A white flash invaded everyone's consciousness. An absolute, almost deafening silence filled the space. For a few moments, no one breathed. No one moved.
When their vision adjusted, they realized they were floating in an infinite void, with no ground, no horizon, no ceiling — only solid, almost blinding white light. The space felt like a dimension between worlds, where reality folded over itself, and every imagined step could lead nowhere.
Steve, Kuto, and Júlia were there, side by side with 247 other players, still processing the sensation of being sucked from their phones, from their homes, from their lives. Everyone looked around, stunned. There were young people, adults, men and women, each trying to comprehend the impossible. Some leaned on each other's shoulders, others floated paralyzed, hypnotized by the encompassing light.
— What's happening?! — shouted a young man with dark glasses, his voice trembling, fingers clenched as if he wanted to grasp something solid.
— Is this some kind of experiment? Where are the cameras? — a woman in a suit shot back, trying to maintain a firm posture, even as her body floated and trembled with fear.
Murmurs turned into shouts. Shouts into chaos. Some players began to "run" in the void, colliding with each other, others just hovered, frozen by fear.
Then, someone appeared in the white sky, floating above them all. The man looked relaxed, despite the chaos. Tousled, vibrant red hair floated gently as if in slow motion. He wore plain white pants and a simple black shirt, a cocky smile forming on his face.
— Yooo! Greetings, champions of the Nexus! — he announced, his voice firm, vibrant, almost hypnotic. — I am Zeylor, your host in this controlled… and slightly insane experience.
Silence fell over the players like thunder. All eyes turned to him, mesmerized.
— Congratulations! Each of you was chosen from billions to participate in something no one else will ever experience.
— Unique? You kidnapped us, idiot! — someone shouted, while another added:
— I have work tomorrow! Get me out of here!
Zeylor let out a soft, almost musical laugh that echoed through the void.
— Ah, leaving… is no longer an option. Inside here, real time is suspended. Outside? Only a minute passes. Inside? Each minute will feel like an entire day. — A wave of panic spread through the group, growing like a rising tide.
Many players began to cry, others shook uncontrollably. Some clutched each other, seeking comfort in the impossible. An older man, with gray hair, pressed his chest as if his heart wanted to leap from his body.
Kuto stepped forward, face serious, eyes fixed on Zeylor:
— This game really pays one billion for the winner? Is that true?
Zeylor spun in the air, as if floating on clouds, and smiled:
— Yup! One billion. — His voice carried both mystery and danger. — But, of course… only if you survive until the end. Survival is the key word. Some players began to realize it would not be easy.
A few remained completely silent, stunned. Others scoffed, laughing nervously. A young woman screamed:
— One billion?! That's… impossible!
Steve, in the corner, only breathed rapidly, eyes wide, hands trembling. Fear gripped his chest like an invisible fist. Memories of his mother, the hospital, the emptiness of his ordinary life mixed with the adrenaline of the unknown.
— But… what if someone dies in here? — asked a young woman, her voice trembling, almost swallowed by the echoing void.
Zeylor snapped his fingers and answered with lethal ease:
— Then… they die in real life too. Their body turns into corrupted code. Puff. Never coming back.
A scream rippled through the crowd. Steve staggered backward, horror spreading through his mind like a suffocating wave:
— No… no… this can't be true… — he whispered, tears streaming down his face. — I just wanted to take care of my mother… I… NESIN! You put me in this!! — he suddenly shouted, his voice breaking, echoing through the void. — I will find you in this game!
— Whoa, calm down, champ — said Zeylor, performing a flip in the air, still smiling sarcastically. — You just arrived and are already picking a fight? Relax… death comes early for those who shout too much.
Some players laughed nervously, trying to hide their fear. One mocked:
— We already know who's going to die first!
Zeylor crossed his arms, floating seriously, staring at all of them:
— Listen carefully: you have one hour to choose the class you will use in this world. After that… the game truly begins.
Holograms appeared around each player, slowly spinning like digital constellations. Each glowing sphere displayed a class:
🔸 Archer
🔸 Warrior
🔸 Rogue
🔸 Sorceress
🔸 Mage
🔸 Cleric
🔸 Elemental
🔸 Paladin
🔸 Manipulator
🔸 Adaptive
— Choose wisely… — Zeylor warned. — And try not to die before your time. The game gets boring without an audience.
In the blink of an eye, he dissolved into digital particles, vanishing into the air.
The silence returned, heavy. But now it wasn't just fear. It was the weight of decision. Each player stared at their hologram, feeling the world they knew vanish: Steve's panic, Kuto's focus, Júlia's calm yet tense resolve. Everyone understood: nothing would be the same again.
Class Selection
The white silence was broken only by the soft hum of floating energy. Júlia stepped forward. Every breath felt accelerated, her heart pounding like a war drum. She studied the Warrior hologram, feeling the energy ripple around her.
As she touched the sphere, a wave of blue light coursed through her body. Her outfit transformed into an elegant tactical suit, optimized for agility and close combat. Two curved swords appeared on her back, ready. A light, confident smile spread across her face. Inside, a mixture of excitement, fear, and anticipation bubbled. She felt the weight of responsibility, but also the adrenaline of being the protagonist of something greater than ordinary life.
— Time to show what I'm capable of — she whispered to herself.
Kuto hesitated. A whirlwind of energy surrounded him as he eyed the Adaptive sphere. He chose no fixed class. As he touched the sphere, his body was enveloped in flexible, neutral energy.
— The best weapon… is the power to choose any — he said, with a half-smile.
Steve remained frozen, time hammering against his mind. Each second felt like a silent scream. Zeylor floated beside him, wearing that same sarcastic smile:
— Still hoping this is just a nightmare? Too bad… you're wide awake.
Steve swallowed hard. Sweat ran down his neck, panic rising. Memories of his mother, the hospital, the emptiness of his mundane life — everything mixed into his brain like an electric storm. He had to choose, or he would be dragged into the game as a powerless specter.
When he finally touched an improvised class, there was no light, only a biting cold and a sense of absolute vulnerability. He was now alone, without defined abilities, facing the impossible.
Around him, other players completed their choices. Silent fear turned into determination, but tension remained dense and palpable. Everyone felt the weight of the suspended world on their shoulders.
Game Preparation
Zeylor reappeared briefly, floating casually, but with a serious gaze:
— Congratulations to everyone who made their choices. Now, access your Level and Evolution System. For those who didn't choose a class, good luck. You'll have to find a way to survive, learn skills, or discover attributes on your own. Fail… and it's permanent.
Steve panicked again. Nearby players whispered among themselves:
— Poor guy, he'll die as soon as the game starts.
— I don't blame him. He's in shock… no one's ready for this.
Steve only stared, paralyzed, feeling the invisible ground beneath his feet slip away. The air seemed heavier with each second. The void around him reflected his own helplessness.
Júlia, on the other hand, breathed deeply, absorbing the tension, transforming it into strength. Every fiber of her body readied for battle. The Nexus arena would be brutal, but she would not flee. She sensed that every choice, every move, would be decisive for her survival and the chance to create something beyond fame: her own story.
Kuto observed every player, analyzing, calculating. He began mentally planning strategies, anticipating movements and potential betrayals. The Nexus was not just a game. It was a reality where only the sharpest would survive.
And Steve? Still trembling, he allowed himself a thought:
— If I can survive… if I can win… maybe I can still save those I love.
The white void, the holograms, the sensation of suspension — everything conspired to remind them: nothing would be easy. The Nexus did not forgive mistakes.
Time ended. The white space seemed to pulse, breathing with the players. The real countdown was about to begin. Every choice made was the first step into the unknown.
And the game… had only just begun.