The greatest gamer to ever live.
That was the title bestowed upon the world-famous gaming prodigy, Grabeal Squniskil.
In the digital realm, he was a deity.
It was said that he dominated every game he ever touched, conquering virtual landscapes with a ruthless efficiency that left his competitors trembling.
He was not only feared by rival gamers for his unbreakable winning streaks in global tournaments but also highly valued by major gaming corporations.
Developers were desperate for him to beta-test their games before launch, knowing that if Grabeal couldn't find a flaw, no one could.
Grabeal was so renowned that, oftentimes, he would be offered significant equity in gaming companies just for choosing to lend his expertise.
His approval rating could make or break a stock launch.
To make matters even better for his flourishing career, he had just been invited by an up-and-coming gaming company to test a mysterious new project scheduled for release in a few months.
Grabeal sat in a plush leather chair, his long black hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, contrasting sharply with his crisp, tailored tuxedo.
He exuded an air of bored arrogance.
Standing dutifully behind him was his manager, a sharp-eyed woman clutching a tablet and a schedule book in her arms, ready to record every detail of the meeting.
Across the expansive mahogany table sat the CEO of the gaming company. He was an incredibly old man confined to a high-tech wheelchair, his frail frame surrounded by multiple imposing bodyguards.
At first, Grabeal found it strange that the owner of a cutting-edge tech firm was as old as his great-grandfather, but he quickly overlooked it. In this industry, money was the only age that mattered.
"Yes. You requested to see me," Grabeal started, breaking the silence. "I asked your team what the game would be about, but they never wrote back. They insisted they wouldn't tell me a word until I arrived."
The CEO, with his eyes barely open, flicked a trembling finger at one of the female bodyguards standing beside him.
She leaned forward, listening intently to the raspy words the old man whispered into her ear.
After a moment, she straightened her posture and turned her cold gaze toward Grabeal.
"Apologies. The CEO would like you to know that he intends on keeping the game confidential. It is a project that will undoubtedly change our outlook on the gaming industry."
'Yeah, right,' Grabeal thought, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. 'Every gaming company says that when they release a new game.'
Grabeal shrugged his shoulders, leaning back comfortably.
"Look, just give me the game, and I'll do what I came here to do." He glanced between the old man and the bodyguard. "So, am I testing the game or what?"
"Yes, of course. Please wait here for a moment."
Grabeal watched as one of the male bodyguards walked out of the room, presumably to retrieve the software. The tension in the room was thick, but Grabeal was used to high-pressure environments.
After a few minutes, the bodyguard returned. However, he wasn't holding a disc or a drive. Instead, he carried a sleek, futuristic device that looked like a Virtual Reality headset, though it was far more advanced than anything currently on the market.
Without uttering a word, the bodyguard placed it gently on the table in front of Grabeal and then retreated to his position.
"We present to you the new Advanced Virtual Reality," the female bodyguard advertised, her voice monotone yet rehearsed.
"This technology works with neuro-tech and biotechnology. It is designed to trick the brain into thinking it has been drawn into the world of whatever game has been inserted into it. It mimics the five senses perfectly to make the simulation identical to the real world."
Grabeal stared at the headset, his curiosity piqued.
'They can do this now? he wondered. So, they want me to test the headset itself and not just the software? The hell? I don't want my brains getting fried by experimental tech.'
He looked up at them, his expression hardening.
"The deal was for me to come and test a game. Not to run tests on your new hardware."
"We are aware of that," the woman replied smoothly. "Just like the advanced VR, we also have a new game. We heard you have never lost a game and have always dominated. The CEO believes you are the perfect candidate to test out both of our new products simultaneously."
The bodyguard was adamant, and Grabeal could tell there was no wiggle room.
'They could literally get a homeless guy off the street to test a headset, and he would do the exact same thing, Grabeal reasoned. Why pay my premium rates?'
Now that he thought about it, the owner of the company was eccentric and elderly, which might explain the bizarre financial decisions being made.
Grabeal grinned.
