“See you later, Evan!” Riley shouted, waving his hand. “Oh, and happy birthday to you!”
Evan grinned widely. “Thanks, Riley!” After a brief farewell, Evan walked into his yard as it was getting dark. Today began like any other day for Evan Theodore Walker. After entering the house, Evan greeted his family and then went to his room. Evan was satisfied playing with his friend, Riley Chang, a teenager whose parents managed an antique shop. Upon reaching his room, Evan turned on his slightly worn-out desk lamp and looked out the window. Arcadia City was where Evan lived. The city shone with dancing neon lights and magnificent skyscrapers. However, behind the grandeur of Arcadia City, there were many slums inhabited by people like Evan and his family. They lived day-to-day as laborers in factories on the city's outskirts. But poverty did not make Evan feel disheartened. “I will live there someday,” Evan muttered, full of determination. After immersing himself in the glittering lights of Arcadia's downtown, Evan checked the clock on the desk. “Dinner time, it seems,” he murmured as he prepared to leave. His excitement was high because today was special for him. *** In the dining room, a warm and festive atmosphere greeted Evan. His mother, Maria Walker, served his favorite dishes, while his father, Daniel Walker, and his sister, Lily Isabella Walker, sat with hopeful smiles on their faces. This family had been through a lot together, and they seemed happy, full of love, and ready to celebrate this joyful moment. “Happy birthday, dear,” said Maria with a gentle smile. Evan looked at his family with gratitude. “Thank you, Mom.” Although there was no birthday cake or fancy gifts, Evan was still happy for his 17th birthday celebration. I will change our family's life, Mom, Evan promised in his heart. As they began to eat, suddenly, their door was knocked on hard. Evan turned, feeling a bit anxious. “Is someone coming?” he asked. “Impossible, we didn’t invite any guests tonight,” Daniel replied, trying to stay calm. “Maybe it’s just the wind.” However, when the door was knocked on again, harder, the calmness of the evening was shattered. “I’ll get it.” Evan stood to open the door, but before he could touch the handle, an ear-splitting explosion shook their house. Boom! “Evan?!” “Brother?!” The sound of screams and breaking glass filled the room. Evan turned towards his family, who looked confused and terrified. “What’s happening?!” Evan asked, panicking. Without a second thought, Daniel moved quickly to protect his family. “Evan, go to the basement now!” he commanded with a voice both firm and full of fear. Evan moved quickly, though he still didn’t understand what was happening. He ran towards the basement, but before he could lock the door, mysterious figures dressed in black with masks broke through the door, entering the basement with weapons ready. Evan could hear his mother, Maria, screaming, and Lily crying outside. Fear enveloped him, and he knew there was no way to escape. The gratitude and joy Evan had just felt with his family now vanished, replaced by fear and frustration. At the moment he saw the people with guns in front of him, he felt his life slipping away. “Who are you?!” Evan shouted, though he was scared and panicking. “Kill him.” In a panic, Evan tried to fight back, but his strength was no match for those attacking him. In the futile struggle, Evan heard gunshots and screams from outside. He knew clearly those were the cries of his family being slaughtered. “I will kill you!!” Evan shouted, furious. He had forgotten his fear and tried to fight with all his might. It would have been easy for the armed men to kill Evan, but they seemed to be toying with him, treating him like worthless trash. Not stopping there, they also dragged his lifeless family and threw them in front of Evan. “Bastards!!” Evan shouted. “All of you-!!” Bang! Evan felt immense pain as a bullet pierced his stomach. With unbearable pain, Evan realized this night was the end of everything. But before everything went dark, he felt a strange power entering his body—a strong urge that made him feel as if he would fight back, even if he had to fight against death itself. “I will kill you,” Evan murmured with the remnants of his life hanging in the air. “I promise, I will kill yo-” Bang! ***Evan awoke in total darkness. He felt as though he had just woken from a long dream, and his body felt strange—like he had just risen from a very deep sleep. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked around. This place wasn’t a basement; it was his dark bedroom. What happened? Evan wondered to himself. He was certain he had died in the basement of their home. “Am I dreaming?” Evan muttered. He was confused, doubting what was real and what was a figment of his imagination. “Evan?!” Evan turned around immediately. His mother’s scream still echoed clearly in his ears and memory. “Brother?!” This time, it was his younger sister Lily’s cry. Evan covered his ears and eyes, trying to banish all the sounds from his head. “Go away!” Evan shouted. The pain he felt was unlike anything he had experienced before; the pain of being shot made his breathing heavy. “No!!” Evan felt like he was going crazy. He had been killed at the age of 17. He was certain of that, but why was he now
