-

  Archvel sat on the cold bench, his fingers clenched tightly in his lap.

  His head hung low, but his eyes stared ahead.

  "They’re all liars," he muttered to himself, his voice low and bitter.

  "Every single one of them. Smiling faces, kind words... all just masks to hide how rotten they are underneath."

  He leaned back, his shoulders slumping as he exhaled sharply.

  "Maybe I’m no better. Maybe I’ve worn the same mask so many times that it’s fused to my skin."

  His lips curled into a faint, hollow smile.

  "But at least I admit it. At least I know what I am."

  The memories came rushing back—betrayals, empty promises, the cruel laughter of people who claimed to care.

  He clenched his fist tighter, his nails digging into his palms.

  "Trust? That’s a fool’s game."

  He swallowed hard, a bitter taste rising in his throat.

  "Why does it even bother me? I should’ve stopped caring a long time ago. But no... some stupid part of me still wants to believe there’s good in people. Like an idiot."

  His jaw tightened, his voice trembling now.

  "But maybe that’s the problem. It’s not them; it’s me. I’m the one who can’t let it go, who keeps expecting something better, even when I know better."

  Archvel closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply as if trying to steady himself.

  When he opened them, the bitterness remained, etched into his features.

  "No more. I’m done pretending. If this world is a game of survival, then fine. I’ll play to win. But I’m not fooling myself anymore—people are what they are. And so am I."

  As Archvel felt overwhelmed, he closed his eyes for a moment to relax as he started feeling sleepy.

  Without understanding what is happening to himself, he entered a deep sleep.

  -

  "Where am I?"

  Archvel was in black robes and he takes a moment to collect his thoughts, trying to remember how he ended up in the strange stone room.

  He knows that he possesses a system that could potentially help him escape or gather more information about his situation.

  The particular reason for why the system exists was unknown to him or how he knows something like this in particular.

  "Yes, that should be it."

  Archvel thinks and gets up.

  He stands up from the stone bed and approaches the stone door, examining it closely for any signs of weakness or a way to open it.

  The door seems to be solid, without any visible handle or mechanism to open it.

  He checks the stone table and finds nothing of use, just a few scattered stones and dust.

  He then recalls that his system might be able to assist him, so he focuses his mind on activating it. Suddenly, a holographic interface appears in front of him, displaying various options and abilities he can use.

  As he searches, he realizes that he has been transported to another world, one filled with magic and fantastical creatures.

  His system provides him with information about the world, its history, and the different types of magic that exist within it.

  "My name is Archvel, and I am a thirty-year-old man from Earth who was transported to a new world where magic exists!"

  Archvel took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

  "I am lucky that I read an extensive amount of novels when I was on Earth."

  "I feel calm; at least I have a system on which I can rely for something."

  He also discovers that his system has a few basic magical abilities that he can use to escape from the room or defend himself if necessary.

  He decides to cast a spell to try and break down the stone door.

  After several attempts, he manages to create a small crack in the door, enough for him to squeeze through.

  As he steps out into the hallway, he sees a faint light in the distance. As Archvel looks around, he notices some details.

  "I must be in a temple or ruins; that is the only theory I have."

  Archvel thought as he kept walking. He was lucky that the temple was filled.

  As Archvel wanders through the temple, examining the ancient inscriptions on the walls, he hears a faint growling sound in the distance.

  At first, he brushes it off, thinking it might just be the sound of the temple settling or some sort of animal roaming around.

  However, as he continues down the hallway, the growling grows louder and more distinct, and Archvel can sense a menacing presence lurking somewhere nearby.

  Suddenly, a zombie shuffles out of the shadows, its tattered clothes and rotted flesh revealing its undead nature.

  Archvel is shocked and frightened, never having encountered anything like this in his previous life on Earth.

  "Calm yourself down; you are a Necromancer Apprentice, not an ordinary human."

  Archvel tells himself

  As the zombie approaches him, Archvel's heart races and his mind races with fear and panic. He knows he needs to act quickly.

  The zombie reaches out towards him, and Archvel's instincts take over. With a burst of energy, he whispers in his mind.

  "Decay Bolt"

  A dark-colored bolt shoots at the head of the zombie-like creature and explodes it in seconds.

  Archvel stands there, panting and trembling, his heart still racing with fear and adrenaline. He realizes that he has been transported to a world where magic and the undead are very real and dangerous, and he will need to be careful and learn how to use his system and magic to survive.

  At the same time, he hears a mechanical voice in his mind.

  "Zombie X1: Killed (10 XP)"

  Archvel takes a deep breath, his heart still pounding with fear and excitement from his encounter with the zombie. He knows that he needs to be more prepared for any other threats that might be lurking in the temple, so he reaches for his system and whispers the incantation for his second spell.

  "Raise Skeleton."

  As he speaks the words, a surge of magical energy courses through him, and he feels the ground beneath him begin to tremble.

  Suddenly, the earth splits open, and three skeletons emerge, their bones clattering and clacking as they rise from the ground.

  Archvel watches in amazement as the skeletons take shape before him, each one standing at attention and awaiting his command.

  He can sense the power and potential of his system, and he feels a newfound confidence and sense of purpose.

  As he surveys his new companions, Archvel's thoughts race with excitement and wonder.

  "This world is truly filled with magic and wonder,"

  "With my system and these skeletons at my command, I might just have a chance to survive and thrive in this new world."

  As Archvel keeps on walking, he notices another room and thinks within his mind.

  "Entering unknown places is not good in a temple or ruins like this, but I have no choice."

  Archvel steps into the room, his skeletons following closely behind him.

  As he looks around, he notices that the room looks much like the one he had awoken in earlier: ancient stone walls, a stone bed, and a stone table in the center of the room.

  However, something catches his eye on the table: three books bound in leather and a brown-colored leather bag with a shoulder strap.

  Archvel approaches the table carefully, eyeing the books with curiosity.

  "These books may contain knowledge about the world I find myself in,"

  "Perhaps they hold the key to understanding this strange and magical place."

  He reaches out to take the books but hesitates for a moment, wondering if it's safe to do so.

  He glances at his skeletons, who seem to be standing guard and watching his back.

  With their protection, Archvel feels emboldened and takes the books, tucking them into his bag. Which was

  He can't wait to dive into the books and learn more about the world he finds himself in.

  "I should leave now."

  After taking the books with himself, Archvel leaves the room and continues to pay attention to his surroundings.

  There is only one way he can go, so there was no chance to be lost.

  As Archvel and his skeletons continue down the hallway, they suddenly hear a shuffling sound coming from around the corner.