'No reason why I can't profit off this stupidity.'
He raised a single finger.
"Alright, fine. I agree. But only if you promise to add another ten thousand dollars to my payment. For all I know, my life may be in danger for putting something experimental on my head."
Before responding, the female bodyguard looked at the old man to confirm. Upon seeing the old man offer a microscopic nod, she replied instantly.
"As you wish."
'Perfect.'
Grabeal looked at the advanced VR headset. He noticed a bright, pulsating light on the side of the device. It seemed to be sparking intermittently, a small arc of blue energy dancing near the temple piece.
"Yo, what's up with the bright light?" He pointed at the spot.
"The headset is still charging, please do not touch it without wearing glov—"
Everyone froze in shock.
Grabeal had already placed a finger on the headset before the woman could finish her warning.
'Eh?'
Before he could fully understand what was happening, a violent surge of electricity flooded his body. It wasn't just a shock; it felt like a lightning bolt had been channeled directly into his nervous system.
His brain felt like it was boiling.
In a single motion, his muscles locked up, and the very next second, the greatest gamer in the world was lying motionless on the ground, smoke rising from his fingertips.
[Notice: You have logged into the game.]
[Your character has been chosen.]
[Character: Alen Grayheart.]
'Uhn?'
[Data has been registered into the game's interface.]
[Two new skills have been obtained.]
[Love interests have been identified.]
[Host has been identified.]
[Good luck.]
Gasp!
Alen suddenly jerked up from the bed the moment his eyes snapped open. His chest heaved as he gulped down air, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.
The first thing he noticed was that he was no longer in the high-end office where he was making deals and testing the advanced gear with the CEO.
Instead, he was in a small, cramped room.
The walls looked dirty and aged, the peeling wallpaper revealing gray stone underneath. Scattered to the side were piles of books and discarded clothes. He was seated on a bed that felt less like a mattress and more like a sack of bricks.
'What the hell... happened?'
[Congratulations on your arrival to the game.]
A blue, translucent system screen flickered into existence in front of him.
'The game? Wait, am I inside the simulation already?'
Alen laughed breathlessly for a moment, then rested his back firmly against the dirty wall, his face etched with immense relief.
'Oh, good. For a second there, I actually thought I died or something. That electric shock felt way too real. That would have been way worse.'
[Correct.]
[You are dead.]
The laughter died in his throat.
"What?"
[You are already dead.]
Alen's eyes widened in shock as he tried to process what he was hearing.
For starters, the voice that was speaking to him was a voice he recognized—a voice he had built with his own hands.
"Lia?" he whispered.
Before the current incident, back when he was known as Grabeal, he was known to be a very skilled programmer—probably the best in the entire country at the time.
But rather than using his coding skills for other companies, he had focused on an individual project.
He wanted to be the first to build a growing Artificial Intelligence that could learn on its own without having to be spoon-fed information.
And he had done just that.
He built Lia, the first AI intelligence designed solely for the purpose of serving her master.
Using this AI, he was able to dominate any game he stepped into. Lia would analyze the code in real-time, giving him all the information, exploits, and bugs he could use to his own advantage.
This secret weapon was exactly how he was able to become the greatest gamer in the world.
To think, he would die in such an embarrassing way, only to be reunited with his creation in the afterlife.
Alen clutched the side of his face, his eyes widening further as the phantom pain of the electricity rushed back into his memory.
There was no doubt. No human could survive a voltage surge like that.
'If I was alive, I would have sued that damn company for everything they were worth'.
Frustrated, he raised his head to look at the wooden door of the small room.
'If I am dead as the system says, then am I in some kind of afterlife dream?'
[Correction.]
[After death, your soul was transferred into the romance game "Pick Your Villainess." As of this moment, you are currently inside the body of a side character in the game: Alen Grayheart, a demon from a poor family looking to get into the Royal Academy.]
Alen's jaw dropped.
What?!
He looked down at his hands, which were now paler and slightly clawed.
'You're telling me the game those fuckers wanted me to test was a romance game?!!!'