Evan couldn’t react. It was shocking enough to return to the past. Now, a screen appeared before him, like something he had read about in novels.“I must be going crazy,” Evan muttered. His world had turned upside down in just a few hours.How could this all happen? Did he really gain powers? Could he become stronger?As if reading Evan’s thoughts, the words on the screen changed rapidly. What was initially a welcome message now began to answer Evan’s questions.Player Evan has the opportunity to restart his life and achieve greatness never before attained.Evan frowned. “What does that mean? Can you read my mind?”As a new player in this world, players start their journey from level 1. To develop their abilities, players need to complete various quests and challenges.Reflexively, Evan looked at the screen that had suddenly appeared before him, similar to a HUD (heads-up display) in a game. The screen displayed basic information, such as current level, health status, and a list of qu
The next morning, Evan went to the small market near their house, where he found a vegetable seller who looked distressed. The seller appeared exhausted and frustrated.“Is there anything I can help with?” Evan asked.The seller looked up in surprise. “Oh, you’re just a kid. What can you do?”Evan felt a bit hurt but decided not to give up. “I can help. Show me what needs to be done.”Although somewhat skeptical because Evan was a child, the vegetable seller explained that he needed help moving some of his goods.“Alright! I’ll do it!” Evan said with determination.With the seller’s guidance, Evan began to help lift and move the vegetables to their proper places. He felt that his new strength made him quicker and stronger than usual. Every time he completed a task, he felt a slight increase in his body, as if he was getting closer to the full potential of his abilities.After a while, the seller felt very grateful and thanked him. “You’re truly an amazing kid. Thank you for your help!
Marco and his friends laughed when they saw Evan ready to fight. “Look, it turns out there’s someone dumber than Riley the nerd!” Marco jeered.Evan felt adrenaline coursing through him. He knew this wasn’t an ordinary fight. He decided to use his new strength. This would be his first real lesson and fight. All this time, he had only been able to stay silent while he and Riley were bullied. But now, Evan had decided to fight back.Marco stepped forward, clenching his fists. “You think you can beat us?”Evan didn’t answer. He raised his hand, aiming his palm at Marco. In seconds, Marco felt a powerful punch land on his stomach.“Ughh!!” Marco fell to the ground, clutching his belly.Not only Marco and his friends, but Evan himself was surprised by his punch. Was he really that strong?“What are you doing?!” Marco growled. “Attack him!” Marco ordered his friends.Two of Marco’s friends, Tony and Jack, moved in to attack. Evan responded quickly, dodging their punches with increased agili
Time passed quickly. Evan and Riley's relationship grew closer. After the quest to save Riley and defeat Marco, Evan still received other quests, but the quests he got were not as challenging as fighting Marco. Besides that, there was something strange about the rewards he received. If previously Evan received 5-10 status points and experience, this time Evan only received one each time he completed a quest. This happened when Evan reached level 5. Of course, Evan felt frustrated because instead of progressing faster, his development actually slowed down. On a cold evening, Evan sat in front of his house with Riley, contemplating his progress. “What are you thinking about?” Riley asked, curious. Evan sighed deeply. “Nothing.” Riley frowned. “But you look like an old man thinking about his false teeth.” Evan rolled his eyes. He couldn't tell Riley about his powers. Maybe he would tell her in the future, but not now. “Why do you like helping people in our district so much?” Rile
“What should I do?!” Evan muttered, frustrated. For the past three days, Evan had been focusing on two main things: protecting the Blade of Eternity and finding a way to save Riley’s father.Every day, Evan spent hours in an old, abandoned warehouse, practicing his combat techniques and skills. Failure not only meant losing the reward but also the risk of losing Michael Chang and the possible destruction of the world in the future. The pressure made Evan even more focused and determined.Outside of his training, Evan spent time exploring the district, learning more about the sword's history and who might be interested in stealing it. He talked to Michael Chang, who had extensive historical knowledge, but no clear leads. Evan could not find information about the sword's origins, past owners, or evidence that it was cursed. From Michael Chang's accounts, those who held the sword often ended up dead.“Are you not afraid of the sword’s curse, Mr. Chang?” Evan asked.Michael Chang smiled a
