Chapter 1: The Man Who Wasn't Seeking Heroism
There are two types of people in this world...those who dream of becoming heroes. And those who stop dreaming. Cain was the second type. He wasn't sad... he wasn't happy... just living. As if life were a book to be read without interest. The time was six in the evening. Students leave school. He laughed. fight. Love confessions. Plan ahead. Everything is normal. Except for one person. Cain was walking quietly, his bag on his shoulder, his eyes watching everything without any obvious emotions. He noticed a fight between two students. consideration. Analyze. Then he said to himself: "The tall student will lose in 20 seconds." Why? Because his center of gravity is bad. His breathing is rapid. Hits randomly. 17 seconds later...he was on the ground. Cain sighed. "Closer than I expected." He wasn't a genius...but he could see patterns. That's what made him different. "Cain!" A girl's voice stopped him. He turned around. Short brown hair. glasses. Serious features. Her name: Mira. The only person he talks to sometimes. She said: "You going to practice today?" Reply: "As usual." "You're weird," she said. He asked: "Why?" "You train with a sword in the age of guns," she said. He replied calmly: "The sword never runs out of bullets." I froze for a second. Then she laughed: "Your answer is sometimes scary." He didn't reply. I asked him: "Why are you really training?" He was silent for a while. Then he said: "So that I don't feel helpless." This time...she wasn't kidding. I get that this is a real answer. "See you tomorrow," she said. He shook his head. And I left. After 30 minutes. He was standing inside an old training hall. Not luxury. Wooden floor. Cracked walls. The smell of old sweat. But it was his favorite place. The old man over there said, "You're two minutes late." "The bus," Cain replied. "Excuses are for the weak," said the coach. Then he threw him a wooden sword. "Fight me." Without greeting. Without introductions. This was their way. The fighting started. The coach attacked directly. Quick hit. Kane didn't make the save. He only moved half a step. avoid. Then watch. Second hit. faster. Cain blocked it this time. But... take a step back. "His strength is greater." "His experience is greater." "You cannot win by force." So what? The coach smiled. "You think too much." Cain replied: "Better than not thinking." Then... his rhythm began to change. He's no longer just defending. He began to force the coach to move. Small strokes. Tests. Provocations. "You learn," the coach said. Then suddenly... it hit hard. Kane couldn't stop. The sword hit his shoulder. He fell. Breathe deeply. But… he smiled a little. The coach asked: "Why are you smiling?" "I learned a new angle," he said. The coach laughed. "crazy." Then he extended his hand and helped him stand. "You don't have the body of a fighter…" "But your mind is dangerous." Then he said, "If you were in another world... you might become a monster." At that moment...the lights went out. suddenly. For no reason. The coach said, "Power outage?" But… the air changed. It became heavier. Cain felt it immediately. "This is not normal." Then...the sound stopped. completely. It was as if the world had held its breath. A drop of sweat fell from his forehead... but it stopped in the air. Cain's eyes widened slightly. "Stop… time?" Then...a light appeared. blue. Not just in front of him. But within his vision.
SYSTEM INITIALIZING
A transparent window appeared. As in games. But more realistic. A suitable candidate was found. Personality analysis... Capacity analysis... Psychological stability analysis... Result:
Candidate Approved.
He said quietly: "Are you dead?" The voice replied: No, you have been chosen to become the Savior of Worlds. There was no fear shown. No enthusiasm appeared. Just a question: "Why me?" Because you are suitable. "That's not an answer." Because you won't break easily. Shut up. Then he said: "And if I refuse?" Someone else will be chosen. "What's happening to me?" Get back to your life. He asked: "And what happens to the worlds?" Some of them will collapse. Here… a small thing changed in his eyes. Not sympathy...but curiosity. He asked: "How many worlds are there?" Infinite. "How many lifeguards do you have?" You are now the only active one. to think. "It means full pressure." Then he asked: "What's the use for me?" power. Knowledge. the truth. "And the danger?" death. He closed his eyes. Think 6 seconds. Then he said: "What is the survival rate?" 7% smiled. "Bad." Then he said: "What if I succeed?" You will go beyond human limits. He asked one last question: "Can I be free?" The system was silent for two seconds. If you reach the end. He opened his eyes. Then he said: "So…" and extended his hand. And pressed: ACCEPT Suddenly...the Earth disappeared. Gravity is gone. The light exploded. His body turned into particles. But he didn't scream. Just watch. "So this is a transition between worlds." Until now... he's analyzing. Then...darkness. When he opened his eyes… there were no demons. There was no fighting. Rather... a room. Stone roof. candles. window. The sound of a distant city. "Clean transition," he said. Then try to move. pain. He looked at his body. Wrapped in bandages. Woman's voice: "Don't move." consideration. Woman in her thirties. Doctor's clothes. She said: "We found you unconscious outside the walls of the capital." "So I was put in a logical place." He asked: "How much did you sleep?" "Two days," she said. "The system gave my body time to adjust." He said: "Thank you." "You're lucky," she said. "If another patrol had found you… you would be a slave by now." to stop. "A world of bondage?" He asked: "Where am I?" "The Kingdom of Astravia," she said. Then she added: "The last human kingdom." Then... the system appeared again. quietly.
World: Astravia
Status: 74% Collapse Risk Reason: Unknown (Locked) Main Mission: Find out the truth about the collapse of the world. The mission is not: kill a demon lord. Rather: Understand the world first. And here... Cain smiled for the first time. A little smile. "good." I don't like easy stories.