
I couldn't move.I couldn't scream.
My breathing turned erratic as electric currents tore through my nerves—like thousands of needles stabbing every cell in my body.
Darkness wrapped around me.
And then...Everything disappeared.
Just Moments Before
The storm raged across the city, tearing through the night like a beast unchained. Winds howled between the buildings, rain pounded the windows like drums of war.
Then—flash.
A lightning bolt lit up the sky.
Just one second.
That's all it took.
A bolt of pure voltage struck Brian's room with unrelenting force.
Millions of volts surged into his body like divine punishment. The VR headset—designed to interface directly with his brain—turned into a death trap.
The electricity went straight into his nervous system.
The unfiltered current turned him into a perfect conductor. His body convulsed in agony. The searing heat burned out every nearby device in an explosion of sparks.
And then...Brian stopped moving.
Welcome to the Nightmare
The sound of shattering glass broke the silence.
Grandma Aoi dropped her teacup. Her usually serene face contorted in horror.
—No… —she whispered, clutching her chest with trembling hands.
Manako jumped to her feet, confused and startled.
—What was that?! What happened?!
That's when Brian's aunt—her voice twisted by panic—screamed through the entire house:
—Brian! Brian, answer me!
They rushed to his room. The smell of something burnt hit them hard. Rainwater poured in through a massive hole in the ceiling where the lightning had struck.
And there he was.
Lying motionless on the floor.
The VR headset still smoking on his head. His skin pale. Blue-tinted. Breathing... nearly nonexistent.
—Call an ambulance! —his aunt yelled, voice cracked and trembling.
Aoi fell to her knees beside her grandson, cradling his face in her wrinkled hands.
—Oh, my sweet boy… —she murmured, her voice barely audible over her fear.
Manako stared with wide, frozen eyes. Her lips trembled.
—No… no way…
She took a step forward, wanting to touch him… but her body refused to move.
Her knees gave out. She collapsed to the floor, hugging herself, sobbing.
—This can't be happening… No… NO!
Devastating News
Kaede was at the Tokyo train station when her phone buzzed. She checked it absentmindedly—expecting nothing major.
But the sender's name made her heart drop.
Manako: "Brian..."
Just his name. That's all.
Panic rushed through her.
A few seconds later, another message came in.
Aoki: "Brian's in the hospital. It's serious."
Kaede froze.
Next to her, Reina saw her expression and snatched the phone.
She read the screen. Her pupils shrank.
—No… —Her fingers clenched the phone— It can't be…
Kaede—usually calm, always rational—felt her world go dark.
—Let's go. Now.
Reina nodded, stiff and pale. They both ran.
Brian's Father
A sleek phone vibrated on the polished desk of a high-rise office.
The man behind the desk—cold, poised, in full control—answered it calmly.
But when he saw who was calling, his brow furrowed.
—What is it?
The voice on the other end shook.
—Son… my dear boy... Brian... had an accident. He's in critical condition.
He froze.
His mother's voice—broken, filled with dread—cut straight through him.
For the first time in years, the iron mask on his face cracked.
He didn't wait to hear more. He stood abruptly, grabbing his coat. To his assistant over the comm:
—Get the jet ready. I'm heading to Kyoto.
Business didn't matter.Money didn't matter.
For the first time in a long time…Only one thing mattered.
At Liliana's House
Alice had flown to Japan with Brian's sister to surprise him.
But when the incident happened, she immediately called Liliana.
She told her everything.
Liliana said nothing.
Her long hair hid her face behind the phone. Her shoulders trembled.
Then came the tears—silent, uncontrollable.
But she didn't speak. Not a single word.
And somehow…Her grief felt different.
A cold chill crept down Alice's back.Her instincts screamed.
Something about Liliana's silence wasn't right.
—Liliana...? —Alice whispered.
No answer.
Just sobs. Until the call disconnected.
At the Hospital
The ER doors flew open.
Aoi sat silently in the waiting room, her eyes shut, face dark with worry.
Manako's head was buried in her knees.
Aoki paced like a caged lioness, unable to sit still.
Alice stood there, face hidden behind her long hair.Next to her—Brian's eldest sister, Britanny—arms wrapped around herself, hands shaking.
Kaede and Reina arrived, breathless.
—Manako! Where's Brian?! How is he?! —Reina's voice cracked.
Manako lifted her head, her eyes swollen from crying.
—They… they haven't told us anything yet… —she whispered.
Alice didn't say a word. She just kept staring at the floor.
Completely broken.
A chill ran through Kaede and Reina.
Something in the air felt... off.
—Alice-san…? —Kaede asked quietly.
Still no reply.
Just tears… falling in silence.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway.
They all turned.
A doctor appeared in the doorway…
…and brought with him the words nobody wanted to hear.
[To be continued…]