In the moments before the sword struck Evan’s neck, a car suddenly turned and illuminated Evan with its blinding headlights.Tiinnn!!Evan didn’t think twice. He jumped in front of the car and closed his eyes.Citttt!BrughhEvan felt a heavy impact. But due to his high endurance stat, he was able to get up quickly.“Hey?!! Are you okay?!!” The driver of the car got out and looked at Evan’s body. “I’ll take you to the hospital!”Evan ignored the driver. He scanned his surroundings, searching for the thief who had attacked him.“Kid?”Evan looked back at the driver. “I’m fine. I’m okay.”The driver was silent. He was sure he had hit Evan hard. The front bumper of his car was even dented, but Evan only had minor injuries. Was that even possible? The driver wondered to himself.After ensuring the area was safe, Evan ran back across the street to the shop.The chime of the door greeted Evan as he entered.“Hello Evan. What do you need?” asked the shop owner, kindly.“Do you have a large f
Evan stared at the man with undeniable intensity. "This is the end," he murmured to himself. The man launched his final attack, a swift and deadly thrust aimed directly at Evan’s heart. But at that crucial moment, Evan leapt forward, his body spinning in mid-air. The tip of the man’s sword only managed to graze Evan’s shoulder, while Evan, with perfect precision, drove his knife into the man’s stomach. The man groaned in pain, blood pouring from his wound. He staggered back but still wanted to continue the fight. “Who’s there?!” Evan and the man stared at each other. Evan had given everything he had. If this fight continued, Evan knew he would lose his life. “Hurry! It sounds like there’s a fight over there!!” The voices of the townspeople grew closer to their location. The man didn’t want to leave because of his wounded pride, but he had no other choice. This battle was over, and his mission had failed. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have another chance. "This isn't over. I w
Evan slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing that greeted him was the system screen that suddenly appeared before him. The words on the screen made him pause for a moment. "Congratulations," the message read, "You have become the Guardian of Earth." His heart raced as he read those words, but before he could fully process it, the screen vanished, leaving behind a warm sensation that spread throughout his body. The warmth made him feel at peace, as if all the heavy burdens he had carried were suddenly lifted away. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a room that was familiar to him. The wooden ceiling adorned with classic carvings, the thick curtains framing the large window, and the distinctive aroma. This room was his at the Ironfist family's residence. Evan tried to get up from the bed, but the exhaustion still lingered throughout his body. "Evan..." A soft voice, full of emotion, called his name. He turned towards the voice and saw Aria standing at the doorway,
Victor observed the battlefield around him with a sharp gaze. His once-invincible army had now been shattered, defeated by the alliance of the Guardians and Ironfist Hunter. His body trembled, not only from exhaustion but also from the anger that was slowly taking over him. In his mind, he contemplated the chaos that had unfolded, realizing that his perfect plan had fallen apart. "I didn't expect them to get this far," he muttered cynically, his eyes fixed on Evan, who still stood firm before him. Every blow, every strike from Evan, felt increasingly heavy and powerful. Victor began to feel a pressure he had never experienced before. He, who had always considered himself invincible, was now feeling the push and panic. "Evan Walker... You turned out to be far stronger than I imagined," said Victor, his lips curling into a thin, hate-filled smile. He looked at Evan with eyes full of rage and determination. "But I won't give up that easily!" In a final attempt, Victor summoned the dar
Victor Draven stared intently at the man standing before him. Amidst the chaos and destruction of the battlefield, there was only one person capable of matching Victor's dark aura—Evan Walker. The man who had become a thorn in his side, the primary obstacle behind his failure to command the forces of darkness.All this time, Evan had thwarted every one of Victor's cunning plans, causing him to lose control over the immense power that should have been his. But now, the time had finally come. The moment Victor had long awaited, the moment when he could finally destroy the greatest obstacle in his life.Victor wasn't angry—no, instead, a thin smile formed on his tense lips. There was an indescribable joy on his face, like a child who had finally found the toy he had been searching for all along."Finally, we meet, Evan," Victor said, his voice low and deep, echoing in the brief silence that enveloped them. Victor's eyes glowed with dark joy, filled with anticipation for the battle to com
Aria and her comrades initially found a glimmer of hope through their solid teamwork. They moved in perfect synchronization, attacking Victor Draven from all sides. However, Victor had no intention of letting them achieve victory easily."Attack from every side! Don't give him any room to breathe!" Aria commanded firmly, her sword glowing with a fusion of wind and shadow energy.Hugo, with his fiery fists blazing, added, "We have to stop him now, or everything will be for nothing!"But Victor only smiled coldly. "Do you really think this is enough to stop me?" he whispered icily.It was then that Victor revealed his true power. With a single gesture, he manipulated the darkness. Shadows oozed from his body, engulfing everything around him. All the magic attacks launched by the elite Ironfist Hunter team seemed meaningless. The darkness swallowed all the spells and attacks, rendering their efforts futile as the battlefield was consumed by impenetrable shadows."This... can't be happeni
