Chapter 1 – Unenviable Death
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[You’ve failed Quest: Save The World]

 

With a holographic blue prompt in my face, I watched as the sky fell to meet the rising crimson magma of the Earth. The apocalypse had arrived. 

 

“This game is shit…” I muttered, watching the [Game Over] prompt follow up on the screen in front of me. 

 

Today marked the first time I’ve ever contemplated giving up on a game. With over 500 hours wasted, ‘Winter Howl’ acted as a surprisingly difficult galgame with real-time strategy mechanics. 

 

I wasn’t someone who particularly cared about story games, but my interest was perked by a challenge from a co-worker to beat this damned burning trash pile. Although I didn’t consider myself the most premier gamer, with so many hours drowned, the best I was able to do was reach the final boss Abbadon. 

 

That’s right, reach it. I wasn’t even close to dealing 10% of its HP before I was wiped and forced to retry. Did I mention how this was supposed to be a story game? 

 

I tried to swallow my pride and searched the net for solutions as well, but the game was surprisingly underground despite its dynamic gameplay. Unfortunately, only the game page download came up as a result, with no reviews or comments. 

 

4:00 am.

 

I couldn’t help but feel the sting of a dozen bees in each of my eyes. I was forced to contend with the fact that the time has dipped towards morning now, so I couldn’t do another run with a shift in 4 hours. Operating on a moderate amount of sleep was necessary to maximise officer productivity after all. As a manager, I had to set an example. 

 

With a long sigh, I switched everything off. However, as I moved to tuck myself into bed… there was a rumble?

 

.

.

.

 

HOONNNKKKKKKK!!!!!!!

 

With the baritone blare of a truck, a pair of headlights slowly lit up my dark room that was nestled on the 4th floor of an apartment. 

 

“Fuck!” Paralysed in bed, all I could do was watch as the blinding headlights of the truck approached me. However, unlike the pain of being crushed I expected, what followed was-

 

.

.

.

 

-Empty.

 

[Welcome to Tercendo!] 

 

With an eerily familiar blue holographic prompt, the momentary abyss was replaced by a rush of warm air. 

 

Within the span of a few seconds, my dull white ceiling was replaced with the vibrant expanse of a clear sky. My fatigued body felt refreshed like it had aged several years back towards its peak. 

 

With a sharp exhale, I panted from the deathly encounter. 

 

[How was the journey?] 

 

An androgynous voice greeted me. Looking around, I appeared to be alone atop a hill that overlooked a fairly minimalist neighbourhood with narrow streets. Where did the voice come from?

 

[From your head of course! I’m your friendly guide in this world!] 

 

The voice echoed once again.

 

“Who are you?!” I shouted with a soft, high-pitched voice, “wait- no… who am I?” 

 

[Oh dear, it seems the transfer had a few bumps. Do you at least recognise ‘Winter’s Howl’?] 

 

The voice mused. Why did it want to know about that cursed game that I wasted 500 hours on? Rather, why do I remember some obscure game rather than my own identity?

 

[Hmm… that’s an unexpected benefit… Ahem! Let’s stop wasting time and get straight into it!] 

 

“Into it?”

 

[Quest: Save The World activated!] 

 

[Details: As you’ve watched the world you try to save get destroyed so many times, it was about time you guided someone toward what you could not achieve!] 

 

[Condition: Help this world’s protagonist achieve his brilliance!] 

 

[You shall be his sparkle!] 

 

The androgynous giggled lightly to itself as if it wanted to see my response. Instinctually, I reached into the pockets of the white blazer that I was wearing and stared deep at the reflection of its black rectangular screen. 

 

It was a beautiful girl with long white hair and piercing red eyes, screaming the ‘cool beauty’ stereotype. Naturally, I connected the mysterious voice’s statements and my newfound appearance together, it didn’t take a genius to have a rough idea of what my situation had turned to. 

 

I’ve been transferred into Winter’s Howl, presumably by the voice inside my head.

 

My identity has changed too, if the fragments of my past told me anything. I’ve been transformed into the first boss of the game. 

 

Charlotte Invidia, known as the zealous traitor of humanity whose ego began a series of disruptions to the original protagonist’s peaceful academy training arc. She began a series of difficult conquests that ultimately led to the final boss, Abbadon. 

 

The game’s setting was a world filled with invaders from the ‘Gates of Hell,’ spawning countless creatures sporadically to massacre humanity. However, due to the grace of the unknown, humanity was granted the power to fight back.

 

Charlotte Invidia was known as one of the brightest lights of the era, a young genius who would trailblaze humanity to completely reverse the invasion. However, like a frog stuck in a well, her position at the top of the academy, furthered by the praises of others, led to an overinflated ego.

 

Eventually, Charlotte turned to the invaders for aid in gaining more power and defeating the protagonist, who appeared out of nowhere and seemingly stole her spotlight. 

 

As I recalled the events of the story, I couldn’t help but feel a twang of annoyance against the protagonist. No, rather, it was anger. 

 

[The assimilation is going really well, hehe]

 

The voice giggled again. 

 

Assimilation? 

 

No, rather than straying off with unnecessary thoughts, I refocused on the main task at hand. What was required to bring out the brilliance of the protagonist? I wasn’t reincarnated as a heroine, but rather, a villain. 

 

[It’s very simple. You must gain his trust as his brand new beloved winning heroine!]

 

The voice ecstatically responded.  

 

In the game, the protagonist was supposed to gather a collection of companions in a harem to help him defeat the invaders from another world. Would I be a part of that harem then?

 

[No, silly~ I can’t have a harem in my pure love- ahem, all you need to know is that the more you monopolise the protagonist’s trust and affection, the stronger you become. Together, you two shall defeat the big baddies from the other world!] 

 

As I listened to the voice, I was reminded that everyone in this world had limited talent capacity and growth. The protagonist, as a cheat character, naturally had unlimited of both. However, Charlotte’s extensive growth potential was limited by her capacity, leading her to resort to unorthodox methods when her growth plateaued. 

 

[That’s right! The more the protagonist trusts you, the more talent capacity you’ll unlock from me!] 

 

The voice proposed. I had no reason to follow the whims of this being in my head, especially with so many questions unanswered, like who the voice was or-

 

I squirmed as a heat rose within me. 

 

Forget it, what was more important was the urge to be the best, to surpass the protagonist. To survive and save the world. 

 

I needed to win. 

 

Hiya all! This is a new novel to win a bet against a friend, please enjoy! Also, any constructive criticism is appreciated <3

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