Victor Draven descended onto the battlefield after his forces began to falter. With a dark aura radiating from his body, he walked with barely contained rage. Each step he took shook the ground, emitting a terrifying energy that was immediately felt by everyone around him.As his feet touched the battleground, a powerful tremor was felt by all. The strong dark aura enveloped Victor's body, instilling fear in the hearts of his enemies. With a single hand gesture, he created a destructive vortex of energy, forcing the fighters from Blue Sky and Ironfist Hunter to retreat a few steps, while the previously cornered monster leaders fought back with renewed vigor."Everyone, get ready!" Aria shouted, her voice firm but tense. She knew they couldn't face Victor individually. "We must stop Victor from harming more guardians!""We have no choice but to hold our ground and fight with everything we've got!" Hugo replied, anger clear in his voice. "I'll distract him with my fire. Aria, you and th
In Arcadia City, Victor Draven stood at the edge of a towering building, his sharp eyes surveying the battlefield below. Initially, he was confident of an absolute victory. His army of various monstrous races had wreaked havoc across Arcadia, burning buildings and ruthlessly crushing their opponents. However, as time passed, that confidence began to wane, replaced by a creeping unease within him. The battle that once seemed like a sure victory was now turning into a fierce, evenly-matched struggle. The arrival of the Ironfist Hunter warriors had a tremendous impact that Victor had never anticipated. They came like an unexpected storm, wielding power and strategy that shifted the momentum of the battle. On the battlefield, the Ironfist Hunter showed their prowess. The elite warriors of Ironfist Hunter immediately rushed to assist the Blue Sky members, who were on the verge of despair while facing the monster leaders. Hugo and Jena, two formidable warriors from Ironfist Hunter, quickl
The once-balanced battle had now entered a terrifying new phase.The allied forces of the Blue Sky Guardians, who had initially managed to hold off the waves of monsters, were now being pushed back. The sheer number of enemies, combined with the strength of the monster leaders, forced them into a corner. Each of the monster leaders had descended onto the battlefield, causing chaos and complicating the situation for the elite Guardians, who had to divide their focus.Amon, with his magic whip writhing like a living serpent and his ability to control wild beasts, targeted the leader of the Minotaur race. This Minotaur was a giant, nearly unstoppable in its strength. Each swing of its axe shattered the ground and destroyed anything in its path. Amon, however, was a master tactician. He used his magic to tame the wild beasts around the battlefield, forcing them to attack the Minotaur from all directions, while his magic whip attempted to ensnare the giant’s legs. But Amon’s attacks seemed
That night in Arcadia City, the darkness was deeper than usual. The pitch-black sky was lit up by lightning and echoed with the roars of monsters reverberating through every corner of the city. The dimensional gate that had opened atop Victor Draven's building created an endless corridor, spewing forth a vast army of evil creatures onto the streets now filled with debris and smoke. The once majestic city had turned into a chaotic battlefield.At the Ironfist residence, the peaceful atmosphere that the elite members of the Ironfist Hunter, who had just returned from a long vacation, had hoped for was far from reality. They were greeted by a horrifying sight: their family members were locked in a fierce battle against a horde of relentless monsters. The formidable Ironfist family fighters were struggling against the seemingly endless waves of creatures.Seeing the battle before him, Zeke immediately gave a short and firm command. "Ironfist Hunter!! Forward!!"Without hesitation, the eli
After everything that had happened, after all the battles and sacrifices, Evan knew that his time in Lunaris was coming to an end. Even though he had achieved victory and brought peace to this world, there was an emptiness he could not ignore. He felt that there were still things left to do, other places that needed his presence—especially Earth, his home. Galathiel, the guardian who had guided him all this time, stood before Evan, a soft light emanating from his entire being. Galathiel’s gaze was filled with wisdom and understanding, as if he could see all the doubts lingering in Evan’s heart. "Evan," Galathiel began in a gentle voice that echoed throughout the temple, "you have done more than anyone could have hoped. You have protected this world and given new hope to its inhabitants. But I know, your heart does not fully reside here." Evan lowered his head slightly, feeling a mix of emotions weighing on him. "I feel that my task here is finished, and I need to return to Earth. T